18 DECEMBER 2019 By Amanda Savage Arcadians don’t have to travel far to experience most of the premiere holiday events this December. Markets, festive walking wine tours, puppy kissing booths and tree lighting ceremonies are just some of the happenings within a 10-minute drive. SCOTTSDAZZLE Old Town Scottsdale’s holiday event series starts in November and kicks into high gear in December. From a free weekly holiday-themed Canal Concert Series, to the Gold Palette Artwalk, to the Santa Wine Around self-guided wine tasting tour and the Sweet Treat Trail dessert tasting experience, there’s something for everyone. Events will take place through December 21. Prices, dates, times and locations vary. For more: scottsdazzle.com. TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY AT OMNI SCOTTSDALE RESORT & SPA Bring family members young and old out for a night at the Omni Montelucia’s annual ceremony celebrating the lighting of its 20-foot Christmas tree. The event will have hot cider, holiday foods, complimentary photos with Santa, live music and fire pits. Omni will donate some vendor sales from this event to the Arizona Animal Welfare League. A specialty pet shopping boutique, a puppy kissing booth and adoptable pets will also be available. This event takes place Tuesday, December 3 from 5-8 p.m. For more: omnihotels.com. PHOESTIVUS AT THE PHOENIX PUBLIC MARKET Phoestivus is Phoenix’s version of a holiday market. The creators imagined it from Germany’s famous Christmas markets and Festivus from the TV show Seinfeld . Over 200 local purveyors, artisans and craftsmen will showcase their goods during this two-day event. There will also be Festivus traditions, such as the Airing of Grievances, Festivus Pole and Feats of Strength. This free market will take place from 5-10 p.m. on Thursday, December 12 and 19 at the Phoenix Public Market. For more: phoestivus.com. LAS NOCHES DE LAS LUMINARIAS 8,000 luminaria bags will light the trails at the Desert Botanical Garden, offering a new way to enjoy the desert scenery and the current exhibit, Wild Rising. Las Noches de las Luminarias is $12.95-$34.95 for general admission, and $10.95-$29.95 for members. The event will take place from 5:30-9:30 p.m. on December 6-8, 13-15, 17-23 and 26-31. For more: dbg.org. 35TH ANNUAL FQ STORY HISTORIC HOME TOUR & STREET FAIR Get a glimpse inside the historic homes of Central Phoenix at this two-day home tour event. Holiday lights will be on display as carolers sing and nine Phoenix homes open their doors to the public. Local vendors will sell goods and food trucks will provide treats, coffee and hot chocolate. This event will take place on Saturday, December 7 from 6-9 p.m., and Sunday, December 8 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Presale tickets are $15 and $20 at the door. Folks can get $1 off their tickets by bringing a non-perishable food item. The homes on tour are located from 7th to 15th Ave. on Roosevelt and Portland Streets and from 11th to 15th Ave. on Latham Street. For more: fqstoryhometour.org. THE POLAR EXPRESS On select dates during the holiday season, the Grand Canyon Railway brings the classic children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg to life. The train makes a night trip through the Kaibab National Forest from Williams to the “North Pole” with a visit from Santa Claus and his reindeer. The kids can wear pajamas and “hot-hot-hot” chocolate will be served. The Polar Express experience is available through January 4, 2020. Trains depart Williams Depot at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. On select dates, a matinee departure at 3:30 p.m. is available. Event prices range from $33-$82 per person. For more: thetrain.com. ‘Festivus’ and other unique holiday events Tree Lighting Ceremony at OMNI Scottsdale Resort & Spa. PHOTO: OMNIHOTELS.COM By Miriam Cruson While most of us will be waking up Christmas Day ready to open presents and eat lots of food, many people around the Valley will be waking up searching for their next meal or a warm spot to lay their heads. This year, folks can volunteer their time, money and help to give back to those in need so that everyone can have a fulfilling holiday season. Here are some ways people can help: THE WANDERING TORTOISE The local taproom, named after those hard-shelled reptiles, is filled with a bunch of softies. Once inside, it is hard to miss the huge burlap bag sitting on the floor. Stop by and drop off any clean, used or new clothing and/or non-perishable food. The donations will be brought to a Phoenix homeless shelter on December 7 to be passed out to those in need. For more: visit the Wandering Tortoise Facebook page. BOYS HOPE  GIRLS HOPE BHGH These “scholars” come from homes at or below the poverty