From left: Kim Lewin, Raquel Miller, Pat Smith, Tina Majerle and Lori Citron

We’re flashing back through the top stories of 2011. Check back daily for what you missed loved this past year on DLT. Happy New Year! We’ll see you in 2012!

[Update] We just received a Tweet (pictured below) from Fox 10 producer, Emily Graham, asking Real Housewives head honcho, Andy Cohen, to confirm the rumor, and he wrote “No Truth.” So we’ll just have to see on this one.

Great scoop out of AZ Foothills, as it looks like the long-rumored “Real Housewives of Scottsdale” is coming to a TV screen near you. We’ve heard that the show will start filming this week at the VIP opening of the trendy DryBar hair salon in North Scottsdale. More important, the cast will feature local ladies-who-lunch such as Tina Majerle Dwyer (ex-wife of longtime Phoenix Suns star, Dan Majerle), Lori Citron, wife of anesthesiologist Gregg Citron, and Kim Lewin, pictured together a few years back at a private brunch inside Louis Vuitton at Scottsdale Fashion Square.

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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.

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File this one under idea #1001 that we wish we’d thought of. CollegeArtOnline.com is a way-cool Scottsdale-based company that bridges the gap between emerging artists and that empty space on your living room wall. Co-founded by Vincent de Sarthe, a NY transplant and son of a prominent art dealer, CAO offers young artists the chance to showcase their work to the world without having to fight for space at a traditional art gallery. Which is important, de Sarthe said in an interview with Phoenix Magazine, because “There are so many young artists but not enough galleries who want to show them.”

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Principal at Hayes Architecture/Interiors, Cathy Hayes (pictured at right) is the go-to architectural designer for top Valley restaurateurs such as Sam Fox’s Modern Steak (left). Not to mention Lenny Rosenberg (Delux Burger, Revo Burrito), LGO Hospitality (La Grande Orange Grocery, Chelsea’s Kitchen) and the new edge outdoor dining deck at Sanctuary on Camelback.

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Meghan McCain, the famously outspoken daughter of Cindy and Senator John McCain is making headlines again, this time for appearing ‘topless’ in a TV commercial. Of course, it’s nowhere near as racy as it sounds, as she’s actually one of several minor celebs who (tastefully) flash some skin to promote skin cancer awareness. Click here to see the 100% safe for work video yourself.

The issue is a personal one for Meghan, as both her parents have suffered from outbreaks of skin cancer, with Senator McCain still sporting a scar on his face from a melanoma cancer that had to be surgically removed. But that hasn’t stopped the talking heads in the media from freaking the F out, including the walking-talking windbag that is Glenn “buy gold coins” Beck, who made vomit sounds while watching the clip on his show and suggested Meghan needed to wear more clothing, maybe even a ‘burka,’ or a head-to-toe Muslim robe.

Which infuriated both of the McCain women, with Cindy lashing out on Twitter and Meghan penning a searing response essentially calling Beck a fat, sexist, a-hole. »READ MORE

From sex stings to billion dollar corporate takeovers, the Valley’s grocery store aisles are overflowing with intrigue

We know you’re probably tired of hearing about it, but can you believe all the craziness going on in the local grocery store scene? Wait, what’s that? You have a life and have no idea what we’re talking about? Well, here’s a quick recap. The founder of Wild Oats and more recently Sunflower Markets was arrested in a police sting at no-tell motel in West Phoenix and charged with offering $100 to have sex with a 17 year old. Yuck!

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Nothing says ice cream like late night talks how host, Jimmy Fallon, right? Then again, considering most of his audience is probably made up of (how shall we put this?) medical marijuana patients, it only makes sense Ben & Jerry’s would roll out this new Late Night Snack ice cream. The true showstopper: Salt-studded potato chip clusters wrapped in fudge.

Pardon our French, but F-yeah!

[Buzz Feed]

How about this weather? It is January or mid-May? Either way, it’s beautiful out. So beautiful, in fact, that we’re thinking about breaking our no-walking-unless-absolutely-necessary rule. So grab your overalls and toss some hay in the back of the pickup truck because we’re heading to the heart of the Valley’s farm country.

