scottsdale

Gooding's regular yearly auction during Barrett-Jackson event in Scottsdale will take place January 23. Next year, though, Gooding will hold an additional auction the day before and it will be moving some delightful machinery. If you can't wait for Saturday's spoils, which include a 1959 Ferrari Series 1 Pininfarina Cabriolet, a Zagato-bodied 1932 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport, and a 1956 Maserati A6G/54 Berlinetta, then you might find something you like among the Friday collection specialities:

1934 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing Top Convertible Coupe, Chassis No. 2490, Engine No. J-461:
The only Murphy-bodied Convertible Coupe in existence with rear-mounted spares, J-461 is renowned for its many concours awards including a Best in Class at the 1986 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, a First Place at the 1987 Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance and its coveted Category One standing with the ACD Club. First owned by Sigfried Roebling, of the famed Brooklyn Bridge family, this magnificent Duesenberg possesses an impressive lineage from new.

1927 Bentley 6 1/2-Litre Sport Coupe, Chassis TW2713:
With coachwork by the Surbiton Carriage Company, this low-windshield, fabric-bodied 6 1/2-litre coupe bodied Bentley was first delivered to England-based S.E. Parkes in April 1927. After many years at the Manx Motor Museum on the Isle of Man, TW2713 was shipped to America in the 1980s in original, near-perfect condition. Now after 20 years of healthy driving by previous owners, the fully-restored 6 1/2-litre Coupe is a rarity even among its prestigious vintage peers, having retained its original "Surbico" body and unique elegant design.

1959 Costin Lister Jaguar Sports Racer, Chassis BHL 123:
Arguably the most historically important of the entire run of Lister sports cars, BHL 123 is one of only two Jaguar-powered Costin-Listers built following a factory fire at Jaguar Works in 1957. Originally purchased by legendary American sportsman, race car driver and manufacturer Briggs Cunningham, the Sports Racer earned its place in motorsport history when it captured the 1959 SCCA C-Modified National Championship. After many years of podium finishes, BHL 123 is a fully-restored and acclaimed vintage racer.

If any of those speak to you, have your bidding hand ready on January 22, 11 a.m., across the way from Scottsdale's Fashion Square Mall.



[Source: Gooding & Co | Images: Pawel Litwinski]

The Fairmont Scottsdale has declared this "The Season of Personal Discovery", and happily for people who love books, much of the personal discovery comes from what amounts to a super-mega book club meeting: weekends centered around books in different genres, that include panel discussions, Q&As and several opportunities to rub elbows with the authors themselves over dinner and cocktails.

Pick your genre. If you're a self-help addict (and no one will judge you for that), try Living Your Best Life, September 25th-27th, which will make you likable, fit, sexy, and a music expert. Or the Ultimate Girls Getaway Weekend, October 9th-11th, which will help you lose weight, and develop an expertise in wine, social media, and your own soul. If fiction is where your heart lies, For the Love of Books,October 2nd-4th, features Anita Diamant, Lisa See and Debra Dean, while Literary Stew, brings in Ridley Pearson, Dave Barry and Scott Turow. Check out the rest of the schedule here.

It's that time of year when the National Parks beckon, and the mother lode of those parks is definitely the Grand Canyon. But if the idea of battling crowds in ill-fitting shorts, wielding dripping ice cream cones makes you a little queasy, the InterContinental Montelucia in Scottsdale has a better plan in mind.

The Grand Canyon Spectacular Package starts aboard a private jet, for the couple-of-hundred mile journey to the park. Then you board a helicopter below the rim, for champagne and h'ors d'oeuvres on the Colorado River.

Okay, that wasn't exactly a workout, but the package includes a full day of spa treatments with as many treatments as you can squeeze in. Joya Spa wasn't just an afterthought at Montelucia, it's a destination in its own right -- it would be a stretch to say it's the Grand Canyon of spas, but it's really big: 31,000 square feet, and all done in Moorish theme, as is the rest of the property.

As part of this package, your unlimited treatments are executed in the spa's biggest private suite, the Grand Palace, which has its own wrap-around deck and a view of Camelback Mountain. The package also includes four nights in the hotel's signature suite, car service to the airport, dinner at the resort's well-regarded restaurant Spanish restaurant Prado, with wine pairings. Cost: $9,995 (double occupancy) excluding tax and service charge.

This amazing home in the Sonoran desert outside of Scottsdale, Arizona was created by architect, Eddie Jones. The home has rammed earth walls and large glass windows that shocase the desert and mountain views. The home has metal roof, smooth polished concrete floors, and the warming touch of maple and cherry cabinetry and silver leaf ceiling panels.There is a master suite plus three guest bedroom suites with baths, library, separate guest house, self-contained in-laws quarters, work-out room with sauna and an eight-car, air-conditioned garage. It is listed for $6.495 million or for rent, partially furnished for $30,000/month.

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

If the spa experience as is just isn't cutting it consider getting the whole spa to youself, and your party, for the entire day! For $10,000 you can "Own the Spa" at Spa Lamar in Scottsdale, AZ without any other customers to share the steam room or sauna with. The day price breaks down to about $80 per service including a personal chef to cook for you and your lucky friends. Although the entire package costs quite a bit this offer reflects about 25% in savings to the customer.

If you haven't heard of Spa Lamar before consider that it has been dubbed "Most Decadent Massage" by Allure magazine, "Best Day Spa" by Phoenix City Search and caters to the Phoenix Suns Dancers. "Owning" the spa for the day includes up to five hours of unlimitmed spa and salon services, dining in the Palm Room and access to the aforementioned chef, and spa concierge service in this 14,000 square foot plush environment. With private resort-like feel this sounds like it would be one of the best days ever -- the next day however may feel like a harsh return to reality. Too bad the big price tag doesn't mean you get to take the masseuse and chef home with you.

Around a decade, ago the words "Indian casino" generally denoted small operations where the focus was just on the gambling. These days Indian casinos are often lavish destination resorts. Scottsdale, Arizona is about to get a new large resort project from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Casino Arizona will be a 15-story hotel and casino that includes a 497-room hotel, a 100,000-square-foot conference center, a spa and restaurants. The hotel is going to be a four-star operation and the project will add 300 jobs to the area. it is seen as a competitor to Westin and Marriott which are already in the area but, of course, don't offer gambling.


[via Arizona Republic]

If you love mid-century modern design as much as I do, you will simply love the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale, AZ. Built in 1956, the hotel was a favorite of celebrities visiting Scottsdale and today it's in the heart of the booming downtown arts district, attracting the young and hip. Massive renovations began in 2004 and the hotel was reopened in December 2005. The renovation kept true to the original style and details while adding modern touches such as Phillipe Starck bathtubs and a trendy spa. As a warning, this isn't a Four Seasons. Rooms are accessed via outdoor hallways, much like a motor lodge. But what counts is the luxurious room and awesome am entities waiting for you. The hotel has 2 restaurants, Cafe ZuZu is an old school hotel dinner serving stylish comfort food and Trader Vic's, the famous Polynesian Tiki Room. Certainly this gives you a reason to head out to the desert and catch up on your pampering.

Another excuse to jet to a warm locale and sample wine and food, the Scottsdale Culinary Festival is a six-day event held from April 18-23. There are a wide variety of events held during the week including the James Beard dinner, the Culinary Hall of Fame Awards Dinner and "Le Tour Culinaire"  where guests are chauffeured to three different restaurants to sample cuisine paired with prominent wines. Over 250 wineries will be on hand to offer tastings during the week.  Admission ranges from $5 for the Great Arizona Picnic to $200 for the James Beard Dinner. Proceeds benefits arts and arts education in the Scottsdale area.