Din Tai Fung Sets an Opening Date

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.

I got to hit my first Spring Training game of the season last week and had a blast! This week we have an opening date on a soon-to-be popular restaurant and an upcoming golf tournament for a great cause.

We’re also hosting an event with North Italia (Arcadia location) in a few weeks! See more here.

The wait is almost over, dumpling lovers! Din Tai Fung just announced they're opening at Scottsdale Fashion Square on April 20, and I know a lot of you have been waiting for this one since the newsletter + IG post where we mentioned it first were popular.

The Taiwanese chain famous for their Xiao Long Bao (those incredible steamed soup dumplings) is bringing a massive 10,000 square foot restaurant to the lower level next to Catcha and Élephante. They'll have a dumpling expo kitchen where you can watch the magic happen and a full bar.

Here's what you need to know: reservations open to the public tomorrow (Thursday, February 26) at 9 a.m. on their website. If you've ever tried to get into one of their other locations, you know these fill up fast, so set your alarm!

Old Town keeps growing up. The AC Hotel Scottsdale Old Town opens its doors tomorrow (February 26) at 7110 E. Indian School Road, just west of Scottsdale Road.

The six-story Marriott brand hotel features 168 guest rooms with that clean-lined European design they're known for. Room rates range from $189 in the off-season to $499 during peak season.

The property replaced the old Howard Johnson motel that sat there forever but kept the historic Kimsey Triangle building, which is a beautiful piece of Ralph Haver architecture. There's also a 176-unit apartment building and restaurant as part of the mixed-use development. Another option for out-of-town visitors!

If you're looking to hit the course while helping pets in need, the Arizona Humane Society's 6th Annual Home in One Golf Tournament is coming up on Friday, April 10 at McCormick Ranch Golf Club. The 7:15 AM shotgun start benefits sick, injured, and abused animals, and $305 from each golfer's admission is tax-deductible. Foursome spots are available too if you want to bring the crew.

I love supporting cool community initiatives like this, so if you see any, please send them my way!

If you've been dealing with chronic pain, low energy, or just feeling off, Vibrant Health Care might be exactly what you need. This multi-specialty medical practice in Scottsdale takes a totally different approach than what you're used to.

Instead of just masking symptoms, they dig into the root cause of what's going on. They offer cutting-edge treatments for pain management, functional medicine, and aesthetic services, all under one roof. Their team includes Dr. Edgar Suter and experienced nurse practitioners who genuinely care about getting you real results.

What I love most is their white glove approach. You're not just another appointment on the calendar. They take time to create a personalized treatment plan that actually fits your life and goals. Plus, their facility off Scottsdale Road is modern and welcoming, not like your typical clinical doctor's office.

They're offering free consultations right now, which is a great low-pressure way to explore what might work for you. Whether you're dealing with sports injuries, autoimmune issues, or just want to feel more vibrant, their team is worth talking to.

Schedule your free consultation here.

If you haven't stopped by Sphinx Date Co. yet, you're missing out on one of Scottsdale's sweetest hidden gems. This family-run Arizona institution has been serving up the freshest locally-sourced Medjool dates for over 70 years!

Their stuffed date gift boxes are legendary and make incredible gifts for out-of-town visitors who want a taste of authentic Arizona. The dried fruit and nut trays are customer favorites that have been flying off shelves for decades.

Here's the scoop: after 33 years they recently moved to Hayden & Osborn! So if you've been meaning to check them out, now's the time. They also partner with Rhiba Farms to offer fresh produce delivered weekly to their Scottsdale storefront if you're looking to level up your local pantry game.

Okay, I know this one's technically in the Biltmore. But it's close enough, and I took my mom here for dinner last week. She told me I absolutely have to write about it, so what mom says goes.

Renata's Hearth is a Latin fire-focused restaurant that brought some seirously great food. Everything revolves around open flame cooking, and you can smell it the second you walk in. That smoky, sultry vibe carries through the whole experience.

We got the Tetela which reminded me of a tamale, just shaped different and they were great! For the main course don’t skip over the brisket. The portion was huge and the flavor was on point. Even the rice and beans we ordered on the side were elevated to amazing.

This is one of the places where I said I have to return and try the whole menu next time.

Wednesday, February 25

🎻 Chris Thile | Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts | 7:30 PM

Thursday, February 26

🤠 Founders Day Celebration | Old Town Scottsdale | 10:00 AM

🎨 ArtWalk | Old Town Scottsdale | 7:00 PM

🧠 Trivia Night | Blue Agave Mexican Cantina | 9:00 PM

🧘 Glow Up @SMoCA: Gentle Yoga | Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art | 7:00 PM

🍸 Tequila Patrón Dinner | La Hacienda Restaurant | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Friday, February 27

🎸 Emo Picnic | Scottsdale Civic Center Mall | 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM

😂 Bryan Callen | Desert Ridge Improv | 7:30 PM (multiple days)

🎺 Mariachi and Mingle | Café Allegro at the Musical Instrument Museum | 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Saturday, February 28

🥬 Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market | Old Town Scottsdale | 8:00 AM

🎬 Spring Training Movie Night – A League of Their Own | Scottsdale Civic Center | 7:00 PM

Featuring the most expensive home sold in Scottsdale this week at $11M! I feel like it's been a while since we've had a home that's cracked $10 million. Also surprising is that this is in the 85251 zip code. Most of the homes have been in North Scottsdale as of late!

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

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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