That’s right, ladies and gentlemen. Tomorrow will be a night filled with fashion at Scottsdale Quarter. Kendra Scott, who is known around the world for her beautiful, handcrafted jewelry in bold color combinations, is hosting a grand opening and spring collection launch party this tomorrow from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

The likes of Sofia Vergara, Eva Longoria, and Cameron Diaz have all adorned themselves with Kendra’s work. You also may have seen her jewelry in Neiman Marcus, Lord & Taylor, and Nordstrom. Now she finally has her own boutique in Scottsdale. Proceeds from the event will benefit  Phoenix’s Children’s Hospital.

The night will be complete with cocktails, food, and live music. You should come.

Shopping, models, food, drinks, and fun. What else could you want? It’s the shopping event of the year at the one and only Scottsdale Quarter! On Thursday, September 6 starting at 6 p.m., North Scottsdale will be where all the fashionistas congregate for a night of fun. Get ready for Fashion’s Night Out!

Walk the streets of the Quarter where live DJs will be spinning your favorite tunes from 6 – 9 p.m. and from 6 – 7 p.m., an informal fashion show will be held at the Quad. Are you a Facebook junkie? If you upload and tag of photo of yourself at the event, you’ll be entered to win a $100 gift card, just for doing what you already love!

Curious as to what shops are participating? Some of yourfavorites, of course. Enjoy the night with lululemon, H & M, Gap/GapBody, Sephora, Make Meaning, Drybar, Elan Style, Diane’s Beachwear, Beach Bunny, Free People, Calvin Klein Performance, Industrie Denim, Republic of Couture, Pandora, Express, Galicia and more.

BRIO, Salt, Tanzy and Narcisse Champagne and Tea Lounge will be hosting special events in the restaurants as well as catering at select partnering stores.

For more information head on over to ScottsdaleQuarter.com

It’ll be the fashion event of the year, one you and your friendswill be talking about forever – we’ll see you there!

If you like fine wine, gourmet food, and making a difference, we’ve got something for you. The Muscular Dystrophy Association’s 12th Annual Taste of the Town, returns to Scottsdale Quarter Friday, October 19 at 7 p.m. Over 20 vendors showcasing their fine wine and gourmet dishes as well as a first- class silent auction and live music from local band Jed’s a Millionaire. This is one of the Valley’s most premier charity nights and you won’t want to miss it.

Taste of the Town benefits more than 2,400 Arizona families affected by neuromuscular diseases and for just $65 or $85 (if you want a general admission or VIP ticket) you can help those families. VIP tickets include entry into an exclusive after party at El Santo, two signature cocktails and a VIP gift bag. Get ready for a night on the town with dancing, drinking, and food. The Greater Arizona Chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association wants you looking your best for this exclusive night.

The Quad at Scottsdale Quarter | 15279 North Scottsdale Road | Scottsdale, Arizona 85254

via Yelp

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo a day early with El Santo Cantina + Patio Bar + Restaurant, which will open Friday, May 4 and 11 a.m. next to the Scottsdale Quarter. A fiery combination of cantina, patio bar and restaurant (obviously), El Santo is built around a Mexican resort style pool and is the hottest new concept by the Old Town Group that brought us Stingray Sushi, Jimmy Woo’s, Geisha A Go Go and Spanish Fly.

“We thought it was time to introduce a concept like this to the North Scottsdale area,” said Greg Donnally, owner of El Santo Cantina. “Fun music, food and drinks with a cantina vibe are exactly what the area needs. At El Santo it is Cinco de Mayo 365 days a year!”

El Santo Cantina features a Baja style menu prepared by Executive Chef Tim Fields, formerly of Chelsea’s Kitchen, and combines spicy Mexican flavors in both cuisine and cocktails. Outside, patrons can enjoy the resort style pool and patio with private villas, VIP casitas, Palapa Grande Bar, beautiful flowing waterfall and much more.

As a special treat just before the grand opening, El Santo Cantina + Patio Bar + Restaurant will host VIP parties May 2nd and 3rd to preview the venue and raise money for various Valley charities.

