Holiday Happenings

The Magic of Christmas At The Princess

THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS AT THE PRINCESS AT THE FAIRMONT SCOTTSDALE PRINCESS IS SET OPEN FOR ITS TWELFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR.

The iconic AAA Five Diamond resort becomes the most festive place this side of the North Pole during its annual Christmas at the Princess six-week festival, which happens through Jan. 2, 2022.

Guests will experience that town center holiday feel that you see in all those holiday movies, where people hug a little longer, smile a little more, and share the joy of the holidays with those they love.

NEW THIS YEAR

A Christmas Wish Forest: As the sun begins to set in the evening sky, make a wish upon a star in the Wish Forest that shines each night with the hopes and dreams of families. Each family will receive magical wish paper to write and record their holiday wishes and dreams. Then, the magical paper is lit, and the wish flutters to the stars. Write it, light it, and watch it fly to the stars! Donations will be accepted and will go to LoveUp to benefit foster care kids in the Valley.

The Village, Featuring S’mores Land: The powder is falling, and the mountains are calling at The Village. Sled down the 120-foot Snow Mountain, conquer the ice as you glide through the Alpine Skate Trail, or catch a thrill with a ride on the 90-foot-tall chair lift, with 26 gondolas. Little adventurers will be challenged in the Ice Maze! And don’t forget to Ski Scottsdale with a hop on the ski lift for a fun photo op.

Ice Pass, Unlimited Skating: The all-new ice pass gives guests unlimited access to the two outdoor 6,000 square foot ice skating rinks – Desert Ice and the new Alpine Trail – both made of real ice! $40 per person (skate rental included).

Snow Mountain: Sled down 120 feet of blizzardy bliss on the four-lane ice slide! And don’t forget to say hello to Shivers the Yeti before sliding down the frozen attraction.

VIP Igloos: As Jack Frost is nipping at your nose, warm up in one of ten VIP climate-controlled igloos with adjoining heated patios. Enjoy the ambience with a warm winter cocktail in hand. Advanced tickets required.

CHERISHED FAVORITES

Activities that are must-visit favorites are back, including: Enchanted Plaza with the four-story musical tree, Enchanted Plaza video show, Princess Express Train, a walk-through experience of more than six million Lagoon Lights, the Nativity Garden, S’mores Land, Winterland, and Twinkle Town.

ADMISSION AND PARKING

• In-house guests: Express pass event admission is complimentary for registered hotel guests. • Dine-in: Dine at the resort’s signature restaurants and receive complimentary admission and 50% off valet parking with a $75 minimum spend at any of the resort’s restaurants. Reservations required. • Self-parking and admission: $72; includes up to four wristbands.

For more information on Christmas at the Princess, visit ScottsdalePrincess.com or call 480-585-4848.

The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is located at 7575 East Princess Drive.

Holiday Happenings Celebrate the Season at the MIM

Holiday tunes and new tastes at the newly re-opened Café Allegro

Information and Photos Courtesy of the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) IF YOU’RE IN THE MOOD FOR SOME FESTIVE MUSIC, COME CELEBRATE THE SOUNDS OF THE SEASON AT THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM (MIM) WITH THEIR

MIM HOLIDAY CONCERT SERIES. Find showtimes, ticket prices and a full list of upcoming events at mim.org/ concerts.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM JOSE JAMES

Tuesday, December 7 Have yourself a soulful little Christmas with smoothas-silk crooner José James, the crown prince of new jack jazz. An R&B-steeped singer who is as effective evoking Billie Holiday as Bill Withers, James returns with his first holiday project that imbues classic songs of the season with the warmth of a roaring fireplace in winter, captured on his new album.

MADDIE POPPE’S ACOUSTIC CHRISTMAS

Friday, December 10 Maddie Poppe is a 22-year-old singer-songwriter from Clarksville, Iowa, and the Season 16 winner of American Idol. Poppe fell in love with music at a young age, learning to play guitar, ukulele, and piano. In 2016, she released her debut album, Songs from the Basement, which she wrote, produced, and recorded alongside her father, Trent.

WINDHAM HILL’S WINTER SOLSTICE

Saturday, December 11 Celebrate the winter solstice and its warm traditions with a concert of original and traditional acoustic music. This season marks the 36th anniversary of the multi-platinum-selling A Winter’s Solstice album series, originally released on Windham Hill Records. Grammynominated singer, fiddler, pianist, and songwriter Barbara Higbie joins composer and guitarist Todd Boston and cellist Mia Pixley to lead a joyous holiday concert.

