Tempe Conventions & Visitors Bureau

There’s always something happening in Tempe and that is especially true this weekend. From the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl leading right through to New Year’s Eve, you won’t have a shortage of activities to choose from. Here’s a quick guide with lots of fun things to do in Tempe.

TCU vs. Michigan State at the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl: The streets of Tempe are starting to fill up with Spartan and Horned Frog fans. Our college town is the perfect setting for this Big Ten and Big 12 duel at Sun Devil Stadium. Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl kick-off is at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, December 29. The pre-game Buffalo Wild Wings Tablegate is also not to be missed. Fans will be treated to marching bands, cheerleaders, pep rallies, interactive games, big screens with team highlights and a live performance from Cheap Trick. The Tablegate will be open from 4:30-7:30 p.m. on game day. It will be across from the stadium in Lot 3. Tickets are $25 and include a plated meal.

Las Noches de las Luminarias at Desert Botanical Garden: The Desert Botanical Garden is a beautiful place to visit anytime of the year, but it is extra special during the holiday season. Las Noches de las Luminarias brings 8,000 hand-lit luminarias lining the scenic Garden trails, thousands of white twinkling lights, ten musical acts each night and food and beverage options. This event takes place nightly through December 30.

Zoo Lights: It’s not the holiday season in metro Phoenix without a visit to Zoo Lights at the Phoenix Zoo. The Zoo is magically transformed by thousands of colorful lights, including animal sculptures and the “Music in Motion” light show on the lake. You can visit Zoo Lights nightly through January 6.

Hiking: In my opinion, our Sonoran Desert is best experienced from a hiking trail. Trails are easily accessible no matter where you’re staying in Tempe. “A” Mountain in the downtown Mill Avenue District is a quick hike that provides great views of the city and the ASU campus. South Mountain Park and Preserve is the largest city park in the country and it boasts more than 16,000 acres of amazing trails for any fitness level. Papago Park is located just north of Tempe Town Lake. Hiking and biking trails can be accessed from College and Curry Roads or Mill Avenue and Curry.

Tempe Pub Crawl: There are lots of excellent places to grab a drink with friends, either before the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl or just on a regular night out on the town. Mill Avenue is home to popular spots such as The Handlebar Tempe, Canteen Modern Tequila Bar, the Tavern on Mill or Rula Bula Irish Pub, just to name a few. Tempe Marketplace is home to Cadillac Ranch, San Felipe’s Cantina, Dave & Buster’s and Thirsty Lion Pub & Grill. And, Four Peaks Brewing Company, located in a neighborhood on 8^th Street just south of University Drive and east of Rural Road, is well known for terrific microbrews and food in a cool atmosphere.

Live Music at Tempe Marketplace: One of my favorite things to do on a Friday or Saturday night is go to Tempe Marketplace to hear live music. Starting at 7 p.m., there will be free performances at the District Stage near Dave & Buster’s and at a stage near Barnes & Noble.

SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium: Arizona Mills is known for its excellent collection of retailers and restaurants. And, now, it is also known as the home of SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium. SEA LIFE has more than 5,000 creatures in more than 30 display tanks. It’s sized perfectly for kids, but adults love it too. Don’t miss the two rescued sea turtles, Ziva and Frye.

Boating on Tempe Town Lake: Winters in Tempe are still warm enough to enjoy Tempe Town Lake. This urban oasis is best experienced by renting a kayak, hydrobike, paddle board or other watercraft from Tempe Boat Rentals.

New Year’s Eve in Tempe: Warm temperatures and a festive atmosphere always add up to a great New Year’s Eve in Tempe. There are activities planned in the Mill Avenue District, Tempe Marketplace and the Phoenix Zoo. Check out our New Year’s Eve in Tempe blog post for details.

Sometimes, you need to go out and grab a drink after work. My office is on Mill Avenue, so finding a great place for happy hour isn’t really too hard. We all have our favorites spots and our usual drinks. Sometimes, it’s nice to change it up and try something new. For me, that’s martinis. I’ll admit that I’m one of those idiots that makes fun of my friends if they order a girly drink. But, every once in a while, I succumb to the temptation of getting something different and a martini is usually the way to go.

