Is that holiday induced anxiety attack over a house full of visitors with hungry mouths beginning to creeping up? Before you pop that Xanax, check the “Arizona Falliday Guide” of what to do, eat, buy and more from the lovely ladies of Local Lily. The downloadable guide is packed with gift ideas, local menus, patio and travel ideas for where to stick take your out-of-towners during the holidays, all of course from local shops and vendors. Download your free edition here  to get the recipe for Spicy Chicken Salad, easy Arizona-inspired hostess gift ideas and check out our favorite, page 36 for a surprise of awesomeness.

Outside of our hot summer months, Phoenix has long been a hot spot for travelers, including the hottest celebrities, musicians, chefs and dignitaries. So where do the chic stay while visiting the Valley? We’ve rounded up a few of the sweetest suites around town. Rooms so luxurious and sweet, we would hate to leave.

Hotel Valley Ho:
The new Loft Suite at Hotel Valley Ho offers the most exclusive accommodations in The Tower, with two levels connected by a floating staircase. Enjoy an abundance of natural light and two private balconies overlooking the pool. On the lower level is a spacious bedroom, work space and master bathroom with a walk-in closet and washer/dryer. Upstairs, the kitchen and living room form a fun, modern space, with a second bathroom and shower. 1,335 square feet of indoor space is complemented by 212 square feet of sunny outdoor space. Guests of the Loft Suite can enjoy 24-hour room service, or have renowned Chef Charles Wiley prepare a meal right in their kitchen. Style and comfort meet for an ideal resting place away from home.

Sheraton Phoenix Downtown:
Located on the hotel’s higher floors, the Executive and Governor’s Suites of the Sheraton Downtown Phoenix Hotel feature stunning views of the city and nearby sports stadiums. Inside the soothing neutral rooms, the Sheraton Sweet Sleeper bed is designed to eliminate uncomfortable pressure points that cause tossing and turning. Slip into the comfort of the Sheraton Sweet Sleeper and recover from a long flight or hectic day.  Also, for guests who bring their furry friend, Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel offers a dog amenity package that includes two bowls, a dog bed, and dog treats!

The W Scottsdale:
The sweetest hotel for nightlife in the Valley is a sweet home away from home for the chic, jet-setter crowd. The fashionable Extreme Wow Suite at The W Scottsdale delivers the utmost in functionality with the latest in high-tech amenities. Touch screen remote controls provide access to a state-of-the-art sound and entertainment system featuring Wii, XM Radio and ambient lighting and drapes – all at the touch of a button. If you’re not in the mood for the party-going poolside crowd, step onto the 1,300 sq. ft. private patio and host an in-room soiree for up to 40 of your closest pals.

Westin Kierland Resort & Spa:
The Presidential Suite at The Westin Kierland Resort and Spa are in a word: heavenly. With the Westin Signature Heavenly Bed and Heavenly Bath amenities included in the 1,708 sq. ft. space overlooking the award-winning golf course, past guests have included Giada De Laurentiis, Emeril Lagasse, Tom Brady & Gisele Bündchen, Dick Van Dyke, Miley Cyrus and more.

If we want to be really honest here, house guests can be a serious pain in the ….neck. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just lock them away in a private guest casita under the pretense of privacy and relaxation while dealing with the awkwardness only during meals? Since most of us can’t afford that luxury, we suggest you just send your guests off to one of the 160 soon-to-be remodeled guest casitas at The Boulders Resort. Trust us, it is better for everyone. The signature style will be kept intact, but all of the private hotel room/houses will be completely remodeled with a “modern interpretation of Southwestern design” while still blending in with the 12 million year old surrounding landscape.

Guests can marvel at the beauty of the scenery while enjoying new bedding, leather arm chairs and the classic “vintage” look that makes the Boulders just so homey. Translation: No strange smells, no posters of Justin Bieber staring down at you from a twin bed and no uncomfortable morning conversation on the way to the family bathroom. Yep, looks like your next family vacation just got a whole lot more enjoyable. And, if you just can’t wait for the remodel to be completed, check out the “Staycation” package offered Labor Day weekend. Along with spa deals and special rates, visitors will enjoy frozen treats served by the pool every hour to help you forget that your skin is baking like a potato. Hey, we’ll take a “chilled lemon scented towel” any day this summer.

We all know it’s not over until the fat lady sings, but for the 41-year-old Arizona Opera, it is just beginning. That’s right, the arts corridor in downtown Phoenix just got a whole lot artsier with the purchase of a new home for the state’s favorite operatic organization and the company is singing the praises of the prime new location on Central Avenue across from the Phoenix Art Museum and the Phoenix Theatre. The addition of this new opera house will make for an amazing trifecta of culture and class to amp up the already bustling area.

