We know we’ve already mentioned the brutal summer heat about a thousand times the past few (but what seems like many) months. This right here though, is an object of our summer desires. There’s nothing quite like a chilled martini to cool off in the blistering nights. How long until that delicious cocktail warms up though? With the Ice Mini Martini Glass you won’t have to worry about that. It’ll keep your martini cool for hours, or until the glass melts. Either way, you’ll be the life of the party.

Let’s give it up for the troops. They willingly put themselves in harms way while the rest of enjoy our cushy 9-5 schedule. That’s why some good people got together to create the 2012 Veterans Tribute Ride and Family Festival.

If you’re an avid rider or just want to give back to the troops, this is the event for you. On November 10 an expected 500 motorcycle enthusiasts and the community will come together at the Veterans Tribute Ride & Family Festival to honor all branches of our armed services and our veterans presented by Sanderson Ford and Sanderson Lincoln.

The day will be filled with two heart wrenching events:

Recently we’ve been giving you some travel deals around the country and world. In today’s Travel Alert, we’re bring you to your backyard (well, close enough anyway.) According to Jetsetter, Miraval Arizona Resort and Spa has a great deal for ease your mind, body, and soul. 

Surrounded by the Santa Catalina Mountains of Tucson, you can enjoy delicious dishes and the perfect spa treatment. We know it’s what you want when the temperatures are still scorching. The Aqua-Zen watsu style water therapy will ease your muscles. Take classes and learn about the opposite sex. Learn more about yourself while working with horses.

This staycation has a lot to offer. We hope to find ourselves there.

A new program hosted by celebrity fitness trainer Jolene Goring that mixes fitness training with socializing at restaurants and bars around town. Welcome to Brunch and Burn.

Starting September 9, each event will consist of an intense-hour long group fitness training session, followed by a healthy brunch and social hour at a different Scottsdale eatery. The series kicks off with “Tight-end Training,” is a Hollywood-style workout to tone your rear-end. Fitness enthusiasts of all skill levels are invited to the American Junkie patio at 9 a.m. on September 9.

After the workout, you can have some fun with bottomless mimosas, appetizer specials, and a VIP wristband that provides bottomless mimosas all day. Prizes will also be awarded for the best ‘tight end.’

Each event will be $30 per person, with 40 total spots available. Men and women are invited to participate, and a special emphasis will be placed on butt workouts for women. Sign up today by clicking here.

In the 1920s Coco Chanel introduced the world to the Little Black Dress. For almost a century it has become a staple in pretty much every woman’s closet. Now Mane Attraction Salon, one of the Valley’s leading salons, wants to introduce you to the Little Black Bag.

When Valley residents purchase Mane Attraction’s black reusable envirosax bag for just $6, they will instantly become a member of the Little Black Bag Society. Members receive an email every 6 weeks with a special offers. These offers include awesome discounts on top-quality beauty and hair products.

Once the email offering is received (such as a percentage off or a freebie gift with purchase) bags can be brought in as proof of membership and the shopping can begin.

Become a member today!

Mane Attraction Salon | 3165 E. Camelback Road | Phoenix, AZ 85016

Do you know what sounds nice? Sandy beaches, crystal blue water, and a spa treatment. You can get all of that and at a great price, according to Jetsetter. The JW Marriott Cancun Resort and Spa has a special deal of just $162 per night at this fantastic resort. Four pools, white sand beach, three classy restaurants, n enormous adults-only spa specializing in Mayan treatment, what’s not to love? You can visit an artists sculpture gallery… underwater! That’s right, scuba dive 28 feet and check out a series of underwater statues by artist Jason deCaires Taylor. Play golf, explore Mayan ruins, and even save some sea-turtles. The possibilities are endless.

Is your child a die-hard Suns fan? Now is there chance to be a part of the team. The Phoenix Suns will hold interviews for kids’ age 16 and older who are interested in a position with the Suns Ball Kids during the 2012-13 season.

