For decades, the Western movie genre held sway over the box office. And Arizona featured prominently in many of them. From John Wayne, to Henry Fonda, Clint Eastwood to Kurt Russell, Hollywood’s golden actors flocked to our state to shoot movies.

But Arizona’s film history goes beyond the Wild West stereotype. 

In this episode of Valley 101, we explore what movies were made in Phoenix and Arizona at large. And we find out why more movies aren't made here now. 

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Every year The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com host a wine competition for the vineyards in Arizona. This year, more than 200 bottles were entered to be considered for Best in Show. After hours of tasting the best wines that the state has to offer, the 20 qualified judges granted a bottle of merlot from a brand new winery the Governor's Cup.

Cove Mesa Vineyards is new on the scene, but its owners Emil and Cindy Molin have spent years as wine aficionados. After getting a degree from the Southwest Wine Center, Emil set out to buy a winery himself in 2020.

To some, this is the perfect story of how Arizona's wine industry is evolving from hidden gem to national recognition. 

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we share what Arizona vineyards have to offer, where you can find them, and how the new kids on the block took the grand prize this year.

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Springtime in the desert is special.

For a few brief weeks, the taupe-shaded landscape transforms into a riot of color. The palo verdes don crowns of gold, and cactuses burst with large pink, yellow, purple and white flowers. Daisies nod their heads, beckoning visitors to adore them. Ocotillo open their coral-red buds while wearing coats of green leaves between their thorns. 

It's a flurry of activity before the scorching temperatures force every living thing to just endure. 

Buzzing, fluttering and twittering among the plants are Arizona’s pollinators. And as they brush up against each flower, a bit of pollen is distributed from one plant to the next, allowing the plants to propagate the next generation. 

This week, we find out what you should plant in your garden to attract local pollinators. 

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In June 1989, the streets of downtown Phoenix became a raceway for the biggest global racing competition: Formula 1. The Phoenix Grand Prix was a chance to show off Phoenix on a world stage, but the race was beset with wide ranging obstacles. Needless to say, it wasn't a smooth ride. Just after three years, Formula 1 pulled out of the Valley of the Sun.

This week on Valley 101, we find out why Formula 1 came to Phoenix and why it quickly left.

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In December 2020, the first Arizonan received their vaccine against COVID-19. Just nine months after virus took ahold of the state and the rest of the world, health care workers and first responders were able to usher in a new era during the pandemic: the vaccination era.

For some it felt like much needed light after a long, dark tunnel. The vaccine roll out expanded first by phases of necessity then by age in Arizona. By April 2021, all adults in the state were eligible to get a dose. 

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we map out the journey from the first shot to today. We spoke with reporters, doctors, and state health officials and track how 61.1% of Arizona residents became fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

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Where is the best Mexican food in the U.S.? It’s a complex question fueled with fiery debates and passionate proclamations.  Tucson boasts 23 miles of quality Mexican food and is an UNESCO City of Gastronomy. Phoenix, however, is more than happy to step into the ring to duke it out on who has the best Mexican food. With literally hundreds of shops, from humble food trucks to exquisitely high-brow dining concepts, Phoenix holds its own as a culinary contender. 

In this episode, Valley 101 plays referee between two Mexican food heavy-weights: Phoenix and Tucson.

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Spotting people in Western attire going about their day is typical for Scottsdale. Pieces of public art featuring horses are spread throughout the city. In Old Town Scottsdale, the iconic sign of a cowboy with a lasso welcomes visitors.

Western motifs and appreciation for horse culture saturate the city, whose official nickname is "The West's Most Western Town". It's even home to the world's largest Arabian horse show, at Westworld. Which begs the question: Is Scottsdale the horse capital of the Valley? Is it the most cowboy town in the metro area?

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we explore the relationship between the city's increasingly cosmopolitan image and its old West history.

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After Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association came to an agreement about the league’s minimum salary, the Competitive Balance Tax threshold, and more, the 99 day lockout ended. Just in time for the regular season to start up soon.

For Arizonans that means two things: getting to hear the lemonade man shout about your grandma and spring training.

In the Valley, the past time is getting a slow start. The average attendance for six of the 15 teams is down to less than 5,000 fans per game in the first week. Even teams that are seeing more fans than that are seeing less fans compared to years past.

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we share how the Cactus League came to Arizona and what impact the spring time tradition has on the state.

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If you've driven west on the Interstate 10 heading out of town toward California, you may have noticed a giant plot of empty land just past Goodyear. Until 2017, there was a massive abandoned building on that land, drawing urban explorers and photographers.

Before it was left empty, this state-of-the-art building was home for two seasons of horse racing. The Phoenix Trotting Park was expertly designed and opened in 1965. Attendees filled the beautiful grandstand to watch trotting style racing, but not for very long.

In this week's episode of Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we are joined by city reporter Martiza Dominguez to share how it was built, why it went under, and what the future holds for this plot of land. 

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Drive down any of metro-Phoenix's highways and you're likely to see a highly curated display of graphics and flora. In Scottsdale, you can see large lizards and prickly pear pads gracing the walls of the Loop 101. Out west, dragonflies and checked flags come into view. And on the Red Mountain Loop 202, various indigenous animals and patterns are visible on both sides of the road. 

But why do the freeways have art on them anyway? For that, Valley 101 turned to an urban historian and experts at the Arizona Department of Transportation. Turns out, there's a lot more to it than just making our highways pretty.

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