After operating out of two cities for years (headquarters were formally in Tucson) the new 16,800 square foot building will house not only the stage and rehearsal spaces needed for the performers, but also the headquarters for the organization. The new facility will also provide the needed spaces for meetings as the Arizona Opera will continue it’s beloved educational outreach programs. When it’s done (completion date set for Summer of 2012) we’re sure there will be one hell of a party, with lots of fat ladies singing.

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

Get your party pants on, Arizona, because MLB All-Star Week is up to bat. While all the big names in baseball work on their batting averages for the super-game, you can work on where to go see the heavy hitters in action with our All-Star Round-Up.

Official Events

Start the weekend off with the MLB All-Star FanFest at Phoenix Convention Center. The event goes from the 8th until the 12th, but you can get your tickets now $5 off the regular price. Meet your favorite players and mingle with thousands of fans at this family friendly event.

Taco Bell All-Star Sunday at Chase Field featuring the Legends and Celebrity Soft Ball Game and the XM All-Star Futures game. This is a great way to check out baseball’s biggest names playing with some of Hollywood’s biggest celebrities.

State Farm Home Run Derby at Chase Field. Another long standing tradition for the All-Star weekend and now it’s just a light rail ride away.

MLB All-Star Game at Chase Field is quite literally the main event. Don’t miss history happening in your own backyard. And if you can’t afford to go to the game, head to downtown Phoenix and check out one of the many surrounding sports bars to get a pice of the action. It all starts at 8 pm.

Check out our picks on where to eat and what to do when the sun goes down after the jump. »READ MORE

Get your party pants on, Arizona, because MLB All-Star Week is up to bat. While all the big names in baseball work on their batting averages for the super-game, you can work on where to go see the heavy hitters in action with our All-Star Round-Up.

Official Events

Start the weekend off with the MLB All-Star FanFest at Phoenix Convention Center. The event goes from the 8th until the 12th, but you can get your tickets now $5 off the regular price. Meet your favorite players and mingle with thousands of fans at this family friendly event.

Taco Bell All-Star Sunday at Chase Field featuring the Legends and Celebrity Soft Ball Game and the XM All-Star Futures game. This is a great way to check out baseball’s biggest names playing with some of Hollywood’s biggest celebrities.

State Farm Home Run Derby at Chase Field. Another long standing tradition for the All-Star weekend and now it’s just a light rail ride away.

MLB All-Star Game at Chase Field is quite literally the main event. Don’t miss history happening in your own backyard. And if you can’t afford to go to the game, head to downtown Phoenix and check out one of the many surrounding sports bars to get a pice of the action. It all starts at 8 pm.

Check out our picks on where to eat and what to do when the sun goes down after the jump.  »READ MORE

Let’s be real here, the airport is generally an unpleasant place to find yourself. Whether you are coming or going, the long lines, funky smells and overpriced water bottles all contribute to the general low of your travels. To top it off, all you can really count on in the realm of nourishment is barely worth the time it takes to get it (unless we’re talking about Cinnabon.Totally worth it.). For Sky Harbor Airport’s largest and busiest terminal, that is all about to change. With local restaurant giants like the LGO Group and Sam Fox swooping in to save your travels from luke-warm french fries, we might have to make the airport food court a regularly frequented dining spot. Read all about it after the jump.  »READ MORE

Escape the daily grind and take a day trip to Clarkdale, Arizona for an End of the Summer Excursion aboard the Verde Canyon Railroad. Skip the messy camping trip and enjoy cocktails and appetizers as you take a four hour expedition through Arizona’s backcountry while relaxing in a chic refurbished vintage car instead.

During your journey you will pass by ancient Indian ruins, past a monocline fault, through a manmade 680-foot tunnel and takes a visit to the Perkinsville ghost ranch before returning back to the old mining town, Clarkdale. Each car has an open-air car attached to enhance your experience so you can almost touch the red sandstone canyons and taste the clean Arizona air.

If your planning to leave the kids at home and go on a romantic getaway, the Verde Canyon Railroad has extra special trips set up for the 21+ crowd. From August 13th to September 10th passengers can enjoy tequila and wine tasting on the Saturday night Starlight Tours. Ugh, bliss.

Verde Canyon Railroad runs daily (except Tuesdays) and is a short two hour drive from Phoenix. You can book online here or call 800-293-7245 for reservations.

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

Do you feel that? It’s creeping in your windows, it’s dampening your underarms and it is the cause of the drastic spike in your air conditioning bill. Yeah, it’s an Arizona summer and the heat is about to beat down on locals like ants under a magnifying glass. Cue everyone and their dogs running for cooler pastures.