The Tickled Pink Martini at Bar Louie at Tempe Marketplace is very good.  It’s made with pomegranate syrup, mango puree, Sprite and X-Rated Fusion Liqueur.  It’s a popular drink and it’s easy to see why this is a crowd favorite.

Caffé Boa on Fourth Street and Mill Avenue has a Strawberry Basil Martini that is fantastic.  Made with strawberry vodka, fresh basil leaves, cranberry and sweet & sour, it’s probably one of my favorite summer drinks to indulge in year round.

Finally, we all know that you can really never go wrong with La Bocca Urban Pizzeria + Wine Bar when it comes to anything.  The place is amazing when it comes to food and drinks.  I love their Orange Blossom Martini.  It has vodka and fresh orange with a sugared rim.  Nothing too fancy but it gets the job done. La Bocca is located at Sixth Street and Mill Avenue.

Need more ideas? Find a list of Tempe dining and nightlife options on our website. Cheers!

Here we are at the end of 2012. Didn’t this year just fly by? I always feel a little a mix of melancholy and anticipation as we transition from the old to new year.  The melancholy will fade away quickly enough, thanks to a number of fun diversions and celebrations taking place in Tempe, December 26 through New Year’s Eve.

Mill Avenue is one place known for hosting a great Year’s Eve  bash and will do it again, only a bit differently from years past. For the first time in many years, there will be no gates around Mill Avenue, no admission fee and no street closures around downtown Tempe on December 31. Area restaurants and nightclubs will be offering entertainment and extended premises for the night. Starting at 6 p.m and continuing until 2 a.m., Mill Avenue’s bars and clubs will be offering a variety of 21+ celebratory options through the night including live entertainment, DJs and extended party areas. Bars and clubs will have their own cover charges that evening. Two fireworks shows will light up the night at 9 p.m. and midnight.

This party will feature a bunch of fun activities for families during the early part of the evening. A Family Fun Zone, sponsored by Chevrolet, will bring family fun to the streets with Radio Disney’s Rockin’ Road Show. Emcees, DJs and music will captivate audiences with music, dancing and interactive games from 6-9 p.m. on a stage on Seventh Street, west of Mill Avenue. Game trucks, laser tag and bounce houses will also be on site for added fun.

When the clock strikes 9:30 p.m., the stage will transition to showcase live music from local dance-pop duo S.O.S. At 11 p.m., Bluegrass/Americana/Folk-pop group Jared & The Mill will perform through the countdown to 2013 at midnight.

There are more fun events and New Year’s Eve celebrations taking place throughout the city.  Here’s a sample. View a complete listing of Tempe events, or call 480-894-8158 for more information.

• December 26: Krystal Clarke; December 27: Colin Barley, Studio Vino
• December 26, 27-30: Las Noches de las Luminarias, Desert Botanical Gardens
• December 27: Tim Hawley; December 28: The Sullivans; December 29: Jeff Hunt Band, Rula Bula Irish Pub
• December 28: Los Guys featuring Mark Zubia; December 29: Knee Deep Experience, Tempe Marketplace District Stage
• December 28: Tempe Final Friday Art Walk, Mill Avenue District
• December 28: Jeordie; December 29: Leah & Stephanie, Tempe Marketplace Barnes & Noble Fountain
• December 29: Queensryche, Marquee Theater
• December 30: Jake Greider; December 31; The Sullivans, Rula Bula Irish Pub
• December 31: New Year’s Eve Pub Crawl Featuring the  Laura Walsh Band, Tempe Marketplace District Stage
• December 31: New Year’s Eve on Mill Avenue, Mill Avenue District

As the old song says…”What are you doing on New Year’s, New Year’s Eve?”

You’ll be in Tempe, right? Whether you live in Tempe or you’re going to be here for the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, there are plenty of ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Tempe.

Early in the day, families will love Noon Year’s Eve at the Phoenix Zoo. There will be tons of snow for kids to play in (including a special area just for toddlers), dancing, music, games and prizes from the fun folks at Radio Disney, magic shows, animal encounters and of course, a New Year’s toast at noon with sparkling cider. This event is free for zoo members and included in zoo admission for non-members.

