Hey, Ho! This Is Why Mid-Modders Will Love Exploring Scottsdale
If you haven’t yet experienced the hipster heart and artistic soul that make Scottsdale one of the most unique cities in the Southwest, now is the time to plan your Arizona escape! Full of midcentury modern nostalgia that’s interwoven into the fabric and foundation of this vibrant community, Scottsdale is ever-evolving while always maintaining an omnipresent nod to its retro roots. Read on to experience the sparkling social scene and creative culture of this bonafide desert oasis.
Stay and Play at Hotel Valley Ho
With its mid-mod architectural design, swinging ‘60s vibes and colorful vintage details at every turn, you’ll swear you just saw Frank and Sammy Davis Jr. tapping their toes by the bar at Hotel Valley Ho. Check into your Tower suite where you’ll wake up to panoramic views of Camelback Mountain, and sprawl out on sleek, George Jetson-approved furnishings. Luxuriate in your spa-style shower, whip up a gourmet breakfast in your own sunny yellow contemporary kitchen and clink glasses from the lounge chairs on your private balcony before hitting the pool.
Browse the Shops in Old Town Scottsdale
Keep the vintage vibes flowing with a day of thrift shopping in Old Town Scottsdale. Make like Macklemore and scope out the hottest selection of recycled threads from before the turn of the millennium at Vintage By Misty. With its distinctively Gold Rush-era aesthetic, Old Town is full of Wild West charm with a bevy of boutiques and cozy eateries. We love the local businesses available to shop at The Merchantile of Scottsdale—the most adorable boutique indoor market featuring over 70 local makers and artists.
6/20
Sip, Sip, Hooray at Wine Girl
Wine flights and IG photo opps galore at Wine Girl in Scottsdale. If you’re looking for the ultimate spot to unwind and let loose with your gals, this is it. Upon entering, you’ll immediately want to take a picture with your bestie on the boho swings with the neon Wine Girl sign behind you. From fabulous drag brunches to all-day happy hour Monday through Wednesday, this is not your average wine bar. Snack on a charcuterie board and margherita pizza after one too many glasses of wine.
6/19
Do Some Desert Dining with Cloth & Flame
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For a truly unique culinary experience, plan a private pop-up dinner or an al fresco soirée with Cloth & Flame. Designed to inspire connection and community, this team is a one-stop shop, organizing and designing bespoke family-style chef’s dinners in unconventional spaces with breathtaking scenery—think stunning farm-to-table suppers in the Grand Canyon, along the mountains of Alaska or on floating docks in Puget Sound. Look out for upcoming ticketed dinners you can attend in your area, or simply dream up your own!
Tour Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Desert Studio
Taliesin West, now a UNESCO World Heritage site and National Historic Landmark, was architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s creation. This beautiful site can be found in the McDowell Mountains in Scottsdale—a tour is a must for any midcentury modern lover. Built and maintained by Wright himself, his winter home and studio is known to be one of the most personal of his many creations. It is well worth a visit!
6/21
Say Aloha to the Arizona Tiki Oasis
When: April 27-30, 2023
Don your best Hawaiian haberdashery and head for this year’s Tiki Oasis, hosted at the Hotel Valley Ho in April. Full of aloha spirit, this merry meet-up features an interactive marketplace where a pop-up art show will be on full display. Book your own private cabana by the pool and rub elbows with some of the city’s local experts and industry folk to learn more about midcentury modern art and design—all while sipping on craft cocktails by the bar, shaken by top mixologists.
Swing for the Fences at an Arizona Diamondbacks Game
It’s time for sports, old sport! Spend an afternoon at Chase Field and watch the Arizona Diamondbacks face off against some of the most formidable baseball teams in Major League Baseball. Get the competitive juices flowing and watch America’s national pastime unfold from the best seats in the house—a private D-backs suite. Serving up far more than peanuts and Cracker Jack when you go out to this ball game, you’ll have an all-inclusive menu for snacking along with unlimited non-alcoholic beverages.
Catch the Car Parade at Fourtillfour Cars & Coffee
Join your fellow motor enthusiasts every weekend for a grand display of classic cars while sipping on killer coffee. Each weekly event focuses on a specific model, from Porsches and vintage Volkswagens to motorcycles and European speed racers. Mingle with mechanical experts and car lovers alike in a shared passion for all things with engines. Fourtillfour serves up signature blends from its cafe and specialty shop seven days a week, so you won’t have to wait for the cars to line up to get your java fix.
Tour Old Town Scottsdale by Bike
As the Beach Boys once said, “Get around, get around, I get around!” If you’re itching to tour the town but don’t have time to do it all on foot, consider renting a bike and see Scottsdale on your own two wheels. Skip the traffic and soak in the sights, making sure to stop for lunch at one of the city’s best restaurants and cafes, or opt to pack a picnic and enjoy the local cacti and dreamy desert landscape up close.
Take to the Skies in a Hot-Air Balloon with Rainbow Ryders
Get a bird’s-eye view of the Copper State from the privacy of your very own hot-air balloon! Take in a magnificent sunrise over Camelback Mountain with Rainbow Ryders, one of the best tour guides in the sky. Leave your worries behind—and on the ground—as you float your way through the Arizona air. While it may seem nerve-wracking, you’re perfectly safe in this sturdy vessel with your friendly pilot at the helm. They’ll even bring the bubbly to toast your journey when you touch down!
Stroll Through the Scottsdale ArtWalk
Expand your artistic horizons Thursday evenings at the Scottsdale ArtWalk in Old Town. This free event is an opportunity to enjoy art galleries while also shopping and dining along Main Street. Expect a cultural environment and refreshments from the many different galleries (Scottsdale is home to more than 100!). This beloved event began in 1975 and has been a community affair filled with live music, horse-drawn carriage rides and talented artists’ work ever since. While you’re in an artsy mood, plan ahead and buy tickets to visit Wonderspaces, an immersive and interactive installation (featuring 14 artists) with a full bar in Old Town.
Based in Los Angeles, Kandace has spent the past ten years in the fashion and lifestyle space, and recently in entertainment at Sony Pictures Studios. She has a Masters in Journalism from Emerson College and has studied in Paris, Firenze, and Washington DC, beginning her career as a style editor and tastemaker for NBC. She is an internationally award-winning filmmaker, having studied screenwriting for film and television at UCLA, and her work has been celebrated around the world, in cities like London, Nice, New York, and Montréal. Paying homage to her French heritage, she is also the creator of The Chic American--a style and culture editorial destination for Francophiles, dedicated to the art of living an elevated, French-inspired lifestyle.
