Archive for the ‘Family’ Category

First Friday for September

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

If you’re heading Downtown for First Friday, you’ll find some juicy new attractions this week. And by juicy, I mean melt-in-your-mouth burger sliders and pot roast with gravy, just to name a few of the dishes at Bliss, a brand-new eatery.

But first, for any newbies who don’t know about First Friday, I’ll keep it short and sweet: First Friday is the country’s largest, self-guided art walk. This event takes place every month in Downtown Phoenix from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and the pleasures range from live music, food and performance artists to more than 100 art galleries.

Just as a heads-up, the street closure is still on hiatus for Roosevelt, but Roosevelt Row restaurants are always open for business, so be sure to check out Bliss and its companion bar ReBar, which just opened at Roosevelt and Fourth Streets.

American Comfort Food, Updated

Bliss is co-owned by Mark Howard, who also owns Fez, one of the most popular restaurants in central Phoenix (oh, Fez, if only you delivered those sweet potato fries). The menu for Bliss features a new angle on American comfort foods, from pot roast and pork chops to mac and cheese with chicken and bacon.  After 10 p.m., Bliss offers $5 nibbles including mini beef tacos and burger sliders.

Target Free First Fridays

childrensmuseumThanks to Target, the Children’s Museum of Phoenix is open and free of charge during First Friday. A tribute to imagination, this interactive museum has one kid-friendly exhibit after another, from the Noodle Forest to the Texture Café, where kids use fabrics to create entire meals. The astonishing 3-story Climber, made from odd and found materials, provides kids with a one-of-a-kind experience.

Adult’s Night Out

This adults-only event returns this Friday to the Arizona Science Center with a free lecture from an actual CSI-type scientist. Kim Kobojek, forensic scientist, will give you the skinny on Hollywood vs. reality when it comes to crime labs. The lecture starts at 7 p.m., but for the regular admission fee, you can stick around and see an IMAX film or a Dorrance Planetarium presentation at 8:15 p.m. (the topic is “Black Holes”).

DPP 20th Anniversary Street Party Oct. 15

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

10-DPP-014 20 Year Graphic 2The Downtown Phoenix Partnership is turning 20 and we’re taking the party to the streets to share the momentous occasion with our most important constituents: you!

Join us outside the Downtown Ambassador Information Center on Adams Street between Central and 1st Avenue from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a lunchtime celebration of 20 Years of Progress in Downtown Phoenix.

We’ll be joined by Mayor Phil Gordon, the Hooters Girls, Steven Strange and the Strange Family Circus, music from Proper Trash, plus food and refreshments from many of Downtown’s most beloved restaurants.

Continue to visit the Downtown Blog for updates on this and other 20 Years of Progress events happening all fall in Downtown Phoenix!

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Arizona Center Turns 20

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

Join the Downtown Phoenix Partnership and Arizona Center Tuesday, Nov. 16 as we celebrate Arizona Center’s 20th Anniversary.  The party will begin on the AZ Center Logogrotto at 5 p.m. and will feature live music, audience entertainment with magicians and caracaturists, plus yummy appetizers from many of Arizona Center’s great restaurants like 1130 The Restaurant and Sam’s Cafe

Arizona Center has been an important part of the Downtown culture for two decades–from the state-of-the-art AMC 24 and retail shops to the beautiful grounds that have been a welcoming landmark for residents and visitors alike–so we hope you’ll come toast this special anniversary.

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Zombie Walk Returns Oct. 29

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

It was once written that when there was no more room, the dead would walk the Earth. Or if maybe it’s just some medical experiment gone awry. Regardless, the Zombies are coming.

On Friday, Oct. 29, undead revelers are invited to line up at Heritage Square at 5:30 p.m. dressed as their favorite zombies for the Second Annual Zombie Walk.

Zombie Walk 2The Downtown Ambassadors and Arizona Ghostbusters invite you to attend this FREE, family friendly celebration which begins at 6:30 p.m. and will circle back to the park in time for the All Hallows Eve Festival running 5-11 p.m. The All Hallows Eve Festival will feature candle-lit tours of Rosson House, pumpkin carving and decorating, children’s costume contests, face painting, palm readers, cake walk, jump house, silent horror films, gift basket raffle, carnival games, live music, food vendors, fresh brains** and a cornucopia of spooky peeps.

If that’s not enough to satisfy your ghoulish cravings, the The Rose & Crown will host a Monster Mash with beer garden operating Hallows Evefrom 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Admission to the Monster Mash is free and DJ LaRue will be on hand to provide the soundtrack. There will also be a costume contest with prizes and a movie (we suggest something by Sam Raimi).

If you’re into Halloween make plans to attend these wickedly fun events in Downtown Phoenix.

And if you want to see just how much the Ambassadors like Zombies, check out these great photos on Facebook and Flickr.

** No, not really.

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Fifth Annual PAPA Parade

Monday, August 30th, 2010

PAPA’s home.

Dry_RiverFringe art is all the rage in Downtown Phoenix and there’s no better showcase for our central city’s talented and proud fringe art community than the Phoenix Annual Parade of the Arts, or PAPA if you please, now in its fifth year.