The Suns are looking for highly motivated, hard-working individuals who are able to attend all Suns home games during the 2012-13 season. The perks are endless. A great thing to add to your resume and the ability to attend every Suns’ home game. Can we sign up too?

Registration will be held at US Airways Center on Tuesday, August 28 at 5 p.m. Bring your resume!

The comedic actor known for cult classics like Back To The Future, Teen Wolf, and Spin City, will be returning to the small screen in 2013. As you know, Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the early 90s and left television in 2000 because of his ailment.

Word on the street is that Fox will be making a comeback in 2013 for a new show on NBC. In his new comedy, which is loosely based on his life, Fox will play a father of three who is dealing with the degenerative nervous system disorder. We think it’s awesome that he can write and act in a show that doesn’t attempt to hide his disorder but puts it center stage.

If you happened to catch Fox on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, you can see how he still an extremely funny guy (check out this clip).

NBC ordered 22 episodes of the currently untitled show without even so much as a pilot. This goes to show you how good it will be. We can’t wait.

Looking for a new handbag this season? Neiman Marcus has exactly what you want. Their new line of Chloe handbags are elegant and classy but not too flashy. Perfect for every day errands or a night on the town, there is bound to be one that fits your taste. Made from genuine leather and other top-tier materials, the bags vary in size, style, and color. If you don’t feel like making a trip to the mall, Neiman Marcus is offering free shipping on your order, just click here for details.

The Saguaro hotel in Old Town Scottsdale is making it easy to get away one last time this summer with its ultimate buy one, get one room special, but the deal goes beyond that.

If you book from now until September 3 you can receive one more and a second for free, you book one night and get a second for free, as well. The stay dates range from August 20 to October 4, so you’ll have plenty of time to plan out that last staycation. These rates include breakfast buffet for two daily at Distrito, by celebrity Chef Jose Garces.

Select room rates start from $89 per night plus tax and resort fee.

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

Celebrate summer in style with the Family Fling & Swing package this Labor Day Weekend at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. Catering to the the inner child in everyone, four acres of water fun including five pools, a meandering lazy river and 89-foot waterslide will be part of the best stay-cation ever.

Enjoy free golf on Faldo and Palmer championship golf courses, free meals for kids 12 and under at Blue Sage, free daily appetizer at Meritage Steakhouse. Live off your email for work and play? The JW offers free wifi for guests.

Check out the awesome pools. 

The grand Wildfire pool, topped by glowing fire at night, is the resort’s largest pool and serves as a beacon in the center of the shimmering waterways. The Sidewinder

pool reflects its serpentine namesake and the Mesa pool is ideal for families with an average depth of 3.5 feet, located next to the interactive dancing fountains. The Isla del Sol spa has a private setting for relaxing in soothing warm water with massaging jets.

To make reservations and to check out what JW has to offer, click here.

A new version of the iPhone tends to come out every year. With every year people want to ditch the old one and upgrade to the brand new one. We don’t blame, we’re technology nerds too. Come this September, the next iPhone will be hitting stores worldwide. So what do you do with your old iPhone 4S? Gizmodo has shared some easy ways to get your money’s worth.

On eBay you can sell your phone either as a “buy it now” option and hopefully make an average of $300 or you can follow the traditional eBay bid system and potentially make around $400.

Amazon will offer you around $415 for mint-condition devices.

The easiest option is probably RadioShack (if there’s still one in your area.) They hand you over $250 for the phone right away. This is the best way if you don’t want to deal with the Internet, shipping, etc.

Of course, Craigslist comes to mind. Chances are you can probably get a couple hundred dollars for your phone, but one must be wary of the Craigslist crowd.

To read the whole Gizmodo article, click here.

We all know how boring the typical 9 to 5 can be. Honestly, who hasn’t dreamed of seeing their face on the silver screen? So what’s stopping you? Perhaps it is the near cut-throat competition keeping you from your dreams. There have been thousands of stories of failure but film director Guy Magar has some tips on how to make it. Just don’t quit your day job quite yet.

