When it’s hot outside, we all reach for something cold to consume. And the childlike appeal of grabbing a popsicle is just too delicious to ignore. But before you run for store bought icy treats, try thinking healthy homemade popsicles. With the help of cookbook Ice Pop Joy, you’ll be making healthy icy treats for these endless hot summer days. Offering the best of both worlds, this is a great way to get nutritious treats in the hands of your kids, but are awesome enough for all ages. With fresh fruit, juice, sugar, and a freezer, you’ll be well on your way to making healthy homemade popsicle magic.

National Ice Cream Month is coming to an end so Cactus Flower Florists is throwing one last hurrah–an ice cream social! On July 28th at the Scottsdale location kids of all ages are invited to make floral ice cream sodas using their favorite color carnations. Before taking home their adorable creations they can satisfy their craving with ice cream from Sweet Republic. The fun begins at 2pm and the cost is $10. Hurry up and register online today because spots are filling fast!

Cactus Flower Scottsdale
10822 N Scottsdale Rd
Scottsdale, AZ 85254

No, not that kind of shot (although, if you’re buying…), think amazingly moisturizing shots for your tresses. With the intense Arizona sun frying your hair, stop by Drybar Scottsdale for a blowout, and treat your dry ends with a complimentary Super Hue or Sea Breeze shot treatment. Normally $20 a pop, the shots help nourish and moisturize brittle and color-treated hair. The offer is good Sunday-Thursday now until the end of August when you purchase a blowout. Book your blowout online today.

The end is in sight for the popular culinary venue, Cycle, but not before some of the Valley’s top chefs roll on through. The pop-up restaurant opened it’s doors at the Lexington Hotel April 1 with a set expiration date for Fall 2011. Since its opening back in March, Cycle has since been occupied by 22 chefs and has served just about everything from mac & cheese to fried catfish. The final menus will be whipped up by Payton Curry, Josh Hebert, Joel LaTondress and Cullen Campbell.

Payton Curry is no amateur when it comes to pop-up restaurants. His pop-up restaurant at the Welcome Diner was a huge success and he is bringing his delicious creations to Cycle for two nights only on July 29th and 30th. Named “Payton’s Place,” local vegetable and fresh seafood can be expected in the prix-fixe 5-course meal. The cost is $45 and cocktails concocted by master mixologist Travis Nass of Rancho Pinot can be purchased separately.

On August 5th and 6th, POSH chef Josh Hebert will bring his Japanese food favorites to Cycle. On the menu– okonomiyaki, tako yaki, three types of ramen and green tea pot de creme! Appetizers start at $7 and main dishes are $12. This pop-up restaurant will have guests believing they’re on the streets of Tokyo.

Joel LaTondress, food blogger, citizen dining critic and web developer (love that) is offering a prix-fixe “Summer Cookout” at Cycle on August 8th and 9th. The $45 6-7 course meal will include sweet corn ravioli and homemade potato chips.

Finally, Cullen Campbell is bringing a little big of everything to Cycle. Belgian waffles with peaches, foie butter and maple syrup… proscuitto, grits, eggs and truffles. Must we say more? “Pazzo” which means “crazy” in Italian is the perfect name for Campbell’s inventive pop-up which will be open August 19th and 20th.

Seats are limited and expected to sell out. For more informations and reservations visit www.CyclePhoenix.com

As if a weekly trip to Swedish store IKEA weren’t already hard enough to resist, the trendy home furnishing store will host a trial of Blink electric vehicle charging stations in partnerships with ECOtality. Only 10 U.S. stores will offer such outlets, including AZ’s own Tempe location. No word on when exactly the charging stations will be up and running, but it is said the outlets can be seen at the select IKEA locations as early as this Fall. As the project is only set to be a limited time trial, the project will run through December of 2012.

