Scottsdale, Arizona: Why Go Now

A place where shopping is an art form and activities abound in the lush Sonoran Desert. Well ,Scottsdale is that place. Take a moment to check out the exciting programs and changes taking place around the city.

OUT & ABOUT IN SCOTTSDALE

SCOTTSDALE'S DOWNTOWN CONTINUES TO EVOLVE

Downtown Scottsdaleis a bustling epicenter of activity rich with history and filled with the spirit of both the contemporary and Old West. Blending classic luxury with new urban sizzle, retail, dining and entertainment to meld with an impressive collection of unique shops, restaurants, galleries and nightclubs in this vibrant pedestrian-friendly area. Highlights of downtown's renaissance include the $250 million Scottsdale Waterfront (https://www.scottsdalewaterfront.com/) and $41 million South Bridge (https://www.southbridgescottsdale.com/) along an ancient Indian canal system. The Scottsdale Waterfront is a 1.1 million-square-foot residential and retail development featuring a mix of national and local retailers and restaurants, public event space, an outdoor amphitheater, public art and recreation paths as well as two bridges across the Arizona Canal that links the Waterfront and Scottsdale Fashion Square mall to Scottsdale's Fifth Avenue shopping district and SouthBridge.

The South Bridge district is an urban development along the south bank of the canal and the city's newest district. The borough brings together elite, high-fashion boutiques, independent shops, celebrated cuisine, free outdoor concerts and art. Notably absent are any national chain stores, upholding the independent spirit of the district. SouthBridge also houses The Chef's Loft, a state-of-the-art chef's kitchen that plays host to a culinary school with classes headed by national chefs, a private event space, and studio for lifestyle television shows, documentaries, commercials, and more.

PAOLO SOLERI-DESIGNED BRIDGE BRINGS ART TO SCOTTSDALE'S WATERFRONT

Soleri Bridge and Plaza (https://www.scottsdalepublicart.org/) made its downtown debut along the waterfront in December 2010. Designed by famed Italian designer Paolo Soleri, the bridge is the first one of the artist's designs to be built, although he has designed more than 60 bridges over the past 60 years. The structure demonstrates the importance of solar movement and features two, steel-clad 64-foot-high pylons that create a shaft of light. Depending on the time of year, the sun's shadow crosses the bridge that spans onto the south side of the historic Arizona Canal. Cosanti (https://www.cosanti.com/), Soleri's gallery, studio and residence, and his “arcology” community Arcosanti, located one hour north ofScottsdale, showcase his philosophies.

CREATE YOUR OWN SONORAN DESERT ADVENTURE AT NEW VISITORS CENTER

Exploring the desert by foot, bike, off-road vehicle or even hot air balloon ride is easy and convenient with the new Scottsdale Adventure Center. Launched in January 2011 by the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, the center is located inside Scottsdale Fashion Square (https://www.fashionsquare.com/) and has a 3-D rock climber display, desert adventure video and on-site mountain bike to give a sneak peek at the Sonoran Desert's adventure offerings. Staff are on-site to answer questions, give suggestions and even assist with booking trips and tours like a Tomcar adventure with Desert Wolf Tours (https://www.desertwolftours.com/). Or float across the sky in a hot air balloon with Rainbow Ryders, Inc. (https://www.rainbowryders.com/) and send greetings to earthbound folks below. If you would rather keep your feet firmly on the ground, try hiking and biking with Arizona Outback Adventures (https://www.aoa-adventures.com/), and tackle the mightyMcDowellMountains.

FIRST GLOBAL MUSEUM OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OPENS IN THE DESERT

Take a melodic journey through the world at the Musical Instrument Museum (https://www.themim.org/, MIM), the first global museum of instruments. The Museum opened in April 2010 and showcases cultures from around the globe with more than 12,000 instruments from nearly every country in the world. Transport to another land with wireless headsets and LCD video displays depicting the sounds and sights of the instruments and the people who use them. See the recreation of a gong workshop, listen to the sounds of the traditional Beijing Opera or experience a contemporary Ukrainian wedding procession. If pop culture is more your thing, head to MIM's Artist Gallery, which houses instruments from famous musicians throughout time including John Lennon, Paul Simon, the Black Eyed Peas and the Jonas Brothers. After enjoying a worldly concert, try out your own musical abilities in MIM's Experience Gallery, where you can play instruments such as guitars, gongs and drums. The museum also hosts concerts in its 299-seat performance hall.

