AUGUST 2025 30 T he Arcadia Birdcage Plaza near 44th St. and Thomas has seen a revitalization in the past year, with businesses and eateries popping up and giving the neighborhood some new places-to-be- seen. Mister Pio specializes in Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken, while Playa Bowls offers açaí bowls, smoothies, and other tropical snacks. The additions bring a mix of bold and refreshing flavors to the community.  4502 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix misterpio.com Mister Pio, a rotisserie-forward restaurant from co-owners Justin Nasralla and David Goluboff, opened in October 2024. The duo, who met in Lima, Peru, in 2013, formed a friendship thanks to their shared passion for food and culture. Justin, who’s originally from Toronto, Canada, had a dream of opening his own restaurant for years. After working in kitchens across the Valley and across the world, he decided to settle down and found the perfect spot for Mister Pio, a restaurant that honors his Peruvian heritage, inspired by his mother’s roots in Lima. At the heart of Mister Pio’s menu is their rotisserie chicken, marinated with a dry brine for two days and cooked over marabú charcoal in a Josper rotisserie oven, known for its intense heat and flavor-enhancing power. The focus on a smaller menu means everything is crafted with care. “Since we only focus on a few things at Mister Pio, everything is equally special and delicious,” Nasralla said. Diners can order a chicken sandwich, a quarter chicken with dark meat or white meat, a half chicken or a whole chicken. House-made fries, which are triple cooked for maximum crispiness, are available in small and large sizes for $6 and $9 respectively. The menu also features a market salad. “Our chickens come from Bell & Evans, known for air-chilled birds raised without hormones or antibiotics. Spices are sourced from Mount Hope, while fresh greens and vegetables arrive straight from Steadfast Farms,” Nasralla said. Even the charcoal used for the rotisserie is carefully selected for performance and purity. While the restaurant is still in the process of securing a liquor license, there are a variety of non-alcoholic drinks available. As a business owner, Justin says he doesn’t dwell on the challenges. “I know I’m fortunate to do what I’m passionate about every day,” he said. “We are very excited about what the future holds!”  4528 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix playabowls.com Playa Bowls was created in Belmar, New Jersey, by founders Rob Giuliani and Abby Taylor. It started as an açai stand on Jersey Shore, inspired by the duo’s travels to beach destinations. They decided to bring the bowls they’d eaten on their journeys back to the East Coast. They struck a deal with the owner of the pizza shop they lived above and launched a pop-up shop – and now, over a decade later, there are more than 300 Playa Bowls locations across the country. “We’re really huge on the Midwest and east coast, down the shore line,” Arcadia Playa Bowls owner Roosevelt Nix said. “I think there’s close to 90 locations in Jersey and New York alone.” Nix, who’s originally from Ohio, learned about the concept in Columbus. Pittsburgh Steelers fans may recognize the name: Nix played for the NFL team for five years and went to the Pro Bowl in 2017 before retiring and heading for sunny AZ. “While I was playing football, I was always looking for brands to franchise and kind of get into business with,” Nix said. “I fell in love with the Playa by my house, and the rest is history. I was excited to bring one of my favorite things to one of my favorite places.” On the menu, diners can choose from bowls, smoothies and juices – fresh and bottled. Guests start by choosing a base: pitaya, açai, banana, mango and more; there are over 35 options. Smoothies are around $7 and bowls range from $12-$15. “We have granola, all the fruits, tons of different options for drizzles…you can fully customize your bowl or smoothie,” Nix said. “People love the Pura Vida and the Nutella, but it’s hard not to say that people love the whole menu!” Playa Bowls has four Arizona locations, with the most recent opening in the West Valley. Nix said he has plans to open a few more stores of his own, and wants Arcadians to know one thing: Playa Bowls isn’t just an açai and smoothie shop – it’s a vibe. WHAT’S NEW AT THE BIRDCAGE? Mister Pio Playa Bowls  Coming soon to Tempe’s Mill Avenue is NYC-based Prince Street Pizza . The shop will open in the former Jimmy John’s space at CenterPoint and offer New York-style slices, specialty Sicilian squares, pizzettas, salads, appetizers and desserts. Stay tuned as we learn more! princestreetpizza.com Bad Jimmy’s , the smashburger eatery that began as a pop-up in 2020, has opened its third location near Bethany Home Road and 7th St. in Phoenix. Founded by James Piazza, the brand expanded to downtown Phoenix in 2023 and Scottsdale earlier this year. The new spot features the signature smashburgers, waffle fries, wings, salads, and soft-serve ice cream. badjimmys.com 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

