No shortage of nightlife this week

Blood and Sand cocktail at Bourbon Steak. (Credit: Courtesy of Bourbon Steak)

So much is going on right now in the Valley's dining and nightlife scene and this week is a big one for Scottsdale.

Here's a look at some of the fun things you can check out today and Thursday, with more to come in Friday's and Saturday's blog posts.

Daily: Halloween cocktails at Bourbon Steak—Get in the spooky spirit with two new Halloween-themed cocktails at Bourbon Steak at the Fairmont Scottsdale.

From now until Halloween, the upscale steakhouse will be serving these innovative drinks as a decidedly adult way to trick-or-treat, both $14 each.

There's the Blood and Sand, made from Johnny Walker Black, sweet vermouth, orange juice and a super-fancy Luxardo cherry. This is shaken and strained into a martini glass. Then the bartender lights a disc of orange rind on fire and drops it into the drink. Pretty slick.

The Corpse Reviver is a mix of Plymouth gin, Cointreau, Lillet Blanc, absinthe and lemon juice. This classic, slightly medicinal, cocktail is shaken and served over ice.

And if the thought of paying $14 for a drink seems frightful, remember to swing by from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. when cocktails are half off.

Details: 7575 E. Princess Drive, Scottsdale, 480-513-6002

Wednesday: Mission Anniversary—The dinner sold out over the weekend, but management at the Mission invites you to drink and mingle with other fans of this upscale Latin restaurant Wednesday after 9 p.m.

The place has much to celebrate, with a series of glowing reviews from every conceivable Valley media outlet, and a name-drop in the New York Times. The restaurant and bar won me over the first time I visited, with its plush fabrics, glowing Himalayan salt-brick wall and scads of candles. And every time I've been back since, it's continued to impress me, with personable service and a commitment to quality cocktails that warms my margarita-loving heart.

Details: After 9 p.m. 3815 N. Brown Ave., Scottsdale, 480-636-5005

Thursday: Crave Arizona Cocktails—Come and try cocktails and say hi to me at the National Top Bar Chef competition and Crave Arizona kickoff party Thursday night. I'll be judging the drinks made by several mixologists during the drink-making competition at this multi-day culinary festival.

The Valley's representative is Michael Bunker from the Mission, who will compete with bartenders from buzz-worthy bars in New York, Portland and Los Angeles, including the Clock in San Francisco. They will have to use at least one of the mandatory liquors (things like tequila, vodka, rye whiskey) in each original cocktail they create, along with a secret ingredient to be unveiled each round. I'm excited but also a wee bit intimidated by my super-qualified fellow judges, including Esquire columnist John Mariani, Arizona Top Bar Chef 2008 winner Steve Dowds of Los Sombreros, and Skyy corporate mixologist Gardner Dunn.

Details: Show up at 9 p.m. The Bridge at the Scottsdale Waterfront, 7135 E. Camelback Road. $25 and that includes two cocktails.