Tempe Conventions & Visitors Bureau

Like most guys, I love sports.  ESPN is always on my TV and I spend countless hours every year, conducting important research for my fantasy football league in the fall.  One sport I’ve been desperately trying to learn more about is soccer aka futbol.  I’m one of a handful of people that never played soccer growing up and I regret that.  Like most of us, I become a dedicated fan during the World Cup but I have wanted to get more into the sport for a while now.

So you can imagine my excitement when the Phoenix FC Wolves were formed.   The Wolves are a part of the 13-team USL-Pro league here in the U.S.   They play their home games here in Tempe, at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium and are coached by former international soccer star David Robertson.  Robertson played professionally in Scotland (he’s from Aberdeen) for Aberdeen FC, winning the Scottish League Cup in 1989 and the Scottish Cup in 1990.  In 1991, he was transferred to the Glasgow Rangers and helped lead the team to nine consecutive championship titles.

Six years ago, he moved to Arizona to serve as Director of Coaching at Sereno, Arizona’s elite youth academy.  He now splits time between his duties at the academy and Phoenix FC.  Coach Robertson realized that there was an opportunity for soccer here in the valley and wanted to do something about it.

“Tempe is a great city,” Robertson says.  “It’s modern, nice and always busy.”

Home games at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium are a fun time, with a good atmosphere.   Home attendance is around 2,500 per game, which is really good considering this is their inaugural season.

Robertson played defense in Scotland, so I asked him if he is more of a defensive coach.  He says that he tries to focus on the defensive aspects of the game but that they try to be more attack minded.  The Wolves’ short term goal is simple: get into the playoffs.  Long term, they hope to be the top-5 team annually.

When I asked coach if he thought an MLS team in Phoenix could be successful, he didn’t hesitate to answer, “This is a city that can take an MLS team.”

For more information about events, visit our website or call 800-283-6734.

Flip Orley will captivate Tempe Improv audiences this weekend

It’s great to have the Tempe Improv back in operation. Since reopening in April, there’s been a bunch of great comics performing in the newly remodeled club. This week Flip Orley will quite literally mesmerize the audience with his standout blend of stand-up comedy and hypnosis.

Flip invites volunteers to join him on stage and become part of his routine. Ever respectful of his volunteers, he’s careful not to embarrass anyone, preferring instead to have the audience laugh with, not at,  those who brave the stage. Anyone who does not feel comfortable is encouraged to say so and leave the stage. Flip truly wants everyone to have a good time.

Flip’s routines range from simple where he might make people forget their own names or forget how to spell, to more complicated situations. He never knows how people are going to respond, which makes for shows that are always fresh and funny. A good hypnotist/comedian has to be excellent at improv in order to take advantage of the situations that arise on his stage and Flip exploits those opportunities very well. It also takes a pretty gutsy performer to brave all the unknowns inherent in working with a bunch of hypnotized strangers.

Flip originally studied psychology at the University of Arizona with plans to become a clinical hypnotist, but turned instead to stand-up comedy. Eventually he merged the two and has become one of the most popular acts of its kind at comedy clubs across the country.  His knowledge and appreciation of the benefits of the clinical side of hypnoses prompted him to develop techniques in seminars, workshops and CDs to help people deal with such issues as stress management, weight control and quitting smoking. He has assisted dentists and doctors with patients who are allergic to anesthesia. He aided a dentist who operated on a patient for almost two hours without an anesthetic and has helped bring difficult pregnancies to full term through stress control.

One other thing about Flip – he’s originally from Phoenix and loves returning to his hometown to perform. You can catch his act, or become part of it May 23-26 at the Tempe Improv.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://tempeimprov.com. View a complete listing of Tempe events, or call 480-894-8158 for more information.

