Craving a good media fix? We’ve got your back. It’s time to round up the best in Valley media blogs and present them to you in a quick, easy to read fashion for the girl/guy on the go just waiting for a great activity to plop on your screen with little to no effort. It’s a good deal. Read on to get the hometown low down.

Ahh, the bolo tie. This blazing symbol of the Southwest can usually be found square on the neck of a man someone could call “Grandpa” or proudly on display amidst the finely crafted turquoise in many galleries littering the streets of Old Town Scottsdale. Well, now you can see it on display at a real museum for its artistic value. Yep, that’s right, The Heard Museum’s exhibition entitled “Native American Bolo Ties: Vintage and Contemporary” has set up shop until November 4 and it’s something everyone should check out. Thank Jackalope Ranch for bringing this to our attention, our necks are itching with excitement.

Looks like downtown is just bursting with culture as usual thanks to all the info provided by the Downtown Phoenix Journal. If you don’t have plans this Sunday, take the family into the heart of Phoenix to experience the Phoenix Art Museum’s 4th Annual Walkabout. It’s an event to celebrate world culture and it’s the same cost of regular museum admission. Get down with some African Drums, listen to the soothing sounds of Japanese flutes and even get some history of Arizona by listening to Frank Lloyd Wright mini tours. Great even to to enrich your life and cha-cha-cha your way out of the Superbowl waiting blues.

If you haven’t checked out America’s Taco Shop’s two Valley locations (Phoenix and Tempe), now is the time. With rave reviews from locals all around, the classic taco joint has some pretty amazing specials and a weekend-only ceviche that “is worth planning your lunch around” according to CenPho. And, if the “Coming Soon” signs are still correct, one will be opening up in Scottsdale on 1st St. and Goldwater right next to Arcadia Farm. Now, if only we knew when “soon” was….

images via CenPho and Downtown Phoenix Journal

It’s that time again for the greatest show on grass. Sure we’re excited about the 16th hole, but the Waste Management Phoenix Open offers much more than cheering for our hometown hero Phil Mickelson from Monday, January 30 – February 5. For a guide to all official daytime golf events, click here.

For those 21-and older swing into the Coors Light Birds Nest, just across from the Open’s grounds. This after-tournament tent party opens at 3:30 p.m. each day February 1 – 4 with multiple bars and a giant stage for acts that include The Goo Goo Dolls and Will.i.am this year. Admission is $25 – $35, and $120 for VIP. For tickets and more info, click here.

Here’s what’s rockin’ the Birds Nest:

Wednesday, February 1: Slightly Stoopid will kick off the four days of concerts, entertaining fans with their reggae rock fusion. Local band Elvis Before Noon and DJ Ronnie G will also perform. Show begins at 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, February 2: The Goo Goo Dolls will slide into the Birds Nest to perform some of your favorites like it was 1998 again. DJ Ronnie G and Kelly James will also perform beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Friday, February 3: Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas will be spinning records. Check out his DJ skills before his electro-dance album drops later this year. Also performing, The Chadwicks, Kelly James and yep, DJ Ronnie G beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, February 4: What PGA Tour wouldn’t be complete without an 80s cover band? Flashback Heart Attack, from southern California, performs with Champagne Tap, Smasht and DJ Ronnie G beginning at 6:00 p.m.

New to this year, with crowds reaching the thousands, cell phones are permitted. No more hiding that Droid in your sock! And speaking of socks, check out our Tee Time: A Gentlemen’s Guide To Dressing at The Open.

Image via WM Phoenix Open

We wish we could go “Here,” there and everywhere with the gorgeous Agyness Deyn in the new indie film “HERE,” directed by Lucas Guadagnino for The Luxury Collection hotels. The 15-minute flick features The Phoenician Resort & Spa in Scottsdale. Well, you’re here to win to go there!

