Episode 2

Podsdale Episode 2: It's Western Week, y'all!

Published on: 12th April, 2021

It’s Western Week in the West’s Most Western Town. Downtown Specialist Jackie Contaldo joins host Holly Walter to talk all things Western Week, including what to expect this year and why everyone should dress up in their best Western duds. Yee Haw! 🤠

Podsdale celebrates the City of Scottsdale's employees, highlights their stories and accomplishments, and shares city news they need to know. 

Find Podsdale in your favorite podcast app.

Transcript
Holly Walter:

Welcome.

Holly Walter:

We're back for another episode of Podsdale.

Holly Walter:

I'm your host, Holly Walter from

Holly Walter:

the City's Office of Communication.

Holly Walter:

First and foremost, I need to send our thanks

Holly Walter:

from the Communications Office for your

Holly Walter:

responses and feedback to our first episode.

Holly Walter:

I think I mentioned before that this podcast really

Holly Walter:

has been a project in the making for our team.

Holly Walter:

So we're happy to have launched and

Holly Walter:

even happier to know you're listening.

Holly Walter:

We had 17 responses to our trivia question.

Holly Walter:

And would you be surprised to know

Holly Walter:

that every person got it right?

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

our episode trivia questions a little bit harder.

Holly Walter:

However, I will share with our listeners that

Holly Walter:

Pegasus was the correct answer to the question.

Holly Walter:

What is the name of our virtual library space?

Holly Walter:

And licensed inspector, Deborah Bradley was

Holly Walter:

our lucky, random winner from the drawing.

Holly Walter:

Don't fret, though.

Holly Walter:

If you entered and answered our trivia question,

Holly Walter:

we have a little something coming your way as well.

Holly Walter:

Deborah's winning a $10 Starbucks gift card.

Holly Walter:

So Deborah watch interoffice mail,

Holly Walter:

we'll be sending that your way.

Holly Walter:

And with that, let's go to Stephanie

Holly Walter:

for this episodes, Fast Five.

Stephanie Hirata:

Thanks Holly, I'm Public Affairs

Stephanie Hirata:

Specialist, Stephanie Hirata here to share five fast

Stephanie Hirata:

things happening around the city, you need to know.

Stephanie Hirata:

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

Stephanie Hirata:

everyone is talking about, vaccinations.

Stephanie Hirata:

The City is partnering with the Arizona Department of

Stephanie Hirata:

Health Services and Cigna to open a large-scale vaccination

Stephanie Hirata:

point of distribution at Westworld beginning, April 22nd.

Stephanie Hirata:

When it opens the indoor site will

Stephanie Hirata:

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

Stephanie Hirata:

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

Stephanie Hirata:

about 140 volunteers per day are needed to work alongside

Stephanie Hirata:

Cigna's health care professionals at the Westworld POD.

Stephanie Hirata:

The City is supporting this site by allowing employees to

Stephanie Hirata:

volunteer, with supervisor approval, while on the clock.

Stephanie Hirata:

Employees who volunteer will be given the opportunity

Stephanie Hirata:

to receive the vaccine on the day they volunteer.

Stephanie Hirata:

Interested?

Stephanie Hirata:

Check City Point news for the link to sign up.

Stephanie Hirata:

Number four is about bringing summer relief to homebound seniors.

Stephanie Hirata:

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

Stephanie Hirata:

gathering items to help seniors Beat the Heat items

Stephanie Hirata:

most needed, include reusable water bottles, ice packs,

Stephanie Hirata:

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

Stephanie Hirata:

You can drop off items beginning, April

Stephanie Hirata:

26th to the Via Linda Senior Center.

Stephanie Hirata:

Look for the complete list of items needed and more

Stephanie Hirata:

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

Stephanie Hirata:

Our aquatic fitness centers, sit in the

Stephanie Hirata:

number three spot, let's get physical!

Stephanie Hirata:

Both McDowell Mountain Ranch and Cactus Aquatic

Stephanie Hirata:

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

Stephanie Hirata:

Eldorado Park Fitness Center reopened April

Stephanie Hirata:

3rd due to schedule maintenance at the center.

Stephanie Hirata:

Reservations are not required, but face

Stephanie Hirata:

coverings must be worn at all times.

Stephanie Hirata:

At number two, we're talking about the

Stephanie Hirata:

perfect time to get around on two wheels.

Stephanie Hirata:

Right now.

Stephanie Hirata:

The weather is beautiful and April

Stephanie Hirata:

is a Valley Bike Month to boot.

Stephanie Hirata:

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

Stephanie Hirata:

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

Stephanie Hirata:

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

Stephanie Hirata:

visit ValleyMetro.org.

Stephanie Hirata:

And this episodes number one Fast Five spot

Stephanie Hirata:

goes to Scottsdale fire Captain Mike Norling.

Stephanie Hirata:

Mike was recently named to lead a national disaster

Stephanie Hirata:

aid team for the National Disaster Medical System.

Stephanie Hirata:

Mike has served with the NDMS for 10 years with

Stephanie Hirata:

duties that ranged from providing backup to hospital's

Stephanie Hirata:

hit by hurricanes, assisting with COVID-19 vaccine

Stephanie Hirata:

clinics, and staging for large scale events.