LARGEST MALL IN SOUTHWEST EXPANDS, WELCOMES STORES MAKING ARIZONA DEBUT

Scottsdale Fashion Square (https://www.fashionsquare.com/), the largest shopping mall in the Southwest, completed its $130 million renovation in summer 2010, with the addition of 25 new shops. Stores include Armani Exchange, Bottega Veneta, H&M and Bulgari along with other drool-worthy retailers like Jimmy Choo, David Yurman and Tory Burch. The shopping hub welcomed the country's first Microsoft store as well as the grandest of all department stores, Barneys New York. The expansion also includes the opening of Modern Steak (https://www.foxrc.com/), a ladies steakhouse featuring a menu with smaller portions as well as a trendy, modern design. Besides a rockin' menu, diners also enjoy a public art piece designed by a local artist that emulates a tree-like canopy with fire elements, and Modern Burger, a “walk-up” menu and window for on-the-go shoppers who want a taste of the restaurant without the sit-down experience.

NEW SPRING TRAINING FACILITY OPEN FOR INAUGURAL 2011 SEASON

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) is the location of the new Cactus League spring training facility, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick (www.saltriverfields.com), for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies. The word “fields” refers to the 12 practice fields located within the facility and also the Community's rich agricultural history, while the term “Talking Stick” is a historical reference to the traditional Pima calendar stick on which carvers recorded significant events and milestones. Salt River Fields sits on a 140-acre site just east of Scottsdale and is home to an 11,000-seat ballpark and 12 practice fields, as well as Major and Minor League clubhouses, training facilities and offices for each team. The Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies began spring training at the facility in February 2011. During the off season, the facility will play host to various concerts and events including Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers and Arizona Cardinal Larry Fitzgerald's celebrity softball game.

FREE TOUR OFFERS INSIDER'S PEEK INTO SCOTTSDALE

Get a glimpse of downtown Scottsdalewith one of the area's local experts on the Localmotion Cultural Tour offered by Ultimate Art & Cultural Tours (https://www.ultimatearttours.com/). The free tours start at 10:30 a.m. on the second Saturday of every month and take you through the area's notable spots. Along the way, learn tidbits about the downtown history and background while seeing the city. Featured locations include the historic Old Adobe Mission church, arts district, Scottsdale Civic Center Mall, and Hotel Valley Ho (https://www.hotelvalleyho.com/) as well as the Southbridge and Scottsdale Waterfront shopping areas. Reservations for the two-hour tour are required.

25 YEARS OF PUBLIC ART CELEBRATED IN SCOTTSDALE

Scottsdale Public Art (https://www.scottsdalepublicart.org/) celebrated its 25th year in 2010. Since 1985, the program has transformed the city into an outdoor art gallery with more than 70 permanent and 30 temporary artworks encompassing an array of artistic expressions. Creative works range from traditional bronzes such as George-Ann Tognoni's trio of galloping horses to contemporary and experiential pieces like James Turrell's skyspace Knight Rise at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (https://www.smoca.org/). To celebrate this milestone, Scottsdale Public Art is bringing new exhibits and artwork to the city.

Following Toby Atticus Fraley's endearing Robots in Flight and the playful world of Bubble Fountain by Arizona artists Melissa McGurgan and Marco Rosichelli, the latest Bell'e Art installation, Barn Devil by Christopher Fennell, debuted in September 2009. This dynamic sculpture is constructed of reclaimed wood specifically for the bell tower at the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall and truly activates and defines the space. Minutes from downtown Scottsdale at the District One municipal complex, internationally recognized artist Dennis Oppenheim's Garden of Evidence features six architectural aluminum cactus forms with criminal evidence providing the imagery for the landscape elements including tools of investigation, pieces of a thematic puzzle and more. Two artworks also debuted in March 2010 on the Indian Bend Road recreational corridor. The Horse Gargoyle Sculptures, a massive series of earthworks and sculptures by Laura Haddad and Tom Drugan, channels high velocity floodwaters rushing through the wash at the road crossing.

A DESERT SANCTUARY FOR CELEBRITIES

With its stylish resorts, world-class shopping and dynamic nightlife, Scottsdale has become a haven for celebrities and the destination of choice for celebs like Britney Spears, Jamie Foxx, Halle Berry, Jeremy Piven and more. Everyone's favorite hip-hop power couple, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, ditched the beaches of Saint-Tropezto celebrate their honeymoon at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa (https://www.sanctuaryaz.com/). Stylish Hollywood elite like Jennifer Aniston, Sarah Jessica Parker, Angelina Jolie and Tim Gunn have prowled the fashionable corridors of the Southwest's largest shopping mall, Scottsdale Fashion Square (https://www.fashionsquare.com/). Scottsdale may seem like the latest in a craze, but its popularity with celebrities dates back to the 1950s when classic Hollywood stars like Zsa Zsa Gabor and Carey Grant graced the corridors of Hotel Valley Ho (https://www.hotelvalleyho.com/). Visit https://www.experiencescottsdale.com/ for a list of celebrities who have visited Scottsdale.