• May 20: The Presets, Marquee Theater
• May 20: Peter Heller: The Dog Stars, Changing Hands Bookstore
• May 21 Open Jam, Rula Bula Irish Pub
• May 21: Charles Lewis & Shannon Wallace, Mad Hatter Brew Pub
• May 21: Performance with a View: ASU Double Bass; May 22: Walk-in Wednesdays Open Mic Night, Tempe Center for the Arts
• May 21-25, May 28-June 1: Topia 2013, Desert Botanical Garden
• May 22-23: Classical Double Bill, Tempe Center for the Arts
• May 23: Jeff Sullivan, Rula Bula Irish Pub
• May 23: Music on Mill , Mill Avenue District
• May 23: Outliars Comedy Club, Robby Fox’s  Public House
• May 23-26: Comic/Hypnotist Flip Orley, Tempe Improv
• May 24: Tempe Comedy Concert Series: Stand Up Gals & Insane and Sober, Tempe Center for the Arts
• May 24: Live. Love. Dance., Tempe Center for the Arts
• May 25: Family Art Workshop: Lisa Sipe, Recycled Collage, Tempe Center for the Arts
• May 24: Peppermint James; May 25: Knee Deep Experience, Tempe Marketplace District Plaza
• May 24: Dani Zubi; May 25: Wayward Maggie, Tempe Marketplace Barnes & Noble Fountain
• May 24: Stephanie King; May 25: Bill Dutcher, Top of the Rock
• May 25: Jeff Hunt Band, Rula Bula Irish Pub
• May 25: Stu Siefert Combo, Robbie Fox’s Public House
• May 25: The Iron Maidens; May 26: Limp Bizkit, Marquee Theater
• May 25-26: Childsplay Presents: A Wrinkle in Time; May 26: Danswest presents Just Breathe and Tap On, Tempe Center for the Arts

The temperatures have reached 100 degrees in Tempe, but to me, summer doesn’t officially start until Memorial Day weekend. If you’re going to be in my favorite city over the holiday, you might have plans to go to Arizona Mills, Tempe Marketplace, Mill Avenue and Tempe Town Lake. All excellent choices, for sure. But, if you want to try something new, here are a few ideas for you.

Take a Vacation at a Tempe hotel – Many Tempe hotels are offering great deals this summer. If you’re coming to Tempe this summer, or you’re a local who could use a mini-vacation, check out our special offers page for ideas and discounts.

Try a new restaurant – There are a few tasty new places to try, such as Tempe’s Front Porch, Hummus Xpress and Gringo Star Street Bar. There are also many places that may be on your list, but you haven’t had the chance to try them yet. A few of my favorite established local spots are Essence Bakery & Café, Cornish Pasty Co. and Casey Moore’s Oyster House.

Oceanside Ice Arena – Ice skating in the desert is possible at Tempe’s Oceanside Ice Arena. Located near Big Surf Waterpark, Oceanside is an excellent place to cool off and pretend, for an hour or so, that the weather is chilly once again. Open skating hours are 7-9 p.m. on Saturday, May 25 and 3-5 p.m. on Sunday, May 26.

Ride the Waves at Big Surf – Big Surf Waterpark is now open every weekend, but starting on May 25 it will be open every single day from through August 4. Zoom down slides like the White Serpentine and the Black Hole, soak up the sun on Waikiki Beach or splash with the smallest swimmers at Captain Cook’s Landing. Surfing and boogie boarding sessions are also available daily.

Plan a picnic – I haven’t planned a picnic in a while, but it sure sounds like fun. Grab a blanket, a bocce ball set or a Frisbee and pick up sandwiches from Sacks. There are lots of scenic parks in Tempe with plenty of space to play – see a full list here.

Movies in the Park – Speaking of parks, go to Kiwanis Park on May 24 and see “Finding Nemo” with the whole family. This free event starts at dusk (approximately 7 p.m.). Bring a blanket and snacks (or buy a few treats on site) and relax. Visit the City of Tempe website for the full calendar of movies.

Whether you’re a local or a visitor, you’re sure to have a fun Memorial Day in Tempe. For even more ideas, visit www.tempetourism.com. 

It’s beginning to feel a lot like summer, which means that soon it will be too hot to venture outside for any length of time during the day. Yes, it’s time to find alternative recreational opportunities that don’t involve any exertion under the searing summer sun.

Of course there are the usual indoor solutions like retreating for hours on end to the air conditioned comfort of the malls, movie theater,  bowling alleys or laser tag.  These are all activities that will definitely keep you cool and entertained.  But eventually we all crave doing something outdoors other than trying to find relief in the tepid water of the swimming pool.

