Phoenix Update for April 2011

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS MONTH’S EDITION

• Arizona Science Center presents: “The Ultimate Wave: Exploring the Ocean Magic of Tahiti” in 3D.

• New restaurant ‘Cycle’ opens April 1st in Downtown Phoenix

• Enjoy Easter specials/events this month throughout the Valley

RESORT NEWS

Hyatt Regency Phoenix

has awarded the Upward Bound Program at Arizona State University with a grant to further the organization’s efforts in youth development and education. The grant will be used throughout the year to purchase new textbooks for its summer course offerings, to hire additional tutors to assist the students with their summer courses and expand on the summer services the program provides to participants who will be entering the university in the coming fall. The grant would also allow for the program to resume summer events that involve students, their families and community members. Events like awards luncheons, panel discussions, welcome and closing events for students and their families and community members as well as college tours for eligible participants.

Westin Hotels & Resorts has recently unveiled its sense of style and sophistication to the urban core of the country’s sixth largest city. The new Westin Phoenix Downtown with its 242 guestrooms provides a more luxurious, customer service-centric alternative to the city’s larger convention hotels.

Inside the Chef’s Studio is a one-of-a-kind series at the Arizona Biltmore. Cooking classes at the resort offer an exciting opportunity to learn from noted cookbook authors and personalities of the culinary world. In addition, there are private dinners with the authors featuring specially created menus. Classes are at 12:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through April; the Chef’s dinners with the author are on Saturdays from 7:00 –10:00 p.m.

Already known as one of the best Easter Egg Hunts in town, this year The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa’s annual event features a new Easter Brunch experience inside The Resort’s brand new Trailblazer Ballroom. Featuring sweeping floor-to-ceiling views of majestic mountain scapes and Kierland Golf Course, the Trailblazer Ballroom and Westin Kierland Resort setting is the perfect location for a truly enjoyable Easter holiday with incredible food, family fun activities and more! Event is on Sunday, April 24th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa provides families with the perfect setting to come together and celebrate Easter. Enjoy a traditional Easter Champagne Brunch in Ko’Sin restaurant on Sunday, April 24th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., followed by an afternoon of family activities. Bring the entire family to Ko’Sin and indulge on a brunch prepared by the resort’s Executive Chef, Michael O’Dowd. Delight in an incredible selection of Chef’s favorite salads, exotic fruits and imported cheeses, herb roasted turkey breast, slow roasted New York strip, veal shank “Osso Bucco” with natural sustainable juices, smoked seafood platter, fig & date empanadas with lavender and agave whipped cream, garlic-whipped Yukon gold potatoes, mesquite pancakes with mesquite bean syrup; not to mention an iced raw bar, carving station, gourmet omelet station, decadent sweets and much more.

In honor of Earth Day and the Kimpton brand’s extensive EarthCare program, Kimpton’s FireSky Resort & Spa, Arizona’s only Green Seal certified hotel, is hosting a series of programs for EarthCare Week, being held April 18 to 25. The EarthCare Week lineup underscores FireSky’s commitment to sustainability, and features a mix of events that are free, practical and fun for resort guests and Valley locals alike. Events will include an eco-step challenge, electronics recycling drive, Earth Day trade show and a “Drinks in the Dark” happy hour. Guest can also enjoy discounted room rates at more than $130 off of FireSky’s high-season rates throughout the entire week.

The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is introducing a new slate of enriching leisure experiences that are specially designed for you to explore, discover and indulge in activities that you are passionate about. These unique activities are fee-based and are available for overnight guests and local Valley residents. The Celebrate Your Passions package includes a Fairmont Room and a $100 daily resort credit to be used toward the “passions” of your choice. Rates are starting from $299 per night; available through May 14, 2011.

Hotel Valley Ho announces its partnership with Stash Hotel Rewards®, an innovative hotel rewards program that enables travelers to quickly earn free nights at distinctive, independent hotels without black-out dates or inflexible category restrictions. Guests of the hotel can now earn points toward free nights each time they stay at any of the more than 115 distinctive hotels in more than 85 cities that participate in Stash.

W Scottsdale is giving Valley ladies a new way to celebrate, unwind and be treated mid-week with the new weekly “Primp, Pop and Shop” happy hour offered each Wednesday evening. Get gorgeous with the girls and enjoy an express buff & polish mani from Bliss Spa, two glasses of sparkling wine and 20 percent off new fashions at W Hotels The Store. You can primp, pop and shop all for a total of $25. How chic!

