Scottsdale Blog - Things to do in Scottsdale, Arizona » Mitchell Tay

Celebrate the 28th Annual Orme Dam

Mitchell Tay — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:57:01 +0000

This particularly special celebration for the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation prevented the federal government from building the Orme Dam back in the 1970s. This dam would have been built roughly 25 miles northeast of Phoenix on the Fort McDowell Indian Reservation. If the dam was built, more than half of the reservation would have been flooded along with other historical sites. It took a long 10 years of struggle, protest, and pleading to the government before finally canceling the project. Because of this the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation celebrates its annual Orme Dam Victory Days.

It takes place this weekend November 20 – 22, 2009 at the Fort McDowell Casino.
Activities include a parade, rodeo, performances and more.

Please check website for full schedule of events at http://www.ftmcdowell.org

Come celebrate with the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Orme Dam Victory Days!

The Bigger and Better Scottsdale Fashion Square

Mitchell Tay — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:03:23 +0000

For those who love shopping Scottsdale Fashion Square is the mall just for that. The mall recently added a new 100,000 square foot extension to the already ginormous mall, now totalling 1.9 million square feet of retail space. If you’re not aware, Fashion Square is the the largest mall in the southwest so make sure to wear your comfortable shoes handy if shopping for awhile. In the newly expanded wing you’ll find the widely-known Barney’s New York anchored at the end of the mall, with other popular stores such as, Forever 21, H&M, Banana Republic, and J. Crew adjacent to it. While the majority of the major stores have already opened there are still a handful of stores waiting to make their debut. And if you love to eat be sure to check out the two restaurants that opened up in the expansion: Modern Ssteak and Marcella’s Italian Kitchen.

Modern Steak is not your typical steakhouse ambiance. It’s light and youthful with very elegant decor, yet still intimate. My colleague, Melissa, raved about the short rib sandwich and peanut butter cup dessert which she said tasted like “deliciousness.” Modern Steak also has a convenient walk-up window for a quick bite on the run called Modern Burger. It has a fairly simple menu with very reasonable prices. Marcella’s Italian Kitchen is also a moderately priced restaurant that’s not too casual or too fancy. My other colleague, Sara, really enjoyed the restaurant’s lunch specials.

A couple other items to make note of is the new underground parking and valet parking options for convenient access to the mall.

Regardless if you’re just visiting Scottsdale or a local, make sure you have enough hours set aside if you love to shop.

My Visit to the Heard Museum

Mitchell Tay — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:09:35 +0000

As an Arizona native it was sad for me to say that I’ve never been to the Heard Museum. It’s almost as bad as saying that you live in Arizona but have never been to the Grand Canyon. The Heard Museum is all about the Native American culture and covers everything from history to contemporary art. It is a fairly large museum with permanent, semi-permanent, and temporary exhibits (make sure you grab a map). Their signature exhibit is Home: Native People in the Southwest. A guided tour is offered for this exhibit, which lasts around an hour, that shows the history and culture of the Native American people. I definitely recommend going through this exhibit with a docent as they are very knowledgeable and go through an eight month training program to become fully educated about the Native American culture. The rest of the museum you’re free to roam around the museum. Another exhibit I recommend you definitely check out is Remembering Our Indian School Days: The Boarding School Experience. This is a very moving exhibit that chronicles the controversial experience of Native American children being placed in boarding schools to educate and assimilate them. There are many other exhibits at the Heard including paintings and sculptures. Additionally there are childrens’ activities, which of course always makes learning fun. There’s even a gift shop which you can purchase pieces of art from the creators themselves!

The Heard Museum also hosts many unique events at their site such as the Spanish Market, 52nd Annual Indian Fair and Market, and Native + You.

