Andaz regional media highlights

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ATHLEISURE!

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Jonas

HOW DOES A TEEN IDOL-TURNEDMUSIC MOGUL MAKE IT IN THE MOVIES?

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NOT TO BE MISSED EVENTS • HAPPENINGS • PROMOTIONS

ILIKAI HOTEL & LUXURY SUITES

ILLUME BY PAUL FERRANTE

ANDAZ SCOTTSDALE RESORT & SPA

Be the leading star in your Hawaii vacation at the iconic Ilikai Hotel & Luxury Suites– internationally recognized in the opening shot of the hit TV show “Hawaii Five-0.” Luxurious suites offer full designer kitchens, upscale furnishings, stylishly furnished balconies with stunning oceanfront and skyline views, plus countless amenities for a picture-perfect stay.

Exquisite wrought iron and glass lanterns, hand-crafted by LA-based lighting design firm Paul Ferrante, ornament a 200-year old oak tree on the grounds of the legendary Ojai Valley Inn & Spa. On Friday evenings, complimentary champagne is served beneath the luminescence of this sparkling al-fresco lounge-meets-artinstallation.

Experience Scottsdale’s newest resort featuring 201 bungalow-style guest rooms and suites, the Turquoise Pool, spa, and Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen specializing in contemporary Sonoran cuisine. Through the Artist in Residence program, guests learn and create alongside painters and potters from the nearby Cattle Track community.

www.ilikaihotel.com | 866-406-2782 1777 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96815

Ojai Valley Inn & Spa | www.ojairesort.com Paul Ferrante | www.paulferrante.com

Call 480.368.1234 or visit www.scottsdale.andaz.hyatt.com

FILM INDEPENDENT AT LACMA

IN THE LAND OF SUNSHINE

SEA MOUNTAIN INN

Film Independent at LACMA offers weekly cinematic experiences, including premieres and preview screenings, classic films and in-depth conversations with today’s most visionary artists.

For more information and tickets, visit filmindependent.org/lacma or lacma.org.

On view through February 19, 2017 at the Pasadena Museum of California Art, approximately 90 paintings ranging from the mid-1800s to present demonstrate the diverse artistic responses to the California coast and culture. Also on view: Lloyd Hamrol/Joan Perlman: “a sky in the palm of a hand.”

The most sensual hotel and day spa in the world, Sea Mountain luxury resort has 24 hour mineral water pools and 24 hour lifestyle dance lounges for guests. Also included are couples and women only pools and spas. We are ranked the ultimate celebrity secret in Palm Springs.

Leo S. Bing Theater at LACMA 5905 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90036

490 East Union Street, Pasadena, CA 91101 626.568.3665 | pmcaonline.org

21spa.com 760-251-4744

TRAVEL

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CALIFORNIA AND THE WE ST

Jonathan Elderfield Associated Press

Andrew Peacock Getty Images/Lonely Planet Image

Mark Boster Los Angeles Times

Trinette Reed Photography

Ron Ruhoff Associated Press

Sacramento Bee / MCT via Getty Images

Barry Winiker Getty Images

Mountain View Cemetery

Mary Knox Merrill Christian Science Monitor/Getty Images

Apex

10 SPOTS TO PICNIC Pack your basket and be prepared for a visual feast too. As you fill your plate, take in the sights of the Grand Canyon or a Rocky Mountain setting, spread your blanket in a Seattle or Pismo Beach park, grab a table at a Portland bar or a Napa Valley winery, or try to keep cool in the shade amid cliffs and natural springs outside of Las Vegas. L4

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YOUR SCENE

LETTERS

CALIFORNIA BUCKET LIST

EDITOR’S CHOICE

Lake Tahoe Feeling blue? Head to Lake Tahoe, where that color has so many shades — from dark Levi to pale baby blanket — that it is sure to cheer you. Better yet, rent a kayak or a canoe and dip your toes in one of the loveliest lakes in the world.

