Partnership between ASU, Scottsdale’s Desert Discovery Center to produce research, exhibits about local environment There’s nothing new about Arizona residents looking for sustainable ways to live in the desert, but a recent United Nations report has made the matter a worldwide concern. Because of climate change, the UN says that by 2030 almost half of the global population will be living … Read More

There are gadflies at City Halls.  Every town or city has one, two or more. And then there are gadflies.  Like big gad, horse flies.  They don’t come any uglier or smellier than Mark Stuart in Scottsdale. It’s not that he’s anti-establishment.  Nothing much wrong with that.   It’s that he’s in La La Land.  But his music isn’t pretty.  And … Read More

One of the great Scottsdale stories of 2016 was the undeniable vibe that southern Scottsdale and her neighborhoods were an area on the move. Its strengths have long been known – proximity to Scottsdale’s thriving downtown and nearby freeways, a surging SkySong, new breweries – and the marketplace in the form of new families and residents started to respond. Mayor … Read More

Plans are underway to tap the further potential of the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall.  Click here for more info. This is smart planning by city staff and Mayor Jim Lane and the City Council. But these plans should not languish.  They should be funded as soon as they’re completed. Home to the Scottsdale Culinary Festival, arts festivals, Sunday concerts and … Read More

Michael Collins is the Mayor of Paradise Valley.  He likes to get things done.  He’s about the destination, not the journey.  So are most of the rest of the people serving on the Paradise Valley Town Council.  It’s a town of the accomplished.  It’s also a town started by the likes of O’Connor, Rehnquist and Goldwater. With historic names like … Read More

By Virginia Korte Last week I was officially sworn in to begin my second term on the City Council.  I am looking forward to 2017 – especially working with our new City Manager, Jim Thompson. In my inaugural remarks, I said, “My one promise to our citizens is not only to work hard, but continue to use my moral compass … Read More

A lot of cities like to talk a lot about “regional cooperation.”  The notion goes that if we all just get a long we’ll all be better for it. Well, in the case of Scottsdale and the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community let’s take a closer look. A couple of decades back it’s fair to say relations between the … Read More

How do you know you’re in Scottsdale? The beautiful view of the McDowell Mountains?  Indian Bend Wash?  A vibrant downtown?  Terrific public art? They all play a role. But then there is a little thing.  Like bus stops.  Nowhere else in the Valley is such thought given to their aesthetic.  In Scottsdale they are interesting, even noteworthy.  But in other … Read More

*On January 8th new Scottsdale City Manager Jim Thompson takes over from interim one Brian Biesemeyer.  It’s the best municipal trade since the Phoenix Suns absconded Charles Barkley from the Philadelphia 76ers.  Biesemeyer found bureaucracy to be bucolic.  That Scottsdale continued to succeed despite his management speaks to just how special a place it is.  Thompson has an energy, expertise … Read More

Bt Rachel Sacco This year marks Experience Scottsdale’s 30th anniversary, and we are kicking off a yearlong celebration hallmarking three decades of promoting travel and tourism in Scottsdale. We wanted to start that celebration with a sincere thank you to our members, partners, stakeholders and supporters. Thank you for being a part of the Experience Scottsdale story – whether you … Read More