Boasting with some of the hottest nightlife, restaurants, bars and shops in the Valley, Scottsdale sure looks good for turning 60!

The city is celebrating with 60 days of festivities culminating on June 25^th.  Enjoy the fun, and Happy Birthday Scottsdale!

Each spring Arizona residents and visitors celebrate the perfect weather and the local, renowned restaurants with the Scottsdale Culinary Festival at the Scottsdale Civic Center.  Savor five days of decadent food and wine… here’s a list of this year’s event activities:

Tuesday, April 5^th

Kickoff Party - W Scottsdale
Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame – Technique Restaurant at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts

Wednesday, April 6^th

Chef Tribute Dinner – J&G Steakhouse
bBbblies & Bliss – Narcisse Champagne Lounge at Scottsdale Quarter

Thursday, April 7^th

Friends of James Beard Benefit Dinner – The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa
The Chocolate & Wine Experience – Degree 270 at Talking Stick Resort

Friday, April 8^th

Eat, Drink, & Be Pretty – Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts

Saturday, April 9^th

Cooks & Corks™ – Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
Great Arizona Picnic™ – Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza
Saturday Cooking Demonstrations – Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza
Chefs Wine Dinners – Various Restaurants

Sunday, April 18^th

Cooks & Corks™ – Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
Great Arizona Picnic™ – Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza
Challenge to the Chefs – Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza
Wine Country Brunch™ – Scottsdale Resort & Conference Center
Best of the Fest™ – Hyatt Regency Scottsdale at Gainey Ranch

The Sunny Scottsdale Condo is conveniently located in the center of all the festivities, so you’re never too far away.  And also, there is a gym and lots of walking trails nearby to work off all those calories!

While the leaves turn brown and gray clouds take over the blue skies during the fall and winter months in many parts of the country, that is when flowers bloom, birds sing, and people come out for a wealth of activities and excitement in Scottsdale.

When planning your vacation to Scottsdale, consider the accommodation options available to you.  The city has an assortment of resorts and hotels offering a range of options spanning from relaxing and luxurious to swanky and nightlife-focused to simple, budget-conscious and family-friendly accommodations.

While, many resorts and hotels offer an array of amenities, they cannot offer the amount of space, independence and convenience a Scottsdale vacation rental can offer.  If you are a group of four, a Scottsdale vacation rental can offer you more than just two adjoining rooms.  With the comfort of a great room, dining room, and kitchen in addition to two bedrooms and two baths, it is easy to unwind and feel right at home.

Breakfast is as easy as walking from your bedroom to the kitchen in your pajamas and getting started on a breakfast that you are accustomed to eating and that doesn’t cost a fortune.  Stock your fridge with your favorite items from the conveniently located grocery stores.

Staying at a Scottsdale vacation rental provides you the freedom and tranquility of home, allowing you to come and go as you please without the rush of hotel lobby traffic, the difficulty of finding good parking, having to pay for parking, being woken up by noisy neighbors, or having your door knocked on several times by over-eager housekeeping staff.  And of course, for the size of a Scottsdale vacation rental, hotel rates cannot compete, especially when looking for a place to call home for more than a week.

The Sunny Scottsdale Condo is located in a beautiful and convenient part of town offering access to many of Scottsdale’s finest offerings, including world-class restaurants, award-winning golf, shopping, family-friendly activities, spring training, and breath-taking desert trails.  The Sunny Scottsdale Condo is complete with two pools, two Jacuzzis, a fitness center, a tennis court and walking trails.  To learn more, visit www.SunnyScottsdaleCondo.com

Nestled on the border of Scottsdale and The Town of Paradise Valley, the Sunny Scottsdale Condo is surrounded by gorgeous, million dollar homes, green parks and walkways, pleasant outdoor retail and more.

Contact us now to book your reservation!

The Phoenix New Times 10k is one of the longest running and most fun races of the year. The weather is always beautiful, and the crowd is always invigorating. Lot’s of people come from out of town to participate. This year there’s another post race party with freebies and music by The Preserve. Should absolutely be a great time.

And if you need a place to stay, check out our Sunny Scottsdale Vacation Rental Condo. Our location has fair proximity to the race, and provides you with great access to do lots of other fun things while you are in town.

Register for the race right here!

http://www.active.com/running/phoenix-az/phoenix-10k-35th-annual-2010#Summary

Get 10 rounds of golf at 10 of the best courses in Phoenix plus other great offers for only $150. Channel 12 claims the golf discount card is worth $1000, but we beg to differ. The golf courses mostly mediocre, and would be hard pressed to get the $15 a round you’d be paying with this card considering their restrictions. Add in the fact that you would be driving over an hour to play at average courses because the courses are mostly on the extreme ends of the Valley, from Queen Creek to Laveen for example, and this discount card doesn’t seem to be that great. The 12 News Golf Card doesn’t even include a cart. Basically, any golfer can get close to these rates by playing off peak hours anyways. Be careful too, because you can’t even play with other card holders on most courses. We’d recommend not buying this card. If you disagree, let us know! We’d love to hear how you enjoyed your purchase.