It’s that time again. It’s Wednesday and ahead lies a week to be “wined and dined”, a week  to look forward to culinary adventures and a week to get a little buzz off your morning coffee. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but hunger generally tends to kill the hungry so please, save us some drama and check out this week’s redux of our favorite Valley food blogs: »READ MORE

Not that we need any more reasons to fuel our somewhat unhealthy shopping addictions, but it’s not like we can help it: the stores just keep comin’! We love to see the retail scene expand here in the Valley, and what better way than to watch the best of the best (i.e. Prada) dock flagship stores in our neighborhood. But don’t go running out that door just yet; great growth takes time. Be prepared and check out our list below of brand new stores coming to Scottsdale and Chandler Fashion Center  in 2012:

1. The Art of Shaving, Chandler, open in March: a store focusing on men’s grooming needs that houses a full- service barbershop.

2. Francesca’s Collections, Chandler, open in March: a unique boutique offering trendy and affordable women’s clothing, jewelry and accessories.

3. LUSH, Chandler, open in May: the home of fresh, handmade cosmetics made from organic fruit and vegetables.

4. Vera Bradley, Chandler, open in June: a leader in fashionable, colorful, handbags, accessories, luggage, and paper and gift items for women of every age.

5. Madewell, Scottsdale: modern women’s wear and accessories with a vintage, worn-in flair for the practical but super hip fashionista.

6. Make Meaning, Scottsdale, open in March: a creative retail destination (Make your own soap! Candles! Jewelry!) for all ages.

For more info, click here and here.

Make Meaning, the destination for creative family fun, is expanding west, opening its third location March 8 at the Shops at Scottsdale Quarter. Make Meaning, which has been awarded the “Best of New York” by New York Magazine and currently has two locations in New York City and a fourth location in the works for Massachusetts, will feature over fifty creative activities for all ages, from creating and customizing soap, candles, and jewelry to painting ceramics, designing glassware, decorating cakes and more. Overseen by Michelle Kort, previous owner and operator of pottery studio As You Wish, guests can enjoy a variety of other unique activities, including watching their candles cool at “The Skinny Dip,” a flowing wax-cooling river of water; shopping at the Glitter Tattoo Parlor and the Hair-Hauteness Hair Feathers Lounge or making a creative date night at “Make It After Dark,” a schedule of programs and specials exclusively for adults. Classes and camps for all ages will also be available, as well as a private party room for events.

“We received overwhelming interest from malls around the world that hoped to feature Make Meaning in their shopping destinations,” states Daniel Nissanoff, CEO of Make Meaning. “We are thrilled to have chosen Scottsdale Quarter as the first location in our southwest expansion. The excitement that our upcoming arrival has generated has been incredible.”

For more info , click here.

As chosen by you, here are the most popular stories of ALL TIME aka last week just in case you missed.

Authentic coastal Mexican restaurant, SOL Mexican Cocina, is coming to serve their modern Baja mexican to the Scottsdale Quarter in March. The new Scottsdale location will be the second for the Newport Beach-based company, who opened the first in 2009.

The restaurant aims to juxtapose old world charm with modern sophistication in the 260 seat restaurant, with indoor/outdoor seating, fire pit and a bustling open-air kitchen. Menu items by Executive Chef Deborah Schneider will include Taco Vampire, Hot & Raw Ceviche, Shortribs Barbacoa, Kobe Skirt Steak and more. And plenty of vegetarian, gluten free and even vegan-friendly options will be available for the health and diet conscious. The company calls it their ‘stealth health’ approach, gearing the menu towards fresh, delicious food that happens to be low-fat and healthful – though there are plenty of indulgences to be had as well, such as the ‘Tres Pecados’ (Three Sins) – a rich dulce de leche flan with caramel, dark chocolate-almond bark and whipped cream.

Chef Schneider, dubbed the “reigning queen of San Diego chefs,” by Bon Appetit and was nominated for a 2009 James Beard Foundation Award for her second cookbook, Cooking with the Seasons at Rancho La Puerta.

SOL Mexican Cocina is set to open at the Scottsdale Quarter in March.