One lucky random winner will win a pair of 80-minute spa treatments from the menu offered at The Centre for Well-Being at the Scottsdale resort, valid February 1, 2012 – February 1, 2013 (except holidays). Watch the video and answer the question, “What is the color of Agyness’s dress when she first enters The Phoenician in the film?” Email your answer to max@scoopfactory.com and one lucky, random winner will be selected for the pair of treatments. Your answer must be submitted by Monday, January 30th at 12:00 noon to win.

Don’t be afraid to get up close and personal with Estee Lauder’s Cyber Eyes, a brilliant look created with Pure Color Intense Eye Color and Eyeshadows. The Intense Eye Color comes in a thick, easy-to-apply crayon for vivid, long-lasting eye color and the eyeshadows, which are created with limited-edition shades Cyber Green, Cyber Silver, Cyber Teal, Cyber Copper, Cyber Lilac and Cyber Pink, create a burst of no-fade, high chromatic color.

Prep your close-up with Estee Lauder Matte Face Primer, a soft cream that smooths fine lines and readies your skin for makeup application. Excited yet? Head to Neiman Marcus in Scottsdale from January 25 to February 5 to see how these products work for you and receive a stylish, limited-edition tote and other beauty gifts with your purchase of $70 or more.

Scottsdale-based Remix Watches, the LED lighted watch that’s like a personal wrist disco, was a celebrity favorite this past week at the Sundance Film Festival 2012. Celebrities including Paris Hilton, LMFAO’s Red Foo, KayCee Stroh of “High School Musical” and Jason Mraz rocked the brightly colored watches in Park City. Remix founder, Ryan Town reports, “We outfitted the party rock crew with RemixWatches for their weekend at Sundance. Red Foo said he wanted to REMIX a ‘Batman-inspired’ watch and sport that yellow and black.” Oh wait, what about us? We’re sportin’ our bright pink watch everyday to the DLT office! Wanna join the A list, Remix fist pumping crowd with us? Click here to shop online.

Are you worried about this upcoming holiday of love? Well fear no more because renowned Phoenix dating coach Joann Cohen’s new Dud to Stud and Drab to Fab programs have exactly what you need. These intensive 14-day programs help singles learn to become more date-able by sprucing up their image. Sign up now because V-Day is right around the corner.

Accommodating Phoenix single men and women, this makeover campaign of love is designed to help singles by turning them into the best versions of themselves.  Through the use of her “Dream Team,” made up of an image consultant, photographers, matchmakers, and stylists, Cohen’s program virtually transforms the client. »READ MORE

Tangerine and shades of bright orange are popping up for Spring / Summer 2012. The Hermes Spring Summer 2012 runway show with new designer Christophe Lemaire featured a hot orange pocket-sized bag against copper and lighter shades of the primary color. We found this Crossbody Structured bag at Forever 21 for just $19.80. But if you’ve got it, flaunt it for the Hermes.

Hermes image via Trend Hunter

Prada Wicker Wedges at the Chandler My Sister's Closet

Set your alarms and grab your most comfortable shopping shoes for the spring styles unveiling at all 12 My Sister’s Closet locations and Well Suited locations Saturday, January 28 at 8:00 a.m. Both My Sister’s Closet and Well Suited will open their doors to more than 80,000 “Out with the Cold, In with the New“ consigned designer and premium clothing, shoes, accessories and more. Each store sell a unique blend of consigned items at 60 – 90 percent below retail value. Online shopping begins at 8:15 am. Founded 20 years ago,  Eco-Chic Consignments, Inc. has since grown into a $16+ million business with 12 locations in some of the nicest neighborhoods of Arizona and California. Lines form early so grab your cuppa and get there quick.

For locations, click here.

The sun is shining, birds are chirping and Phoenix is all abuzz with the Waste Management Phoenix Open rapidly approaching. So what does this mean for locals besides bad traffic? We’ll tell you. It means every little frat boy (young and old) and club hopping fist pumper will be emerging in daylight hours to drink excessively and set up a$$hole camp at the 16th hole. Gentlemen, don’t be these guys. You are better. You don’t wear argyle socks or graphic tees. Here are a few tips to dressing up that classic t-shirt and making people stop and stare….for the right reasons.