But wait, unpack that weekender and put that very expensive summer vacation rental back on the market because LocalLily and Yelp have compiled essential summer guides filled with tips, tricks and favorite spots to escape the relentless heat without leaving the state. You can download the full (and free) guide for Local Lily here or check out the Yelp website for hundreds of restaurants, museums, events and destinations right here in the valley of the scorching sun. »READ MORE

Do you feel that? It’s creeping in your windows, it’s dampening your underarms and it is the cause of the drastic spike in your air conditioning bill. Yeah, it’s an Arizona summer and the heat is about to beat down on locals like ants under a magnifying glass. Cue everyone and their dogs running for cooler pastures.

But wait, unpack that weekender and put that very expensive summer vacation rental back on the market because LocalLily and Yelp have compiled essential summer guides filled with tips, tricks and favorite spots to escape the relentless heat without leaving the state. You can download the full (and free) guide for Local Lily here or check out the Yelp website for hundreds of restaurants, museums, events and destinations right here in the valley of the scorching sun. »READ MORE

Imagine the gorgeous, classy and probably very expensive to build Cortijo Plaza at the Montelucia Resort turned into a concert venue. No? We couldn’t get there either, but they will be hosting a Summer Concert Series every Friday evening from 6:30 – 9:30 with some of the Valley’s most renowned cover bands. If you haven’t heard of the likes of Elvis Before Noon, Vinyl Station and Easton Ashe, join the club, but perhaps Paper Snowman rings a bell from their appearance at the McDowell Mountain Music Festival back in April. Either way, they will be playing your favorite tunes for a night of free music and dancing. Alcohol not included, but probably a great idea. Check out the full line-up and dates after the jump and stop complaining about the lack of Arizona summer activities. »READ MORE

Before the scorching summer sun makes it impossible for outdoor activities of any kind, why not take advantage of this lovely weather and cart your kids to the zoo this weekend? Luckily, the new Orangutan Exhibit (Orang-Hutan: People of the Forest) at The Phoenix Zoo just opened up providing a perfect opportunity to ogle the family of precious primates for hours on end. To top it off, there is a climate controlled viewing space just in case you need a break from the fresh air and excessive sunshine. The new facility boasts over 12,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space for the orangutans to enjoy while you view them in their natural-ish environment. Educational fun for the whole family, orang you glad we told you?

It’s the musical that just won’t die. The musical with songs so infectious, they will creep into the darkest corner of your memory and play on a loop until all of your dreams seem to feature melodies and beats reminiscent of ABBA with you as a sequin-clad disco star. It is also a musical so loved by the public, it was transferred to the big screen in a mediocre adaptation starring Academy Award Winners Meryl Streep and Colin Firth (we don’t hold it against you guys, we just pretend it never happened).

That’s right, it’s Mamma Mia! and it’s back at ASU Gammage for eight shows May 17-22. As one of Broadway’s top selling musicals, Mamma Mia! has been seen by 45 million world wide and now, you can join them. Spend your Money, Money, Money to get your tickets and go ahead, Take a Chance On Me it.

Since Hallmark doesn’t make a card to celebrate Earth Day (and let’s be real here, if they did, it would probably be the most counteractive way to celebrate a holiday concerned with eco-friendly practices and the natural environment like, ever) what better way to observe the world around you then having an outdoor picnic in a beautiful (0ver watered) park? Good thing the Civic Space Park in Downtown Phoenix will be hosting an Earth Day Picnic so you can do just that.

On Friday, April 22 (Earth Day) from 11-2  the downtown community will gather together to eat off the grass and celebrate this nifty little world we inhabit. Live music, Art and local groups like Slow Food Phoenix, Cultural Arts Coalition and Roosevelt Row will all be in attendance with the Phoenix Public Market’s Food Truck Friday just steps away so you can get your grub on.

Grab a blanket, pack your favorite goods (in non-disposable containers, of course) and enjoy planet Earth.

The sun’s shining, birds are chirping, bunnies are, um, procreating and Peeps are permeating grocery store aisles. This could all only mean one thing: Easter is upon us. Here to ensure you don’t put all your Easter Eggs in one basket is DLT’s Easter Round-Up with all of the egg-citing events happening around the Valley. Chick Check out all of the hop hot spots after the jump. »READ MORE

With a great location, swanky interior, a solid reputation and honest, delicious farm-to-table cuisine laced with Spanish and Central American influences, Downtown’s newest import, Province, has all the elements needed to be a successful restaurant. Now the only question is: will Valley residents travel the distance to try it out for themselves? We sat down for the now infamous Media Dinner (yes, this means free) in Downtown Phoenix’s new digs to experience the popular Chicago-based restaurant’s second location and truthfully, disappointment was not on the menu. Get the full story including quick chat with executive chef and owner, Randy Zweiban, after the jump »READ MORE