Scottsdale Blog - Things to do in Scottsdale, Arizona » Kelly Tope

Calling All Classic Car Lovers!

Kelly Tope — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:05:44 +0000

Westworld of Scottsdale presents Goodguy’s 12th Annual Southwest Hot Rod & Custom Car National. This show features over 3,000 hot rods, custom cars, muscle cars & trick trucks thru ‘72. These cars will all be showcased November 20-22 at WestWorld of Scottsdale.

This giant outdoor car show will also include a swap meet, vendor & manufacturer exhibits and more. With fun for the whole family like a Model Car Show and free model make and take, come out and enjoy gorgeous cars and beautiful weather.

Ticket prices start at $17 for adult tickets and $6 for children (ages7-12). For more detailed information on times, parking and tickets purchases please visit www.southwestnats.com or call 925-838-9876.

Green Street Scottsdale is Just Around the Corner!

Kelly Tope — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:55:11 +0000

Part celebration, part art exhibit, part music festival, and all environmentally friendly, Green Street Scottsdale will celebrate the city’s sustainability efforts on Nov. 12. The free event will kick off with a special ArtWalk in the Scottsdale Arts District at 7 p.m. along Main Street and Marshall Way in downtown Scottsdale. The event continues at the SouthBridge and Scottsdale Waterfront districts with a live Latin Jazz concert, organic beer tastings, eco-friendly public art installations and interactive exhibits that highlight Scottsdale’s green projects.

The Green Street Scottsdale ArtWalk will feature artist demonstrations with recycled and reusable materials and live music from local bands. Meanwhile, the SouthBridge and Scottsdale Waterfront areas are set to feature interactive exhibits highlighting the city’s most dynamic sustainability initiatives.

Green Street Scottsdale also will throw some Latin flavor into the eco-friendly mix. The Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts’ free Latin Jazz concert will be at Southbridge and all event participants can “live la vida Locavore” while they enjoy specialty cuisine made with local and organic ingredients from a Scottsdale vendor. An outdoor beer garden on the Marshall Way Bridge will provide samples of some of the world’s tastiest organic brews, courtesy of DRAFT Magazine.

Transportation options will be available to those who take the Valley Metro Light Rail to the Priest and Washington station in Phoenix. From there, the free and eco-friendly Scottsdale Trolley (they run on biodiesel) will pick up attendees to take them to downtown Scottsdale. The trolley will run from 5 to 11 p.m., and there also will be plenty of hybrid taxis from Discount Cab for guests wishing to extend the festivities later into the night.

For more information, maps, featured artists, demonstrators and participating galleries, visit www.greenstreetscottsdale.com. With all this good, clean, green fun, who could resist?

Calling All Fashionistas; It’s Time to Celebrate Scottsdale Fashion Week

Kelly Tope — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:35:40 +0000

Scottsdale Fashion Week is back for another year of fabulous fashion! This show brings all of the latest fashions to the runway and the hottest celebrities to the front row. This super hip event draws in fashionistas and up and coming designers in large amounts.

Scottsdale’s Fashion Week will take place November 5 – 7 in the super chic setting of downtown Scottsdale. This year brings the return of the famed Wearable ArtWalk, where models will showcase notable one-of-a-kind pieces of ‘art-to-wear’ clothing and jewelry. This part of the event is completely free and takes place in various galleries throughout the Scottsdale Arts District.

The main event will be the runway shows taking place Friday and Saturday evenings on two different runways in the Southbridge/Waterfront area of downtown. Banana Republic, kate spade, Barneys New York, Chinese designer Zhao Bandi and Eva Franco will take center stage on these runways. And be sure to check out iuk, iuk on the Southbridge Runway Friday evening. This designer was hand selected from a design competition in partnership with the nearby Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art.

In total Scottsdale Fashion Week will host over two-dozen runway shows. The Main Runway will showcase leading fashion designers and will be located at the Scottsdale Waterfront on Marshall Way south of Camelback Road. The outdoor SouthBridge Runway will feature up-and-coming designers and will be located across the Arizona Canal.

Tickets for these events range from $25 for general admission and $200 to be treated like VIP. For further information on tickets, shows, locations and times visit www.scottsdalefashionweek.com

Celebrate Culinary Creations with Crave Arizona

Kelly Tope — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:06:40 +0000

Savor Scottsdale’s ‘08 smash hit foodie event, Eats3, is “back for seconds” with a fresh name and even bigger appetite to please. Renamed Crave Arizona, the culinary event treats the world’s food and wine community to an expanded statewide celebration of food, wine & spirits.

