Good morning, Scottsdale. An extreme heat warning runs through 8 PM Sunday with afternoon highs between 103 and 116, so anything outdoors this weekend belongs before 9 AM or after sunset.
- 🌮 Old Town Tortilla Factory closed August 1. The Main Street patio restaurant shut permanently.
- 🎨 ArtWalk is tonight in the Arts District. Extended gallery hours, wine tastings, live music.
- 💃 Flamenco Friday at Tapas Papa Frita. Yumi La Rosa performs 7:30 to 10 PM on Stetson Drive.
- 🎤 Reba and Dolly tribute at Casino Arizona. Salt River showroom at Loop 101 and McKellips, Friday 7:30 PM.
- 🧵 Weaving workshop at Civic Center Library. Saturday morning, free, take home what you make.
- 🎒 Coronado starts school Monday. Saguaro runs freshman orientation today.
Old Town Tortilla Factory has closed
One of Old Town's longest-running patio restaurants served its last meal on August 1.
Key facts:
- Old Town Tortilla Factory, on Main Street in the Arts District, closed permanently August 1.
- Known for its courtyard patio and handmade tortillas.
- The closure is permanent, not seasonal.
Main Street restaurants that survive the summer months usually do it on the strength of a patio, and this was one of the shaded ones people actually sought out. A gallery-district block loses an anchor when a room like that goes dark. Details.
No word yet on what takes the space.
The weekend
Thursday
Friday
- 🖌️ Live Artist Fridays at Western Spirit, 11 AM to 2 PM. Anton Nowels, Kathy Howard, Paul Steele, and Milly Guthrie paint in the galleries. 3830 N Marshall Way. Details.
- 💃 Flamenco with Yumi La Rosa, 7:30 to 10 PM. Tapas Papa Frita, 7114 E Stetson Drive. Details.
- 🍷 Aridus After Hours, 8 to 11 PM. Arizona wine, pizza, games, reverse happy hour. 7173 E Main Street, on a reduced menu. Details.
Saturday
Sunday and Monday
- 🧠 Trivia at House Rules, Sunday. 7232 E 1st Street, in Old Town. Details.
Around Scottsdale
🌵 The Preserve tax is showing its first results. The city detailed the first round of work funded by the Parks and Preserve sales tax, with the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy and the Parks and Recreation Commission involved in where the money went. Parks director Nick Molinari and city manager Greg Caton walked through the list. Details.
🐕 A dog park in north Scottsdale is close to opening. Construction is nearing completion, with Councilman Barry Graham among those tracking it. Details.
🎓 A Scottsdale spa owner started a scholarship. Allison Woodworth set up the fund, tied to Arizona State University and Mesquite High School. Details.
🏠 563 homes sold in Scottsdale last month. The median sale price was $932,500, up about 4% from a year ago, and homes sat a median 76 days on the market. Details.
🌃 Old Town & nightlife
Bars, music, galleries, and what's on at the resorts this week.
🖼️ ArtWalk anchors Thursday night on 5th Avenue and Marshall Way. Galleries stay open late, several pour wine, and a few book live music. It runs year-round, so August ArtWalk is the version with parking. Details.
🍷 Aridus After Hours runs Friday nights, 8 to 11 PM. Arizona wine, pizza, and games at the Main Street tasting room. The menu is reduced after hours. Details.
🎻 The Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra season is on sale. Roots and Rhythm opens October 11 at the Virginia G. Piper Theater, followed by Color Comes to Life on November 22 and Light in Motion on December 13. Details.
From the schools
🎒 Saguaro HS holds freshman orientation this morning at 8:30. First stop for the incoming Sabercat class. Details.
📚 Coronado HS starts the school year Monday, August 10. Expect the Chaparral and Indian School corridors to slow down at drop-off again. Details.
Around the Valley
Worth leaving Scottsdale for this weekend.
🎤 An Evening With Reba And Dolly, Friday 7:30 PM. Casino Arizona showroom, across Pima Road in Salt River, Loop 101 and McKellips. Three dates on the run. Tickets.
🤸 US Gymnastics Championships, Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix. Junior men open Thursday at 1 PM. National-level gymnastics rarely lands here. Tickets.
🎸 Ole 60, Mullett Arena, Tempe, Thursday 7 PM. Country act on the Off the Grid tour, one night only. Tickets.
🎧 Calle 24, The Van Buren, Phoenix, Thursday 8 PM. Latin act on the Eterno tour, in one of the better midsize rooms downtown. Tickets.
🎤 Don Toliver, Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Thursday 7:30 PM. The Nitrous Octane tour, and the longest drive on this list. Tickets.