What’s New in Greater Phoenix for September 2012

What’s New in Greater Phoenix?
September 2012

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS MONTH’S EDITION:

• Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel’s Green Commitee adopts a Valley Metro light rail station
• Celebrate ten years of luxury as a trio of resorts celebrates their anniversaries

• Local First Arizona’s certified Local Fall Festival takes place in downtown Phoenix

Back to Top

The Westin Kierland Resort and Spa is also celebrating the grand opening of the Kierland FlowRider on the weekend of Oct. 5-7 and is hosting the exclusive FlowRider Festival on October 6. Book a two-night stay for exclusive access to the all-day FlowRider Festival and get two FlowRider “board passes” for your chance to go surfing in the desert! The Grand Opening event will include all-day entertainment at the Adventure Pool, a surfing exhibition, a “Wave Master” finalist Surf-Off, and an evening fireworks show.

The Arizona Biltmore is preparing 10 incredible epicurean evenings for the resort’s 23rd season of “Winemaker Dinners”.  They will feature original menus paired with specially selected wines, spending time with the creators of the wines, after-dinner drinks and cigars, and special showings of luxury products. The first dinner, on September 20, will feature a jewelry showing by Hyde Park Jewelers, with guests also offered the opportunity to wear the jewelry during dinner. For each dinner, Arizona Biltmore Executive Chef Todd Sicolo and Executive Sous Chef Conor Favre will create a unique menu of four-to-six courses, each paired with an appropriate wine of the evening’s featured winery. The winemaker or other representative of the winery will participate, talking about the wines, answering questions and socializing with guests.

Arizona’s largest luxury resort JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa celebrates 10 years of luxury in the Valley. The property features 950 recently remodeled guestrooms, 10 dining experiences, the renowned Revive Spa, eight tennis courts and four acres of shimmering pools and waterways including the celebrated Lazy River with a serpentine slide, and two championship golf courses.

For the first time, The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa and Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa, two Starwood resorts in Phoenix, are partnering to offer a unique opportunity with the “Ten Years of Luxury Starwood Resorts” in the Valley promotion to commemorate their 10th Anniversaries, offering Starwood Preferred Guest members exclusive rates on stays through December 29, 2012 and the opportunity to earn a 10,000 SPG point award. With exclusive rates from $119 per night, SPG members are invited to enjoy a luxurious stay at two of the valley’s premier resorts and earn an award of 10,000 Starpoints. Guests must stay one night or more at each of the two participating properties, The Westin Kierland Resort and Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort. Guests will receive a 10,000 SPG point award. Starpoints will be credited to the guest’s SPG account within 30 days after the completion of their second stay. Valid for stays August 10 – December 29, 2012, based upon availability, cannot be combined with any other offer, discount or package and is subject to blackout dates. Guests must be a Starwood Preferred Guest member, or are invited to join the Starwood Preferred Guest Program.

The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa will celebrate its 10-year anniversary in October. With exclusive rates starting from $169 per night, all esteemed resort, restaurant and local guests who visit during October will be granted access to many exceptional benefits in their restaurants, retail, Aji Spa and many surrounding Wild Horse Pass Development partners. These benefits include 10% off all of the resort’s award-wining dining outlets, 10% off all ala-carte Aji Spa services and dining in the Aji Café, and more. Rates and offers are valid for resort stays and promotional consumption Oct.1- Oct. 31, 2012, are based upon space and availability, and offers cannot be combined with any other discount, promotion, or special offer.

Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort announces its new organic and seasonal children’s menu created exclusively for Hyatt by renowned food pioneer and chef, Alice Waters. The new menu, featuring a three-course organic meal, marks the first hotel project for Waters and complements Hyatt’s groundbreaking “For Kids By Kids” menu, providing children more nutritious, fresh and interactive offerings. The new children’s food and beverage offerings will be offered in all full-service Hyatt hotels and resorts throughout the U.S. and the Caribbean. To add another layer of fun to mealtime, Hyatt will launch a Flavor Journey online experience in September where kids and parents can learn more about organic foods, the “For Kids By Kids” menu and enjoy games and activities.

This summer, Hotel Valley Ho is adding a new meeting room and an adjoining hospitality suite to its event space. The meeting room will offer 760 square feet of space, which will be divisible into two 380-square-foot rooms and will also feature a 320-square-foot patio. The setup will be customized for each event. Amenities will include high-definition TVs and WiFi and cable modem connectivity. The new meeting room and suite will be abundant with natural light, featuring floor-to-ceiling glass and mid-century-modern style. They will bring the hotel’s offerings to 12,500 square feet of indoor meeting space and over 25,000 square feet of sunny outdoor space. Construction is expected to be completed by fall 2012.