• Find out if you really love it. “The movie business demands passion and dedication; the work is difficult and exhausting, the journey fraught with disappointments and financial stress,” he says. “So you better find out if this is truly something you want and you’re ready to sacrifice whatever it takes.” The best place to do that is at a film school or a university filmmaking program. “This is where I fell in love with the cinema and forged my commitment to the craft,” he says.

• Find out if you’re any good at it. When you discover that less than 5 percent of the 125,000 actors in the Screen Actors Guild ever make a livable wage in any one year, the reality check about how competitive this business is can be quite intimidating, Magar says. So it’s not enough to love it – you have to have an aptitude for the craft if you want a chance at bat. “You better be one of the very best directors or writers or cameramen or actors wherever you’re studying and developing your work, so you can gain the self-confidence to throw your talent in a very crowded ring,” he says. 

»READ MORE

It’s always fun sitting and daydreaming about where your next vacation will be. But you don’t have to daydream anymore. In today’s Travel Alert, we’re bringing you to New England, courtesy of Jet Setter.

The Homestead Inn in Greenwich, Connecticut has the charm you would only find in New England. Just 31 miles away from Manhattan, there is plenty to do at this quaint Inn.

Heated bathroom floors, french windows overlooking the countryside, are just few reasons why you should check out this east coast haven. Our favorite part? Children under 14 years are not allowed (perfect for the quiet getaway you’re looking for.)

A small price of $239 a night will bring you to the Homestead Inn.

Isn’t it about time you went on a vacation? We would gladly trade the Valley’s brutal summer for the humidity of a tropical coast. Costa Rica sounds about right.

If you’re thinking a trip to Costa Rica isn’t in your budget right now, we’ve got some news for you. Daily Candy Deals has just announced a 50% discount on a four night stay in one of Hotel Paradora’s Tropical Rooms. Enjoy the beauty of Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. For just $711, you can enjoy views of both the ocean and the jungle, complimentary breakfast, and a hiking tour for two.

Hotel Paradora has more adventure waiting for you with jet skis, a tree-top canopy zip line, and white water rafting. But we won’t blame you if you just want to relax on the beach with a cold drink in hand, preferably one with a tiny umbrella in it (you know, to get the whole effect.)

To learn more about what the trip has to offer, click here. You better act quick, because this deal is only good until August 29. If you need some company, we’d be glad to go with you.

The Diamondbacks will make Arizona baseball history later this month. On August 22, the D-backs will host their very first doubleheader against the Miami Marlins at 12:40 p.m. and 6:40 p.m. at Chase Field. To help celebrate this great baseball achievement, CityScape Phoenix will be your one stop shop in between games.

After the first game, fans will be required to leave the stadium and our invited to walk over to CityScape to enjoy two-for-one specials as well as free D-backs activities at Patriots Square from 3-6pm including inflatables for kids, a D-backs whiffle ball field, speed pitch and face painting.

Now let’s get to the good stuff.

Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails

Grab a local beer and Blue Hound’s famous tater tots with smoked bacon, chive and a French onion dip for only $6.

Copper Blues

Two-for-one wells, local and domestic beers (over 25 to choose from) and house wine when you show your D-backs ticket (excludes happy hour items).

Tilted Kilt

Show your ticket to receive a free Irish Nacho. No purchase necessary.

Fuego CityScape

Two-for-one on all drinks including wine, sangria, mojitos and cocktails.

»READ MORE

Seasons 52 has a summer deal that will have you thankful for the absurd temperatures this season guarantees.

For the month of August they have designed a new, personalized wine tasting experience to help guests explore their adventurous wine list and signature flatbreads for $15 per person.

For the wine tasting you will first select a flight of three pours from a hand-selected list chosen by Master Sommelier George Miliotes. After you’ve tasted your selections, you may then choose a full glass of your favorite selection to pair with your choice of flatbread.

This limited-time experience is available daily until 6 p.m., and will run through August 31st.

