Tempe Conventions & Visitors Bureau

Grandparents looking forward to a visit from their favorite little nippers over the holidays might have a few panicky moments wondering how they can keep the kids happy and busy during down times between all the family festivities and fixins’. Fear not, you’ll be amazed at how many terrific, fun and exciting things going on in Tempe during the season that will appeal to the grandparents, the grandkids and their parents too.  Here’s my quick list of holiday family fun for everyone. You won’t have to venture far to keep them busy, happy and left with lots of wonderful holiday memories with their grandparents.

1. The Velveteen Rabbit, Childsplay’s exquisite production of this holiday classic is on through December 21 at the gorgeous Tempe Center for the Arts.  Childsplay productions are so beautiful and professionally done that they truly appeal to all audiences and this one is no exception.  In other words, you don’t need to be a kid to love this show.

2. The IMAX at Arizona Mills always has several interesting, educational and entertaining movies, many in 3D.  There’s nothing like experiencing a big lizard in your lap, as was the case with one show I saw several years ago about the Galapagos Islands.  But, I digress.  This year you can see the wonderful animated Polar Express and yes, it’s in 3D.  I’ve seen both the regular and 3D versions and I have to say, the 3D version is awesome!  At times you really feel the sensation of being on that train as it careens through the winter night on its way to the North Pole.   And of course there are always other fascinating features in 3D as well at the IMAX at Arizona Mills.

3. Game Works at Arizona Mills is great for the video gamers.  The games are beyond the usual garden variety of video games.  Your grandkids will thank you for being such a cool grandparent and taking them to GameWorks.

4. Rainforest Café at Arizona Mills is a great family restaurant. The menu offers lots of variety and the mechanical jungle animals put on shows at regular intervals.  I like the booth next to the elephants.  It’s always a thrill when they trumpet. You’d swear they were real. 

5. Paint a piece of pottery with the kids at As You Wish Pottery at Tempe Marketplace.  You get to choose a ceramic piece to paint and decorate as you wish.  The store fires it for you and you pick it up in a few days. It’s open seven days, which is great, especially if you’re looking for something to do on a Sunday.   This is a great activity, even if you’re like me and not not too good with a paint brush because kids especially think grandma can do no wrong.   And it’s a tremendous boost for their self confidence when their piece of pottery looks a lot better than grandma’s. Your grandkids will love it and love sharing this experience with you.

6. If they are staying through the first of the year, you can take the grandkids to Disney’s The Lion King at ASU Gammage.  What child or adult wouldn’t just love to see this sumptuous production of another Disney favorite and sure-to-be classic?  It runs from January 2 through February 8.

7. Zoo Lights at the Phoenix Zoo is another favorite.  I know, the zoo is  in Phoenix, not Tempe, but it’s close. The Zoo is a terrific place, by day, but during the holidays, through January 11 it is transformed at night into one of the largest holiday lighting events in the southwest.  There are light sculptures throughout the Zoo including life size elephants, orangutans and even a giraffe. What a treat it is to be outside enjoying our beautiful desert nights, especially if you’re from one of those frosty cold-weather states where it’s snowy, icy and freezing.

8. It’s a treat to drive around the great Tempe neighborhoods and check-out all the holiday light displays.  Our beautiful weather inspires homeowners to get pretty creative. That creativity comes more easily when you don’t have to risk your neck slip slidin’ around on icy roofs and snowy yards in bitter cold to hang the lights.  The adults will be amazed and the kids will be mesmerized by some of the more elaborate displays.

So there you have it–a few of my favorite granny-kid activities.   Any of these fun activities will be a hit with the nippers for sure and you’ll have a ball spending this quality time with your grandkids. Keeps us young, maybe a little tired, but a young tired.

Tempe Bicycle Action Group will be running Tempe’s first known free bicycle valet service in cooperation with Destination Tempe for the Tempe Light Rail Opening Party on December 27th. Individuals arriving for the festivities by bicycle should proceed to the Tempe Transportation Center at 5th and Forrest. The group will be parking and securing bicycles in the new Bike Station located on the ground floor. Bike Station has room for approximately 150 bicycles. An overflow site will be available in the parking lot of Tempe Mission Palms should Bike Station reach capacity. Pre-registration is encouraged to help Tempe Bicycle Action Group anticipate demand. With 80,000 estimated visitors, Tempe is encouraging attendees to utilize alternate modes of transportation including City buses, Orbit, Bicycles and walking. All cyclists are encouraged to bring a bicycle lock as the bicycle valet service may reach capacity. Individuals interested in volunteering to help operate the bicycle valet may contact Tempe Bicycle Action Group.