Starting at 9:30 p.m., adults can celebrate at Zoo Year’s Eve at the Phoenix Zoo. Tickets include admission to Zoo Lights, three complimentary beverage tickets plus a cash bar, complimentary appetizers, DJ entertainment and party favors. Tickets are $40 a person for Zoo members and $45 for non-members. Member couples are $75 or $85 per non-member couple.

Tempe Marketplace is hosting a special pub crawl to help usher in 2013. From 8 p.m.-midnight, guests can pick up a “Pub Crawl Passport” at any one of the following restaurants: Bar Louie, King’s Fish House, Cadillac Ranch, Dave & Buster’s, San Felipe’s Cantina or Thirsty Lion Pub & Grill. Everyone who visits all of the participating restaurants and gets their passport stamped from each place can enter to win a $1000 Vestar Visa® Gift Card. And, everyone can listen to great live music from Nashville recording artist and Arizona native, Laura Walsh, at the District Stage from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Mill Avenue’s New Year’s Eve will have a little bit for everyone. There will be free entertainment on Seventh Street and a ticketed event on Sixth Street.

From 6-9 p.m., kids will love the free “A Family Fun Zone,” sponsored by Chevrolet, with Radio Disney’s Rockin’ Road Show. Located on Seventh Street, just west of Mill Avenue, there will be emcees, DJs, music, interactive games, bounce houses and more fun for all. The first fireworks show will be at 9 p.m. At 9:30 p.m. this area will transition to live music from local bands. S.O.S. will start the entertainment, followed by Jared & The Mill at 11 p.m. They will bring in the New Year followed by fireworks at midnight.

There will be a New Year’s Eve Block on Sixth Street for those 21 and over. Canteen Modern Tequila Bar, Fat Tuesday and Handlebar Tempe are teaming up to bring you one of the best parties around. These popular bars are extending their premises and taking over Sixth Street, just west of Mill Avenue. Enjoy 12 bars, eight DJs, three stages, party favors, a midnight ball drop and access to all three venues. Advance tickets are available now for $15. Tickets will also be available at the door for $40. Early arrival and ticket purchase is suggested.

Using public transportation is strongly suggested for these events. See the City of Tempe website for a guide to using the free Orbit shuttles, METRO light rail and buses on New Year’s Eve.

Happy New Year everyone! Be safe out there. There will be lots more fun in Tempe in 2013.

Tempe, Arizona is one of the best spots to see a bowl game. Why you ask? The weather can’t be beat this time of year – there’s an abundance of shopping and dining options, hiking and biking trails galore, and there’s no better place to get into the game!

Buffalo Wild Wings Tablegate: Michigan State and TCU fans won’t want to miss this tailgate party! On December 29 from 4:30-7:30 p.m., fans can get pumped for the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl game with Jumbotrons showing team highlights, interactive games, cheerleading and marching band performances. The $25 ticket price to the Buffalo Wild Wings Tablegate includes a plated meal. This pre-game party will be held in lot 3, adjacent to Sun Devil Stadium. Tickets can be purchased at the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl website.

Stroll the Mill Avenue District for shopping and dining: Tempe’s Mill Avenue District is a great gathering place for fans in the days leading up to the game. There are more than 100 restaurants, taverns and shops located in the Mill Avenue District, just a few blocks from Sun Devil Stadium. If you’re looking for a sports bar/restaurant located on Mill Avenue, you won’t be disappointed. Check out Gordon Biersch  Brewery, The Tavern on Mill, Firehouse, Hooters, World of Beer and The Handlebar Tempe for a cold beer, good eats and a great atmosphere for watching sports. For live music on Mill, be sure to stop by Rula Bula Irish Pub to see the Jeff Hunt Band.

