SCOTTSDALE TRAVEL NEWS: JUNE 2009

A monthly tourism news update from the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau

BLAZING NEW TRAILS AT SCOTTSDALE'S BUDDING DESERT PRESERVE
Adventure lovers have a new way to enjoy the radiance of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve with the opening of the Gateway in May 2009. The Preserve, a protected area of land consisting of Scottsdale's McDowell Mountains and Sonoran Desert, provides a place for tourists to connect with the city's unique desert attractions like Saguaro cacti and roadrunners. As the main entrance into the Preserve, the Gateway welcomes hikers of every physical ability level and in the fall, an interpretive trail allowing people with disabilities to enjoy the park will be created. The Gateway also incorporates eco-friendly architecture, using rock and soil excavated from the area for the walls of its administration building. Currently, the Gateway is awaiting approval for the United States Green Building Council's LEED certification. The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is supported by Scottsdale residents and is expected to house the proposed Desert Discovery Center, which will educate visitors on the Sonoran Desert. Once complete, the McDowell Sonoran Preserve will total more than 36,000 acres of permanently protected land, making it larger than the cities of Tempe and Paradise Valley, Ariz. combined.

DINING IN DOWNTOWN SCOTTSDALE: A NEW LOCAL FAVORITE AND TWO OPENINGS THIS FALL
•     Daily Dose - Opened in October 2008, Daily Dose has quickly become a local hotspot with its stylish yet down-to-earth atmosphere and accessible American comfort food. The restaurant serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner and is owned by Matt and JenLyn Long of nearby Fusion Restaurant & Lounge. The Hangover sandwich is one of the menu highlights with applewood-smoked bacon, turkey sausage and caramelized jalapeño and onion between thick slices of sourdough toast. Or, you can pay homage to the good ol' south with traditional biscuits and gravy. In the mornings visitors can sit back with a cup of coffee and newspaper on the restaurant's cozy outdoor patio or toss back a few cold ones with friends later in the day before a night out on the town.
•     Petite Maison - Headed by local favorite, Chef James Porter, formerly of Tapino Kitchen & Wine Bar, the French-themed country bistro will bring comfort to travelers with quality food at a lower price point. A compact menu - matching the size of the quaint restaurant that will only seat about 80 people - focuses on classic Gallic for lunch, dinner and brunch with highlights like beignets and chicory coffee. Scheduled to open in summer 2009.
•     The Chef's Loft - Set for the SouthBridge district, this state-of-the-art chef's studio will play host to a culinary school with classes headed by renowned chefs from across the country. With a fully stocked kitchen from Viking Range Corporation, The Chef's Loft will include space for private events in addition to public demonstrations for guests. The space also will be used as a set for lifestyle television shows, documentaries, commercials and more. Opening fall 2009.

FALL CALENDAR FEATURES MYRIAD OF EVENTS, FROM WESTERN TO FASHION AND GOLF
From equine and western affairs to tasty culinary extravaganzas and a fashion event that will tame even the wildest style mavens, Scottsdale visitors will find plenty to keep them entertained through November.
•     Downtown Scottsdale: Kicking off the festivities in downtown Scottsdale is the Western ArtWalk (Oct. 15), a free artistic showdown hosted by the Scottsdale Gallery Association that highlights the city's historic and modern Western roots. Visitors can then get a taste of Scottsdale with Crave Arizona (Oct. 22-24), formerly Eats³, an event focusing on independent restaurants and chefs in the Scottsdale area with in-gallery dinners, the 2009 National Mix-It-Up Competition and kick-off party, the signature BBQ & Bubbles event and the Arizona Grand Tasting with more than 40 of the state's signature restaurants. Rounding off the downtown fall festivities is the fourth annual Scottsdale Fashion Week (Nov. 5-7), which starts with the Wearable ArtWalk through the Scottsdale Arts District where models will walk the streets showcasing noteable one-of-a-kind pieces of 'art to wear' clothing and jewelry. Scottsdale Fashion Week also will feature two tented runways highlighting the latest from local, national and international designers.
•     Around town: The second annual Arizona Restaurant Week (Sept. 19-26) will offer patrons the chance to experience Arizona's finest fare from an estimated 100 restaurants. The event, started by Scottsdale-based restaurateur Sam Fox, boasts a three-course menu for $29 per person or $50 per couple. Moving on from culinary to equine, the Scottsdale Classic Futurity & Quarter Horse Show (Oct. 1-7) will be held at WestWorld of Scottsdale and feature approximately 1,000 horses competing for more than $200,000 in money and awards. The Tour de Scottsdale (Oct. 4) will welcome more than 2,000 riders who will participate in the 70-mile bicycling event that winds through Scottsdale and neighboring cities like Cave Creek, Carefree and Fountain Hills. Finally, the Frys.com Open (Oct. 21-25) will take place for the third year at Grayhawk Golf Club . The event, which is part of the PGA Tour's fall series, will feature a full-field, four-day tournament with a $5 million purse and $900,000 payout to the winner.

REGIONALLY INSPIRED ACTIVITIES TAKE TRAVELERS ON A TOUR DE SOUTHWEST
Brighten up your desert nights with the Desert Botanical Garden's Flashlight Tours. The twilight adventure, held every Thursday and Saturday evening June thru August, engages the senses, allowing you to see, hear and feel the magic of the desert while meeting native creatures like nighthawks, tortoises and insects on your evening journey. Flashlight Tours are free with Garden admission. 

     The Heard Museum's We Are! Arizona's First People exhibit enriches travelers' knowledge of Native American history. The ongoing exhibit is the only gallery display in the state to include all 21 of Arizona's federally recognized tribal communities and features interactive displays where guests learn about the past, present and future of Arizona's native people like the Havasupai and White Mountain Apache tribes. Children and kids at heart will love the hands-on activities like language puzzles and loom beading. 

    Families create a lasting summer adventure discovering the desert at Fairmont Scottsdale. The hotel's new National Geographic Explorers Camp offers discovery base
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