What: The north shore is anchored by Tahoe City, a bustling resort town with restaurants, inns and marinas with boat rentals. Boat rental shops also dot the lake. On the southwest shore, Emerald Bay State Park contains the 1929 Nordic-style mansion Vikingsholm, and the “Tea House” on Fannette Island, the only island in all of Lake Tahoe. Summer temps are in the 70s, but the chill waters often make it feel cooler. All in all, it makes for a refreshing adventure.

Highland Springs Ranch & Inn

HIGHLAND SPRINGS Ranch & Inn in Cherry

Valley has a lavender festival at its 123 Farm in June.

You don’t have to go to Washington state for a celebration of lavender as the Sequim, Wash., story suggested [“They Just Love Their Lavender,” by Sara Lessley, May 21].

Highland Springs Ranch & Inn in Cherry Valley, north of Beaumont, has an annual Lavender Festival (hsresort.com/thelavender festival). This year it’s June 9-11 and 16-18, and you can stay on the property.

TOM KEISER Pasadena

Travel tips too Re: “Readers’ Thrifty Vacation Advice,” On the Spot, by Catharine Hamm, May 21: Here are two of my favorite travel tips: Take an extra cloth bag with a zipper that you can use on the return trip as a carry-on to contain all the souvenirs you bought.

Wear old clothes for a few days; then throw (or give) them away and wear new

T-shirts or clothes. The back streets of Paris and San Francisco have small shops with inexpensive, beautiful clothes. This will save on laundry.

LAURA R. NORRIS San Diego

Try this eatery In the Weekend Escape about Santa Maria, (“Sear Pleasures,” April 30), writer Irene Lechowitzky recommended Jocko’s in Nipomo.

Jocko’s is good but the best in the north Santa Barbara County area is the Hitching Post in Casmalia (www.hitchingpost1.com), not the one in Buellton.

That one is good, but the Hitching Post in Casmalia offers all-inclusive dinners with great portions and good drinks. It’s authentic, filled with ranchers and locals. Its historic building is out of the Old West.

Of interest is a Japanese garden and koi pond to the rear of the building.

Hard to find and hard to get to, but it’s the best. If I lived in the Santa Ynez Valley, I’d be a regular.

BILL PARTRIDGE Torrance

How to reach us Phone: (213) 237-5000 Email: travel@latimes. com

Mailing address: Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012

Subscription services: (800) 252-9141

I N T H E C H I P S O N A S U N N Y G I B R A LTA R DAY Gregory Moran and his wife, Cindy, in April took a 16-day Atlantic cruise. At their port call in Gibraltar, they were taking in the scene by a small café near St. Michael’s Cave. Gregory saw another traveler purchase some chips, which the nervy Barbary macaque snatched and ate. The Manhattan Beach resident used an iPad to capture the thief.

— Denise Florez

TO SUBMIT A PHOTO

L.A. World Affairs Council Meet political leaders, artists, academics and business leaders on a 15-day tour of Israel and Jordan organized by the Los Angeles World Affairs Council. Highlights in Israel include meetings with Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Knesset. A swim in the Dead Sea, an excursion to a winery in the Golan Heights and a visit to the West Bank and several Palestinian towns are also on the itinerary. In Jordan, participants will meet with a U.S. Embassy official, tour Amman, visit Petra and Wadi Rum, and experience

Wander off beaten path with this duo Uncover the day-to-day life (and the actual cost) as a couple backpack on less traveled roads through Afghanistan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Georgia and Iran.

Name: Lostwithpurpose.com What it does: A twentysomething couple encourage cross-cultural understanding and inspire travel through sharing experiences and tips on visas, budgeting, transportation and more.

What’s hot: The first thing you’ll notice is the large, almost cinematic quality of the photos. Dig into the “Guides” section and you’ll find detailed info such as, “Here’s exactly how much it costs to backpack in Kyrgyzstan,” or “Over land from Armenia to Iran via the Agarak/Norduz border cross-

ing.” Blogs by global backpackers are not new, but Alex and Sebastiaan have mastered online travel content. Even if your adventures won’t take you to these remote destinations, check out their general tips such as “essential camera advice for beginner travel photographers.”

