Here's the scoop

Cold Stone Creamery is having its seventh annual World's Largest Ice Cream Social to benfit Make-Wish-Foundation. From 5 to 8pm Thursday, Sept. 25, all Cold Stone Creamery stores will give out free, three-ounce Make-A-Wish Ice Cream Creations in exchange for a donation. This isn't just a dollop of vanilla in a cup, these are extravagant concoctions dreamed up by Wish children Emily and Jack. Emily chose Cold Stone's new Nutter Butter ice cream with yellow cake, Kit Kat candy and white chocolate chips. Jack chose marshmallow ice cream with Oreo cookies, chocolate chips and fudge. Make-A-Wish stars are on sale for a dollar at all Cold Stones during the entire month of September. wish.org.

Film fans favor First Friday film fare

Know99, the youth and education cable channel operated by the City of Phoenix, will devote the First Friday of each month to student films of note. Next Friday at 7pm, look for an interview with Max Anderson, 2008 Arizona Student Film Festival winner, who will talk about his film "Lombard." Friday's show also will feature "Grounds for Healing" by Roze and Candace Rose, "El Trafico" by Marco Santiago, "Ceramics 101" by Aaron Gonsher, "Whiskey Tea" by Mike Healy and "The Legend of Pharaoh Cut Carrot Amun" by 6th graders at Pope John Paul XXXIII. Know99 is a partner with Arizona Student Film Festival. The 2009 festival is Jan. 17. Submissions can be made between Sept 1 and Dec 19. Know99 Student film hour.

Seeking decent docents

Understanding art can be as difficult as a finding perspective in a Rorschach inkblot test. You know what you think it is, but what did the artist think? Is it supposed to be a bowl of fruit or a self-portrait of inner angst? What you need is a decent docent, someone who can make art come alive.

The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) is looking for a few good men and women to be museum docents who lead informative tours of the museum. The word "docent" comes from the Latin docere, which means "to teach." Makes sense. And making sense of art is a gift to museum visitors. There will an information session for prospective Museum Guides from 9:30-10:30am Thursday, Sept. 18 at Stage 2 Theater, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E Second St in Scottsdale. The session includes free coffee! No experience is necessary. RSVP or learn more: 480-874-4641. sccarts.org.

Pediatric playtime

Here's something kids in the hospital don't see much of: somewhere to play. Unless they can sneak in a few gurney or wheelchair races late at night, there isn't much chance to act like a kid. Patients at the Banner Thunderbird Children's Center now have a play area, outside, in the sun and fresh air. According to a hospital press release, research studies show that people get better faster and need less mediciation when they can get outside and play. Methinks common sense would lead to the same conclusion, but that's just based in personal research as someone who spent an entire childhood playing outside. The picture at left is the landscape architect's rendering of the playground. The real thing is at Banner Thunderbird, 5555 W Thunderbird Rd in Glendale. Banner Thunderbird.

Sign language

I saw 29 of these signs on Shea between 56th and 70th streets this morning. I wondered what the issue was with Fresh&Easy, the new 73-store grocery chain owned by Tesco of the UK. Every issue has a website, which in this case is operated by the United Food and Commercial Workers union, whose 1.3 million members work in grocery stores, packing plants and retail stores. The site documents infractions by Tesco stores in the United Kingdom regarding food freshness, questionable labeling of food and environmental policies. Brendan Wonnacott, a spokesperson for Fresh& Easy says, "Basically everything they point out took place in the UK and are isolated incidents. We stand by our committments to quality and invite our customers to come see for themselves." None of Fresh&Easy's stores in the U.S. are cited on the website. So, as with anything on the Internet, read carefully, stay critical. freshandeasyfacts.com.

Destination Navajo Nation

If you're used to heading to Flagstaff for a quick getaway, consider going a few more hours to the Navajo Nation. The beauty of Canyon de Chelly, the 62nd annual Navajo Nation Fair in Window Rock Sept 2-7 and the 40th Annual To' Nanees' Dizi' Diné Fair Oct. 9-12 in Tuba City are a few of the places to visit and things to do.

