Entries by Annabel V Sclippa

Arizona Corn and Watermelon Festivals: Summer 2026

Beat the summer heat with fresh watermelon and crunchy sweet corn at Arizona’s best harvest festivals. This chronological guide covers the 33rd Annual Corn Fest in Camp Verde, the interactive Watermelon and Sweet Corn Festival at Mortimer Farms, and the Snowflake-Taylor community celebration. Enjoy live music, farm tours, and family activities in cooler weather. Plan your perfect summer getaway and connect with local farming traditions across the state.

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Come Into the Cool: Museum-Hopping in the Valley is Alchemical

Escape the intense desert heat and discover the transformative alchemy of art in the Valley of the Sun. This summer, experience a sudden transmutation from hot pavement to chill gold within the exceptionally cool settings of our local museums. Delve into the multi-sensory journey of Tender Alchemy at SMoCA, featuring mother-daughter duo Beth Ames Swartz and Julianne Swartz. Explore the expanded Western Spirit Museum and find a sanctuary to refresh your soul.

This November and December Celebrate the Magic of the Holidays in Old Town Cottonwood!

Old Town Cottonwood sparkles this November-December with wine, chocolate, and pure holiday joy! Kick off November 8 at the 19th Annual Walkin’ on Main—wine tents, classic cars, and live tunes from Local Honey. December 5-6 brings the VIP Wine & Chocolate soirée, the 70th Christmas Parade, and the 32nd Chocolate Walk with carolers and dazzling lights. Twinkling streets, no chain stores, all local love—your perfect desert holiday escape!

Happy Hour in Scottsdale

Get the 411 from Annabel Sclippa:
I feel exceedingly fortunate to be living here in the historic art district of Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona, and so I make a point of finding the great little nooks and crannies that are part of why this neighborhood is such a treat.

Ways to Stay Fit & Beat the Heat

Stay cool and FIT through the sizzling Arizona summer, with the help of online workouts and indoor facilities. Specifically: Ability360 Sports & Fitness Center in Phoenix, which is for ALL abilities. This is one of the largest state-of-the-art plus fully- accessible Fitness Centers, that I have seen. And it comes complete with pools, spa tub, extensive gym with classes and trainers, basketball courts and a full size track.

Discovering the WORLD Through the Lens of Greg Bernstein Our Newest Team Member.

An Emmy Award-winning videographer, photographer, and editor, he has garnered acclaim for his ability to bring narratives to life through compelling visuals. His travels have taken him from the soaring cliffs of El Capitan in Yosemite to the vibrant depths of South American jungles, and even to the surreal ice floes of the Arctic Circle. Such diverse environments have not only shaped his technical abilities but have also cultivated a unique artist’s intuition that is evident in every project he undertakes.