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Enjoy Life Locally in Downtown Scottsdale

 

 

  April 1, 2009

  Robin Meinhart, Downtown Liaison
  (480) 312-2647, rmeinhart@ScottsdaleAZ.gov

 


Spring/Summer 09 Calendar Features Freebies, Festivals and Weekly Old Town Farmer’s Market

Downtown Scottsdale is host to more than 25 art, fashion, culinary, and music events that take place throughout the year.

DOWNTOWN SCOTTSDALE PROVIDES WIDE ARRAY OF FREE OFFERINGS: 

  • Every Thursday Night all year - FREE Arts District Art Walk  7 to 9 p.m.
  • Every Thursday -  FREE Museum of Contemporary Arts 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Civic Center
  • Every Saturday Old Town Farmers’ Market  8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Brown & 1st Ave parking lot
  • Every Sunday - Mimosa Sundays Art Walk - noon to 4 p.m. Downtown Arts District

Saturday Old Town Farmer’s Market features chef demonstrations, local produce, live music and unique gifts (through early July).  This popular weekly attraction provides residents and visitors with a colorful variety of handmade items, local produce and food samples by award-winning chefs from local eateries.  The market is on the northwest corner of Brown Ave. and 2nd Street with plentiful underground parking and streetside parking.  The market begins at 8:30 a.m. and concludes at 1 p.m. (hours may shift to earlier times in summer months).  For more information call (480) 312-7750.  To view a slideshow of market offerings go to:
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/downtown/OldTownDebut.asp
Additional online info. at: http://www.arizonafarmersmarkets.com/pageScottsdaleOldtown/ScottsdaleOTsat.htm

ArtWalks – every Thursday, 7-9 p.m. year-round.  For more than 30 years, Downtown Scottsdale has featured the Scottsdale ArtWalk.  Galleries open their doors to the public and show off the works of some of the Southwest’s most extraordinary artists.  Downtown Scottsdale has more art galleries per capita than almost any other city in the United States – over 100 at last count.  The galleries offer a variety of art from contemporary to traditional and include a selection of Western art rivaled only by Santa Fe.  Most of the galleries are clustered along two primary streets – Marshall Way and Main Street that intersect the section of Downtown that is west of Scottsdale Road.  ArtWalk event flyer and map available at: http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/downtown.asp

Downtown's Main Street Plaza is home to a new artist event – “Saturday’s on the Plaza’ being held the first Saturday of the month through May from 1 to 5 p.m.  Main Street Plaza, located at 7035 E. Main Street, just west of the Loloma Transit Center on the northeast corner of 2nd Street and Goldwater, will be the backdrop for this new venue which showcases 22 artists/artisans, live entertainment and wine.  Downtown's sole winery, Su Vino, is jumpstarting this new attraction as a way to re-introduce residents and visitors to Scottsdale's historic art district.  To access the event flyer and an event location map go to:
http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Assets/documents/Downtown/SaturdayFlyer.pdf

Scottsdale Culinary Festival – Eat-Drink-Be Pretty, April 14-19, 2009.  As the longest running festival of its kind in the United States, the Scottsdale Culinary Festival draws more than 40,000 visitors looking to enjoy fabulous food, fun and festivities, not to mention idyllic weather This year's festival will feature a host of events from cooking demonstrations by some the nation's top chefs to a one of a kind James Beard out of the house dinner.  For more information go to:
http://www.scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org/

Girls Night: The musical returns by popular demand.  Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts will present the smash hit Girls Night: The Musical from April 14–May 3, 2009, at Theater 4301 in downtown Scottsdale. The performances are presented with support from Courtyard by Marriott Scottsdale Old Town.  Girls Night: The Musical packed the house at its 2007 U.S. premiere at Theater 4301and has since earned rave reviews on tour throughout the United States.  Described as “Desperate Housewives meets Mamma Mia,” this hilarious and touching comedy follows five friends in their 30s and 40s during a wild and outrageous girls night out at a karaoke bar.  Single tickets are available for $38 through the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts’ Web site at www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org or the box office at (480) 994-ARTS (2787). Theater 4301 is located in the Galleria Corporate Centre at 4301 Scottsdale Road on the corner of Drinkwater Boulevard and Fifth Avenue in downtown Scottsdale, one block east of Scottsdale Road.  Free parking is available in the Galleria Corporate Centre parking garage.