NEW & RENOVATED PROPERTIES ON THE SCOTTSDALE SCENE

THE BOULDERS INTERIOR DESIGN MAKEOVER ENHANCES ITS CLASSIC CASITAS

The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa (https://www.theboulders.com/) began an interior makeover in January 2011 to update its collection of casitas and restaurants. New furnishings in warm desert colors, regional artwork and Native American artifacts will be incorporated throughout the property and design upgrades are being made to the fireplaces, bathrooms and patios. If the lure of technology is too great, bring all your gadgets with you to use in the new media center, featuring plugs for a laptop, iPod, iPhone, MP3 player, digital camera and even an Xbox. Bogey's, The Boulders' 19th hole, will be updated with flat screen TVs for the best views of the latest sporting events and a mix of comfy seating. The Bakery Café will have new decadent desserts and mouth-watering lunchtime fare reminiscent of any patisserie found in France. The renovation is set to be complete in June 2011.

CAREFREE RESORT UNDERGOING MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR MAKEOVER

The Carefree Resort & Conference Center (https://www.carefree-resort.com/) is undergoing a makeover, giving it a more polished look without sacrificing the resort's unique character. The first phase of the renovation began in July 2010 and will cost nearly $6 million. The makeover will revitalize the property with new design elements as well as upgrades to the resort casitas, tennis villas and restaurants. The western Red Horse Saloon restaurant will be closed and re-opened as a meeting facility. The renovation is expected to be complete in 2011.

SANCTUARY ON CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN EXPANDS MENU WITH $3 MILLION RENOVATION

Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa (https://www.sanctuaryaz.com/) completed its $3 million renovation in spring 2010 with the unveiling of an all-new menu, high-tech kitchen with raw bar, a plancha oven for cooking whole fish style and new décor that's perfect for its setting on the iconic Camelback Mountain. Headed by award-winning Chef Beau MacMillan who recently took the “Worst Cooks in America” back to culinary school on the Food Network series, elements continues to dish out farm-fresh American cuisine with Asian accents but with more vegetarian and gluten-free options, new pastry dishes, and in-house smoked meats. The renovation also included Praying Monk, an outdoor year-round dining space with dramatic views, and private dining room XII, which features a wine corridor exhibiting 800 bottles and a sommelier station, intimate seating for 12, and a front row seat to the kitchen so diners can watch the culinary action unfold in front of them.

Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain restaurant

CULINARY SCENE

SCOTTSDALE MAKES ARIZONA WINE EXPLORATION EASY

Detours of Arizona (https://www.detoursaz.com/)guidesScottsdale visitors on a day-long exploration ofArizona's newest wine community in the scenicVerdeValley just south of Sedona. This fully guided tour features stops at four wineries including Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery, Page Springs Vineyards & Cellars, Oak Creek Vineyards & Winery and Alcantara Vineyards and Winery. Guests also view some of Sedona's most picturesque landmarks including Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock and spend time browsing one-of-a-kind shops and art galleries in Uptown. This full-day tour is $180 per guest, requires a five-person minimum, and includes ground transportation, guide services, wine tasting, bottled water, and lunch.

Continue the Arizona wine experience once you return to Scottsdale at FnB (https://www.fnbrestaurant.com/), a trendy gastropub in the heart of downtown. The brainchild of hospitality master Pavle Milic (Prado) and Chef Charleen Badman (Rancho Pinot Grill), this dining spot is a neighborhood hangout that dishes out sophisticated comfort food and uses seasonal, local, organic and sustainable produce whenever possible. And since this restaurant features the only all-Arizona wine list in the area, sample varietals from state vineyards that you experienced on the wine tour plus ones like Dos Cabezas Wine Works and Callaghan Vineyards.

PINK PONY, SPRING TRAINING STAPLE OPENS IN TIME FOR 2011 SEASON

A spring training favorite and historical downtown landmark for 60 years, Pink Pony Steakhouse (https://www.pinkponyrestaurant.com/) closed its doors in 2009 but reopened in February 2011. Just in time for the season's Cactus League spring training, Pink Pony features classic ballpark favorites like hamburgers and hot dogs and era-inspired items like the 1904 Shrimp & Crab Louie. Once visited by the likes of baseball greats Dizzy Dean, Mickey Mantle and Billy Martin, the restaurant's baseball history is still intact and houses memorabilia from the original restaurant like the home plate from the first spring training facility in Scottsdale, cowboy boot lamps, and caricatures of mid-century baseball stars like Sal “The Barber” Maglie.