<—Sorry Ricky Fowler. You are clearly dressed like an undesirable.

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Ballet Arizona and Desert Botanical Garden present the Arizona premiere of MOMIX: Botanica, January 27 and January 28 at the historic Orpheum Theater in downtown Phoenix.

Botanica, like other MOMIX creations, creates a magical and ethereal world that is appropriate for the whole family. MOMIX dancer-illusionists conjure a world of surrealistic images using light, shadow, props, humor and the human body. Beautiful and enthralling, Botanica features an eclectic score ranging from birdsongs to Vivaldi. It follows the rhythms of the seasons, the changing shape of life on Earth and the passing of a day. The performance is enhanced by spectacular costumes, projections and giant puppetry designed by Michael Curry, acclaimed production designer for Cirque du Soleil, Disney and the Metropolitan Opera.

Ticket info and more after the jump: »READ MORE

Be mine, Be mine, o’ Valentine of luxury and design.  Take a peek at our special guide to a Valentine’s Day filled with love and design.

Do you ever wish you could match culinary skills with the likes of Bobby Flay, Emeril or Chef Jose Garces? Well now you can start training and maybe one day go head to head in Kitchen Stadium to take the title, “Iron Chef.” Or at least just impress your friends at home.

The Saguaro is introducing Cook Like an Iron Chef - a series of cooking classes taught by executive chef Pete Balodimas, taking place at the Old Town Whiskey restaurant. He’ll teach you the recipes, tricks and techniques of The Saguaro’s very own Iron Chef Jose Garces.

The first class, held on January 29, will focus on pickling – right in time for all the Super Bowl parties.

At $30 per class, register quick because each class only seats 20 people. For registration click here.

The Saguaro Hotel | 4000 North Drinkwater Blvd | Scottsdale, AZ 85251 

Image via FoodNetwork

If the concept of eating locally and buying fresh produce from the desert sounds foreign to you, Friday’s Panel Discussion at Changing Hands Bookstore might clear up some confusion. At 7:00 p.m. January 27, Edible Phoenix Magazine will moderate an interactive panel with Cooking the Wild Southwest author Carolyn Niethammer and Southwest Comfort Food author Marilyn Noble. Along with a tasting of Southwestern foods and a book signing, the authors will discuss how to shop smart at the farmer’s market, how to find locally-produced grassfed meats and how to utilize desert vegetation in your own kitchen.

Changing Hands Bookstore | 6428 S McClintock Dr. Tempe, AZ | 85283

Nathan’s back, our resident womanizing snarkster, with some solid advice for the singletons this month. Check out this Rule of Nathan #48 and don’t miss his column next month for more of his musings.

Rule of Nathan #48: Never date or try to date a stripper. By never, I mean almost never, and by stripper I mean stripper you meet at the strip club. Strippers aren’t strippers outside of work any more than Hugh Laurie is a doctor, Nathan Fillion is a space cowboy, Nickelback are musicians or Lou Diamond Phillips is Richie Valens. OK, scratch that last one. LDP is totally La Bamba. So, you know, if you meet her because she sits next to you in your law school class, go for it.

In that vein, coffee shops are the new strip clubs and baristas are the new strippers. Bear with me on this one. When your barista smiled at you and she “was totally flirting, man,” remember she has a tip jar. Her job is to be nice to you and make you coffee. I get it. My dream woman would be nice to me and make me coffee too, but remember that’s the baristas job. »READ MORE

Super Bowl tickets are a bagillion dollars. It’s a fact. What does that mean for all of us folks stuck here enduring 75 degree weather far, far away from the midwest’s third or forth most exciting city during all the action? It means we have to throw a kickass Super Bowl Party filled with good friends, delicious food and enough beer to drown any sports related sorrows. It’s called homegating and it’s better than tailgating for many reasons, the main one being you don’t have to pack up all your sh*t, set it all up and then drunkenly put it all away in the midst of  either tears or exaggerated dance moves (depending on the outcome of the game). If you need some tips on how to plan an epic homegating experience, read on.