During the summer months, the Desert Botanical Garden offers Garden Flashlight Tours that will get you outside and give you a chance to see another, cooler side of the desert. From May through August, you can explore how the desert comes to life when the sun goes down. You might see nighthawks that have their own built in super night vision, snakes or other furry or scaly nocturnal desert dwellers. You might even see rare, night blooming flowers. The self-guided tour lets you set your own pace along the trail which takes you to 10 discovery stations.

So, this summer fetch your flashlights and hit the trail for a fun, cool and interesting Garden Flashlight Tour. Tours are held Thursdays and Saturday May 30 – August 31, 7-9 p.m. For more information call the Desert Botanical Garden, 480-941-1225 or visit dbg.org.

Legendary Singer/songwriter/producer and inventor Jerry Riopelle will perform with local artists Blaine Long, Marconias and Roxie Whipple in a night of original music, hosted by Walt Richardson, at the Tempe Center for the Arts (TCA), May 17, 7:30 p.m.

Jerry Riopelle first came on the scene in the 1970s and has maintained a loyal fan base ever since. His music reflects various genres such as rhythm and blues, rock and country, jazz and reggae. He is known not only as an entertainer, but also as a song writer and inventor. Several of his Top 40 hits have been recorded by artists, including Herb Alpert, Joan Baez, Leon Russell, Kenny Loggins, Rita Coolidge and Meat Loaf. He has also written many songs for films and television. He is a member of the Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.

Jerry invented and received patents for Beamz®, a laser-based musical device for which he was awarded the 2003 Innovator of the Year award at the Arizona Technology Expo.  Since then, the device has won additional awards for its benefits in recreational music and occupational therapy.

Jerry Riopelle’s performance is part of the award-winning Songwriter’s Showcase series produced by the TCA and filmed for television and Internet by Tempe’s government access channel Tempe 11. The series features selected local performers from TCA’s Walk-in Wednesdays Open Mic Night and In the Spotlight events who join a regional headliner for a night of live original music. Past headliners include Gin Blossoms co-founder Jesse Valenzuela, four-time Grammy nominee William Eaton, Arizona Blues favorite Hans Olson, Obadiah Parker and The Sugar Thieves. The series appears on local PBS channels in Phoenix, Tucson and other government access channels around the state.

There are many more great events taking place in Tempe this week. See below for more and view a complete listing of Tempe events, or call 480-894-8158 for more information.

• May 14: Open Jam, Rula Bula Irish Pub
• May 14: Blaise Lantana Birthday Party, Mad Hatter Brew Pub
• May 14- June 1: Topia 2013, Desert Botanical Garden
• May 15: Chris Bennett,  Tempe Improv
• May 15: Walk-in Wednesdays Open Mic Night, Tempe Center for the Arts
• May 16-19: Bob Marley, Tempe Improv
• May 16: Tim Hawley, Rula Bula Irish Pub
• May 16: Third Thursday on Mill: 2^nd Annual Collector Car Night, Mill Avenue District
• May 16: Outliars Comedy Club, Robby Fox’s  Public House
• May 16: Halocene, Lost in Atlantis, Tempe Marketplace District Plaza
• May 17: Tempe Comedy Concert Series: Gert the Joke Lady; Funny Times 10, Tempe Center for the Arts
• May 17: Songwriters’ Showcase IX with Special Guest Jerry Riopelle, Tempe Center for the Arts
• May 17: Los Guys featuring Mark Zubia; May 18: Hello Swindon, Tempe Marketplace District Plaza
• May 17: Colton Avery;  May 18: Jamie Reynolds, Tempe Marketplace Barnes & Noble Fountain
• May 17: Snake Burner; May 18: The Sullivans, Rula Bula Irish Pub
• May 17 & 18: Brian De Marco, Top of the Rock
• May 18: Bag It Film Screening, Tempe Center for the Arts Sculpture Garden & Gallery
• May 18: We Were Strangers/Colton Avery, Marquee Theater
• May 18: Stu Siefert Combo, Robbie Fox’s Public House
• May 18-26: Childsplay Presents: A Wrinkle in Time, Tempe Center for the Arts

There are a lot of things I love about Arizona.  The weather and the desert landscape are atop my list.  But I also love all the fun, outdoor activities the city has.  We have IRONMAN Arizona, Pat’s Run and The Color Run.  But there’s one fun activity that I haven’t done yet that I’m really looking forward to.

