Not quite ready to tackle Monday yet?

Here’s a fresh roll of Desert Rundown’s latest finds—where you can also spot a lot of finds. 😊

• Merchantile Market​ is back for the holiday season

• Play SCRMBLD!

• Scottsdale's Cozy Cocktails & Classic Pub Fare

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🎉Events

Fall is winding down—enjoy the crisp air and celebrate the products of local makers in a vibrant outdoor community setting.

🎶Nightlife & Entertainment

• ​Party for a good cause, and come hang at Coach House Tavern Scottsdale and enjoy live music, Chef Tony’s legendary food and a good kind of holiday chaos. Uncommon Good will play 7pm-10pm. Location: 7011 E Indian School Rd, Scottsdale, AZ, 85251 | December 12-14 | Admission is a new toy to donate or $10 donation.

• Join Talking Stick for a special one-night-only performance by LeAnn Rimes, the Grammy®-winning superstar behind hits like “How Do I Live” and “Can’t Fight the Moonlight.” Venue: Salt River Grand Ballroom @ Talking Stick Resort 9800 E Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85256 | Sunday, Dec 21, 2025 @ 8:00 PM | $43+.

🍽️Food & Drink

• Kick off your weekend with hand-carved Prime Rib, grilled steaks, and Happy Hour specials at Bar19 Scottsdale! Starting at 4 pm, enjoy slow-roasted Prime Rib and juicy steaks, paired with Happy Hour from 3-6 pm. Stick around after dinner for $19 unlimited putting, and let Friday night unfold in style. Location: Bar 19 16259 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85254 | Every Friday, dinner starts at 4 PM (Happy Hour 3–6 PM) |

• Step into the kitchen with James Beard Award–winning chef Charleen Badman as she prepares a favorite vegetarian winter dish. Enjoy cooking tips, a wine tasting from Pavle Milic of Los Milics and FnB, and take home a recipe card to recreate the dish. 21+ only. Dazzling Dish & Wintery Wine | Location: 7125 E 5th Ave, Suite 31, Scottsdale, AZ | Dec 21 11:00 am – 12:00 pm | $25.

🎨Arts

• ​Merchantile Market is back for the holiday season at the Scottsdale Civic Center for a festive 2-day market — full of local makers, holiday cheer, and perfect gifts featuring 200+ vendors, beer & cocktails, yummy food, live music, and an experience that makes a community market so special!📍Scottsdale Civic Center 3939 N Drinkwater Blvd. Scottsdale, AZ | Saturday, December 13, 2025 from 10am-5pm Sunday, December 14, 2025 from 10am-4pm | Free Entry & Parking.​

• Join a dazzling art walk and visit Lorna Zerba's collection. From her stunning figures to the soft impressionism in the scenes beyond, she captures beauty and harmony like no other. Venue: Anticus 3922 N Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85251 | Thursday, December 11th, 2025, from 6pm to 9pm.

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🧩Game

Here's your favorite word game for a quick brain boost. Tap to play!⬇️

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🍴Restaurants

One of our team and readers' favorite Desert Rundown highlights is the Monday roundup of Scottsdale dining spots.

But quick lists can't always fully showcase what makes each spot a true local gem. Moving forward, to help you discover your next go-to, we’ll feature two restaurants at a time—one new and one longtime favorite—and provide you with more yummy details.😋

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Scottsdale's Cozy Cocktails & Classic Pub Fare

Scottsdale has no shortage of great spots to eat and drink, and two local favorites that always come up in conversations are The Goose and The Rooster Tavern. One’s perfect for a chill cocktail night, and the other is all about hearty comfort food and good vibes — so you really can’t go wrong with either.

🍸 The Goose​

If you love a good speakeasy vibe, The Goose is your spot. Tucked away in Scottsdale’s Mercado del Lago plaza, it feels like a hidden gem the moment you walk in. Dim lighting, cozy seating, and stylish décor set the tone, and the staff are friendly and welcoming — just the right kind of people to show you around their cocktail playground.

The drinks are where it really shines. You’ll find classics with a twist, like a perfectly balanced Vesper or the bourbon-based “Down Comforter,” plus plenty of creative cocktails that keep people coming back. Guests love it for date nights, quiet evenings with friends, or anytime you just want a cocktail that’s as good as it looks.

⏳ Hours: Sun-Thurs 4 p.m. - 10 p.m. | Fri-Sat 4 p.m. - 12 a.m.

📌 Location: 8300 N Hayden Rd, F102, Scottsdale, AZ 85258

👌 Must-Try: Signature cocktails like the “Down Comforter” and Vesper martini.

✅ Vegan Option/s: Mediterranean Farm Salad and Tangerine Spiced Olives

Yelp ⭐⭐⭐⭐🌟

Open Table --

🍔 The Rooster Tavern​

For a totally different vibe, The Rooster Tavern is a local favorite for comfort food done right. Think smash burgers, barbacoa tacos, wings, and even lobster mac & cheese — all the kind of dishes that make you happy just looking at the menu.

The space itself is casual and lively, with a friendly, neighborhood feel. It’s the kind of place where you can catch a game, grab drinks with friends, or just enjoy a meal without fuss. Reviewers love the welcoming staff and say the food is consistently tasty, which keeps people coming back.

⏳ Hours: Sun-Mon 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. | Tue-Wed 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. | Thurs 11 a.m. - 12 a.m. (the next day) | Fri-Sat 11 a.m. - 1 a.m. (the next day)

📌 Location: 14202 N Scottsdale Rd Scottsdale, AZ 85254

👌 Must-Try: Smash burgers, barbacoa tacos, wings, and other shareable comfort foods.

✅ Vegan Option/s: The Wedge Salad, Pretzel Bites, the Hoff (with grilled chicken breast), and veggie sides.

Yelp ⭐⭐⭐⭐🌟

Open Table --

Whether you’re in the mood for a quiet cocktail night or a lively dinner with friends, The Goose and The Rooster Tavern show off two very different sides of Scottsdale’s food scene — and both are worth checking out.

Want to explore the holiday pop-up bars instead? Our newsletter Pop-Ups and Pour-Ups covers the best ones in Scottsdale.

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Take care,

The Desert Rundown Team