One of Scottsdale’s biggest gems is the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall in Old Town Scottsdale. It encompasses over 21 acres of green lawns, lovely flowers and fountains, walking paths and art installations. It is the site for many cultural and performing art exhibitions as well as fun community events like food festivals and more.
The following can be found at the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall:
- Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
- Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
- One Civic Center
- City Hall
- Civic Center Library
As I walked around the mall recently, I enjoyed taking photos of many of the things I saw. The Spring flowers were in full bloom, the lawns were a vibrant green and it was a phenomenal day to be out and about.
The Old Town Tavern that is situated on the park has a colorful history. The Song family has owned the property since 1929. In the early 1980’s Jack Song opened a bar and restaurant under the name of J. Chew & Co. It closed down in the late 1990’s and then opened under new management as Brackin’s Bar. The current owner, Paul Mitchell, re-opened it in 2009 as The Old Town Tavern. It’s become a very popular place for locals and tourists and is well-known for its music. There’s a small upstairs patio that I’ve been told is known as the “cigar bar”. Great idea!
The Clayton on the Park is a relatively new event venue that is gaining popularity for weddings, private parties and business events. It offers tremendous versatility as it is broken up into three distinct areas. Use one of the smaller, more intimate settings or take over the entire building for larger events. When you rent the venue, all of any of the very trendy modular furniture is part of the deal. I’ve attended an event offering cocktails and hors-d’ouvres utilizing the downstairs area and patio. Their catering department did an outstanding job throughout the entire evening.
The bronze statues of the three horses is called The Yearlings by George Ann Tognoni. They were framed today by the colorful flowers beneath their hooves, and the foliage and colorful window boxes of the Bischoff building.
One of the most recognizable and smile-inducing art installations at the Civic Center is the LOVE sculpture by Robert Indiana. This iconic pop art piece is large, red and blue and sits in a large grassy area for all to see. It is made of aluminum and weighs 3,800 pounds. 
I admit to being partial to this particular part of Scottsdale as a stroll through the Civic Center Mall is always so peaceful and refreshing as you stroll along the pathway surrounded by beautiful art and the sound of running water in the fountains and small creeks.
Exploring this area is a definite must-do for tourists as well as residents of Scottsdale.
Location of the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall:
3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
