Phoenix Update for March 2011

-The Devoured Culinary Classic comes to the Phoenix Art Museum this March
-Take advantage of Spring specials offered at several valley resorts
-MLB All-Star Week will be hosted this July in Phoenix

Known for its exceptional service and luxurious surroundings, JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa has completed a $16 million renovation of its rooms, suites and corridors to transform its 950 guest rooms to private sanctuaries. Connecting interior space with the outdoors, the new guest rooms at JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa feature textured desert sand carpeting and wall coverings; contemporary lighting treatments; refinished armoires, sofas, chairs and furnishings; floor-to-ceiling sheer drapes; and artwork depicting warm desert landscapes, indigenous flora and fauna.

Newly renovated Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort provides guests with more than a plain-jane pool. Tucked away in the North Phoenix Mountains, Pointe Hilton’s Falls Water Village offers guests a personal oasis just in time for spring. With more than three acres of pools surrounded by cascading waterfalls, guests can relax in private cabanas and soak up the Arizona sun.

Spring 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. While at the Resort, enjoy a variety of complimentary amenities, including weekly tequila tasting, wine education, guided hikes to Pinnacle Peak Park, stargazing and the comprehensive Kids For All Seasons children’s activity program.

This summer, Hotel Valley Ho will feature  live music at the OH Pool. On Fridays from March 4th through July 1, Elvis Before Noon can be heard mixing modern and retro sounds. Enjoy specialty cocktails and beer and food discounts. Saturdays from April 2nd through October 29th, DJ P-Body will be spinning tunes from today and the fifties. He can also be heard Sundays, Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day weekends.

If you live green, it’s likely you’ll want to vacation green. Kimpton’s FireSky is proud to be Arizona’s only Green Seal certified stay. In addition to creature comforts and a keen location in Old Town Scottsdale, the hotel’s eco practices include a mix of recycling, composting and resource-management efforts – all of which resonate deeply with leisure and business travelers alike. Beyond being planet-friendly, the green getaway package is loco for local.

W Scottsdale is partnering with Lululemon Athletica to offer a new weekly yoga series, Sip & Stretch. Starting April 7, W Scottsdale will host a one hour yoga session each Thursday through the month of May. Sip & Stretch is free for hotel guests and locals and will take place on the hotel’s rooftop WET deck where yoga instructors from top studios in the Valley will lead class each week. Afterwards, an extended happy hour will be held where fellow yogis can mix and mingle at W Scottsdale’s Mediterranean-inspired open-air lounge, Shade, while cooling down with a refreshing cocktail.

Springtime in the desert doesn’t usually conjure up visions of blossoms en masse, but at The Hermosa Inn, a jewel of a desert hideaway, there is no more lush season to enjoy an abundance of aromatic flowers in the most glorious of weather. Families, couples and executives alike flock to The Hermosa and LON’s, its acclaimed AAA Four Diamond restaurant, to enjoy the beautiful plant life.

Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain will help shake the end-of-weekend blues with free Sundays in Paradise starting March 6, 2011.  Designed as an opportunity for locals to meet and mingle, Sundays in Paradise will take place on Sanctuary’s Paradise Views lawn from 2-6 p.m. through June 5, 2011*, with live entertainment courtesy of the resort.  To celebrate, Sundays will showcase live music including the Walt Richardson Band, SugahBeats and EastonAshe.

Back to Top

Ever since it first opened its doors in April of last year, the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) has proven to be a valuable cultural and educational resource for the greater Phoenix community. Arizona K–12 teachers will have a golden opportunity to do so free of charge this March. For the entire month, the museum will offer complimentary admission to all Arizona K–12 teachers, registered student teachers, school principals, and home-school educators who present a school-issued ID or (for home-school educators) an affidavit of intent at the Guest Service desk upon entering the museum. MIM also participates in the Bank of America Museums on Us® (MOU) program, which provides Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders free general admission to 150 of the nation’s finest arts, cultural, and educational institutions during the first full weekend of every month.

