Biltmore Fashion Park is getting UNION-ized: beginning in November 2012, Phoenix’s retail “crown- jewel” will add a diverse mix of local and independent retail in a new shopping experience called UNION. Planned for the east end of the shopping center between Stingray Sushi and Seasons 52, the 7200-square-foot platform for independent businesses will be a modern yet traditional shopping experience; the center will be in a contemporary, industrial atmosphere mixed with the warmth of various woods and romantic chandeliers. The space will be designed by architectural firm Plus/Minus Studio and will provide each retailer with two-to-five-hundred square feet of space with sliding doors and glass panels that allow for growth and change with the retailer’s needs. UNION is an opportunity to bring small, independent entrepreneurs and artists to Biltmore, replicating the unique retail mix historically found at Biltmore Fashion Park.

“This exciting new concept will give 11-13 shops and eateries an easy entry into an established marketplace while embracing the community and enhancing the retail mix of Biltmore Fashion Park,” said Mary Boyd-Williams, Senior Manager of Leasing for Macerich.

Biltmore Fashion Park has also partnered with a well-established local business owner and talented artistic designer, Lew Gallo, to help define the space and cultivate the essence of UNION.

“When I was an independent retailer, I always wanted to have my shop nestled among other like-minded merchants and still be able to benefit from a high-profile shopping center like Biltmore Fashion Park and that’s what UNION is,” said Gallo.

Biltmore Fashion Park | 2502 East Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ | 85016

You would think co-owning multiple premium restaurants (Stingray, Geisha A Go-Go, Jimmy Woo’s and Spanish Fly), dodging controversy with the “Suzi Stingray” ad campaign while being an executive chef would be too much for one person. But some how Chef Andrew Nam manages to do it all and do it well. It’s been almost exactly a year since we’ve checked in with Chef Nam so time to check back in and check out the new ad campaign that’s got the City of Phoenix in a huff. Again.

Managing four restaurants, he’s a busy guy, so let’s do this…

DLT: Where do you find the most inspiration for your cooking? 
Chef Andrew Nam: I love to try traditional ethnic food across all cultures. I find that by tasting the extremes of cultural cooking you can take lighter elements that translate well to the American pallet.

What is your favorite thing about cooking?
Watching someone enjoy one of my creations for the first time. No question.

What’s your favorite meal or snack after a long night of cooking for others?
Sugar, specifically Toffee from Goody Two’s.

How did you get into the culinary arts?
Honestly… I needed a job! »READ MORE

A hungry little North Scottsdale birdie telling us that the Old Town Group, the creators of Scottsdale favorites including Stingray Sushi, Geish-a-Go-Go, Jimmy Woo’s, Spanish Fly and more has a new concept coming to North Scottsdale in the Spring. Not sure what the concept is just yet, but wondering what you would like to see. Give our poll a go-go for what you think is missing in North Scottsdale. Or comment with your insider details on the new project.

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Via SayNotes

The holiday season may seem long over, but that doesn’t mean the festivities are. The Chinese New Year is now upon us, and from traditional Chinese music and dance to a 5K marathon, Desert Living Today has rounded up the Valley of the Sun’s best ways to bring on the Year of the Dragon:

1. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, January 28, the Musical Instrument Museum will present traditional Chinese folk songs, dance, martial arts and original artwork. Learn even more about Chinese instruments in one of the docent-led mini-tours of the China exhibits, eat from a Chinese-inspired menu at the MIM Café, or make a fun, easy craft. Free with museum admission. »READ MORE

Ladies, these drinks are for you. Stingray Sushi, one of our favorite sushi restaurants, is mixing up a new menu of refreshing cocktails with a lady’s taste in mind.  Try the Sinful Orchid with Hennessy and Nigori Sake. Or Summer Sumo, which Stingray owner Bryan Chittenden calls, “crisp and refreshing.” And what woman doesn’t love the sweet, refreshing sip of a Watermelon Martini on a hot summer eve?

Try the new cocktails for just $6 during Happy Hour, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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.

After virtually (get it?) depriving you of food last week, this week’s Chow Down run-down is looking to ease you back into the wonderful world of food porn by going veggie. Well, that is if you discount the mass of meatheads that are oiling up to venture down to The Old Town Group’s job fair happening right now, but we digress. Get your fibrous fill of delicious meatless eats after the jump.  »READ MORE

(Check out a pic of the completed pool after the jump.)