Stephanie Hirata:

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

Stephanie Hirata:

coordinate daily operations, deployments, and training.

Stephanie Hirata:

Congratulations Captain, we know you'll represent Scottsdale

Stephanie Hirata:

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

Stephanie Hirata:

Got something for a future Fast Five?

Stephanie Hirata:

Tell us by emailing communications@ScottsdaleAZ.gov.

Stephanie Hirata:

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

Holly Walter:

Thanks

Holly Walter:

Stephanie.

Holly Walter:

And let me remind you listeners, that we will have

Holly Walter:

another trivia question in this episode, so be listening.

Holly Walter:

It could be something from the Fast Five, and

Holly Walter:

it could be something with our guests today.

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

email your answer to communications@ScottsdaleAZ.gov,

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

honored tradition is back and here to talk about it today

Holly Walter:

is downtown specialist, Jackie Contaldo . Hi, Jackie.

Jackie Contaldo:

Hey

Jackie Contaldo:

Holly.

Jackie Contaldo:

Thanks for having me on.

Holly Walter:

Thanks for being with us.

Holly Walter:

Um, before we get into all things Western week,

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

the city in your position as our Downtown Specialist.

Jackie Contaldo:

Sure.

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

in the Tourism and Events Department, the Downtown Specialist,

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

So I do, a myriad of things.

Jackie Contaldo:

I do everything from advertising and marketing, to some

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

well as work really closely with our business community and

Jackie Contaldo:

liaise between the city and our merchants and restaurants.

Holly Walter:

So anything Old Town, you're

Holly Walter:

our person to go to, it sounds like?

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Holly Walter:

Definitely.

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

I'm sure many others are as well.

Holly Walter:

What type of planning was involved in this

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

What might be a little different?

Jackie Contaldo:

Yeah, sure.

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

One of the things we've been priding ourselves here

Jackie Contaldo:

in the tourism and events department is how safe

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

made the most sense really to move in until April.

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

The participants for that and the

Jackie Contaldo:

performers could, it really worked for them.

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

know, re-imagining everything with safety in mind.

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

we are bringing back our other traditional, signature events

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

Like the Arizona Indian Festival, the Gold Palette Artwalk,

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

really worked with our business community to help them kind of

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

merchant events and activities to the schedule.

Jackie Contaldo:

So you can do anything from historic, uh,

Jackie Contaldo:

Western Week tours with Joy Ride to crafting

Jackie Contaldo:

workshops, to a cowboy music and beer garden.

Jackie Contaldo:

At our very own Old Town Scottsdale Rodeo Museum.

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

businesses in our community kind of latch onto that and use

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Holly Walter:

Sounds like a lot of fun and a lot of different

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

It's perfect.

Jackie Contaldo:

We have everything from date nights, to gals

Jackie Contaldo:

days, to family fun, uh, free festivals.

Holly Walter:

One of Western Weeks highlights

Holly Walter:

the 63rd annual Hashknife Pony Express arrival,

Holly Walter:

which you mentioned earlier is happening Friday.

Holly Walter:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

We're really excited about

Jackie Contaldo:

the 63rd annual Hashknife Pony Express arrival.

Jackie Contaldo:

Traditionally it takes place in front of the Museum

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

safety planning, we moved it to Scottsdale Stadium.

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

plenty of social distancing, plenty of room in general,

Jackie Contaldo:

for attendees to kind of gather and watch the event.

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

there's tons of stuff happening on the Concourse.

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

cowboy, Gary Spragg, and his horse Dusty there.

Jackie Contaldo:

We're going to have everything from ball

Jackie Contaldo:

walkers, to cowboy clowns, to balloon artists.

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

And then as people move from the Concourse, just right

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

riders, come in on horseback at high noon and

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

I really want to encourage City of Scottsdale employees and

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

And we, really love to show off the heritage

Jackie Contaldo:

of our downtown and our city in general.

Jackie Contaldo:

And this is a really great experience,

Jackie Contaldo:

that's free and fun for everybody.

Jackie Contaldo:

The HashKnife Pony Express riders are actually

Jackie Contaldo:

leaving from Holbrook on Wednesday, and then

Jackie Contaldo:

they're going to ride the entire way here.

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Holly Walter:

Oh, I agree.

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

The kids love it.

Holly Walter:

The adults love it.

Holly Walter:

It's it's a lot of fun.

Jackie Contaldo:

Yes.

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

So there's time for you to catch music

Jackie Contaldo:

early on the Concourse and find your seats.

Holly Walter:

Perfect.

Holly Walter:

Well, another piece of Western Week happens right after

Holly Walter:

that, the Arizona Indian Festival, over the weekend.

Holly Walter:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

The Arizona Indian Festival is our

Jackie Contaldo:

most heavily attended event of Western Week outside of

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

And it's this lovely celebration

Jackie Contaldo:

honoring our Arizona Indian culture.

Jackie Contaldo:

And it's, a spirited festival, with

Jackie Contaldo:

the 22 indigenous tribes of Arizona.