DOWNTOWN SCOTTSDALE DINING: THREE NEW HOT SPOTS FROM THREE OLD FAVORITES

After years of success at Cowboy Ciao (https://www.cowboyciao.com/), including the creation of the infamous Stetson Chopped salad, Chef Bernie Kantak's latest culinary endeavor includes transforming Scottsdale's original Trader Vic's into Citizen Public House (https://www.citizenpublichouse.com/). Inspired by the casual atmosphere of a traditional pub with the focus on quality food, Kantak's coins his Citizen Public House as an upscale tavern. Serving craft beers and classic and contemporary cocktails with pub grub to match, this new restaurant and bar boasts starters like gorgonzola-emmental mac-n-cheese and sandwiches like the AZ BLT with local bacon, tender greens and Campari tomato on caramelized French bread. The space is adorned with mahogany accents and leather booths, making it a cozy spot to grab a drink or bite to eat with friends. The restaurant opened in January 2011.

Mosey down to Big Earl's BBQ (https://www.bigearlsbbq.com/) in Old Town for some down and dirty barbeque eats. A new concept by Chef James Porter of the French bistro Petite Maison (www.petitemaisonaz.com), the restaurant is named in homage to Porter's father. Since February 2011, Big Earl's showcases different regional barbecues like Texas-style brisket andSt. Louis pork ribs. Other menu items include BBQ oysters, Catfish Po'Boy and roasted beef bone marrow with pickled okra.

Take a step back to a more glamorous era with Chef Aaron May's new spot, Mabel's on Main (https://www.mabelsonmain.com/). The restaurant opened in January 2010 and brings a mid-20th century speakeasy to downtown. Included on the menu are Prohibition inspired cocktails like the Hemingway Daiquiri, aged wines, and menu items such as deviled eggs with caviar and oysters Rockefeller. Chef Aaron May steps behind the bar on “Stump the Chef Tuesdays” where bar patrons get their drinks on the house if they stump him with a drink request. And like any good speakeasy, Mabel's is cloaked in mystery and boasts a private 15-person dining room with a one-way mirror that is only accessible through a secret door.

HARVESTS FROM ORGANIC GARDEN MAKE FOR TASTY SIGHTS AND SMELLS

The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa's (https://www.theboulders.com/) on-site organic garden serves as the muse for the property's new seasonal offerings. Nourish your skin with fresh fruit and vegetables from the garden with the Golden Door Spa's seasonal body scrubs, including pear and green apple in the fall, cranberry and pomegranate during the winter, blueberries in the spring, and cucumber mint during the summer. But you don't get to just wear your food – you can eat it too at the property's Dining With the Stars Dinners. Enjoy the scenery of the plentiful harvest during the five-course wine dinners featuring produce-themed menus set among the sights and smells of the garden. Astrologer Tom McMullan is on hand to reveal the mysticism of the constellations and planets and how the two work together to influence personal wellness. Dining with the Stars costs $95 per person and includes a cocktail reception, dinner and spiritual readings by McMullan. The event occurs only three times each year: on the fall and spring equinoxes and the summer solstice. Other ways to enjoy the organic offerings include taking a tour of the garden with the master gardener and cooking demonstrations.

CULINARY OFFERINGS SATISFY MORE THAN JUST HEARTY APPETITES

Food connoisseurs have a new way to connect with each other thanks to social networking group FoodiesLikeUs.com (https://www.foodieslikeus.com/). As the brainchild of food lover Jay Pizarro, the online community provides culinary adventures focusing on experiential, affordable activities. Included in the mix of experiences are social and educational events, behind-the-scenes tours of Arizona restaurants and meetings with notable area chefs. Celebrating food and history, Arizona Food Tours (https://www.arizonafoodtours.com/) offers a delicious insider's look into the restaurants that dot downtown. The “Taste of Old Town Scottsdale” tour is a walking food and historical exploration that opens minds and palates with tales of the area's rich history – one taste at a time. Travel along the same streets that were infamous stomping grounds for some of the West's greatest cowboys in the early 1900s while enjoying historical tales and special food tastings from participating restaurants and shops like The Mission (https://www.missionaz.com/), serving modern Latin cuisine in downtown's historic district and The Rusty Spur Saloon (https://www.rustyspursaloon.com/), Scottsdale's oldest saloon featuring traditional cowboy grub. Cost is $42 per person.