This year’s PAPA festival is going down Saturday, Nov. 13 in the Roosevelt arts district and promises a fun-filled day of snake-charming, puppeteering, face-painting, stilt-walking, performace art, music, dancing and probably the most uniquely awesome family-friendly extravaganza the Valley has to offer. The day culminates with a community parade through the streets of Downtown Phoenix. The public is encouraged to enter their own floats in the parade and registration forms and rules can be downloaded here. 

papa 09 logo smallYou can bet the Strange Family Circus, led by the Dr. Rev. Steven Strange, will be in attendance. Here’s a quick look at the itinerary:

5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Pre-parade excitement, including live music on the PAPA stage, street performances, costume and float displays, parade competition registration and various kid’s attractions.

  • 7:30 p.m. The Parade of the Arts (community march through Downtown)
  • 8 p.m. PAPA Main Stage headline performance
  • 9 p.m. Parade Awards Ceremony

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This Week: Soulful Crooners, First Friday, Bowling & Baseball

Monday, August 30th, 2010

Summer may be winding down, but Downtown Phoenix is only getting hotter.  Three nights a week you can laugh yourself in stitches over Ashley Pirouznia’s lineup of local talent;  Mondays at Sonoma Casual Dining, followed by  Fridays and Saturdays at Ghost Lounge.  Whether you want to see Phoenix veterans of comedy or the latest “fresh meat” (prime heckling material), there is a laugh for every taste.  All shows start at 8:30 p.m. and there’s no cover!

lamontagneSpeaking of talent, David Gray and Ray Lamontagne perform at the Dodge on Wednesday night.  Both known for their acoustic style and raspy voices,  this show will easily slide you over hump day on into the weekend.  On Friday, talent will be abound with the First Friday of the month.  Check out the fun at Arizona Latino Arts and Culture Center, Children’s Museum of Phoenix, the Arizona Science Center with Adult’s Night Out, ASU University Center’s gallery “The Vault”, Heritage Square, AE England Building in Civic Space and much more.  The Valley Youth Theater has extended “Grease” due to its popularity.  With famous alumni like Chelsea Staub (Disney Channel), Jordin Sparks (American Idol) and Emma Stone (Zombieland) you may easily be able to say, “I saw them when…”.

The D’backs take the field again this week against the Padres and the Astros.  College football starts this week too.  Coach and Willie’s kicks-off the season with great specials on Thursday night and again Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. (in time for the East Coast kickoffs).

If none of this floats your boat, you can always hit the lanes at Lucky Strike.  They have great happy hour specials and this amazingly entertaining lunch special – a sandwich and a game for $5.50!  You can get a turkey sandwich while you bowl a turkey.  Ha!

Download This Week’s What’s Happening for a Complete Guide to Downtown Events

 

The Latest on CityScape

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

CityScape (Downtown’s new entertainment district covering the area of Jefferson N to Washington and 1st Ave E to 1st St) announced a double dose of exciting news this week. First, several opening dates have been written in stone (or at least penciled in). Second, two more retailers, Charming Charlie and Jimmy John’s, have been added to the line-up.

Here’s the CityScape rundown:

Designer District – Forget Scottsdale. This Phoenix-based retailer, opening today, qualifies as our very own slice of fashion heaven. Exclusive lines from around the world and classic brands hang side-by-side in this ultra-cool showroom. Brands include CCDK from Copenhagen, Hugo Boss, Joy Li (a fellow Phoenician), Marc Allison, Salsa Jeans and Black Halo, whose little black dress is well worth coveting.

ST/BOWLINGLucky Strike Lanes – Usually, the words “upscale” and “bowling” go together as well as Mel Gibson and a cell phone. But no more. With its sleek atmosphere, multiple bars, DJ and gourmet menu, this bowling lounge is a highly anticipated addition to CityScape. Opening Friday, Lucky Strike will offer daily Happy Hours and daily lunch/bowl specials for $5.50.

West of SoHo – Set to open late next week, West of SoHo in CityScape will be the flagship store for this fashion retailer. The focus here is modern Bohemian style, using found objects and authentic materials. Check out the fall trends, including art-inspired prints and a return to the 70’s (think Stevie Nicks).

Five Guys – To quote Homer Simpson: “Mmm, burgers.” That tells you everything you need to know about this great burger and fries spot, slated to open on September 6th. These burgers are so good, they’ve been rated by Zagat and voted “best burger” at cities all across the country. Everything is made fresh to order, and the menu sticks with the beloved basics: burgers, hot dogs and fries.

Par Exsalonce – Considered one of the top day spas in Arizona, Par Exsalonce hasn’t set a CityScape date yet, but anyone who loves being pampered will be eager for its opening. Services include a hair and nail salon, facials, body treatments, massage therapies, waxing, makeup, manicures and pedicures. I feel relaxed already.

jimmyjohnJimmy John’s – This eatery says it offers the “world’s greatest gourmet sandwiches.” Jimmy, you had me at “sandwich.” Choose from seven big sub sandwiches and 11 giant club sandwiches, including the Ultimate Porker (start your engines, bacon lovers) and a Gourmet Veggie Club.