The Explore Navajo Interactive Museum and the Navajo Code Talkers Museum are also in Tuba City. And of course enjoying the fall colors is certainly something that isn't available in Phoenix. Because the Navajo Nation is a sovereign, self-governing nation, being there is not unlike traveling to another country to absorb its culture. ExploreNavajo.com.

And the number is...

Your mobile phone contact list includes dozens of close friends, colleagues and go-to pals who could get you out of a jam. Last Saturday I lent my phone to someone who needed a ride but couldn't remember any numbers on the mobile phone he had left at home.

Calling or emailing at the touch of a button is great if the button is handy but maybe a printed list of essential numbers would be a good idea if memorizing them is out of the question. At least memorize your own cell phone number so you can call it when your cell phone is lost between the couch cushions and you can't find it. Here's an interesting article about the contact list memory dilemma and our reliance on electronic gadgets.

Countering the culture

Can one person's traditional culture be another's counter-culture? It all depends on point of view. Homemakers by Choice (HBC) is a non-profit, non-denominational, Bible-based women's ministry. From its website: "HBC is a Christ-centered organization designed to support and encourage the stay-at-home mom."

Preregistration for the upcoming year's events is Thursday, Sept. 4 from 9-11:30am at Scottsdale Bible Church, 7601 E. Shea Blvd. For a registration form and more information, call the HBC office at 480-368-0873. For a clear understanding of what HBC has to offer, visit homemakersbychoice.org.

Dairy heirs

Young connoisseurs of dairy drinks may want to apply to be on the next Shamrock Farms official consumer flavor panel: Roxie's Taste Buds. All 6- to 12-year-old Arizona residents are eligible.

Some of the most recent bunch is at left. One clever T-Bud, Richie Foitik, 13, of Tucson, won a year's supply of Shamrock Farms milk for his Mexican Chocolate idea. No word on when his idea will hit store shelves, but it was served at the Arizona Culinary Institute in Scottsdale during the final Taste Buds event of the year.

Being able to quaff a quart of 2% in 10 seconds is not a qualification, but being able to communicate ideas in writing is. Up to 20 winners will be selected based on their responses to two essay questions. Exclusive Taste Bud activities take place October through August. Roxie Taste Buds applications are available online or by calling 888-HI-ROXIE. Deadline for applications is Sept.14. shamrockfarms.net.

Loquacious canine

The premise may seem dubious. A dog, Martha, consumes alphabet soup and acquires the power of speech. What lends the premise credence is that it is on PBS Kids. Debuting Sept. 1, "Martha Speaks," a new animated series from the WGBH creators of "Curious George" and Arthur," will air twice daily and is designed to enhance a child's oral vocabulary. Based on the books by author and illustrator Susan Meddaugh, each show consists of two 11-minute episodes wherein Matha's antics and adventures provoke innumerable linquistically rich scenarios. That is the educational goal of the show: to increase vocabulary through context clues. Linguistic entertainment at its pinnacle. pbskids.org/martha.

Let's chili

Far from the Phoenix metropolitan glob, a different Arizona exists. Safford, Pima, Thatcher, Clifton, Solomon, Duncan, Willcox and York is not a law firm, but a string of small towns in Southern Arizona that call themselves the Salsa Trail. On Sept. 26 and 27, SalsaFest is held in the town square of Safford. Salsa making, salsa tasting,  entertainment, kids' activities and that small-town feel make this a real vacation from city congestion. The town has 12 restaurants, a tortilla factory and a chili grower that have been around for decades, honing their culinary skills. Eat your way down the Salsa Trail to SalsaFest. SalsaTrail.com.

Fun frappe

What do you get when you dump 55 tons of snow in DC Ranch in August? Eventually just water, but along the way 400 kids played in the relative coolness of mounds of snow during the Summer Snowball event last Saturday.

