Move over New York. Greater Phoenix boasts some of the most celebrated pizza joints and Italian restaurants in all the nation. Foremost, is the famed Pizzeria Bianco in downtown Phoenix. Pizzeria Bianco has been rated the best pizza in the US by Bon Appétit, The New York Times, Vogue, Rachel Ray, and, drumroll….please, Oprah’s Gayle King on her “quest for the best” pizza nationwide. Opened in 1994, its signature is homemade mozzarella, fresh-as-can-be organic fixins’ from a local farmer’s market, and the roaring fire of a woodburning oven. Owner Chris Bianco, a kind of legend in Phoenix, grew up in New York, worked in a local pizza joint as a kid, and went to Italy to refine his craft. Expect a wait at this first-come, first-serve restaurant hot spot, but be assured its well worth your time.

www.PizzeriaBianco.com

You’ll also find yourself in culinary heaven at Oregano’s Pizza Bistro, with restaurant locations all over town including Scottsdale (both Old Town Scottsdale and north Scottsdale), Tempe, Mesa, Phoenix and Gilbert. But, don’t expect boring franchise food, here. The Chicago born and raised owner has brought authentic Italiano to Greater Phoenix with sizzling, mouth-watering crispy crust slices, huge servings of family-recipe pastas and what they deem “kick butt” bread on the menu…a savory, perfectly seasoned garlic bread that’s a favorite among locals and visitors, alike.

www.Oreganos.com

Nello’s is another regular haunt among local foodies, voted best “In Crust We Can Trust,” since 1984. With locations in Scottsdale, Tempe, Phoenix and Mesa, Nello’s serves some of the best pizza in town including their signature Santa Fe Pizza smothered with freshly diced tomatoes, cilantro, red onions, seasoned chicken and black beans, then garnished with sour cream and guacamole. You won’t be going back to your vacation rental with any extra slices of that flavorful pie.

www.NellosScottsdale.com

Mama Mia ranks among the best pizzerias in the Valley, too, with unique recipes and ingredient combinations, tasty, fresh sauces and a festive atmosphere. Founded in New Jersey, the Phoenix restaurant opened in 2003 and now has two Phoenix locations. Order pizza online, hang out in front of the TV in your vacation rental and enjoy!

www.MamaMiaPhoenix.com

Spring Training Continues to Bloom in the Desert

Did you hear it? The first crack of the bat means Cactus League baseball is at the plate! Are you ready for grilled hot dogs, jumbo sodas, perfect temps, and cheap tickets? Every spring, the teams of the Cactus League play a month of Spring Training Baseball. While baseball managers access players and calculate the final roster based on performance, you get to watch many of your favorite players during one game.
Bring on the Teams:
Cactus League spring training officially began on February 27th and runs through March. Teams suit up to play in nine stadiums in all corners of the Valley of the Sun including Glendale, Phoenix, Surprise, Peoria, Mesa, Scottsdale and Tempe. Chicago Cubs fans descend on Mesa to watch their team prep for the summer games. Los Angeles Angels fans come in droves to Tempe. San Francisco Giants spectators arrive en masse at Scottsdale Stadium.
If you’re gaga for the San Francisco Giants, we’ve got you covered…

Things to do for Giants Fans before and after the game at Scottsdale Stadium:

Enjoy Fabulous Food
Just a few blocks away from the Scottsdale stadium, in the heart of Scottsdale’s historic district, enjoy a variety of first-rate restaurants from Southwestern hot spots to award-winning ethnic eateries. Try Malee’s on Main—an elegant Thai restaurant and a favorite among locals. Arcadia Farms offers fresh-as-can-be salads with organic ingredients. Olive & Ivy offers an eclectic and Italian menu and is the latest place to see and be seen. Many other restaurants along Main Street and Marshall Way boast outdoor cafés, open for lunch, dinner and drinks.
Explore a Shopper’s Paradise
Downtown Scottsdale offers some of the finest specialty retail in the Valley with hip boutiques showcasing the latest attire, as well as unique accessories for your home. Browse the elegant shops at The Borgata, a European-styled outdoor shopping plaza, amid fountains and flowers. Don’t miss Fashion Square Mall—a sprawling retail and restaurant center. With flagship stores such as a brand new Barney’s and Nordstrom, you’ll sure to find something special as a reminder of your stay.
Time to Relax
Stroll among the gardens and fountains at Scottsdale Civic Center, adjacent to the stadium. One block west is Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, where the city’s best contemporary art is exhibited.
Click here for more details about San Francisco Giant’s Spring Training
Consider three perfect properties available from Westbrook Vacation Rentals within close proximity to the games.

The Modern Escape:  Elegant 2 bedroom poolside condo with view in central Scottsdale

The Style Den: Chic, contemporary 2 bedroom condo in downtown Scottsdale

Absolutely Perfect: Located in the heart of downtown Scottsdale, this 2100 square foot condo on the 5th floor offers magnificent unobstructed views.

Breakfast With the Butterflies

Each fall and spring, the butterflies come out for Desert Botanical Garden’s special butterfly exhibit, including events and activities especially for children and the inner child in all of us. On March 6^th and 7^th, enjoy a catered breakfast, followed by children’s entertainment and butterfly-related activities. However, only the kids go home with a special gift—their butterfly wings to wear! Hundreds of butterflies flit about in a spacious 36-by-80-foot flight enclosed lush garden that recreates a habitat that is most appealing to butterflies. Butterflies of bright oranges, yellows, bright whites, and lilacs will astound you. Breakfast will be served buffet style from 9 to 10 a.m., followed by entertainment and activities from 10 to 11 a.m. Guests will be seated together at tables of ten.