What’s not: Adult language is sometimes used. It’s not a big deal, considering their audience is mostly twentysomethings, but parents looking to expand their children’s travel horizons should exercise caution.

— JEN LEO

Neale Clark Getty Images

Valletta is the principal port city of which Mediterranean country?

Portugal Malta Spain Answer below. Source: National Geographic Bee

AIRFARES eval city of Rouen and the famed Normandy beaches, site of the D-Day invasion of World War II. A choice of excursions, including biking and other recreational activities, are included in the fare.

Dates: Weekly sailings are available through early November.

Price: $3,549 per person, double occupancy. Includes accommodations, excursions, tips and beverages, including wine and spirits.

International airfare not included.

Info: Uniworld, (866) 883-7230, www.uniworld.com/en —Rosemary McClure Raad Adayleh Associated Press

A TOUR of Israel and Jordan

includes a stop in Petra, an ancient Jordanian city.

a Bedouin dinner.

Dates: Oct. 16-30 Price: $6,785 per person, double occupancy, based on 15 participants. $1,710 single supplement. Includes accommodations, most meals and all sightseeing and excursion fees.

International airfare to and from Tel Aviv not included.

Info: Los Angeles World Affairs Council, (424) 258-6160, www.lat.ms/israelandjordan — Anne Harnagel FRANCE

Cruise the Seine Be one of the first to set sail on Uniworld’s new ship, Joie de Vivre, on an eight-day cruise on the Seine River through Paris and Normandy.

The riverboat will dock in Paris, where it will spend two days. The Joie de Vivre, which launched in March, will also visit Richard the Lionheart’s Château Gaillard overlooking the Seine in Les Andelys, Monet’s home in Giverny, the medi-

ITALY

Fast cars, slow food Get behind the wheel of Italy’s luxury vehicles on Zicasso’s 10-day tour of Emilia-Romagna’s “Motor Valley.”

Highlights include Modena, home to Maserati and Pagani; Bologna, home to Lamborghini and Ducati motorbikes; and Maranello, home to Ferrari. Participants will tour the factories and museums of the five brands; experience a Maserati, Lamborghini and Ferrari on private drives and on a race track, and test their skill as a Formula 1 pit crew member during a simulation. Once they roll to a stop, participants can savor fresh Parmesan on a dairy farm, sample fresh Parma ham and aged balsamic vinegars, and learn to craft specialty pastas.

Dates: Available year round Price: From $4,129 per person, double occupancy. Includes nine nights’ accommodations, breakfast included; most meals, five test drives, guided factory and museum tours, cooking class and tastings. International airfare not included.

Info: Zicasso, www.lat.ms/carsand cuisine — Anne Harnagel

COOL DEALS AT HOT SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ., SPAS When Arizona sizzles, prices plummet. That’s why some posh resorts in the Scottsdale area offer deep summer room discounts. Here’s your chance to sample the good life — at a fraction of the high-season cost. And the triple-digit heat? Relax, there’s always the pool or indoor spa to keep your cool.

The deals: I found rooms for random dates in July and August at the Royal Palms Resort and Spa for $199 a night and up. Info: www.royalpalmshotel.com. Rooms at the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia start at $129 a night using code SUMFUN1 for stays June 1 to Sept. 30.

Info: www.lat.ms/montelucia. And the Stay More, Save More deal at the Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa had rates as low as $112 a night. Info: www.lat.ms/scottsdaleandaz — Mary Forgione

MORE DEALS ONLINE

GEO QUIZ

WEB BUZZ

CALIFORNIA

ISRAEL AND JORDAN

In 2017, Travel has created a California bucket list. We’ll feature one experience each Sunday. For the full list, go to latimes.com/cabucketlist.

Send unaltered original files to yourscene-travel@latimes.com or post them at latimes.com/ yourscene. Photographers agree that The Times may reproduce photos in any format.