Activities at the 2009 Crave Arizona event include the “Taste of Art” ArtWalk (a special version of the normal Thursday evening Scottsdale ArtWalk), “Taste of Art” Gallery Dinners, National Bartender Competition & Crave Arizona Kick-Off Party, Library Wine Tasting Series, BBQs & Bubbles and the The Arizona Grand Tasting . The days are filled with food and wine tastings, seminars, discussions, appearances by famous chefs and more. Click here for a full event schedule.

Join us for the 2nd Annual Crave Arizona Food & Wine Festival held on the Bridge at the Scottsdale Waterfront and throughout downtown Scottsdale. Visit www.CraveArizona.com for more information and to purchase tickets to this exciting culinary event!

Experience 6th Annual Tour de Scottsdale

Kelly Tope — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:07:45 +0000

Finding fun things to do in Scottsdale is an easy task but finding something the whole family can do, can sometimes be a challenge. The Tour de Scottsdale is a cycling event for all ages. Hundreds of cyclists of all levels attend each year. This year marks the 6th annual of the race and will benefit the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

Racing pro riders can improve pro status and vie for cash prizes. Non-competitive cyclists will follow the same 70-mile course; and families are encouraged to participate in the Tour atmosphere by cycling in the free 2.5-mile Family Fun Ride. “The Tour de Scottsdale creates a buzzing atmosphere of excitement,” said DC Ranch Event Director Jennifer Clark. “The pros are geared up for a sanctioned ride, while hundreds of amateur cyclists challenge themselves to the 70-mile course. Families, spectators and sports fans are all milling about, soaking in the excitement,” continued Clark.

DC Ranch will also host a free expo following the shotgun start of the Sunday, Oct. 4th Tour de Scottsdale. The expo will host a variety of vendors, including those offering athletic apparel, cycling and other sports related gear, and physical and environmental health information, the free Expo on Market Street in DC Ranch features food and beverage, a beer garden, live music and the opportunity to shop scores of vendors and anticipate around 50 booths.

This event will take place on October 4th, with the expo starting at 10 am and the race starting at 7 am. The race and expo will be located Market Street at DC Ranch, located at the southeast corner of Pima Rd. and Thompson Peak Pkwy. For more information find the Tour de Scottsdale on facebook.

Desert Botanical Garden works to preserve the Sonoran Desert

Kelly Tope — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:56:22 +0000

Since 1939, the Desert Botanical Garden has been home to one of the finest and most diverse collections of succulent plants, including rare, threatened and endangered species from around the Southwest. It is the only botanical garden in the world whose mission, from its early inception, was to focus solely on desert plants and one of only a few whose collections comprise a library, herbarium, living specimens and rare and endangered plants.

Mrs. Gertrude Divine Webster, an environmentalist ahead of her time, founded the Desert Botanical Garden in 1939. Mrs. Webster, in conjunction with a small group of Valley citizens, gathered in Papago Park to create a botanical garden whose precepts would encourage an understanding, appreciation and promotion of the uniqueness of the world’s deserts, particularly the Sonoran Desert. They foresaw the Valley’s potential and unique identity, envisioning the need to conserve their beautiful desert environment. The Desert Botanical Garden, since its inception in 1939, continues to be a testament to their vision.

The Desert Botanical Garden sits on 145 acres and has more than 50,000 plants on display including a Living Collection (including more than 21,000 accessioned plants) and a Rare and Endangered Collection (including more than 328 seeds and 213 plants). Through the research department’s partnership with educational institutions and government agencies, research staff is working to ensure the plants of the Sonoran Desert are conserved and preserved for generations to come.

The Garden acts with the environment as its priority and is continually implementing best practices to achieve this – a task that is never truly complete. As new information and technologies become available, the Garden will evaluate and if feasible, implement these practices. Current initiatives include energy efficiency, water conservation, recycling and composting.

Energy Use

Using renewable energy to meet 100% of the Garden’s electricity needs. Solar panels on Dorrance Hall supply up to 8% of these needs
Started to changing incandescent light bulbs to Compact Fluorescent Lights and other lower-energy bulbs.
Staff turns off monitors each night and computer updates have been moved to a mid-week time frame.

Water Use
The Garden’s utilization of native landscaping assists in minimizing water usage.

Recycling

The Garden recycles #1 & #2 plastics, paper, cardboard, aluminum, steel and glass. Receptacles have bee installed throughout the Garden that separate waste and recyclable materials.
Four out of six of print vendors use Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards.
All copy machine default settings are for double-sided printing.
Encouraging catering companies to be environmentally conscious encouraging reusable, recyclable, or decomposable materials whenever possible.

Composting
The Garden delivers all green waste for composting to Singh Farms. In addition, the Garden purchases this compost for use in the Garden.

If you are interested in learning more about sustainability, the Garden teaches the community sustainable environmental practices through educational programs and outreach and the Desert Landscaper School, which focuses on xeriscape and native plants. Come check out the beauty of Desert Botanical Garden – you’ll see not only the unique flora of the Sonoran Desert, but how the Garden is working to preserve that environment!

