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Thanksgiving weekend brings beauty, music and magic to the Desert Botanical Garden, which is nestled amid the red buttes of Papago Park. Visitors are welcome to Las Noches de las Luminarias, where thousands of hand-lit luminaries light up the cactus garden. Take a journey down the Garden’s golden-lit paths Nov. 28-Dec. 23, and enjoy live music by local bands, savor cuisine and sample exquisite wines, or delight in a warm cup of cocoa or cider. For more information, visit www.dbg.org, or call 480.941.1225. Reservations required.
See the Phoenix Zoo in a whole new light with Zoolights, Nov. 27-Jan. 10. Once the sun goes down and animals go to sleep, the zoo transforms into one of the largest holiday lighting events in the Southwest with 2.5 million lights and more than 400 light sculptures, ranging from small stars to life-size giraffe, elephants and orangutans. For more information, visit www.phoenixzoo.org, or call 602.273.1341.
A soft, warm cushion has been added to the digital mammography equipment at Scottsdale Healthcare, increasing patient comfort during this potentially life-saving procedure. Resembling a large mouse pad, the MammoPad provides a warm, soft surface for the breast. The pad helps to relax the patient, which also leads to an improved image for radiologists to read. Nearly 40 percent of American women 40 and older don’t get regular mammograms. Studies show pain is a major reason they don’t return for an annual screening, an obstacle the MammoPad aims to overcome.
The Scottsdale Arts District, which includes nearly 125 galleries in a 1-mile radius, has some strong recommendations for the city’s Downtown Planning Commission. Gallery businesspeople want the city to help enhance the district even more. By providing boundary markers similar to Chinatown signs in major cities, the art folk want to let visitors know that, without a doubt, they have entered the Scottsdale Arts District. The requested designated area would stretch from Goldwater Boulevard to the west and
south, Scottsdale Road to the east and the Arizona Canal to the north. Galleries are also requesting a “Way Finding Study” to mark routes to the district and to highlight parking in the area. Lastly, they recommend the placement of new structural elements to create greater mobility awareness throughout the gallery streets. These would include pedestrian rest areas, unique lamp posts and specially designed signage and colors.
A cat specialist gives a free talk on senior cat care at the Scottsdale Civic Center Library, 6 p.m., Nov. 13, in the Silver Room. The Scottsdale Cat Clinic is an exclusively feline veterinary practice and Dr. Judy Karnia has been a practicing veterinarian since 1994, specializing in feline medical and behavioral problems, with a strong focus on geriatric cats. For more info, visit www.scottsdalecatclinic.com, or call 480.970.1175.
With all of Scottsdale’s many districts, winding streets, and roads with changing names, it’s no wonder visitors and even residents sometimes have trouble finding their way. Now, the city offers “City on a Disk,” a CD to help you get oriented, available at several city locations, including the planning records area on the first floor of One Civic Center, 7447 E. Indian School Road. The CD provides perspectives that range from a bird’s eye view of neighborhoods to an aircraft’s view, thousands of feet overhead.
Scottsdale Public Art is giving artists an opportunity to alter and enhance the Scottsdale Civic Center Bell Tower, a key entry to the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall. Five artists will engage visitors and residents through a series of installations, running through June 2010. The first installation, Floating Memories by Béatrice Coron, will be on display until Dec. 3. The exhibit includes 24 iconic scenes, hand cut on black-and-white Tyvek, a lightweight waterproof paper. The four scrolls hanging freely from the top of the tower have two long flaps with three paper-cut images on each side. The cutout images are meant to be like windows, inviting passersby to peek into the memories and dreams of Scottsdale and the Southwest.
Care to be privy to the backstage world of creativity and the artistic process? This month, the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Arts launches a series of four tours of artists’ studios throughout the Valley. The first tour happens Nov. 12. See art in the making and hear artists talk about their inspirations. You must be a member to participate. Tours fill quickly and reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Call 480.874.4641 for information.
Community historian and author Joan Fudala kicks off a series of talks about the cultural origins of the Scottsdale area. The talks will be presented by local experts throughout the coming months at Scottsdale libraries. Native Americans give this month’s lectures, scheduled Nov. 11, noon, Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd.; and Nov. 13, 6:30 p.m., Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd. Featured speakers are Kelly Washington, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, cultural resource director; Shane Anton, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, acting cultural preservation program supervisor; Raphael Bear, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, former president; Steve Geiogamah, city of Scottsdale, tourism development coordinator. For more info, visit www.scottsdalelibrary.org, or call 480.312.7323.
The Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau is launching a new creative campaign in January 2009 to build on the Scottsdale brand and showcase the city’s sophistication and vibrancy in the Sonoran Desert. “The artistic nature of the ads will help cut through a cluttered world of destination marketing.” said Rachel Sacco, president and CEO of the bureau. Each ad will explore the layered experiences inherent in a quintessential Scottsdale vacation, including resorts and spas, golf, arts and culture, and dining and nightlife. Research maintains that targeting wealthy customers has a strong impact on all consumers. Five new ads will begin appearing in 2009 issues of top travel and lifestyle magazines and the bureau’s new website. See a preview at www.scottsdalecvb.com/ads.html.
