Shopping reaches new heights in Scottsdale
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Visitors to Scottsdale will enjoy the area's array of unique shopping opportunities. According to Travel Industry Association of America, shopping continues to be the most popular trip activity by U.S. adult travelers and accounts for 33 percent of all trips (335.1 million).
Mall Madness!
Scottsdale is home to the Southwest's largest shopping destination, Scottsdale Fashion Square, which covers 1.8 million square feet and offers premier shopping, dining and entertainment with 225 stores and restaurants (including 70 stores located nowhere else in Arizona). Stores at the mall include Nordstrom, Swarovski, Tiffany & Co. and Dana Buchman. After a day of shopping, enjoy lunch or dinner at the mall's food court or one of its 10 restaurants. You can even take in a movie at the mall's cinema.
A Taste of Italy
The Borgata of Scottsdale, modeled after the Italian hillside town of San Gimignano, offers 50 exciting boutiques, outdoor cafes and other restaurants. Plus, every Friday October through April, visitors can spend the afternoon browsing for fresh fruit and vegetables, baked goods, salsa and other Southwestern delicacies at their Farmers Market. An Ancient Moroccan Oasis. El Pedregal Festival Marketplace, nestled against a 250-foot granite boulder formation, is modeled after Old Morocco and features 40 stores and restaurants. The shops of el Pedregal surround an enticing courtyard and amphitheater, which hosts a seasonal Thursday night concert series called Music by Moonlight (May through July).
Discover Scottsdale Downtown
Visitors to Scottsdale Downtown will find more than 500 specialty shops and boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, nightclubs, entertainment venues, salons, and museums. The downtown area consists of four districts. Historic Old Town encompasses historical establishments such as the Rusty Spur Saloon and Cavalliere's Blacksmith Shop, while Fifth Avenue Shops feature Southwest and Native American arts and crafts. Marshall Way Arts District is known for its diversity, from handcrafted wearable art to limited edition prints, and unique collector's pieces. Visitors will find fine restaurants and some of the world's major sources of art and antiques in the Main Street Arts & Antiques District.
A Specialty Center
The Shops at Gainey Village are the newest addition to the Scottsdale shopping scene. More than 25 shops and restaurants are featured at this upscale retail center including Baby Couture, Kreiss Collection, Portofino, Right Start, Via Veneto, Wildflower Grill, Village Tavern and Thaifoon.
Urban Village
Kierland Commons evokes a "main street" ambiance while incorporating upscale shops, restaurants and offices. A lushly landscaped central plaza with a distinctive fountain helps to create an intimate gathering place for this pedestrian-friendly urban village. Visitors can enjoy Crate and Barrel, Restoration Hardware, Coldwater Creek, The Cheesecake Factory, Morton's Steak House and P.F. Chang's China Bistro.
Log On and Shop
Consumers interested in the culture and beauty of the American Southwest can find products on an innovative on-line catalog, www.eshoparizona.com. The site features a growing collection of Southwestern, Native American and Mexican items offered by shops, galleries, artisans and craftsmen from throughout Arizona. Numerous items are currently available, such as art, antiques, clothing, accessories, jewelry, home décor, furniture, foods, collectibles, crafts, leather goods, music and tableware.
Show Your Card & Save
Scottsdale Fashion Square is a member of the Shop America Alliance, a national tourism retail organization that has partnered with the American Automobile Association (AAA) in a national campaign. The "Show Your Card & Save" program encourages visitors to show their AAA card at the concierge desk and receive an incentive for visiting the shopping center. Scottsdale Fashion Square offers its Dining & Shopping Incentives Book, which features more than 130 stores, boutiques, spas, restaurants and eateries to enjoy.