It’s almost here…the Tempe Festival of the Arts!  This is one of my favorite festivals of the year because of the all the wonderful art of course, but there’s also so much more to explore.

I will first have to mention the yummy food! Not only do you have the choice to dine in one of Mill Avenue’s delicious restaurants, but there is also a variety of food vendors right there in the middle of the festival offering traditional festival fare. I know it’s probably bad for me…but I don’t care on festival day…it always tastes so good!

There is also a great line-up of entertainment all weekend long. A wonderful mix of bands will be playing throughout each day from Friday to Sunday, playing everything from R&B to rock to country music.

This festival makes for a perfect day outdoors – discovering all the great art that is showcased throughout the weekend, all while enjoying everything that Mill Avenue has to offer! The festivities start this Friday, December 5 and go through Sunday, December 7 and will be open from 10 a.m. to dusk each day. For more information about this free, and really fun, event visit www.tempefestivalofthearts.com.

For a welcome break from the complexities of  2008, head to ASU Gammage to see Happy Days, a joyful recollection of the 50s and the hit television series that had us glued weekly to the tube during the 70s and 80s. All those wonderful characters–Richy, Ralph Malph, Potsie, Richy and all the Cunningham family, Pinky Tuscadero,  and of course, The Fonze–are beautifully recreated in this funny, joyful musical.  Opening night was especially fun with red carpet festivities that brought the shows Executive Producer Bob Boyett, Garry Marshall, creator of the original TV show and two of the original TV show cast members, Anson Williams who played Potsie and Don Most who played Ralph Malph.

There’s still time to catch some of this good old fashioned 1950s fun this weekend.  It’s playing at ASU Gammage through November 23rd.

If you haven’t yet heard, Dunkin’ Donuts has come to Mill Avenue! They are located on the northeast corner of 5th and Mill Avenue, so it is very easy to get to when you are craving a coffee or donut! I have already gone twice this week to check out their coffee and morning fare selections. As for coffee, there are more options than one could ever wish for! They offer all different types of flavor shots such as vanilla, caramel or mocha, and milk and cream of course too. They also offer iced teas and iced coffees. And, if you’re into the fancy stuff, like lattes and cappuccinos, they have those too! The best part, is that you can mix and match your favorite drink yourself. Just pick your cup and go to town on whatever it is that is catching your eye. Oh wait, did I say that was the best part? The best part is actually the amazing prices! I bought a medium latte with a shot of caramel for $1.62 – so I had money left over to get a low fat blueberry muffin! Very delicious! I also had the opportunity to sample a variety of their donuts yesterday, and they were mouthwatering good!

There are hundreds if not thousands of ASU students riding bicycles to and from school, but what about you? Now that the weather’s cooled down it’s the perfect opportunity to get out and explore Tempe by bicycle. Tempe has, after all, been recognized as a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. Visit one of the many friendly bicycle shops in Tempe if you don’t yet own a bicycle. Already have one? Great! Get it cleaned up and ready to ride and then head over to the Tempe Bicycle Action Group blog to stay up to date on bicycle happenings in and around Tempe. There are various recurring group rides for all skill levels, some of which are family friendly. You’ll also find useful resources such as links to other local ride groups, ever important safety information and even advocacy/outreach information. Really into bicycles? Become a member of Tempe Bicycle Action Group (it’s free!) and you can even volunteer your time to help with the various programs Tempe Bicycle Action Group coordinates. Bicycling is a fun and healthy activity for the entire family, why not give it a try? And remember, always ride safely!

DrinkInTempe has just posted what they believe to be the 5 best drink specials in town. I happen to agree with most of the choices on their list, but I think they rather heinously left out Monkey Pants, a Tempe favorite. Excerpted from the Article is their list below:

5. The Tavern On Mill On Wednesday Nights.

4. Sneakers on Wednesday nights.

3. The Big Bang – Money Shot Mondays

2. The Cue Club  on Thursday Nights

1. Dos Gringos on Thursday Nights.

If you want to read their reasons (Not entirely unworth your time), you can at their Happy Hour List.

La Bocca Pizzeria on Mill Avenue recently started a new event on Sunday nights called Dinner and a Movie. While not a revolutionary concept, it sure is cool. The promo includes 1/2 price bottles of wine and free popcorn and of course, the tasty food from the menu.

