Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Good afternoon, 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 almost didn't send this today. It's Christmas Eve and I wondered if anyone would even notice if I skipped. But then I thought about January 8th when I published the first issue of this newsletter, slightly nervous, not knowing if the content would be valuable for other people. Fifty weeks later, I've never missed a Wednesday. Not once. And breaking that streak today, of all days, didn’t feel right.

This little project has grown into something I never imagined. Over 10,000 of you now get this newsletter, and the Instagram is about to crack 10k followers too. Some weeks I've scrambled to get it out, but showing up for our city—for you—has become the most consistent thing I've done all year.

I'm rambling now, but I just wanted to say thank you. For reading, for responding, for giving a hell about what's happening in Scottsdale. It means more than you know.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours.

Cool to see pro-level training landing in Scottsdale. OrthoArizona just partnered with Training HAUS to bring elite NFL Combine prep training here. Starting December 26th, draft prospects and free agents can access the same 12-week program that's trained NFL stars like Larry Fitzgerald, Travis Kelce, and David Montgomery.

The program includes everything from strength and conditioning to quarterback coaching, biomechanics analysis, chef-prepared meals, and even pilates. Former NFL offensive lineman Alex Boone will work directly with offensive line prospects. This could bring high-performance athletes to our turf through March!

Next week is New Year's and I just saw this so figured I'd share. Cala is transforming into "Cala Blanc" for New Year's Eve with an all-white, après-ski-inspired celebration that sounds absolutely magical. Think alpine elegance meets glamorous late-night energy with spritz carts, a traveling caviar cart, roaming guitarist, and a midnight sparkler celebration.

Reserve a dinner spot with a $30 deposit (applied to your bill) and $175 per-guest minimum spend, or go with general admission tickets that include a mini bottle of champagne and curated sweet treat. Early bird tickets are $45, standard are $60, and last call tickets are $70. The second dinner seating (9-9:30pm) gets you access to all the activations plus the midnight countdown.

Kevin Burke starts as Scottsdale's new senior director of economic development and tourism on December 29th. He's coming from Tucson where he oversaw strategic initiatives across a $2.4 billion municipal organization, so he definitely knows how to handle big projects. Burke will be managing business recruitment, retention, tourism marketing, and those priority projects that support job creation around the city. Let's see if I can get a meeting with him!

If you want to feel stronger, look refreshed, or finally address that nagging pain, The Peak Wellness Spa in North Scottsdale is worth checking out. Their team combines medical expertise with holistic care to help you feel your best from the inside out.

They offer treatments like red light therapy, Aspen laser pain relief, IV drips, and advanced facials such as the Helix CO2 Laser Resurfacing. Clients love the personalized attention and noticeable results, whether it’s smoother skin, less pain, or more energy.

Gift cards are available too, making it an easy way to share a little self-care this season.

Stop by and explore their memberships to keep your wellness routine going strong into the new year.

Book your visit or grab a gift card here.

If you're a new or expecting mom in Scottsdale, Modern Milk is the community hub you didn't know you desperately needed. This studio has become the go-to spot for moms looking for education, wellness, and genuine connection during one of life's biggest transitions.

Their signature "Happy Mom School" is an 8-week program that brings together new moms and their babies for support, expert guidance, and friendships that actually last beyond the class. They offer separate groups for first-timers and second/third-time moms because let's be honest, those are very different experiences.

Beyond that, they've got prenatal classes to help you feel prepared, postnatal yoga and fitness with certified instructors who understand your body's needs, breastfeeding support (they call themselves your "Personal Breastfeeding Coaches"), and fun community events like "Fun Fridays" and photo mini sessions.

What really stands out in their reviews is how many moms credit Modern Milk with creating lasting friendships and making the overwhelming parts of new motherhood feel manageable. I love businesses that have a community focus so figured I would give them a shout out.

I've gotten some feedback to include more North Scottsdale date spots so here's one that's really cool. Ciao Grazie serves Northern Italian food from a wood-fired brick oven and makes its own fresh mozzarella. It's a chill date spot that’s not too loud so you can talk and enjoy great food.

Their Americano pizza had a thin, crispy crust (no flop!) and excellent toppings. You can try one of the creamier pizzas or the Meat Lover for something heartier. Pasta options like Chicken Parmesan and Spaghetti and Meatballs work well if you're not in a pizza mood.

What makes this work for dates is the relaxed atmosphere paired with everything from martinis to bottles of red wine, and their daily happy hour from 4-6pm keeps things affordable.

Sorry in advance for the light event list this week. There’s not much going on with Christmas and all!

Wednesday, December 24

🎄 Christmas Eve Prime Rib Dinner | La Fogata at The Scottsdale Resort & Spa | 12:00 PM - 9:00 PM

🎅 Christmas Eve Dinner at La Hacienda | Fairmont Scottsdale Princess | 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM

🎁 Christmas Eve Dinner at Toro | Fairmont Scottsdale Princess | 4:00 PM – 9:30 PM

Thursday, December 25

🍳 Christmas Brunch at Rita’s Kitchen | JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

🎄 Christmas Dinner at La Fogata | The Scottsdale Resort & Spa | 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM

🎅 Christmas Dinner at La Hacienda | Fairmont Scottsdale Princess | 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM

🎁 Christmas Dinner at Toro | Fairmont Scottsdale Princess | 4:00 PM – 9:30 PM

Friday, December 26

🏈 Rate Bowl: New Mexico vs. Minnesota | Downtown Phoenix | 2:30 PM

🎵 Live Music at Cobre Kitchen + Cocktails | Cobre Kitchen + Cocktails | Time TBD

Saturday, December 27

🍽️ 12 Days of Christmas Menu Finale | COURSE Restaurant | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Sunday, December 28

🍝 Pasta & Vino Night | Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen, Andaz Scottsdale | 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Featuring this week's most expensive home sold at $4.8M! When I was looking at the pics I thought it was a resort. It’s beautiful.

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

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

Microsoft opened its first retail store in the nation at Scottsdale Fashion Square mall in 2009, with products including televisions, headphones, computers and phones.