Concept art via NASA

Or Mars, to be a little more specific. If you’ve been following NASA at all recently then you know of the history that was made last night. Curiosity, the accurately named rover, touched down on the Martian surface last night after an agonizing 7 minute landing procedure. The goal of the rover is to determine if the Red Planet once harbored life and if  it still does today.

Launched in 2010, Curiosity spent two years in flight and is the first of its kind to explore the planet. Scientists claim this could usher in a new era of planetary exploration. The size of a small automobile, Curiosity is mobile laboratory that’s tasks are to take pictures and samples of the planet’s surface.

What makes Curiosity different than other Mars rovers, aside from the size, is the landing procedure itself. Using a winch system, dubbed the sky crane maneuver. Lowered down from the hovering, rocket-powered craft using cables, the rover gently touched down on the surface and broadcasted its first pictures about 14 minutes after landing.

This is a new era for space exploration. Soon we will be unlocking the mysteries that our galaxy has to offer. Reach for the stars, NASA.

Some of latest trends around town have been neon. Neon colors everywhere. Whether it’s jeans or nails, bright colors are dominating this summer. So what’s the next step in this craze? Neon hair, of course but with a twist: hair chalking. It’s exactly what it sounds like, chalk for the hair.

With hair chalking, you can complement any outfit with streaks of color. The best part about hair chalking is that there is no commitment. Unlike other hair dying options, it’s not permanent and comes out with a simple shampoo, which means your hair’s color can change at the same pace as your outfit.

Mane Attraction, the salon behind the chalking, offers a shampoo, blow-dry and chalking as part of a special package.

Sometimes when you’re  a server in a fancy restaurant, you have the pleasure of serving a celebrity. August 27 is your chance to have those roles reversed. Late this month the 4th Annual Celebrity Servers Dinner for Charity will take place at Morton’s Steakhouse, hosted by the one and only Larry Fitzgerald.

Local area-residents and Cardinals fans are invited to enjoy a four-course meal served by Fitzgerald, his fellow teammates and other celebrity friends. All proceeds benefit The Larry Fitzgerald First Down Fund. The first ever Morton’s Celebrity Servers dinner was with Fitzgerald, and it was such a success that it led to an entire dinner series. It has become the ultimate event and the place to see and be seen, drawing a host of celebrities. The great Muhammed Ali appeared last year.

When will be your next opportunity to have a celebrity serve you? What’s more, is that it is for a good cause. Tickets for the evening are $500 per guest which includes valet, tax and gratuity. The reception and silent auction begins at 7:00 p.m. For reservations and more information call 480.951.4440.

It’s that time of year again. No, not preseason football. Back-to-school shopping! While it can be a daunting task, why not take this opportunity to give back to agencies that help provide school supplies to kids and classrooms in need? Here are some local donation efforts underway:

Maricopa County Education Service Agency has teamed up with the Maricopa County Home and Garden Show to collect donations Friday through Sunday at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale (1 Cardinal Drive). MCESA will be on hand near Gate 2 collecting backpacks and school supplies. Donate a backpack and receive two free tickets to the Home Show. Donate any of the three following items and receive one free ticket to the Home Show: 4-pack of glue sticks; Pack of ballpoint pens; Box of no. 2 pencils (12/box); Box of colored pencils (12/box); Box of water-based markers (8/box); Box of crayons; 4-pack of dry erase markers; Single subject spiral-bound notebook; package of loose-leaf notebook paper; Pocket folders; or Scotch tape.

Radio Disney is going on tour with it’s annual Back-To-School drive benefitting Boys & Girls Clubs of America. They’ll be in Phoenix August 11 with AM 1580 at Macerich Malls’ Superstition Springs Center from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. Kids and families are invited to donate school supplies which will then be provided to local clubs in need.

While you’re shopping for your own school supplies or getting the kids immunized at Walgreens this season, don’t forget to donate school supplies now through August 18 in the Kids In Need Foundation collection box at the front of the store. Suggested items include crayons, glue sticks, markers, filler paper, pencils, pens, notebooks, folders and erasers.

