Triple digits on the thermometer means triple the fun in Scottsdale. As the summer months roll in, so do new and updated spots for wining and dining, plus cool attractions and resort programs. Beat the heat by the pool or chill out with indoor activities, like new museum collections and exhibitions, mixology classes and wellness programs, or first-rate shopping. There’s no such thing as a summer siesta in this Sonoran Desert destination.
HOT RESORT STAYS
THE BIG NEWS: Hotel Adeline has joined the Marriott Tribute Portfolio brand as of March 2021 and the addition of the 213-room boutique hotel marks the first Tribute Portfolio property in Arizona. Through the transition, the hotel will maintain its bohemian charm and playful nature, along with its signature restaurant, Selfmade and 3,000-square-foot, zero-edge Freestyle pool. And for more fun in 2021, Hotel Adeline will soon be offering pink Bird scooters to explore the town, as well as new on-site programming, including social hours and outdoor yoga classes.
FIVE MORE STAYS:
Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch is heating up this summer with brand new day beds and pool menus for the ultimate pool day spent at the 2.5-acre water playground and sand beach. The property has also reopened on-property restaurants Noh Sushi and Alto and have welcomed back live music five days per week.
Royal Palms Resort & Spa is the ideal environment for a couple’s getaway this summer. The romantic ambiance of the resort makes it a great place to delight in new, themed live music nights under the stars, or grab a MIMs Cup cocktail with that special someone and make a day of it with complimentary tickets to the Musical Instrument Museum.
CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa has launched a new happiness-boosting “Joyful Journey” Program for guests, designed to assist in connecting with their happier, healthier selves through 10-12 distinctive wellness classes which will focus on finding joy in routine. Some of these sessions include Ecstatic Dance, Mood Hacking, Rebound, The Habit of Happiness, and Stress Relief & Happiness: The Power of Scent.
For those looking to fully immerse themselves in Scottsdale’s culture, Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows is offering two exclusive programs – Create & Cultivate and Andaz Adventures. Enjoy music, art, nature, community and more with local creators and explorers in a Pastry Class, Mixology Class, or Apothecary Blending Bar, or kick it into high gear with a mountain bike, paddle board or ATV adventure.
On Dec. 20, 2021 Hotel Valley Ho will be celebrating its 65th birthday in Scottsdale. The iconic hotel represents one of the nation’s best-preserved examples of midcentury modern architecture. In 1956, Hotel Valley Ho became a swanky hideaway for Hollywood elite, and entering through the doors in 2021, guests may wonder if they’ve stepped into a time machine. Hotel Valley Ho is celebrating the momentous occasion all year long with the 65th Anniversary Package.
FIERY FARE
THE BIG NEWS: In the heart of Old Town Scottsdale, internationally recognized steakhouse, STK Scottsdale opened in late January. Known as, “not your daddy’s steakhouse,” STK provides a chic, one-of-a-kind atmosphere with a live DJ and alfresco seating that overlooks the Scottsdale Waterfront. The signature vibe coupled with the brand’s popular dishes and cocktails make for a dining experience in a league of its own.
FIVE MORE WAYS TO SIP + SAVOR:
After a seven-month closure, local favorite LDV Winery reopened on April 1, new and improved. The Arizona wine tasting room’s renovation touched the entire space, including a welcoming new bar and updated furnishings.
The Buzz Eatery + Treats opened in high-end shopping and dining center, Kierland Commons, in late March. The laidback café features classic eats and treats including salads, sandwiches and health-minded bowls, as well as coffee, craft beers, wine and icy Buzz Pops – made buzzy or boozy – for dessert.
Lincoln Steakhouse at JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa reopened to the public on March 18 with a reorganized layout indoors and outdoors to promote social distancing, and a refreshed menu by Executive Chef Paul Valenzuela. Guests will find Lobster “Escargot,” Agave Whiskey Glazed Salmon and more on the menu, all featuring hand-cut Cedar River Farms beef and Prime steaks seared at 1,200 degrees in the Valley’s only Josper Charcoal Oven.