Located in the far Southeast Valley suburb of Queen Creek, Schnepf Farms (pictured) is a sprawling slice of country charm, as well as one of AZ’s oldest family-operated farms.

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For decades, the town of Cave Creek was known for its blend of cheesy Old West charm and rough-and-tumble motorcycle joints. Where else can you ride a live bull, and then hop on a Harley and ride alongside legendary bandit, Sonny Barger, the founder of the Hell’s Angels motorcycle club who’s been a Cave Creek resident for decades? But these days, this hilly hideaway located some 30 miles north of the Valley has turned into a, wait for it, highfalutin culinary hotspot.

Of course, it’s easy to trace Cave Creek’s foodie revolution to 2004, when chef Kevin Binkley, fresh from working at world-class restaurants such as the French Laundry in Napa Valley, opened Binkley’s Restaurant in Downtown Cave Creek. (And before that, Le Sans Souci, owned by the man who first brought fine French food to Scottsdale back in the 1950s.)

That said, there’s another legendary local restaurant located right on Cave Creek’s main strip that really helped drag the town out of the sawdust and saloon stage.

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Space Shuttle Endeavor has rocketed into orbit on its final mission. Led by Commander Mark Kelly, his wife, US Representative Gabrielle Giffords was in attendance four months after surviving a bullet to the head in an assassination attempt at a public event in North Tucson. (Pictured is the view from NASA’s mission control, which is similar to the view Giffords would have seen from a private launch room reserved for friends and family of the Shuttle’s crew.)

Just two hours before liftoff time (at 6:56 AZ time), Kelly posted to his Twitter account, “Launch day. We should be pulling off Earth in a couple hours.” Click here to watch a live NASA briefing about this planned 16-day mission to the International Space Station.

Image via NASA

At night the four-sided window walls glow from within

Recently, we heard about the passing of noted Valley architect, Michael Goodwin. The grandson of Tempe pioneers, Goodwin left behind an extensive oeuvre, including both the Marcos de Niza and Corona del Sol high schools, and was also an accomplished Cowboy Artist and a supporter of the theatrical arts. But honestly, we were much more interested to learn Goodwin was the man behind one of the Valley’s wackiest landmarks.

Yes, Goodwin’s firm designed Tempe City Hall (pictured), aka the three story upside-down pyramid located just off of Mill Avenue on Fifth Street. Built in 1970, this award winning design is actually an early nod to eco-friendly design. Not only does the tiny footprint allow for additional landscaping across a sunken courtyard, but the building’s design creates it’s own shade, even at high noon. Even cooler (he he), because the walls are tilted at a steep 45-degree angle, the extensive windows are never exposed to direct sunlight.

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While you we were out slamming shots of tequila on Cinco de Mayo, a certain Arizona resort was hosting an extraordinary gathering of the world’s richest people. We’re talking mega-billionaires such as Bill Gates and Warren Buffett—all partying at a super-secret conference hosted at the crazy-posh Miraval Resort outside of Tucson. You know, the place Oprah stays when she’s doing the desert hideaway thing.

So what were these jet-setting titans of industry up to? Plotting world domination, no doubt. Or, even more diabolically, rigging the vote to get Casey Abrams voted off American Idol? Nope, they we’re discussing the best way to give away their billions to charity.

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In case you’re not lucky enough to win tix to tonight’s Bret Michaels charity concert in Scottsdale, we wanted to mention another way-cool event benefiting local children in need. Named the Cornhole Cup, it might sound a little risque, but it’s actually just a game, similar to horseshoes, where competitors try to toss beanbags into a hole cut into a flat wooden box. Hosted at CityScape in Downtown Phoenix this Saturday, this 64-team tourney will feature fun prizes and plenty of cold Bud Light. Plus, bring some new or used sporting goods to donate, and you’ll receive free tix to an upcoming AZ Diamondbacks game. Even better, 100% of the proceeds will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Metropolitan Phoenix.

