OUT

JUST CHILL

The hottest ways to stay cool during the scorching Scottsdale summer

BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ

As the dog days of summer approach, bringing extreme weather with them, it gets more difficult to find ways to have fun. Venture out of the house to enjoy these activities – without getting overheated.

JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa Pool Suites

In recent years, JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge upgraded its pool complex, which includes five pools, two whirlpools, a 1,600foot lazy river, an 89-foot serpentine water slide, and a kids splash pad. The complex now also contains 12 Pool Suites. Located adjacent to the lazy river, the Pool Suites not only feature ceiling misters, a flat-screen TV, plush all-weather furniture, a dedicated wait staff, and ample shade to cool the outdoor space, but a fully enclosed, air-conditioned indoor space as well. Inside, guests will find a halfbath as well as ample lounge space, a second flat-screen TV and small lockers for valuables. www.jwdesertridge.com.

The Nemesis Club

At The Nemesis Club, which is hidden behind a door at The Soda Jerk on High Street, guests partake in 60-minute fully immersive escape games, which are not to be confused with escape rooms. Rather than having the goal to literally escape the room, guests are given the opportunity to escape to a different time and place – as well as from the heat – through clever design and sensory activities while solving missions as a team. Working together, teams discover clues, solve puzzles, crack codes and unravel mysteries. Currently, The Nemesis Club has one game where teams must defeat evil robots and another coming soon that involves finding Bigfoot. The space is open most days of the week and can be reserved for private parties. www.thenemesisclub.com.

ZuZu Chef + Co. Series

This newly launched pop-up series is a great way to check out Hotel Valley Ho’s midcentury modern vibe while savoring dishes from multiple talented chefs at the same time. During each of these events, ZuZu executive chef Russell LaCasce teams up with one or more of his best culinary buddies on a night of epic culinary proportions. The evening kicks off with passed bites in the Rosie Room, a hidden dining space named for the matriarch of the family that owns the hotel, with the chefs themselves. Guests are then seated in the dining room for hors d’oeuvre and the main course, each paired with a beer, wine or specialty cocktail. Finally, guests will enjoy stations with copious dessert bites before being sent home with a bonus treat from the pastry shop. www.hotelvalleyho.com.

OdySea Aquarium SeaTrek

OdySea – the largest aquarium in the Southwest – features more than 65 exhibits, 500 species and over 30,000 animals across

Art

Within each piece of Cyn Silva’s art is a positive hidden message.

When Cyn Silva was just 12 years old, she studied Art Theory from world renowned Artist, De’Ovalle before finding her niche in painting large scale originals using a variety of oil, acrylic, water color, and mixed media.

“I see art every day, whether I am on a hike, on a walk, traveling, bike riding, or golfing, I always see a painting in my head,” she says. Noticing the beauty in the world around her and figuring out a way to recreate it, is what Cyn finds most gratifying. “Whether it is the clouds, the trees, or the colors and shadows on city buildings, it is very simple once you are grateful for all the beauty our world has to offer, be cognizant and just open your eyes,” she reveals.

If you look below the surface of Cyn’s art; you will find a feeling of positivity inside her often abstract and expressionistic efforts. “Sometimes I keep it a secret of what message is in the art piece, but I will share it with my collector,” Cyn says. “Art makes me come alive and painting something challenging is so rewarding to me.” With a passion for creating, Cyn loves when clients commission her to bring their vision to life. Thanks to her 30-year background in real estate, Cyn is a pro when it comes to connecting with people. She is still an active realtor, but finds time for art late at night when her creative juices are flowing. She’s also able to bridge the gap between real estate and art by connecting with interior designers, architects, builders, restaurants, and salons to create art for their lobbies and offices. “Home offices after the pandemic have kept me very busy creating pieces for many companies within a variety of work spaces,” she says.

Most importantly Cyn does not mass produce her work. “Art should be one of a kind in my mind,” she shares.

www.CynSilvaArt.com Cyn@CynSilva.com IG: @LuxuryCynSilva 925.580.1430

200,000 square feet. Beyond strolling around, consider taking advantage of one or more of its enhanced OdySea enrichment programs, notably SeaTrek. The wettest and wildest activity at the aquarium, SeaTrek permits guests to pull on a wetsuit and jump into an actual underwater environment with the help of a certified guide and an official SeaTrek helmet, which allows for easy breathing while walking across the bottom of the aquarium. While staying dry from the shoulders up, expect to come face-to-face with fish and other marine life. The tour features a professional photographer shooting images throughout, all of which are available once back on the surface. www.odyseaaquarium.com.

LON’s Underground Wine Cellar

Each summer, LON’s at The Hermosa Inn welcomes both its hotel guests and Valley residents alike to journey down the stairs from the main restaurant into its 57-degree subterranean wine cellar for one of the coolest – literally and figuratively – dining experiences of the year. Normally only available to private parties, now through mid-September, guests may book dinner in the wine cellar Thursday through Sunday weekly, where they will enjoy a fivecourse tasting menu by chef de cuisine Sam Anderson and his team, with the option to add wine pairings or to order from the regular cocktail menu. The wine cellar is draped in rich fabrics with dark wood and stone throughout with intimate tables and dim lighting. www.hermosainn.com.

Westin Kierland Resort & Spa Adventure Water Park

The Westin’s Water Park is built as much for adults as it is for kids. For one, the 900-foot lazy river has a bar conveniently located along the waterway. There is also a 110-foot waterslide for all ages, an adult pool and the FlowRider, a full-scale, free-standing surfing and wakeboarding simulation where both novices and experts alike can attempt to show their skills, learn some tricks and (the best part) hilariously wipeout while their friends cheer. There is also the Tommy Bahama Relaxation Reef, which is available for bookings daily. This private island on property includes its own reserved lounge chairs, dining tables, yard games, coolers, storage spaces, umbrellas, a dedicated server and even a private section of the lazy river to enjoy. www.westinkierland.com.

CIVANA Spa

The wellness resort’s two-story, 22,000-square-foot spa centers around the theme of “healing through water.” Beyond 23 unique treatment areas, which include one Watsu therapy pool, two couples treatment rooms, three wet treatment rooms including a Vichy shower, five facial rooms, and 14 massage rooms, there is an indoor coed space that offers everyone – couples, take note – the chance to enjoy healing waters together. This Aqua Vitality circuit is included with any spa treatment and features a Europeandesigned Kneipp hot/cold wading pool, a therapeutic soaking pool, a cold deluge shower and the five-climate KLAFS Sanarium. www.civanacarefree.com.