TOURS & CRUISES Women’s backpacking getaway If you prefer a hearty hike to a scenic drive, grab your mountain boots and head for Northern California for a new women’s vacation experience organized by REI Adventures. The four-day tour, Yosemite Women’s Backpacking, Half Dome, is designed for fit women backpackers looking for a challenging adventure in one of America’s most popular national parks. Participants, traveling five to 12 miles per day, will hike from the valley floor of Yosemite National Park to the summit of Half Dome on a trail that will take them through high-country meadows, by waterfalls and to the edge of alpine lakes. Female guides lead the way, sharing Yosemite lore, preparing meals and helping guests hone their backcountry skills.

Dates: Aug. 31–Sept. 3 Price: From $949 per person, double occupancy. Includes guides, meals, tents, campsite and permit fees.

Transportation not included.

Info: REI Adventures, (800) 6222236, www.rei.com/adventures — Rosemary McClure

Info: www.visitinglaketahoe .com. Kayak and canoe rentals from about $40, www.tahoeboating.com.

— CHRIS ERSKINE

Malta

Flowers not too far afield

Find bargains on hotels, airfares and packages on the daily deal blog at latimes.com/travelblog.

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HONOLULU American, Delta, Hawaiian, United, Virgin America United United United LAS VEGAS American, Southwest, United, Virgin America American, Southwest, United American, Southwest, United American, JetBlue American, United

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Andaz and other resorts in Scottsdale, Ariz.

DENVER American, Frontier, Southwest, United, Virgin America Frontier, Southwest, United American, Southwest, United Delta, Southwest, United

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Don Riddle

CHICAGO American, Frontier, United, Virgin America American, United American, United American, Delta American, Delta, United

NEW YORK-NEWARK, N.J. $398 American, Delta, United, Virgin America 398 American, Delta, Southwest, United 398 American, Southwest, United 384 American, Delta, JetBlue 389 American, Southwest, United

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ATLANTA American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, United American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, United American, Delta, Southwest, United American, Delta, Southwest, United

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PHOENIX American, Delta, Southwest, United American, Southwest American, Southwest American, Delta Southwest, American

SAN FRANCISCO American, Delta, United, Virgin America 165 American, United, Southwest 196 American, United 116 American, Delta, JetBlue 138 American, Southwest, United

$216 238 224 178 248

SEATTLE Alaska, Delta, Virgin America Alaska, United Alaska, United JetBlue, Southwest Alaska, United

WASHINGTON, D.C. $416 American, Delta, JetBlue, United, Virgin America 459 American, Delta, United 469 American, United 448 American, Delta, JetBlue 431 American, Delta, Southwest, United

sorincolac Getty Images/iStockphoto

TROPICAL serenity awaits on

Rarotonga in the Cook Islands.

COOK ISLANDS FOR $795

Visit the Cook Islands for $795 round trip from LAX on Air New Zealand. The fare is for departures on Saturdays from Aug. 26-Sept. 24, Oct. 21-Dec. 15 and Jan. 20-March 31.

Returns are on Fridays. You must stay at least six days but not more than 20. Buy your ticket by June 10.

Info: (800) 262-1234, www.air newzealand.com Source: Airfarewatchdog.com INTERNATIONAL AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND* LAX $1,112-$1,495 Air New Zealand, Air Pacific, Air Tahiti Nui, American, Fiji, Hawaiian, Qantas, Virgin Australia CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO LAX $313 Alaska, Aeromexico, American, Delta, United, Virgin America LONDON* LAX $1,134-$1,384 American, Air N.Z., British, Delta, KLM, Lufthansa, Norwegian, United, Virgin Atlantic PARIS* LAX $1,106-$1,353 Aer Lingus, Air France, Air Tahiti Nui, Am’can, British, Delta, KLM, Lufthansa, Norwegian, Swiss, United SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA* LAX $1,377-$1,647 Air N.Z., American, Delta, Fiji, Korean, Qantas, United, Virgin Australia TOKYO* LAX $926-$1,461 All Nippon, American, Delta, JAL, Korean, Malaysian, Singapore, United VANCOUVER, CANADA LAX $349 Air Canada, Alaska, Delta, United, WestJet Restricted round-trip airfares as researched on Thursday, the day before the Travel section goes to press. Fares change daily, and availability is not assured. Fares, which may involve a change of planes, are for airlines serving Los Angeles International (LAX), Orange County/John Wayne (SNA), Burbank/Bob Hope (BUR), L.A. Ontario (ONT) and Long Beach (LGB). Domestic fares and international airfares include taxes and fees. *These international fares vary because of differing fuel surcharges on different airlines.