SOL Mexican Cocina Scottsdale | 15279 N. Scottsdale Road | Scottsdale, AZ 85254

Makeup mavens, fragrance fanatics, skincare enthusiasts and beauty addicts, mark your calendars. On January 13, Sephora, the gods of all things gorgeous, will open a new 5,400 square-foot, free-standing location at Scottsdale Quarter. Featuring hip lines such as Charlotte Ronson, Josie Maran, Sephora by OPI, TARINA TARANTINO, Algenist, Clarisonic and new fragrances from Marc Jacobs and Stella McCartney, the new store will hold over 13,000 products from more than 200 brands. Wash your hair the night before, however, because you’ll want to get there early: the first 100 clients to show up at the grand opening will be able to dip into a stash of Sephora gift cards with mystery values worth up to $100.

Sephora Scottsdale Quarter | 15169 N Scottsdale Rd. | Scottsdale, AZ  85254     |    Photo via Sephora

Authentic coastal Mexican restaurant, SOL Mexican Cocina, is coming to serve their modern Baja mexican to the Scottsdale Quarter in March. The new Scottsdale location will be the second for the Newport Beach-based company, who opened the first in 2009.

The restaurant aims to juxtapose old world charm with modern sophistication in the 260 seat restaurant, with indoor/outdoor seating, fire pit and a bustling open-air kitchen. Menu items by Executive Chef Deborah Schneider will include Taco Vampire, Hot & Raw Ceviche, Shortribs Barbacoa, Kobe Skirt Steak and more. And plenty of vegetarian, gluten free and even vegan-friendly options will be available for the health and diet conscious. The company calls it their ‘stealth health’ approach, gearing the menu towards fresh, delicious food that happens to be low-fat and healthful – though there are plenty of indulgences to be had as well, such as the ‘Tres Pecados’ (Three Sins) – a rich dulce de leche flan with caramel, dark chocolate-almond bark and whipped cream.

Chef Schneider, dubbed the “reigning queen of San Diego chefs,” by Bon Appetit and was nominated for a 2009 James Beard Foundation Award for her second cookbook, Cooking with the Seasons at Rancho La Puerta.

SOL Mexican Cocina is set to open at the Scottsdale Quarter in March.

SOL Mexican Cocina Scottsdale | 15279 N. Scottsdale Road | Scottsdale, AZ 85254

In more retailer news today, the Scottsdale Quarter added six new stores to its roster of tenants including Sephora, SOL Mexican Cocina, Make Meaning, Verdé Maison, Blissful Yoga and Pandora.

This Friday, December 2 the Scottsdale Quarter will kick off the 2011 holiday season with “A Night of Fashion and Funk” from  6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Quad. The evening will feature a holiday inspired deconstructed fashion show and a festive performance by The Groove Merchants. And don’t forget, shoppers dropping $500 in one day at Scottsdale Quarter receive a complimentary message or facial at Agave, The Arizona Spa at The Westin Kierland Resort.

No kidding. There’s a booty-high camera in a few dressing rooms at Industrie Denim in Scottsdale called the “Booty Cam”, helping us all pick out that perfect pair of bootylicious jeans. It’s jean-ious, right?

We’ve spent hours in dressing rooms craning our necks to check out how our behind looks in skinnies, bootlegs and slim cuts. Bend and crane to check yourself no more, as the camera shows you every single asspect of your backside from a private television screen in the dressing room. Just genius.

Industrie Denim, the LA-based company that recently opened at the Scottsdale Quarter, offers over 80 brands of premium denim for men and women including Levi Strauss, RRL/Polo Ralph Lauren’s premium denim, Current/Elliot, Engineered Garments, Fry Boots, J Brand, Rag & Bone and more. The shop also has a resident “Jean-ious” ready to help you find the perfect fit and wash from Industrie’s extensive denim collection. Check out the video of how the cam works below.

Industrie Denim at the Scottsdale Quarter | 15279 N. Scottsdale Road | Scottsdale, AZ 85254 | 480-609-7307

Scottsdale Quarter continues to expand with the addition of two new tenants. Te’ Boutique is now open for business in the 28-acre shopping, dining and entertainment district at Scottsdale Road and Greenway-Hayden Loop. Te’ Boutique offers an upscale array of men’s and women’s clothing and handbags as well as home accessories and luxury linens. The classy new boutique is located in the retail section of the Quad and arrived just in time for the opening of Stingray Sushi.