Overall, my experience at the Heard of Native American culture and experiencing the many beautiful pieces of art was enjoyable. I could have easily spent a half day there and am glad I finally made a trip to the Heard Museum. =)

Wine Spectator’s Restaurant Wine List Awards

Mitchell Tay — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:42:08 +0000

In the recent August 2009 Wine Spectator, they recognized these Scottsdale restaurants for having a fine wine selection. If you’re a casual wine drinker or even a “wine-o” be sure to check out these restaurants. Also, let us know how well they struck your taste palette.

Best of Award of Excellence

Bourbon Steak
The Fairmont Scottsdale
480-513-6002
Sommelier: Aaron Patrick
Wine Strengths:
Caolifornia, France
Wine Selection: 530

The Capital Grille
480-348-1700
Wine Director: Courtney Penhall
Wine Strengths: California
Wine Selection: 545

Cowboy Ciao
480-WINE-111
Wine Director: Peter Kasperski
Wine Strengths: California, France, Australia, Italy
Wine Selection: 3,200

Il Terrazzo
The Phoenician Resort
480-423-2530
Wine Director: Sean Marron
Wine Strengths: California, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Italy, Span
Wine Selection: 2,500

Kazimierz World Wine Bar
480-WINE-004
Wine Director: Peter Kasperski
Wine Strengths: California, France, Australia, Italy
Wine Selection: 3,200

Mosaic
480-563-9600
Wine Director: Matt Rinn
Wine Strengths: California, France, Spain, Italy
Wine Selection: 825

Award of Excellence

Ahnala Mesquite Grille
Radisson Fort McDowell Resort
480-789-5505

Alto Restorante E Bar
Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa
480-444-1234

Bloom
480-922-5666

BLT Steak
Camelbackk Inn
480-905-7979

Deseo
The Westin Kierland Resort, Spa & Villas
480-624-1030

Donovan’s Steak & Chop Steak
602-955-3666

Eddie V’s Edgewater Grille
480-538-8468

Elements
Sanctuary on Camelback
480-607-2300

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse
& Wine Bar at DC Ranch
480-538-8000

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse
& Wine Bar at DC Ranch
Scottsdale Hilton Resort & Villas
480-596-8265

Fogo de Chao
480-609-8866

The Grill Seafood and Chops
The Fairmont Scottsdale
480-585-4848

Lon’s at the Hermosa
The Hermosa Inn
602-955-7878

Mastro’s City Hall Steakhouse
480-941-4700

Mastro’s Steakhouse
480-941-4700

The Melting Pot
480-607-1799

Morton’s, The Steakhouse
480-951-4440

Noca
602-956-6622

Olive & Ivy
480-751-2200

Prado
InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa
480-627-3004

Ruth’s Chris Steak House
480-991-5988

T. Cook’s
Royal Palms Resort & Spa
602-808-0766

Talavera
Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North
480-513-5039

Tarbell’s
602-955-8100

Tee up at McCormick Ranch Golf Club

Mitchell Tay — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:03:01 +0000

McCormick Ranch Golf Club

If you’re looking for a challenging but enjoyable golf course consider the McCormick Ranch Golf Club conveniently located on Scottsdale Rd and McCormick Parkway. The Palm and Pine course each offer championship tees totaling more than 7,000 yards. But whether you’re a novice, amateur, or professional these courses are very playable for any skill level.

Josh, Josh (not a typo), Lauren, and myself made it out to the Pine course on a lovely but warm morning. You’ll notice the names of these courses are not random as the Pine course is filled with Pine trees and the Palm course has many Palm trees (go figure!). McCormick Ranch Golf Club has a large practice area for putting and pitching as well as a nice driving range which I unfortunately didn’t have time to check out since I arrived without any practice time. Basing my judgment off the score card the Pine course seemed to be slightly easier to play. Playing the Pine course’s many holes were relatively forgiving on the fairways if you had a bad tee shot and decent size greens. I did find the GPS distance reader from the hole on each of the golf carts to be helpful. Just drive the golf cart near where your ball is and the device will inform you how many yards away you are from the green. There were also five water holes which made the course more exciting and challenging. I would have to say my favorite hole on the Pine course is #15. This 470 yard hole has two areas in which you need to clear over the water. However, the green, though slightly padded by the rough, is almost completely surrounded by water so be cautious. Overall, this course definitely gave me a challenge but I’m definitely looking forward to playing the Palm course another day.