Sources: Sabre reservation system, airlines and Web

Fresh Start

FINDS T R AV E L

Art in Scottsdale

For a home-like experience, a keypad access code sent to guests electronically grants them entry to The Butler Hotel in San Luis Obispo.

HOMEY IN SLO

The Butler Hotel (thebutlerhotel.com; from $199), located in San Luis Obispo’s MoCa District, won’t take a reservation over the phone, but that’s by design.

Opened last summer, the six-room hotel calls itself a VRBO (Vacation Rental By Owner) property with hotel-style rooms, where guests don’t have to wait at a reception desk to check in.

“We’re there if you need us, but a lot of people like that they don’t have to deal with anyone if they don’t want to,” says general manager Keilah Smith.

Reservations are made online. One week before a stay, Smith emails the keypad access code for the front Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa celebrates the area’s desert culture with door and hotel room, along with the Wi-Fi password indigenous art and foliage along with seminars by local artists. and her personal mobile phone number to the expected guest. On the day of arrival, she texts the same inforCattleTrack Arts Compound has been thriving as a working artist community mation so nobody needs to sift through an inbox. in Scottsdale, Arizona, since the 1930s, so it was only natural that the Andaz Local architect George Garcia maintained the building’s metal-and-steel industrial bones while Scottsdale Resort & Spa (scottsdale.andaz.hyatt.com; from $350) would turn designing the rooms with monochromatic gray to its neighbor for a redesign inspired by the desert art movement. mid-century décor. His “Andaz made art the centerpiece of their hotel,” says CattleTrack daughter Alex Garcia, who artist Mark McDowell, who oversaw sourcing, production, and works at The Broad in Los installation of art at the 23-acre property. “They have looked to the Angeles, curated the artwork.

Sometimes holiday artists here. We’re a block away and happen to be woven deeply into Each room features an abstract madness calls for a expressionist reproduction by the fabric of Scottsdale’s cultural history.” vacation. Ojai Valley Inn artists such as Cy Twombly Overlooking Camelback and Mummy mountains, Andaz Scottsdale & Spa offers a Winter and Mark Rothko, and a has 201 bungalow-style rooms and suites surrounded by saguaro, Family Fun package phonograph waits in the prickly pear, and barrel cactus, bougainvillea, pine trees, olive trees, and (ojairesort.com; $522 per library lounge to spin guests’ night) through February palo verde, the state tree of Arizona. The Turquoise Pool offers private choice of jazz records. > 28. It includes a spacious cabanas, while the on-site Palo Verde Spa & Apothecary features

climate-controlled outdoor treatment rooms.

Each week, the resort spotlights an artist-in-residence. Guests can talk with CattleTrack artists while they are working or participate in an informal pottery class, a photography demonstration, a musical performance, or even a magic act.

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room, breakfast for two adults and two children, a picnic lunch, and s’mores at the Wallace Neff Heritage Bar Courtyard.

BOTTOM: OJAI VALLEY INN & SPA

HOT TIP

WHERE WE LIVE

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ARTS ISSUE

OU RVE NTURAB LVD.COM

SIX DOLLARS

FEB/MAR 2017

Calabasas | Encino | Sherman Oaks | Studio City | Tarzana | Toluca Lake | Woodland Hills

WHERE WE LIVE | WEEKENDER

Desert Designs With the arrival of the new Andaz, a vibrant art scene takes center stage in Scottsdale.

WRITTEN BY DARREN

ELMS

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he paintings and pencil drawings of Mark McDowell offer a window into a storied life that includes a stint in a traveling circus as a young man. There are beautiful acrobats balancing on horses, floating instruments, vehicles in motion … all rendered in vibrant color palettes and affable sincerity.

