Editor's Picks

The jukebox at the Rusty Spur Saloon has been spinnin’ tunes since the 1950s. The music’s been updated and live entertainment added, yet an Old West flavor still permeates this favorite watering hole. The tiny brick building in Old Town Scottsdale opened in 1921 as Farmers State Bank, and if you look closely, you’ll notice the old vault is still in place, only today it holds liquor, not cash. Look a little closer and you might spot the likes of Dierks Bentley, Jennifer Aniston, LeAnn Rimes, Brad Paisley, Jessi Colter or Mark Grace. “We have entertainment seven days and nights and no cover charge – like the Toby Keith song about why everybody loves this bar,” says owner Susan Anderson. It’s also why we happen to love the place,  in addition to its convenient location; it’s within walking distance of Scottsdale Stadium and Scottsdale Center for the Arts. 7245 E. Main St., Scottsdale, 480-425-7787, rustyspursaloon.com

 

Remember when Arizona was more about open desert and less about freeways and malls? All it will take to remind you is an hour or so on a handsome steed, roaming the wild frontier that is this gorgeous property in the South Mountain foothills just minutes from the busy city. Our valiant mount, “Desperado,” toured us past what we didn’t believe existed anymore – wild mustangs roaming free and herding happily mere feet away from our trail. We saw burrowing owls and ground squirrels who stared us down with their charming, fluffy confidence. And magically, with our native Gila Indian guide narrating the ride, we learned wonderful things about Native American history, from farming to preservation of culture to insider tribe lore. 5594 W. Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler, 602-225-0100, wildhorsepassresort.com

 

Yes, the outfits and makeup are Halloween chic, and the names in the program run the gamut from “Phyllis Killer” to “Fawn DelMee,” but anyone looking for the scripted equivalent of TV wrestling should stay home: The Arizona Derby Dames are bona fide athletes, and they skate to win. Five teams thrash it out on the flat rink roughly once a month January through September, and this year the league broke in its new digs at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix, azderbydames.com

 

Yoga purists may scoff, but Sutra’s unconventional hybrid offerings are just the thing for anyone whose bliss has morphed into blah. Instructors’ combination of basic yoga postures with classic kung fu moves gives a whole new meaning to “warrior pose,” and even if you’re no Jet Li enthusiast, it’s hard not to find your inner ninja after a few front kicks. Other funky Sutra “fusions” include ballet, sumba and belly dance yoga. 2317 N. Seventh St., Phoenix, 602-253-9525, sutramidtown.com

 

It’s been called many things: an enormous jellyfish, a floating margarita glass, an oversized model of a particular kind of female contraceptive. But whether you think it looks like a wormhole or see it as a luminous statement on fragility and transience in nature, there may be no better spot to get into a rigorous debate about the merits of public art than beneath Janet Echelman’s $2.4 million addition to the Downtown cultural scene, “Her Secret Is Patience” – preferably at night, and preferably after a couple saketinis at nearby Sens. Downtown Civic Space, 424 N. Central Ave., Phoenix

 

In 2004, Dena Patton of Casa Grande founded Chat, Chew & Chocolate – a social group set up simply for girlfriend time and chocolate – and women ate it up. Now CCC has 14 chapters in four states, with a total of 50 expected by the end of the year. “Leave your drama at the door” is the mantra, and monthly events are built around positive, inspirational women and their stories. chatchewandchocolate.com

 

Classical music aficionados rub elbows with urban hipsters and everyone in between at the intimate (and cheap) semi-regular performances organized by the Downtown Chamber Series, which has been serving up a solid program of music and art for almost 10 years. Each performance is staged at a different Downtown art venue and ranges from the truly classic (Mozart, Beethoven) to the more contemporary. Intermission gives plenty of time to gawk at the surrounding art – and the crowd. downtownchamberseries.org

 

Forego the wallet-busting prices at the local cineplex and head to the public library instead. New releases and popular titles often are checked out, but it’s a great way to catch up on those touchstone classics film buffs are always raving about (Akira Kurosawa, anyone?), or to rediscover an old fave. Part of the fun here is the chance to experience a bit of serendipity, like the difference between cuing up your favorite song on your iPod and catching it on the radio.