Jackie Contaldo:

And you can find everything there from traditional food,

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

see a lot of makers of traditional arts and crafts.

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

It's lively.

Jackie Contaldo:

It's vibrant.

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Holly Walter:

And of course we would

Holly Walter:

not be the West most Western town.

Holly Walter:

If we didn't look the part.

Holly Walter:

So Mayor Ortega has encouraged everyone, including employees,

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

Not only this week, but every Wednesday in

Holly Walter:

April and Jackie, you're the person to ask

Holly Walter:

this since you know, all things Old Town.

Holly Walter:

Can you offer some suggestions on shopping

Holly Walter:

and dining that really tie into Western Week?

Jackie Contaldo:

Yeah, absolutely.

Jackie Contaldo:

And I agree.

Jackie Contaldo:

I'm definitely going to encourage everybody

Jackie Contaldo:

to dress in their Western Week attire.

Jackie Contaldo:

Um, cause there's nothing like showing

Jackie Contaldo:

your spirit during Western Week.

Jackie Contaldo:

I would say you can't go wrong with

Jackie Contaldo:

some of our gems and historic Old Town.

Jackie Contaldo:

Uh, if anyone wants to stop by for a really

Jackie Contaldo:

good cocktail, we have Porters Western Saloon.

Jackie Contaldo:

They're right there on Main, across from the

Jackie Contaldo:

Civic Center entrance at Main and Brown and

Jackie Contaldo:

they are an amazing craft cocktail saloon.

Jackie Contaldo:

They have the horse on top of the building.

Jackie Contaldo:

If anyone recalls seeing that.

Jackie Contaldo:

And it's one of our oldest buildings is

Jackie Contaldo:

actually, um, Scottsdale's first post office.

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

We just had a new business called Belle's Nashville

Jackie Contaldo:

Kitchen enter into the historic Old Town space.

Jackie Contaldo:

And they're a honky-tonk.

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

I definitely encourage people to eat there.

Jackie Contaldo:

They have delicious Mexican food.

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

go wrong with really anything in Old Town.

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

us to support our small business communities.

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

place that maybe you haven't been to before.

Jackie Contaldo:

I guarantee you, you're going to be

Jackie Contaldo:

surprised by what you find inside.

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Holly Walter:

I, I agree.

Holly Walter:

I there's so many great places to pop into

Holly Walter:

and do a little shopping and so many different

Holly Walter:

things you can shop for in that area as well.

Holly Walter:

Um, and any

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Holly Walter:

Oh, never a bad time to do some shopping.

Holly Walter:

Um, any listeners wanting to learn more about Western

Holly Walter:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

I would send them to

Jackie Contaldo:

ScottsdaleWesternWeek.com again, ScottsdaleWesternWeek.com.

Jackie Contaldo:

That's our website for the event and

Jackie Contaldo:

for all the other business events.

Jackie Contaldo:

That are participating in Western Week, but

Jackie Contaldo:

also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Jackie Contaldo:

Old Town has a really great following on both channels.

Jackie Contaldo:

We post every day about events and

Jackie Contaldo:

businesses and things happening in Old Town.

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Holly Walter:

Oh for sure.

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

Jackie, what else is happening for Western

Holly Walter:

Week that you want our listeners to know about?

Jackie Contaldo:

I definitely think, a not to miss event,

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

at night in our Scottsdale Arts District.

Jackie Contaldo:

This is Scottsdale Gallery Associations, 46th

Jackie Contaldo:

anniversary of having artwalks and they're

Jackie Contaldo:

doing a special Art walk just for Western Week.

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

have special lithographs for sale, uh, $200 each

Jackie Contaldo:

that are benefiting the Prada Del Sol Parade

Jackie Contaldo:

Foundation, really excited to see that come together.

Jackie Contaldo:

And then we have our Old Town Scottsdale Farmer's

Jackie Contaldo:

Market, which happens on Saturday, April 17th.

Jackie Contaldo:

Really great following for that, but they're also

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

going to have a few photo ops where you can take

Jackie Contaldo:

pictures with a nearly six foot tall stuff, Buffalo.

Jackie Contaldo:

Uh, the Old Town Scottsdale Rodeo Museum is close by

Jackie Contaldo:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

having cowboy music and beer garden open all day long.

Holly Walter:

So much to do.

Holly Walter:

I agree the, um, the Gold Palette Artwalk

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

And the farmer's market is always great.

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

We really appreciate your time.

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

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

Holly Walter:

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

Jackie Contaldo:

Yes, Yee haw!

Holly Walter:

Ye haw indeed!

Holly Walter:

I am dusting off my cowboy boots as we speak.

Holly Walter:

And now for that trivia question, where is the HashKnife

Holly Walter:

Pony Express arrival taking place in Scottsdale this year?

Holly Walter:

Email your answer to communications@ScottsdaleAZ.gov

Holly Walter:

to be entered into our drawing and be

Holly Walter:

sure to join us next time for Podsdale.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Podsdale

About the Podcast

Podsdale
A City of Scottsdale Podcast
Podsdale celebrates the City of Scottsdale and helps people stay up to date on the latest news from the city. Subscribe to be "in the know" about the West's Most Western Town!