A PETER WHITE CHRISTMAS

Tuesday, December 14 Make your list and check it twice—this holiday concert is more than just nice! A Peter White Christmas with Mindi Abair and Vincent Ingala is coming to town. Contemporary jazz lovers eagerly await this annual fun-filled concert, which has packed fans into halls and arenas coast-to-coast, year after year.

MARTY ASHBY’S HOLIDAY JAZZ CELEBRATION 2021

Saturday, December 18 Enjoy a musical review of traditional favorites and new songs for the holidays performed by the Marty Ashby Quartet including Lewis Nash, with special guest Ann Hampton Callaway and music from her album The Hope of Christmas. Celebrate the holiday season with songs that feel familiar yet fresh.

PAUL MCDERMAND’S CHRISTMAS ISLAND

Tuesday, December 21 Paul McDermand and his band are joined by special guest Don Marovich of the world-renowned Kingston Trio for an evening of seasonal and popular favorites. A melodic percussion master (steel drums, vibraphone, and marimba), McDermand has appeared with some of the biggest names in music, including Tony Bennett, Johnny Cash, Natalie Cole, and the Moody Blues. As a concert artist, McDermand appears both as leader of his own Island Time touring band and as a guest soloist with the finest orchestras and ensembles. When home in Scottsdale, Arizona, he is a featured performer with the Barleens Dinner Show, the Valley’s longest-running dinner theater.

JIM BRICKMAN: THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS

Wednesday, December 29 through Friday, December 31 Jim Brickman’s distinctive piano style and captivating live performances have revolutionized the popularity of instrumental music, making him a driving force behind modern American music.

The hit-making songwriter is the best-selling solo pianist of our time, earning 21 number-one albums and 32 Top 20 Radio Singles in the industry bible, Billboard magazine. He’s garnered two Grammy nominations, gospel music’s Dove Award, two SESAC Songwriter of the Year Awards, and the Canadian Country Music Award. He has written three best-selling books, starred in four TV concert specials, and is the host of the popular syndicated radio show The Jim Brickman Show. A Note From the MIM: Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test result will be required for entry and may include the following options: a vaccination card (or photo), a digital record within an app, an official immunization record, or documentation of a negative test result. All MIM Music Theater team members are vaccinated and will wear masks.

CAFÉ ALLEGRO REOPENS AT THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM

April Salomon, executive director of the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM), recently announced the reopening of award-winning Café Allegro in partnership with hospitality management company Guest Services, Inc. (GSI). Executive Chef James Moran introduced an inspired new menu of seasonal dishes and drinks to mark the reopening. The reimagined menu offers guests a range of rotating selections that celebrate culinary influences from around the globe, many prepared with local flavors and ingredients. The inaugural menu includes a variety of original sandwiches, salads, hearty soups, and fresh grilled entrees.

Chef Moran reopens Café Allegro with a menu that will change weekly and seasonally. Guests can peruse the day’s full menu before their visit at MIMdining.org.

MIM also recently began service at the adjacent Beats Coffee Bar, offering specialty roasted coffee, espresso, and tea drinks, along with house-made pastries and other breakfast offerings, grab-and-go lunch options, wine, beer, and other seasonal treats.

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome museum guests and the Phoenix community back to Café Allegro for a memorable in-person dining experience. Our refreshed culinary offerings are reason enough to visit MIM and will further enhance the MIM experience during our innovative exhibitions and programs,” Salomon says. “It has been a pleasure to see and taste all-new dishes as the menu has come together, and I hope our guests enjoy GSI’s creations as much as we do. The food is a delicious complement to the global collections and perspectives presented throughout our galleries.”

Holiday Happenings

The Holiday Cheer is Here at Desert Ridge Marketplace

THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS IN FULL SWING, AND DESERT RIDGE MARKETPLACE IS CELEBRATING WITH A CALENDAR FULL OF CHEERFUL EVENTS AND FESTIVE

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES. Guests are invited to wander through a whimsical wonderland in The District where they can catch festive feels, snap dazzling shots, and check off their holiday gift list.