Ladies and gentlemen, can I please have your attention? I’ve just been handed an urgent and horrifying news story. And I need all of you to stop what you’re doing and listen … Cannonball!

What we think Mr. Burgundy was trying to say is, day drinking in Downtown Scottsdale is about to get got a lot cooler (pool-er?) with the opening of Spanish Fly. Carved out of the old Drift Polynesian Lounge, the owners recently wrapped up a multi-million dollar renovation that transformed this former tiki bar into a sleek, sexy slice of Baja beach resort, including a shimmering swimming pool. That said, the only rooms here are poolside cabanas filled with daybeds, and the only body of water will be the hardbodies in the water. Hey-o!

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Tomorrow, March 22, Sprinkles Cupcakes will donate 100% of the revenues from its Red Cross Red Velvet cupcakes to the relief efforts in Japan

Aside from making a direct donation to the American Red Cross right now, there are many opportunities to support the relief efforts for the recent and devastating Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami that are happening all around the Valley. Open your hearts and your wallets to give to those in need and head to these local restaurants making an effort to support cause.

Today, March 21,  Sushi Roku will donate 25% off all their proceeds to the Red Cross. All you have to do is dine there for lunch or dinner.

From now until March 31, both Nobuo at Teeter House and Roka Akor will donate a portion of their proceeds to the Red Cross.

»READ MORE

Lots of weird local media news lately, if you care. Starting with good news. Good news, everybody. Not only is the Valley’s economic crash over, but print is back, baby! So says Arizona Foothills Magazine, in a rare piece of self promotion.

Meanwhile, the AZ Republic just bought themselves an s-ton of smoked meat, as in they signed on as the title sponsor of the Arizona BBQ Fest. Which was announced by the event’s founders in one of the most hilariously-obnoxious press releases ever!

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As the executive chef/co-owner of some of the Valley’s most stylish restaurants (Stingray, Geisha A Go-Go, Jimmy Woo’s and the all-new Spanish Fly) Andrew Nam obviously knows how to please the see-and-be-seen crowd. However, this Chicago transplant is more than just a master of pretty presentations. One of the first chefs to combine classic Japanese ingredients and techniques with bold Latin flavors, Nam also created the now ubiquitous lollipop roll (a seaweed- and rice-free roll where the fish and other ingredients are wrapped in sliced cucumber and then skewered on a wooden stick). Read more after the jump.

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Dine out on Thursday, November 10, at the Biltmore Fashion Park and help the Arizona Humane Society land those caauuuuteee little doggies in a good home. »READ MORE

Calling all gossip girls and dirty laundry-loving dudes, it’s DLT’s column dedicated to the Valley’s juiciest rumors, spottings and innuendos. Check in regularly for the latest (unconfirmable), but too-good-to-not-be true tidbits.

Is Sheriff Joe opening a restaurant named Pink (Boxer) Taco? Nope. But now that we’ve got your attention, we do have a scoop on a major shakeup in the local Food/PR biz involving Arpaio’s much-feared hitman spokesman.

»READ MORE

Calling all raw fish fanatics. In case you’re not obsessively monitoring chef Andrew Nam’s Twitter feed, we’ve got a flopping-fresh tuna tidbit. BTW If anyone’s come up with a better Twitter handle than Andrew’s, TweetTheKorean, we haven’t heard it.

»READ MORE

Calling all gossip girls and dirty laundry-loving dudes, it’s DLT’s column dedicated to the Valley’s juiciest rumors, spottings and innuendos. Check in regularly for the latest (unconfirmable), but too-good-to-not-be true tidbits.

Today we’ve got a Scottsdale dining dish that’s hot off the grill. Looks like the long-planned Samurai Cowboy project in Downtown Scottsdale is kaput. But fear not, fearless foodies. Turns out the owners (Stingray, Drift, Geisha A Go Go) are simply going in a new direction.

»READ MORE

Goodbye, stale 80s-style buildings! Hello, shiny-new era of retail entertainment! Your celebratory Biltmore plans after the jump.

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Number Four and counting. Here’s a redux of this week’s happenings on our favorite food blogs.

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So you’ve already tried chaining yourself to the Capital building to protest the AZ’s new anti-immigration bill, aka SB 1070. (Darn bolt cutters.) Why not try a slightly more subtle (and filling) form of protest by ordering up Stingray Sushi‘s new SB 1070 roll. »READ MORE