PHOENIX Magazine Editors’ Picks for February/March 2023
What’s inside the latest edition of our sister publication. Pick up a copy of PHOENIX, on newsstands now, or go to phoenixmag.com.


Somewhere to Go
Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Need a spring refresh? Check out our Great Escapes travel feature about The Springs Resort (pagosahotsprings.com) in charming Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Located 300 miles southwest of Denver, it’s ideal for a getaway centered on balneotherapy, the use of therapeutic thermal mineral bathing. Five fun facts about Pagosa:
• It’s home to the Mother Spring, the deepest geothermal spring in the world at 1,002-plus feet—deeper than the Hoover Dam is tall.
• The aquifer supplies the resort’s mineral soaking pools and generates enough geothermal energy to heat the resort’s lodge and grow domes, the local high school and government buildings.
• Nearby Chimney Rock National Monument’s dual sandstone formations together are the only natural indicator in the world of the major lunar standstill, an astronomic event that happens every 18.6 years. Pre-programming for the occurrence begins in fall 2023.
• Neighboring Wolf Creek Ski Area has approximately 1,600 acres of skiable terrain.
• Thermal mineral soaking may help treat maladies ranging from eczema to chronic pain.
Someone to Know
Kinsey Schofield, Royal Blogger
As most people are crawling into bed, Kinsey Schofield—whose news profile leads off our Phoenix Files section—is touching up her hair and makeup, preparing to dish the latest news about the royal family on morning television in England. She embraces the oddball hours because they mean she’s found success as a U.S.-based royal correspondent, a career an agent told her wasn’t possible. It started with a 2019 U.K. trip. “My boyfriend at the time took me to London, and he noticed I was telling stories before the tour guide, and I was even making corrections,” says Schofield, who splits her time between Phoenix and Los Angeles. “It triggered me to believe this is something I should pursue.” She parlayed her “guilty pleasure” into a successful podcast and website (both called “To Di for Daily”) and regular TV gigs. In fall 2022, she published her first book, “R is for Revenge Dress: A Princess Diana-Inspired Alphabet Book for Grown-Ups.” “It’s a happy book. I think she is more than her worst day.”


Something to Do
As part of our extensive coverage of these two heavyweight sports spectacles, each culminating on Sun., Feb. 12, we offer this sophisticated piece of graphics journalism: a WMPO/Super Bowl route planner to help in-person fans get from Scottsdale to Glendale as quickly as humanly possible.
Driving/Ride-Share With no traffic, it’s a 30-minute drive minimum from TPC Scottsdale to State Farm Stadium. Factor in the shuttle ride to the WMPO parking lot and post-tourney gridlock, and you’re looking at 100 minutes. Shave a half hour off that by Ubering.
Total est. time (rideshare): 70 minutes
Helicopter There’s no helipad at TPC, but the neighboring Fairmont Scottsdale Princess sometimes allows takeoffs and landings. From there or the nearby Scottsdale Air Park, private charter Western Sky Helicopters (westernskyhelicopters.com) will fly you to Glendale in 15 minutes for around $1,200.
Total est. time: 35 minutes
Bicycle The traffic will be insane at TPC. You’ll get out of there much faster on a bike. Then it’s a brisk 18-mile sprint south on the Arizona Grand Canal trail, which takes you right to the stadium on a traffic-free 13-mile cruise. At least you’re burning off the beers.
Total est. time: 160 minutes

Something to Eat
Shimomgamo
As part of our ramped-up food and drinks coverage—not to mention our Eatin’ in the USA cover story—in which we pay homage to the unofficial “state foods” of every U.S. state—the January-February issue includes Nikki Buchanan’s review of Shimogamo, a longtime Chandler sushi favorite that has abruptly veered into greatness under the reins of chef Daisuke Itagaki. “Since the pandemic, this reliable neighborhood stalwart has quietly morphed into a sophisticated destination restaurant,” Buchanan writes, singling out modern, fusion-driven dishes such as truffled amberjack sashimi and miso-marinated duck breast, the latter of which is “grilled in an aromatic hoba leaf,” which imparts its own distinct flavor to the poultry. “Never has duck seemed more tender or intense,” our critic raves. 2051 W. Warner Road, Chandler, (480) 899-7191, shimogamoaz.com