31 AUGUST 2025 H ave you been on LinkedIn lately? If so, you’ve probably seen posts from frustrated job seekers. They are mad and feeling demoralized. Some are giving up. Looking for a job is hard, even under the best circumstances. The majority have never looked for a new job from scratch. In most cases, the job seeker receives a call from a friend, a colleague, or a recruiter. They are asked to apply for a job. They interview for the role, and may be selected. The process is relatively quick and painless. Occasionally, job seekers will venture out on their own to search. They’ll apply for jobs online, where they have no connections. This is great, but it’s a different kind of search. It involves more applications and more interviews… and much more rejection. This experience often leads the job seeker to believe they are failing. They are comparing this new, more difficult experience to the experiences they remember from the past. Add on the current news coverage, and you may begin to feel doomed. The headlines talk about how bad the market is. Layoffs seem like an everyday occurrence. The negative LinkedIn posts seem to be social proof that things really are as bad as they seem. Before you stop searching, consider this. Companies are still hiring. 147,000 more jobs were added to the U.S. economy in June, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unemployment rate is currently 4.2 percent, which is generally considered positive. If you are struggling, remember this. Searching for a job in this new way is hard, even in a good market. New jobs do exist, and it is possible to land one. The biggest shift I am observing this year is that companies are moving through their hiring processes more slowly than in past years. In the end, they are still hiring. What can you do to increase your odds? First, audit your job search materials. Consider doing an overhaul of your resume. I’m not just talking about making it “ATS friendly.” Make sure it’s human friendly. Employers will only look at your resume for seven seconds before they decide whether or not to talk to you. Update your LinkedIn profile. Take the time to write a cover letter that you can use as you apply for jobs. I know that this sounds like a pain, but you are the best one to tell your own story to employers. Last, apply for more jobs than you did in the past. Don’t apply to five jobs and then decide it’s over. Apply to 50. Apply to 100. As they say, getting a job is a job. If you audit your search and keep going, you will find it in the end. Feeling stuck? Fix your search fundamentals Career Corner Career expert and founder of Copeland Coaching. copelandcoaching.com BY ANGELA COPELAND Thirty years ago, Arcadia High welcomed Ingleside alum Dr. John Weimer to the principal position. Arcadia News wasn’t able to find any updated information on Dr. Weimer, so instead, we’re re-introducing Dr. Janelle Danskey, who took over the position two years ago. Dr. Danskey earned a Bachelor’s degree in History and a Master’s in Secondary Teaching from Willamette University, followed by a Doctorate in Educational and Organizational Leadership from the University of Portland. Though she originally planned to teach English, she shifted to history during her sophomore year and has remained passionate about education ever since. When her sister later moved to Sacramento, Danskey sought out a sunnier climate and set her sights on Phoenix. After moving to Arizona, Danskey searched for opportunities in the Scottsdale area and was thrilled to discover an opening at Arcadia. Reflecting on what matters most in school leadership, she emphasized the importance of a strong ethical foundation. “It’s something I believe in deeply. We’re responsible for meeting all students’ needs so we can support their developing knowledge and the skills they need to be successful and recognize that our world is changing rapidly,” Danskey said. “We’re excited to welcome our students back to school for a year filled with growth, discovery, and connection. We can’t wait to see all they will accomplish this year!” ARCADIANEWSARCHIVES.COM 30 YEARS AGO Dr. Janelle Danskey