Arizona Science Center is proud to present their newest permanent gallery, The W.O.N.D.E.R. Center, which is now open. An exploration of the original super computer, the human brain, this visionary new gallery will examine the anatomy of the brain, neuroscience, development, and thought to further our mission to inspire, educate and entertain people of all ages about science.

The Valley Youth Theatre Presents Alice in Wonderland. Experience the enchantment and follow Alice down the rabbit hole. Regarded as one of the greatest children’s books ever written, Lewis Carroll’s cherished story will delight and engage children and adults alike. Join Alice as she chases the White Rabbit, races the Dodo Bird, and beats the Queen of Hearts at her own game. With dozens of madcap characters, this is one exciting journey you won’t want to miss.

This spring, crustaceans will scuttle to Sea Life Arizona with the opening of its newest display, Claws. The five-tank Claws exhibit  features Japanese spider crabs, which can grow to 15-feet across, and coconut crabs, named for their ability to crack open coconuts with the power of their claws. Guests 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. Interactive features, such as a touch display that allows guests to feel the shell textures of different crabs, make learning about these animals a thrilling experience.

Seven new tenants recently joined the rapidly growing Scottsdale Quarter, a 28-acre shopping, dining and entertainment district at Scottsdale Road and Greenway-Hayden Loop. In January, the Quarter welcomed Paris Optique,  Elan Style, Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, Parc Central, TK’s Urban Tavern and Avalon Spa and Nails. Eddie V’s Prime Seafood is the most recent addition.

Six days of food, fun and sun await you at the Scottsdale Culinary Festival April 5-10 in downtown. Kick off the weekend at the Eat, Drink & Be Pretty Party, a fashion-forward event with food and wine from more than a dozen restaurants. Don’t miss the signature Great Arizona Picnic at the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall with loads of family friendly food fun like the Challenge to the Chefs in-kitchen battle reminiscent of “Iron Chef”. Or, watch cooking demonstrations and sip on wine and cocktails at the Cooks & Corks event, which also utilizes freshly grown produce from the Civic Center’s Giving Garden.

Two Mountain Lion cubs are now on temporary display at the Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium Baby Animal Nursery. These are the first mountain lions ever to be featured at Wildlife World in its 26-year history. Since its inception, Wildlife World has focused on featuring an ever-growing list (currently over 600 species) of nonnative exotic and endangered species from all over the globe. However, given the elusive nature of these large predators and their importance to maintaining a healthy ecosystem, zoo officials leapt at the educational opportunity to bring these animals to the West Valley during the spring months, when school field trips are at their highest levels.

Back to Top

The new “Just Bring Your Swing!” package at JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa makes planning a breeze; the package includes accommodations, daily unlimited golf for two, daily golf club and shoe rental, two sleeves of Callaway golf balls and a course yardage guide.

Camelback Inn’s two eighteen-hole championship golf courses were designed by world-renowned course architect Arthur Hills and the ninth hole at the resort’s Padre Course’s was voted best water hole in the state by Arizona Golf magazine.  The property—which recently received its 35th consecutive AAA Five Diamond Award—also offers six tennis courts, a 32,000 square-foot spa, three swimming pools, and seven restaurants and lounges

Adults can have a ball at clinics of their own at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, such as Tequila & Tennis, a round-robin tennis tourney for all skill levels, followed by margaritas, chips and salsa from La Hacienda. Other fun features include Cardio Tennis: a heart-pumping, great exercise class that burns calories and gets players in shape. Classes are underway now and are offered three mornings every week. Other adult activities include “Drills & Skills” and “Dominating Doubles” clinics for the intermediate to advanced players and “Play Days” where players are matched for round-robin doubles.

Troon Golf introduces the new Troon Family Golf program, making the game more accessible to junior golfers and their families at Troon North Golf Club in Phoenix, Ariz., and 60 other participating Troon Golf facilities throughout the United States.  Troon Golf and Troon North are making a conscious effort to lead the way with introducing juniors to the game of golf in a simple and affordable way.

