UCDA Design Conference 2011: What to wear, what to eat!

Desert Apparel

The conference is just three weeks away, and it’s time to get packing! So... what should you wear?

Conference speaker Dion Zeuss, from ecoLingo, provided some great information and tips, and you can expect the temperatures to be in the 80s and 90s. Dion says Phoenix celebrates summer all year long, so t-shirts, shorts and sandals will definitely be appropriate. (You may need a sweater or light jacket for attending sessions in the air conditioning). Fashionistas, don’t worry about wearing white after labor day or fall colors, because everything goes in the desert!

The opening kick off party is outside and casual. The ground at Hidden Valley, the site of the party, has a pea gravel and sandy surface, and when I wore sandals there, I had to shake the sand and pebbles out, so be advised.

If you haven’t checked out the site for Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs, take a look at all the amenities. There are lovely pools throughout, so bring swimwear if you want to take advantage of the water features. There's an onsite gym, and speaking of working out, the resort is located on the side of a mountain so a good hike around will also be good exercise.

Good eats

There are several onsite restaurants where you can get a decent meal at fairly reasonable prices, including a small gift shop for snacks and beverages. If you plan to rent a car, then Dion Zeuss suggests these choices:

AJs is an upscale grocery store with a cafe/coffee bar, deli, fromagerie, and a bistro (lunches and hot meals). There’s an AJ’s very near the Resort, located at 13226 N 7th St.

Also in the same direction, (heading North on 7th Street) then turning right (East) at the first light on Thunderbird, will take you across the State Road 51 and onto Cactus Road to Paradise Valley Mall where one can shop, eat, etc.

Probably the best collection of good restaurants in one stretch would be South of the resort on the Camelback Road corridor, which includes the Biltmore area. You can check out general restaurant info.

And then there is the Biltmore itself, it’s a great place for evening cocktails on the patio. But if you are looking for an elegant and upscale venue for dinner, consider the resort's Different Pointe of View, which features delicious food and wine with an incredible view of the valley.


If you want to get out and experience local, one-of-a-kind favorites, Dion suggests these establishments located in the Camelback/uptown Phoenix area. Click the links for more information:

LUX coffee bar
Luci’s Healthy Marketplace and Coffee Bar
La Grande La Orange cafe/grocery (super cute place to grab a bite, sit on the patio and peruse the gift shop).
La Grande La Orange Pizza
Postino Wine Cafe
Smeeks (A cute little sweet shop, and while you are at Smeeks, check out Frances Vintage next door)
Churn (artisan ice cream)

So there you have it... Leave the office behind and relax in shorts and summer gear, and sample some great cuisine. De-stressing will surely get your creative juices flowing. You'll return to work inspired and ready to put into practice the many things you’ve learned!