December 2015 Issue
Welcome to the December 2015 issue of Vicinity Magazine. Here you can flip through the magazine or read the articles by clicking on the stories below.
December 2015 Stories
Rafterhouse
With our housing market so well known, it is no surprise that a local company made up of creatives, entrepreneurs and family has made it to the national scene. Rafterhouse is a home remodeling company that is full service, focused on finding, restoring an…
Local Pubs & Microbreweries
Local breweries and pubs are popping up, creating not only a vast variety of tasty beers but also bringing together the community in these local hangouts. No example is better than O.H.S.O. Eatery + nanoBrewery. What gets you through its door is a fun and…
Drive-by Beauty
One of the special characteristics of our community is the wonderful artwork prominently on display — which many of us probably take for granted as we drive past every day. Particularly striking is the sculpture adorning a length of Goldwater Boulevard …
Winter Wonderland
No, this year is no different. Like the holidays arrive, so does the Winter Wonderland, as we are calling it, at Lee and Patricia Sepanek’s home. Their Holiday Lights are a seasonal tradition running through the New Year. The displays include lights, an…
Giving Rise to the MOD Squad
Built with the idea that the customer should get great, simple, quality pizza, owners of MOD Pizza began with great success in the Seattle area. Now open in Arcadia, this “build your own”-style restaurant is making pizza with all the toppings for one …
Game Time: Make Your Escape
Fun and interactive, this unique venue is located in Old Town Scottsdale. Make an evening with friends to, collectively, do your best to escape a room. It is a real-life adventure game designed for small groups of friends, families, co-workers or stranger…
Guests Arrive On Time
Uber’s new UberEvents brings guests to and from your gathering with minimal hassle and all at the host’s expense. Set up your UberEvents for the date and times that are appropriate; guests are alerted to the details. Each guest may opt in and order th…
Eat and Be Merry
Arizona Food Tours’ tasty experiences are rated as among the top adventures in the Phoenix area. Old Town Scottsdale is one of two locations (Tempe is the other) where it offers its dinner and lunch food tours. The dinners are three-hour progressive tou…
Hot Diggity Dog Park
The Valley is home to many dog parks and play areas. Dogs make up a great part of the vicinity’s population, with the area characterized by homes with big yards, canals to walk on, tree-lined streets to stroll and mountains to climb. While nearly all op…
Where is this?
As picturesque as our vicinity is, we thought it would be good to see how well you know some very recognizable spots — so we cut out small pieces of our photos to see if can identify them. Where is this? This place has water but no back, and a name that…
Treasures and Finds
That special antique, gift or home accessory that no one else has is a true find. Several retail shops in our vicinity are known for their original pieces; whether it be a book, a trinket, a piece of furniture or a work of art, some local shop owners prid…
Willows Home & Garden
Inspired by owner Beverly Burch’s love of home and family and her desire to create a company that exudes the warmth and comfort of home, The Willows on Indian School Road in Arcadia is and has been the place for local homeowners to visit when designing …
A Stroll through Arcadia
Arcadia is home to many mid-century ranch homes and has recently become a hotbed of construction to update and even build from scratch as property values have come back and are so good. Here are some great areas to stroll in this coveted neighborhood: Whi…
CigArcadia
The pungent aroma of a well-crafted cigar may be best appreciated in the company of other cigar aficionados. We have several establishments here in our vicinity that will welcome you to stay — or help you select cigars to take home. Baxter’s Cigars To…