The Queen is dead, but that doesn’t mean we can’t party. On September 2nd, Andy Rourke bassist of the legendary band The Smiths will be making a guest DJ appearance during Sticky Fingers at Bar Smith in Phoenix. For a $10 cover you can enjoy the sounds of The Smiths (among others) as played by a former member. Sticky Fingers founder William Reed says its the “next best thing” to seeing The Smiths live, because for those who still love and listen, we’ll never get an opportunity to see them live.

Andy will begin his set at midnight on Sept. 2nd and has no qualms about chatting with fans, signing records and taking photos. So bring your Smiths records and get ready to dance!

For a compelling read, dive into Charles Fishman’s latest book The Big Thirst. An intriguing story of water, how we use it and how we’re going to have to get creative to save it. Traveling from irrigation fields in India, to the industrial and chronic overuse laundry services of Las Vegas, the book is filled with fun facts on how major corporations are doing their part to save water. Did you know that Royal Carribean saves 330,000 gallons of water every cruise by using chilled river rock instead of ice on buffets? Presenting the facts plain and simple, the book also serves as a “fact or crap” reference of water myths. So if you’re one to shut off the faucet while brushing your teeth or simply want to preserve this awesome planet of ours for future generations, read this.

Another day, another amazing exhibit coming to the Phoenix Art Museum. This time, architecture and art buffs can join together in celebration of on one of the world’s most famous architects, Frank Lloyd Wright. The exhibition, entitled Frank Lloyd Wright: Organic Architecture for the 21st Century, will open on December 18 in honor of the 75th Anniversary of Wright’s former residence and studio, Taliesin West and aims to offer “fresh perspective” on the celebrated architects seven-decade career. The exhibition will include never before seen drawings, scale models and photography in addition to videos of the man in action.

The look back on Wright’s expansive work will focus on his triumphs in the architecture world and will delve into the details of Living City. While the project never made it past the blueprint stage, fans of Wright will be able to see the beginning stages of a 1958 urban utopia which aimed to blend the natural environment with everyday life. Sounds like Wright was “going green” before anyone ever knew the meaning behind it. Mark your calendars for the release date, Wright’s Arizona legacy lives on.

Like butter and bacon, alcohol makes everything taste better. Thus, Texas-based Cherith Valley Gardens has just rolled out a line of Hors d’oeuvre Jellies. Featuring alcohol-spiked flavors such as Mimosa, Sangria, Red Win and Margarita, you’re now free to booze while innocently munching on your morning toast. Jelly shot anyone?

Kick up your hooves at Superstition Farm, a working dairy in far east Mesa offering a variety of farm-tastic fun. Bring the kiddies for a tour featuring a super-clean petting zoo, hay mazes and hay rides, as well as a fresh-squeezed milk bar. Big kids, meanwhile, will melt for the handcrafted butters, creams and ice creams from the farm’s award-winning Udder Delights dessert boutique.

3440 S. Hawes Rd., 602-432-6865

In an effort to “reach for the stars” of customer satisfaction, The Venue Scottsdale went ahead and made them visible. Okay, that was a bad joke, but this whole “retractable roof” upgrade they unveiled on July 15 sounds pretty sweet. Can’t decide between an indoor or outdoor venue? No problem, the roof can open in less than 30 seconds and you still have the comfort of walls and a relatively bug-free environment. A rare Arizona rain decides to dampen your big day? Well, shut that baby back up and you are good to go. Like the sunshine, but prefer air conditioning? Who has to choose!While all we can see are positives, The Venue Scottsdale is making even bigger strides to improve their, uh, venue by expanding their lounge to 8000 square feet. The new addition (V Squared)  is set to open in early 2012 and will have all the benefits of said retractable roof.

As chosen by you, here are the most popular stories OF ALL TIME (aka last week). Just in case you missed it.

It can be hard to look and feel fresh all day after melting in the Arizona summer sun so we found a few beauty necessities that will keep you from looking like you just left the gym. All of the following must-haves can be found at Sephora. »READ MORE

As chosen by you, here are the most popular stories OF ALL TIME (aka last week). Just in case you missed it.