McCormick Ranch Golf Club also offers a restaurant and lounge in the clubhouse and a convenient hot dog stand for a mid- or post-game snack. Additionally the clubhouse can accommodate private parties of any size with a banquet room and large outdoor pavilion.

From now until Sept. 10, McCormick Ranch Golf Club is offering 18 holes for $34 before 11:00am and only $29 after 2:00pm. That’s a deal for such a great course.

The Captial Grille Master Wine Tasting

Mitchell Tay — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:56:46 +0000

The Master Wine Tasting event at The Capital Grille is going on now until August 23. Try 11 insider wines during your lunch for $10 or dinner for $25.

These hand selected wines from South Africa and Napa Valley come highly rated from Robert Parker and Wine Spectator. Swirl, Sip, Savor as many as you’d like!

Wines From Napa Valley

Beringer Sauvignon Blanc

Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay

Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Beringer Third Century Syrah

Beringer Third Century Pinot Noir

Wines From South Africa

Raats Original Chenin Blanc

Thelema Chardonnay

Mulderbosch Rosé

Rustenberg John X Merriman

Brampton Shiraz

Kanonkop Kadette

A Delightful Time at Xona Resort Suites

Mitchell Tay — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:45:26 +0000

Want to stay in a pleasant North Scottsdale resort that’s conveniently located for exploring the area? Be sure to check out Xona Resort Suites. I took some time out of my day to visit this peaceful resort. You won’t see Xona off the major roads as it is tucked away a little bit, but one easy turn onto a smaller road will lead you there.

When I arrived to the property I was greeted by the friendly folks at the front desk. The lobby has a nice southwest feeling with warm colors. It has a small business center and lounge area, a quick grab ‘n go shop, and even a golf concierge for all your golfing needs. What’s great about Xona Resort Suites is that you can select how many rooms you need, whether it’s one-, two-, three-, or even four-bedrooms. The majority of the suites have a kitchen is included as well as a living and dining area. Most rooms also include a washer/dryer, which is great for long-term guests. Xona also provides standard rooms too if you choose not to go the suite route (no pun intended). And with four pools to choose from, the property makes it easy to take a nice, cool dip.

I arrived during the lunch hour to try out the Asada Desert Grille, which serves Southwestern-inspired food. For an appetizer, the Pollo Asada Pizza came highly recommended to me, so of course I had to give that a try. It came with marinated grilled chicken mixed with roasted pablano chili, white cheddar and cojito Cheese topped with pico de gallo and homemade guacamole. All of these tasty ingredients were spread over a two-layered flour tortilla. The pizza also came with a sauce (I forgot the name of it) to pour on top or to be used as a dip (is your mouth watering yet?). For my entrée I chose the Smoked Pork Poor Boy. Poor boy aren’t common in Scottsdale but the tender smoked pork seasoned with the restaurant’s own house rub on a bolillo roll topped with jicama slaw sounded too good to pass up. The poor boy was definitely as good as it sounded. The pork was very tender and the jicama slaw made the sandwich very tasty, light, and refreshing.

Overall I had a very pleasant experience at Xona Resort Suites. You too can also experience a wonderful time at Xona. From now until September 7, 2009 Xona is offering an exclusive special through the Experience Scottsdale blog with $59 per bedroom for one, two, three or four bedroom suites.

Other details:
Prepayment not required (which typically is)
$15 daily Resort fee waived.
Subject to applicable taxes

If you’re a local looking for a staycation or even a visitor looking for a great deal, call Xona and book a reservations at 800-989-0147.

Go to www.xonaresort.com for more information on the property.

