LO O P 360 Fall in SOTTSDALE IVI ENTER ih E V E N T S | C O N C E R T S | T O U R S OCT. 3 NOV. 22 T H R O U G H OLDTOWNSCOTTSDALEAZ.COM COME SEE WHAT ALL THE LOVE IS ABOUT. Old Town Scottsdale proudly introduces the newly renovated Civic Center. This popular 24-acre outdoor space has been enhanced with more accessible and beautified walkways, and quiet spaces to relax. Enjoy new public art, landscaping, and directional graphics, including two fan-friendlier concert and entertainment spaces (the East and West Bowls). Civic Center remains a hotbed for Old Town festivals and cultural experiences, and is kicking it up a notch this fall with an impressive lineup of concerts and events. If you haven’t seen the renovated Civic Center yet, you now have a growing list of reasons to visit. We continually update our fall calendar. Check back often. Find something new to love.

20 OCTOBER 2023 THE DINING SCOOP Eat Up Drive-In partnered with MLB All-Star Rookie Outfielder Corbin Carroll to introduce the ‘Corbin Carroll’ meal, available through October 31. The meal includes a double cheeseburger, fries, a chocolate chip cookie and a choice of regular, flavored or frozen lemonade for $7.77. Each meal comes with a baseball card; Carroll will sign a limited quantity. eatupdrivein.com Salt and Lime Modern Mexican Grill is planning an early 2024 opening of a second location in the space previously occupied by Streets of New York at Camelback Village Center (5031 N. 44th St.). The location will undergo a complete remodel and continue to offer its daily specials: Margarita Mondays, Taco Tuesdays, Senorita Saturdays, and its yearly transformation into the holiday pop- up, Feliz Navidad Cantina. saltandlimeaz.com JOJO Coffeehouse (3712 N. Scottsdale Road) is introducing new menu items for the fall season, available until November 30. Blueberry lemon ricotta pancakes and pumpkin cheesecake pancakes are two new food dishes; for coffee lovers, new espresso drinks: a s’mores mocha and a classic pumpkin spice latte. jojocoffeehouse.com Scottsdale Fashion Square (7014 E. Camelback Road) is home to a new restaurant called Moxies , a casual dining space with dishes like the tuna sushi stack, steak bites and chipotle mango chicken. Handcrafted cocktails and a curated wine list are also available. Coming soon to the luxury shopping mall is Catch , a seafood restaurant boasting crunchy rice cakes, lobster macaroni, mushroom spaghetti and more. moxies.com, catchrestaurants.com By Rachael Bouley A group of area students are taking to the trails as part of a joint mountain bike team, offering a unique high school sporting experience with ample adrenaline and exciting challenges. This year’s team has 45 mountain bikers, guided by Head Coach Rich Perrott and 20 volunteer coaches, that participate with the Arizona Cycling Association. The Bronco and Gator kids will attend five races in Flagstaff, Prescott, Taylor, Fountain Hills, and Sierra Vista throughout the fall. After a decade of racing, the teams aim to bring home top honors in the south division. “Our goal is to win the state championship this year,” Coach Perrott said. “Last season, we won the South Conference Championship but came up short in state finals.” The competition is tough, with more than 1,500 student-athletes on over 80 teams representing over 150 high schools in the Arizona Cycling Association. The sport began in 2012 during a coaching seminar at the Pivot Cycles factory in Tempe. When asked what high school he would like to coach at, Perrott didn’t hesitate. “My oldest son was graduating from Brophy, and I loved the school. I wrote Brophy on the board without ever considering coaching and without speaking to the school about it,” he said. Within a few months, Perrott had met with the Dean and athletic director, gaining approval to create an unfunded school club at Brophy. That fall, the club was underway with four students, two pickup trucks and two coaches: Perrott and his friend Mark Manson. It was a small but mighty campaign as they looked to offer something different to athletes. “We approached Xavier the next year and gained acceptance with them as a club,” Perrott said. “One year later, we convinced an intern at Brophy to join us. Cooper Davis became our on-campus presence and brought talented coaching abilities to our program. This led to substantial growth in our team.” Since then, mountain biking has become a varsity letter sport at both schools, and the team now has three buses, a bike trailer, and a gear trailer. The team practices in Xavier’s spin room, on Trail 100 (7th St. and Peoria), and in Brophy’s weight room. On the weekends, they head to Papago Park, Brown’s Ranch and McDowell Mountain Park to sharpen their skills. “We believe mountain biking brings out the best in high school students,” Perrott said. “They are required to get up early, be on time, assemble all their gear, maintain their bikes, be at peak nutritional and athletic shape, and give full effort at practices and races.” Senior Mary Hill is one of the team leaders and will graduate with over 25 top- five podium finishes as the most highly decorated athlete in the program’s history. With seven years of competitive racing, she’s learned about herself and made unforgettable memories with teammates and competitors. “My favorite part of being on the team is being a part of the community,” Mary said. “It’s unlike any other sport. I feel much closer to my teammates in mountain biking than in any other sport I’ve been in.” Her patience has paid off as she’s improved her skills and confidence with every ride. “I love riding because it gives me an opportunity to exercise and learn something new every time I ride,” Mary added. “Whether it be how to do a section of trail I thought was impossible or learn how to fix a flat tire, there is always something new to absorb.” Senior Jackson Pohlad is another leading varsity rider with four years under his belt. He was surprised to learn of the mountain biking team at Brophy but jumped at the chance to ride competitively. “My favorite part is that I can share my passion with new people and also spend time with others who enjoy riding,” Jackson said. “Waking up at 4 a.m. isn’t for everyone, but the sunrise makes it all worth it. On the bike, I feel free and can take in everything around me. You see the beauty in the world, and it becomes addictive.” The team won the first South Division race in Flagstaff in early September and will head to Taylor on October 8 and McDowell Mountain Park on October 21. The public is welcome to attend the races. Brophy and Xavier mountain bikers are wheels up for the fall season Brophy and Xavier’s first win as a team happened in Prescott in 2022. The mountain bikers went on to win the conference later that year. PHOTO COURTESY OF RICH PERROTT WE HAVE MOVED 4600 E Shea Blvd | Suite 100 | Phoenix, AZ 85028 NW corner Tatum and Shea | West of Trader Joes 602.955.8700 • FPSAZ.com IN PRACTICE CELEBRATING EXPERT DOCTORS AND PRACTITIONERS. CONVENIENT SERVICES. EXTENDED HOURS. Our Family Caring for Yours