Do you love Champagne and quick-witted conversations? Of course you do. What a silly question. What we meant was, do you love Champagne, snarky satire and are you single? Well then, have we got a fun fête for you. Hosted at the super-stylish Narcisse Champagne Lounge & Tea House inside the Scottsdale Quarter, we’re holding our first-ever speed dating event this Thursday, April 28, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. And not only is it free to attend, but we’re going to help get the conversations rolling with a free glass of bubbly for every dater.

But wait, there’s more.

»READ MORE

[Editor's Note: If you are a Scoop Factory reader, we have updated this story to correct several typos from today's post. The email you received was a draft accidentally published by our NY-based processing service, which is facing technical difficulties due to the widespread Amazon Web hosting outages. We apologize for the confusion.]

Do you love Champagne and snappy conversations? Of course you do. What a silly question. What we meant was, do you love Champagne, snarky satire and are you single? Well then, have we got a fun fête for you. Hosted at the super-stylish Narcisse Champagne Lounge & Tea House inside the Scottsdale Quarter, we’re holding our first-ever speed dating event next Thursday, April 28, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. And not only is it free to attend, but we’re going to help get the conversations rolling with a free glass of bubbly for every dater.

But wait, there’s more. RSVP in the comments board below, and you’ll be automatically entered to win a free dinner at Narcisse topped off with a complimentary bottle of bubbly. Which means after you get married to your new love, you can come back and celebrate your anniversary at the same place you first met. Just promise us you’ll consider naming your firstborn child either Desert Living or Today. It’s got a nice ring to it, right?

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

[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.

»READ MORE

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

It’s good news for bad boys and girls as everybody’s least fav stocking stuffer is suddenly the Valley’s hottest dining trend. Yes, coal-cooked cuisine is all the rage with the latest example, Coal Burger, just firing up its grills inside the Scottsdale Quarter, and coming soon to Chandler. (But seriously, between the boozy movie theater, the Champagne lounge and now coal-charred burgers, could we love the Quarter any more?)

Here at this handsome ‘coal-fired burgeria,’ natural grass-fed beef is seared over piping hot coals inside a brick oven, and paired with sides such as sweet potato fries, onion rings and french fries all cooked in rice grain oil (which is supposed to be healthier for you). Coal Burger also boasts organic gelato shakes, beers and wines, as well as something called ‘healthful options’ such as rice vegetarian burgers and Chef-Inspired salads. Meanwhile, the restaurant space itself continues the all-natural theme with sustainable bamboo furniture and 100% recycled paper products provided by a company out of Flagstaff.

However, that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to places where you can chow down, cave-man style.

»READ MORE

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

All weekend long Gap clothing is pulling back the curtain on its newest locations (including Gap, GapBody, GapKids and babyGap) with a can’t-miss style extravaganza at the Scottsdale Quarter. No seriously, there will complimentary food & drink, fashion shows, live music, plus fun for the kiddies such as face painting and a rock climbing wall. Meanwhile, Gap stylists will be on-site and offering up expert advice on today’s hottest Spring and Summer fashions. Not to mention, Gap will be giving out 1,000 VIP shopping passes offering 10% off any purchase for Scottsdale Quarter locations for an entire year.

Get the full itinerary for this coming weekend after the jump:

»READ MORE

It’s good news for bad boys and girls as everybody’s least fav stocking stuffer is suddenly the Valley’s hottest dining trend. Yes, coal-cooked cuisine is all the rage with the latest example, Coal Burger, just firing up its grills inside the Scottsdale Quarter, and coming soon to Chandler. (But seriously, between the boozy movie theater, the Champagne lounge and now coal-charred burgers, could we love the Quarter any more?)

Here at this handsome ‘coal-fired burgeria,’ natural grass-fed beef is seared over piping hot coals inside a brick oven, and paired with sides such as sweet potato fries, onion rings and french fries all cooked in rice grain oil (which is supposed to be healthier for you). Coal Burger also boasts organic gelato shakes, beers and wines, as well as something called ‘healthful options’ such as rice vegetarian burgers and Chef-Inspired salads. Meanwhile, the restaurant space itself continues the all-natural theme with sustainable bamboo furniture and 100% recycled paper products provided by a company out of Flagstaff.

However, that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to places where you can chow down, cave-man style.