If you appreciate our review, follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay informed on other deals, discounts, plus news related to Scottsdale vacations and golf. Just look us up at Sunny Scottsdale Condo on Facebook!

To purchase the card:

http://kpnxgolf.mediawebconnect.com/

Here is the list of courses:

Lookout Mountain Golf Club

http://www.lookout-mountain.com/

Trilogy Golf Club at Vistancia

http://www.trilogygolfclub.com/vistancia/

Bougainvillea Golf Club

http://bvgolf.net/golf/proto/bvgolf/

Trilogy Golf Club at Power Ranch

http://www.trilogygolfclub.com/powerranch/

Rancho Manana Golf Club

http://www.ranchomanana.com/

Wigwam Golf Club

http://www.wigwamresort.com/golf.html

Ahwatukee Country Club

http://www.ahwatukeegolf.com/sites/courses/layout9.asp?id=800&page=44727

Club West

http://www.clubwestgolf.com/sites/courses/custom.asp?id=911&page=51070

The Duke at Rancho El Dorado

http://www.thedukegolf.com/sites/courses/layout9.asp?id=530&page=27167

Desert Canyon Golf Club
www.desertcanyongolf.com

http://kpnxgolf.mediawebconnect.com/

The annual P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon & 1/2 Marathon races are already gearing up for another awesome experience. The event is a lot of fun for spectators and runners.

Our Sunny Scottsdale Condo Vacation Rental by Owner offers great access to the race route, but also is superb for avoiding the race route if you don’t want to be bothered. This can be really important since the race route takes up 26 miles of urban road throughout Tempe, Phoenix, and Scottsdale. Below follows a recent press release on the upcoming festivities.

The musically inspired P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon & 1/2 Marathon races to Tempe, January 16, 2011. Runners and walkers from all levels and destinations are breaking in their sneakers to prepare for the flat and festive course that begins in downtown Phoenix, races through Scottsdale and finishes in Tempe on the Arizona State University campus.

More than 35,000 runners and walkers from around the world are expected to attend to participate in this popular event. In addition to the thousands of spectators on the sidelines cheering them on, runners are inspired at every mile with live music to keep the energy high from one mile to the next. Music of every genre can be heard along both the 26.2 and 13.1-mile courses. Reggae, jazz, country and rock will fill the streets for runners, walkers and spectators alike to enjoy.

The music doesn’t stop when the race does – an exciting post-race concert featuring a nationally recognized headliner is held immediately after the race and is free and open to the public. Held at Sun Angel Stadium at Arizona State University, participants and their friends and family are sure to have a rockin’ good time.

New this year, runners can participate in a two-person relay race for the 1/2 marathon. Runners will enjoy all the perks of the running the entire 1/2 marathon, such as the commemorative finisher’s medal, Brook’s technical participant tee and goodie bag, but with half the distance. Relay Teams are encouraged to have some fun during this event and wear costumes to get into the spirit.

Kids can also get into the running spirit at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Kids Rock Fun Run on Saturday, January 15. The one mile Fun Run takes place at Tempe Marketplace, an outdoor shopping area featuring 1.3 million square feet of retailers, dining and nightlife destinations.

The Health & Fitness Expo kicks off race weekend at the Phoenix Convention Center on Friday, January 14 and Saturday, January 15. At the expo, participants can pick up their race numbers and browse more than 100 vendors from the running and fitness industry.

Offering sunny skies and mild temperatures, it’s no surprise that more than half of all race participants come from outside of Arizona. After the race, many choose to extend their stay over the long weekend and turn their Tempe trip into a running vacation. Some of the most popular Tempe attractions and entertainment include hiking in Papago Park, browsing museums and galleries at Arizona State University, dining and nightlife in Tempe’s Mill Avenue District and shopping at Tempe Marketplace and Arizona Mills.

For more information about the P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon & 1/2 Marathon, visit www.RnRaz.com or contact the Competitor Group at 800-311-1255.

For more information about activities in Tempe, visit the Tempe Tourism Office Web site, www.RaceToTempe.com, or call 800-283-6734.

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: www.prweb.com/releases/prwebarizona/pfchangs/prweb4712714.html

Movie lovers rejoice!  Starting this fall, you will be able to see the latest movies on the silver screen while sipping your favorite cocktails and munching on savory cuisine all in the comfort of a wide, cushy chair complete with spacious armrests.

Located at the Scottsdale Pavilions just down the street from the Sunny Scottsdale Condo Vacation Rental, the former 20-year-old United Artists movie theater underwent a $2 million renovation to become an UltraStar Cinema, which features 11 screens, digital projection, wider aisles, and reserved seating, as well as interesting architectural elements and a concession stand that serves both classic favorites and creative dishes like basil-flavored brie and chocolate Panini.  You can also order conveniently from your seat.

The Scottsdale Quarter will also welcome a similar movie concept from IPic Entertainment in the winter.