Tempe Road Runner Sports Adventure Run is a really fun, 60-minute scavenger run.  There are prizes, giveaways, music, raffles and free beer.   It’s every third Thursday at the Tempe Road Runner Sports at Tempe Marketplace.

Sounds run, right?  All you have to do is register.  Sign in is usually from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. or you can register online on their website.  From 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., you have the scavenger hunt.  At sign in, you’ll get a pen, paper and a Ziploc bag for your tickets.  Right before 7:00 p.m., they’ll unveil the map of all the stores you need to run to.  Once it’s time to go, you run around to all the checkpoints, as fast as you can, collecting raffle tickets. You only have 60 minutes, so plan your route accordingly.  Once the scavenger is over, you use your tickets to win prizes, such as shoe discounts, nutritional products, after the race.

If you’re looking for a fun way to get some exercise and win free stuff, without a doubt, try the Adventure Run.  Nothing is more exciting than adding a little adventure to your life.

For more information about Tempe events, be sure to visit our website.

The famous dance pioneer Martha Graham once said, “Dance is the hidden language of the soul.”

There is something magical about a dance performance, whether ballet, jazz or modern, that transforms you. The dancers can somehow tell a story through their movement and that story has the power to move an audience.

This is why I can’t wait to see Topia at Desert Botanical Garden, May 14-June 1. Topia is an original ballet set to the music of Beethoven that was created by Ballet Arizona’s artistic director, Ib Andersen. It is a performance that is inspired by the Sonoran Desert landscape, so there isn’t a better setting that the beautiful Desert Botanical Garden. Topia will be performed outside on at 80 foot panoramic stage with the Papago Park buttes as a glorious backdrop. Topia premiered at the Garden last year, and I’m thrilled that audiences have the chance to see it again.

Check out this video from last year’s performance. I think you’ll agree that it is visually stunning and absolutely beautiful. I just love how ballet dancers make every movement look effortless, when I know that even the smallest gesture is choreographed to perfection. The hours of rehearsal, the strength of each dancer and the thought behind each movement become pure joy and exuberance on stage.

Whether this is your first time seeing a ballet or your 100^th time, don’t miss this Ballet Arizona production. Tickets begin at $40. Guests can choose to have dinner at the Garden prior to the show. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit the Desert Botanical Garden website or the Ballet Arizona website.

Sea Life Arizona at Arizona Mills

I love jellyfish, those tentacled, transparent, luminous, undulating sea critters that live in oceans and big public aquariums far from Arizona.  I always figured that, unless I happen to encounter one while vacationing by the sea or visiting one of the big aquariums that have jelly fish exhibits, my chances of actually seeing just one jelly fish were pretty remote. Living here in the middle of the desert, I thought it was highly unlikely that I would ever see several varieties of this strange, fanciful sea life. So, imagine how excited I was to hear that this Friday, May 10, SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium is opening Jelly Fish Discovery, featuring the largest collection of jelly fish in Arizona.

Jelly fish are beautiful and fascinating, but let’s face it, for whatever reason, they are not given the kinds of attention and notoriety that other sea creatures like, say dolphins, sharks and sting rays receive. However, thanks to SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium, we can now see some of the many beautiful varieties and learn more about their mysterious lives. Questions such as, “what is a jelly fish?,” what do they eat?,” “what’s up with all those tentacles?,” and many more will be answered.

SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium is located at Arizona Mills and is open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.  On Friday, May 10, it will be open 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

There are many more great events taking place in Tempe this week. See below for more and view a complete listing of Tempe events, or call 480-894-8158 for more information.

