Two new restaurants have opened in recent months on the opposite side of Gilbert Road, both hawking tacos and more to the growing downtown Gilbert dining crowd.

Two new restaurants have opened in recent months on the opposite side of Gilbert Road, both hawking tacos and more to the growing downtown Gilbert dining crowd.

For more than 30 years, two words — “East Valley” — did more than anything else to put a vibrant, growing, destination-in-an-of-itself region on the map. Without them, this area may well have remained the land of Nod: A sleepy place whose residents do little other than shift positions every few hours.

NEW YORK — Laura Radocaj of Vero Beach, Fla., was warned when she was pregnant with twins that motherhood would be harder than she imagined — especially because she planned to go back to work while the twins were still babies. "But this has been the easiest transition," said Radocaj, 28, who works from home in corporate communications.

After considering dozens upon dozens of options, the East Valley Partnership announced its new branding effort for the region it calls home — a move that doesn’t stray too far from its roots, but also incorporates a more widely-known entity.

Bartender Tony Conigliaro's new beverage book is called "The Cocktail Lab," and he's not speaking figuratively.

Caribbean flavors jazz up this simple supper salad. We glaze the shrimp with a zesty rum-spiked marmalade, then toss them on a hot grill with tomatoes and corn before combining everything with a few more veggies. We serve the whole thing with grilled bread seasoned with garlic and orange for a bit of crunch and to aid in scooping up all the delicious bits.

NEW YORK — The round, white, paper light shades sold at Ikea for $5 are a familiar item in contemporary interior design. But these inexpensive lanterns are knockoffs of light sculptures created by the renowned artist Isamu Noguchi in the early 1950s.

The neon brights that peppered the 1980s are back, in fashion and décor. Highlighter hues and glow-in-the-dark tints provide a shot of adrenaline after a few seasons of mellow, mushroom-y color palettes.

SEATTLE — It's hard to miss the enormous 20-foot-wide American flag on the side of Richard Ormbrek's home. Comprised of around 180 tiles painted with scenes of Americana against a background of red and white stripes, the flag pops from the orange cedar shingles with traffic-stopping audacity.

Ladies and gentlemen, start your summer. More than 20 neighborhood pools across the East Valley make affordable places to while away hot days, and many go beyond basic lap pools to mimic the attractions at pricey water parks.

The art of the summer cocktail is something I take most seriously.

The placemat is a favorite at many dinner tables: The often-whimsical plastic version catches the slip of spaghetti from a youngster's fork, while a nice cotton placemat elevates the dining experience just a little without having to set down a whole tablecloth.

It doesn't matter how skilled — or not — your kids are in the kitchen. This easy, fruity mousse parfait is a great Mother's Day project they can help with.

Redstone at SanTan Village, the first luxury multifamily project to come to Gilbert, Ariz. in five years recently opened its first phase. The 382-unit project is located across from the SanTan Village Mall at 1925 S. Coronado Road, near Loop 202.

Travelers accustomed to chain eateries like Chili’s and Paradise Bakery now have a chance to experience local offerings such as Cowboy Ciao, La Grande Orange and Barrio Cafe at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Time for a confession. As a child, I never once celebrated Mother's Day. My parents thought the holiday was nothing more than a cheesy excuse to sell greeting cards, and who was I to argue?

Sweet and smoky and spicy are three flavors that work wonderfully together, and this recipe for roasted chicken thighs is a fast, easy and delicious way to make that point.