Welcome.

We're back for another episode of Podsdale.

I'm your host, Holly Walter from

the City's Office of Communication.

First and foremost, I need to send our thanks

from the Communications Office for your

responses and feedback to our first episode.

I think I mentioned before that this podcast really

has been a project in the making for our team.

So we're happy to have launched and

even happier to know you're listening.

We had 17 responses to our trivia question.

And would you be surprised to know

that every person got it right?

Now, we can't put anything past you is what I'm

thinking, but, um, we also might need to make

our episode trivia questions a little bit harder.

However, I will share with our listeners that

Pegasus was the correct answer to the question.

What is the name of our virtual library space?

And licensed inspector, Deborah Bradley was

our lucky, random winner from the drawing.

Don't fret, though.

If you entered and answered our trivia question,

we have a little something coming your way as well.

Deborah's winning a $10 Starbucks gift card.

So Deborah watch interoffice mail,

we'll be sending that your way.

And with that, let's go to Stephanie

for this episodes, Fast Five.

Thanks Holly, I'm Public Affairs

Specialist, Stephanie Hirata here to share five fast

things happening around the city, you need to know.

Let's start the countdown with the number five spot and something

everyone is talking about, vaccinations.

The City is partnering with the Arizona Department of

Health Services and Cigna to open a large-scale vaccination

point of distribution at Westworld beginning, April 22nd.

When it opens the indoor site will

operate from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily.

Offering three to 4,000 daily appointments to the public,

about 140 volunteers per day are needed to work alongside

Cigna's health care professionals at the Westworld POD.

The City is supporting this site by allowing employees to

volunteer, with supervisor approval, while on the clock.

Employees who volunteer will be given the opportunity

to receive the vaccine on the day they volunteer.

Interested?

Check City Point news for the link to sign up.

Number four is about bringing summer relief to homebound seniors.

Temperatures are rising, which means it's time to start

gathering items to help seniors Beat the Heat items

most needed, include reusable water bottles, ice packs,

toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and $35 Fry's gift cards.

You can drop off items beginning, April

26th to the Via Linda Senior Center.

Look for the complete list of items needed and more

information at ScottsdaleAZ.gov and search 'Beat the Heat'.

Our aquatic fitness centers, sit in the

number three spot, let's get physical!

Both McDowell Mountain Ranch and Cactus Aquatic

Fitness Centers, reopen to the public on March 29th.

Eldorado Park Fitness Center reopened April

3rd due to schedule maintenance at the center.

Reservations are not required, but face

coverings must be worn at all times.

At number two, we're talking about the

perfect time to get around on two wheels.

Right now.

The weather is beautiful and April

is a Valley Bike Month to boot.

Grab your bike and make a difference, take a trip to the grocery

store, the park, or to work any cycling during April counts.

Log your bike trips for the chance to win prizes for details,

visit ValleyMetro.org.

And this episodes number one Fast Five spot

goes to Scottsdale fire Captain Mike Norling.

Mike was recently named to lead a national disaster

aid team for the National Disaster Medical System.

Mike has served with the NDMS for 10 years with

duties that ranged from providing backup to hospital's

hit by hurricanes, assisting with COVID-19 vaccine

clinics, and staging for large scale events.

In his new position, Mike will manage about 90 people and

coordinate daily operations, deployments, and training.

Congratulations Captain, we know you'll represent Scottsdale

well and that's our Fast Five for this episode of Podsdale.

Got something for a future Fast Five?

Tell us by emailing communications@ScottsdaleAZ.gov.

I'll turn it back over to you, Holly.

Thanks

Stephanie.

And let me remind you listeners, that we will have

another trivia question in this episode, so be listening.

It could be something from the Fast Five, and

it could be something with our guests today.

I'll have that question at the end of the episode,

email your answer to communications@ScottsdaleAZ.gov,

and we'll have another drawing for another great price.

So it's Western week, a little delayed this year due to

COVID-19, we usually celebrate in February, but our time

honored tradition is back and here to talk about it today

is downtown specialist, Jackie Contaldo . Hi, Jackie.

Hey

Holly.

Thanks for having me on.

Thanks for being with us.

Um, before we get into all things Western week,

tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do for

the city in your position as our Downtown Specialist.

Sure.

Um, while in July will be my third year with the City and I am

in the Tourism and Events Department, the Downtown Specialist,

as you mentioned, and I am sole staff dedicated to Old Town.

So I do, a myriad of things.

I do everything from advertising and marketing, to some

of the development of our events in the Old Town area, as

well as work really closely with our business community and

liaise between the city and our merchants and restaurants.

So anything Old Town, you're

our person to go to, it sounds like?

That's right, keep my name and number handy.

Definitely.

Well, I, I call you all the time, you know that, um,

let's get right to our topic this episode of Western Week.

Um, I'm so glad it's back.

I'm sure many others are as well.