 

The view out of the second-story windows at the Burton Barr Central Library may be of a sprawling metropolis today, but it wasn’t always such, as any afternoon spent browsing the non-circulating collection in the Arizona Room can attest. From the oversized folio prints of the iconic photographs of Native Americans by Edward S. Curtis to the aerial surveys of Phoenix spanning four decades that allow you to track the city’s development (check out the decade-long process of clearing land for the I-10), the collection is a must for Arizona history buffs, or anyone who just wants to impress the occasional out-of-town guest with some local trivia. 1221 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, 602-262-4636, phoenixpubliclibrary.org

 

There may be no better recipe for a perfect Sunday than a bike and an empty stretch of road – that is, until a bass-thumping SUV goes roaring by and kills your peddling-zen. For those who prefer their nature with no octane, Silent Sundays at South Mountain has been the best thing since man invented the CamelBak, and this year the Phoenix Parks Department extended the program to North Mountain Park as well, closing both preserves to all motorized traffic one Sunday a month. phoenix.gov/PARKS/hikesoth.html

 

Just like the javelinas and coyotes that still skirt the edges of supermarket parking lots in Cave Creek, so too has another desert dweller adapted to the creep of suburbia – the local artist. They can be just as elusive, but come the last two weekends in November, they throw open their studios to the public. If visiting the almost 50 stops that make up the tour sounds overwhelming, you can sample what each has to offer on the Sonoran Arts League Website and print out a customized tour. sonoranartsleague.org

 

You can put one foot in the past and one in the future at the Dr. George M. Brockway House in Downtown Phoenix. The 100-year-old home has been restored and is now a hip place to rent for private gatherings. Think wine and cheese on the original sleeping porch, live music in the great room and guests on the wraparound porch that offers sweeping Downtown views. You can also have the place filled with pieces by local artists, courtesy of homeowners/artists Greg Esser and Cindy Dach, who also own nearby MADE art boutique. 506 E. Portland St., 602-614-8717, gregesser.com/brockway.html

 

A glass of rioja, Spanish guitar, saguaros by moonlight – it may sound sappy, but no matter what’s on the bill (flamenco guitar, Native American flute), even the most jaded Phoenicians find themselves seduced by the Old World charm of Friday nights on the Ullman Terrace. The fall concert series features a range of genres, while the spring series focuses on jazz, from Latin to blues. Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix, 480-941-1225, dbg.org

 

Downtown has 40 new evergreen elms in the Roosevelt Row area, thanks to a rallying cry from Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon’s office to green up the city. The effort brought together Valley Forward, local businesses and more than 100 shovel-wielding volunteers – college coeds, girl scouts, local residents and others – to line Fifth and Sixth streets with the trees. Today, the area is shadier, spiffier and part of a movement nationwide to inject some green into urban neighborhoods. rooseveltrow.org

 

You’ll do well to sit up straight and spit out your gum before you step inside this classroom. Patti Hannon, who’s as quick with a quip as she is with a ruler, performed as Sister in Boston, New York and Chicago before moving to Arizona in 2000. The actress refuses to hang up her habit, entering her ninth record-breaking season ruling the classroom with an iron fist. After teaching countless students all about the saints, sins, guilt and more, Sister now offers hilarious lessons on the sacraments of marriage and last rites, including her own wacky version of The Newlywed Game, in Late Nite Catechism III: ’Til Death Do Us Part. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale, 480-994-ARTS, scottsdaleperformingarts.org

 

A First- and Third-Friday staple, Pravus Gallery, which opened in 2006 in the nearby art complex Antispace before moving into its current location, features painting, photography, printmaking and sculptures in a variety of genres spanning comics to pop surrealism to fine contemporary. It also sells works Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. and features live music at many of its evening openings. 501 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix, 602-363-2552, pravusgallery.com

 

Located in Scottsdale’s Kierland Commons, Bacchus Wine Made Simple is a boutique wine bar and retail store focused on small-production vineyards, rare wines and wine accessories. While you might recognize a few names, most of the wines come from productions of less than 10,000 cases. And the best part: affordability. Sure, you’ll find premium bottles at $40 and higher, but there are plenty of divine options starting at $12 a bottle. Want to scope out something new? Tastings are held every Wednesday. 7122 E. Greenway Pkwy., Scottsdale. 480-368-1743, bacchusaz.com

 

The cars parked on the side of the road approaching the Chandler Municipal Airport is your first clue that the Hangar Café is not just for the pilots. Reasonably priced meals and a menu full of classic American breakfast and lunch fare bring locals back time and again. Get there early to enjoy prime patio seating, which offers an unbeatable view of planes taking off and landing. 1725 E. Ryan Road, Chandler, 480-899-6965

 

“Museum” as a concept doesn’t seem to fit here, but then again, there are few grown-up words appropriate to describe everything inside the new Children’s Museum. Suffice it to say, there’s plenty to keep adults entertained, too, perhaps none more giggle-inducing than the third-floor noodle forest. (Parents should know that by “noodles,” we mean those squiggly foam pool toys – more than 4,000 here, suspended from the ceiling.) Admission is free on First Fridays, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. 215 N. Seventh St., Phoenix, 602-253-0501, childrensmuseumofphoenix.org

 