Meet the Travelocity Roaming Gnome Monday July 20

Mitchell Tay — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:30:05 +0000

After much voting on http://votetravelocity.com Arizona won the contest for the Travelocity Roaming Gnome’s next visit. The Roaming Gnome arrived to Arizona yesterday and will be traveling all around the state until Tuesday.

The Roaming Gnome will be making an appearance at Trader Vic’s at the Hotel Valley Ho on Monday, July 20, from 5:00 – 7:00pm to meet all of you before he goes off to Boston, Philly, or Washington D.C.

Trader Vic’s will be having drink and appetizer specials for this unique event.

So come on out and meet the Travelocity Roaming Gnome! Take a picture and have a drink with him!

Family Fun Activities to do Around Town

Mitchell Tay — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:52:32 +0000

Looking for something fun to do with the kids?

Here are some fun activities to consider!

Desert Botanical Garden (480) 941-1225
Flashlight tours are a sensory adventure where you will see, hear and feel the desert night with its nighthawks, snakes, insects and night-blooming flowers.

Dig It! Explore Archaeology Exhibit (602) 495-0901
This exhibit is hands-on that will delight visitors of all ages. Featured is a life-size replica of an excavated trench wall where hands-on elements demonstrate the science of archaeology, a photo-mural, pottery designs, video and so much more!

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park (480) 312-2312
The most unique park of it’s kind in the country. Take a ride on the Paradise and Pacific Railroad and antique carousel. Free Admission.

National Geographic Explorers Camp (800) 908-9370
Your child can lead the life of a National Geographic Explorer this summer with half and full–day camp sessions which include GPS treasure hunting, photo safaris, animal interactions and meeting real-life
National Geographic explorers.

Unexpected Wegmen Exhibition (480) 994-ARTS
Begins July 18, 2009. The majority of the show is comprised of facile prints Wegman made with the Segura Publishing Company beginning in 1985 and continuing through their most recent collaboration in 2002.

The Wiggles Go Bananas (602) 514-2919
July 27, 2009. The Wiggles will be making their appearance at Dodge Theatre. Be ready for some singing and dancing!

There are also plenty of family packages being offered. Check out the following link to find a package for your family to enjoy!

http://www.scottsdalecvb.com/scottsdale/family-friendly/vacation-packages/

Summer Dining Specials in Scottsdale

Mitchell Tay — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:27:36 +0000

Does a slow baked salmon, green chile pork stew, or even Pancetta wrapped filet mignon make your mouth water? If so, many restaurants are offering great summer dining specials for a very reasonable price too hard to pass up! Check out the following restaurants and what they’re offering:

Asia de Cuba Three course dinner for $39.00/person

For the month of June discount cards 35% off = $25.35.

3 Courses-shared style- full portions.

For more information call 480-308-1131 or visit www.mondrianscottsdale.com

Avalon Restaurant Three course prix-fixe dinner for $29/person*

Available Monday through Sunday, 5:00PM – 10:00PM, each guest dining in house will be given the choice of one option from each category – starter, entrée, and dessert from our menu listed below.

Starters (choice of one)
French Onion Soup · Crispy Calamari ‘Frittes’
Organic Baby Field Greens
Entree (choice of one)
Shrimp Carbonara · Flat Iron Steak Salad
Crispy Pacific Northwest Salmon
Stuffed Free Range Chicken Breast
Dessert (choice of one)
Chocolate Decadence · Frozen Tiramisu
Roasted Banana Bread Pudding · Crème Brulée

For more information call 480-656-0010 or visit www.avalon-scottsdale.com.

Canal $25 summer prix-fixe.