Live Music at Tempe Marketplace: Looking for something to do on Friday night before the bowl game? Tempe Marketplace offers live music at two locations. See Jeordie, an Indie guitarist and vocalist, at the Barnes & Noble Fountain on December 28 from 7-9 p.m.  Her style is a blend of modern pop themes and folk rock guitar. Head to the main District Stage from 7-10 p.m. to see the Knee Deep Experience – a Funk, Soul, Jazz and R&B Band. The Knee Deep Experience is Arizona’s premiere Funk & Soul band. Known for their signature Llama mascot, Knee Deep is sure to bring the funk to Tempe Marketplace!

Hiking and Biking in Tempe: Enjoy the  sunny skies in Tempe and go outside! Popular Tempe area hiking spots include Papago Park, “A” Mountain and the largest municipal park in the United States, South Mountain Park/Preserve. Papago Park and South Mountain are also perfect for mountain biking. “A” Mountain is located just north of downtown Tempe and sits adjacent to Sun Devil Stadium, so it’s the perfect hike to squeeze in during your busy bowl weekend. Plus, the views of downtown Tempe can’t be beat!

To get a preview of the fun that’s waiting for you in our city, take a look at our one-minute Tempe video. We’ll see you soon!

Live Music at Tempe Marketplace

Whenever any of us thinks of Arizona State, one of the first images that jumps into our heads is that of Sparky.  He’s our lovable mascot.  The pre-game football intros featuring him are some of the best in all of sports.  But Sparky is more than just a college mascot.  He’s a symbol of Tempe.  He brings a smile to all the faces attending the big game or the child he’s visiting at the hospital.

I was fortunate enough to recently interview the student who puts on the costume.  For those of you who don’t know, being a college mascot is like being a member of an elite fraternity of super heroes, kind of like The Avengers.  We all recognize the mask but rarely know who’s wearing it.  With that being said, we have to keep Sparky’s identity a secret.  I can tell you that this person is a student at ASU, but that’s about it.

The same individual has been Sparky for the last four years, since their freshman year at Arizona State.  In high school, this Sparky-to-be was known for having lots of school spirit.  While at ASU, there was a push-up contest at a basketball game against Sparky and this student won.  Afterward, he spoke to the coach and was invited to try out for Sparky.  After exchanging contact info, he received the call for a try out.

What do you have to do to be Sparky?  As you know, push-ups are pretty important, so Sparky had to do as many as he could in a minute.  Sparky did 65. (My personal record for push-ups in a minute is 56).  Sparky also had to show how to spell out ASU using  his body.  Finally, he got to put on the costume and attend a volleyball game, where he was evaluated on how good of a job he did at actually being Sparky. Lucky for us, our Sparky passed the test.

There are a lot of great reasons why Sparky loves his job.  Of course, the football games top the list.  The adrenaline rush he gets when ‘Thunderstruck’ starts to play while running out of the tunnel with the team is indescribable.  “There’s no better entrance in the Pac-12,” he said.   But that’s not the best part of the job.  Visiting sick kids at hospitals is what makes him the happiest.  For Sparky, there’s no greater feeling than walking in the room, seeing the child smile and shaking their hand.  “It makes me feel like I’ve done something worthwhile with my life.”

For more information about upcoming sporting events at ASU where you can see Sparky in full glory, visit www.thesundevils.com or call (480) 727-0000.

Butternut Squash & Chayote Salad

Duck Pastrami Salad

Kale Salad

Siganture Steak with Cholla Buds

The Phoenix Tempe Marriott at The Buttes restaurants, Market Café and Top of the Rock, are always delicious, and now I have even more reasons to go! Both restaurants are now featuring new menus that will run through April 2013. So, you have time to go back again and again to try all these new amazing dishes! Both menus were co-developed and overseen by executive chef Gregory Wiener.

Market Café
The new menu at Market Café  includes scrumptious burgers, the kale salad and the chayote & butternut squash salad.

According to executive chef Gregory Wiener, “Inspiration at the Market was to focus on healthy, local regionally inspired cuisine when possible,  and speed of service. We wanted outside guests to be able to get in and out quickly and offer really great choices.

The local businesses or farms we are using are the Mediterra Bakery for the turkey club press bread, Black Mesa Ranch goat cheese, Hickman Farms eggs in the chopped salad, squash from Crooked Sky Farm, chorizo sausage in the quesadilla from Shreiner’s Meat Company and tortillas from Mama Lola’s.”

