WMO, a Baseball Museum and a Possible SUSD Boundary Change

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.

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We’ve officially kicked off the busiest week/weekend we’ll have all year with WMO and Super Bowl Sunday. I’m in North Scottsdale and the roads are packed but it is a fun time! It always makes me thankful that I get to live here when everyone has to go back home after the long weekend.

I included a breakdown for WMO and a few other fun things happening around us.

Let’s dive in!

The "Greatest Show on Grass" is back! The 91st Waste Management Phoenix Open kicks off today (with actual play) at TPC Scottsdale and runs through February 8th. Monday and Tuesday are free admission for practice rounds, with ticketed play starting Wednesday.

Quick logistics if you're heading out: gates open at 7 a.m. daily, and if you want a seat at the iconic 16th Hole on Friday or Saturday, get there early. Like, really early. People line up hours before gates open for that famous run to the coliseum.

Parking is at Westworld (enter via Princess Boulevard or Bell Road, NOT Hayden or Scottsdale) or Salt River Fields with free shuttle service. Heads up on road closures: Greenway Hayden Loop, Bell Road, and 82nd Street will be closed through February 9th.

The Annexus Pro-Am on Wednesday is loaded with star power this year. Travis Kelce, Michael Phelps, Mookie Betts, and a bunch of Arizona favorites including Budda Baker, Trey McBride, Larry Fitzgerald Jr., and D-backs pitcher Merrill Kelly will all be teeing it up alongside PGA Tour pros.

This is pretty cool for baseball fans. Frasher's Tavern in Old Town is opening the Old Town Baseball Experience, a free museum dedicated to Arizona's baseball history.

The museum will cover everything from the early "Outlaw" leagues to spring training origins to modern Cactus League history. Restaurant owner George Frasher has been collecting baseball memorabilia for years and is partnering with the nonprofit Arizona Baseball Legacy and Experience (ABLE) to make it happen.

They're keeping the Pink Pony and Don and Charlie's spirit alive with this one. No official opening date yet, but it's expected later this month. Free admission when it opens!

For Scottsdale parents, there's an important public meeting that happened last night at Coronado High School (7501 E. Virginia Ave.) regarding potential boundary changes following the Pima and Echo Canyon Elementary closures.

The district presented three options for students currently in Pima Elementary boundaries, with proposals to divide them among Navajo, Yavapai, and/or Hohokam Elementary schools. No vote, just public comment (two-minute limit per speaker). The board votes February 10th.

Worth noting: a recent Arizona Auditor General report flagged SUSD as "high risk" due to declining enrollment and budget concerns. The district expects more school closures next year as part of their plan to reduce their footprint.

With the WM Phoenix Open in full swing this week, there's no better time to plug into what Arizona golfers are actually reading. The Cactus Club is a player-powered newsletter built for locals who love golf.

They cover the stuff you won't find on ESPN: insider intel on the best walks under $50, honest course reviews (over 150 and counting), tee time strategies, and the culture that makes Valley golf unlike anywhere else. Their 2026 Phoenix Open Guide alone is worth the subscribe. If you hit that page and don’t see anything, remember you have to subscribe first and the guide will show!

Whether you're chasing a lower handicap, hunting for hidden gem courses, or just want to know where the real post-round hangs are, The Cactus Club delivers it weekly. Smart. Loud. Very Arizona.

Check out their 2026 Phoenix Open Guide here (you must subscribe for it to show on the page)

If you haven't done a food tour in your own city, you're missing out. Arizona Food Tours has been showing locals and visitors the best of Scottsdale's food scene since 2009, and they've racked up over 1,200 five-star reviews on TripAdvisor to prove it.

Their "Sip and Sample" tour is their most popular experience, hitting up favorite saloons, eateries, and tasting rooms across Old Town. But what I love is their Scottsdale Sunset Dinner Tour for something a little more elevated. It's the perfect way to rediscover your own backyard with friends or out-of-town guests.

USA Today readers voted them the #5 ranked food tour in the country in 2023. Tours run seven days a week, and they do private bookings too if you've got a birthday or bachelorette to plan. Check out their full tour schedule here!

If you're looking for a date spot that feels like you've stumbled into another era, this is it.

The Madam Speakeasy is tucked inside The Scottsdale Resort, hidden behind an unmarked door. Once you're in, velvet drapes, low lighting, and live jazz set the mood. It's the kind of place where you'll want to dress up a little and linger over drinks.

The cocktails here are serious. We're talking bacon fat washed bourbon with pumpkin cinnamon orange, and smoky Del Bac dorado with angostura and orange bitters. Every drink feels intentional, not just thrown together.

What I really like is how the vibe encourages conversation. No blaring music (fun sometimes but not on a date IMO), no rush to turn tables. Just a dimly lit room with great drinks and an atmosphere that makes a regular Wednesday feel like an occasion. They're open Monday through Saturday, 5pm to midnight, with food available until 10pm.

Wednesday, February 4

⛳️ WM Phoenix Open | TPC Scottsdale | All Day (multiple days)

🎧 WMPO Week at W Scottsdale – Night | W Scottsdale | 9:00 PM (multiple days)

Thursday, February 5

🍔 Signature Game Day Bites | ADERO Scottsdale Resort | 11:00 AM)

Friday, February 6

⛳️ WM Phoenix Open | TPC Scottsdale | All Day (multiple days)

Saturday, February 7

📸 Weekend Photography Workshop | Taliesin West | All Day (multiple days)

Sunday, February 8

⛳️ WM Phoenix Open Final Round | TPC Scottsdale | All Day

🍡 The Art of Making Japanese Confections | Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix | 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM

🏈 Big Game Viewing Party at The Plaza Bar | Fairmont Scottsdale Princess | 3:00 PM

🏈 Skybox Sunday Big Game Viewing Party | W Scottsdale | Afternoon

🥩 Michael Mina’s Tailgate Party | Bourbon Steak Scottsdale | Evening

Featuring the most expensive home sold in Scottsdale this week at $6.7M! Another one in 85255 with beautiful views. I love the castle-like entrance.

Here’s the 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