The Menu is the most important thing. Hands down. Keegan Gerhard of The Food Network Challenge had a right adorable idea of theme-ing your food based on the teams participating. New England Patriots? Clam Chowder, Whalburgers (the name of the Whalburg’s hamburger place in Boston, just serve sliders and call them that), baked beans, crab cakes and Boston Cream Pie . New York Giants? Long Island Ice Tea, Street Dogs (you can set up a condiment station to look like a street cart), pretzels, pizza and cheese cake…New York style. More traditional (boring) ideas can be found here.  »READ MORE

You’ve tried running, walking, hiking, starving – you name it – to get rid of excess pounds, but have you tried freezing fat? It may sound crazy, but CoolSculpting, a fat freezing treatment that sculpts your body naturally, safely and without surgery or downtime is the hottest new way to shed weight. See the treatment in action at Mane Attraction Salon in Phoenix at 6:30 tonight January 25 with Susan Van Dyke, M.D. on hand to answer questions. Guests will also enjoy refreshments, product samples and the chance to win a $50 gift certificate to Van Dyke Laser & Skin or a full CoolSculpting session. The event is free but seating is limited and there’s still a few left.

For info or to reserve a spot, email Suzanne at Suzanne@maneattractionsalon.com or call 602-956-2996.

Mane Attraction Salon | 3156 East Camelback Road | Phoenix, AZ  85016

Drinking and eating, eating a drinking. Isn’t that what life is all about? For us, happiness is measured in pints and ounces. See joy in food form in our redux of this week’s happenings in our favorite food blogs:

You know the feeling you have when you taste an amazing sauce for the first time? The sudden instinct to lick the plate or down the entire bottle in the presence of other human beings can be overwhelming when it’s just.that.good. The same thing goes for a good Pinot (or so Sideways had us all believe) so imagine our surprise when Pen & Fork dished on a bottled Pinot-based pepper sauces from CZAR that combine the two together like a match made in culinary heaven. Gluten free and low in sodium (compared to other bottled sauces) and range from tangy sweet to habanero hot. Walters used the Pinot and Pepper sauce to create a “Bloody Jack” cocktail that even looks like a kick in the pants. Get the recipe and the full scoop on these savory sauces right here.

No one likes the taste of humble pie, unless it is actually a big ‘ol slice from one of the valley’s favorite pizza joints, Humble Pie. Now the place on many a’ “best of Phoenix” list is set to open a fourth location in Kierland Commons to appease its growing fan base. Chow Bella reported it will be the largest of the locations and will open its doors mid-February to the cheers of North Scottsdale residents who are thinking not of pool season and focusing on delicious pie piled high.

In more local news, or local brews if you’re down with puns, Mouth x Southwest‘s Jess Harter just served up a nice glass of frothy awesomeness in relation to Sonoran Brewing Company’s seasonal beers. Beginning March 3rd, SBC will release a series of collaborative brews co-created by Phoenix-based chefs. Jeremy Pacheco from Lon’s at the Hermosa Inn had his hand in the first one (cleverly called 7 Wives Saison) using wheat from his own family farm, among other things. You can also look forward to beers from “Eddie Matney from Eddie’s House, Lee Hillson from T. Cooks at the Royal Palms and James Porter from Petite Mason and Big Earls BBQ,” according to Harter.  Count us in, these all sound like collectibles. We mean drinkables.

Until next week, stay happy, my friends.

Images via Chow Bella and Pen & Fork

We admit it. Our favorite day of the year isn’t Thanksgiving, Christmas or even our own birthday: it is January 27. Known as National Chocolate Cake Day, this Friday is a day to commemorate what we all know and love as one of the greatest inventions ever: cake. Cake, which is great, made out of chocolate, which is the best. To celebrate this day, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood at Scottsdale Quarter is sharing their signature Chocolate Godiva Cake recipe with the world. With it warm and paired along locally made vanilla bean ice cream from Sweet Republic, this Friday is slated to be the best day of 2012 yet. Follow the jump for the greatest recipe ever:

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Mark your calendars because on February 2 Rokar Akor Steak & Sushi will be teaming up with Tender Belly Pork to bring you savory pork delicacies. Roka Akor’s Exec Chef Jason Alford has created a special menu using this premium pork. (By the way, you won’t have to worry about breaking your piggy bank with these prices.)

