With the economy in a mega-slump, a summer trip may be the last thing on your mind–until you hear about Vegas’ mega-deals. Many of the top-notch resorts and hotels on the strip are lowering their prices to attract more tourists during the current financial setback. Hit up the Luxor with your girlfriends for the “Girls Night Out” package and get a free Deluxe Tower upgrade, free admission to LAX nightclub, spa and dining discounts and much much more! The MGM Grand is offering their “Summer Splash” rate, starting at only $79 per night all the while showering you with oodles of fun freebies. For some poolside fun in the sun, be sure to ask about Mandalay Bay’s “SPF-109 Summer” offer, including rooms from $99 per night and tons of savings certificates. www.lasvegas.com.

You better have your game faces on for some serious shopping this weekend. Not only does Nordstrom kick off their Anniversary Sale on Friday–their biggest sale of the year–but Neiman Marcus is competing with some awesome skin care deals and events. All Nordstrom stores will be bringing in hot fall merchandise for way-marked down prices (think cute cropped jackets, croc patent platforms, richly-hued handbags and jeans galore), and will return them to their original cost on Aug. 4. www.nordstrom.com.

While making your way to Fashion Square, don’t forgo Neiman’s. Day after day presents a new beauty event, beginning this Friday with the Sisley Facial Event. Following will be the Dior makeup event July 19, the Eskandar event July 22, and a Revive Facial Event as well as a Theory event July 24. www.neimanmarcus.com.

For us girls, designer garments fresh from the runway are practically a gift from above–but why? Or, more importantly, how are such masterpieces created? Well, now is your chance to find out with Phoenix Art Museum’s lecture, Off the Runway: Behind the Scenes at Chado Ralph Rucci, taking place at 7 pm this Tuesday. The Museum will host Coco Mitchell, New York Fashion Designer Chado Ralph Rucci’s fit model and muse, as she goes into details about Rucci’s workshop and his creation process. Don’t miss your chance to squelch all your incessant wondering of how a simple idea becomes a full on trend that sweeps the country…or, if it’s really good, the world.

No time to spare Tuesday? You will still have the opportunity to view the Chado Ralph Rucci exhibition at the museum until Aug. 17, which displays actual runway wear, from day to evening.  www.phxart.org.

This weekend, instead of hitting up the same old restaurants and after-hours spots, why not go a little more refined and sophisticated with a trip to the ballet. Although it’s not typical for dance troupes to perform during the summer months, Novaballet, led by former business manager of Ballet Arizona Doug Pasley is a new type of dance company–they are providing jobs to dancers in the off-season and filling the summer entertainment void of dance lovers. This Friday through Sunday, Novaballet will put on their Concert One performance at the Tempe Center for the Arts Theatre. Concert One is sure to impress even the most seasoned dance enthusiast, focusing on a diverse and contemporary take on classical ballet, including one world premiere presentation choreographed by award-winning Robert Dekkers. For information on Novaballet and their projects, visit www.novaballet.com.

Yesterday the Phoenix Art Museum unveiled A Tradition Redefined, an extensive exhibition  of modern and contemporary art highlighting Asian art of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. This elaborate exhibit comprises four colorful and cultural displays across three galleries. Phoenix residents can be among the first to see some works in this collection that have never been shown beyond Asia’s borders.

A collaboration of the Phoenix Art Museum and the Harvard University Art Museum, Modern and Contemporary Chinese Ink Painting from the Chu-tsing Li Collection depicts the historic progression of Chinese ink painting. Also in this gallery is No Snow on the Broken Bridge, an emotionally charged black-and-white film by Yang Fudong whose format invokes elements of Chinese ink paintings. Both run through September.

The third exhibition, The Modern Spirit in Chinese Painting: Gifts from the Jeannette Shambaugh Elliott Collection, is a compilation of 20th-century Chinese art drawn from the museum’s own collection. This installation will be up through December.

Making Waves: Contemporary Japanese Prints from the Mary and William Way Collection, showcases rarely seen 21^st-century Japanese prints and will be on display through Aug. 17.

For more information, visit  www.phxart.org. 

Christine Whitton

If you need a break from the daily grind, pop in to Mesa’s Pure Skin Day Spa Thursday night for their Arts and Spa Event, “An Evening Where Art and Beauty Blend to Benefit Charity”. You can browse the works of artist John Koleszar and enjoy complimentary wine, cheese and yummy desserts. Simply by making an appearance, you will receive a $25 Pure Skin gift certificate. Throughout the evening, you will also have opportunities to win raffle prizes. The only tough decision? What to use your gift certificate on! Pure Skin never falls short on quality treatments. Eyelash extensions, customized facials, laser hair removal, photo facials and botox are just a few of the procedures Pure Skin offers customers. www.realpureskin.com.

Being near the sea sounds ideal for summertime, but having the sea on your face? You bet, and new Fashion Square arrival Seacret Spa can assure you your skin will never look or feel the same. The shop sells everything from nail care to mud masks to sea salts–three of their most popular products–all utilizing minerals from the bottom of the sea. Seacret Spa claims that a difference can be made in your skin by slathering on more minerals.  In fact, the company has said that the Dead Sea (which is said to be around 1,300 feet below sea level) contains waters with the highest level of minerals in the world. Whether you’re convinced or not, with such a variety of products and gorgeous gift packages, it’s definitely worth a visit. www.seacretspa.com.

Escaping north this summer? You’re sure to see a familiar face. Chef Ivan Flowers (you may recognize his name from his post at Different Pointe of View) has become the king of Sedona’s culinary scene. Flowers, who is trained in French and Italian cooking styles, is currently heading up not one, but five, Sedona eateries: Gallery at Amara Resort and Spa, L’Auberge Restaurant, Canyon Breeze, Orchards Bar & Grill and Open Range Grill & Tavern. www.amararesort.com;  www.lauberge.com; www.canyon-breeze.com; www.orchardsinn.com; www.sedona-center.com

If the summer heat has you dreaming of a cooler-climate-vaca, two delicious reasons for you to stay put are about to pop up on Scottsdale’s Restaurant Row. Spaghetti Western Productions, downtown Scottsdale’s group of independently-owned restaurants (including other favorites such as Digestif, Cowboy Ciao and Kazimierz) have planned to open two more restaurants this summer. The first–and fifth Spaghetti Western restaurant–Mexican Standoff, will offer diners a playful mix of Latin and Mexican dishes as well as outside dining along the Arizona Canal. The other will be called Shell Shock, closely related to Japanese fare destination Sea Saw and designed to take a more modern and youthful approach to sushi, sake and the like. For more information, visit www.mexicanstandoffaz.com or www.shellshockscottsdale.com.

This 4th of July holiday, instead of going mainstream with fireworks and a barbecue, celebrate all week by supporting Local First Arizona’s “Independents Week”. By printing out their online golden ticket you will receive 20 % off merchandise purchased at select local businesses through July 6. Independents Week was officially declared by Governor Janet Napolitano and is a fab way to support ther local economy.

Not only is it a great idea, but some very popular venues are participating in the event. For instance, you can make a day of it by shopping at chic boutique Frances, then head to Fusion for some chow and later, hit up Uncorked Wine Bar for a top-notch selection of vino. Also taking the golden ticket are local shops like Duck and Decanter, Desert Song Yoga & Massage Center, Urban Cookies, Salon 7000, Sweet P’s Skin Care, Tapino Kitchen & Wine Bar and much, much more! Don’t miss out on the steals and deals this Independents Week! www.localfirstaz.com/independents-week.