Princiotta Coin Collection Sold by Killer

The coin and memorabilia collection that served as the motive in the killing of 9/11 hero fireman Sal Princiotta by Jeff Bigham was sold by Bigham after the murder to a coin dealer in southern California. Bigham received nearly $20,000 for Sal's collection, most of which is now untraceable because it was sold off in pieces.

Bigham befriended the retired firefighter in Las Vegas earlier this year. He sold Princiotta a safe for his Scottsdale condo and became aware of Sal's coin and memorabilia collection. Bigham then killed Sal for that collection in a robbery at the condo on May 1. Bigham killed himself in southern California last Friday as police were closing in on him.

Summer Wine Tasting in Scottsdale

Whether it's the patio with a book and a bottle of whites, or the patio, the barbecue and a bottle of reds, you'll be ready if you attend the wine tasting this Friday, June 1 at Cru Fine Wines in north Scottsdale. Join them for variety of whites wines for sipping on the patio and some great reds to enjoy with summer barbecue. Reservations are strongly encouraged.

Couple's Yoga in Scottsdale

Yoga has been gaining ground in local gyms for several years. Now, couples can enjoy the relaxing, rejuvenating yoga exercises together in a session designed exclusively for couples in Scottsdale. Touch With Intention is sponsoring the workshop yoga sessions which seek to, "...teach couples the ABC’s of massage and increase their awareness of verbal and non-verbal cues," said Jenn Kaye, founder of Touch with Intention.

Artichokes Going to Final Four

The Scottsdale Community College men's baseball team, the Artichokes, are heading to the college baseball final four in Tennessee. The 'Chokes need to win two games in a row in order to make a run for the championship.

Sal Princiotta Murder Motive Announced

Scottsdale police announced that the robbery of Sal Princiotta's coin collection served as the motive for his murder. Sal's family confirmed that the retired firefighter was associating with a man by the name of Jeff who sold Sal a safe. Jeff - Jeffrey Bigham, a 56-year old part-time Arizona resident - killed Sal on May 1 in an incident involving the safe and a coin and memorabilia collection kept by the hero firefighter. Bigham killed himself in front of police as they were closing in on him in San Bernadino, California on Friday.

Scottsdale DUI Checkpoint Nabs 20 Drunk Drivers

The Insider warned Scottsdale party-goers that there would be a DUI checkpoint setup in the Thomas and Scottsdale roads area. Many people got the message. Unfortunately, about 20 people did not heed my warning, got busted for DUI and are trying to figure out how they will keep their car, job and house without a driver's license. Good luck to y'all - next time check with Insider before heading out for a night of drinking.

Sal Princiotta's Coin Collection Missing from Condo

The coin collection belonging to murdered 9/11 firefighter Sal Princiotta is missing from the hero's Scottsdale condo. Princiotta's murderer killed himself in California on Friday and now clues and motives are beginning to fall into place. It's believed that Sal had previous dealings in Scottsdale with the man who would ultimately murder the retired firefighter and avid photographer. The killer may have sold Sal a safe and was probably aware of the coin collection. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

PETA Awards Scottsdale Business

Scottsdale dry cleaner Monte Carlo Cleaners recently received the Compassionate Business award from PETA. Business owner Mark Mayes states that he will not accept fur, wool or rabbit for dry cleaning. Anyone wishing to have non-animal items cleaned by Monte Carlo can get there by checking this map.

National Trails Days Event at Pinnacle Peak

In honor of National Trails Day, Pinnacle Peak Park is hosting an event on Saturday, June 2 at 6:30 a.m. In conjunction with Scottsdale Healthcare, the park has invited special guest speaker Dr. Jennifer Burke who will discuss heat stress and how it affects the body. The talk will be followed by a guided, sunrise hike along the park trail. Water, trail mix and fruit will be provided to participants. The event is limited to the first 40 people and registration is required by calling 480-882-4636.