The Hotel Valley Ho garnered a Green by Design Award in October from the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. The hotel won the “Green Award” for its creation of a recycling program and other environmentally friendly and energy-efficient practices. The hotel started its recycling program in 2006, and is now the largest recycler in Downtown Scottsdale, recycling approximately 4,500 pounds of material per week. The Hotel Valley Ho also uses green-certified cleaning products, non-toxic cleaning fluid for dry-cleaning services and dual-pane glass windows.
Downtown streets are now available for adoption through the city’s Adopt-A-Road Scottsdale Clean and Scenic program. Volunteers are responsible for maintaining half-mile or mile segments, which involves periodically picking up litter on their adopted street. The group also may have two signs at the beginning and end of its segment in recognition. For a list of adoptable roads, call the Pima North Neighborhood Resource Center at 480.312.6280.
The city’s Capital Projects Division has initiated the process to begin the redesign of the Brown/Main entry to the Civic Center area. The redesign will provide greater visibility into the Civic Center area, enhanced ADA access, and sidewalk modifications to provide an improved staging area for the Ambassador Information Cart. The revamped gateway will provide expanded access to multiple locations in the Downtown area and will invite visitors to tour the amenities and attractions available in the Civic Center area.
A slew of dog-friendly Downtown events are slated this month, courtesy of Oh My Dog boutique, 7137 E. Stetson Dr. (All events start at 6:30 p.m., at the boutique or down the street by the fountain.) Don’t forget to bring your mat to Doga, yoga for your dog, Nov. 4, sponsored by Lululemon Athletica and Arizona Yoga. On Nov. 11, author and veterinarian Dr. Rick Soltero signs copies of his book, It’s Like A Miracle, and speaks about healthy living for you and your pet. On Nov. 18, dance with your dog; instructor Sandy Beller teaches an introductory class on how to two-step with your furry four-legger. Details have yet to be firmed up, but on Nov. 25, a pooch-friendly Treasure Hunt prowls throughout the SouthBridge area. The hunt includes tips about outdoor dog safety from Brian Willis, founder of Gofetch and Barkalott. Let your nose lead the way! Only friendly doggies need apply for any event. Visit ohmydogboutique.com or call 480.874.1200 for more information and to RSVP (recommended but not required). Free.
7127 E. Sixth Ave.
Arthur Secunda & Friends Encore (reception Nov. 1, shows through Nov. 30)
The show reprises a current exhibition at a Museum in Montbeliard, France. The Robert Roman Gallery display will include paintings, prints and collages by eight artist colleagues in addition to Scottsdale resident Secunda.
4161 N. Marshall Way
Temporary Current (reception Nov. 6, shows through Nov. 28)
The collection of urban landscapes by Cuban painter Gustavo Acosta relate to his entire body of work much like the frames of a movie work together. The common thread is the contemporary historical setting based on mass media imagery. This is the first exhibit of works by Acosta in Arizona.
7040 E. Main St.
Sharing Wisdom (reception Nov. 13, shows through Nov. 26)
The most well-known artistic family of Shona sculpture, the Nyanhongos, will reunite for an exhibition of their latest work. This annual event is always a highly anticipated opportunity to meet a few of the popular artists from Zimbabwe.
7100 E. Main St.
David Barba: A Garden of Delights (shows through Nov. 23)
Barba’s paintings of flowers, often depicted in glass jars and Coke bottles, show the blossoms in their up-close glory.
4160 N. Scottsdale Road
Katherine Ortega and Mitra Kamali (shows through Nov. 8)
Contemporary furniture designer/woodworker Ortega and artist Kamali are featured. Ortega’s work includes either upholstery or beading used in an unexpected manner; the beading is woven by hand and strung on the furniture, taking hundreds of hours to complete. Kamali’s sketches and photographs are influenced by her travels and science. She is a Scottsdale resident.
Theater 4301, Galleria Corporate Centre, Scottsdale
Outrageously funny and sharply insightful, the show blends political humor with popular music. While the troupe’s members are renowned for poking fun at occupants of the White House, no one is safe from their satirical barbs. These performances mark the Steps’ first visit to Scottsdale in eight years with a new president.
Theater 4301, Galleria Corporate Centre, Scottsdale
The orchestra rides into town with a wagonload of instruments to perform all the classic Ennio Morricone music, including “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and “For a Few Dollars More.” With a fistful of humor and a bucket-load of fun, the orchestra underscores these brilliant musical adventures. You’ll hear all the sound effects of the iconic spaghetti western movies—every punch up, gunshot and jangling spur.
Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre, 4720 N. Scottsdale Road
Noel Coward’s classic comedy about one man, two wives and a psychic in a tangled web of spirits, séances and sophistry takes the stage.
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Singing Cowboy Gary Sprague and his trusty steed Dusty return to Old Town for Saturday and Sunday afternoon free performances from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Gary and Dusty serenade shoppers with Western classics, local folklore and cowboy poetry. Now in his 19th year as a Valley of the Sun performer, Gary wears a traditional cowboy hat and spurs as he and Dusty tour the Old Town area. The duo typically concludes their performance with a ride into the Rusty Spur Saloon. It's thirsty on them thar trails.
Here’s yet another reason to stroll Downtown Scottsdale on Thursdays this fall. Night Lights, a series of art events featuring interactive light-based artworks and music performances, will add glow to the beautiful Scottsdale Waterfront, Nov. 20 and Dec. 18. The events, which fall on the third Thursday of each month, combine water, light, and entertainment from sundown to midnight. Look for Arizona artist Mary Lucking to create an interactive work, featuring a projection onto the water’s surface in the canal.
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