Here’s a closer look at the Chayote & Butternut Squash Salad:
The word chayote is a Spanish derivative of the Nahuatl word chayohtli. One of the many foods introduced to Europe by early explorers who brought back a wide assortment of botanical samples, Market Café reaches to our local native roots and adds kafir lime and other hints of citrus to the salad. Chayote is a great source of amino acids and vitamin C and the stunning salad is sure to please just about any palette!

Regionally Inspired dishes include:
- Market Café Salad  - fresh jicama, citrus and pepitas
- Bistro Steak Salad – The ranch is with cilantro instead of the normal seasoning blend
- Chopped salad – Fresh pomegranates and roasted corn
- Quesadillas – loaded with adobo marinated chicken and local sausage on a locally made tortilla with avocado cream

Top of the Rock
The Top of the Rock menu highlights include the Signature Steak, Duck Sopes, Sweet Gem & Duck Pastrami Salad.

According to executive chef Gregory Wiener, “The inspiration for the menu was to create something that you could come in and be comfortable with. Approachable, well executed, delicious, and beautiful to look at. Again, regional cuisine is mixed with modern American food to create a balance of dishes someone may never have had – the sopes — to something everyone has had — pot roast or fried chicken. We’re using many local farms and businesses, along with the herb garden to supplement the house salad. Schreiner’s chorizo, Hatch chiles from New Mexico, cholla buds for Native Seed Search along with Anasazi beans. Coming soon we will be featuring six Arizona wines to go along with our Arizona Beer Selection already on tap and in bottles.

Here’s a closer look at some of these exciting new dishes:
Signature Steak with Cholla Buds: The new Signature Steak is a delectable cut called the “teres major”. The teres major is a seldom used muscle in the shoulder that is second only to the tenderloin filet in tenderness. This muscle requires skilled craftsman to extract, but yields a wonderful dining experience and is a new leader in trendy, white table cloth restaurants. Cholla buds are the tiny flower buds of cholla cactus taste like asparagus and are extremely nutritious. They are slowly cooked for several hours with aromatics.

Duck & Sweet Corn Sopes: Sopes is a traditional Mexican dish originating in the city of Culiacán, where it was first known as gordita or pelliscadas. The base is made from a circle of fried masa of ground maize soaked in lime with pinched sides. The duck is braised in duck fat and stock with aromatics and then shredded. It is served with pickled red cabbage and a horseradish crema.

Market Café and Top of the Rock are located at the Phoenix Tempe Marriott at The Buttes in Tempe. To make a reservation at Top of the Rock please call 602-431-2370. To make a reservation at Market Café please call 602-225-9000.

One of my favorite events at the Desert Botanical Gardens is Las Noches de las Luminarias. It’s a beautiful Southwestern holiday tradition that’s been taking place for 35 years. The Garden’s lovely paths are aglow with more than 8,000 lit luminaire bags and the trees sparkle with thousands of tiny white lights. Adding to the festivities are the numerous musical groups that perform throughout the garden. From Dickens carolers to bell ringers to Flamenco to steel drums to Mariachi and more, there’s music everywhere. You can also enjoy a fantastic holiday buffet served in Dorrance Hall or Southwestern favorites at the Patio Café. You have through December 30 to experience this beautiful celebration. It’s another reason why I love being here during the Holidays.

• December 17-23, 26, 27-30: Las Noches de las Luminarias, Desert Botanical Gardens
• December 18: Open Jam, Rula Bula Irish Pub
• December 18: The Stu Siefer Combo, Mad Hatter Brew Pub
• December 19: Krystal Clarke; December 20: Colin Barley, Studio Vino
• December 20: Jeff Sullivan; December 21: The Sullivans; December 22, Keltic Cowboys, Rula Bula Irish Pub
• December 21: Sicmonic, Marquee Theater
• December 21: Bob Ravenscroft Christmas Concert, Tempe Center for the Arts
• December 21: The Jake Dean Band; December 22: Raun Alosi Band, Tempe Marketplace District Stage
• December 21: Dani Zubia; December 22: Tera Crisalida, Tempe Marketplace Barnes & Noble Fountain
• December 22: Opening of Born of Fire: The Pottery of Margaret Tafoya, ASU Art Museum
• December 22-23:  Childsplay Presents Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!, Tempe Center for the Arts
• December 23:  Jake Greider, Rula Bula Irish Pub

