30 NOVEMBER 2022 J ust an hour north of Phoenix lies a 60-acre property, lush with cottonwoods that create a cool canopy along a winding creek. Readers and viewers will often hear me say, “just off an Arizona Highway.” Well, in Mayer, The Creekside Lodge and Cabins really are just off the highway. Turn off State Route 69, and you’ve arrived. Owner John Papuga recently bought the lodge on Bug Creek and did an entire remodel. There are a total of 19 rooms, each 410 square feet. Seven rooms have Santa Fe décor, and seven others are cowboy- themed with heart- shaped tubs. There are also four lodge rooms with adjoining doors, in case it’s a family getaway. There’s plenty to do in the surrounding area: horseback riding, a winery in nearby Dewey and two casinos close to Mayer. If guests want to hang out at the lodge and enjoy some r-n-r, there’s a steakhouse on the property with a Thursday night Prime Rib special and a bar with live music that plays creek side during the summer. The lodge brings in different bands, from country tunes to the blues – a few musicians even play acoustics. Papuga wanted to provide a place with a unique environment so that visitors could experience it all. Ten minutes from Mayer is Dewey- Humboldt, Arizona’s “country town.” Although its history dates back to the 1500s, when Spanish explorers and missionaries scoured the land in search of gold, silver and lost souls to convert to Christianity, Dewey-Humboldt didn’t officially become a town until 2004. This quaint and historic town is worth exploring, especially in the fall. Mortimer Farms is known for its Pumpkin Festival and Corn Maze, which takes place on a 15-acre pumpkin patch. There’s also the Freedom Station Family Fun Center which has laser tag, mini golf and other family activities. Don’t forget to enjoy the beautiful fall colors at Fain Park and nearby Watson Lake. On our last trip to Dewey-Humboldt, we stopped in for a bite at Mamma’s Kitchen, a place “where everyone knows your name.” It’s a neighborhood joint full of regulars, but visitors are also treated like family. The most popular breakfast items are chicken fried steak, Mamma’s home fries, biscuits and gravy or the machaca huevos rancheros breakfast burritos. Mamma does most of the cooking, and her two daughters have worked there since they were young. Guests say it’s a warm and inviting environment but get to Mamma’s early, as it’s only open until 2 p.m., an hour earlier on Sundays. So, if you are looking for some hometown fun, a fall color spectacular and a place where friends feel like family, head to Mayer and Dewey- Humboldt. The Creekside Lodge and Cabins are a little oasis and at Mamma’s Kitchen – just like the Cheers bar, they are always glad you came. In these quaint Arizona towns, ‘everybody knows your name’ Robin is the host and executive producer of the Arizona Highways Television , Saturdays and Sundays on CBS. BY ROBIN SEWELL Robins Adventures Mamma’s Kitchen Café – where Mamma does the cookin’. Mortimer Farms – 90 minutes north of Arcadia, in Dewey-Humbolt. If you are currently working with an agent, please disregard. CUSTOM HOME BUILDS LINCOLN - MID MODERN NEW CONSTRUCTION COMING LATE FALL 2022 5151 E EARLL DRIVE NEW LISTING 3530 E GLENROSA - CALL FOR SHOWING SOLD FOR $1,800,000 8437 E SHETLAND TRAIL NATHAN ANDERSON + PAUL NICOLETTI 480.888.5800 | NATEANDPAUL.COM DON’T LET INTEREST RATES “ SPOOK” YOU AWAY FROM YOUR DREAM HOME. Call us today to Sell Your Home for TOP Dollar. SCANDINAVIAN RANCH SCAN HERE BUILD WITH US! SCAN HERE or Call 602.730.0668 Today ROC #314154 NEW CONSTRUCTION COMING LATE FALL 2022 5141 E EARLL DRIVE

31 NOVEMBER 2022 By Jennifer Marshall Following the temporary closing of their youth sports league, Arcadians Katrina and David Alfaro and their son, Deuce, decided to flip the script and try something new. And with how much David loves to shop, finding their next venture was easy. The Alfaros recently opened a vintage clothing store and print shop called Studio 56, named for its location at 56th St. and Thomas Road. David is an avid collector of vintage sports clothing with a focus on 90s champion basketball jerseys. Although their sports league was shuttered, David continued buying jerseys and other vintage clothing items, and the family decided to start selling them online. “Those sales really took off,” Katrina said. “Then, toward the end of 2020, our sports league reopened, and we started doing vintage pop- up events. David [also known as Deuce], our 19-year-old son, and I did about 35 to 40 shows in 2021. Our events were just as successful as our online sales, and before we knew it, our house was overtaken by racks and racks of clothes.” The clothing dominated the kitchen, living room, bedrooms, carport and back patio, which prompted Katrina to tell her husband that it was time to get the clothing out of the house. Thus, their search for a shop to lease began – and luckily, they found a spot just down the road. “At Studio 56, we carry vintage clothing: shirts, sweaters and jackets from the late 80s to the early 90s,” Katrina said. “We also stock old sports tees, concert and band tees, rap tees, sports sweaters, jackets and jerseys. We also sell new sneakers: Yeezy’s, Dunks and Jordan’s, and foreign snacks and drinks from around the world.” A vendor by the name of Outta Town Pop supplies the shop with those items. They’ve offered Fanta from Thailand, Japan and China as well as unique flavors of chips, cookies and candy, plus Crystal Pepsi from Canada and cup noodles-flavored potato chips from Taiwan. “David searches for new items every day,” Katrina said. “He gets his merchandise from thrift stores, yard sales, estate sales, storage units, online platforms, etc. The man never stops looking! Currently, there are around 1,500 items, and new stuff is added all the time.” Deuce, along with being part owner of the business, is the inspiration behind the print shop. He specializes in printing sublimation t-shirts (a process that uses heat transfer to apply an image to the shirt), vinyl t-shirts and names on the back of the kids’ youth sports jerseys for the sports league. Learn more on Instagram @studio56_vintage Studio 56 opens David Alfaro, David “Deuce” Alfaro II and Derek Dahlgren. PHOTO: KATRINA ALFARO ADMISSIONS APPLICATION PERIOD NOW OPEN FOR FALL 2023! Ask about our Fund for All program making Catholic education affordable for all families regardless of income. COME, GROW WITH US! 4510 N. 24TH STREET • PHOENIX, AZ 85016 www.staphxschool.org (602) 954-9088 ADVENT AFTERNOON December 4th, 2:00pm Joyful Mysteries Sonatas featuring Saint Thomas the Apostle Music Ministry and Violinist, Esther Witherell IN THE CHURCH; FREE ADMISSION ADVENT CONCERT December 6th, 7:00pm Featuring Saint Thomas the Apostle Adult and 6th/7th Grade Choirs, and special guests. IN THE CHURCH; FREE ADMISSION. (Donations gratefully accepted.) ADVENT MISSION December 14th, 6:00-8:00pm Join us in the church for Confession, Mass, and talk from Bishop James S. Wall, Bishop of Gallup as he presents Christ, Our Light in Times of Darkness ALL ARE WELCOME TO OUR PARISH ADVENT EVENTS!