24 MAY 2022 By Sydney Carruth Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and sometimes, it can seem daunting to come up with a way to properly thank the mother figure in your life for all she does throughout the year. Luckily, there’s still time to claim the coveted favorite child title by treating mom to a beautiful day in the Valley – all you need is a little inspiration and a reservation or two. Here is our recipe for a perfectly crafted Mother’s Day. Whether you’re heading out for delectable chef specials or to the mimosa bar, there are a variety of brunch offerings around Phoenix. The Sanctuary at Camelback Mountain will be hosting a Mother’s Day Brunch against the beautiful backdrop of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve on Sunday, May 8. From 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., mom can enjoy chef-crafted appetizers, main courses and desserts. Brunch starts at $125 per adult and $45 for children. gurneysresorts.com/scottsdale From 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m., families can treat mom to a buffet at Rita’s Cantina & Bar at the Scottsdale Camelback Inn, with live music, face painting, a caricature artist and the opportunity to have professional family photos taken with Camelback Mountain as the backdrop. Brunch highlights include: breakfast favorites, made-to-order omelets, carne asada and chicken tacos, a guacamole and salsa bar, trout with Veracruz sauce, chimichurri lamb chops and assorted pastries and desserts. $130 per adult (including bottomless bubbles and mimosas), $39 per child ages 4-12. marriott.com Another option is to break out your Sunday best and head to the Arizona Biltmore. McArthur’s Restaurant and Bar will feature a curated buffet of chef-selected seasonal specialties that rotate throughout the year. In addition to seasonal fruit, charcuterie and confections, guests can order an à la carte entree to round out the dining experience. Options include chilaquiles, the Waldorf Astoria-inspired Biltmore Benedict or the lemon-blueberry cream- cheese pancakes. Cocktails range from Bloody Mary’s to Cactus Coolers. Bottomless mimosas are available for the bubble enthusiasts of the group. Prices start at $42 per adult and $21 for ages 5-11. arizonabiltmore.com If wood-oven roasted New York strip steak and pan-seared sea bass are more your style, head over to Hearth ‘61 at Mountain Shadows in Scottsdale. The brunch menu includes starters served family-style and a choice of one à la carte entrée per person. Executive Chef Charles Wiley created the Mother’s Day menu this year. Brunch runs from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., and pricing starts at $89 per adult and $24 for children. mountainshadows.com There are other unique Mother’s Day dining options around the Valley, too! The Farm at South Mountain is offering picnic baskets for pick up, complete with a blanket and bottled water. Pick- up times start from 10 a.m.-12.p.m. Offerings include bruschetta, cheese boards, Mediterranean pasta salad and Caprese on focaccia bread. Each basket includes dessert, and guests can choose to add champagne or red wine to their baskets. They also have the option of a kids’ basket so the whole family can join in. Prices start at $125 for two, $225 for four. thefarmatsouthmountain.com If brunch and picnics don’t quite suit mom’s fancy, The Phoenician is hosting a Mother’s Day afternoon tea. The event will be complemented by contemporary live piano music from pianist Alan Comyns and features a variety of tea blends, finger sandwiches, scones with Devonshire cream and preserves, and various pastries. This is the perfect event for those looking to celebrate early, as the afternoon tea is already sold out for May 8 this year. There are still openings on May 4, 5 and 6. The event takes place at 2 p.m., and prices vary per package purchased. marriott.com Nestled in the heart of downtown Scottsdale you’ll find Arcadia Farms Cafe. The charming restaurant has become a Valley favorite for its unique atmosphere and gourmet menu items. While there won’t be a new menu for Mother’s Day brunch, the restaurant will extend its menu options on Mother’s Day to include everything from peach French toast casserole to a crab and shrimp tower. arcadiafarmscafe.com Here are a few Mother’s Day activities now that brunch has been served: Check out Mother’s Day at Desert Botanical Gardens for moms who want to spend their day outdoors. From 9 a.m.- 6 p.m., moms will receive free admission to the gardens with the purchase of one admission ticket. There will be live music throughout the day, complimentary photos and an ask-a-gardener Q&A session until noon. Guests can also purchase a picnic basket to enjoy in the gardens for lunch and beverage services from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Gertrude’s Restaurant is accepting dinner reservations. dbg.org Treat mom to a wine tasting at LDV Winery in Old Town Scottsdale. Guests can choose from three wine tasting flights or pick out a wine pairing package. Aridus Wine Company, Carlson Creek Tasting Room, Merkin Vineyards and Salvatore Vineyards Tasting Room are additional wine tasting options. All wineries require a reservation for tastings. ldvwinery.com For all the dog moms out there: Mother’s Day Dog Yoga, paw readings, and painting classes will be hosted by FOUND:RE Hotel from 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. Activities are free, but donations are welcome and will benefit the LovePup Foundation. foundrehotels.com May 8 is dedicated to the moms – treat ‘em to some fun! Mother’s Day at DBG. PHOTO COURTESY OF DBG Mother’s Day at FOUND-RE Hotel.

25 MAY 2022 By Sabrina Proffitt As a child, healthcare leader and philanthropist Justin Bayless and his brother were weekly attendees of their local Boys & Girls Club. They participated in after-school sports, hung out with other kids their age and took advantage of the programs offered to K-12 students. Now, as an adult, Bayless has donated $500,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley to promote the programs that helped him as a young man. AZYouthforce is a B&G program that helps teens explore career options while connecting them with community leaders, internships and work opportunities. B&G plans to expand with Bayless’s donation, and will now offer the Bayless Entrepreneurship Program. The extension will teach teens essential business skills, promote their creativity and business ideas and help encourage them to explore becoming business owners. Teens will have the opportunity to work toward an academic certificate, work with local educational and business mentors, and even develop business plans which can potentially win seed money for their implementation. That means teens can work toward their career dreams while still in high school. Jill Johnson, senior director of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley, said she hopes Valley businesses are inspired to support the Clubs like Bayless is. “With us serving thousands of youth and teens, it’s important that the community and folks like Justin and other businesses invest in our young people because that’s where the change gets made,” Johnson said. “The true purpose of this partnership is to give young people a path to success, create equity for teens and give them a chance, regardless of their family’s socioeconomic status.” Bayless, who has a passion for finding solutions in the healthcare world by helping entrepreneurs and business owners achieve their conquests, has also been dedicated to philanthropic efforts. To him, representation can change the way students see the business world and their place in it. “I think being involved and interacting with students so they can see the art of possibility is super important,” Bayless said. “Often, they don’t see people that look like them, represent them, and are also club kids. I was a club kid, using the same resources and facilities. It’s important for exposure and representation because you might not see that in the business world, especially for minority families.” Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley offers after-school and summer programs for over 13,000 children and teens in grades K-12. They are currently accepting applications for AZYouthforce and the first round of applications for The Bayless Entrepreneurship Program. bgcaz.org Entrepreneur and youth club join forces Justin Bayless HOW ABOUT A VACATION FOR YOUR BEST FRIEND? WANT THE BEST FOR YOUR DOG? SO DO WE! At The Happy Dog Inn, dogs come first! Only 14 indoor/outdoor suites Two, 2-hour outdoor playgroups daily on 2 acres of space We are on site 24 hours Special Needs dogs accepted Daily tours BY APPOINTMENT Locally owned We can’t wait to meet you. Book your tour today! www.thehappydoginn.com 480.941.8040 28307 N 156th St. • Scottsdale, AZ 85262 PLEASE COME FOR A TOUR!