• May 6: Mushroomhead; May 7: Rehab, Marquee Theater
• May 7: Open Jam, Rula Bula Irish Pub
• May 7: Beth Lederman, Trish Hatley and Dwight Kilian, Mad Hatter Brew Pub
• May 7-8: Ralphie May, Tempe Improv
• May 8: Cassadee Pope, Tempe Marketplace District Plaza
• May 8: Walk-in Wednesdays Open Mic Night, Tempe Center for the Arts
• May 9: Jeff Sulivan, Rula Bula Irish Pub
• May 9:  Music on Mill, Mill Avenue District
• May 9: Outliars Comedy Club, Robby Fox’s  Public HouseMay 9: Bryce Ricci; May 10-12: Maz Jobrani, Tempe Improv
• May 10: Suicidal Tendencies, Marquee Theater
• May 10: Jellyfish Discovery Opens, SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium
• May 10: Music in the Garden: Fuerza Caribe, Latin Salsa and Bachata Desert Botanical Garden
• May 10: Lakeshore Jazz Series: Terell Stafford Quintet featuring “This Side of Strayhorn,” Tempe Center for the Arts
• May 10: Pete Pancrazi; May 11: Tony Putrino, Tempe Marketplace Barnes & Noble Fountain
• May 10: Sea Merchants; May 11: Keltic Cowboys, Rula Bula Irish Pub
• May 10: Paul Ludenia; May 11: Bill Dutcher, Top of the Rock
• May 11: Tequilazona, Tempe Marketplace District Plaza
• May 11: Stu Siefert Combo, Robbie Fox’s Public House
• May 11-26: Childsplay Presents: A Wrinkle in Time, Tempe Center for the Arts

This Sunday isn’t your run of the mill Sunday. It’s Cinco de Mayo!

There are a lot of festivities around town from events at local Mexican food restaurants and bars to a “Cinco de Rhino” party at The Phoenix Zoo. Yes, a rhino party.

First, a bit of fact checking so you know why you’re celebrating…

Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican heritage and culture. It is celebrated in the U.S., especially the Southwest, more so than in Mexico. It commemorates the small but mighty Mexican army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The Independence Day celebrated widely in Mexico is not Cinco de Mayo. Mexican Independence Day is celebrated on September 16.

So, what is there to do in Tempe for Cinco de Mayo? Events with drink specials, lots of food, entertainment and more fun stuff are taking place at the following Tempe restaurants:

Loco Patron

Macayo’s Depot Cantina

Dos Gringos

Canteen Modern Tequila Bar

Live Music at the District Stage at Tempe Marketplace from 1-8 p.m.

San Felipe’s Cantina

Cadillac Ranch

In addition, if you’re looking for something to do with the family on May 5, you’re in luck.

The Phoenix Zoo is hosting “Cinco de Rhino” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be games and activities throughout the day, including a special treat for the resident rhino at 10 a.m. and a talk from a zookeeper at 11 a.m.

Big Surf Waterpark will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 5. To celebrate their season opening, everyone who brings in at least five non-perishable food items for St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance will receive the 50 percent off of general admission ($27.95).

Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone!

I love art.  Whether it’s painting, drawing, sculpture, or ceramics, I’ve always enjoyed the creative process.  When I was younger, I loved to draw and even took art/drawing lessons for a time.  Some are blessed with artistic talents that make the rest of us sit back and admire what they’re able to create.

Rachel Goede is a local, Tempe artist who is able to paint masterpieces.  She’s an Omaha, NE native that studied painting at ASU and eventually graduated with a BFA in painting from there too.

“I wanted to be an artist ever since I was a little girl.  I always thought being an artist was the most radical and amazing profession a person could possibly have,” she said.  “I still think that, however, being an artist can be hard because not everyone is excited about my art as I am. I love what I do. I have always loved creating art because it calms a craving within me.”

Like most artists, everyone has something that inspires them.  For Rachel, her inspiration comes from people.  “I am inspired by faces. I simply want to document people around me, including myself, so that I can tell others about whom and what I know, and about my life. I paint myself because I know my own face better than any other face.  I love the human figure and the face; I believe the human body is very beautiful.”

Even though she finds her inspiration through the human figure and enjoys that, she has painted some traditional, Arizona landscapes.  Her work includes an art studio classroom at ASU overlooking monument Valley Arizona, as well as, a still life painting about horse culture in Arizona.

“Most of the portraits I have painted are about Arizona in a wider sense, because they are about my experiences while living here. Arizona, and my portrait subjects that I have met here, are very dear to me and I want others to know their roles in my life.”

To see more of Rachel’s work, you can visit her website here.  For more information about Tempe arts and culture, be sure to visit the Tempe Tourism website or call 800-283-6734.