Not so long ago, he was a teenager wandering through Old Town’s galleries. Now, with millions of followers and collectors worldwide, Josh Hernandez is bringing more of his art to Scottsdale through his own gallery.
🍽️ Drake’s Hollywood opens in Old Town Scottsdale Nov. 6th
🖼️ Mad Charcoal Gallery Brings Bold Portraits to Scottsdale
Celebrity-Favorite Restaurant Opens November 6 in Old Town
Drake's Hollywood photo from Open Table
Drake’s Hollywood is set to open November 6 in Old Town Scottsdale, bringing its signature Italian-American menu and famous “world’s coldest martini” to an 8,000-square-foot space at Scottsdale Road and First Street.
Fancy a little hollywood? Designed by CEO Hunter Pond with DXU, Drake’s Scottsdale combines 1930s–1940s Hollywood glamour with Art Deco touches, featuring plush red booths, a central bar, vintage-inspired artwork and two private dining rooms. The venue also houses Maître D’, an exclusive private club offering members a secluded lounge, bespoke cocktails, fine wine and a late-night menu.
Menu for the stars: Drake’s Scottsdale serves an upscale mix of steakhouse classics, seafood, signature pastas and premium cuts like A5 Japanese Wagyu, with its famous 24-layer strawberry cake for dessert. Live music takes over the dining room every Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. For reservations, visitdrakeshollywood.com/.
Location: 3828 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Hours: Sunday - Thursday: 4 PM to 10 PM | Friday & Saturday: 4 PM to 11 PM | Happy Hour - Monday through Friday 4 to 6 PM at the Bar
🚪 Opening
Mad Charcoal Gallery Brings Bold Portraits to Old Town Scottsdale
Photo from Experience Scottsdale
Phoenix artist Josh Hernandez, known online as Mad Charcoal, will open his first permanent gallery in Old Town Scottsdale with a grand opening exhibition on Thursday, November 5.
An abstract magic: Hernandez built a following of more than 9 million across social media after sharing his artwork online in 2020. His expressive portraits blend realism and abstraction, using charcoal as his signature medium alongside acrylic, ink and pastels. His work often features faces and human figures that appear to emerge from or dissolve into bold, abstract marks, exploring the tension between chaos and clarity.
Photo from Mad Charcoal website
Big charcoal debut: The new Mad Charcoal Art Gallery will give visitors an opportunity to experience Hernandez’s large-scale artwork in person, with some pieces reaching 6 feet tall. Hernandez’s wife, Jordan, helps run the business, while his creative team supports its growing operations. The grand opening runs from 6 to 9 p.m. and will feature live music, complimentary drinks, new artwork and live demonstrations of the creative process. Tickets are $10, and an RSVP is required for entry updates.
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🗞️Weekend Roundup
Events 🎉
The Kierland Fine Art & Wine Festival returns to Kierland Commons on Nov. 7–8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring more than 100 juried artists, Arizona wine tastings, and live music. Admission is free, while wine tasting requires a paid ticket.
BOO Arizona at WestWorld of Scottsdale: Oct. 30–31 at WestWorld, 16601 N. Pima Road. This two-night electronic music festival features The Chainsmokers, Zedd, Deorro, Seven Lions and James Hype, with haunted mansion-themed production. Check the official website for ticket prices and age requirements.
The McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park's Halloween Spooktrackula runs through October 31, from 6–9:30 p.m. Enjoy the spooky train and carousel rides, a kid-friendly Storybook Train, and a new haunted train walkthrough. Tickets are $15 per person, with free admission for children 2 and younger.
Funhouse Halloween Party at W Scottsdale: Oct. 31, 9 p.m.–2 a.m., at W Scottsdale, 7277 E. Camelback Road. The party features a live DJ and spooky, carnival-inspired décor. Tickets start at $50, with VIP tables available.
The fifth annual Night Run 5K returns to Scottsdale on Saturday, Nov. 7, with a sunset run/walk along the Arizona Canal starting at 5:30 p.m. Registration is $45 in advance or $50 on race day. Proceeds benefit The Women’s Collective, a local nonprofit supporting women’s leadership.
Special themed ArtWalksreturn this November, offering free public access to local galleries every Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. Explore galleries along Main Street from Scottsdale Road west to Goldwater Boulevard, and on Marshall Way from north of Indian School Road to Fifth Avenue. Themed events include Gallery Convergence “Showtime” on November 13, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
The Arizona Indigenous Culinary Experience will present Architecture of Indigenous Flavor and Fashion on November 21, 2026, at Taliesin West in Scottsdale. General admission is $100 for tastings, the fashion show and two drinks, while the $175 VIP ticket adds a chef tasting, specialty cocktail, open bar and VIP seating. Tribal participants with ID can get $50 tickets.
Running through May next year, the Desert Botanical Garden unveils Super Bloom by Graphic Rewilding, an immersive art exhibition featuring colorful glass houses and oversized botanical illustrations that bring giant desert flowers and vibrant colors to life. Tickets are priced at $32.95 for adults and $16.95 for children ages 2–17.
News 📰
Menswear brand Collars & Co. is set to open a new store at Scottsdale Fashion Square on Nov. 1. Founded in 2021, the brand is known for its signature Dress Collar Polo, which combines a structured dress-shirt collar with the comfort of a polo.
Scottsdale is getting a new interactive entertainment venue, with Time Mission planning to open its first Arizona location at Sonora Village. Located near the McDowell Mountains and Scottsdale Airpark, the 10,000-square-foot venue is expected to open in late spring or summer 2027.
The San Manuel Investment Authority, representing Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, has acquired Scottsdale’s Fairmont Scottsdale Princess for $241.3 million. The 750-room luxury resort and longtime host of the WM Phoenix Open joins the tribe’s growing non-gaming hospitality portfolio.
Modera Old Town, a 190-unit apartment development, is planned for a 2.03-acre site in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale. Construction is scheduled to begin this month or November following an official groundbreaking, with completion expected in mid-2029 at 7120 E. Indian School Road, Scottsdale.
Thank you for spending a bit of your morning with Desert Rundown!
Keep checking us out for more local happenings! Scottsdale and Phoenix have some of the most exciting events rolling in the last quarter of 2026. Happy Halloween! 🎃
— Ben Murray | Founder @ Desert Rundown
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