»READ MORE

For 10 years, Kierland Commons was the end-all, be-all of North Scottsdale dining, shopping and nightlife. (And yes, we know that Kierland is technically in North Phoenix, but try telling that to anyone outside the city planning department.) Aside from popularizing the now-ubiquitous pedestrian-friendly outdoor shopping promenade here in the Valley, Kierland also helped put renowned local restaurateur, Sam Fox, on the map, as at one point he owned three eateries in the complex.

In fact, Kierland’s been such a roaring success that we scoffed (yes, scoffed) when we heard that another massive shopping and entertainment complex, Scottsdale Quarter, was going in across the street. And then we heard about H&M, West Elm, the Apple Store, and all the other yes-please boutiques they’d lined up. Not to mention, Scottsdale’s poshest movie house, a salon-meets-boutique-meets-winebar, and a Champagne lounge. Yup, a Champagne lounge.

»READ MORE

Starting this Friday, April 15, Gap is pulling back the curtain on its newest locations (including Gap, GapBody, GapKids and babyGap) with a can’t-miss style extravaganza at the Scottsdale Quarter. No seriously, all weekend long there will complimentary food & drink, fashion shows, live music, plus fun for the kiddies such as face painting and a rock climbing wall. Meanwhile, Gap stylists will be on-site and offering up expert advice on today’s hottest Spring and Summer fashions. Not to mention, Gap will be giving out 1,000 VIP shopping passes offering 10% off any purchase for Scottsdale Quarter locations for an entire year.

Which is great and all. But dang it, you’re a DLT reader. And you won’t settle for any ol’ giveaway. Which is why we’ve locked up an exclusive prize package just for you.

»READ MORE

Full, voluminous, messy-sexy and absolutely perfect. Also known as the formula for Victoria’s Secret model hair (see Exhibit A). While gorgeous, it’s also notoriously difficult and expensive to achieve, which is why we couldn’t be more excited to hear that LA’s famed Drybar has (finally) blown into Scottsdale and is now accepting reservations.

So here’s the deal, for $35 flat, you’re able to pick from a menu of blowout options: Straight Up, Mai Tai (beachy waves), Southern Comfort (volume, volume, volume), Cosmopolitan (soft curls) and the Manhattan (simply sleek). After a brief consultation with your stylist (miracle worker), your strands get washed, blown-out, curled, primped etc. resulting in a bubbly and beautiful (the complimentary champagne they serve doesn’t hurt either) you. See a full gallery after the jump.

»READ MORE

Have you heard the one about the new McDonald’s McLobster sandwich? No, well just play along then.

Earlier this month the Interwebs were all a-Twitter with equal parts anticipation/horror over about this supposed new sandwich from McDonalds. Sort of like a McRib but for seafood fans. And while it turns out that McD’s will not be rolling out a cheapo version of the classic New England lobster roll anytime soon (or McSushi!), there really is a McLobster sandwich that’s only offered in northern Maine and Canada. See the TV commercial after the jump.

More important, that hasn’t stopped one local restaurant from rolling out its own version of the McLobster in order to get a little free publicity.

»READ MORE

Recently, Scoop Factory went deep beneath the streets of Phoenix as it explored the Camelback Pedestrian Underpass, a surprisingly beautiful tunnel connecting Biltmore Fashion Park with the cluster of high-rise offices, condos and hotels just across this busy street. However, we’ve got the sad story behind this stunning civic space, as well as how history seems to be repeating itself as city officials argue over how to connect two popular shopping centers on opposite sides of the Phoenix/Scottsdale border.

Hopefully, this latest shopping center squabble won’t also end with poor pedestrians being squashed by SUVs.

»READ MORE

Yeah, that’s right. We actually wrote that punny headline. You know, for all you Greek geeks out there. All zero of you. But seriously, have you been to the new modern Mediterranean place inside the Scottsdale Quarter? We’re not gonna lie. It’s pretty awesome.

Named Tanzy, this striking new restaurant specializes in modern Mediterranean cuisine. Think: chef-crafted, from-scratch delights such as Jumbo Prawn Citrus Salads, Tagliatelle Bolognese and Roasted Portobello Sandwiches. Even better, each dish is served in a stylish-yet-cozy atmosphere overlooking both the Scottsdale Quarter and the rugged McDowell Mountains in the distance. In other words, it’s perfect for soaking in the Scottsdale’s scenic majesty (and majestic scenesters.)

»READ MORE