It’s the best time of the year here in the Valley. The weather is perfect, the events are seemingly endless and sweet smell of spring has us all diluted into thinking that it will never end. Time to seize the day, venture out into the world and spread your wings, little butterfly because it doesn’t get much better than this. Great exploration ideas can be found below in this week’s Hometown Low Down.

The empty lots that currently populate Downtown Phoenix are just, you know, sad. They are constant reminders of this country’s bad economy and allow resident’s imaginations to run wild at the possibility of what could be. Downtown Phoenix Journal reported on a community discussion, held by Mayor Stanton and locals, which explored a possible temporary future for these lots. Ideas for the lots included art spaces, pocket parks and gardens for the community to enjoy while more permanent solutions are developed. Since housing and retail development seem to be at a standstill, these private lots could have a positive impact if they are open to the public and could gain more value. To get it on the discussion head to The Lot: What Should Go Here? and learn more.

Finding those great restaurants that become somewhat of a second home is easy here. There are so many fantastic places to dine, it’s almost overwhelming when trying to choose for a special occasion. If you live in Central Phoenix, this place just might be Tuck Shop. CenPho just dished on this Coronado restaurant which specializes in comfort food and shared plates. It’s cozy atmosphere is one that will having you feeling like you’re in another friends dining room. Even if it’s too far to visit bi-weekly, it is certainly worth the trek as you start your lovely exploration of all this city has to offer. »READ MORE

Obviously, the best thing to do with that extra day of the year is something no one gets to do on any other day: relax. Thankfully, with the Local Lily + VH Spa event at Hotel Valley Ho, your time to relax is already planned – no need to shove aside meetings, appointments or priorities. There will be free rooftop yoga atop the hotel’s seven-story tower at 5:30 p.m. with yoga instructor Sierra Ramm – who will lead participants through one-hour, all-levels session featuring upbeat tunes from the fifties – and a special VH Spa reception afterwards from 6:30 to 7:30 featuring complimentary chair massages, mini eye-contour treatments, polish changes, hand massages, foot reflexology, and mineral makeup applications. You can pose in the Local Lily photo booth, complete with fun props. Tea Forte cocktail infusions and hors d’oeuvres will be served, along with giveaways from Hotel Valley Ho and VH Spa!

With your event wristband, you’ll be guaranteed ZuZu’s happy hour specials all night long in the lounge – $5 for appetizers and only $3 for beer, wine, or cocktails.

In addition, VH Spa is extending its mid-week specials for all attendees; book an appointment within 24 hours and enjoy Wednesday/Thursday pricing any day ($75 per 60-minute service, normally $125). Also, take 20% off any purchase in the spa boutique.

Bring a mat and arrive early to the yoga session; space is limited.

There’s lots going on in the Valley this weekend, but rather than point out the obvious, we’re looking to our favorite media outlets to tell us what’s going on under the radar. Food, art and well, beer, awaits you so read on to get the hometown low down…

A new column for the Downtown Phoenix Journal has emerged entitled “Your Downtown Beer” which will focus on the beers you can drink in DTP (the size and boundaries of which will not be specifically defined, but rather determined by the beer’s cultural proximity and significance to the area….we think) Places like Copper Blues, The Roosevelt and The Rose & Crown will be discussed as they sell contracted beers with their own names. It won’t just focus on “beer bars” or places that serve “craft beer.” No, no, Your Downtown Beer  ”aims to expand your view of beer’s sense of place” which all sounds very vague and intriguing. We can’t wait to read what’s up as this column grows, after all, we do love the brew.

If you haven’t heard about Target’s most recent design collaboration than congratulations, you have managed to avoid television, magazines, online media, the radio and Target for at least two months. How do you do it? Anyway, Jason Wu For Target debuts this Sunday, but you can get it on eBay for 250 times the price according to Jackalope Ranch. We all remember the devastation after Missoni for Target crashed servers and cleaned out shelves within hours a few months ago, so plan this one out. Get your taser and be at Target upon opening and you should be on your way to wearing Wu. Check here for our sneak Peek a Wu. »READ MORE

Care to know what’s going on in the valley, but don’t have the time to sift through every media source every day? Allow us to do it for you and check back every week to get the hometown low down as we highlight the good stuff and share it in and easy to read, condensed form….like shot of espresso, but without the shakes.

If you don’t read the Downtown Phoenix Journal, you are failing to take advantage of some of the great opportunities this city has to offer. For example, last night there was a free screening of a film about the benefits of urban parks playing in Civic Space Park, but you missed it. It’s okay, there are more events where that came from. For all the Rock n’ Roll marathoners out there, there is a concert and carbo loading event tonight (Friday the 13th oooooh) featuring Fitz and the Tantrums at CityScape. Tickets are $19 for unlimited music, pasta and beer.

Have you seen the amazing murals around 16th street between Thomas and McDowell Rd (one pictured above)? Perhaps it’s time to take a cue from CenPho and drive on down to see the beautiful murals from artists Hugo Medina and Gennaro Garcia as they teamed up with Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza to bring together the community with art, culture, music and cuisine with the Calle 16 Mural Project. To learn more, visit the website and find out how you can help.

We loved reading Local Lily’s 5 Style Resolutions this week and decided it would be a good idea to make some of our own. We’ll spare you the closet woes and just share what the professionals had to say about 2012. Only wearing the blackest of black sounds like a line from a Jay-Z track, but it actually refers to throwing out all those favorite, yet faded, black articles you’ve worn into submission. Cleaning out what you haven’t worn in a year is also a great one to stick to, but as far as “be polished” we have to stray away from this one…haven’t you heard grunge is back? Yeah, we know it’s referring to shoes…but shameless self promotion is allowed.  Read the rest here.

Images via CenPho and Localily

Bunky Boutique

The lovely ladies of LocalLily.com are going loco for local shopping this Black Weekend. Check out the following local favorites for smokin’ hot deals this weekend. And download their “Arizona Falliday Guide” by clicking here for info on shopping, holiday entertainment and more.

Bookman’s, Mesa

Bunky Boutique, Phoenix

Boutique six10 , Chandler

Designer Blvd, Gilbert

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.

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