Summer heats up Scottsdale arts and culture

Like the colorful threads of a Navajo rug, Scottsdale is an intricate melding of past and present. The rich, vibrant cultures of the Native Americans have blended with those from Mexico and the Old West to create the center of life in Scottsdale today.

The magnificent beauty of the Sonoran desert, Scottsdale's neighbor to the northeast, make it an outdoor adventure destination. From a breakfast trail ride into the McDowell foothills, to a refreshing rafting adventure on the Salt or Verde rivers, you can find yourself stimulated with outdoor fun all day.

I enjoy those outdoor adventures, but sometimes I want to explore the arts and culture, and Scottsdale has tons to offer.

Today, Scottsdale is a premier cultural and entertainment tourist destination. I enjoy it most on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights when the streets in Old Town Scottsdale are usually filled with walking traffic after 10 p.m. Here, the streets, stores and art galleries evoke the old cowboy era. But it's not home to just Western-themed art. Scottsdale is also home to many nationally known contemporary art galleries.

Scottsdale has a long history of commitment and dedication to the arts. Grants and gifts from individuals and organizations, including Scottsdale school children, funded the first public art pieces in Scottsdale. The results are seen throughout the city in parks, public buildings and streetscapes.

A dramatic "Night Lights on the Desert" tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's famous Arizona home in Scottsdale is a special ongoing event through October at Taliesin West. -In the evening, the site, considered one of Wright's greatest masterpieces, assumes a luminous, jewel-like quality, with a carpet of city lights spread out below. The dramatic masonry structures, lighted from within, appear as lanterns in the landscape.

The two-hour twilight tour is offered twice on Thursdays and Fridays, starting at 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The entrance to Taliesin West is located at the intersection of Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard (114th Street) and Cactus Road in Scottsdale.

The tour costs $43 per person and there are discounts for seniors, students and active military.

For Night Lights on the Desert reservations, call (480) 860-2700 ext. 494.

I know that the heat is on, but I have two other recommendations for you while visiting Scottsdale and its arts commununity in the summer.

First, I would recommend traveling around town in cool comfort on the downtown trolley. All trolleys are equipped with air conditioning systems and I found them to be a great way to get around the Old Town arts district in the evening.

After window shopping and people watching all night, you'll be looking for a cool, comfortable place to stay that offers oversized outdoor pools and a cool lush landscaped courtyard to relax in.

The FireSky Resort & Spa is the place for you. Nature's fundamental elements are elegantly evoked at FireSky Resort & Spa. When I entered FireSky's gardens, I stepped into an oasis in the desert, surrounded by what seemed to be a swimming lagoon with sandy beaches. From the poolside patio with dining tables, cabanas and fire pits, I enjoyed the end of a great day of Scottsdale exploration.

Also, FireSky has a great summer playground package for the whole family to enjoy, which includes summer pricing at Jurlique Spa, free ice pops in the lobby each afternoon, wine hour, Nintendo Wii gaming for the kids, free luggage tags, and pet-friendly accommodations with Bosco the chocolate cocker spaniel serving as the director of pet relations and welcoming guests and fellow creatures.

Call (480) 945-7666 to get more information on these hot summer specials at FireSky Resort and Spa through early September.

With more than 125 galleries, studios, museums, and performing arts venues, Scottsdale shines as an internationally renowned art center. Scottsdale has just about any attraction or activity that may appeal to your sense of curiosity or quest for excitement.

Go and enjoy.

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