Looking for a totally chill music experience? Fiddler’s Dream Coffeehouse, which celebrated its 22nd anniversary in January, offers music lovers a smoke-free, alcohol-free and sound-system-free affair. Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, Fiddler’s Dream is a nonprofit organization staffed by volunteers, and musicians receive a small stipend. No mics and no amps means a completely acoustic experience at this intimate venue. Call ahead for upcoming show information. 1702 E. Glendale Ave., Phoenix, 602- 997-9795, fiddlersdream.org

 

Since the inception of the Scottsdale Public Art Program in 1985, the city’s collection has grown to nearly 70 permanent and 30 temporary public art installations, including Donald Lipski’s The Doors, a walk-in kaleidoscope with an interactive audio component by Jim Green. For a sampling of Scottsdale’s public art and for driving directions to a self-guided tour, visit scottsdalepublicart.org/tour.php. You can also download maps of the city’s public art installations. 480-874-4645, scottsdalepublicart.org

 

Don’t be fooled by the name. Scottsdale’s Tuesday Tea Parties aren’t scone- and gossip-filled get-togethers for Grandma. They’re after-work restaurant-and-bar crawls for socializing and networking. Participants hobnob for 30 minutes at each of the four locations – Eli’s American Grille, Handlebar-J, Centro Paninoteca and Chop and Wok/Wok Star Bar – enjoying drink specials, free appetizers, giveaways and raffle prizes. The restaurant owners and their off-duty employees walk (yes, good ol’ fashioned walking) with the group to each location. Two local cab companies are on hand to give rides to the tired or tipsy, and part of the proceeds from T-shirt sales and a fund-raising booth go to the 100 Club of Arizona, a nonprofit organization that supports the families of injured or fallen police and fire personnel. scottsdalecvb.com

 

This is more than just a bowling alley. It’s a one-stop party spot for children and adults of all ages. In addition to the 44 lanes of bowling, you’ll find a billiards room, standard snack bar fare, more than 70 games in the arcade, and a bar and grill. Try Cosmic Bowling® for bowling and music in a fun atmosphere on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. 1160 S. Gilbert Road, Gilbert, 480-813-2695, bowlbrunswick.com

 

The Downtown Tempe Community took a lemon of a situation and made sweet lemonade this summer – actually, it’s more like sweet music. The nonprofit responsible for marketing Mill Avenue saw an opportunity in the former Harkins Centerpoint movie theater when the company responsible for redeveloping the space couldn’t close the deal in a souring real estate-based economy. The DTC and members of the arts/cultural community urged the developer to temporarily abandon the space and allow some form of community theater there. The result is MADCAP Theaters, which marked its grand opening in June. About 600 people showed up to the event, and additional shows have been scheduled for local bands, theater acts, a Rocky Horror Picture Show extravaganza and even a “back to school” party. Now that’s a dramatic entrance. 730 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, 480-634-5192, madcaptheaters.com

 

When local activist Kimber Lanning set out to create a public platform for unknown Phoenix musicians to make it big, who would’ve known that platform would be the METRO light rail? Every Tuesday at 6 p.m., a local band boards the light rail and woos travelers with three original tunes. They perform for one leg of the track and mingle with supporters on the way back. Lanning and a camera guy catch every beat, posting each performance online at thetraintracks.org, where fans can vote on their favorite. The top-three vote-getters will headline a concert at the Phoenix Art Museum, while the top band will be on-stage at the Circle K Tempe Music Festival next March.

 

Let’s face it: Our kids aren’t rushing out to play tag anymore, so their activity levels need a boost. Enter CrossFit Kids, an offshoot of CrossFit Scottsdale, which has been whipping Valley adults into shape since it opened last October. Combining the elements of proper fitness and nutrition with the right amount of fun to keep kids motivated, CrossFit Kids aims to teach healthy habits to kids ages 3 to 16, engaging them in simple, short workouts. Think dodge ball, jump roping, push-ups and nutrition lessons. Small classes and special attention from upbeat coach Luke Kayyem make this workout one your kids won’t soon abandon for the Xbox. 14885 N. 83rd Place, Scottsdale, 480-922-3253, crossfitscottsdale.com

 

This group is serious about cycling. Created five years ago by Arizona State University graduates, the group now consists of more than 100 bike fanatics. The name started as a joke, but TBAG stickers now adorn bike frames across Tempe. From beginners to up-and-coming Lance Armstrongs, TBAG welcomes riders of all levels. Training wheelers can join them for the Cupcake Ride, a short ride to a local cupcake shop for a treat along the trail. Other events include weekend bike bar-hopping, bike polo and tranquil rides around the Valley. TBAG’s six core volunteers also advocate for additional routes and rights for cyclists in Tempe. Wanna hop on? Follow TBAG’s blog for the latest. biketempe.org