The Cosmopolitan Side of Scottsdale
The onset of evening signals denizens of the desert - and wildlife of a more sophisticated nature - to embark upon evening festivities. After a long day of meetings, attendees can unwind in area clubs, bars and restaurants, where nocturnal diversions ranging from hip clubs serving up everything from progressive dance to salsa mix it up with other venues offering upscale downtime in cozy wine bars and bistros. In downtown Scottsdale alone, there are more than 30 nightspots, most of which are within walking distance of each other. Many of Scottsdale's downtown clubs also offer private areas for groups.
Along with so many other aspects of the city, entertainment options are becoming increasingly diverse as a new wave of haute spots strike a chord with visitors and locals alike. There are the sleek and showy clubs of Scottsdale Road, the hip hangouts on East Indian Plaza and hidden bôites on Stetson Drive. The one constant, however, is that no matter how one prefers their evenings served - chilled or hot - Scottsdale delivers.
Spirits of the night
Suiting Scottsdale's sophisticated side to a "T," a new breed of bars and wine bars have sprung up like night-blooming flowers, creating hip havens where cognoscenti go to sip and chat. Cool sounds from acid jazz to ambient set the mood where renewed emphasis is placed on the art of the cocktail or the character of an appellation. Kazimierz world wine bar, also known affectionately by locals as the "Kazbar," deftly mixes Old World with new vibe.
Somewhat hidden by an obscure back entry on Stetson Drive (making its discovery all the more exciting), Kazbar allows patrons a chance to step into an environment that begs to be called Continental, but treats guests to a wine list that is truly global in dimension (20 countries at last count). If you're into lounge culture, SIX has your number. Velvet furniture, cocktail tables positioned to maximize chat and a very happening happy hour draw a savvy crowd. Don't forget to try the tapas!
Get a groove on
For those seeking a more "moving" experience, Scottsdale knows how to throw it down with the best of them. High-octane clubs like sexy siblings Axis and Radius (connected by a glass catwalk) offer a chance to mix it up on several dance floors. Spicing up the scene, patrons might enjoy progressive house music here one night, then dance to tropical salsa rhythms the next.
Known for its sophisticated menu offerings, Barcelona transforms from a restaurant into a high-energy dance club as the evening progresses, keeping the beat going with Top 40 and retro favorites. Serious dance fans should make a move for Sanctuary, reputed to have the best DJs in town. For scenesters who like variety, this multi-level facility is the spot, offering the elegant Moroccan Room, the jungle-themed Voodoo Lounge, the 20s-flavored Martini Lounge and the intimate Divine Lounge.
A casual night out
For something more low key, try Dos Gringos, a Southwestern patio bar and grill. Enjoy great Mexican food and even take in a drive-in movie every night of the week at their retro-styled drive-in movie theatre. Down the block, you'll find Sugar Daddy's Blues, offering an eclectic Southwestern menu and live music seven nights a week. Listen to R&B, funk and the blues in the main bar or on the patio. For those who like a little Old West style, stop by the Rusty Spur, a historic Western-style saloon. Stay for a drink and to savor a bit of the Wild West.
Resort rendezvous
It was Dorothy in the "Wizard of Oz" who said, "There's no place like home." And true enough, some visitors may want to pass the evening at their resort, but still step out. Chic resort bars like the jade bar at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain make the proposition of staying on property - or visiting - tres cool, especially when one considers the magnetic appeal of the jade bar's chocolate martinis. A popular place for both locals and visitors is the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort's Lobby Bar.
People flock nightly to see the flamenco musical troupe Mosaico. The romance, joy and passion of the untamed gypsy spirit are captured through the engaging syntheses of the flamenco guitar, soaring flute and soulful song. A great place for a cocktail at sunset is the Lobby Lounge at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North. It could be the cocktails, it could be the solo guitarist's nightly entertainment, or.it could be the magnificent view!
The Lobby Lounge offers a sophisticated atmosphere from the resort's position high in the foothills, rewarding guests with stunning views of rugged terrain, mountains and city lights, by the fireside or on the patio. The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess' Cazadores Bar is a popular gathering place offering a combination of live Flamenco and Jazz-style entertainment, signature martinis and a delicious menu.
February 14, 2003