Happy Friday everybody. Who’s ready to Rock the Waterfront? Yes, grab your skin-tight designer jeans, don your finest bandeezy, and get ready to flick your Bic, because famed rocker/Reality TV star, Bret Michaels is hosting a blowout concert tonight at the Scottsdale Waterfront. And we’re giving away a free pair of tix to see it all live.

Originally known as the pretty-boy singer of the iconic 80′s hair band, Poison, Michaels has reinvented himself as a TV star with a series of (skeevy-but-silly) dating shows on MTV, and then taking home the top prize on “Celebrity Apprentice.” (Speaking of which, The Donald might be the only man in America with a more mysterious hairline than the permanently bandana-clad Michaels.)

All teasing aside, Michaels (who’s been a part-time Valley resident for years) has proven to be real sweetheart thanks to his new show featuring his darling daughters, as well his work for local charities. In fact, the entire Rock the Waterfront concert is a fundraiser for Phoenix Children’s Hospital and The Boys & Girls Club of Scottsdale.

So, wanna win tix to tonight’s big show? Simply add your name to the comments board below, and we’ll randomly pick a winner. But hurry, the contest ends at 3 pm.

Image via

If you’ve popped by the MercBar lately, you may have noticed something a little different, a little out of place inside this Phoenix outpost of the iconic original in NYC. First things first, there are actual lights inside this infamously dark, candlelit space that’s hidden behind a nondescript door inside a Biltmore-area high-rise. And even more intriguing, the lights are illuminating a man tucked behind the bar, who’s dressed in a white chef’s coat and knocking out gourmet nibbles out of a micro-kitchen.

Meet chef Walter Sterling, formerly of Scottsdale’s Oakville Grocery (and Sol y Sombra), who’s now serving as the Valley’s first true bar-chef. Armed with nothing more than a crock-pot, a toaster oven and a high-tech hot plate, he’s serving up everything from spicy, slow-braised pork sandwiches to scratch-made soups (click here to see the full menu, including the new seasonal cocktails menu and ‘Best $7 Glass You’ll Ever Drink’ wine list).

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A former Tucson resident has been sentenced to 30 days in jail and three years probation for his role in a ghastly car crash that left a severed arm laying in the backseat of his SUV. An arm that the police later found in a dumpster after the driver threw it out and called 911 to report his car stolen. Full story below.

Here’s a another (gruesome) little story that seems to have slipped under the local radar screen. And once again, it involves the Old Pueblo. Yes, a former Tucson resident and Army soldier has been convicted of leaving the scene of a car crash in which a fellow enlisted man lost his arm. Oh, and the guilty man was also convicted of tampering with evidence after throwing the arm in a trash bin … after he found in his backseat the next morning.

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Back in July, our office-mates at Scoop Factory broke the news about big changes coming to Phoenix’s The Wrigley Mansion and its on-site Geordie’s Restaurant. Now those details have finally been, um, finalized. Read on to get all the delicious deets, including how the widow of a reclusive Valley millionaire hired her new boyfriend’s ex-wife to run the joint. Confused yet?

According to the Arizona Republic, Geordie’s will close for a wall-to-wall revamp this summer, led by new CEO, Paola Embry. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Embry runs Crush, a stylish wine bar inside the nearby Biltmore Fashion Park. Plus, Embry is also the co-owner of Crush’s fine-dining sister space, Christopher’s, which is named after famed local chef, Christopher Gross, who used to be married to Embry. »READ MORE

Well, lift my kilt. And no, that’s not another one of those wacky Scottish sayings such as “Mony a mickle maks a muckle!” Which of course means … we have no idea. But seriously, those hops-heads over at Four Peaks Brewery are hosting a cheeky contest to replace the face hidden under the kilt on their website, and are offering free beer for one year to the lucky mug who wins.

Confused? Well, let’s back up a bit. Housed inside a handsomely restored brick warehouse in Tempe, Four Peaks has been handcrafting tasty brews since 1996. And while they offer a wide variety of brews both in Tempe and at their satellite bar & restaurant in North Scottsdale, Four Peaks’ signature beer is undoubtedly the Kilt Lifter, a creamy, amber-colored Scottish-style ale. And for years, if you ran your mouse over the be-kilted man on Four Peaks’ whimsical website, you were presented with a surprise shot of Elvis’ head peeking out from under the plaid fabric.