RESORT DINING ELEVATED WITH NEW CHEFS, RESTAURANTS, FLAVORS

Chef de Cuisine Graeme Blair of Brittlebush Bar & Grill at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa (https://www.kierlandresort.com/) brings a new Gastropub menu to the resort, specializing in high-quality food a step above the more basic “pub grub.” Keeping with the resort's Scottish theme, Blair throws a bit of Scottish influence into the mix and includes homeland favorites with a modern twist such as the short rib loaded Yorkshires and full Scottish breakfast sandwich. Lon's at The Hermosa Inn (https://www.hermosainn.com/) recently welcomed a new executive, Chef Jeremy Pacheco, who blends local produce and traditional ingredients with European influences. Pacheco works exclusively with suppliers of natural or organic products, in addition to overseeing Lon's one-acre organic garden. Most recently, he was chef de cuisine at Society Café Encore in Las Vegas and also served as chef de cuisine at the former Terrace Dining Room at The Phoenician in Scottsdale. And ROQ, the new pool-side restaurant at InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa (https://www.icmontelucia.com/), opened in March 2010 and features American bistro cuisine, hand-crafted “ROQtails” like ROQ of Love and Arizona Dreamin', and live entertainment with a menu focusing on the freshest ingredients from American boutique farms and local purveyors. It includes a collection of seafood, steaks, sandwiches, salads and gourmet fries in nine varieties.

Scottsdale Troon North golf course

WORLD-CLASS GOLF

SHAPE UP WITH NEW PROGRAMS AT THE BOULDERS RESORT

Bring your “A game” to the Boulders Golf Club at The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa (https://www.theboulders.com/) where you'll train with the pros in the club's Golf Academy program. Offering classes for even the time crunched, choose from the two-hour Accelerate the Learning Curve, which includes instruction and nine holes of golf for $355, the two-day Quick Fix or the three-day Complete Game Improvement packages, both of which include rounds of golf with cart rental and unlimited use of practice and fitness facilities. Quick Fix and Complete Game Improvement packages include accommodations and start at $410 per night and $609 per night respectively.

Want to work on your swing without neglecting your sweetie? The Boulders lets you bring both your loves together in the Couples VIP Retreat. The package offers two hours of personal instruction with two instructors. After the end of your session, have a couple's showdown on the green with 18 holes of golf. To prep for the finale, the retreat also includes a nine-hole playing lesson with instruction. The VIP Retreat costs $1,560 per couple. Finally, if you need to shape up more than just your swing enlist in the Aquatic/Golf Conditioning Program, designed to help obtain peak performance. The class helps work on increased flexibility, core strength and lumbar stability using tools such as water noodles. The exercises utilize water resistance, which is joint-friendly and increases muscular strength, power, and endurance. The Aquatic/Golf Conditioning program is free to all resort guests.

SCOTCH, MUSIC AND CADDIES – NOT YOUR FATHER'S GOLF GAME

Scottsdale courses are putting a hip, young spin on the traditional game with cool offerings such as the Scottish Golf Experience at Kierland Golf Club (https://www.kierlandgolf.com/). To honor Scottish immigrants who helped develop Arizona and make the game truly authentic, don rented kilts and enjoy Johnnie Walker beverages while perfecting your swing. Finish your round as bagpipes signal the end of the day and the start of the Scottish Pipes at Sunset Series, where Bagpiper Michael McClanathan creates the melodic tunes of Old World Scotland at the Dreamweaver Canyon fire pit.

If there was one course in Scottsdale deemed edgy, Grayhawk Golf Club (https://www.grayhawkgolf.com/) would be it. Not only can you swing to rock music on the practice range, but the course also has featured live tunes by EastonAshe on the patio. If clothing is your thing, check out the pro shop offering the latest golf threads from PUMA and Oakley. Wanna play like the pros at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, A.K.A. the “Greatest Show on Grass?” Hit from the same tees as Phil and Tiger on TPC Scottsdale's (www.tpc.com/scottsdale) Stadium Course with the Forecaddie Experience and find out what it's like to be a TOUR player. Caddies carry your bags, offer shot selection advice, rake bunkers, read greens and much more. Plus, get the insider's perspective of the history and heritage of golf and the TOUR. And don't miss the plaques inside the clubhouse commemorating the top moments of the Open's history – JB Holmes monster drive on 18 two years ago, Tiger's “loose impediment” that took help from the fans to move and Andrew Magee's hole-in-one on a par four, just to name a few.