3 SPRINGTIME TIPS FOR AT HOME ENTERTAINMENT Hosting a dinner party or outdoor brunch with springtime ambiance is made simple with tips from Arcadia’s own Ana Wells. 4 MARVELOUS MOSAICS Arcadia resident Theresa Lillian donates her time and talent to designing a mosaic wall for guests to enjoy at a local green space and prayer garden. 8 THE PERFECT SPOT FOR CREATIVITY Carrie Bloomston, author of Little Spark - 30 Ways to Ignite Your Creativity challenges readers to design A Room of One’s Own to spark innovative and productive thought. 10 UNDERGROUND PLAYGROUND When an Arcadia family imagined their dream home, they envisioned a space for their children to play and friends to gather. What they hadn’t originally planned on, however, was a whimsical ice cream parlor. 12 ARIC MEI’S GARDENS: BRINGING HIS WORK HOME The Parlor Pizzeria in Phoenix opened its doors seven years ago with a small garden full of produce for the restaurant to pull from. What owner Aric Mei wasn’t prepared for was how gardening would change his life and home. 16 Editor’s Note Spring! As all Arcadians know, this is the absolute best time in our city. This month Arcadia Home & Design is excited to present an entertaining home in the heart of Arcadia where family and friends gather on a regular basis and there is no shortage of activities, sports and ice cream! We’ve also spoken with multiple Arcadia-area experts who share tips for spring entertainment and finding the perfect spot in your home to get creative. We enjoy finding local small business owners who can share their expertise with our readers. We feel it shows the depth, knowledge and kindness of our community. Once you read Ana Wells’ entertainment tips on page 6, you’ll be prepared to host guests and impress them by cooking Chef Matt Carter’s flavorful grilled little gem salad, handmade tortellini and grilled skirt steak recipes. Our At Home with the Chef feature has become one of the most interesting pieces we publish, with local chefs not only sharing their delicious recipes but opening the door to their home and personal life. Witnessing a professional chef cook a meal in his or her home, just like you and me, is not only fun but also incredibly fascinating. We hope you enjoy this month’s Arcadia Home & Design. See you in June! — Amanda Goossen Contents April 2015 Arcadia News 3850 E. Indian School Rd. #1 Phoenix AZ 85018 602-840-6379 • arcadiahd.com Publisher Greg A. Bruns greg@arcadianews.com Editor Amanda Goossen amanda@arcadianews.com Design & Layout Gabe Turner gabe@arcadianews.com Advertising Roni Mier Roni@arcadianews.com 8 4 10 16 18 AT HOME WITH THE CHEF Chef Matt Carter grew up in Arcadia before taking off to San Diego, where working in a restaurant modified the direction of his life and reshaped his future. 18