Glass Lovers Unite!

Kelly Tope — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 23:43:57 +0000

If you are at all interested in glass art (which is quickly becoming a favorite of mine!), then you need to be sure to check out at least one of the three great glass- or art-focused events taking place in Scottsdale in the next week. These back-to-back events (all of which happen to be within walking distance of one another) provide the perfect opportunities for you to better understand, and experience, glass art.

The [almost] week-long celebration of glass art kicks off with a lecture on world-renowned glass artist Lino Tagliapietra at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) on Wednesday, March 18 at 7:00pm. Art historian and independent curator Susanne K. Frantz will give a comprehensive overview of Tagliapietra’s life and career and will showcase his evolution as artist, designer, craftsperson and educator, as well as his influence on international studio glass. Tickets are $7 for SMoCA and Arizona Glass Alliance Members and $10 for non-members. Click here for more information or call 480-994-ARTS to purchase tickets.

After you are armed with information on one of best-known glass artists of all time, continue to indulge your love of glass with Glass Act: A Festival ArtWalk and Tour on Thursday, March 19. The Glass Act event begins with a private behind-the-scenes tour of the jaw-dropping Dale Chihuly exhibit at Desert Botanical Garden. Total tour time is 1:00 – 7:00pm and tickets are priced at $65 each. The tour will be conducted by Ultimate Art & Cultural Tours and includes transportation to and from the garden, admittance into the garden, and private glass-art receptions at three prominent Scottsdale galleries.

After the private tour, the Glass Act event will continue with a Festival ArtWalk in the Downtown Scottsdale Arts District. This special ArtWalk features exhibits by more than 30 renowned glass artists at participating galleries. There will also be live entertainment and flame working demonstrations along the streets that will add to the festival atmosphere. This part of the Glass Act event is free and runs from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. Click here for a list of participating galleries, artists and demonstrations.

You do not have to attend one part of the Glass Act event to participate in the other but, if you are a true glass lover (or aspire to be one), my recommendation is that you simply cannot miss either.

Segway into the weekend with the 39th Annual Scottsdale Arts Festival, which is consistently ranked as one of the top arts festivals in the country. The festival takes place Friday, March 20 – Sunday, March 22 at the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall and showcases 200 artists selected by jury from a pool of nearly 1,000 applicants. Participating artists come from throughout the United States and Canada and work in all media, from ceramic, glass (your new favorite, right???), jewelry, metals and textiles to painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking and drawing. Visitors have the opportunity to meet and talk to each artist and buy works of art directly from them. Click here for more information about the Scottsdale Arts Festival.

With all of the great glass and art events taking place in Scottsdale in the next week (never mind the fantastic weather we should be experiencing!), there’s no reason to not get out and experience the thriving Scottsdale Arts District. Enjoy!

Ready for Scottsdale Event Season? Good, cause it’s here!

Kelly Tope — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:09:53 +0000

This is absolutely one of my favorite times of the year to be in Scottsdale. Not only is the weather great (we get to wear short sleeve shirts while the rest of the country is bundled up and still freezing), but there is something to do just about every weekend from here until April. You can hardly go anywhere in Scottsdale without running into an event, all of which are worth experiencing. Here are some of my favorites coming up through the end of January (and be sure to check out Valentine’s Day in Scottsdale for events taking place in February):

Barrett-Jackson:This auto auction features more than 1,000 of the world’s finest collector and special-interest automobiles and is attended by 250,000 collectors and enthusiasts.
Dates: January 11-18
Location: WestWorld of Scottsdale (101 Freeway and Frank Lloyd Wright)
Admission: $10-$120

Sunday A’Fair: This free Sunday afternoon festival takes place outdoors and features concerts, a diverse selection of arts and crafts, and hands-on activities for children.
Dates: January 11 – April 12, most Sundays
Location: Scottsdale Civic Center Mall
Admission: Free

Russo & Steele: Be sure to check out this boutique-style auction featuring American muscle cars, European sports cars, hot rods and customs.
Dates: January 14-18, 2009
Location: Scottsdale Road and Mayo Boulevard
Admission: $20 general admission

Arizona Fine Art Expo: Juried artists are showcased in a working studio environment, giving attendees unprecedented access to some of the world’s most gifted designers, painters, sketch artists and sculptors.
Dates: January 15 – March 29, 2009
Location: Jomax and Scottsdale Roads
Admission: $8

Native Trails: A celebration of Native American Culture through song, dance, art, music and food.
Dates: January 15 – April 11, 2009 (most Thursdays and Saturdays)
Location: Scottsdale Civic Center Mall
Admission: Free

Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival: Experience jury-selected artists displaying fine art that includes bronzes, paintings, pottery, photography, scratchboard, wood, clay, metal and glass sculptures, batiks and more.
Dates: January 15-16, 2009
Location: Downtown Carefree, Ho Hum and Easy Streets
Admission: $3

Celebration of Fine Art: Attending this event is like attending more than 100 artists’ studios in one day! You can meet the artists and watch them while working.
Dates: January 16 – March 29, 2009
Location: Scottsdale Rd. and Mayo Boulevard
Admission: $8

Rockin’ ArtWalk: Runners, family and friends are invited to spend the afternoon in the thriving Downtown Scottsdale Arts & Shopping District. Here, you can enjoy an enticing array of galleries, dining and nightlife.
Dates: January 17, 2009
Location: Scottsdale Arts District, Main St. and Marshall Way
Admission: Free

P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon & 1/2 Marathon: This marathon tours through three of Arizona’s most vibrant cities (Phoenix, Tempe, and Scottsdale). With perfect winter running weather and live music every mile, this is an event not to miss!
Dates: January 18, 2009
Location: Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale
Admission: Free for spectators, $100-$125 for runners

Arizona Sun Circuit Quarter Horse Show: Come to watch 1,500 of the country’s best quarter horses compete for $20,000 in prizes. Horses and riders from around the world ride in five rights over eight days.
Dates: January 22-31, 2009
Location: WestWorld of Scottsdale (101 and Frank Lloyd Wright)
Admission: Free

FBR Open: As the largest event on the PGA TOUR, the FBR Open has gained legendary status for being unlike any other golf tournament. In addition the golf festival during the day, be sure to check out the Bird’s Nest Music Fest at each night.
Dates: January 26 – February 1, 2009
Location: TPC Scottsdale (Greenway Parkway and Frank Lloyd Wright)
Admission: $25 and up

Farmer’s Market Opens in Downtown Scottsdale November 1

Kelly Tope — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:09:15 +0000

Beginning November 1, downtown Scottsdale will host a Farmer’s Market every Saturday though May 2009. The market runs from 8:30am-2:00pm and features the best local growers in the Valley. More than 40 vendors will provide a variety of organic vegetables and fruits, flowers, herbs, a coffee roaster and an assortment of handmade items including pastries, jams, and baked goods. Located at the Old Town surface parking lot on the northwest corner of Brown Street and 2nd Street, this feast for the eyes and stomach has ample parking, live entertainment and cooking demonstrations. In addition a variety of displays will highlight community resources, such as free health screenings by Scottsdale Healthcare, exhibits by the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and the Desert Botanical Garden.

Local grower Bob McClendon, who delivers fresh produce to restaurants across the Valley, will be participating in this Farmer’s Market every Saturday. McClendon’s Select is located on 25 acres of rich river bottom land in the Northwest Salt River Valley and provides the finest gourmet quality Rio Red Grapefruit, Honeybell Tangelos, Blood Oranges, Cara Cara Navel Oranges, Meyer Lemons, Key Limes and Pummelos. The McClendon’s Select booth will be located on the East end of the lot at the Scottsdale Farmer’s Market.

Plan to get your weekend off to a great start by making the Old Town Saturday Farmer’s Market your first stop of the day.

DC Ranch host first Sustainable Living Expo

Kelly Tope — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:54:20 +0000

DC Ranch will host a Sustainable Green Living Expo Saturday, October 18 from 10:00am – 2:00pm on Market Street. The Expo is designed to show ‘how green is done’ and will provide an opportunity for consumers to interface directly with vendors, who will provide information and resources to increases awareness and accelerate the adoption of sustainable living practices.

The Sustainable Living Expo will feature 30 local vendors specializing in renewable energy, environmental and social responsibility, natural health, green building, alternative vehicles, organic agriculture, local economies and more. Participating vendors include APS, a.k.a. Green, American Solar Electric, City of Scottsdale, Dunn-Edwards Paints, EnviroCar, Earth Maids, Ladybug Pest Control, and The Build Green Co. GEMs, or Global Electric Motorcars, will be on display.

“The Sustainable Living Expo will connect individuals with resources that will help them to lead a more sustainable life. Many small, local businesses and organizations provide environmentally preferable products, services and educational approaches that create a world for future generations in which community and business operations interface benignly with the natural world,” said Randy Zellers, DC Ranch community services manager who is coordinating the Expo

The Expo coincides with opening weekend of “The Market,” DC Ranch’s farmer’s market featuring locally-produced food and specialty items and demonstrations from chefs operating restaurants on Market Street.

The Sustainable Living Expo is free, and will take place on Market Street at DC Ranch Saturday, October 18 from 10:00am-2:00pm. For more details, contact Randy Zellers at 480-585-8654 x202 or randy.zellers@dcranch.com.