Sunnyslope Historical Society Museum sells Tastes & Treasures II

Kate Brophy McGee

Ruth McLeod, Bobbie Kraver, Nancy Edwards
Kate Brophy McGee, Rene Blain

Tastes & Treasures II is now selling at Sunnyslope Historical Society Museum gift shop, 737 E Hatcher, Phoenix. We enjoyed guest speaker, State Senator Kate Brophy McGee, at Sunnyslope Historical Society monthly meeting Feb 17. She reminesced about her childhood with a fascinating history of growing up in Bisbee from Irish immigrants. It was great to see Tastes & Treasures II featured in the museum gift shop. Kate bought a book which includes a recipe from grandmother-in-law, Sarah Blake Brophy in the Tribute section. Love the enthusiasm of Rene Blain, fellow Historical League member.

Karen Beck in gift shop

Fabulous Membership Open House evening at Swaback home

Skyfire

Organizers Susan Dale and Pam den Draak

Vern remarks that Ruth McLeod's colors match the guest house in the background.

Despite the dark skies and wind, the Membership Open House on February 23 turned out to be fabulous. Thanks to Susan Dale and Pam den Draak for creating such a lovely event. With so many Frank Lloyd Wright influences, yet distinctly Vern Swaback's designs, this home has unique details, architecture, views and amenities. Vern and Cille Swaback are excellent hosts.

Note Pinnacle Peak in background

Susan Dale and Linda Corderman work on crockpots of Bison Chile and Corn Chowder. 

Recipe from The Palace Bar in Prescott

Davie Garrison and Bonnie Newhoff rearrange patio furniture for guests

Wind and cold did not stop Karen Overton, Pam den Draak, Nancy Knight and
Davie Garrison from setting up the tables and cloths. Those heaters were much appreciated!

Marshall Trimble first cookbook customer at AZ Heritage Center

Enthusiasm for Arizona history runs deep in 2014 Historymaker Marshall Trimble. He saw our new cookbook, Tastes and Treasures II and wanted a copy immediately.
Not only does he support the Historical League and the AZ Heritage Center in many ways but he also wrote the introduction in the new book.
Being recognized as Arizona's official historian is a title he takes very seriously, although his performances are filled with humor, satire and tall stories. But there is always some history of Arizona involved!
Thanks to Norma Jean Coulter and Laura Helder for handling sales.

Marshall wears his signature black cowboy hat.

Vern Swaback's "Skyfire" home to host Membership Open House Feb 23

At Home with Vernon D. Swaback: "A guiding principle in the design of my family's residence is that I wanted to feel somewhat exposed and vulnerable to the elements.
We named it "Skyfire' to be a celebration of the atmospheric effects of the desert."

Senator Kyl shops for Tastes & Treasures II cookbook

February 13 Arizona Statehood Day was a lovely celebration at AZ Heritage Center at Papago Park. To add more excitement, Tastes & Treasures II: A Storytelling Cookbook of Historic Arizona made its debut! Senator Jon Kyl and wife Caryll had submitted a recipe for the Historymakers section. They were able to pick up copies to take home and were pleased with the new cookbook. Norma Jean Coulter and Laura Helder assist them with their purchases.

New Member Open House at Historymaker Vern Swaback's home, Skyfire, Feb 23

You won’t want to miss the opportunity to attend the upcoming New Member Open House from 5 – 8 p.m. on Friday, February 23rd!
You are invited to bring a prospective new member for a tour of the beautiful home of renowned Frank Lloyd Wright-trained architect Vernon D. Swaback and his wife Cille. Vern will also be signing his new book, which will be available for purchase, and discussing the relevance of Frank Lloyd Wright in today’s world.
Delicious light fare will be served from recipes in the new Historical League cookbook! Thanks to Susan Dale with Pam den Draak for organizing this event.

 Helping with the event are Bonnie Newhoff and Leslie Christiansen. Also Cille Swaback
with her lovely home in the background

Sibley's West Arizona Gift Store in Chandler

Leslie Christiansen and Ruth McLeod will be signing Tastes & Treasures books at Sibley's West Arizona Gift store in Chandler on Saturday, Feb 24 from 12-2 pm. Store owner John Wolfe has an amazing store filled with product from Arizona artists, writers, craftsmen. Stop by and visit. Since opening his store seven years ago, he has doubled in size. Be sure to allow time to browse through the store. There is a lot to see.  Located in the same plaza as the historic San Marcos hotel.

Ruth McLeod at Sibley's Gift shop

Tastes & Treasures II premieres at AZ Heritage Center Museum

Norma Jean Coulter and Ruth McLeod

Tastes & Treasures II: A Storytelling Cookbook of Historic Arizona was well received at the Feb 13 Statehood Celebration at AZ Heritage Center.
Thanks to Norma Jean Coulter, Ruth McLeod, Laura Helder, and Pat Christopherson for helping with sales at this premiere.