line. Currently, BHGH has the capacity to house 16 children. It is holding a holiday hygiene drive to help keep the home in supply of basic needs, such as deodorant and toilet paper. There are also opportunities for families to come and cook a meal for the residents. For more: bhghaz.org. SCOTTSDALE FIRE DEPARTMENT Benefitting the Paiute Neighborhood Center’s Toy Program and other approved agencies, Scottsdale Fire is holding its annual toy drive. People can drop off new, unwrapped toys to any Scottsdale fire station or headquarters. This drive began in November and will be open until Christmas Eve. For more: scottsdaleaz.gov/fire. OPERATION SANTA CLAUS This year, ABC15 and Sanderson Ford will collect food, toys, clothes and monetary donations for St. Mary’s Food Bank, Special Olympics Arizona, Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC), Military Assistance Mission (MAM) and Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC). Donations will be accepted until December 18. Donation drop-off locations include ABC15 Studios in Phoenix and UPS Store locations across the Valley, plus Operation Santa Claus events. For more: givetotheclaus.com. ADOPTAFAMILY/ ST. VINCENT DE PAUL Adopt-A-Family supports up to 500 families or individuals who need a little extra love this time of year. This program provides assistance during the Thanksgiving and holiday season. St. Vincent will visit the family beforehand to create a profile of the names, ages and needs of each member. Sponsors provide the fixings for Christmas dinner and a gift for the family. Deadline to become a sponsor is Dec. 11. For more: stvincentdepaul.net. VITALANT “Holidays are always a challenging time to build a blood supply. Over the holiday, donations plummet by 25 percent,” said Sue Thew of Vitalant. Vitalant is the sole blood provider for Maricopa County, which includes 62 hospitals. They have teamed up with Streets of New York and the Arizona Coyotes so that every donor will be thanked with a free medium pizza and a free ticket to a Coyotes game in the month of December. For more: bloodhero.com. PHOENIX RESCUE MISSION On Saturday, December 14, Phoenix Rescue Mission (PRM) will be holding its Christmas Winter Wonderland event. PRM will be providing over 4,000 Christmas toys for children. Parents will have the opportunity to pick out brand-new, unwrapped toys for their children and children will be able to pick out a household item as a gift for their parents. In addition, PRM needs volunteers to fill 1,000 boxes with food and gifts for families at this event. For more: phoenixrescuemission.org. Ideas for spreading love and compassion this season St. Vincent de Paul offers an Adopt-A-Family event throughout the holiday season. PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

19 DECEMBER 2019 By Cody Kennedy With spectacular views of Camelback Mountain, the proprietors of the new restaurant on 56th Street and Indian School have inherited a great location. Arcadia has been hungry for the right restaurant to take command of this space for a while. The menu at Vecina is seasonal and focuses on Latin-inspired ingredients. With only 18 items, each dish has a flavor that stands on its own, as evidenced with the presentation. “The goal of Vecina is to bring a chef-driven concept to Arcadia. We want to stand out and be something different from the chain restaurants,” Chef Eric Stone said. “While being different than the Arcadia norm, we want to create a faster-paced, independent restaurant which focuses on amazing food that utilizes flavors and spices from around the globe.” From the server’s recommendation, I started with the Shrimp Aguachile and the Elote (a Mexican corn dish). The shrimp was served with tomatillo, cucumber and crispy plantains; the color and flavors are both bright. The Elote, with chorizo butter, lime créme fraiche and toasted chiles, was the perfect combination of sweet and salty, with neither flavor overpowering the other. Although the portion looked small, it was filling. Following was the pork belly tacos; one of the most popular items. This entrée is served two to a plate. The pork was tender and dressed in a sweet and smoky tomato jam, with lime- flavored peanuts giving the soft tacos a slight crunch. “Sweet” and “savory” are two words that pop into mind when describing this dish. As the People’s Choice winner of at a recent Taco Festival, I had to try the Faroe Island Salmon Tacos. This dish is served on flour tortillas and accompanied by an amarillo aioli, grapefruit and mandarin oranges and pink peppercorn. Each bite of the generous portion of salmon had a burst of flavor, whether tart from the citrus or creamy and sweet from the aioli. The unique flavor of the aioli reminded me of a deviled-egg type filling – combined with the salmon and citrus, I was blown-away by this dish. “Both Chef James and I put so much thought and experimentation into the usage of flavors and spices. Each dish is balanced with acidity, spices, and fresh herbs to create a composed dish that becomes complete by incorporating each component of the dish in every bite,” Chef Stone said. The evening was topped off with a serving of Camote, a sweet-potato dessert. Two halves of a sweet-potato generously drizzled in a sugary glaze and topped with a goat cheese crème fraiche mousse and corn nuts; this dish sounds like something that would be served during Thanksgiving. Each bite of the fluffy potato and airy mousse was a delight that completed dinner flawlessly. Vecina is also looking to provide a unique libation experience. “Our cocktail menu is to reflect the vibe of the food, modern American plus Latin inspired. Most of our spirits come from Latin America and are incorporated into our cocktails,” Bar Manager Miguel Mora said. “While we have familiar brands behind the bar, we like to promote smaller ‘boutique’ brands as well as spirits from those countries.” Most of the drink ingredients are made in-house, with no pre-made drink mixes. Prices range from $12 to $18. Vecina features smoked cocktails, bartender calls and seasonal specials. “The idea of our cocktail menu is to bring guests out of Arcadia and into a small getaway for the time they are with us. Our ingredients are fresh, made daily and curated with care,” Chef Stone said. According to Mora, the most popular cocktail is the El Santo, which is an island-inspired tiki drink made with pure cane rum from Michoacan, Mexico. “I feel that when you visit Vecina, we take you away to your own personal getaway,” Mora said. “Our cocktails reflect the vibrancy of the food, our flavors match the complexity of the plates, and when you combine all of that, you’re taken to your own personal paradise.” Add to that the warm ambience, music that makes you want to dance and the tantalizing dishes, and Arcadia has found Latin America right in its backyard. VECINA 3433 N. 56th St. • vecinaphx.com PLACES WE LIKE Choice winner of at a recent Taco Festival, I had to try the Faroe Island Salmon Tacos. This dish is served on F A R O E I S L A N D S A L M O N T A C O S dressed in a sweet and smoky tomato jam, with lime- flavored peanuts giving Festival, I had to try the Faroe Island Salmon F A R O E I S L A N D S A L M O N T A T A T C O S each dish has a flavor that F A R O E I S L A N D S A L M O N T A T A T C O S filling – combined with the P O R K B E L L Y T A C O S by an amarillo aioli, grapefruit and mandarin me of a deviled-egg type me of a deviled-egg type P O R K B E L L Y L Y L T A T A T C O S you visit Vecina, we take you away to your own personal C A M O T E features smoked cocktails, bartender calls and seasonal specials. “The idea of our cocktail menu is to bring guests out of Arcadia and into a small getaway for the time they are with us. Our ingredients are fresh, made daily and becomes complete by incorporating each component of the dish in every bite,” Chef Stone said. The evening was topped off with a serving of Camote, a you visit Vecina, we take you visit Vecina, we take M O T E generously drizzled in a sugary glaze and topped with a goat cheese crème fraiche mousse curated with care,” Chef Stone said. According to Mora, the most popular cocktail getaway,” Mora said. “Our cocktails C A The evening was topped off with a serving of Camote, a bring guests out of Arcadia and into a C A M O T E the most popular items. This entrée is served two to a plate. The pork was tender and S H R I M P A G U A C H I L E With spectacular views of Camelback Mountain, the proprietors of the Vecina is seasonal and focuses on Latin-inspired the most popular items. This entrée is served two to P A G U A C H and crispy flavors are both bright. The Elote, with chorizo butter, lime créme fraiche new restaurant on 56th Street and Indian School have inherited a great location. Arcadia has been hungry the portion looked small, it was filling. ingredients. With only 18 items, flavors are both bright. S H R I M P A G U A C H I L E CHRISTY PYLMAN 602-684-9636 | ChristyJPylman@gmail.com AZhomes.com 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1925 sf, 7600 Lincoln subdivision, guard-gated, community pool, tennis courts. Perfect for downsizing or part-time residents. $765,000 Main cabin 2200 sf, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, guest cabin 2200+sf, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath. Nestled on 1.2 acres in the White Mountains of Pinetop. $675,000 7532 E. Cactus Wren Rd. Scottsdale 861 E. Osprey Ln. Pinetop Your home specialist in Phoenix, Scottsdale, PV and Pinetop