Barrett-Jackson Kicks Off This Weekend!

Good morning, Scottsdale. You’re reading Scottsdale Scoop, your insider pass to what’s fun, fresh, and worth checking out around town. Every issue features hand-picked events, local business spotlights, and hidden gems that make our city great.

Barrett-Jackson kicks off this weekend and we have our second ever happy hour tomorrow at Westin Kierland. There’s more fun events and updates I go over.

Check out for our Dinner Club on 1/28 here.

Let’s dive in!

We're throwing another in-person happy hour tomorrow, January 15th, and I'd love to see you there! It's the perfect excuse to get off the couch, meet your fellow Scottsdale neighbors, and kick off 2026 the right way.

The vibe is super casual and social - just good neighbors, good drinks, and good conversation. Space is limited so make sure to grab your spot before we fill up. Can't wait to see some familiar faces and meet new ones!

Shout out to Westin Kierland for supplying the space and a complimentary drink for each guest! Here’s a link to grab a free ticket.

Get ready, car lovers! Barrett-Jackson rolls into WestWorld from January 17-25 for what's become the world's most iconic collector car auction. This is the event that puts Scottsdale on the global automotive map every January, and 2026 is shaping up to be massive.

The action actually kicks off a day early on Friday, January 16th with the Rock The Block concert featuring country superstar Cole Swindell and Chase Rice. Doors open at 6pm with Chase Rice hitting the stage at 7pm and Cole Swindell following at 8:30pm in the Auction Arena.

Beyond the auction itself (thousands of collector cars crossing the block!), there's a ton happening: Dodge and GR Supra Thrill Rides, Ford Hot Laps, a Monster Energy BMX Show, live music throughout the week, STEMFest presented by Honeywell for the kiddos, and an Exhibitor Marketplace that's basically a car enthusiast's paradise. Celebrity sightings are pretty much guaranteed.

Pro tips: The event is cashless except for some food vendors and valet. Kids 12 and under get free admission with a ticketed adult. Most of the site is covered and air-conditioned (thank goodness). And heads up on the bag policy: only clutch handbags up to 6.5x4.5" or clear bags up to 12x6x12" are allowed.

Grab tickets and full schedule details here.

The first City Council meeting of 2026 felt a lot like 2025. Mayor Lisa Borowsky's downtown summit on January 7th drew a packed house at City Hall, but both of her proposals got shot down by the council majority.

First, a 5-2 vote rejected her idea to form a Downtown Task Force focused on improving the Downtown Character Area Plan and marketing efforts. Then a 4-3 vote blocked her request to even put downtown parking solutions on a future agenda.

The crowd wasn't happy. Business owners spoke passionately about wanting parking data before the city spends $20 million on a new garage (fair IMO). One Old Town cafe owner pointed at Councilman Adam Kwasman and said "Disappointed in you" after a parking technology presentation got cut short over procurement concerns.

On the bright side, Councilwoman Jan Dubauskas noted the city has hired someone whose full-time job will be talking to all Old Town businesses. I think I’d enjoy this role! And City Manager Greg Caton has been directing funds toward paving projects and Old Town beautification.

Mayor Borowsky isn't backing down. She announced she'll be appointing an ad hoc Downtown Task Force anyway. Love it or hate it, civic engagement is alive and well in Scottsdale!

Clive Collection has recently taken over the day-to-day operations of The Americano to evolve it into a concept that’s more inviting. I frequent Americano a lot so this is a welcome change. If you’re not familiar with Clive Collective, they own Cala, Tell Your Friends (the speakeasy underneath The Americano), and Neon Spur. Three great restaurants.

With the recent change, the menu now focuses on more shareable items a welcomed update to the pricing of dishes.

They also redid the inside of the restaurant to make it more enjoyable!

If you love the idea of space, privacy, and modern design but are not interested in yard work or surprise repair bills, BB Living Desert Ridge might be your sweet spot.

Tucked into the heart of Desert Ridge, this brand-new community offers three- and four-bedroom townhomes that feel more like single-family homes than rentals. With attached two-car garages, open-concept kitchens, high ceilings, and in-home washers and dryers that make everyday life a little easier. Select homes even come with private backyards, perfect for morning coffee, pups, or a low-key dinner outside.

