Babbo Italian Eatery’s is a comfortable atmosphere in mellow browns and soothing designs. Size variation among the many locations lends a different ambience from restaurant to restaurant — for instance, Arrowhead feels more intimate; Cave Creek, more open and informal; Scottsdale, the most spacious. Décor is understated, with framed old-timey-style photographs creating a sense … [More]
Can Teletherapy Help Your People and Your Bottom Line?
Mental health has been propelled into the national spotlight. As we overcome national tragedies and household names share their mental and emotional struggles, the sobering truth is that people from all walks of life and backgrounds are affected — and that access to the right care is critical. Employers are in a unique position to address behavioral and mental health care, … [More]
2018 Lexus RX 450h F Sport AWD
With a 3.5-liter V6 engine with direct and port fuel injection, the Lexus RX 450 is specially tuned for fuel efficiency and low emissions. Engineered to tap into the power of the robust chassis, the optimized suspension offers precise handling with a strikingly smooth ride. For even greater control, an innovative dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence system (VVT-iW) … [More]
Hash Kitchen: Hash Tagged ‘Good’
Very open and friendly, Hash Kitchen goes in for simplicity in its décor. Simplicity and comfort. Tables are widely spaced and booths allow leg room. Patios vary in size with location, but the outdoor seating option is available at all the restaurants. The new design puts more emphasis on the restaurant’s Bloody Mary offerings. Its newest location, opened last month in … [More]
Feedback: August 2018
Question: You’ve been recognized as one of BestCompaniesAZ’s “100 Best Arizona Companies,” in part because of your workplace culture. What programs and/or policies does your company promote to achieve that level of satisfaction among your workforce? John Standring Senior Vice President of Global Servicing Operations American Express Sector: Finance At American Express, … [More]
Engaging Video Training Content on a Budget
A young, tech-based workforce has pushed the demand for online training and eLearning courses to unprecedented heights. Perhaps the biggest driver of this workplace demand is video content. Video training is such an effective means to facilitate learning, appealing to multiple brain functions at once and drastically improving retention. For a staff gearing more toward a … [More]
Facing the Big Data Tsunami
An estimated 40 zettabytes (43 trillion gigabytes) of data will be created by 2020 (an increase of 300 times the amount of data in circulation in 2005), at a rate of 2.5 quintillion bytes per day. “The explosion in big data is both good news and bad news,” says James D’Arezzo, CEO of Condusiv Technologies. “It will make possible advances in dozens of fields, but it will also … [More]
2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Roadster
This sporty AMG machine by Mercedes-Benz is designed to perform and to impress. The V8 is a higher output with less displacement at 469 horsepower; its biturbo has a massive torque of 465 pound-feet, which peaks at just 1,700 rpm and holds it all the way to 5,000 rpm. The sport suspension is derived from racing with the double wishbone for all four wheels. The very precise … [More]
Flower Child – Farmhouse Sensibilities
Well-suiting its focus on healthy eating, Flower Child’s décor evokes a back-on-the-farm feeling. The newest location, recently opened in Desert Ridge Marketplace in North Phoenix, is especially open and airy in its farmer’s market styling – simple, homey designs; a lot of light; and the chain’s signature cheerful touch of a cut flower on every table. The open expo kitchen … [More]
Mobile Billing: Growing Opportunity
There was a time, not so long ago, when the best and most effective way of sending a bill to a customer was to deliver it to them by mail. In a world where mobile devices are almost ubiquitous and in constant use, that should no longer the be case. Done effectively, mobile billing — whether app-based or email — is cheaper and more convenient than traditional billing … [More]
Snaring the Right Web Designer
The Web designer you ultimately choose will play a critical role in the digital success of your business, which is why you need to be able to ask the right questions and identify obvious red flags during the interview process. Recognizing and avoiding red flags can be the key to protecting yourself against a bad business deal. When it comes to hiring a Web designer or … [More]
BMW’s All-New X2
This newest line by BMW was born out of the success other manufacturers are having with this small crossover class. The BMW X2 fills a void for BMW in that it is an economical and sporty option targeting those who are more active. The 2.0-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder, 16-valve, 228-hp engine is tucked away to provide power and fuel economy. In a small-sized … [More]
For a Breath of Fresher Air
Plants are more than an esthetic reprieve for our eyes. Since NASA began researching ways to improve air quality for astronauts in closed environments in space, we’ve learned that they can counter some of the toxins our made environment surrounds us with — in addition, of course, to recycling our carbon-dioxide exhalations into the oxygen we need to breathe. Areca Palm Like … [More]
Farm & Craft: Community Eatery
Farm & Craft has a split personality — from the breakfast and lunch menu, it’s counter-order and table-delivery; off the dinner menu from 3 p.m. to closing, it’s table seating and waiter-order. What’s most important, however, shines through at all times — healthy food, locally sourced. “Local” is, in fact, so much a focus that the recently opened Phoenix location differs … [More]
Audio Technology to Hit Pause on Poor Acoustics
Imagine being at your industry’s most relevant conference of the year. Whether in a large auditorium or a hotel ballroom with just two loudspeakers set up at the front, the acoustics are anything but ideal. Add hundreds of people in the room talking to each other, coughing, doors slamming, and the person next to you eating potato chips right by your ear — it’s likely that you … [More]
2018 Volvo XC90
The XC90 from Volvo is considered to be a real win for the car company that, over the last few years, has lost some of its famous market share it held through accolades for years on safety —and reliability. The car manufacturer has been innovating and is now back and “safer” than ever with its multiple innovations for the future of automobile safety. The XC90 is the SUV that … [More]
Defense Alert
According to data from the National Crime Survey and the Bureau of Statistics, 73 percent of women and 89 percent of men will be a victim of violent crime in their lifetime. Workplaces have barriers in place to keep employees safe on the job, but out in the field or during personal time threats become more of a factor. Wearing the TigerLight Defense Alert Device on one’s hand … [More]
Morning Squeeze: Relish the Retro
Some meetings call for a power breakfast, and Morning Squeeze has that covered as well as the lunch-time option — especially at the new location in Tempe, where tables can easily hold portfolios or notebooks along with the food. There is also plenty of solo dining at the indoor-outdoor bar. The patio wraps the south and west sides, and this time of year even the inside is … [More]
