Preparing for a debut of his short film on Tuesday for friends, family and a panel of local cinematographers, Mountain Pointe High School senior Vincent Cota was putting the finishing touches on the piece after school this week.

On Sunday, the popular PBS restaurant review show, “Check, Please! Arizona,” hosts its first food festival at CityScape in Phoenix. While attendees enjoy a plethora of food and wine samples and live demonstrations from award-winning chefs like Robert McGrath and Chris Bianco, one humble festival booth — Pittsburgh Willy’s Gourmet Hot Dogs — takes the next step in its Cinderella story.

A knack for moving things forward may be the most important skill Anne Gill brought with her to the Ahwatukee Foothills Chamber of Commerce when she became president and chief executive officer of the chamber in November 2011.

If you’ve been putting off pampering to pinch pennies, it’s time to gleefully smash that piggy bank to smithereens.

In many respects, the Oscars feel like a sporting event as nominees tirelessly campaign to win and award analyzers place bets on which horse will cross the finish line. Even a loyal Oscar viewer such as myself is bound to make several incorrect predictions come Oscar Sunday. Regardless, I’m going to do my best to forecast who will be taking home the awards on Feb. 24.

This is turning out to be a really bad month for Phoenix residents and it looks like a radical agenda is now being moved forward. First, Phoenix is selling its citizens on “pension reform,” but the reality is, it is anything but reform.

Where everyone else spent most of last January debating which team would be victorious at Super Bowl XLVII, I was busy trying to predict which movies would win big at the 85th annual Academy Awards. In many respects, the Oscars feel like a sporting event as nominees tirelessly campaign to win and award analyzers place bets on which horse will cross the finish line.

Wynonna Judd rose to fame in the 1980s as half of the country music duo The Judds, with her mother, Naomi. She is known for her deep voice, fiery red hair and rock star attitude.

A new kind of pet store that features rescued dogs and cats rather than purebred puppies and kittens will have its grand opening inside Chandler Fashion Center this weekend.

PRESCOTT VALLEY – Transforming from a somewhat plump freshman to a svelte three-time state wrestling champion has given Alex Bambic one of the most unique – and successful – careers in Arizona wrestling history.

Created by Arizona native Timothy Reckart, “Head Over Heels” puts an imaginative, whimsical twist on the tale of a married couple grown apart – he lives on the floor while she lives on the ceiling.

Rihanna’s collection for British brand River Island is slated for its debut next month during London Fashion Week.

Phoenix has Stand Up Live Comedy Theater. Jester’Z is in Scottsdale. And Mesa’s home to the National Comedy Theater.

Arizonans may finally get a break this year from what has been a perennial debate over two high-profile issues.

Marilyn Monroe. The Rolling Stones. And Bond — James Bond. What do they have in common?

If the Ahwatukee Foothills community knows one thing, it’s how to stand in resilience and maintain hope.

It was Oct. 26, a perfect fall morning in Maryland, just days before Hurricane Sandy hit.

Local businesses have everything you need to make the holidays bright and they’re hoping for a big turnout on Shop Small Saturday, Nov. 24.

“That movie would have been infinitely better if it had been shown in 3-D.” I cannot speak for the rest of the movie going population, but this is one sentence I will never utter walking out of a cineplex. That is not to say 3-D technology is completely expendable. With the right movie, 3-D can be effectively exploited and have an enriching impact on a cinematic experience. In a majority of cases though, 3-D merely acts as a shameful method for the studio to increase the ticket price. Some people buy into the assumption that 3-D makes a movie appear more realistic and integrates the audience into the action. When not properly executed, however, 3-D can have dark, dreary and distracting consequences on a film originally shot in 2-D. In that sense, 3-D not only robs the audience of an extra $3, but also takes them out of the motion picture.

Desert Vista coach Dan Hinds wouldn’t change a thing other than maybe being a little healthier.

It’s just the beginning of October, but for some it’s not too soon to think about what the kiddies will want for the holidays.

Media outlets have prepared obituaries for famous people getting up in age so when the time comes a few simple blanks can be filled in and the obit can be released in a timely fashion.