Icy frolickers donated funds and school supplies to Homeward Bound, which assists families in the Phoenix Metro area transitioning out of domestic abuse situations. Since 1990, Homeward Bound has provided housing and a comprehensive social services program to break multi-generational cycles of homelessness and domestic violence. Krispy Kreme sponsored the event and donated $1,500 to Homeward Bound as well as free doughnuts at the event. Homeward Bound Phoenix.

Unforgettable

Most students have been in class no more than two weeks or so but they probably have a pretty good idea which teachers they like and which are likely from another planet. In honor of Childsplay's performances of "Miss Nelson is Missing!" (Sept 13-Oct 5), Valley grade school students can nominate their favorite teacher to win a prize.

Each week in September, Childsplay will randomly pick five nominations from all the entries. The winners never have to do homework! Well, no, the winning teachers will receive a four-pack of tickets to see the play at Tempe Center for the Arts. One grand prize winner will be selected in October; that teacher wins a field trip for his or her class to any show in Childsplay's 2008-09 season. Students, check out the entry form. For tickets to the play, call 480-350-2822 or visit Childsplay Tickets..

Really now

The Philip C. Curtis gallery was the scene of an appropriately surreal happening Saturday as the Leandro Soto & Co. Visual Theater performed "Inside Philip C. Curtis' World." Curtis was an American surrealist and abstract painter whose landscapes, populated with quirky Victorian characters, are on extensive display at the Phoenix Art Musuem. Saturday was Members Day to celebrate the reopening of PhxArtKids gallery, featuring six new kid-friendly stations that link language with art. PhxArtKids.org.

Facing fussy with calm

Kids are born cute so we want to take care of them. But an inconsolable child, whether from a titanic tantrum or nuclear hissy fit, can push a parent close to the brittle edge. For the last year, Birth to Five Helpline's Fussy Baby Program has been a resource for hundreds of parents teetering on that edge. Part of Southwest Human Development's Arizona Institute for Early Childhood Development, the Helpline is available 24/7 with calm, rational and supportive advice. 877-705-KIDS (5437) or SWHD.org.

Are you queue-ish?

Vaunted Phoenix pizza mecca Pizzeria Bianco is taking a summer break from Aug 24 to Sept 15, thereby eliminating two good weeks of jostling for position during multi-hour waits in the steamy heat. Darwin would have been amused. Braving the elements and arriving an hour before opening is a pilgrimmage many make just to sample what has been lauded as the best pizza in the country. pizzeriabianco.com.

Time for a change baby

New moms and dads will spend a lot of time changing diapers. Just from the repetition, they become experts in a matter of days. If you don't know what that is pictured at left, you should know that Luna Blue Baby Boutique is hosting a cloth diaper workshop tomorrow at 9am. Learn the differences between prefolds, fitteds, pockets, PUL, AIOs, covers and the environmental advantages of cloth diapers. Who knew cloth diapering had its own set of acronyms? For more info call 480-782-7500. Space is limited for the 45-minute workshop. Diapering a baby however, seems to go on forever. lunablueaz.com.

Get your game cookie on

If your hectic schedule precludes you from making the U.S. Olympic team and you can't go for Olympic gold, could you go for a cookie? Chompie's three Valley restaurants are offering an Olympic menu and freshly baked black-and-white cookies topped with Olympic designs. Chef Neal Borenstein concocted the new menu to bring the international flavor of the games to Chompies, which is best known as a New York-style deli and noted bagel resource. If you'd like a cookie or two, run (yes, actually run) over soon. You're in training for 2012 in London. chompies.com.

Awards seeking nominees

The Girl Scouts Arizona Cactus-Pine Council 2008 World Awards for Women of Distinction to honor Girl Scout alumni (we know you’re out there) and Young Women of Distinction (current scouts ages 15 to 18) will be held Saturday Dec. 6. There are seven categories representing the worlds of humanity, community, arts, future, learning, courage and leadership. At left are last year’s winners.

Nominations are being sought for current Girl Scouts or Girl Scout alumni until Sept. 12. Information about the awards is available here. The awards presentation, which is held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, includes a luncheon, silent auction and raffle. Luncheon tickets are $75 each. Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact Leslie Friedman for more information: 602-452-7000 x7003. girlscoutsaz.org.