Devoted to bringing the essence of Europe to the heart of the Valley of the Sun, InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa has announced the launch of its new event series, Sunset Cinema. This monthly outdoor film series will show classic and contemporary films set in Europe and Morocco, destinations that have inspired the resort’s unique design, architecture and character. Taking place one Sunday a month, the film series is complimentary and open to both locals and resort guests. Guests are encouraged to arrive early to find a seat and enjoy a European-inspired menu of cheeses, cured meats, wine, chocolate, Italian coffee, house-made gelato and more. Picnic baskets are also available for purchase.

Summer at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North promises poolside relaxation, sunrise hikes to Pinnacle Peak, starry nights, and – above all – indulgent getaways with superb value. For families, the Resort will be offering the Very Important Kids package, with rates beginning at $184 per night, June 1 to Aug. 31, 2011. While staying at the Resort, families can enjoy the complimentary “Kids for All Seasons” program, open daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., for guests 5-12 years old. Additionally, the Resort extends complimentary meals in the restaurants to children under 5 and surprises the youngest travelers with an age-specific welcome amenity.

Enchantment Resort in Sedona, Ariz. has created two 3-night packages showcasing the awe-inspiring beauty of the Grand Canyon in luxurious comfort. You have your choice of seeing the natural wonder in a custom-built trail touring vehicle, or opting for a dramatic bird’s-eye view via Cessna plane, helicopter and boat combination. Both one-day adventures feature expert commentary from experienced guides.

ARTS, CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT

Arizona Science Center is proud to present, “The Ultimate Wave: Exploring the Ocean Magic of Tahiti” in 3D, an extreme blend of surfing and ocean science, staring nine-time world surfing champion, Kelly Slater. Travel to one of the world’s most picturesque locales as you’re immersed under the Center’s 5-story IMAX® screen. Then, get ready to experience the power and speed of surfing and the sensation of riding some of nature’s most intense ocean waves in a visually stimulating experience for all ages.

From the trailblazing scientist who founded modern public anatomy, Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS & The Brain is an all-new version of the blockbuster exhibition seen by more than 32 million people worldwide. This exhibit now at the Arizona Science Center displays authentic donor bodies from an established donation program take visitors on a journey through the awesome human body. The exhibition features more than 200 authentic human specimens—including entire bodies, individual organs and transparent body slices—that have been preserved through von Hagens’ process of Plastination.

The 2011 summer concert season at the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) Music Theater will offer audiences a chance to hear world-class performers from near and far performing superb music ranging from the cutting-edge to the cozy. Early season highlights include the renowned chamber group Kronos Quartet and a special appearance and workshops by West African drumming legends Mamady Keïta and Famoudou Konaté. Throughout the long hot summer, the MIM Music Theater will be the cool place to discover intriguing sounds from across the globe, or enjoy familiar favorites like Celtic, classical, and jazz.

Sea Life Arizona is hosting a grand opening celebration for the new Claws exhibit, which features the world’s largest species of crabs. The red carpet premiere of Claws will feature a Walk of Fame to welcome the exhibit’s new “cast” of crabs and special Hollywood-themed activities. Guests will journey to a world where even the tanks have sprouted claws to see the extraordinary weapons and defenses of these fascinating alien-like creatures of the deep. The exhibit also includes interactive features.

SPORTS/GOLF

ProFIT Custom Club Fitting at The Westin Kierland Golf Club was recently rated #3 in the Southwest as America’s Top 100 Best Club Fitter by Golf Digest! Recently partnered with Cool Clubs, the #1 Club Fitter in the Southwest, ProFIT guarantees 100% satisfaction with a custom fit for any level golfer or your money back.

SPA

Join Joya Spa & Salon at the Intercontinental Montelucia Resort and Spa for Moroccan Mixers, an evening of socializing and rejuvenation. Enjoy wine and cheese tastings as well as samples of spa and salon products from featured vendors. Entrance is $10 and half of all proceeds go to benefit a local charity. Come dressed for a workout as there will be a complimentary fitness class in the motion studio from 6:00-7:00 p.m. The next Moroccan Mixer takes place May 5th from 4-7 p.m.

DINING

It’s the start of a new cycle. Cycle–A restaurant with a built-in expiration date; a restaurant where one week may be a featured chef; the next week a food truck–opening to the public this April and closing when the weather cools off. Sounds mysterious? It is. Don’t blink, or you might miss the pop-up that will put Phoenix pop-ups on the map. Cycle is the first phase in the larger, year-long renovation of the Lexington Hotel in Downtown Phoenix. The concept fills the property’s existing restaurant while offering interesting, mobile chefs a bar and a dining room of adventurous guests.