The Desert Botanical Garden

This sprawling Arizona botanical garden, a major Arizona attraction with over 300,000 visitors each year, is a 140-acre site at Pagago Park in Phoenix, established in the mid-1930s, showcasing more than 20,000 plants including towering cacti and other beautiful plants that thrive in the desert climate.  One of only 44 botanical gardens accredited by the American Association of Museums, this one-of-a-kind museum boasts 50 acres of outdoor exhibits. When you’re finished enjoying your day in this special desert paradise, you can visit the unique gift shop for a souvenir.

Tickets are limited at The Desert Botanical Garden butterfly breakfast and advance ticket purchase is required. (Recommended for children ages 3-10.) Member: Adult $35 / Children $30 General Public: Adult $40 / Children $35

To Purchase Tickets: Order online for Saturday, March 6 and Sunday, March 7^th, Breakfast with the Butterflies, or call 480-481-8188 (8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturday). You can also visit the Admission’s Box Office (8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily)

For More Information: Call 480-941-1225

Visit Westbrook’s vacation rentals to find the perfect home away from home

More than 700 of the most outstanding and successful Native American artists will show off their work in this highly-anticipated fair and festival at Heard Museum in Phoenix. Exquisite offerings of Native American jewelry, textiles, sculpture, pottery, paintings, carvings, katsina dolls and beadwork, which represent unique talents and technical expertise honed over generations, are up for sale. Why not journey home after your stay at Westbrook Vacation Rentals with beautiful mementos or gifts for family and friends?

Phoenix offers many cultural things to do, but this event has it all:  There will be exciting music, authentic dance performances, and artist demos, throughout the weekend. A special feature, “Apache Peoples and Arts” honors the bands of the Apache people featuring acclaimed elders. There will be storytelling by Apache entertainer Ken Duncan and even a wikieup!

Culinary offerings include the traditional fry bread, Hopi piki bread, and Apache acorn soup will be served. Mexican and American fare are available, too.

Best of Show

Best of Show, a gala event at Heard Museum, is an annual tradition that will be held on Friday evening, March 5^th, before the opening of the Arizona Indian fair, on March 6^th.  Evening events include a silent auction showcasing a wide variety of art and jewelry donated by some of the most famous Native American artists, a gourmet catered buffet dinner, and jazz sounds by Larry Redhouse Trio. The last segment of the evening will be a first time treat: The Aravaipa Crown Dancers from the San Carlos Apache Tribe, considered mountain spirits that teach the Apache how to live in harmony, will be honored guests, and will perform a special evening dance.

Where: On the grounds of the beautiful & historic Heard Museum
2301 N. Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ. 85004

Admission:

• $15 Adults
• Free: Children 16 & under
• $5 Students with I.D.
• $24 Two-Day Pass

Free Museum entrance included with fair admission price

This elegant Westbrook Vacation Rental is located near Heard Museum, as well as other fun and exciting cultural events and activities in Phoenix and Scottsdale:

Photograph by Judith Bromley

One of Arizona’s top tourist attractions, Scottsdale’s Taliesin West, draws over 125,000 visitors each year for tours of Frank Lloyd Wright’s own living quarters, theaters, a drafting studio, workshops, sunken gardens, fountains and reflecting pools.

In 1937, Wright purchased approximately 600 acres at the base of McDowell Mountains in Scottsdale, and soon began building Taliesin West from the rocks and sand around him, exemplifying his theory that construction materials suit the setting. With 35 apprentices, Wright built what he called his “desert camp,” providing escape from icy winters at his Wisconsin home and headquarters. His Scottsdale site became an all-encompassing learning environment including the study of nature, art, music and dance, with performances staged in on-site theaters. The compound (still open to visitors after Wright’s passing in 1959), offers tours year-round, and continues to serve as a living, working and educational facility with an on-site architectural firm. Renowned as one of Wright’s masterpieces, Taliesin West represents Wright’s brilliance integrating indoor and outdoor space. Texture, color, and the dramatic interplay of forms echo the geometry of the landscape. Westbrook Vacation Rentals has many properties situated in the north Scottsdale area, within close proximity to Taliesin West.

Photograph by Judith Bromley

Public tours are offered daily (except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter), from 9 am to 4 pm, September through May. Some tours are also offered June through August and a night tour is available. A special behind-the-scenes tour guides visitors through homes created by apprentices who live (or have lived), at the Frank Lloyd Wright site. Over the past seventy years, through The Desert Shelter Program, apprentices have designed, built and inhabited their own architectural experiments. On this two-hour tour, apprentices give visitors an up-close visit to these shelters from the basic sheepherder’s tent to dramatic structures perched at the edge of desert washes. Following Wright’s visionary teachings, these students of architecture built homes that are energy efficient, use materials suited to their setting, and celebrate the natural landscape.

Custom tours for prearranged groups of 15 or more are provided and group rates apply. For details and reservations, call 480-860-2700 ext. 482.

In addition to Taliesin West, eleven Wright-designed structures stand today in the Phoenix environs—eight homes, as well as a church, performance hall, and spire (recently erected, yet originally designed in 1957 for The Arizona State Capitol building.) There is also the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, where his influence and genius run deep, although after much debate, historians conclude he was a consultant, not the primary architect. All public structures grant access to visitors.