Culture & Lifestyle

This is the fun side of the desert—where tacos meet tuxedos and sunsets double as backdrops. From mural walks to music fests, fashion with flair to first dates on hiking trails, LIFE covers everything that makes Arizona living unforgettable. Art, adventure, family, and furry friends, it’s all here, served with a splash of Sonoran sass that makes the desert anything but dry.

“True Identity: An Athlete’s Guide to Finding Peace in All Circumstances" is a new 31-day devotional by Zach Vogel.
Who Are You When the Game Ends? The Pros Share In New Book
Through the “Too Much of a Good Thing” initiative, PACC911, Dr. Kelly’s Surgical Unit and Lulu’s Fund have provided 522 fully funded spay and neuter surgeries, helping Arizona rescue partners stretch their budgets and save more animals. Photo provided.
522 Surgeries Later, Local Rescues Have More Room to Save
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East Valley community members will gather for a Sept. 11 memorial ceremony honoring the lives lost and the first responders, service members and civilians impacted by the attacks. Photo courtesy of Unsplash.
Apache Junction Honors 25th Anniversary of 9/11
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Dig It Gardens blends nursery life with workshops, events, design, and a whole lot of local character. Photo provided.
Succulents, Skulls and Soil: Dig It Gardens Does Fall
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The Fresh Start Auxiliary Board is one of three boards that help advance the nonprofit's mission of empowering women to achieve self-sufficiency and use their strength to thrive. Photo by Gudenschwager Photography.
Mission Monday: Becky Cohen-Collins
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Tens of thousands of postcards written by students, families and residents across Arizona are now on display at museums, cultural sites, government spaces and state parks statewide. Photo provided.
Dear America, AZ Wrote You Back
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Alain Gomez-Gudiño and his family (from left to right: stepfather Joel Rodrigues, sister Victoria Rodrigues, mother Lislen Gudiño) celebrate his senior night at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Ariz. Photo courtesy of Lislen Gudiño.
One Glove, Eight Countries and a Championship Dream
Missy Stern and Gretchen Seeck turn friendship, healing and everyday chaos into candid conversations on The Nut Farm Podcast. Photo provided.
The Nut Farm Podcast Finds Humor in Healing
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Horse & Hyde Uptown blends bold barbecue, strong cocktails, and live country music in the heart of Phoenix. Photo provided.
Horse & Hyde Uptown Turns Up the Flavor with a Back-to-School BBQ
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Based inside Padel Pals’ fully indoor Mesa club, the academy gives kids, teens and adults a welcoming place to begin. Photo provided.
Arizona’s Next Padel Stars Start Here
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Foothills Animal Rescue’s annual 831 Adoption Special offers $0 adoptions Aug. 29-31 at its Scottsdale campus. Photo provided.
A Love Story With Paws: Free Adoptions Return to Scottsdale
Barbara Achten, casino cashier manager at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, serves on the board of First Things First and is the chair of the Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino HERO Committee. Photo provided.
Mission Monday: Barbara Achten
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Executive chef Christopher Gross arrives early at his signature restaurant, Christopher's at Wrigley, to prepare for the evening with his staff on July 16, 2026, in Phoenix. Photo by Gentry Roberts/Cronkite News.
From Paper Route to James Beard Glory
“Nathaniel and the Worst Project in the History of the Fourth Grade” marks Arizona journalist Kris Ann Valdez’s children’s fiction debut under the pen name Ann Val. Photo provided.
AZ Author Turned School Panic Into a Page-Turner
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Dog Days Witbier debuted during Historic Brewing Company’s Hot Dog Days of Summer, a dog-friendly Flagstaff event benefiting Dr. Kelly’s PAL Fund. Photo provided.
Dog Days Witbier Gives Flagstaff Pets a Leg Up
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Arizona drivers can help keep summer road trips on track by checking their batteries, tires, cooling systems and air conditioning before hitting the highway. Photo courtesy of Pexels.
Your Car vs. AZ Summer: Expert Tips to Win
Chris Cuevas (second from left, back row) joined the Chandler Compadres’ “Give Day” in early June where they gave back nearly $3 million to East Valley nonprofits. Photo provided.
Mission Monday: Chris Cuevas
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A newlywed couple shares a kiss during their garden wedding at Dig It Gardens in Phoenix. Photo provided.
Love Grows Here: Dig It Gardens Just Put a Ring on Its Event Era
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Peoria’s annual Back-to-School Supply Drive returns July 18 with free backpacks, school supplies, eye exams and community resources for local students. Photo courtesy of Unsplash.
Free Backpacks, Fresh Starts in Peoria July 18
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Local Girl Scouts across central and northern Arizona turned cookie season into a lesson in leadership, teamwork and serious entrepreneurial hustle. Photo provided.
Thin Mints, Big Moves and 2.3 Million Boxes
Christina Spicer is the board chair of Young & Empowered. Photo provided.
Mission Monday: Christina Spicer
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Dirtbag’s Phoenix serves up a table full of shareable favorites made for game-day crowds, casual hangs and late-night bites. Photo provided.
Wings, Screens and Zero Overthinking at Dirtbag’s
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Tomu-San Sushi’s Lollipop Roll offers a lighter summer bite with cucumber-wrapped freshness, built for sharing alongside sake flights, cocktails and seasonal plates at DC Ranch. Photo provided.
Tomu-San Sushi Serves a Lighter, Brighter Side of Summer
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Dawson Fearnow brings tropical-noir energy to his debut mystery, Murder at the Mai Tai Bar, a sun-soaked satirical thriller where paradise comes with suspects, secrets, and a very Phoenix sense of shade. Photo provided.
Mai Tai Murder Has Arizona Written All Over It
Children look for books at the Burton Barr Central Library in Phoenix on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Photo by Samad Khan/Cronkite News.
Valley Kids Are Reading Again, and Dinosaurs May Be Why
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