Pizzeria Bianco, one of Phoenix’s most acclaimed restaurants, will start serving lunch April 12. The Heritage Square restaurant consistently ranks as one of the best in the U.S. and was Arizona’s only entry in the Daily Meal’s recent list of the 101 best restaurants in America, coming in 34th.

Forget peanuts and Crackerjax ® as Chicago-based Levy Restaurants will be adding its gourmet touch to ballpark grub at Chase Field home to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Baseball-goers can savor all-new items such as all-natural Niman Ranch sausages, including apple gouda, chipotle cheddar and spicy Italian. Also featured is the line-up of ‘Extreme Loaded Dogs’ such as Tailgate on a Plate, piled high with baked beans, potato salad, BBQ sauce and shredded cheese. New in 2011, Levy Restaurants has added new healthy offerings at all ballparks to give fans looking for nutritious snacks more options. At Chase Field, the new healthy menu items will be offered at Red Hot locations and select Doubleheader stands on the main concourse. In addition, Levy Restaurants will now offer a portable cart in Section 107 dedicated to freshly prepared, gluten-free sports favorites.

On Thursday April 28th, nearly 100 restaurants in Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale are participating in the Go Daddy Dining Out for Life event presented by AZCentral.com. The event features the Valley’s top chefs and restaurants joining forces to raise funds for the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS.

Just in time for spring and the warmer summer months to come, Sapporo—Scottsdale’s premier dining destination for authentic Japanese sushi, Pacific Rim-inspired cuisine, and artful Teppanyaki—invites guests to beat the heat with a new selection of value-driven lunch specials created especially for diners seeking an affordable, satisfying lunch. Available now, guests can choose from a variety of generously-portioned Pan Asian-inspired salads, burgers, and entrées.

Marcella’s Italian Kitchen has undergone a delicious makeover, introducing a renovated décor at its Scottsdale Fashion Square location as well as a new menu. The new menu, which includes lunch and dinner selections, features simple, uncomplicated Italian classics that satisfy a variety of palates. Guests can kick off their meals with exciting new starters like Ahi Tuna Crudo or Beef Carpaccio, and then move on to tantalizing entrées like Lamb Bolognese and Butternut Squash Ravioli. Just want a drink and a bite? Every day, Marcella’s offers an extended happy hour from 3-7 p.m., with $2 off wines by the glass, $3 domestic beers and discounted appetizers including meatball sliders and Margherita pizza.

With the launch a new dining environment in 2010 called the Red Sun Lounge, Sushi Roku which is located at the chic W Scottsdale has been wowing diners with their award winning “east meets west” cuisine in this new al fresco space. With the introduction of the new year, Sushi Roku has ushered in a brand new menu for 2011 that highlights their multi-course Omakase style dining, while providing a variety of options in a three-course format that is debuting for $23.

Now that Trader Vic’s has introduced an exciting new — and affordably priced — menu, there’s still one more reason to enjoy discovering your favorite specialties. When you drop by for dinner and choose any two entrees, a bottle of wine is included* with your order. Just what you need for celebrating how Asia and the islands are reinterpreted with newly-discounted entrees from the wok and wood-fired Chinese oven.

Prado Chef de Cuisine Peter DeRuvo delivers a menu of traditional brunch favorites as well as a few inventive culinary treats this Easter. Available Sunday, April 24th at Prado Restaurant, menu highlights include Blueberry Pancakes, Challah French Toast, Prime Rib, Whole Roasted Salmon, a Bloody Mary Bar and a Six-Flavor Gelato Cart with Mini Cones and Assorted Toppings. Prado is located at InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa.

For more information on any of these events or updates, please contact the

Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau Media Department.

Author: Maralyn

Maralyn Dennis Hill, The Epicurean Explorer, is president emeritus of International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association, member of Society of American Travel Writers, and Society of Professional Journalists. She is Executive Editor of Luxe Beat Magazine and contributes to other publications. She also speaks and is a guest on many shows. The majority of Maralyn’s articles are now geared to the luxury market, spas, corporate retreats, business events, and culinary tourism, from simple to gourmet. Maralyn’s description of herself: I was born to travel and tell the tale. I’m energized by different cultures in every aspect of their lives, from food, wine, and destination, to how they conduct business. Travel represents a continual geography lesson.