 Movies start at 8 p.m. According to a blog on the Tribune, the next movies are “Pan’s Labyrinth” (Oct. 26), “Who Killed the Electric Car” (Nov. 2), “Wedding Crashers” (Nov. 9), “Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?” (Nov. 16), “A Good Year” (Nov. 23), “Shawshank Redemption” (Nov. 30), “O Brother Where Art Thou?” (Dec. 7), “Into the Wild” (Dec. 14), “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (Dec. 21), “40 Year Old Virgin” (Dec. 28) and “Grizzly Man” (Jan. 4). You might want to call and confirm, just in case the movies are subject to change.

http://www.laboccapizzeria.com/

Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr. and the Sands in Las Vegas are all gone, but they are so realistically portrayed in The Rat Pack Live at the Sands that you almost forget it’s 2008 and your watching this amazing show at ASU Gammage in Tempe, Arizona.  You’re in for a evening of great music and a trip back in time to the glory days of these three musical icons.  Remarkable too are the three performers who manage to look, sound and behave so much like Frank, Dean and Sammy that you really do feel transported to one of their performances at the Sands during the 1960s. 

They sing solo and together a total of thirty songs starting with Luck Be A Lady and ending with a rousing rendition of My Way. They also crack a lot of jokes of that era, but for me, it was the music and the excellent portrayals of three legendary performers of the 40s, 50s and 60s that made this show special. 

There’s still time to catch matinees and evening performances through October 19. For tickets and show info, visit www.asugammage.com.

Maybe this seems overly dramatic, but I don’t care. There are a few foods in Tempe that I don’t think that I could live without. Well,  I could live, but I certainly wouldn’t be as happy. Here they are in no particular order:

1. Roman bread at Monti’s La Casa Vieja – their steaks are divine, but this bread is everything that bread should be. It’s served warm with a side of butter, topped with rosemary and perfectly chewy every time.
2. Irish chips at Rula Bula – I try to eat healthy, really I do. Most of the time I’ll order a side salad with my hamburger and skip the French fries. But, not at Rula Bula. The Irish chips are round, salty little nuggets of potato perfection. I can’t leave any of my plate. I have to eat them all.
3. Spinato’s pizza – You have to really look for Spinato’s, but once you find it, your taste for pizza will never be the same. It’s located on Smith Road, just south of Rio Salado Parkway. Everything is so tasty, but my all-time favorite is the pizza with spinach, tomatoes and garlic. Thank you Ken Spinato for bringing your family recipes to our backyard!
4. Protein cakes at U.S. Egg – one of the owners of this restaurant told me that he dreams about these pancakes sometimes. I know he’s not kidding. These tasty pancakes are chock full of blueberries, granola, almonds and a few mystery ingredients that prevent me from being able to imitate these on my own. I wish it was time for breakfast right now.
5. Broiled chicken pita or salad at Pita Jungle – I once told a friend that this chicken is so good that it almost makes me cry. I was absolutely serious. The marinade is as delicious as it gets and the funky atmosphere of Pita Jungle completes this blissful experience.
6. Pablo Picasso Salad at Oregano’s – While not the healthiest item on their menu, this Mexican influenced salad is so great that I’ll eat it instead of pizza without a second thought. That’s hard to do.
7. Honey do at Dilly’s Deli – ASU wouldn’t be ASU without Dilly’s Deli. Their toasted sandwiches are really popular with the campus crowd and workers like me too. This combination of turkey, cheddar cheese, tomato and sprouts is quite the upgrade from those grilled cheese sandwiches that I loved as a kid.
8. Ice cream sandwiches at Cookiez on Mill – Custom made…pick your cookie and your favorite ice cream. Need I say more?
9. Calamari salad at Bamboo Club – A little spicy, wonderfully chewy, never tough…everything that calamari should be.
10. Quiche special at House of Tricks – every day, the quaint House of Tricks serves a choice of lunch specials. My advice is to always, always get the quiche and side salad. The ingredients change daily but the result is always a consistently great meal.
11. Penne Princeza at Caffe Boa – There isn’t much to not love at Caffe Boa. This place is perfection, from the food to the service. But no matter what innovative specials are on their menu, I will always order this dish. Equal parts tomato, cream and pasta, topped with grilled chicken — you won’t be able to put your fork down until its all gone.