The interiors are clean, modern, and practical. Energy-efficient stainless-steel appliances, plenty of storage, tile flooring, and ceiling fans are all designed for people who actually live in their homes, not just look at them. Add award-winning maintenance and service, and you get the perks of homeownership without the long to-do list.

Location is part of the appeal! BB Living Desert Ridge sits close to top-rated schools, shopping, dining, and entertainment, making it easy to settle into the neighborhood and still get anywhere in Phoenix without hassle.

Homes start at $3,092 per month, and for a limited time, select floor plans are offering up to eight weeks free through January 31, 2026.

Worth checking out if you want more space, a garage, and a modern home feel without committing to buying.

Take a look or schedule a tour here.

This isn’t an ad but I recently used WS Auto Detailing and the experience was so great I knew they deserved a shout out.

Here's what makes this even cooler: the business is run by a 21-year-old who started when he was just 16…16!! I'm always pumped to see young entrepreneurs getting after it and delivering on quality work.

The detailing service itself was exceptional. Every corner, every surface, every little detail was handled with care. To make a long story short, my car needed some love after transporting turkey on Thanksgiving. They made everything look and smell brand new. And they’re mobile so they can come to you.

We need to highlight more young entrepreneurs!

Kasai is where dinner becomes a show, and trust me, you want front-row seats to this one.

Located in North Scottsdale, this teppanyaki spot has skilled chefs cooking up filet mignon, chicken, seafood, and veggies right in front of you on a hot iron griddle. The tricks, the fire, the whole performance makes it fun and memorable without feeling over the top.

The food backs up the show too. Their steak fried rice is seriously good and gets rave reviews from everyone who tries it (including me). They've also got options like Mongolian glazed lamb chops, surf and turf sushi, and shrimp udon soup if you want to mix things up.

They offer daily happy hour Tuesday through Thursday from 4-6pm and Friday through Sunday from 3-6pm throughout the entire restaurant, so you can grab some deals before the main event. Make a reservation and prepare for a date night that's equal parts delicious and entertaining.

Thursday, January 15

😂 Ahren Belisle | Desert Ridge Improv | 7:30 PM (he’s one of my fav comedians from Kill Tony)

Friday, January 16

🎤 Rock The Block Concert: Cole Swindell & Chase Rice | WestWorld of Scottsdale | 6:00 PM

🎵 Leftover Salmon | Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts | 7:30 PM

🌺 Polynesian Nights Dinner | Musical Instrument Museum | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

🎸 Fan Halen (Van Halen Tribute) | Casino Arizona | 7:30 PM (multiple days)

🧘🏻‍♀️ Wellness Weekend | The Phoenician Scottsdale | All Day (multiple days)

Saturday, January 17

🚗 Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction | WestWorld of Scottsdale | All Day (multiple days)

🏃 Rock 'n' Roll Arizona | Tempe/Scottsdale/Phoenix | Morning

🏋️ Hyrox Phoenix Performance Seminar | Hive Fit Club | 12:00 PM

🏠 Family Workshop: Build a Solar House | Taliesin West | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Sunday, January 18

🚘 Arizona Concours d'Elegance | Scottsdale Civic Center | All Day

🎙️ Garrison Keillor at 83 | La Casa de Cristo | 7:30 PM

🦁 Cruise ZooLights | Phoenix Zoo | 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Monday, January 19

⚾ MLK Day Little League Tune Up Clinic | Salt River Fields | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Featuring the most expensive home sold in Scottsdale this week at $6.5M! The views look amazing but it’s wild there’s only one pic of it across multiple sites!

Here’s the link if you want to check it out.

City Brew Tours Phoenix takes all the stress out of exploring the Valley's best craft breweries by handling the driving while you focus on sampling up to 12 different brews over 3.5 hours. 

Their expert Beer Guides give you behind-the-scenes access to three handpicked breweries, plus you'll get perfectly paired snacks along the way. Whether you're planning a bachelor party, date night, or just want to discover the Valley's craft beer scene without the hassle, this is hands-down the best way to do it.

They're giving all Scottsdale Scoop readers 15% if you use the code "SCOOP15" at checkout. 

Check them out here.

Scottsdale Scoop is 100% free and independently run (it's just me over here). Your support helps me keep bringing you the best local spots, events, and inside scoop on what's happening in Scottsdale every week. Your contribution will go towards keeping the Scoop going so we can have more fun in community events! really appreciate all the support all of you 🙂 - John