Fetish Prom Fretting Continues

The freaks will literally be out tonight as the Fetish Prom comes to downtown Scottsdale. City leaders are howling - and not with delight. Concerned over the supposed message that is sent when such events take place in Scottsdale, several city council members are railing against the kinky party. As usual, their concerns and priorities are off base. This is a niche event for a niche crowd, similar to the Lingerie Bowl. If Scottsdale wants to continue to be regarded as a world class destination, then it can't blush every time someone wants to hold a sex-themed event in the appropriate, downtown club area.

Sal Princiotta's Killer Shoots Self

The main suspect in the murder of 9/11 hero Sal Princiotta killed himself yesterday in California as police were closing in. After fleeing on foot in San Bernadino, the murderer took the coward's way out, shooting himself in the head. Princiotta's dealings with the man are murky, but the suspect apparently sold Sal a safe and may have had significant previous contact with the the firefighter from New York. Princiotta's family and friends continue to be in our prayers. In honor and celebration of Sal's life, please check out his amazing photo collection.

Scottsdale vs. Glendale? No Contest.

AZCentral has a rather silly but fun head-to-head going on: Scottsdale vs. Glendale. The Insider's allegiance is obvious; and seriously, if you want to have a fun night out on the town, a fantastic meal or world-class shopping, then you better head to Scottsdale. The "story's" authors point out that Glendale's stock is rising, with Jordin Sparks and the Super Bowl topping the west side charts. Fair enough. But those victories are flashes-in-the-pan. Here today, gone tomorrow (if you thing Jordin is gonna be hanging around Glendale for long, you've got another thing coming). Regardless, the west side-east side match up is entertaining and does contain a few on-the-money observations:

OBNOXIOUSLY LARGE HOLDING PLACE WestWorld vs. the University of Phoenix Stadium. Think mud for parking lots in Scottsdale vs. the toilet bowl mirage in the middle of the Glendale desert. Advantage: Deuce. They both give us hives just thinking about parking there.

THE SUITE LIFE Springhill Suites by Marriott in Glendale vs. the Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North. Advantage: It's not David vs. Goliath. It's way more lopsided than that.

CULTURE QUOTIENT Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art vs. the Bead Museum in Glendale. Advantage: OK, now we're just being mean.

Scottsdale ultimately prevails in this tale of the tape of two cities, but Glendale ain't to shabby and is looking better everyday.

Fetish Prom Comes to Scottsdale Tomorrow

The Fetish Prom will make its annual romp through Scottsdale on Saturday night at the Venue of Scottsdale downtown. Boots, chains and whips will be in abundance and on display in the West's Most Western Town. Where are those dozens of women who were so upset recently over the Lingerie Bowl? Wait until they get a look at the Fetish Prom!

More Scottsdale Cops Carrying Tasers

Think twice before acting up in Scottsdale. The local police department just ordered a slew of new tasers. The electro-shock guns have been a controversial part of police actions for several years. Critics be damned as the Scottsdale Police Department plans to be put a taser in the hand of nearly every uniformed cop, bringing the departments taser tally to 425 - enough to take down even a large group of rowdy downtown clubbers.

Sal Princiotta's Body Back in New York

Hero firefighter Sal Princiotta made it out of 9/11 alive - a miracle considering his firehouse, less than a mile from the World Trade Center, lost nearly a dozen men in the terrorist attack. Unfortunately, Princiotta couldn't make it out of Scottsdale. After relocating here, Sal settled comfortably into a Scottsdale condo where he would ultimately be found murdered. His body, transported in a firetruck with a police escort to Sky Harbor Airport, has returned to New York. As for Scottsdale, we regret that Sal ever came out here. Sometimes this great place shows its evil side, and this time, evil won.

Teen Sexual Assualt Victim's Family Suing Business

The family of a 14-year old girl sexually assaulted at Saguaro High School is suing the janitorial company responsible for hiring Roberto Lemus-Retana, the illegal immigrant charged in the crime. Retana's trial is currently underway with the alleged attacker claiming that the sex was consensual because the freshman student needed money.