Foodies, assemble: Mountain Shadows Resort Scottsdale is now offering the Sip, Saber & Savor Experience. This exclusive, customizable program offers personalized, private events including a Veuve Clicquot Champagne sabering, Spirited Sipping Seminar, and Food for Thought class with acclaimed Executive Chef, Charles Wiley.
From June to September, LON’s at The Hermosa Inn is keeping summer cool with two special menus and one extraordinary venue. LON’s Taste of Summer menu serves up an enticing three-course, prix-fixe menu that will leave mouths watering, while underground dining in LON’s wine cellar – kept at a crisp 57 degrees amid the summer heat – allows guests to indulge in a special five-course tasting menu with wine pairings.
ART + ATTRACTIONS
THE BIG NEWS: Building on Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA)’s recent exhibition, “Unapologetic: All Women, All Year,” comes a new exhibit, “Division of Labor: Women Shifting a Transitional Gaze,” which analyzes the underrepresented voices of women in the Latinx community from their own perspective. Inspired by well-known photographers Luis González Palma and Pedro Meyer, Arizona-based Artists M. Jenea Sanchez and Gabriela Muñoz curated this collection as a critical engagement for SMoCA – a first for the Museum’s history – on display until Aug. 22.
SIX MORE THINGS TO DO:
The world premiere of, “The Science of Ripley’s Believe It or Not!” opened to the public at Arizona Boardwalk on Feb. 9. This exhibit showcases an astonishing collection of objects and artifacts from “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!Ò ,” in which visitors have the chance to explore the authentic science behind mindboggling world oddities in a unique way – from measuring up against Robert Wadlow, the world’s tallest man, to beholding optical illusions.
Originally debuting at Canal Convergence 2020, 11 artworks in the Scottsdale Public Art Permanent Collection are now enriched with elements of augmented reality, easily viewed on a mobile device app. The Hoverlay app’s augmented reality gives viewers access to virtual artist talks, tours, and interactive animations.
Scottsdale Artists’ School announced the release of a new Fine Art Online Platform for both adults and children. This online program offers fine art classes and workshops for any level, led by professional instructors from around the world. Class options range from intensive one-, two- and three-day curriculums, to weekly courses.
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts has welcomed back pianist Jeffrey Siegel for Keyboard ConversationsÒ, the long running classical series. Entering its 42nd season in December, the captivating concert combines enlightening remarks with brilliant performances of masterpieces on the piano, all concluded with an audience Q&A session.
Scottsdale Fashion Square, a fashion destination in the desert, continues to reach new heights, recently adding a new luxury wing with retailers such as Versace, Golden Goose and Hyde Park Jewelers, plus trendy restaurants, NOBU and Toca Madera. White glove services like curbside pickup and shopping by appointment are also now available.
As Taliesin West resumes daily tours, the UNESCO World Heritage Site has added something new for lovers of happy hour and architecture on Fridays. The two-hour “Wine & Wright Tour,” allows visitors to sip a beverage before departing on a one-hour guided tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home and laboratory.
WHAT’S NEXT
ON OUR RADAR:
Popular Phoenix seafood restaurant Buck & Rider is set to open its second Valley location in North Scottsdale. Known for flying its seafood in fresh daily from the East, West and Gulf coasts, the restaurant is a can’t-miss.
Ritz-Carlton, Paradise Valley – a 215-room, 20-acre new-build opening in 2022 – will have it all; exemplary service, views of Camelback Mountain, modern and sleek interiors, a 16,000-square-foot spa and a location minutes from downtown Scottsdale.
Projected for a 2021 opening, The Palmeraie, a $2-billion master-planned community, will be home to more than 60 luxury and specialty boutiques, and numerous dining outlets, with the luxurious Ritz-Carlton hotel at its center.
For more Scottsdale travel news and story ideas, visit www.scottsdalepressroom.com. For more information about Scottsdale’s commitment to keeping residents and visitors safe, visit the “Be Scottsdale Safe” page.
.jpg){kind=tracking}