For much of his 30 years as a frequently-exhibited and published artist, Mark has enjoyed a prominent residence at Cattle Track Arts & Preservation.

It’s a literal residence if you count his home, also located on the property.

Opened in 1936, the compound serves as a haven for creatives—including artists, jewelers, potters, blacksmiths, printers and performers—to craft their works in an environment that prizes collaboration and creativity.

When Mark moved to Scottsdale a few decades ago, the landscape of his adopted city was more desert than development. Over a beer at a local bar where a trio of buddies (first-class acts who performed with the likes of Glen Campbell and Bruce Springsteen) plays for an enthusiastic clientele, he laments the physical changes to the area—a smattering of new homes and resorts that often overwhelm the serenity of the Camelback Mountain neighborhoods. But there are exceptions.

When the Andaz announced it would take over an outdated resort only a few blocks from the Cattle Track compound, Mark and his fellow artists might have raised a weary eyebrow at the specter of more unsightly alterations. Instead the Andaz honored the low-profile setup of the previous resort and even formed a mutually-beneficial partnership with its new neighbors.

Alongside a design team brought on to bring modernity into the existing structures and expansive grounds, Mark was employed by Andaz to breathe some mid-century whimsy into the ambience. His curated assemblage includes sculptures by Jonathan Adler, folk art by Alexander Girard and a prominent display of Cattle Track originals and reprints throughout the rooms and common areas. Even the colorful mugs waiting on the breakfast table are handmade by local ceramic artist Mary Van Dusen.

The blueprint of the new Andaz is nearly identical to the Cottonwood Suites it replaces. Rather than build up, the hotel preserved the 201 onestory bungalows scattered around the property to maintain the stunning views of Camelback Mountain. The overall aesthetic takes cues from the era of Eames, with its mod furniture choices, wood accents and colorful palette. In fact, each bungalow is marked with its own signature hue, taken from the traditional color wheel of the local Zuni tribe.

The wall-to-wall glass of the lobby and adjoining restaurant brings the outdoors in for an immersive experience. Chef Adam Sheff’s kitchen functions in full view of his guests as he makes creative dishes to rival the artistic inspirations of his venue. These include small-plate and shareable dishes that draw influence from the Sonoran desert, local specialties and Chef Adam’s Middle Eastern background. Joined with a craft cocktail or glass of wine, you’re in for a real treat.

When you’re not taking advantage of the spa, pool or fitness center located on property, the Andaz encourages you to explore the Paradise Valley it calls home. This includes a visit to the Cattle Track Arts Compound, where Mark will gladly give you the VIP tour.

For more on Andaz Scottsdale, visit scottsdale.andaz.hyatt.com. To learn more about Cattle Track Arts Compound and its resident artists, visit cattletrack.org.

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CREATIVE COMMUNE Mid-century inspirations at the new Andaz; below: Cattle Track artist Matt Magee

ourventurablvd.com

RESO RTS | H O M E S | TRAVE L | A DVENTU RE

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017

AN ART-INSPIRED GETAWAY IN

ARIZONA

Finding rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation in Scottsdale.

BY AMALIA MCGIBBON

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At the center of the resort, the guest house is an elegant expression of mid-century modern architecture and serves as a social gathering place for guests and locals. The design, from Delawie Architects, includes floor-to-ceiling glass walls to highlight the inviting indoor restaurant and lounge spaces. The exterior’s expansive patio and fire pits encourage guests to sit and socialize, while the interiors reflect a mix of modern classics and midcentury interpretations.

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he weather forecast said 105˚ in Scottsdale.

Yikes!, I thought, I’m a California girl, born and raised, and ‘temperate’ is all I know. What wardrobe do you pack for that kind of heat?

How do you emotionally prepare?? There was no need to fret, I soon learned; the recently opened Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa has everything covered.

The resort is situated on 23 acres of sweeping desert landscape at the base of Camelback Mountain. I’ve always thought that one of the markers of a truly great property is its ability to take the hand that Mother Nature dealt it—be it green slopes or red rocks, rolling fog or shimmering heat—and convince you there’s no better environ for a vacation.