Drunk Driving Checkpoint Coming to Scottsdale This Weekend

If you absolutely must be a bad citizen and drive drunk this weekend, then you may want to avoid the Scottsdale and Thomas roads area. Police will be setting up camp there over the holiday weekend in order to snag drunk drivers. If past year's lessons are to be learned, there will be plenty of drunk drivers to keep Scottsdale police busy.

Scottsdale Tribune No More?

The East Valley Tribune puts out a local Scottsdale edition known as the the Scottsdale Tribune. Rumors are surfacing that the paper may be jettisoned from the Tribune mother ship in favor of sending the standard East Valley Tribune. to all subscribers The difference is minimal. The papers are nearly identical, with the Scottsdale edition offering only a few local stories to differentiate itself from the larger East Valley edition. Apparently, the Scottsdale version of the Tribune is getting killed by the Arizona Republic, which in turn is getting killed by lack of daily subscriptions and decreasing relevance in the community. Long live the Insider!

Wine & Jazz Friday Night in Scottsdale

Here's a great event for Friday night: an evening of wine and jazz at The Wine List in north Scottsdale. There is no cover fee, and music will be provided by Laura Fial and John Shea. Don't miss it.

9/11 NYFD Firefighter Killed in Scottsdale

New York City firefighter Sal Princiotta, a true 9/11 hero, was recently murdered in his Scottsdale apartment. Princiotta fell ill after working at ground zero in the weeks following that horrific September morning when he lost eleven men from his firehouse including his uncle. Sal's brother, Joe, states that the Scottsdale police never informed him that his brother's death was due to homicide. Stay tuned for details as they continue to unfold.

Scottsdale Exotic Car Club Video

The club shot a short video of some amazing cars during their lunch at Jilly's.

Freshman Girl Didn't Flee Attacker

A 14-year old Saguaro freshman who was sexually assaulted by a janitor was in too much fear to attempt to escape the horrible situation in which she found herself. Paralyzed by fear and unsure of what would happen next, the young victim succumbed to her attacker. The scariness continued in court when defense attorney actually accused the young girl of propositioning the janitor because she "needed money." I suppose that's possible, but one thing is for sure: if the man in the picture was about to attack you, you'd probably be paralysed with fear as well.

Sultry Dogs Hits Scottsdale

Following on the heals of Pink Taco, another dripping-with-sexual-innuendo restaurant has opened in Scottsdale. Sultry Dogs is a late night hot dog shack with sexy women dishing out the wieners with names such as "The Threesome" and "Bareback." Be sure to hit up the Sultry Dogs next time you're in the mood for some a late-night hot dog action in downtown Scottsdale. Check out the restaurant's promo video below.

Matt Leinart Throws 24th Birthday Party in Scottsdale

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart threw his 24th birthday party last weekend in Scottsdale at the downtown club, Axis-Radius. It was a star-studded affair that included a healthy dose of Hollywood and sports celebrities including nearly all of the Phoenix Suns' starting lineup. Apparently a VIP room was not VIP enough for Leinart who insisted on a room within the VIP room - a VVIP room for his personal friends who received a blue bracelet securing their entrance to the ultra-exclusive party-within-a-party.

Jenna Jameson Supports Hillary Clinton

Scottsdale businesswoman, local activist and porn star Jenna Jameson is throwing her support behind Hillary Clinton for President. Jameson feels that a Clinton administration may not come down on Jenna and her friends as much as a Republican might. She's probably right about that, but I don't think Hillary will be touting this particular endorsement anytime soon.

Happy 25th Anniverary to Anderson's Fifth Estate

Anderson's Fifth Estate is a legendary Scottsdale club. It was a Scottsdale club long before Scottsdale clubs were cool, or even in existence. The downtown nightspot has hosted bands large and small and has served as a launching pad for some great Arizona bands. Anderson's 25th anniversary bash is coming up. Put it on your weekend to-do list and come celebrate this great piece of Scottsdale history.

