new times halloween guide special section oct 22nd - oct 28th, 2026 28 Questions? Feedback? Email me at [email protected] • Follow me on RATING (out of 5 McFly’s) 2026 Lexus GX 550: Country Club Luxury, Apocalypse-Ready Attitude 2026 LEXUS GX 550 There are SUVs that look There are SUVs that look ready for adventure, and then ready for adventure, and then there’s the 2026 Lexus GX 550, there’s the 2026 Lexus GX 550, which looks like it could invade which looks like it could invade a small country before making a small country before making its 7:30 dinner reservation its 7:30 dinner reservation at Steak 44. Boxy, bold, and at Steak 44. Boxy, bold, and unapologetically aggressive, this unapologetically aggressive, this thing has serious attitude. Under thing has serious attitude. Under the hood sits a 3.4-liter twin-turbo the hood sits a 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6 pumping out 349 horsepower, V6 pumping out 349 horsepower, paired with a 10-speed automatic paired with a 10-speed automatic and full-time four-wheel drive. and full-time four-wheel drive. Translation? This $88,345 luxury Translation? This $88,345 luxury beast has enough muscle to beast has enough muscle to climb a mountain, tow a boat, climb a mountain, tow a boat, or intimidate the guy in the lifted or intimidate the guy in the lifted Silverado who’s been tailgating Silverado who’s been tailgating you since Cave Creek. It’s you since Cave Creek. It’s basically a luxury hotel with basically a luxury hotel with a restraining order against a restraining order against pavement. pavement. Behind the wheel, the GX Behind the wheel, the GX 550 blends rugged truck DNA 550 blends rugged truck DNA with Lexus refinement. The with Lexus refinement. The commanding driving position commanding driving position makes you feel like you’re makes you feel like you’re surveying your kingdom, while surveying your kingdom, while the upscale cabin and massive the upscale cabin and massive 14-inch touchscreen remind you 14-inch touchscreen remind you that you’re not actually required to that you’re not actually required to sleep in a tent. Its body-on-frame sleep in a tent. Its body-on-frame construction gives it legitimate construction gives it legitimate off-road credentials, although let’s off-road credentials, although let’s be realistic: the most challenging be realistic: the most challenging terrain most owners will encounter terrain most owners will encounter is the speed bump outside Whole is the speed bump outside Whole Foods. The twin-turbo V6 delivers Foods. The twin-turbo V6 delivers plenty of grunt, and it moves with plenty of grunt, and it moves with surprising authority for something surprising authority for something roughly the size of a studio roughly the size of a studio apartment. apartment. Of course, all this luxury Of course, all this luxury comes at a price, and I’m not just comes at a price, and I’m not just talking about the $88,345 sticker. talking about the $88,345 sticker. At 15 MPG city and 21 highway, At 15 MPG city and 21 highway, your relationship with the your relationship with the neighborhood gas station is about neighborhood gas station is about to get considerably more serious. to get considerably more serious. The fuel gauge moves faster than The fuel gauge moves faster than the cocktail tab at a Scottsdale the cocktail tab at a Scottsdale bachelor party. But nobody buys bachelor party. But nobody buys a GX 550 to save money at the a GX 550 to save money at the pump. They buy it because it’s pump. They buy it because it’s gorgeous, ridiculously capable, gorgeous, ridiculously capable, and makes every Costco run feel and makes every Costco run feel like an expedition documentary. Is like an expedition documentary. Is it excessive? Absolutely. Do you it excessive? Absolutely. Do you need this much vehicle to pick up need this much vehicle to pick up dry cleaning? Not remotely. But dry cleaning? Not remotely. But sometimes practicality needs to sometimes practicality needs to shut up and let the twin turbos do shut up and let the twin turbos do the talking. the talking. Comfort: Value: Fuel Economy: Looks: The Drive: Safety & Security: Overall: Sound System: Bells & Whistles: Remember Me 10 ways to celebrate Día de los Muertos around the Valley. BY TIMOTHY RAWLES T he dead will soon visit the living in the Valley of the Sun, but don’t be afraid. This isn’t a ghost story; it’s a celebration of life. Día de Los Muertos means Day of the Dead, but don’t let the name scare you. The traditional Mexican holiday stems from the belief that death is not the end of exis- tence. During the holiday, the divide that separates the world of the living from the world of the dead opens up, and the deceased can come back to visit loved ones. Día de Los Muertos celebrations typically include ofrendas, candlelit altars that are often decorated with marigolds, adorned with offerings for the dead and filled with photos of departed friends and family. The popular calavera, or skull, iconography associated with the holiday isn’t meant to be morbid; they symbolize the cycle of life and encourage remembrance. Arizona’s proximity to Mexico and the Valley’s large Latino community means that we have many Día de Los Muertos celebrations to choose from. These community events, most of them free to attend, include large ofrendas, people dressing up as calaveras, music, food, dancing and more. Though the holiday officially takes place on Sunday and Monday, Nov. 1 and 2, local celebrations begin more than a week before. Here are 10 ways to celebrate Día de Los Muertos in the Valley. Día de los Muertos Altar Exhibition Oct. 20-Nov. 7 Tempe History Museum, 809 E. Southern Ave., Tempe The Tempe History Museum honors Día de los Muertos with an altar display, the traditional symbol of importance in remembering loved ones who have gone to the beyond. Presented in partnership with the Consulate General of Mexico, this event gives visitors the opportunity to explore spiritual symbolism and the cultural significance of the holiday. The altar is available for viewing during regular museum hours, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Día de Muertos Opening Reception Wednesday, Oct. 21 Tempe History Museum, 809 E. Southern Ave., Tempe The Tempe History Museum invites the public to a special opening reception cele- brating its annual Día de los Muertos altar exhibition. This year’s display honors Mexican writer Juan Rulfo, whose literary works explored the relationships between the living and the dead. This is a family- friendly gathering and features light refreshments and a traditional dance performance by Las Damas del Folklor. The reception begins at 6 p.m. and concludes at 7 p.m. Admission is free. Scottsdale Día de los Muertos Art Installation Experience Oct. 22-25 | Scottsdale Civic Center, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale You probably haven’t seen Old Town Scottsdale like this before. It’s trans- formed into an outdoor celebration of remembrance with large-scale Día de los Muertos art installations and traditional ofrendas. You can explore elaborate displays inspired by Mexican culture, including colorful artwork that reflects the celebrated connection between life and death. The installation experience is part of Scottsdale’s 10th annual Día de los Muertos festivities. Displays are open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and admission is free. >> p 30 Performers at a previous Dia de los Muertos festival at Mesa Arts Center. (Lynn Trimble) ▼ Arts & Culture