At the new John Austin Center for Tennis at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, one might find the next Roger Federer, Venus or Serena polishing his or her power serve. Bringing the spotlight back to tennis at the AAA Five-Diamond resort, Wimbledon champion John Austin has joined the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess as the Director of Tennis, overseeing the development of all tennis programming, special event play, local memberships, youth tennis and community outreach for the resort. The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess has also renamed its tennis facilities: the John Austin Center for Tennis.

Back to top

The Golden Door Spa at The Boulders Resort introduces a Just for Him; a male-friendly spa package designed for the industry’s growing male clientele. An ideal package to enjoy after a rock climbing on the granite boulders or a round of golf, the spa package includes: Gentlemen’s Facial, Sports Pedicure, a choice of: Ashiatsu, Golfer’s Massage, or Golden Door Massage and followed by lunch at the Golden Door Spa Café.

Back to Top

The Arizona Biltmore is inviting you to step “Inside the Chef’s Studio” and learn from noted cookbook authors and food writers how to whip up delicious gourmet dishes. A one-of-a-kind series of special weekend cooking classes at the legendary resort, Inside the Chef’s Studio is an exiting opportunity to learn from master chefs and personalities of the culinary world – whose cookbooks you’ve seen in the bookstores, and whose articles you’ve read in leading food magazines.

If your appetite requires more than sunshine, Pointe Hilton dishes up culinary experiences at a Different Pointe of View and Pointe in Thyme. The contemporary American-inspired mountaintop restaurant, Different Point of View, has floor-to-ceiling windows with matchless dinnertime view of the Valley’s scenic landscape and sunsets. Also a favorite, Pointe Hilton’s Pointe in Thyme serves lunch, dinner and cocktails late into the evening.

For the ultimate romantic experience, Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale introduces “celestial picnics” under the stars.  Guests can customize a menu with Executive Chef Mel Mecinas tailored toward romance. Paired with a bottle of Champagne or wine of the guest’s choice, the picnic is packaged in a deluxe basket with all the traditional accoutrements. To enhance the evening, a telescope for stargazing and a celestial talk and guided stargazing session by astronomer Richard Allen can be arranged.

Create new kinships at the dawn of the New Year.  Join J&G Steakhouse as they debut a monthly Full Moon Tasting, an evening of new tastes and new people. Located on J&G’s spectacular panoramic patio atop The Phoenician, this $25 all-inclusive tasting will feature an assortment of tray passed small bites, cocktails and wine. The first full moon of the year will be on Wednesday, January 19th, and will happen each month thereafter.

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. Offered daily from 5:30-6:30pm, the Sunset Menu features everything from Red Snapper “Usuzukuri”, Miso Eggplant Dengaku and Kurobuta Kakuni to Baked Crab Hand Rolls and assorted raw samplings.

Intercontinental Montelucia Resort and Spa’s renowned restaurant Prado has a new Chef de Cuisine.  Peter DeRuvo has   served as Executive Chef of Sassi, a Four Diamond Italian Restaurant located in North Scottsdale and recently was asked to cook at the James Beard House in New York City. Stop into Prado to experience the freshest Italian-inspired seafood, meats and produce.

Trader Vic’s at Hotel Valley Ho has simplified happy hour, with one food menu and one drink menu available every day. The new happy hour tidbits menu features a variety of $5 items while the new happy hour drink menu includes beer for $3, wines by the glass for $6, cocktails for $5-$7, and classic Vic’s drinks for $6. Happy Hour is Monday – Saturday from 4:00-6:00 p.m. and reverse from 9:00-11:00 p.m. Live music can be heard Fridays and Saturdays from 8:00-11:00 p.m. Happy Hour continues on Sunday from 2:00-9:00 p.m., with live music from 3:00-6:00 p.m.

Back to Top