"The AZ Insider" with Kathy Shayna Shocket: Get the inside scoop on Arizona's social scene and celebrity news.
Kathy’s scoop on the VIPS and why there were 4 birthday cakes.
A group of Scottsdale’s royalty turned out for a recent birthday party which is now historical. Literally. Guests celebrated with a specially brewed sarsaparilla and there were 4 birthday cakes. That’s because the city of Scottsdale turned 60.
The birthday breakfast bash hosted by Mayor Jim Lane and the city council, was the culmination of 60 prior events to mark the city’s major milestone. The celebration reflected the ambiance of attraction of Scottsdale – a place with the energy of a sophisticated city on the move combined with the charm and hospitality of days gone by.
Mayor Lane is pictured above with Arizona’s official historian, Marshall Trimble, toasting with the Scottsdale Sixty Sarsaparilla. The drink was brewed to commemorate the City of Scottsdale’s 60th birthday by the Cider Mill Gourmet Market & Sandwich Shop located in Old Town Scottsdale.
Scott Yaroush, Brewmaster at The Cider Mill, who was on hand at the birthday celebration, created the drink. (By the way, the very refreshing Sarsaparilla joins the Cider Mill’s root beer and cream soda offerings, all brewed on-site with real sugar and natural ingredients.
Among the Scottsdale royalty mingling at the breakfast party held at the Scottsdale Center for the Arts – were those such as Scottsdale’s Police Chief Alan Rodbell and Rachel Sacco, head of the Scottsdale’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. There was also an adorable Papillion at the party with guest Valerie Skidmore. I asked Rachel to embrace the precious puppy while I snapped this photo.
The milestone birthday bash featured FOUR birthday cakes. And one was fake! Actually the faux cake (with outer layers of edibles but a Styrofoam interior) was created purposefully so that it could become a showpiece and be displayed until July 25 at the Civic Center Library.
The cake was created by Chef Tracy DeWitt, an instructor at Scottsdale's Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts and a five-time competitor on the Food Network Challenge. It was the winning design from the competition held through the city’s Facebook page during which the public voted. Chef David Smoake of Le Cordon Bleu actually prepared the three other cakes – the delicious chocolate pecan toffee tortes for guests to enjoy at the breakfast bash. Chef David is also Chef Tracy’s husband with whom she has teamed up with to compete on three Food Network shows.
Party goers also enjoyed the public art display of the Scottsdale Gem Wall created for the city's 60th anniversary celebration. Each of its 60 bandanas is folded with a message that celebrates Scottsdale's history. For example, my favorite message on the wall is #52:
“In 1956 Life magazine featured Scottsdale as a place for the rich and famous, contributing to its allure and attracting more visitors and residents. Today, Scottsdale continues its reputation as a world-class destination.”
It’s so true! Happy Birthday Scottsdale!
Kathy Shayna Shocket is a Phoenix based writer. If you have a good item for The AZ Insider, you can email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