Brandon Falkner Murder Trial Begins

ASU football player Brandon Falkner was killed outside a Scottsdale nightclub in March 2005. Falkner's killer, Loren Wade, gunned down the star athlete after finding his girlfriend with Falkner in da club. His guilt in not in question. What jurors will need to consider at the trial just getting underway is whether the murder was premeditated. Here's a statement from the murderer's attorney Ulises Ferragut:

“Wade took out the gun. He went to punch Falkner with the gun in his hand. The evidence will show (the murder) was an accident.”

An accident? You must be kidding. Hot-tempered Wade called his girlfriend over a dozen times that night. Unable to reach her and upset that he was being blown off, Wade brought his gun to the popular nightspot and killed the man he saw hanging out with her. Yeah, that's an accident.

Darfur Photo Exhibit Comes to Scottsdale

Don't miss the heart-wrenching photo exhibition, "Darfur, Darfur," featuring photographers who risked life and limb to capture the tragedy of Darfur through their lenses. Listen to a report about the exhibit below.

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A Historic Scottsdale Voice Speaks

George Fretz is a Scottsdale giant. He helped plan McCormick Ranch, worked on the city's first sign ordinance and overaw the first general plan. His positive impacts on the city are still felt today. Read a short but interesting interview with George Fretz.

Will Scottsdale Remain Hot? Of Course!

Scottsdale has experienced unprecedented, explosive growth over the past twenty years and has actually handled it very well. The city is a destination for a diverse group of visitors and locals who helped fuel the economic run of the last few decades. The pattern will continue. People will still flock to Scottsdale to live, work and play; housing prices will continue their long-term upward trajectory and business will grow and prosper. Life is good in Scottsdale, despite what some people may tell you.

Barrett-Jackson Train Leaving the Station. Next Stop: Las Vegas.

Las Vegas probably always was the ideal place for Craig Jackson to host his popular classic car auction. However, Jackson wanted the event to be in his backyard - Scottsdale, Arizona. Despite continuous bungling by Town Hall on this issue, Jackson has been committed to keeping his January event in the West's Most Western Town. But recent, unnecessary delays by the city may prove to be just too much to bear.

While Jackson trying to once-again negotiate with Scottsdale for basic infrastructure and amenities at WestWorld, the glittering city of Las Vegas approached the classic car aficionado to discuss moving the show to the West's Most Fun Town. Las Vegas and the Barret-Jackson auto auction are a match made in heaven and a pairing that probably should have happened a long time ago. It's only a matter of time until the auction moves entirely to Vegas, leaving Scottsdale wondering how it could've possibly lost out on all those tens of millions of tax revenue dollars simply because of a persistent, foolish refusal to erect a simple building and adequate parking lot.

We'll miss you and your tax revenues, Craig. Best of luck in Las Vegas.

Scottsdale Man Beats Back Home Invader

A Scottsdale man literally fought for his life as an assailant entered his him home early in the morning last week. The two fought using coffee tables as weapons and bludgeoning each other with batons. The victim called 911 only after beating the attacker out the door. The would-be killer then fled into the night and is still on the loose in Scottsdale.

Tucson Gives Scottsdale A Little Love

AZNightBuzz.com gives the Scottsdale club scene a 'lil love in one of their recent posts. Author Julie Ramsey recalls the great time she had last week at Axis-Radius. She states:

Axis-Radius is a classy, spacious club sporting both hip-hop and electronic music – good for people with a need for varied sounds.

The Insider is so excited to see some love flowing across the Gila that we'll keep it going...the Old Pueblo is a fantastic place, steeped in history in southwest culture. Everyone should consider a trip there.

The Doors Open in Downtown Scottsdale

The public art installation known as the Doors was dedicated in Scottsdale this weekend. The 28-foot high doors lean against each other and offer an interesting kaleidoscope perspective when you step inside, which you should do next time you're in the neighborhood of Camelback and Hayden roads.

