Let’s go shopping!Starting in Old Town Scottsdale, you get a feel for Scottsdale of the old west.  There are stores where you can buy boots, especially cowboy boots.  Even the street signs reflect the old city.

In Old Town Scottsdale, even the street signs have cowboy boots!

Hop on the trolley (it’s a modern bus) any day of the week except for major holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Day, Memorial Day, July 4^th, Labor Day) and ride for free between several major Scottsdale shopping areas.

Yes, I did say free! 

If you’re into art, Scottsdale has an entire district that has art.  You’ll see large statues – especially lots of horses looking fierce – outside the shops.  Jewelry, original art and the artistic sensibility are everywhere.

Next, you can pop over to the “5th Avenue Shops” and browse in a Spanish modern style.  Fountains and adobe greet you with boutique shops.  (Later this week, we’ll tell you about a fantastic, unique restaurant in that area.)

Scottsdale Fifth Avenue area

For more Boca-style shopping, hop back on the trolley and head to the Scottsdale Fashion Square.  Imposing and high fashion, you’ll find big names from A (Abercrombie & Fitch and many others) to Z (Z Tejas Grill– a Southwest fusion restaurant).  If you’re looking for the names, this is where you’ll find them.

Scottsdale Fashion Square - archway

Near Scottsdale Fashion Square is the even newer Waterfront area.  New shops, eclectic dining and high rise homes form a very modern contrast to the older area of Scottsdale.  Talk about a juxtaposition of old with new, there is a statue in tribute to the Hashknife Pony Express, that took a route right in the waterfront’s vicinity. 

Scottsdale Waterfront

Every year, the Pony Express still rides!  It’s an exhausting experience, but some intrepid riders and horses still make the handoff of mail for the US Postal Service, the only group commissioned by the USPS to deliver the mail by horse.  I’ve been at the Scottsdale Post Office when the riders arrived.  It is a punishing marathon that tests riders and horses in very difficult weather and conditions.

Statue commemorating Hashknife Pony Express riders

If you haven’t shopped yourself and your plastic to exhaustion, you can head up Scottsdale Road for even more shopping.  There’s Kierland Commons (H & M across the street) with upscale shops (Coach, Anthropologie, Restoration Hardware and more) spread out over a number of blocks like a small, modern neighborhood. 

You’ll find almost everything you’ve ever wanted in shopping during your stay in Scottsdale. If you “moseyed” up the road – Scottsdale Road – for a few miles and did not find what you were seeking in shopping, well, obviously, you were not really into shopping.

So, naturally, if you still have any resources, you’ll want to take a break. 

Tomorrow, we’ll detour south to a casino in Maricopa, Arizona – where?  Well, last week we already featured the Casino Arizona in Scottsdale’s vicinity, so we’re going to head south to Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino.  It’s south of Phoenix near Interstate 10.  You can hop a bus there, too, if you like.

Scottsdale upscale and elegant

A bus stop in Scottsdale - with a cowboy theme

Now, if you’re just visiting Scottsdale for a vacation or conference, that’s another thing.  Scottsdale has some fun diversions and great ways to relax and enjoy our wonderful climate.  Now, if you don’t enjoy really hot (I know, they say, “ but it’s dry heat!”) weather, visiting in June, July and August can be a challenge. But, the dryness really does make the heat more bearable.

In December after living in Arizona for years, I’m finding the 60-ish degree (Fahrenheit) weather chilly.  When I lived in New York, I thought 60 was balmy after the cold of winter and would walk around in shirtsleeves.  It’s all relative – go figure!

Arriving and shopping in Scottsdale

You won’t instantly see the difference between Phoenix and Scottsdale until you hit the “downtown.”  The cachet of a Scottsdale address means that stores that are not an Arizona fixture will locate in Scottsdale. 

Scottsdale has a Nordstrom, Macy’s and most other major brands.  Traveling up the length of Scottsdale Road for miles, retailers are major lures to anyone who loves shopping.   There are national names like Crate & Barrel (I know they’re online, but they actually have a store in Scottsdale!), Barney’s NY, Abercrombie & Fitch, Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters – the list goes on.

H & M - trendy new retailer in Scottsdale

Take the new, trendy transplant H & M that started in Sweden and is now located in 35 markets with 1,800 stores.  When H & M opened on November 4 in Scottsdale, people camped out in line for hours waiting to see the reasonably priced fashion.  They were not disappointed.  The very fashion-forward retailer has adult’s and children’s clothing and accessories – and I didn’t see one item for more than $49.95!  Indeed, most items were less than $30.  For instance, a frilly little girl’s party dress was $24.95. 

However, they seem to have sold much of their merchandise in the larger women’s sizes and there were not many offerings in sizes above a 10.  One of the staffers told me that they carry sizes through 16, but that they had sold out a lot with the holidays. 

I would have taken photos, but a staff person stopped me inside the door and told me that I couldn’t take photos.   There certainly is a very energetic vibe in the store, which carries over to their Web site.  Like a sci-fi movie, part of their Web site has clothing coming at you in a 3-D mode.  When you click on an item it comes up with all of the details.  H & M is impressive.

http://www.hm.com/us/

Tomorrow… More shopping in Scottsdale

As I mentioned last week, the newest and largest in the casino business often has only a fleeting chance to be on top of the heap.  Currently in its final construction phases is the soon to open Talking Stick Resort just east of Scottsdale.

East of I-101 is the Salt River Pima – Maricopa Indian Community.  Up to this point they have opened two Casino Arizona properties (the oldest currently next to the Talking Stick Resort).  Within minutes of Old Town Scottsdale, unique shopping, and Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, the Talking Stick Resort property is bound to be a mecca for high rollers … did I mention Scottsdale?

Access to the property is simple with easy on-off exits at I-101 and Indian Bend Road.  The property is located 1 mile east and easily visible from the highway.

Talking Stick Resort - under construction

Current specs for the property include:

- 497 room, 15-story luxury hotel

- 240,000 sq. ft. casino floor (poker, table games, slots, keno)

- 900+ Vegas-style slot machines

- 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting space (indoor/outdoor)

- 750-seat showroom

- 8 restaurants (including fine dining on the15^th floor)

- 10+ night clubs/lounges

- 2, 18-hole golf course managed by internationally recognized Troon Golf, LLC

- 13,000 sq. ft. spa (massage/fitness center, etc.)

- 2 parking garages

As with its sister casino several miles south, the showroom will feature “tribute shows” rather than nationally known entertainment.

Current rates are not available, although reservations will be accepted starting January 1, 2010.

Talking Stick Resort looks to be a major destination in the East Valley of the Phoenix area.

As soon as the property opens, we will update our blog.

www.talkingstickresort.com

www.talkingstickgolfclub.com

www.casinoarizona.com