Tom and Cathy Shumard assist Norma Jean Coulter and Ruth McLeod with set up

Laura Helder accepts credit cards

Decadent Desserts at The Spicery in our 1895 Home

Bread pudding with rich rum cream sauce

Margaret Baker, Norma Jean Coulter and Ruth McLeod enjoyed the ambiance at the Spicery when they delivered Tastes & Treasures: A Storytelling Cookbook of Historic Arizona to Matt Borowski. The Spicery is a featured historic restaurant in the new book, filled with color photos and recipes of Arizona.

The host explains the mouth-watering desserts. Margaret Baker is in a dilemma as to which one to order!

We missed out on the Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate cake and Cherry cream cheese pie

Delicious cream puffs served warm with rich lemon curd and Chantilly cream

Pineapple Walnut cake - rich and moist

Tastes & Treasures II cookbooks delivered to Spicery

We couldn't ask for a warmer welcome than the one we got from Matt Borowski of The Spicery in our 1895 Home in Glendale. Margaret Baker joined Norma Jean Coulter and Ruth McLeod to deliver Tastes & Treasures II cookbooks to Matt. The Spicery is featured on pages 108-113.
He was so excited to see the book, tearing off the protective plastic cover and thumbing through the pages. He enjoyed the photo of his creme puffs, loved the concept of the book and the quality. And he has lots of ideas for marketing his restaurant and the book, including family-style meals reminiscent of the 1950's. A time for families to be talking and sharing their experiences of the day at the dinner table (sans cell phones). His enthusiasm is contagious!
Fortunately, we had a reservation for lunch since people were turned away at the door. The Spicery gets very busy and no wonder . . . the food and service were wonderful.
Whatever you do, don't skip the decadent desserts.

Front Doors Media writes about 2019 Historymakers

2019 Historymakers Announced at AZ Heritage Center

It was a perfect evening at AZ Heritage Center on Feb 13 to announce the new 2019 Historymakers. Museum Director Tawn Downs introduced Arizona's official historian and 2014 Historymaker Marshall Trimble. Marshall then announced the next honorees for Historymakers Gala 2019.

Congratulations to
Betsey Bayless: Arizona Secretary of State, Health and Civic Leader
Dr. Arthur DeCabooter: Educator, Land Preservationist
Michael J. Fox: Art and Heritage Preservationist
Alfredo Gutierrez: Arizona State Senator and Community Activist
Merrill Mahaffey: Western Artist, Painter
Vernon D. Swaback: Internationally Recognized Architect

Statehood Day Celebration at AZ Heritage Center

With a capacity crowd in the Steele Auditorium, the celebration of statehood was a big success.
The 2019 Historymakers were announced with the Historymakers Gala to be held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort on Feb 23, 2019.

Tastes and Treasures II: A Storytelling Cookbook of Historic Arizona made it's debut and was well received.
Entertained by Arizona's official historian Marshall Trimble and Arizona's official balladeer Dolan Ellis, the crowds thoroughly enjoyed the event. Marshall Trimble was honored as a Historymaker in 2014 and continues to tell the story of Arizona wherever he travels. Dolan Ellis has been the official balladeer for 53 years.

Tastes & Treasures II at Roswell Bookbinding

Working with Mike Roswell at Roswell Bookbinding is awesome! Great people and great business that has been in the Phoenix area for over 50 years!
Cathy Shumard and Leslie Christiansen approved the sample book so we are on track to have this cookbook looking wonderful.

Roswell's Kim Hodgson with Cathy Shumard and Leslie Christiansen

New member Rene Blain

Congratulations to Rene Blain for being elected the Vice President of the Sunnyslope Historical Society. We are glad to have Rene join the Historical League, invited by friend Reba Wells Grandrud.
Raised in Arizona, with a father who was a walking encyclopedia of Arizona history, she grew up camping in this state. Rene has a passion for history and excited to be a part of the preservation of Sunnyslope. Since 2011, she is also an active hiker with over 300 different hikes in 3 different hiking clubs.

Autographs of Tastes & Treasures II cookbook

Jeannine Moyle

Jeannine Moyle bought her copy of Tastes and Treasures II cookbook at the AZ Statehood Celebration at the AZ Heritage Center on Feb 13 and immediately started to go through it. Sitting next to Margaret Baker in the auditorium, she asked Margaret to sign the Gass Bros. page in her cookbook!  This page is about Margaret's grandfather's restaurant in downtown Phoenix. Margaret was so surprised and honored. Jeannine commented that she thought the Gass Bros. page was one of the best of the tribute pages because it was such a part of early 1900 Arizona history.
Read the fascinating yourself in this new book. $30 at www.HistoricalLeague.org/SHOP.aspx

Margaret Baker