Scottsdale Summer Concert Series Gets Underway

The free, summer concert series is set to kick-off this weekend with a performance by Chuck E. Baby and the All-Stars. The concerts start at 7:30pm each Sunday evening and are held at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park at Indian Bend and Hayden roads. Check out the rest of the summer concert schedule:
May 13 - Chuck E. Baby and the All-Stars
May 20 - Azz Izz
May 27 - The Groove Merchants
June 3 - The Raun Alosi Band
June 10 - Furious George
June 17 - CC Ryder Express
June 24 - North
July 1 - Mogollon
July 8 - Rock Lobster
July 15 - Apple

Fuego Salsa Band Live in Scottsdale

Great music from a great evening in Scottsdale.

Green Business Workshop Coming to Scottsdale

Interested in learning how to make your business more earth-friendly? How does a carbon-neutral statrup sound? Explore these ideas and learn how to green-up your venture at this innovative workshop. More info below courtesy of the city newsletter:

More and more businesses are discovering the advantages of reducing their impact on the environment. Don't get left behind. Greening your business can save you money by reducing your operating costs and earn you money by appealing to eco-conscious individuals. Not to mention the good feeling you will have knowing you are making responsible choices with your business. At this workshop you will learn about topics such as re-using/reducing your waste, improving your employee work environment, helping your supplier relationships operate more efficiently, making better office supply choices, and becoming carbon neutral, all while impressing your customers.

When: Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Workshop: $25.00
Register online at: http://www.akagreen.com/eventstore.php

Scottsdale Scrambles to Save Barrett-Jackson Car Auction

The City is now scrambling to keep the Barrett-Jackson auto auction from moving to Las Vegas. Auction founder Craig Jackson has had to beg, borrow and plead for every inch of compromise from Scottsdale at the WestWorld facility and there still is no resolution of the main infrastructure and parking issues. Barrett is now wisely considering moving his uber-popular event to Las Vegas - a seemingly perfect match for the "lifestyle" auction of super high-end products. The City needs to step up right now and work aggressively towards a solution with Barrett-Jackson. We simply cannot afford to lose this premier event and revenue generator.

Friday Night Wine Tasting in Scottsdale

Enjoy a wonderful wine tasting featuring Pinot Noirs and Light White wines on Friday night. Cru Fine Wines is throwing the wine party at their north Scottsdale location. The tasting goes from 6-7:30pm and costs $10. Reservations are encouraged; just give them a call at (480) 222-4098. Enjoy!

New Times Not Impressed By Pink Taco

It's easy to dislike Pink Taco, especially when their food is so boring.

Group of Valley Women Protest Lingerie Bowl

A group of nearly 40 women has authored a letter to Scottsdale Mayor Mary Manross protesting the Lingerie Bowl proposed for downtown Scottsdale during the week of the 2008 Super Bowl. The women come from different walks of life and different parts of the Valley but they have a unified message: no Lingerie Bowl in Scottsdale. Calling the proposed panty pigskin game "disturbing" and "inappropriate," the group goes on to say:

"A Lingerie Bowl is not a celebration, it is an exhibition of the worst sort because it degrades all women, not just those who participate in it."

My guess is that none of these gals have been to downtown Scottsdale on any given Saturday night. If so, then they would know that many outfits on display over the weekend in Scottsdale will show much more skin than those Lingerie Bowl uniforms - never mind what this group of 40 women would see inside a downtown club.

Could Scottsdale Lose Barrett-Jackson Car Auction?

The City has never really liked Craig Barrett. The tug-of-war over WestWorld improvements has been bruising and unnecessary. Unfortunately, sometimes the City fails to realize what it has. Mr. Barrett's immensely popular and profitable classic car auction could be headed northwest - to Las Vegas - if the car auctioneer and the City can't come to an agreement on making some basic, much-needed improvements to the WestWorld infrastructure. Hey Town Hall, just build Craig a damn building already! If he takes his show to Vegas, he may never be back.

Cody Rodbell Police Report

Here's Cody Rodbell's police report straight from the Scottsdale PD, the very police department her daddy runs. Yikes!