What type of planning was involved in this

year's event and, and what will be the same?

What might be a little different?

Yeah, sure.

Well, as you kind of touched on early, uh, we were planning

to have it in February and of course, uh, a second wave of

COVID cases and it really didn't feel like the right time

to bring a whole bunch of people into the downtown area.

One of the things we've been priding ourselves here

in the tourism and events department is how safe

we've been working to make our events for attendees.

And that was no different when it came to Western Week planning.

So we wanted to take a look at the timing and it

made the most sense really to move in until April.

Um, that was also a time that the Arizona Indiana Festival.

The participants for that and the

performers could, it really worked for them.

So we moved it into April and we were kind of, you

know, re-imagining everything with safety in mind.

So one of the, you know, signature events that we'll probably

miss the most, this year, that was affected by, kind of

these, the safety restructuring, is the Prada Del Sol parade.

So this year we will not have the Prada Del Sol Parade, but

we are bringing back our other traditional, signature events

that have been part of Western Week for a really long time.

Like the Arizona Indian Festival, the Gold Palette Artwalk,

the Hashknife Pony Express arrival, which is in its 63rd

year, and then our Old Town Scottsdale Farmer's Market.

And so this year, in addition to having signature events, we

really worked with our business community to help them kind of

come up with ideas to contribute to the spirit of Western Week.

So you'll see that we've added some, uh, local

merchant events and activities to the schedule.

So you can do anything from historic, uh,

Western Week tours with Joy Ride to crafting

workshops, to a cowboy music and beer garden.

At our very own Old Town Scottsdale Rodeo Museum.

So we're really excited to see Western week grow and other

businesses in our community kind of latch onto that and use

that as an opportunity to also give exposure to their business.

Sounds like a lot of fun and a lot of different

things that you can do, whether you're going out as a couple,

you're, you're hanging out with your family, a lot of options.

It's perfect.

We have everything from date nights, to gals

days, to family fun, uh, free festivals.

One of Western Weeks highlights

the 63rd annual Hashknife Pony Express arrival,

which you mentioned earlier is happening Friday.

What can you tell us about this year's arrival?

We're really excited about

the 63rd annual Hashknife Pony Express arrival.

Traditionally it takes place in front of the Museum

of the West, but due to our kind of our COVID and

safety planning, we moved it to Scottsdale Stadium.

And that really allowed for us to make sure that there was

plenty of social distancing, plenty of room in general,

for attendees to kind of gather and watch the event.

As well as making sure that, you know, it was shaded it's

a little bit farther in on the year now that it's in April.

And so having the stadium, having a Concourse so people could

have a little reprieve from the heat was important to us as well.

And where you really are going to blow it out, I mean,

there's tons of stuff happening on the Concourse.

So when guests get to the event, we're going to have

a mariachi group, we're going to have our singing

cowboy, Gary Spragg, and his horse Dusty there.

We're going to have everything from ball

walkers, to cowboy clowns, to balloon artists.

It's really going to be a whole bunch of activity.

And then as people move from the Concourse, just right

out into the stadium itself, we're going to have the

Herndon Brothers, on the main stage, we're going to have

the Yellow Bird Dancers, we're going to have line dancing.

And then we're going to watch as 30 to 40 Hashknife

riders, come in on horseback at high noon and

deliver 20,000 pieces of mail to the US Post Office.

I really want to encourage City of Scottsdale employees and

their families to come out to the Hashknife Pony Express arrival.

It's a really big community event for us, and we've taken a

lot of pride in re-imagining it this year, with safety in mind.

And we, really love to show off the heritage

of our downtown and our city in general.

And this is a really great experience,

that's free and fun for everybody.

The HashKnife Pony Express riders are actually

leaving from Holbrook on Wednesday, and then

they're going to ride the entire way here.

So it's a couple of days of riding for them.

It's been going on for a really long time.

They do a 200 mile trek from Holbrook, so it's really fantastic.

I encourage everyone to see it if they have the opportunity.

Oh, I agree.

If you haven't been, um, for the arrival, it's

something that you need to put on your to-do list.

It's always so exciting and, and the crowds are really,

um, enthusiastic when they, when they come riding in.

The kids love it.

The adults love it.

It's it's a lot of fun.

Yes.

And it will happen from 10:30 to 12:30 on

Friday, April 16th, but Gates open at 10 o'clock.

So there's time for you to catch music

early on the Concourse and find your seats.

Perfect.

Well, another piece of Western Week happens right after

that, the Arizona Indian Festival, over the weekend.

Um, fill us in on what we can expect there.

The Arizona Indian Festival is our

most heavily attended event of Western Week outside of

the parade, which we're not having this year, but that

happens on Saturday, April 17th, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

And then again on Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

And it's this lovely celebration

honoring our Arizona Indian culture.

And it's, a spirited festival, with

the 22 indigenous tribes of Arizona.

