Cosanti
This historic site is where the famous Paolo Soleri bronze and ceramic windbells are made and sold, along with pots, bowls and bronze sculptural pieces. The site also features Soleri’s innovative experimental architecture. On most weekday mornings, guests have an opportunity to witness the dramatic bronze casting process as artisans pour 2,400-degree molten bronze into handmade sand molds. 6433 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd., Paradise Valley, 480-948-6145, cosanti.com
Desert Stages Theatre
The award-winning nonprofit provides entertainment in a 219-seat theater, as well as the intimate, cabaret-style Actors’ Café. Highlights: The Spongebob Musical, Dec. 1-17; Catch Me If You Can, Feb. 9-25; Avenue Q, Mar. 15-30; and Mean Girls, Jr., Apr. 19-May 5. 7014 E. Camelback Rd., 480-483-1664, desertstages.org
Don Bluth Front Row Theatre
Renowned film director Don Bluth (The Secret of NIMH, An American Tail, Thumbelina) presents classic productions in an intimate 75-seat theater. Highlights: Damn Yankees, through Oct. 28; It’s a Wonderful Life, Nov. 16-Dec. 23; John Loves Mary, Jan. 25-March 2; Holmes and Watson, March 21-April 27; The Last Romance, May 16-June 21; God’s Favorite, July 18-Aug. 24; and Anastasia, Sept. 12-Oct. 26. 8989 E. Via Linda, 480-314-0841, donbluthfrontrowtheatre.com
Kerr Cultural Center
This quaint performing arts venue was once the home of Louise Lincoln Kerr, an active composer as well as a gifted and well-trained musician who played the viola with several symphonies. World music, indie folk, jazz, soul, baroque pop and more grace the stage each season. 6110 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-596-2660, asukerr.com
Ravenscroft Theater
This new, 30,000-square-foot performance space boasts a state-of-the-art sound system for its intimate 200-seat theater. The music venue also offers the Jazzbird Lounge, which hosts popular and up-and-coming local musicians and serves wine and local craft beers. Highlights: The United States Army Field Band Jazz Ambassadors, Nov. 10; Myron McKinley, Nov. 18; and Ying Quartet, Feb. 24. 8445 E. Hartford Dr., theravenscroft.com
Scottsdale Artists’ School
Working professional artists travel from across the country to teach at this nonprofit school, which offers more than 200 diverse programs each year. Instruction is geared toward artists of all levels, from absolute beginners to advanced artists, with options that include one- to five-day workshops, weekly classes, a premier youth and teen academy, destination workshops and open studios sessions. 3720 N. Marshall Way, 480-990-1422, scottsdaleartschool.org
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
The center offers diverse, high-quality presentations of classical and world music, dance, jazz, theater, film, educational programs and festivals. Highlights: The Mavericks, Nov. 18, Rhythm of The Yuletide Dance Christmas Special, Nov. 24; Jake Shimabukuro: Christmas in Hawai’i, Nov. 25; Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández Presents: A Merry-Achi Christmas, Dec. 16; and SFJAZZ Collective, Mar. 21. 7380 E. Second St., 480-499-8587,
scottsdaleperformingarts.org
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
A museum dedicated to contemporary art, architecture and design that challenges expectations, SMoCA has four main galleries that showcase changing exhibitions and works from the museum’s growing permanent collection, plus an outdoor courtyard featuring Knight Rise, a Skyspace enclosure by James Turrell. Highlights: Christina Fernandez: Multiple Exposures, through Jan. 7; Earth and Sky, through Jan. 7; Phillip K. Smith III: Three Parallels, through Jan. 14; Roelof Knol: the space in between, through July 28; and Janel Garza: Environ, through Aug. 1. 7374 E. Second St., 480-874-4666, smoca.org
Scottsdale Rodeo Museum
Open November through May, the museum features historical cowboy and rodeo artifacts and memorabilia dating back to the 1950s. 3806 N. Brown Ave., 602-616-6901, scottsdalerodeomuseum.com
Scottsdale’s Museum of the West
Celebrating the art, history, culture and unique stories of the American West, past and present, Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West features rotating exhibits, gallery tours and educational activities. Highlights: Western Pop: Andy Warhol & Billy Schenck, through Nov. 26; Dazzling Array: The Richard A. Gates Collection of Native American Jewelry (ongoing); and Women of the West: Highlights from The Fran and Ed Elliott Southwest Women Artists Collection (ongoing). 3830 N. Marshall Way, 480-686-9539, scottsdalemuseumwest.org
Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center
Injured and orphaned wildlife get a second chance at this nonprofit, which rescues bobcats, wolves, deer, owls and javelina. 27026 N. 156th St., 480-471-9109, southwestwildlife.org
Thursday ArtWalk
Scottsdale Gallery Association hosts this weekly celebration featuring gallery show openings and artist receptions. Downtown Scottsdale, scottsdalegalleries.com
USS Arizona Memorial Gardens
A tribute to those who were aboard the USS Arizona when it was attacked and sank at Pearl Harbor, the serene 5-acre gardens feature a piece of the ship’s original boathouse along with 1,512 commemorative columns – each representative of a life aboard the ship that day. 7455 N. Pima Rd., Salt River Indian Community, 480-362-2700, memorialgardensatsaltriver.com
Wonderspaces
Visitors interact with and become part of the exhibit at this evolving art-show experience featuring a dozen immersive installations spread across a 16,000-square-foot space. Scottsdale Fashion Square, 7014 E. Camelback Rd., arizona.wonderspaces.com