Green is multi-colored

The artistic destiny of all those little pieces of crayons lurking in drawers and art supply bins does not have to be the dumpster. LuAnn Foty of Crazy Crayons wants your crayon bits. She melts them into multi-colored crayon shapes and sells them to be reused rather than taking up space in a landfill.

Foty has been doing this 14 years and has recycled tens of thousands of pounds of crayon remnants. You could melt and mold your own crayons, but will you? Do you want to? Foty's website gives a general overview of what she does and explains how to send in your crayons. Crayons are petroleum products and will not biodegrade quickly. And all those plastic markers whose caps were left off to dry out? No recycling there. Crayons and pencils are far more environmentally sensible as well as artistically cool. 800-561-0922, CrazyCrayonLady@hotmail.com or crazycrayons.com.

Flirty fruit

Celebrate the Olympics in Beijing with a fruit native to southern China. The lychee, also known as a lychee nut, or litchi, has a bumpy red, rough outer skin and white fruit that feels and tastes like a big, sweet grape. This one was procured at the The 99 Ranch Market at the Cofco Chinese Cultural Center.

Of course the Internet has a wealth of information by lychee enthusiasts worldwide. Even a recipe for a lychee martini. The lychee is considered a symbol of romance and love in China, so is it worth adding that it's also high in vitamin C? Start at lycheeonline.com and find more lychee facts from the California Rare Fruits Growers. 

Living larger

Scottsdale author Mark Trombino is signing his book, Life is Short: Living and Losing the American Dream at 3 Feet Tall tomorrow at Desert Foothills Library (38443 N Schoolhouse Rd) in Cave Creek at 6pm and then at the Desert Ridge Barnes and Noble on Thursday at 7pm.

Written with John Dickerson, the book chronicles Trombino's unique story as a single parent after his wife, Anu, died. That Trombino and his wife were little people — he is 39 inches tall — gives the story a different angle and a unique perspective on life and finding happiness. Trombino had a rich acting career in television, movies and theater and is now a motivational speaker who addresses bullying, diversity and overcoming obstacles.  motivationalsmalltalk.com.

• Listen an interview with Mark Trombino on RAKRadio.


• Read "A Conversation with..." Mark Trombino.

Harried with children

The school year brings the usual tangle of pick-ups, drop-offs, before- and after-school activities and extracurriculars like homework, meals and sleep that make days hectic and exhausting. Here's a product to keep thimgs straight so you know who is supposed to be where and when. It doesn't need to be booted up, logged into, synchronized with or downloaded to anyone's computer, PDA or phone.

It's a wall calendar! Surprised? Hang it on a wall and write on it with a pencil. Accessorize with a sticky note. With big color-coded squares for weekdays and weekends the Family Tracker School thru Summer wall calendar from Time Too is revolutionary in a wonderful, no learning curve way. It's big (18"x16") and has a completely intuitive interface (the pencil). Keep it simple and organized. timetoo.com.

Dunk and funk

What are you doing tomorrow at 10am? What are you doing during the 44 Suns home games during 08-09 season? If the answers to both question is "um..nothing" then get on your workout/dance gear and hustle (or boogie) down to the practice court at US Airways Center to audition for the Sol Patrol. The Sol Patrol is the entertainment team that performs high flying, acrobatic dunks and interacts with the crowd during Suns games so you need to be outgoing and athletic, and over 18 years old. Members of the squad performed at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and at the China Basketball Challenge in Guangzhou, China. For more information call Shaun at 602-379-7652. suns.com.

Balance is everything

Thirty-four years ago today, four months after the World Trade Center ribbon cutting, French funambulist Philippe Petit managed to sneak past Trade Center security, string and tension a steel cable between the towers and tightrope walk 1,350 feet above Manhattan for an hour before being arrested by police. He was questioned about his sanity and eventually released.

The acclaimed documentary, Man on Wire, by James Marsh opens tomorrow at Harkins Camelview to explain how and why Petit dared to attempt, and why he succeeded, at the stunt. The movie features Petit as well as people who helped him pull it off. It's rated PG-13. Kids ages 4 to 8 may be interested in the book The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein. manonwire.com.