Andaz Scottsdale manages this feat with remarkable aplomb.

All of the resort’s carefully curated comforts flatter and elevate its desert locale: from the flip-flops (instead of slippers) placed next to the bathrobes in each room, to the complimentary frozen drink served poolside every day at noon, to the massage menu featuring essential Sonoran oils, and the flawless landscaping that mixes 50-foot pine trees with giant cacti and desert wildflowers.

There is no real lobby or front desk at Andaz Scottsdale; travelers check in via iPad while sipping homemade iced tea in the resort’s “Guest House.” The 201 bungalow-style guest rooms and suites— ranging in size from 350 to 1,800-square-feet—are grouped in 68 | G E N T R Y D E S T I N AT I O N S

clusters of four to six units connected by meandering pathways and communal courtyards with firepits.

It reminds me of an artists’ colony, and indeed the resort’s midcentury design is the result of a collaboration with many talented painters, ceramicists, photographers, fiber artists, and textile designers. Spacious rooms draw inspiration from the 1950’s desert art scene with an eclectic mix of bright colors, folk art, and cultural patterns. They feature skylights, beamed ceilings, sliding barn doors, and front terraces with colorfully cushioned “banco” seating.

The resort’s glass-walled restaurant, Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen, serves locally sourced, shareable plates from Executive Chef Adam Sheff. There’s no official breakfast, lunch, or dinner hour—you can order whatever you want, whenever you want.

The all-day New American menu features locally-inspired delicacies like the Blue Corn Short Stack with orange-poppyseed custard and rye whiskey syrup, and Whole Trout a la Plancha with a pecan romesco sauce. You can also pull up a stool at the restaurant bar to munch on snacks like lamb jerky, lavender almonds, or blistered shishito peppers, alongside craft cocktails like the Diamondback Fizz with Olmeca Altos tequila, grapefruit, lime, and jalapeno agave.

Then, of course, there’s the on-site “Palo Verde Spa & Apothecary,” a place where nature and grace intertwine. The 12,000square-foot spa features four indoor and three outdoor treatment rooms, outdoor hydrotherapy pools, a nail and hair salon, eucalyptus

A glass box display kitchen (opposite) featuring innovative use of plancha cooking techniques puts Executive Chef Adam Sheff’s creations on full display. Your introduction to the Andaz experience begins when you enter the guest house (left), Andaz’s fresh answer to the hotel lobby. It feels like the inviting living room of a good friend, albeit one with fabulous taste in art and furniture. The spectacular Turquoise Pool (below) is a perfect spot to soak up both the sun and the scene.

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Located on 23 acres in Paradise Valley, less than two miles north of Old Town Scottsdale, the mid-century inspired resort features 201 bungalow-style guestrooms and suites.

Rooms feature state-of-the-art technology and entertainment, as well as private terraces, including some with outdoor showers.

steam rooms, outdoor relaxation lounges and an exclusive private pool for guests. Guest favorites include the Sonoran Scrub, a customized body scrub using desert salts, agave infused sugar and ultra-fine mesquite buffing grains; and the Cactus Couture, a luxurious mani-pedi combo using a prickly pear exfoliating scrub and rich shea butter cream.

It would seem that Andaz Scottsdale has been designed to encourage the laziest of vacations, but there are treasures to behold if you venture off-site. Visit the Cattle Track Arts Compound, a collective of working artists less than a mile from the resort and one of Scottsdale’s best-kept secrets. Originally built in the 1930s, the complex is currently home to six full-time residents and 35 working artists. Andaz Scottsdale has an artistin-residence program that allows resort guests to interact with these painters, dancers, photographers, and even blacksmiths—so be sure to inquire about the interactive workshops on offer.

I also highly recommend a visit to the nearby Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s muchloved winter home and architectural laboratory. With its low-pitched roofs, overhanging eaves, and open floorplan, the inspiring site is a prime example of Wright’s “Prairie Style” architecture. Take the 90-minute guided tour for a peek into the dramatic Living Room, the Cabaret Theater, and Wright’s living quarters.

