Scottsdale, AZ / Alex DiNovi

I remember just five years ago exploring Old Town Scottsdale’s nightlife with a very different experience. In 2011, Firehouse, ShotGun Betty’s, and The Devil’s Advocate were the three hottest bars where locals flocked to dance, enjoy libations and meet new, fashion-forward friends.

Now, it’s 2016 and there isn’t a day of the week that the new bars in Old Town aren’t overly packed with locals, cougars, and seemingly less ASU kids. It’s strange how it’s changed, commercialized and sort of given Old Town Scottsdale a new “Little Vegas” setting.

Luckily, Old Town hasn’t lost its charm. The interesting Native American shops still stand. You can buy 100 different Kachina dolls and learn about their meanings from sage store owners. You can search for steer heads, multitudinous cacti, and maybe even find some gorgeous new, over-priced cowboy boots.

However, the commercialized, “Little Vegas” nightlife is booming and seems to have changed the entire ambiance of Old Town nightlife. Where are all the locals? It certainly didn’t feel like one single person at The W pool party was actually staying in town, to live in Old Town this summer.

The success of Old Town certainly mirrors the growth and prosperity of Scottsdale and although it changed the way downtown Scottsdale feels at night, we welcome this new birth of “Little Vegas.” See you at Grapevine for karaoke, any day of the week. Check you out at HiFi dancing on a stage, Wasted Grain for shots upstairs, or either Cake or El Hefe for some great music. Keep it classy at Kazimierz World Wine Bar, for a romantic wine tasting. You just might meet a cowgirl or cowboy… I know I did.