Charming Charlie – I could be in trouble here. I have a weakness for fashion accessories like earrings, bracelets, handbags and belts, and that’s what this boutique is all about.  Plus – and I think this is a killer touch – they’ve organized the store by color families to make it easy to find the right accessories. So, even though their items are incredibly affordable, ranging from about $5 to about $50, someone should hide my credit card.

What’s Happening

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

Greetings Downtowners!

This is a great week for music.  Natalie Merchant and her eight piece band will perform this evening at the Dodge Theater, giving you some of her classic favorites as well as soon-to-be-favorites.  I love her 10,000 Maniacs era, and her new material is sure to please. [Editor's Note: Check out more great concerts here.]

makepeace-bros-jamminCivic Space Park will be live with music that’s hotter than the pavement this weekend with the Third Friday Concert Series and the Big Bang on Saturday night.  Nothing says “urban” like a free concert in the park.  Saturday’s Big Bang features the up-and-coming Makepeace Brothers.  Check out www.facebook.com/asupab  for a look at this phenomenal new band.

The Valley Youth Theater will get you singing with classics like Beauty School Drop-out and Grease Lightning, when they perform the Broadway hit Grease.  Don’t miss your chance to see the talent that this children’s theater churns out, showing until August 29th.   Plus, who doesn’t love a good hand-jive?

Make sure to check out the feature on the cover of this week’s What’s Happening because you’ll get a sneak peek of all the exciting public events coming to Downtown this fall.  Mark your calendars for the grand opening of Lucky Strike Lanes,  The Ambassadors’ Downtown CoolDown pool party at Hotel San Carlos, our nearly-famous Zombie Walk, the 5th Annual Pub Crawl, PAPA, and SO MUCH more! 

And to coin Elvis, “A little less conversation, a little more action please,” I’ll stop writing, you stop reading, and get Downtown!

Have a great week!

CityScape Retailers Eye Aug. 26 Opening

Sunday, August 15th, 2010

H-U-G-E news coming out of CityScape this week.

At a Wednesday afternoon meeting it was confirmed that five CityScape tenants will open their doors to the public on Thursday, Aug. 26:

Lucky Strike Lanes

luckystrikeBAs seen on Entourage, this high-end alley, restaurant and lounge was birthed in Hollywood and offers a one-of-a-kind bowling experience. With a slogan like, “Eat, drink, and knock down some pins,” the bar for good times is set pretty high.

Par Exsalonce

Par Exsalonce, which has operated in Scottsdale for 22 years, will open a 4,000-square-foot lifestyle salon/spa offering hair and nail salon services, facials, body treatments, waxing, and massages

West of SoHo

Catering to “The Modern Bohemian,” West of SoHo offers a wide array of fashion articles–ranging from a study of Stevie Nicks’ style to breaking down The Sensual 70’s–on its style-rich Facebook Fan Page

FiveGuysFive Guys Burgers

Five Guys Burgers & Fries, one of the nation’s fastest-growing “fast-casual” burger joints, is set to open its third mouth-watering Arizona location. (I’ve been to the Five Guys on Mill Avenue in Tempe and what the menu lacks in diversity it more than makes up for in awesomeness; trust me, if you like In-N-Out Burger you’ll dig what Five Guys is throwing down.)

Designer District

Designer District operates locations in North Phoenix and Chandler and offers up its own unique take on contemporary style, carrying its own line of premium art house T-shirts called D|D, not to mention hot brands like 7 for All Mankind, Rock Revival, Black Halo, The Furies, Mek Denim, Nanette Lepore, BB Dakota, CCDK, Mark Allison Jeans, Rockstar, Anama, and Emma Jordan.

Read about more restaurants coming CityScape in the 2010 Downtown Dining Guide

Grease Opens This Week

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

The musical Grease, like the Energizer Bunny, just keeps going and going. There’s even a Grease Sing-A-Long movie where you can follow the lyrics and belt out your own version of “Beauty School Dropout.”

greaseBut in a welcome twist, a new version of Grease is opening this week with actors who are about the same age as the characters they play. From Aug. 13-29, Valley Youth Theatre opens its 22nd season with live performances of Grease.

Voted “Best Theatre Company” in Phoenix on  AZCentral, VYT is nationally recognized for the quality of its productions and performers. In fact, VYT has become a huge draw for Hollywood talent scouts looking for the next big thing.

VYT alumni include Jordin Sparks, an American Idol winner; Disney Channel’s Chelsea Staub; Max Crumm, who won a national TV contest to appear in a Broadway production of Grease; and Emma Stone, who’s appeared in House Bunny, Superbad and other movies.

I’ve seen several VYT productions, including High School Musical – cut me some slack here, my niece was in it – and I’ve been wowed by the troupe’s professionalism, set designs and performances. For young actors in Phoenix, VYT is the high water mark.

So if you need another fix of all those beloved 50’s greasers, cheerleaders and jocks, VYT’s production of Grease will satisfy your craving for poodle skirts and pomade. You can buy tickets online for just $18 each. But if Grease is the word for you, don’t wait. Friday’s opening night performance is already sold out.

Grease isn’t the only word Downtown. Text “EVENTS” to 25866 and become an Insider