Terry Black's BBQ expands to Old Town

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.

It's been a nice week for us around town. Check out our Instagram page for a look at what we've been sharing lately.

If you’re looking for Halloween plans, I shared a ton of them here.

Covering a Texas barbecue expansion, a new local skincare brand, a healthy date spot and upcoming events for the week. Let's get into it.

I love Terry Black's BBQ and I've eaten at the Austin location many times so I was stoked to see they're expanding to Scottsdale. The Texas barbecue chain has eight locations in Texas plus one in Nashville and now they just purchased an entire city block in Old Town for just over $11 million. Additional details on when they're opening aren't available yet, but it's a huge win for local barbecue fans. Put it on your radar if you're a fan of Texas brisket.

Construction is underway on a massive new $150 million mixed-use project in Old Town. The Kimsey brings more than 160 hotel rooms and 190 apartment units to the area with roots stretching back to 2021. It folds a historic building designed by noted architect Ralph Haver into the design instead of demolishing it. It's a great way to add housing and hotel capacity while keeping the neighborhood's older character.

Two major events are heading to Scottsdale next month to kick off the cooler weather. The 15th anniversary Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships takes place on November 7. Right alongside it, Scottsdale Arts' Canal Convergence runs from November 6 to November 15 at the Scottsdale Waterfront. You'll find light-based public art installations, interactive workshops and live performances all along the canal. Worth checking out if you're looking for evening plans.

Here's how to stop paying that part yourself. Instinctive HealthPass is not insurance. It's a membership that works alongside the insurance you already have — never in place of it. The copays, deductibles, and coinsurance your insurer assigns for eligible in-house services at participating facilities are paid by your membership — so those bills never come to you.

Participating facilities are open now in Fountain Hills, El Mirage and Gilbert, for people with qualifying insurance — commercial, Medicare, VA, or TRICARE. Your whole family joins on one membership, with the annual fee based on your insurance's in-network maximum out-of-pocket.

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I recently found out about Aluma Botanics and I've been really impressed by their story. Founded by a former forensic scientist and microbiologist, the brand started out as Scrub Studio Soaps and has grown into a full line of small batch skincare made with botanicals and adaptogens.

They're also running a mobile beauty bar where guests can create custom natural perfume and botanical products using non-toxic ingredients without sulfates or parabens. It's a great option for anyone who loves clean beauty and wants a fun hands-on experience.

Farm & Craft in Old Town is always a solid pick when I want a casual spot with a healthy menu. It's got a chic atmosphere and a modern stylish interior with an inviting outdoor patio that works well for a relaxed date.

They serve farm-to-table dishes and unique cocktails with a happy hour running from 2pm to 6pm Monday through Friday. They also feature a weekend brunch from 9am until 3pm and operate seven days a week. It's an easy choice if you're looking for good food in a peaceful environment.

Wednesday, October 28

🍹 Bar Cart Series | Madre Mezcal | The Scott Resort & Spa | 6:00 PM

🍷 Harvest Moon Wine Dinner | Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen at Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows | 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Thursday, October 29

🍽️ Winemaker Dinner with Advanced Sommelier Wesam Kawa | Course Restaurant | 6:30 PM

🎨 Rocky Horror Featured Artist Night | On The Edge Gallery | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Friday, October 30

🏊 WET Deck Pool Party | WET Deck at W Scottsdale Hotel | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (multiple days)

🍽️ Gourmet Class – Mexican Favorites | Classic Cooking Academy | 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM

🎬 Halloween at the Movies: Ghost Town | Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West | 6:00 PM

Saturday, October 31

🎸 Fall Concert Series | Scottsdale Quarter | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

🎃 FUNHOUSE Halloween Party | W Scottsdale Hotel

Sunday, November 1

🎬 Eastwood: Still in the Saddle Film Series | Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West | 2:00 PM

For a full list of events check out our Scottsdale Event Calendar here.

Featuring the most expensive home sold in Scottsdale this week at $5.675M! It was conceived by famed architect Wendell Pickett and offers panoramic mountain views alongside a temperature controlled ten car garage.

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