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The crazy Swiss stuntman known as Jet-Man, rocketed around the Grand Canyon yesterday for some unknown reason.  And while we’re not sure falling out of a helicopter with a jet-pack and a parachute strapped to your back counts as an accomplishment, the video’s still pretty cool. Meanwhile, children of the 80′s will get a kick out of this version set to the music from Top Gun.

Although we originally wrote about this in February, the whole Baja, AZ forming a 51st state thing is back in the headlines again. So let’s review this cool-concept-that’s-never-going-to-happen-in-a-million-years.

Living here in the Valley, we always considered Tucson a bit of an odd duck. (It’s called a highway system, people. Every major city has one.) However, considering our newfound love for the Old Pueblo, we were disappointed to hear we will no longer share a state with the nation’s dustiest traffic jam. At least that’s what one Tucson-based political committee is proposing.

Yes, Baja Arizona would become the 51st state in the union, if an organization named Start Our State has their way. According to the AZ Daily Star, this mostly left-leaning group (which already has a whole 577 3,427 likes on Facebook) is serious, with the co-founder saying, “I’m tired of hoping and praying that rationality will come to Phoenix.”

Ouch (and don’t hold you breath). More surprising, this would not the first time a region has seceded from its own state.

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At night the four-sided window walls glow from within

Recently, we heard about the passing of noted Valley architect, Michael Goodwin. The grandson of Tempe pioneers, Goodwin left behind an extensive oeuvre, including both the Marcos de Niza and Corona del Sol high schools, and was also an accomplished Cowboy Artist and a supporter of the theatrical arts. But honestly, we were much more interested to learn Goodwin was the man behind one of the Valley’s wackiest landmarks.

Yes, Goodwin’s firm designed Tempe City Hall (pictured), aka the three story upside-down pyramid located just off of Mill Avenue on Fifth Street. Built in 1970, this award winning design is actually an early nod to eco-friendly design. Not only does the tiny footprint allow for additional landscaping across a sunken courtyard, but the building’s design creates it’s own shade, even at high noon. Even cooler (he he), because the walls are tilted at a steep 45-degree angle, the extensive windows are never exposed to direct sunlight.

»READ MORE

Looks like someone here in the Valley may have invested with convicted swindler, Bernie Madoff, and his $50 billion Ponzi Scheme. But fear not, it looks like they still had enough money left to pay $25 for a personalized Arizona Highways Magazine license plate.

Click here to see more funny license plates

Look, we can all agree that AZ’s politicians are about as bad as it gets. Let’s run down the list: morally corrupt, drunk driving, machine gun loving, mustache wearing, soft porn scribing, hooligan son raising, girlfriend brawling? Check, check, check, check, check, check and check! But hey, that’s no reason to go all Frankenstein-mob-style and break out the torches and pitchforks, right?

Well, not if this Kingman, AZ resident has his way. Meet the (awesomely-named) Mervin Fried, who was just cleared of trespassing charges after trying to pitchfork his way into a Mojave County administration building.

Image via Daily Miner

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Well, this might explain all those swirling plastic surgery rumors. Yes, the Valley’s most famous suburbanite, Bristol Palin is heading back on the TV. Famous for being the daughter of Sarah Palin (as well as a teen mom who’s paid big bucks to preach abstinence to teenagers) , this former Dancing with the Stars contestant has finally landed her own Reality TV show.

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While you we were out slamming shots of tequila on Cinco de Mayo, a certain Arizona resort was hosting an extraordinary gathering of the world’s richest people. We’re talking mega-billionaires such as Bill Gates and Warren Buffett—all partying at a super-secret conference hosted at the crazy-posh Miraval Resort outside of Tucson. You know, the place Oprah stays when she’s doing the desert hideaway thing.

So what were these jet-setting titans of industry up to? Plotting world domination, no doubt. Or, even more diabolically, rigging the vote to get Casey Abrams voted off American Idol? Nope, they we’re discussing the best way to give away their billions to charity.

»READ MORE