And you can find everything there from traditional food,

and storytelling, to dancing and singing, um, you'll

see a lot of makers of traditional arts and crafts.

There'll be food, um, it's just really a great event.

It's lively.

It's vibrant.

Um, it's a perfect event to find yourself out in

for the weekend and then hit up a, a shop or a

restaurant in Old Town as you come, or as you leave.

And of course we would

not be the West most Western town.

If we didn't look the part.

So Mayor Ortega has encouraged everyone, including employees,

to wear their best Western duds, work appropriate, of course.

Not only this week, but every Wednesday in

April and Jackie, you're the person to ask

this since you know, all things Old Town.

Can you offer some suggestions on shopping

and dining that really tie into Western Week?

Yeah, absolutely.

And I agree.

I'm definitely going to encourage everybody

to dress in their Western Week attire.

Um, cause there's nothing like showing

your spirit during Western Week.

I would say you can't go wrong with

some of our gems and historic Old Town.

Uh, if anyone wants to stop by for a really

good cocktail, we have Porters Western Saloon.

They're right there on Main, across from the

Civic Center entrance at Main and Brown and

they are an amazing craft cocktail saloon.

They have the horse on top of the building.

If anyone recalls seeing that.

And it's one of our oldest buildings is

actually, um, Scottsdale's first post office.

So that's a really cool place to stop by.

We just had a new business called Belle's Nashville

Kitchen enter into the historic Old Town space.

And they're a honky-tonk.

So they have live Western music on Tuesdays and Wednesday nights.

We have our very much beloved, the Los Olivos restaurant,

which has been in the community for a very long time.

I definitely encourage people to eat there.

They have delicious Mexican food.

Um, and then shopping, you know, you can't

go wrong with really anything in Old Town.

It's been very important this year for our, for

us to support our small business communities.

So just as you walk around, take a peak in a

place that maybe you haven't been to before.

I guarantee you, you're going to be

surprised by what you find inside.

There's so many unique, one of a kind items.

Be so hard for me to tell you just one favorite, cause I think

they're all amazing businesses that need your support right now.

I, I agree.

I there's so many great places to pop into

and do a little shopping and so many different

things you can shop for in that area as well.

Um, and any

There's never a bad time to do some shopping.

Oh, never a bad time to do some shopping.

Um, any listeners wanting to learn more about Western

Week, where's the best place to go for more information?

I would send them to

ScottsdaleWesternWeek.com again, ScottsdaleWesternWeek.com.

That's our website for the event and

for all the other business events.

That are participating in Western Week, but

also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Old Town has a really great following on both channels.

We post every day about events and

businesses and things happening in Old Town.

So even if it's not Western Week, but you're still looking and

trying to get inspired for things to do, I would say that's

a great way to find out what's going on in our downtown.

Oh for sure.

Um, I follow, I follow you on Facebook and there's always

some great updates on things happening in the Old Town area.

Jackie, what else is happening for Western

Week that you want our listeners to know about?

I definitely think, a not to miss event,

that you should put on your schedule, is the Gold Palette

Artwalk, which is happening on Thursday, April 15th.

And that takes place from 6:30PM to 9:00 PM

at night in our Scottsdale Arts District.

This is Scottsdale Gallery Associations, 46th

anniversary of having artwalks and they're

doing a special Art walk just for Western Week.

They're going to have Western artists featured and we're

going to have a live, uh, Western band, called Desert Dixie.

Um, they will be there performing and we'll also

have special lithographs for sale, uh, $200 each

that are benefiting the Prada Del Sol Parade

Foundation, really excited to see that come together.

And then we have our Old Town Scottsdale Farmer's

Market, which happens on Saturday, April 17th.

Really great following for that, but they're also

doing a Western themed farmer's market, and they're

going to have a few photo ops where you can take

pictures with a nearly six foot tall stuff, Buffalo.

Uh, the Old Town Scottsdale Rodeo Museum is close by

too, and you can pop into there and they're going to be

having cowboy music and beer garden open all day long.

So much to do.

I agree the, um, the Gold Palette Artwalk

is, is something that's not to be missed.

And the farmer's market is always great.

Jackie, thank you so much for joining us for this episode.

We really appreciate your time.

We know you've been really busy with Western Week, um,

but, uh, I hope everyone goes out to visit and, and see

the effort that's been put into getting this together.

And, and in particular, after the past year, it's

just definitely a great way to get out and and, um,

see what's happening in the Old Town area now that

we are reopening and, and ready to get back together.

Yes, Yee haw!

Ye haw indeed!

I am dusting off my cowboy boots as we speak.

And now for that trivia question, where is the HashKnife

Pony Express arrival taking place in Scottsdale this year?

Email your answer to communications@ScottsdaleAZ.gov

to be entered into our drawing and be

sure to join us next time for Podsdale.