Spring 2024

RESORT ROUNDUP

• Slated to open in August 2024, the Maya Old Town Scottsdale, Autograph by Marriott hotel will be a seven-story, 164-room property with three dining spaces and a rooftop pool. The Maya will be located in Scottsdale's buzzy, pedestrian-friendly Old Town Entertainment District.

• The Scottsdale Resort & Spa, formerly The Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch, is now part of the Curio Collection by Hilton and is scheduled to complete a massive $40-million, property-wide renovation this spring. Included in the resort’s transformation are La Fogata, a new signature restaurant specializing in bold, Southwest flavors; The Madam, a hidden speakeasy; and a new lounge with a pool table and indoor golf simulator featuring several interactive games. The on-property Luna Spa also is included in the renovations, and will feature an extensive menu of massages, facials and body treatments.

DOWNTIME DIVERSIONS

• Art enthusiasts can now add Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West to their Scottsdale ArtWalk evening route, as it is now open until 9 p.m. on Thursdays. The Smithsonian Affiliate museum will soon break ground on a project to add nearly 12,000 square feet for two new galleries, after receiving a $12 million charitable gift from Louis “Buzz” Sands IV.
• Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West hosts informal discussions exploring the connections between architecture, art and nature during its “In Conversation” series, taking place on select dates through May 23, 2024. Speakers include author and photographer Mark Borthwick, founding director of Arizona State University’s Center for Philosophical Technologies Adam Nocek, author Christine Madrid French, and more.
• Owned by husband-and-wife team Charles and Ginger Underwood, Rackensack Canyon Tours takes guests on exciting mountainside Jeep adventures to destinations including an authentic 1800s-era gold mine and a scenic mountaintop sanctuary within the Tonto National Forest. For the truly adventurous, the combination Gold Mine Jeep and Helicopter Excursion is the ultimate tour, featuring a flight over ancient Hohokam ruins dating back to 1400 AD.
• Scottsdale’s Mint Collective is reimagining the way we live, work and gather through the beauty of nature and the power of human connection. Their elevated corporate retreats, brand activations and interactive workshops are thoughtfully crafted experiences that incorporate hands-on creativity, wellness principles and culinary delights. Mint Collective’s out-of-the-box group experience planners create fully customizable and professionally executed experiences that are guaranteed to leave a lasting impression on your group and help them create deeper, more meaningful connections.
• Giddy-up for fun and fashion at Rancher Hat Bar in Old Town Scottsdale. Here, guests can create their own one-of-a-kind hat – choose a style and color, pick out accessories (from feathers and bands to jewels to rustic iron branding) and let the Rancher Hat Bar experts do the rest! They’ll create a custom hat you can take home the same day. Rancher Hat Bar offers a traveling set-up for corporate groups and can accommodate up to 600 guests.
• The therapeutic vibrations of sound have been utilized throughout human history to promote relaxation, reduce stress and accelerate the body’s healing mechanisms. Shanti Sound offers sound baths at their Scottsdale meditation studio and also is available to travel to area resorts for corporate groups. Receiving a sound bath resets the central nervous system, soothes stress and anxiety, and provides a multitude of health benefits. And the best part? There is no preparation or effort required other than to arrive and receive – simply lie down, relax and let the sounds and vibrations do the rest!

SIP & SAVOR

• Sammy DeMarco is the new Executive Chef at Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen, the signature restaurant at Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows. DeMarco brings 29 years of global food, beverage and hospitality expertise to this new position and plans to add his own flare to Weft & Warp’s Mediterranean concept.
• Guests can get a taste of nearby Mexico and learn a new culinary skill with Royal Palms Resort & Spa’s new “Cocina Latina” experience. The resort chef guides guests through the step-by-step process of making authentic tamales in a fun and social setting as they learn about the many variations of this traditional culinary delight, the making of which centers around bringing family and friends together.
• Scottsdale Fashion Square has added to its stellar culinary roster with the debut of Moxies, a long-time Canadian favorite. Moxies offers an upscale-yet-casual dining experience centered around a globally inspired menu and handcrafted cocktails. Specialty dishes include Chipotle Mango Chicken, Scottish Salmon and Chicken Madeira Rigatoni. The menu also offers a well-rounded selection of vegetarian and plant-based entrées, as well as handheld sandwiches, garden-fresh salads and indulgent deserts like Sticky Toffee Pudding and Mile-High Mocha Pie.

EVENTS

• The legendary Scottsdale ArtWalk takes place every Thursday evening year-round from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Old Town Arts District. ArtWalk is a free, go-at-your-own-pace event where galleries host special exhibits, artist demonstrations and live entertainment. Themed Gold Palette ArtWalks, including June Days (June 6) and Summer Spectacular (July 11), begin at 6:30 p.m. and offer wine tastings, small bites and live music centered around that evening’s theme.
• During the seasonal Sunsets & Sips, guests have the opportunity to enjoy a cocktail and stroll the tranquil outdoor pathways of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West against a backdrop of sunset skies and city lights. Sunsets & Sips takes place twice monthly on Thursdays through May 23, 2024.
• Live music, local-favorite food trucks and an outstanding collection of vintage and handmade goods are the hallmarks of the Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market at WestWorld of Scottsdale. Browse more than 100,000 square feet of vintage and handmade treasures in climate-controlled comfort at WestWorld’s Tony Nelssen Equestrian Center this April 26-28, 2024.
• PAC-12 Baseball excitement returns to Scottsdale Stadium in Old Town on May 21-25, 2024. Nine teams will compete, beginning with a round-robin pool play across Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the tournament, each day featuring three games. The three pool winners will advance to the Friday single-elimination semifinals along with one Wild Card team. 
• The Music in the Garden concert series at the Desert Botanical Garden takes place on select Friday evenings through May 31, 2024. Each event features music from a different genre, including Americana, folk rock, Jazz, indie folk, hip hop and more. Enjoy dinner before the concert at Gertrude’s at the Garden or opt for the chef’s daily special at the Patio Café.

Click here to view Scottsdale’s complete calendar of events!