Hungry for fall? While we can’t bring you the cooler temperatures or fresh butternut squash just yet, we can offer a welcome distraction with the Summer Chef Series by Devour Phoenix going on at Phoenix Public Market. These two local businesses have partnered up to relieve you of the stress of planning yet another Saturday activity by giving you everything you’d need. For $45 bucks a pop, amazing local chefs will teach a two-hour cooking class that includes tastings, two beverages *wink, wink* and take home recipes all centered around summer time cooking. The series begins Saturday, July 23 from 2-4 pm and will continue every Saturday through September 3. Check out the All-Star Chef line-up after the jump and be sure to buy your tickets online here. Looks like your Saturdays just got a whole lot more delicious. »READ MORE

As chosen by you, here are the most popular stories OF ALL TIME (aka last week). Just in case you missed it.

Arizona State University is doing what it does best; expanding. The ASU Downtown Phoenix campus has selected local firm, Gabor Lorant Architecture firm to design and build a new student recreation center. The project is coming with great student support as more majors have been moved to the the downtown Phoenix location and those students need and want a place for recreation. The proposed $13.3 million project will include a large gym, a weight room, an indoor track, locker rooms and a leisure pool, directly next to the already existing YMCA. The proposed student recreation center is scheduled to be completed by summer of 2013.

As chosen by you, here are the most popular stories OF ALL TIME (aka last week). Just in case you missed it.

The last time we wrote about mixologist extraordinaire Jason Asher, he was “turning beets into gold” having recently come off a win at Bombay Sapphire and GQ’s Most Inspired Bartender competition. My… how things have changed!Having left Sanctuary’s Jade Bar (where his expertise revolutionized their cocktail culture) you can currently find him slingin’ drinks behind the bar at Mabel’s on Main. But that too, is about to change as Jason recently landed (so recent in fact that upon completion of our interview he had to ‘make a few phone calls’) every barman’s dream job.

But first, a little background info. Did you know that Arizona is the only state in the U.S. where all the country’s top five liquor and wine distributors operate compete? Recently, RNDC and Young’s Market (two of the top dogs) merged to form Youngs Market of the Southwest, and Jason Asher is their secret weapon.

So what will he be doing? Exactly what he does best, cultivating cocktails and making sure they’re perfect by overhauling their cocktail portfolio (you know when you go to a sports bar and their ‘cocktail list’ is just…awful? Yeah, those are portfolio cocktails), works with liquor reps to develop strategy, in store set-ups, and individual bar clients to keep staff on point. He’ll be an essential part of all aspects of the new venture’s state-wide beverage program overhaul. As Jason says, “it’s a career move, it’s all about the bigger picture.”

So what does this mean for Scoop Factory sippers? First, stop by Mabel’s and order a drink from Jason… or three. Secondly, cocktail quality in Arizona is about to get better. Wayyyy better. And despite losing one of our favorite bartenders, who are we to complain about that?

Image via

While pineapple drinks typically get a bad rep (are you really drinking a piña colada?), this drink from District American Kitchen is nothing to be ashamed of. With (you guessed it) pineapple, lavender and mint, this delicious drink is available for only $10 at the new downtown hotspot. Recipe and prep below just in case, you know…you felt like it.

Ingredients:

It’s Friday, Friday…and Rebecca Black is nowhere to be found on this weeks playlist. Dj William F-Ing Reed has done it once again with some great new music to get the weekend started.

