New in Scottsdale...
SAVOR THE FLAVORS OF MEXICO
This winter, Scottsdale is turning the heat up with the addition of two Mexican culinary concepts headed by chefs whose reputations precede them. Usher in Iron Chef Jose Garces, whose downtown Scottsdale restaurant, Distrito, opened at The Saguaro last December. The expansive menu of small plates draws on the bold flavors of Mexico City, paying special attention to Mexican Barbacoa, or barbecue. Bite into mouthwatering slow roasted meats such as Suadero en Adobo, black angus beef brisket, dry adobo rub; Costillas, Berkshire pork spare ribs, chipotle-cider mustard bbq; and Pollo a la Brasa, Yucatan-style rotisserie chicken, orange-guajillo glaze. Sip on more than 100 varieties of tequila from The Margarita Bar while watching staff prepare house-made tortillas and guacamole at Distrito's made-to-order station. This spring, sit at the outdoor "patio kitchen" to savor the smell of the custom smoke pit and grill, where chefs will prepare pork, brisket, lamb chops and chicken in front of guests.
If you're in the mood for "Euro-Mexican" check out SouthBridge's newest tenants - Barrio Queen Tequileria and Silvana Bistro - which opened in December 2011 and January 2012, respectively. At the helm of the restaurants is the highly acclaimed Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza, who also spearheads Barrio Cafe , a Phoenix favorite. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late dinner, Barrio Queen Tequileria, the more casual of the two restaurants, offers all of your traditional favorites, such as tacos and tortas, and a few twists. There's a panaderia (bakery) inside the restaurant featuring savory eats such as Mexican bread, pastries, empanadas, Mexican ice cream and Mexican candy. Also on the menu: tequila. With more than 350 varieties, you'll want to try a few as you fill up at one of Scottsdale's newest hotspots. Barrio Queen's upscale sibling, Silvana Bistro, has a short menu of seven appetizers, five main dishes and three desserts, and features unique starters such as roasted poblano soup stocked with a chile-rubbed prawn; delectable main dishes such as red snapper in a traditional Veracruz sauce of capers, tomato, white wine and olive oil; and scrumptious deserts such as vanilla ice cream topped with sweet potatoes and guava sprinkled with cinnamon and piloncillo. For media information, contact Heidi Hubbell at hhubbell@rosenfieldrestaurants.com or 720-351-4674.
SCOTTSDALE HITS ONE OUT OF THE BALL PARK WITH SPRING TRAINING LINEUP
Scottsdale's determined to hit a home run this spring training season with events and specials sure to impress any baseball fan. Kicking off the 2012 Cactus League season is the Feb. 25-26 Spring Training Festival, brought to you by the Scottsdale Charros. The free two-day event at Scottsdale Civic Center Park and the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts includes never-before-seen items from the Buckhorn Baths' resort collection, including candid home movies of the San Francisco Giants from the 1940s and '50s, and the Science of Baseball Festival, a symposium of many of the nation's top sports researchers who will discuss and debate longstanding baseball trends and innovations. Fans will be encouraged to join in on the festivities with quirky interactive activities and real-time scientific experiments. Partake in the fun while digging into ballpark chow from local restaurants, looking at art, purchasing baseball merchandise and listening to live music. With many of the 15 teams that make up the Cactus League represented at the Spring Training Festival, visitors will be able to purchase spring training tickets, merchandise and even possibly take home an autograph from some of the teams' former players, who are expected to make special appearances throughout the festival. Although the event's website has not yet gone live, check www.springtrainingfestival.com later this month for additional details. For media information, contact Megan Neighbor at mneighbor@scottsdalecvb.com or 480-889-2716.
When you're not at the baseball festival or one of Scottsdale's two spring training ball parks, Scottsdale Stadium or Salt River Fields , enjoy the city's finest hotels and resorts with spring training specials that will make you cheer louder than when the Giants are up to bat. Step up to the plate at the Scottsdale Resort & Conference Center with its Batter Up!! package. In addition to a fresh pancakes breakfast served in-room, the package includes free shuttle service to and from Salt River Fields that plays host to the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies. Package rates start at $245 per room, per night, during the month of March. For media information, contact Sally Cooper at sally.cooper@me.com or 480-348-7540.
Or, if you want to stay and play in Scottsdale's trendy downtown district, head to the W Scottsdale for its spring training package. Attend a Giants game in style with a W Scottsdale baseball hat, box of cracker jacks and a bag of peanuts. This package also provides complimentary transportation to and from Scottsdale Stadium, plus a free spring training ticket when you purchase a second general admission ticket for the same game. Package rates start at $339 per room, per night, during the month of March.
Spa Avania at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch has rolled out its Metabolic Boot Camp
program in partnership with Lobo Fitness. The program corresponds
with the spa's time-of-day concept to produce three 55-minute classes
that change for morning, midday and evening. The morning format fires
up your metabolism to prepare for the day ahead and combines athletic
drills, sports-simulated moves, plyometrics and isolation of major
muscle groups. You will detoxify your body while building muscle and
burning significant calories. Body shaping is the focus of the midday
class which revolves around awareness, core activation, strength and
power. 
Exercises also increase flexibility and provide balance with the
incorporation of bozu and medicine balls as well as mat workouts.
Finally, the evening class emphasizes stretching and deep breathing to
help achieve muscle relaxation and tension release while restoring your
mind, body and spirit. Cost is $18 per person for group workouts and
rates are available for private, one-on-one training.