Phoenix Update for January 2011

This March the Wigwam Golf Resort will transform in to one the Valley’s MLB spring training headquarters. Located just minutes from five of the Phoenix area’s MLB spring training stadiums, baseball fans from across the country will make the Wigwam their home base for pure spring training fun. Surrounding stadiums host Cactus League teams including the LA Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals and the Cincinnati Reds.  For the 2011 season, “Play Baseball at the Wigwam” will be offered for the month of March. Each weekend, guests can take a swing at Home Run Derby, enjoy a Sunset Poolside Movie and live entertainment and dancing into the night.  Daily activities for all ages will include team t-shirt decorating, relay challenges, pool games and a teen gaming room. Starting at $259, the resort is offering a “Spring Training Steal Third” package that includes a third night free, with the purchase of two. The resort intends to unveil the completion of a $7 million rejuvenation project. Spring training fans will be able to enjoy the resort’s new main pool with separate kids and adult zones, including two new waterslides and water play features; an outdoor plaza for entertainment, al fresco dining and bar/lounge; and all new restaurants focused on fresh locally-grown produce and products featuring menus and concepts developed by celebrity chef Chris Bianco.

There’s nothing like Valentine’s Day to strike fear in the heart of the American male. Guys, relief is on the way: The Hermosa Inn, a jewel of a desert hideaway, is offering one-stop shopping that is certain to please: A Valentine’s Day Package that includes an overnight stay in a Deluxe or Grande Casita (room types that have a bathtub), a romantic “Sweetheart Menu”dinner (alcohol not included) for two at LON’s, the acclaimed restaurant at The Hermosa, a bubble bath with rose petals (drawn while you’re at dinner), a bottle of champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries, breakfast for two the next morning, and a spa gift basket for her. The “Sweetheart Menu”, a special pre-set menu for Valentine’s, will be offered Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings in addition to the regular menu. Only the Sweetheart Menu will be available on Monday, Feb. 14. The package is available for February 11 through February 14, 2011.

Wine-down this winter at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale with a series of “Taste Talavera” evenings, featuring artfully crafted cuisine accompanied by specialty pairings.  Enjoy local Arizona wine and cuisine with a Native American twist with January’s featured vineyard, or opt for bold California selections and grapes grown with a strong commitment to the environment in both February and March. Each “Taste” evening feature a four-course tasting menu coupled with pairings from a guest purveyor, who will roam from table to table throughout the night.

Hotel Valley Ho has won the Good Earthkeeping Award for the large property category at the Arizona Hotel & Lodging Association’s 2010 Stars of the Industry Awards. The Good Earthkeeping Award recognizes one small and one large lodging property that have each developed a culture toward integrating environmental management practices that improve everyday operations and the bottom line, while maintaining quality service and meeting guest expectations. Hotel Valley Ho has a number of green initiatives. In-room linens are cleaned with non-harmful hydrogen peroxide instead of bleach; no herbicides or pesticides are used for landscaping; cooking oil is recycled; all shower heads, toilets, and faucets are low-flow; local ingredients are used whenever possible; and an average of five tons of material is recycled each month. Additionally, over 20,000 tons of waste was saved from landfills when Westroc restored the hotel instead of tearing it down, prior to its 2005 re-opening.

Play Ball Spring Training at Kimpton’s FireSky Resort & Spa. Greater Phoenix is a homerun with baseball fans who come to cheer for their favorite Cactus League teams. Not surprisingly, Kimpton’s FireSky has got game, boasting a central location just 10 minutes from the home stadiums of the San Francisco Giants, Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks (along with easy freeway access to the fields of the 12 other ball clubs). Not to mention, the resort is walkable from Old Town’s restaurant-and-bar-packed scene – perfect for guests whose evenings have extra innings.

Summer meeting packages at The Boulders Resort allows guests to experience Arizona’s finest desert hideaway at reduced rates. The Boulders Resort announces a new value-added package for the summer season. Meeting guests can take advantage of the special offer between June 15 through September 4, 2011. The Boulders Summer Meeting Package includes: Three nights: room, tax, and resort fee; Three continental breakfasts in meeting room; Three Lunch events in meeting room; One Group Dinner (including Iced Tea or Water); Choice of one comp activity per attendee (limited options); 15% off all audio visual equipment; Complimentary meeting space. The all-inclusive package is available for groups from 10-350.