Have you heard the news? Barrio Queen has just started offering $2 tacos all day every Tuesday. No, this is not a scam, we just went and experienced the mouthwatering reality for ourselves and let us tell you, it was worth every penny – and far less pennies at that.  The delicious Old Town Mexican restaurant is under the same famed magical chef wand of Silvana Salcido Esparza, head chef of Phoenix’s Best Mexican Restaurant, Barrio Cafe,  and the food is every ounce as delicious with just the right amount of spice…if you like it spicy. The extended happy hour also allows you to drink house margs, beers and select wines for just $3 a pop all while picking and choosing from dozens of different tacos for prices that rival T-Bell.  With excellent service, delicious table-side guacamole and amazing atmosphere, we recommend you make a reservation for all Tuesdays in the foreseeable future. We also recommend that you try the Barrio Pollo and Chorizo taco (pictured). Heck, try two, they’re cheap!

Also, if you happen to own a lowrider vehicle (or know some distant cousin who does), you can drive it in after 7 p.m. to snag the same tacos for just $1. It’s called the Summer Park-N-Shine and we think it’s the greatest idea…ever.

7114 E. Stetson Drive, 105 l Scottsdale, 85251 l 480.656.4197

When someone mentions the dog days of summer, we think there is a good chance they might actually be referring to National Dog Day. Each year a variety of celebrations and events take place in honor our four-legged friends and family members and it’s never too early to start planning.

According to the National Dog Day website, August 26 was dubbed a holiday by pet lifestyle expert, Colleen Paige, and is a way to pay homage to our companions for their unconditional love and unquestioning loyalty. The website goes on to acknowledge that dogs play a huge role in our lives. In addition to making ideal best friends, they also work as service and therapy animals and serve alongside law enforcement and military members.

Here are just some of the events taking place in honor of our beloved canines as well as the rescue programs and shelters that work tirelessly on their behalf: »READ MORE

Credit: Reuters/Andrew Winning

What would the Olympics be without the torch relay or the opening ceremony? With all the hype behind tonight’s royal schedule of events we’re not willing to find out.

With “Isle of Wonder” as the event’s theme and reports that Queen Elizabeth and James Bond (Daniel Craig) will  be in attendance, we’re sure you will not want to miss the official kick start to the 2012 Summer Olympics in just a matter of hours. Here in Arizona that means tuning into NBC (12News) beginning at 7:30 p.m., which is really 3:30 p.m. in London.

Rumors (that we hope are true) include a good possibility that we’ll see a live performance by Sir Paul McCartney and that we should expects guest appearances by numerous barnyard animals. Additionally, we’re reading that the ceremony is being directed by Award winning filmmaker Danny Boyle and, according to AOL Sporting News, that the sound of the world’s largest harmonically tuned bell will mark the beginning of the show.

For the full events and results schedule, click here. To watch the games streaming live or for broadcast information, click here.

Who doesn’t love college football? Not that we’re biased, but because we are located in the heart of Sun Devil country we bring you the latest and greatest from Arizona State University’s Sun Devil Athletics.

What’s a team without its fans? Here are some ways for fans to get involved well before the season begins (in 35 days, not that we’re counting):

Sun Devil photo booths are located at Scottsdale Fashion Square, Chandler Fashion Center and Tempe Marketplace. Take a photo and create your own Sun Devil billboard. Fan photos will be randomly selected now through kickoff.

Every Friday is now #FanFriday. Sun Devil fans posting photos via Twitter or Instagram are encouraged to use hash tags #FanFriday and #FearTheFork. Submissions with the best Sun Devil pride will be featured as the face of Sun Devil Athletics every Friday.

Sun Devil football tickets are on sale now and check out the 2012 schedule here.

If the University of Arizona is more your thing, no hard feelings. Here is the complete 2012 Wildcat football schedule. And, of course, #BearDown.