photo credit: Dru Bloomfield – At Home in Scottsdale

Looking for something different to do this weekend – Try Downtown Scottsdale.  Lots going on!

OLD TOWN FARMER’S MARKET

In addition to multiple varieties of organic and locally grown greens, carrots, potatoes, applies, herbs and processed foods including apple butter; Amish breads, canned goods, picadillies, pickles, jams, and spreads, the Saturday market includes multiple chef demonstrations, local businesses such as Via Mediterranee, which features handmade fabrics and pottery. The market is on the northwest corner of Brown Avenue and 2nd Street with plentiful underground parking and streetside parking. The market runs from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. More information here or call (480) 312-7750.

Slide show of Farmer’s Market

FESTIVAL OF THE WISE FESTIVAL

Residents and visitors are invited to a new Civic Center Mall festival that focuses on health and wellness. Titled, Festival of the Wise, this event will be held Saturday and Sunday, December 6-7, 2008, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Civic Center Mall and in the Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts. More than 100 vendors featuring a wide array of services and resources related to health and wellness. More info at: www.festivalofthwise.com

SATURDAYS ON MARSHALL

Starting this Saturday, December 6, Marshall Way merchants (located between 5th and Indian School) will be hosting a Greenwich Village style gathering with artist demonstrations, restaurant samplings, and unique vendors such as a performer preparing custom perfumes. Saturdays on Marshall will take place every Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. in the various courtyards and patios that are found throughout this tree-lined destination. For more information call: (480) 299-0313.

5TH AVENUE FREE UNPLUGGED SOLO MUSIC SERIES 

The historic Fifth Avenue shopping district has long promoted local musicians as a way to enhance its pedestrian environment. In keeping with this musical heritage, the city of Scottsdale Downtown Office in conjunction with the Fifth Avenue merchants association is hosting a series of live performances including several original artists who began their musical careers on 5th Avenue. These free, live performances will take place on Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m., in various locations along Fifth Avenue (which is just west of Scottsdale Road and south of the canal. This week’s performer is Michael V. Additional Fifth Avenue information and event listings are available at www.virtual5thavenue.com 

OLD TOWN PIMA PLAZA FEATURES LIVE MUSIC SERIES

Starting December 6, 2008, Old Town’s Pima Plaza, located on the southwest corner of 1st Avenue and Brown Ave. (just east of Scottsdale Road) will be hosting free, live performances on Saturdays, from noon to 3 p.m.  This Saturday, listen to the top 40 sounds of Chris Putrino.

DIVAS & DOGS 2008 DOG FASHION SHOW

FEATURES MUSIC, PRIZES AND A PERCENTAGE OF SALES TO BE DONATED TO THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY. The 2nd annual Divas & Dogs Fashion Show will take place Saturday, December 6 from 2:30 to 5 p.m. in front of dog boutique Classy Jazzy, which is located at 7111 5th Ave. Owners can register their dogs by calling (480) 970-1894 or by visiting www.classyjazzy.com

“MIMOSA SUNDAYS” COME TO SCOTTSDALE ARTWALK

Fine artists, awesome galleries, great people watching – and complimentary mimosas! It’s the new thing at Scottsdale ArtWalk® on Sunday afternoons through March. The public is invited to “ArtWalk the Line” the length and breadth of the Scottsdale Arts District to seek out special “Mimosa Sundays” happenings featuring champagne mimosas, delicious cheeses, and other special treats.

Time: Sundays, noon to 4 p.m., through March 2009
Where: Along Main Street
Contact: www.ScottsdaleGalleries.com

Enjoy!

photo credit: kevindooley

The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art has free admission on Fridays, through the end of August, courtesy of Lewis and Roca.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Location: 7374 East Second Street, Scottsdale, AZ

Museum Front Desk: 480-874-4666

UPDATE:  Just discovered that Thursdays (10a – 8pm) are still free too! 

Recently, AmericanStyle magazine announced, based on the results of their annual reader poll, that Scottsdale ranked second in the nation as an arts destination, in the mid-sized city category.  Complete results of the annual readers’ poll and profiles of the top three cities in each category are featured on www.AmericanStyle.com and in the June issue of AmericanStyle.

Several years ago, I read and completed a program on creativity in a book called “The Artist’s Way” by Leslie Cameron.  As part of the homework, I regularly visited the galleries in Old Town Scottsdale.  While the homewalk called for an hour a week of unstructured time to experience creativity in some form, I found that my time in the galleries seemed to always last longer.  So much to see, and in so many forms.  It’s one thing to read about art, and another to actually experience it.

One of the ways that Scottsdale celebrates art is with the year-round Thursday Night Art Walk, held every Thursday night, from 7 to 9 pm.  Since most galleries close in the late afternoon, it’s a excellent way to see some of the amazing artwork, in a relaxed atmosphere.

Directions to ArtWalk:

• Located along Main Street and Marshall Way in Scottsdale Downtown
• Between Fifth Avenue on the north and Main Street on the south
• Between Scottsdale Civic Center on the east, and Goldwater Boulevard on the west.

Did you know that the Scottsdale Area has…

• 200+ Golf Courses
• 125 Art Galleries
• 600+ Restaurants
• 67 Resorts & Hotels
• 25+ Day Spas
• 58 Miles of Bike Paths
• 330 Days of Sunshine Annually
• Miles of Equestrian Trails

To find out more about Scottsdale, you can visit:

Downtown Scottsdale

Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau

Scottsdale Golf

Or, you can contact me.  If you’re thinking about visiting the area, I’ll send you a Visitor’s Guide.  And, if you’re thinking about moving to Scottsdale, I can send you one of my complementary Relocation Packages.  Just drop me a line and let me know.

Participating Artists

Art Festival Map

January 13 – P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon 

January 12-20 – Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction 

January 27 through February 3 – Super Bowl parties and special events 

January 28 through February 3 – FBR Open Golf Tournament 

February 15-24 – Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show 

February 23- Parada del Sol Parade 

March 7-9 – Scottsdale Arts Festival