Heard Museum’s 21^st Annual World Championship Hoop Dance Contest is one of the Indian Country’s most unique sports – the dazzling performances of the men and women who compete for the chance to call himself or herself the World Champion Hoop Dancer. This event combines artistry, sheer athleticism and cultural traditions to create an exciting, colorful and suspenseful competition. For many years, the intertribal hoop dance has expanded to incorporate new and creative designs and extremely intricate footwork. Each dancer presents a unique variation of the intertribal hoop dance, weaving in aspects of his or her distinct tradition and culture. Individual routines are presented using as few as four to as many as 50 hoops, which are manipulated to create a variety of designs including animals, butterflies and globes. This event takes place Saturday and Sunday, February 5-6, 2011.

Three years after BODY WORLDS brought record crowds to the Arizona Science Center, a new blockbuster exhibition,Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS & The Brain, will open to the public January 21 in the Sybil B. Harrington Galleries. For the first time in Phoenix, this new presentation of BODY WORLDS contains a special feature that unravels the mystery of the mind and secret world of the brain.“BODY WORLDS & The Brain provides Arizona Science Center with a unique opportunity to enhance our educational programs and enrich people’s understanding of their bodies,” said Chevy Humphrey, President & CEO. “Visitors will encounter both the resilience and fragility of the human body, discovering how a body works when it is healthy and how it breaks down when it is not. Through its aesthetic and accessible displays, BODY WORLDSinvites contemplation, study and reflection of the power and vulnerability of the human body by everyone.”

Experience Corks & Cactus, where guests are able to sample, sip and savor their way through the splendor of the Desert Botanical Garden. Corks & Cactus blends boutique wines, gourmet appetizers and desert beauty into a delightful weekend event. Talented musical entertainment will accent the event as guests stroll the Garden paths. Visit with representatives from a variety of wineries and purchase a bottle or case. All wine purchased at the event directly benefits the Garden. This event takes place on February 26.

Prohibition Era Chicago, bath tub gin and 1920’s Jazz come roaring back with a vengeance when the legendary Broadway musical CHICAGO at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre. The show plays through February 12, 2011. The Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre presents a wide variety of the finest professional entertainment for all ages in an atmosphere of casual elegance.

You’ll be teased, twisted and tangled as top hair salons compete for the Supreme Salon title! Join W Scottsdale and celebrity host Ben Mollin from the Bravo TV show “Sheer Genius” to cheer on local salons that will reveal some of the craziest and uniquehair creations. Hair Wars will take place poolside at WET on January 20.

The SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™ will kick off Phoenix International Raceway’s 2011 event season, featuring races in NASCAR’s three top series the weekend of February 25-27. Race fans can expect great entertainment and value. The SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500™ event weekend will also feature the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Saturday, Feb. 26 and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race.

The 56^th Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show takes place February 17-27, 2011 at Westworld. The show has grown to nearly 2000 horses bringing top owners, trainers and breeders from around the world for a chance to compete and win. This is one of the largest and most prestigious Arabian horse show in the world.

The 2011 RoadRunner Regional Rodeo takes place over the weekend February 18-20 hosted by Arizona Gay Rodeo Association. It’s going to be a great rodeo with fun, games and thrills for all. Enjoy Cowboy cooks outs, dancing, live entertainment as well as Cowboy karaoke finals.

Want to get new perspective of the Sonoran Desert? Rainbow Ryders, Inc.® has been making dreams come true for more than 29 years with memorable balloon rides over the landscapes of the scenic Southwest. Offering seasonal sunrise and sunset flights, Rainbow Ryders takes guests up and away to enjoy sweeping 360-degree views as the balloon rises and calmly floats across the sky. A unique outing perfect for your proposal or your post-nuptials getaway, this one-of-a-kind excursion includes a post-flight continental breakfast and champagne toast.