Scottsdale Artists’ School annual fundraiser Saturday, April 18, 2009.  Save the date and call to reserve your tickets for this “don’t miss” fundraising event for the Scottsdale Artists’ School. The evening will be an energetic celebration of community, music, food and fine art with original pieces available for bidding from over 60 internationally acclaimed artists from 5 - 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2009.  Call (480) 990-1422 or visit www.ScottsdaleArtSchool.org for more information.

Scottsdale Arts District rallies for kids - A Chair Affair to Benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale & Scottsdale Gallery Association’s Art Education Fund
Throughout the months of March & April many Scottsdale galleries, along with some of their finest artists, will be designing, producing and decorating custom chairs and paintings of chairs as part of the inaugural event known as A Chair Affair.  The event will culminate in a reception event and auction of the chair art with all proceeds benefiting youth development programs at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale and scholarships for young artists provided by the Scottsdale Gallery Association’s Art Education Fund.  The Scottsdale Arts District and Scottsdale Gallery Association, known for their popular weekly Scottsdale ArtWalk, are coordinating the event with the help of key contributors including Palavela Home, occasions! by design, Sunrise Bank, Savor Scottsdale, the City of Scottsdale, and Calvin Charles Gallery.  Chairs and paintings of chairs are currently being collected from participating galleries with plans to have 25 – 30 exciting works of art as part of this year’s A Chair Affair. 
Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased through the following venues:

Canine Thunder’ Charity event at Scottsdale Waterfront April 25-26, 2009.  ‘Power Paws Assistance Dogs, a non profit organization located in Scottsdale, is hosting a “Canine Thunder” fundraising event on April 25-26, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Scottsdale Waterfront property between Goldwater Blvd. and Via Soleri, just south of the Nordstrom garage.  Canine Thunder is a pet-friendly music fest with live music, food and beverage, cowboy games, Splash Dogs, old time photos, vendors, games and more.  Performances by The Herndon Brothers, Cramer/Sanchez Band, Faces for Radio, Ken Willis and AirZona, The Big Zephyr, After Dark, and Down Pour.  Attendees are invited to grab a lawn chair or blanket and spend a day or two taking in the festivities.  Admission is $10 per person, per day.  Children under 6 are free.
Canine Thunder is sponsored in by The Scottsdale Resort and Conference Center, in partnership with City of Scottsdale and Ground Up Development Services.  Visit www.caninethunder.org for more information.


Run, walk or stroll to support the arts! – Annual SRP Night Run for the Arts to take place May 2 in Downtown Scottsdale.  The annual SRP Night Run for the Arts will take place on May 2, 2009, in downtown Scottsdale. Sponsored by SRP Earthwise Energy and presented by the Scottsdale Running Company, the event benefits youth education and outreach programs at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.
The Valley’s premier evening race, the SRP Night Run for the Arts is a fun, family-friendly event that welcomes people of all ages and abilities. Highlights include the timed 8K Race through downtown Scottsdale and the Three-Mile Fun Run/Walk. The event culminates with an outdoor party featuring a concert with Big Nick and the Gila Monsters and an awards ceremony.
Early registration is available through www.scottsdalenightrun.org or at Scottsdale Running Company at 6941 N. Hayden Rd., Ste. B-4, or (480) 948-4436. All participants may register individually or as part of a team and will receive a commemorative T-shirt.


Lucky Ducky Derby planned for May 16 at the Scottsdale Waterfront.  Get your ducks now for the 2009 Arizona Lucky Ducky Derby.  On May 16th, 40,000 ducks will paddle their way to the finish line raising money for the Arizona Children’s Charities including Scottsdale Cares. Scottsdale Parks and Recreation will partner with the derby and host a Scottsdale Fun on the Waterfront Day, (7434 E. Stetson Drive,) with booths from the fire department, police department and many others.  Plan on a day of entertainment and activities for the entire family and don’t miss the “Duck Drop of the Year.”  Please visit www.arizonaluckyduckyderby.com to adopt your duck today or for more information call (480) 222-0922.


Downtown restaurants entice diners with new specials.  Downtown restaurants are adding fun dining options to attract guests. Eddie’s House, for example, hosts a psychic on Thursday evenings to give diners a glimpse of their future. Other restaurants have kept their summer specials or added new happy hour offerings.  For information about Downtown eateries go to: www.scottsdaledowntown.com

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