Old Town Scottsdale has its own charms too, with art galleries, boutique shops, and a trendy restaurant scene. Definitely book a table at FnB Restaurant, where Chef Charleen Badman, a James Beard award semifinalist in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017, cooks globally-accented food that showcases the best of Arizona’s abundant farming and agricultural community. I particularly enjoyed the Pink Grouper with green olive relish, fennel, and grapefruit, and the Soft Scrambled Duck Eggs with hedgehog mushrooms and cultured butter toast.

FnB’s adjoining eight-seater bar highlights a different growing region every month and is a favorite among wine lovers. If you’re in the mood for something a bit more rambunctious, head down the road to Counter Intuitive, an intimate cocktail lounge, which changes its theme—i.e., décor, food, and drinks—several times a year.

Andaz Scottsdale was recently recognized on Condé Nast Traveler’s 2017 “Hot List” (one of just 22 properties in the U.S.) and for good reason: the turquoise pool, the casita-inspired bungalows, the jagged mountains, and the endless sky all make it a seriously special destination.

Nightly room rates are seasonally based, starting at $399 per night during peak season.

Suite pricing starts at $2,500 during peak season. www.andazscottsdale.com ◆ G E N T R Y D E S T I N AT I O N S | 71

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T6⎮TORONTO STAR THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017

ON ON1

>> TRAVEL > HOTELS

Art finds place to stay in Arizona JENNIFER ALLFORD SPECIAL TO THE STAR

PARADISE VALLEY, ARIZ.—Walking to your room at the Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa is like meandering through an idyllic desert village, all sun shining and birds singing in the pine trees.

When you arrive and set your bags down on the terrace, you imagine sitting back on the bright pillows with your morning coffee and paper and nodding to your neighbours. I haven’t even walked in the door and I never want to leave.

Inside my bungalow, one of 201 on the 9.3-hectare site, I find gorgeous colours, textures and shapes. The rooms are inspired by 20th-century artists and feature prints, etchings and paintings (as well as a leather sleeve or the chain lock) by artists from the nearby Cattle Track Arts Compound.

In keeping with the Andaz mission of blending the local community into its properties, the resort has a visiting artists program with Cattle Track. Guests can create masterpieces at the Andaz studio or the Cattle Track compound.

The Guest House welcomes you to the resort with floor-to-ceiling windows and an expensive mid-century living room feel. The Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen (named for elements in weaving) has an open kitchen and a big menu of acclaimed small plates to enjoy inside or out, overlooking the pool.

If you can tear yourself away from playing house in your bungalow, that is.

Walking in past the couch (more pretty pillows) purple chair and flat screen almost as big as the bed, you arrive at the closet area. Two white robes and two pairs of flip flops await; yellow for him and blue for her. There is plenty of counter space to spread out your stuff that can’t be as pretty as the (complementary) bag of green jalapeno chips on the turquoise tray in the coffee and mini-bar area.

In the bathroom, a skylight lets in the plentiful desert light, the shower is big enough for a dance party and there is a subtle night light under the sink counter in case you need to make a nighttime visit. Speaking of which, even the view from the throne appears art directed; through the glass door to the walled back deck you see a perfectly framed cactus.

A quibble for the tidy: there is only one (tiny) trash can and it’s hidden away next to the toilet. And a note to spa lovers: the

ANDAZ SCOTTSDALE RESORT & SPA PHOTOS

The Guest House welcomes you with floor-to-ceiling windows and an expensive mid-century living room feel.

The Andaz has 201 bungalows on 9.3 hectares clustered in little groups to help inspire a sense of community.

The decor at the Andaz is inspired by mid-century artists.

The pool has plenty of space to soak up the sun or lounge around in the shade.

resort’s Palo Verde Spa & Apothecary opened in February.

Rooms start at $399 (U.S.) per night during peak season. Suites start at $2,500 during peak season.

Jennifer Allford was a guest of the Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa, which did not review or approve this story.

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