Salad (choice of one)
Blueberry & summer peach salad, wild rocket, candied pine nuts, champagne mint vinaigrette
“The BLT wedge” salad, bacon, iceburg lettuce, tomato, blue cheese dressing
Heirloom tomato & fresh mozzarella salad, super sweet corn, fresh basil, cracked pepper sherry vinaigrette

Entree (choice of one)
Pancetta wrapped filet mignon, twice baked yukon gold potato, french beans, herb red wine reduction
Pan seared rainbow trout, sugar snap peas, french radishes, citrus salad
Maine Lobster stuffed with crab, fingerling potatoes, asparagus, saffron leek crème
Roasted chicken & exotic mushroom gnocchi, artichoke hearts, pecorino cheese
The CANAL veggie tower, marinated & grilled vegetables, balsamic tomato sauce
Dessert (choice of one)
Chocolate chiffon cheesecake, crème fraiche, raspberries
Bananas foster bread pudding, salted caramel ice cream

For more information visit www.canalaz.com or call 480.949.9000.

Eddie V’s Restaurants Half price culinary favorites.

Kettle of green chile pork stew served with warm butter flour tortillas
Maryland style all lump crab cakes
Crispy cashew calamari

In addition, guests can enjoy happy hour beverages priced at $5.00 for mojitos, margaritas, signature martinis and wines by the glass and well drinks and specialty cocktails $1.00 off.

For more information visit the website at www.eddiev.com.

Estate House $20 Summer Menu.

Starter Choice:
Tender greens salad, candied pecans, caramelized orange
Panzanella salad, campari tomato, mozzarella and olives
Entree Choice:
Grilled chicken paillard, crisp fingerling, roasted salsa verde
Handmade fettuccine, wild mushroom crema
Dessert Choice:
Bourbon pecan bread pudding, malted rum gelato
Caramelized peach pavlova

For more information visit the website at www.estatehouseaz.com or call (480) 970-4099.

J&G Steakhouse Three course prix-fixe menu for $35/person that features the gourmet creations of Chef de Cuisine Jacques Qualin, a culinary superstar who was personally tutored by J&G Executive Jean-George Vongerichten. And it’s available in the dining room seven evenings a week, from 5 to 7 p.m.

Appetizers: (choice of one)
Heart of Romaine Caesar Salad
Steamed Shrimp Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette dressing
Sweet Pea Soup
Entrees: (choice of one)
Slow Baked Salmon with Rhubarb Compote
Lemon-Pepper Chicken Steak
Grilled Black Angus Flat Iron Steak Frites
Desserts: (choice of one)
Cheese Cake with Strawberry Jam and Rhubarb Ice Cream
Warm Chocolate Cake with Caramel Ice Cream or any one of a number of other varieties of ice cream

For more information on J&G Steakhouse or to make reservations, call (480) 214-8000 or go to www.jgsteakhousescottsdale.com.

Roaring Fork Three course menu for $25 per person. Thru September 30, 2009.

Visit their website at www.eddiev.com or call (480) 947-0795 for more information.

Sassi Three course prix-fixe for $29/person.

Add 2 courses of wine for $19.

Visit their website at www.sassi.biz for more information.

Sauce $20 Summer Sample which includes:

One pizza
One salad
Two glasses of wine

For more information call 480.321.8844 or visit www.foxrc.com/sauce. (restrictions apply).

Sushi Roku “Wine o’ Sake.” For $12 you will receive a flight of wine or sake, your choice, and a special dish including some of Sushi Roku’s most popular menu items including Hanabi Tuna, Miso Popcorn Shrimp and Filet Wrapped Asparagus. From Sunday-Thursday.

For more information visit www.sushiroku.com or call 480-970-2121.

T. Cook’s Three course custom menu for $40/person.

One of the Valley’s most romantic restaurants, has created a special tasting menu, allowing each guest to customize their own menu by selecting any appetizer, entree and dessert from the full dinner menu. Available dinner only, Sunday-Thursday.

Reservations: 602-808-0766 or visit www.royalpalmsresortandspa.com.

Wildfish Seafood Grille Three course menu for $29.95 per person. Thru September 30, 2009.

Visit their website at www.eddiev.com or call (480) 994-4040 for more information.