The Tender Belly Roaming Pork party is all about serving the finest available products that have superior flavor beginning at 10:00 p.m. Call 480-306-8800 for a reservation.

Check out the inventive menu after the jump: »READ MORE

Looking for something fun to do in mid February? Why not check Palm Spring’s Modernism Week. Taking place February 16-26, this 11 day event has plenty to offer the modern design and architecture lover. The event celebrates mid-century modern design, architecture, and culture in Palm Springs.

Taking inspiration from the style of the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, Modernism Week will include architectural tours, films, lectures, and educational events. But wait there’s more. Chic parties will also be going down in mid-century modern homes and boutique hotels all week.

For a complete schedule of the events click here.

Image via Modernism Week

Calling it the ultimate combination of power, efficiency, technology, and style, Dodge introduces the 2013 Dart. A remake of the classic muscle car, this automobile is flat out gorgeous. With plenty of customization options, the Dart allows buyers to choose pretty much anything. Dodge created three brand new types of engine for the car, which could potentially put out 184 hp. We cannot wait for this car. In terms of color, classic red is the only way to go.

Judging by our own lives, we’re sure it’s been awhile since you’ve made your own Valentines. Still, the idea is fun, especially if it only costs a buck. Enter The Occasional Artist, a new store in Glendale dedicated to all things art – especially if it involves paper. From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. January 31st the paper goods and art supply shop will have a 10-Card Extravaganza featuring ten Valentine- and love-themed cards (good for adults as well as kids) for $1 each. Guests drop by anytime, choose the cards they would like to make and head to a station complete with all the supplies needed. A head start on inexpensive Valentines? What’s not to love?

The Occasional Artist | 7150 N. 57th Drive | Glendale, AZ | 85301

Image via The Occasional Artist

Mikey L’Heureux, photographer, graphic artist and a budding filmmaker from Mesa, Arizona now in Los Angeles is on the clock with us today. Mikey was one of eight winning photographers selected by Ron Howard and Canon as part of “Project Imagin8ion,” the first user-generated photo contest in history to inspire a Hollywood film. Over 100,000 submissions were reviewed, with Mikey winning in the MOOD category for his “City Lights,” shot inspiring the short film that became “when you find me.” Canon will be bringing the film to Phoenix Thursday, February 2nd at The Ahwatukee 24 Theatre at 6:30 p.m.

So what inspires the Mesa-native in his artistic quest? Want to know more about the photo and the competition? Are you ready Mikey? Roll ‘em…

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The Lux Art Institute in California will be showing resident Artist Lila Jang’s collection from Januar 12 – March 3. This young South Korean sculptor finds inspiration in the confines of a small living space.

Jang takes ordinary furniture and turns it into something unique and beautiful whilst keeping its practical nature. “My work represents who and where we are as human beings: in the midpoint of that constant struggle between reality and the ideal,” she said in her profile on the Lux Web site. Her pieces are often described as, fluid furniture, from the often whimsical, curvaceous designs.

Her art work has been shown across the world and if you find yourself in California you won’t want to miss this awesome exhibit.

Lux Art Institute | 1550 S. El Camino Real | Encinitas, CA 92024 »READ MORE

A hungry little North Scottsdale birdie telling us that the Old Town Group, the creators of Scottsdale favorites including Stingray Sushi, Geish-a-Go-Go, Jimmy Woo’s, Spanish Fly and more has a new concept coming to North Scottsdale in the Spring. Not sure what the concept is just yet, but wondering what you would like to see. Give our poll a go-go for what you think is missing in North Scottsdale. Or comment with your insider details on the new project.

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