Debuting fall 2012, Proof at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale presents homestyle comfort fare sourced exclusively from the 50 states.  Embark on a cross-country road trip through the main street of America, tapping into the nation’s rich heritage and the historic days of Route 66.  Enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner in this relaxed American canteen, featuring menu items such as fried green tomatoes, shrimp and oyster po’boys, and chicken and waffles with bacon and bourbon syrup. Guests can take in the outdoors from every angle with walls that open to views of Pinnacle Peak and extensive patio dining.  Televisions, games and a bustling bar bring buzzing energy to the restaurant on a nightly basis.

Readers of Meetings Focus West magazine have chosen Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa as a 2012 “Best of the West” property in the Western United States, Western Canada and Mexico.  The “Best of the West” award is based on the resort’s quality of meeting space, guest rooms, staff, service, food and beverage, the availability of technical equipment, amenities, activities and value.  The resort was chosen by top national meeting planners as an outstanding meeting facility for its exceptional service, comfort, charisma and ability to blend business and pleasure, ensuring guests have a unique meeting experience.  Only 50 properties in the Western region were selected for the award.

Back to Top

Someone’s getting married at the 3rd annual Arizona Taco Festival. On August 1, Affordable Food Festivals, LLC, announced the start of a seven-week contest to win an actual wedding at the upcoming Arizona Taco Festival. The contest invites couples to create a one-minute video expressing why they deserve a fun “taco wedding” at the Fest, with the winner receiving a full ceremony and 50-person reception on the second day of the Arizona Taco Festival—October 21, 2012. Sponsored by Arizona Weddings Magazine, the ceremony will take place on the main stage and include all the bells and whistles—officiant, décor, music, vow exchange, photographer, and perhaps the most important element: the ceremonial stomping of the tortilla chips. Interested contestants simply film a video with anything from a smartphone to a professional camera and link their video to the Festival Facebook page. The deadline for entering is September 20th, 2012. The video with the most “Likes” by September 28th will win the ceremony.

Childsplay opens its new season with the smash-hit musical ROCK THE PRESIDENTS, which brings the history of our top executive office to life in this high-energy, multi-media extravaganza.  Performances are each weekend, September 8th through 23rd at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.  at the Tempe Center for the Arts Theatre. Childsplay brings all 223 years of 44 presidents to life in this rocking, musical revue for kids and families.

el Pedregal Shops and Dining at the Boulders Resort continues “Carefree Sundays” with lively music, distinctive shopping, and refreshing wines every Sunday afternoon throughout the month of October. The lineup includes Affinity on October 7, Khani Cole on October 14, Silhouette on October 21, and Urban Quartet on October 28. Carefree Sundays: Live from el Pedregal festival is sponsored by AZ Wines.  The event is free to attend; food and wine tasting tickets are available for purchase.  This year’s Fall Festival will run every Sunday from Sept. 30-Nov. 4, 2012 from 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

Back to Top

Back to Top

Back to Top

James Beard Award-winning chef Robert McGrath is putting his apron back on and joining owner Paul Keeler and Keeler Hospitality Group to create a socially-focused neighborhood restaurant. Market Street Kitchen– set to open September 1, 2012 – will feature McGrath’s signature western cooking, but with some new twists including rotisserie meats, charcuterie and cheese, and backed by an all-star kitchen team including chef de cuisine Matt Taylor (previously the Executive Chef at NOCA). Market Street Kitchen will offer rustic, American fare centered on wood-fired cooking techniques.

The chef known for putting Arizona’s treasured resorts back on the culinary map is now set to upgrade the north Valley dining scene. Award-winning Chef Michael Rusconi has carefully plotted his comeback with the launch of an entirely new dining experience all his own, aptly named Rusconi’s American Kitchen. Rusconi’s new venture opens early September – bringing major foodie relief to an affluent area currently dominated by national chain restaurants.

It’s lucky number five for Humble Pie, which has opened a fifth restaurant in the Valley. The new location offers the same comfortable, social setting with a slight contemporary design. There are 80 seats in the main dining area including the bar, a display kitchen and 50-seat patio. The 10-foot-glass doors in the main dining room open up to the patio creating an open-air dining experience creating a polished, unpretentious environment and high-quality dishes that continue to earn Humble Pie its reputation as a neighborhood favorite.

Prepare to indulge your senses with a blend of Southwestern, Mexican and Southern cuisine when TQLA, the newest addition to Mesa’s culinary and mixology communities, opens Monday, September 17. Celebrating one of the fastest growing spirits in the world, TQLA which was voted one of the best Tequila Bars in USA Today, features a collection of tequilas on tap, hyper-cooled to 5 degrees Fahrenheit. TQLA will also be using locally sourced and organic products along with a wood fired grill to enhance the flavor profile of its food.

Back to Top

Douglas MacKenzie
Director of Communications
(602) 452-6250
dmackenzie@visitphoenix.com

Trish Hendrickson
Communications Coordinator
(602) 452-6249
thendrickson@visitphoenix.com