It’s that time of year again! Get to know where you live. No need to battle security at the airport, crying babies (you don’t know) in the seat next to you and the pesky summer surcharges! (what’s up with those anyway??) Stay and play where you live! Visitors pay thousands of dollars to travel here to do what you can do for much less!

Let’s start with one of my favorites, Hotel Valley Ho. This mid-century property is one of the best examples of preserved mid-century architecture in a hotel property in the country! Home of the original Pool Party their OH Pool was voted “One of the World’s Coolest” by Travel and Leisure magazine! They have mid-week rates starting at $99 and weekend rates from $129. Check back often for specials!

Be sure to indulge in an wonderful meal at Cafe Zu Zu. Executive Chef Chuck Wiley has taken comfort food to the next level! His beef stroganoff is beyond amazing!

While you are at the Valley Ho explore the it in depth on the “Magical History Tour“, a fascinating 90 minute walking tour of the hotel. You’ll go up on the roof, into a condo, into Trader Vic’s (they have one of the happiest happy hours around!! ) and learn about the stars who have stayed and played there!

At the “Ho” you are within walking distance of Scottsdale’s famous arts district, historic Old Town and  DownTown where you will find great local shopping. If you don’t feel like walking the free downtown trolley stops right in front of the hotel and will take you all around downtown!

Remember if you want to get a group together Ultimate Art & Cultural Tours will custom design a art event to your specifications!

So come on!! Start vacationing and exploring where you live!!

We’ll be back with more!

Ace Bailey, President
Ultimate Art & Cultural Tours LLC

WHAT:
Free DJ demonstrations & gallery talks @ SMoCA
Featuring DJs Mark Chai & World Famous Rani “G”

WHERE:
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
7374 East Second Street
Scottsdale, AZ 85251

WHEN:
Thursday, January 21, 2010
7:00 pm

VALLEY DJs MARK CHAI & W.F. RANI “G” GIVE TALKS AND DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE SMOCA “REWIND REMIX REPLAY” MUSIC DESIGN EXHIBITION

(Scottsdale, AZ) The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) is thrilled to host two Valley DJs who will demonstrate and discuss their diverse styles inside the gallery DJ station currently installed as part of the Museum’s new exhibition Rewind Remix Replay: Design, Music & Everyday Experience. The event will take place on Thursday, January 21st at 7:00 p.m. inside the Museum and is free and open to the public. This interactive occasion features area DJs Mark Chai and World Famous Rani “G,” kicking off the first of many free SMoCA activities this spring investigating music, design and popular culture.

ABOUT THE DJs:
Mark Chai has been a Phoenix house/downtempo/funk DJ since 2000, and he is known to mix house, hip hop, indie disco and dancehall into his sets. Chai is a freelance designer and a founding principal of MarkchiDesign, a Phoenix brand identity and product development firm. Chai has performed for World Life Music, Desert House Productions, ONE, private events and at many Valley venues.

World Famous Rani “G” first began his musical journey on the island of Cyprus at the age of 10 when he blended tunes together using two cassette tape decks. Today, his DJ quest for unique music includes soul, Afro, Latin-driven deep house and world-beat. Rani has hosted many DJ events and has had numerous guest appearances around the country. He recently opened for Mark Farina (OM Records, San Francisco).

MORE UPCOMING REWIND REMIX REPLAY RELATED EVENTS:

WED, FEB 3  NOON             “Music and Popular Culture” by Dr. Richard Mook
Free lunchtime brown bag lecture in Stage 2 Theater

THUR, FEB 11  6:30 PM       “Rewind Remix Replay” by guest curator Prasad Boradkar
Free gallery talk and walk-through of the exhibition

FRI, FEB 19  7-9 PM   Spring Opening Celebration

SAT, FEB 20  1:30-4 PM   “iPods, Boomboxes, Turntables, Synthesizers and Guitars”
Free afternoon panel discussion in Stage 2 Theater. Limited seating. RSVP to: SMoCArsvp@sccarts.org
Featuring:
•jasen Emmons, Director, Experience Music Project, Seattle;
•Lyle Owerko, photographer, filmmaker, boombox collector;
•Trevor J. Pinch, Professor of Science & Technology Studies and Sociology, Cornell University; 
•Jonathan Hayes, Creative Director, Numark Industries;

THUR, APRIL 29  7:00 PM   DJ Demonstrations and Gallery Talks in the Museum
Featuring DJs Maji, dk.strickler and Mr. P-Body.

Just down the street is the historic Craftsman Court on the corner of 5th Ave and Craftsman Court. There you’ll find La Bagarie Etcetera a wonderful handbag store that specializes in a selection of hand-bags par excellence. Hand painted bags by Jane Yoo, as well as Bags by Pinky, Viva, Toby Weston, and many more.  There is also Back to the Rack, Scottsdale’s Finest Consignment Store, where you’ll find fine quality ladies fashions, home decor and unique gifts. The Angel Store and More has a beautiful variety of all types of gifts and carries not only angels but crosses, jewelry, books, candles and cards. The Loft Art Studios and Gallery is tucked away in the peaceful courtyard and is an eclectic gallery and working studio.

These are just a few of the many treasures in Downtown Scottsdale where there is certainly something for everyone in just a short walk! So go in, meet the owners, find out what makes Downtown Scottsdale so special and a perfect place to do all your holiday shopping!!!

On Ultimate Art & Cultural Tours Free Art & Cultural Trolley you will find out about these and many other wonderful local businesses. The tours are conducted on the second Saturday of each month and reservations are necessary. Contact Ultimate Art & Cultural Tours for more information at 480.634.6850

Ace Bailey, President

Ultimate Art & Cultural Tours

I am really excited about a new tour of downtown Scottsdale. Ultimate has partnered with the City of Scottsdale in offering an art and cultural trolley tour of downtown Scottsdale. It is the second Saturday of each month, starting July 11. Registered participants will meet at the Old Town Farmer’s Market at 10:30 a.m. The tour is free and will include a drawing for a stay in a downtown Scottsdale hotel. Call the City of Scottsdale to register 480-312-7750. It will be a great way to experience downtown Scottsdale, the Arts District and learn about some of our fascinating history.

“Scottsdale has the most beautiful art galleries in the country,” wrote AmericanStyle reader Linda Homonoff, of Barrington R.I., in casting her vote. It’s a “great art community and shows great contemporary art in a traditionally Western town,” wrote another reader.

Buffalo, N.Y., came in first among mid-sized cities. Santa Fe, N.M., held the No. 1 spot in the small cities category and New York City was tops among large cities.

Complete results of the annual readers’ poll and profiles of the top three cities in each category are featured on www.AmericanStyle.com

Scottsdale is the fifth most popular destination for corporate meetings held in the past three years, according to a recent marketing study conducted by Metropoll. The city trails only Las Vegas, Orlando, Chicago and Atlanta in corporate meeting popularity. Scottsdale fared even better in terms of major meetings planned for the next three years, ranking fourth. The study included a national sample of meeting and convention decision makers covering 40 major destinations in North America. For more information on Scottsdale tourism, visit the Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau Web site at www.ScottsdaleCVB.com