La Leche League lecture on vaccines

The La Leche League of Arizona's parenting and breastfeeding Conference Aug 15-17 at Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort will feature Robert Sears, M.D. and Diane Wiessinger, M.S., IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultants) as speakers. Sears' presentation, "Vaccines - Making an Educated Decision for Your Children," will summarize the benefits and risks of vaccines based on his 13 years of vaccine research. Read staff writer Brittney Walker's interview with Sears before you go. The conference will provide an array of parenting and breastfeeding advice to keep you up to date. Arizona LLL conference.

It's okay to eat the bouquet

Nothing says " I love you" like flowers. Nothing says "Are you hungry?" like sending food. At the intersection of sentiment and satiation is Edible Arrangements, which provides tasty bouquets of fruit for any occasion and all ages. See the Hello Kitty arrangement for $60. The fruit at left is tasty and fresh but it lacks visual style. The fruit artists, (fru-artists? fruitists?) at Edible Arrangements are given license to fill — you up — and be decorative at the same time. Arrangements start at $50. There are 15 locations in the Phoenix metro area. Hint: Do not look at the website on an empty stomach. EdibleArrangements.com.

Gone Green

The phrase Growing Green Babies conjures up an odd image. As the title of a DVD from Gaiam, it makes more sense. The company sells lifestyle goods for people who want "green shopping options and healthy living products," according to its website. The DVD focuses on the value of organic food (they spend a lot of time in a Whole Foods Market), organic and sustainably produced frurniture and bedding and decorating baby's room with ecologically sensitive materials. There is even a segment on finding the best pediatrician to help you live a green lifestyle. At Gaiam, "going green" means going to the store buy specific products as opposed to growing your own organic vegetables or reusing hand-me-down furniture to reduce consumption. Growing Green Babies will be available Sept 2. gaiam.com.

Painting by night

Anyone downtown near the Red Dog Art Gallery for First Friday saw painter Roy Sproule at work on a mural on Valley Youth Theater's administrative offices at 807 N 3rd Street. That's him in silhouette on the far right. Sproule started the mural in February using centuries old techniques developed by Renaissance fresco painters. Using reference images provided by Valley Youth Theater, he made drawings on paper that have small holes in the lines through which a charcoal dust, pounce, is forced to make a cartoon on the painted wall. Though he isn't painting on wet plaster, he is painting by hand on rough painted brick wall. Sproule learned his trade from billboard painters in his hometown of Detroit. His day job is at Luke Air Force Base working in avionics. He often works through the night and expects to complete the 759 square-foot painting by December and hopes to create murals for a living some day.

Will you know who I am?

Anyone who hikes or bikes solo should carry a cell phone. To identify yourself to first responders in case of an accident, some sort of identification should be attached to you. Short of a tattoo, an ID bracelet such as from Road ID will do the trick. Your name and 6 lines of personal data is laser engraved on a stainless steel tag on a wrist band is secured by velcro to your wrist, shoe, ankle, or on a chain around your neck. Prices range from $20-$25. Road ID also has an 'interactive' ID that provides personal information to first responders provided they have access to a computer or a telephone. RoadID.com.

Roll on Roosevelt Row

When the first Friday of the month rolls around, head to Roosevelt Row to participate in the First Friday art scene in downtown Phoenix. Eye Lounge, the contemporary art space, is having their Fabulous Fun First Friday Flat File Fundraiser which features framed and unframed artworks for $1-$30, tonight only. The live auction starts at 9pm. The proceeds of the fundraiser benefits Eye Lounge which is "a collective, artist-run, contemporary art space committed to fostering emerging and established visual artists in downtown Phoenix." There are many art spaces along Roosevelt between Seventh Street and Central Ave and vicinity. Check out the block party on Garfield street, just south of Roosevelt, which is blocked off between fourth and sixth street where vendors sell handmade crafts, art and fashion. rooseveltrow.org

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