The Swiss – Bubble Bath

The Drums – Money

Chromeo – When The Night Falls

Toro Y Moi – Saturday Love

Common – Ghetto Dreams

So you’ve stocked up on your summer wardrobe staples and have taken full advantage of the amazing sales going on right now just knowing that the warm weather is not going away anytime soon. Life is great and you’re looking fabulous and then bam! all of the sudden, out of noooowhere, fashion magazines and store lookbooks hit the stands talking about your fall wardrobe staples? Like, come on, it’s July. If you feel blindsided, stressed or completely overwhelmed by the Nordstrom pre-sale shoving amazing boots at slightly discounted prices in your face, you are not alone. Thankfully, we have come up with a rational solution. Now you can take your favorite summer looks and carry them into your fall wardrobe. We’re breaking all the rules by saying that yes, practicality and fashion can be friends. Hell, they can be besties. Find out the secrets after the jump. Image via Fashion Toast »READ MORE

Is there anything more comforting than a homemade chocolate chip cookie and a glass of milk? If so, please point the way as the summer time blues have set in for us big time. Thank goodness there are tireless food blog writers out there to help us through the lull. Here’s a redux of this week’s happenings in our favorite food blogs:

We think, just for this week, the blog Cupcakes and Cashmere should be retitled “Cookies and Cashmere” because of the amazing food porn to your left. Baked with Vahlrona chocolate chips and topped with Maldon sea salt (Emily’s own variations to the recipe), these classic chocolate chip cookies have us all nostalgic for simpler times. The recipe is available here courtesy of Real Simple and the result looks good enough to shove into your mouth by the fistful. »READ MORE

Happy Friday, pardner. We’ve got a wild and western weekend in store for y’all, so you know what that means? Strap on them boot straps, because we’re goin’ for a ride!

First up is the Shootout on Whiskey Row in Prescott Arizona. Those crazy bank robbers been at it again, so we’ve got gunfight reenactments, a gun fighting competition and an 1800′s costume contest (for you ladyfolk). Held annually on Cortez Street by the Prescott Regulators & Their Shady Ladies Inc. (sounds promising!), this is an event to remember. Stop by this Saturday and Sunday in downtown Prescott from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and don’t forget your best poker face, we’ve got a shootout to win.

Next, let’s continue this boozy weekend with a float down the river. This Saturday, July 23rd spend day of  kayaking on the Verde River before sipping on wine from the Arizona Stronghold Vineyards and  enjoying lunch in scenic Verde Valley. Hosted by Sedona Adventures and Tasting Room Staff Member Extraordinaire, Wells Blanchard, the 4 hour trip will include a shuttle to the river, a trip down the river in a kayak, lunch and wine tasting. The cost is $75 for members and $90 for non-members. To reserve your spot contact Etta Phillips at 928-639-3004 ext 222. We’ll bet they won’t mind if you bring your holster and gun.

Whatever you do this weekend, be safe now, ya’ll!

We’ve all heard the saying, “take a picture, it will last longer,” but usually the motive behind the words is less than friendly. We are about to change that with the help of the blog BLDG 25 and the amazing instagram photo wall. Rather than obnoxiously posting your every move onto Twitter or Facebook, you can upload them to your instagram account and create this “visual diary” to remind you of your travels and every day experiences. All you need is an instragram account, a piece of white poster board (however big or little) and some glue! Print out your photo memories, tack ‘em on and voila! A beautiful collage of your own making is at your disposal. You can also trade photos with friends to keep it interesting and then show them….in person….what you’ve been up to. What a fabulous concept.

As the ever-witty Mark Twain once wrote, ”Everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it.” Well, this weekend we decided to do something about the insanely-hot weather by getting the hell out of town. After contemplating all the staycation hotspots compiled by our pals at Local First Arizona, we decided to go another direction altogether. In fact, we took a road trip back in time, to an era when men were men, women wore poodle skirts, and everybody smoked cigarettes like they were going out of style.

»READ MORE

Stop whatever you’re doing and listen to Rave on Buddy Holly, a tribute album to Buddy Holly. Bringing his music back to life are big names such as Fiona Apple, who sings the timeless ‘Everyday’ along with My Morning Jacket, Lou Reed and Modest Mouse. Available on Amazon as a digital download, you can also purchase the vinyl ep here. Nineteen worthy tracks of tribute to an amazingly influential artist, your ears will be so happy we sent you.