Read more online at http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/2010/10/26/20101026Scottsdale-new-premium-movie-theaters.html#ixzz13anapXz1

How well do you know Scottsdale, Arizona?  Maybe you know that Scottsdale is one of the best cities to find challenging golf courses, tantalizing dining experiences, sumptuous spas, and, of course, shopping!  But did you know that we have a very rich, western history dating back to 1888?  Check out the quiz on AZCentral.com and learn some pretty interesting facts about the city we love.  Don’t forget to book your stay at our Sunny Scottsdale Vacation Rental!

http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/2010/08/12/20100812scottsdale-arizona-quiz-prog.html

The neighborhood around our Sunny Scottsdale Condo Vacation Rental continues to grow with new and exciting dining concepts. In the past few months several new restaurants have opened up while others have had face-lift or just changed up the menu offerings. Scottsdale in general is very blessed to be home to many successful and well polished restaurateurs who know how to serve a great meal.

One of THE best features of our Scottsdale Vacation Rental is the proximity to Scottsdale’s best dining and things to do along ‘Resort Row;’ and now the options just continue to get better!

The great part of having a vacation rental with an awesome location is that you can cook something up on your own, you can head out for a night on the town, or you can do both (where you maybe just head out for dessert and scenery).

Below is a quick recap of recent openings in the neighborhood with links to the restaurants or news coverage. Enjoy and Happy Dining!

Rancho Pinot –  This restaurant has been in business for many many years, and has become well known for its unique southwestern style menu and and upscale atmosphere. Loca-vores (those who prefer to eat locally harvested foods) love this place, because Rancho Pinot offers what chef-owner Chrysa Robertson calls “a simple, quick, delicious menu featuring fabulous produce from our favorite local farmers.” Now they are open for lunch!

Eddie’s House – Local Celebrity Chef Eddie Matney does an amazing job at creating a unique menu, with interesting twists on known favorites in an warm, classy, and fun atmosphere. Be sure to say hello to Eddie if you make it to his restaurant, he is a great guy and always happy to say hello to diners. Eddie just updated his menu to also include lunch! Eddie just updated his menu to also include lunch!

Blue 32 Sports Grill – This new concept hails from Gilbert Arizona, and just opened a new location along Scottsdale Road, just north of Indian Bend. This is hands down THE best sports bar in Scottsdale. If you are on vacation and need to catch a game, this is where you will find THE most TVs, a great beer selection, and worthy eats good enough to occupy even the non-sports fan (perhaps your significant other?).

Jimmy Woo’s Chinese Food –  The creators behind Stingray Sushi, Geisha A Go Go, and Drift Lounge have just opened this new restaurant where traditional Chinese cuisine meets contemporary design. Daily happy hour, from 4 to 7 p.m., features half-priced cocktails, beer and wine, plus discounted appetizers. And for quick take-out, “Jimmy’s Back Alley” is open all day. I haven’t had the chance to visit and dine yet, and the reviews are still out. Though my hunch is that the experience is trendy, and the food is at least ok.

Wildflower Bread Company – If you’re a healthy eater then you’ll love this place. If you  just want a tasty sandwich or something for breakfast, then you’ll love this place.  You can bring your laptop and surf their free wi-fi while you nosh on your meal. The decor is bright and slightly modern. It’s a decent place, and does a lot of business. The best part is that you can walk here from your Sunny Scottsdale Vacation Rental Condo.

Starbucks within Walking Distance – Even though this Starbucks is walking distance, most likely you’ll want to drive. That’s just because the rule of thumb in Phoenix is that if it’s farther than 500 feet, you’re going to drive. Anyways, whenever I travel I always want to know if there is a Starbucks nearby. And in this case, even though they haven’t done anything new to report, I just wanted to report that a nearby Starbucks does exist, and they do a great job too!

The Phoenix Open is one of  Scottsdale’s biggest annual events, drawing huge crowds and celebrities to enjoy “the greatest show on grass.” When in town for the Phoenix Open, many visitors prefer to stay on Scottsdale’s “resort row,”  the section of Scottsdale Road between Shea Blvd and Camelback Roads. Our sunny Scottsdale vacation rental condo is located in the middle of resort row!  Anyways, The Phoenix Open is a fantastic event, and it’s a fundraiser for the Thunderbirds’ charities. Recent news articles suggest that this past year they raised over $4.4 Million  for charities. The fundraising achievement is nothing to balk at, especially considering the major economic challenges and corporate pull backs in earlier 2010. Congrats to the Thunderbirds for another outstanding Phoenix Open, AKA Waste Management Open. We look forward to the 2011 Waste Management Open, and are going to be welcoming guests to our fantastic sunny Scottsdale vacation rental condo.

KPHO Channel 5 - Phoenix Open Raises $4.4M For Charities

Phoenix Business Journal – Thunderbirds donate $4.4M to charities

Azcentral.com –  Phoenix Open donates $4.4 million to local charities

Update 11/01/2010 – Official Waste Management Iphone Application is Launched.

This looks like it is super cool and highly useful.

Iphone App for the Waste Management Phoenix Open