Lights. When I think of the holidays, I think of dazzling light displays. As a native Arizonan, I also feel cold when it’s 70 degrees. That’s why a perfect evening for me would be driving around to look at holiday lights while holding a tasty hot beverage from one of Tempe’s independent coffee houses.

To make your light-viewing trek a bit easier, the Arizona Republic has a list of the best displays around town. To make your drink selection a bit easier, here’s a list of my favorites at some of Tempe’s best cafes.

Try the Lavender Latte at Gold Bar Espresso, located on the northeast corner of McClintock and Southern. A step beyond the tried and true Vanilla Latte, the flavor replicates the soft scent of lavender. They also have a nice selection of hot chocolate.

Speaking of which, chocolate lovers can’t go wrong with the Xtreme Bean’s Café Mocha-X with Ghirardelli chocolate, half and half and chocolate shavings. After all, ‘tis the season to celebrate, not count calories! Xtreme Bean is located on the southwest corner of McClintock and Southern.

Cartel Coffee Lab in Tempe is known for the cool industrial interior and the smell of freshly roasted coffee. It should also be known for its Chai Tea. The Chai Tea Latte is a perfect blend of spicy and sweet. If you need a bit of a kick, try their Dirty Chai – the little something extra is a shot of espresso. Cartel is located on Ash Avenue, just south of University.

Steve’s Espresso is also a great first stop before a holiday light drive. It is located on the southeast corner of McClintock and Baseline. It’s always hard to decide on what to order, but I usually go with their Honey Vanilla Latte or one of their hot teas. My favorites are Lady Londonderry (black tea) and Caribbean Sensation (green tea).

Happy holidays everyone!

Whether you’re a world traveler just passing through or a Tempe resident, there are terrific gifts made right here in the Tempe area that are perfect for the holidays. Besides, it’s fun to remind family and friends from far away that you live in a state that still boasts 80 degree temps in December. Give the gift of Tempe this year to spread sunny holiday cheer!

While walking through the beautiful grounds at Desert Botanical Garden, stop in the Garden Shop located near the front entrance to send someone who may be chilly a little piece of sunshine. Shop for desert plants like mini barrel cactus or a colored gem wind chime to hang in the backyard. The Desert Botanical Garden’s Prickly Pear Margarita Mix will surely warm them up from the inside out, matched with brightly decorated margarita glasses and a pitcher as a reminder of sunny times in Tempe.

Locally made Decio Pasta is a delicious gift and something different to send to family and friends out of town.  Decio Pasta has a wide range of products, such as fettuccine pasta, rotini pastas, pasta shells and pasta flowers that are mainly sold at local markets and festivals, or you can order online. The vegetable infused flavors are diverse and delicious like the spinach basil garlic or wild mushroom and Szechuan orange spice. Try a unique flavor like habanero infused pasta for a spicy Arizona twist. You can also order gift baskets from Decio Pasta that include sauces, olive oils, and sun dried tomatoes to accompany the pasta assortments.

After seeing an exhibition at the Gallery at the Tempe Center for the Arts, stop in the TCArt Shop, the gift store located near the main entrance. Inside, you will find fine craft jewelry and scarves, fine art, ceramics and much more all designed by local artists.

Another great place for an artistic gift is the ASU Art Museum Store at the ASU Art Museum, acclaimed as one of the best contemporary art museums in the state of Arizona. This store focuses on artwork from local artists and works by ASU alumni and faculty, such as Street Gems, eco-friendly contemporary jewelry, designed by ASU alumna and faculty associate Ann Morton.

Though you cannot always be with the ones you love during the holidays, let them know you are thinking of them with a unique Tempe gift to cherish through this season and many more. Check out the Tempe Tourism Office shopping page for more retailers in Tempe.