All month long, take in the sights of Christmas in Color, a collection of festive art installations in vibrant shades. Stop by Nutcracker Nights, which features massive Nutcrackers standing four to ten feet tall, framing the fireplace near AMC Theatres. Head toward Dave & Buster’s and stroll beneath a canopy of illuminated spheres and catch a glimpse of the 20-foot-long Starry & Bright star tunnel filled with vibrant new pops of color. Finally, pop over to the 40-foot-tall Holiday Tree at the main entrance that is sure to make the perfect seasonal shot.

Through December 31, Desert Ridge Marketplace will transform into a living snow globe with its nightly snowfall every evening at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. near AMC Theatres (excluding Christmas Day). Plus, enjoy snowfall every hour on Christmas Eve from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Continuing the holiday spirit, Desert Ridge Marketplace invites guests to partake in its Salvation Army Christmas Angel Tree. The center has partnered with the Salvation Army to provide holiday gifts to children in need. Through December 22, guests can visit the table near Dave & Buster’s, pull a tag, and shop for a gift at their favorite Desert Ridge Marketplace brands.

Desert Ridge Marketplace will also feature some of the Valley’s hottest local bands at The District Stage every Friday and Saturday evening from 6 to 9 p.m. Plus, enjoy holiday shows from local community performance groups. Visit shopdesertridge.com for the full schedule.

Desert Ridge Marketplace is located at 21001 N. Tatum Boulevard in Phoenix. For more information, visit shopdesertridge.com.

Holiday Happenings

The Latest from Kierland Commons

Compiled by Michelle Talsma Everson Photos Courtesy of Kierland Commons IT’S SHAPING UP TO BE A BUSY SEASON AT KIERLAND COMMONS, THE POPULAR SCOTTSDALE SHOPPING CENTER LOCATED AT 15205 N.

KIERLAND BOULEVARD. To help keep you in the know, we rounded up Kierland Commons’ latest news and events.

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

This holiday season enjoy fun family festivities at Kierland Commons. There are story times with Mrs. Claus (Saturdays, December 11 and 18 from 3-6 p.m.), and photos for your pets (Mondays, December 13 and December 20 from 4-8 p.m.) There’s also, of course, photos available with the big man in red all season long. Visit kierlandcommons. com/holiday for full details.

VUORI CLOTHING NOW OPEN

Vuori makes premium performance apparel inspired by the active coastal California lifestyle, an integration of fitness, surf, sport, and art, according to the company. They celebrated their grand opening at Kierland Commons on November 12.

BAD BIRDIE’S KIERLAND COMMONS DEBUT

On November 18, Bad Birdie celebrated their retail store’s grand opening at Kierland Commons.

“At Bad Birdie, we design standout golf apparel that’s comfortable as all hell without compromising on performance or good vibes. We do it this way because, quite frankly, we think it’s what the game needs,” according to the company. “So, if you’re looking for a good game, and a better time, then we’re going to get along just fine.”

NEW OPENINGS THIS MONTH

Kierland Commons also confirmed these businesses to be opening in December:

TIA MODERN HEALTH: Tia’s therapists practice in a collaborative care model that enables both counseling and medication management prescribed by an accompanied physician. Tia’s licensed clinical therapists offer a variety of specialties ranging from trauma, life transitions, depression, anxiety, and more. Learn more at asktia.com/ locations/tia-phx. JOHNNIE-O: “We are excited to announce that Johnnie-O will be opening at Kierland Commons this December,” according to the shopping center. Johnnie-O, started by John O’Donnell in 2005, is a branded lifestyle apparel company, founded in Santa Monica, California, that embodies living your best life. The johnnie-O brand fuses a Southern California vibe with East Coast style through a full line of clothing and accessories for men and boys.

COMING IN SPRING 2022

Here is a sneak peek at what to expect in spring 2022 at Kierland Commons:

TravisMathew: “We are excited to announce TravisMathew will join Kierland Commons in 2022,” according to the shopping center. Founded in 2007, TravisMathew draws its inspiration from the culture and lifestyle of Southern California’s surf, sand, and sun. As a premier men’s lifestyle brand, TravisMathew has created versatile, everyday apparel that seamlessly transitions from work to play. With a smart blend of performance and innovative design, each product is crafted to achieve a perfect balance between functional comfort and superior style.

The Lexus Experience: Lexus will bring its interactive, visceral brand experience of brave design, imaginative technology, and exhilarating performance to Kierland Commons. Known for anticipating the future of luxury for its customers, the space promises a memorable encounter, inviting you to explore vehicles in a lowpressure environment that is steeped in immersive design.

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