Life + Culture

The Soundtrack of America

In honor of National Rock 'n' Roll Day, 3 iconic artists reflect on fame, friendship, family, and purpose. Photography by Provided/Scottsdale Event Photography July 7th marks National Rock ’n’ Roll Day, though for most people, rock and roll was never confined to a single day on the calendar. It became part of life itself. It was blasting through car speakers after getting your license. Concert tickets stuffed into junk drawers. Songs attached to breakups, road trips, late nights, baseball...

Sports + Recreation

Quick Hits with Mike & Vanessa

Celebrating 20 Years as the Faces of Diamondbacks Baseball Photography by Provided For two decades, Mike Bauer and Vanessa Ramirez have helped define the energy inside Chase Field. In honor of their 20th season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, we caught up with the in-game duo to talk unforgettable moments, behind-the-scenes chaos, family, friendship, and the journey fans may not fully see. Vanessa, before the Diamondbacks, you were on reality TV… Vanessa: Yes. I was on Love in the Wild ...

Travel

Get your kicks on Route 66

Route 66 Turns 100 Article and Photography by For our Explore Issue, we’re taking a road trip down memory lane. This year, Route 66 officially turns 100 years old, fitting as America simultaneously celebrates its 250th anniversary. While the road itself stretches from Chicago to Santa Monica, some of its most iconic and emotionally resonant miles live right here in Arizona. The Mother Road winds through old mining towns, weathered trading posts, quirky diners, mountain passes, neon-lit...

Arts + Culture

The Cowboy Behind Bravo

Welcome to rural Missouri, where family, farming, and fame collide. Article by Nadine Bubeck | Photography by Provided Steven McBee Jr. laughs when people compare his life to Yellowstone . “We’re the Temu version of Yellowstone .” It is an easy comparison to make.  Steven McBee Jr. is the oldest of four brothers whose lives revolve around a family farm and ranch, thousands of acres, cattle, bison, business pressure, relationship drama, and Bravo’s hit series  The McBee Dynasty: Real...

Arts + Culture

Born & Raised in the Boondocks 

Kimberly Schlapman has Lived Every Verse of a Country Song Article by Nadine Bubeck | Photography by Provided For our Explore Issue, we’re heading to the Boondocks. For more than 25 years, Little Big Town has remained one of country music’s most beloved and enduring groups, a remarkable accomplishment in an industry where longevity is rare and harmony, both musically and personally, is even harder to sustain. In May, Kimberly Schlapman and her fellow members of the eight-time ACM...

Life + Culture

Red, White & Resilient

Jason Redman's story is one of service, sacrifice, second chances, and an enduring belief in the American Dream. Article by Nadine Bubeck | Photography by Provided As we celebrate America 250 and watch fireworks fill the sky this Fourth, we are reminded that the freedoms we enjoy were never without sacrifice. This month, we honor retired Navy SEAL Jason Redman, a severely wounded warrior, bestselling author, leadership expert, and patriot whose story embodies resilience, redemption, and the...

Arts + Culture

The Frenchman Who Found the West

How a road trip, rock music, & a cowboy museum changed the course of Mark Maggiori's life. Photography by James Patrick Photography From blasting Led Zeppelin cassettes to painting cowboys in the desert, Mark Maggiori’s journey from France to the American West is as cinematic as his canvases. Raised far from ranch life, he now creates from his Scottsdale studio and has become a standout in contemporary Western art. His work has headlined magazines, topped $500,000 at auction, and won fans...

Food + Beverage

The Great American Burger

A Look at the Nostalgia, Tradition, and Timeless Appeal Behind the Burger Photography by Square One Concepts There are food trends, and then there are foods that become part of American culture. The cheeseburger is one of them. For S. Barrett Rinzler, founder and CEO of Square One Concepts and the visionary behind Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers, the burger's staying power isn't just about taste. It's about tradition. “This may sound overly patriotic,” he says, “but I think it somewhat harkens...

Food + Beverage

Like Fathers, Like Sons

The Mastro family legacy, where good taste runs in the family. Article by Nadine Bubeck | Photography by Provided Jeff Mastro. Mike Mastro. Dennis Mastro. For more than three decades, these names have come to represent something steady. Not just great restaurants, but a standard people trust. Steak 44. Ocean 44. Dominick’s Steakhouse. Durant’s. Rooms that feel the same no matter how many times you walk into them. Familiar in the best way.  From Arizona to cities across the country, that...

Entertainment

Wagon Wheel, Windows Down

An exclusive one-on-one with Darius Rucker ahead of his Songs of Summer Tour stop in Phoenix Article by Nadine Bubeck | Photography by Jim Wright From Hootie & the Blowfish to a chart-topping solo career, from “Hold My Hand” to “Wagon Wheel,” Darius Rucker has built a catalog that doesn’t just span genres, it spans generations. From Hootie & the Blowfish to a chart-topping solo career, from “Hold My Hand” to “Wagon Wheel,” Darius Rucker has built a catalog that doesn’t just span genres, it...