AZ Vibe – The Ultimate Phoenix Entertainment Resource

October 11, 2008 – Versus the Columbus Blue Jackets – Olli Jokinen Bobblehead

November 1, 2008 – Versus the Minnesota Wild – Short Sleeved T-Shirt

November 29, 2008 – Versus the San Jose Sharks – Winter Gloves

December 20, 2008 – Versus the Columbus Blue Jackets – Fleece Blanket

January 10, 2009 – Versus the Dallas Stars – Build-A-Bear (item for all fans under the age of 14)

February 28, 2009 – Versus the St. Louis Blues – Coyotes hat

In addition to these giveaways, the coyotes will be handing out magnetic schedules during all the pre-season games and the following regular season games:

September 27th – Versus the Anaheim Ducks

September 29th – Versus the San Jose Sharks

October 4th – Versus the Los Angeles Kings

http://coyotes.nhl.com/0809promotions.htm

Popularity: 2% [?]

I don’t know if you have heard about this yet but to celebrate the opening of Cici’s Pizza in The Phoenix area the owners of Cici’s pizza is putting on the Worlds Largest Pizza buffet…FOR FREE!!!!  That’s right Free pizza, and pop for all.  Just show up tomorrow at the University of Phoenix stadium between 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM and prepare to CHOW DOWN!

More information can be found on the University of Phoenix Website:

http://www.universityofphoenixstadium.com/index.php?page=events&section=view_event&event_id=84

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&msa=0&ll=33.531879,-112.261691&spn=0.016062,0.033903&z=15&msid=110117270783108833567.00045491c6b0bfe97acc3

Popularity: 2% [?]

For those of you who are Hockey fans in the Valley there’s something really cool and unique going on at the Alltel Ice Den in North Scottsdale from August 11th to September 12th.  Phoenix Coyotes Captain Shane Doan is hosting his ‘unnofficial’ Coyotes training camp for Phoenix Coyotes players and NHL players who live in the Phoenix Area in the offseason.

The sessions are open to the public from 10:45 AM to 1:00 PM (not sure if this is includes the weekends or not).  Anyways, this is a really unique opportunity to see some great NHL players up close as they prepare for the upcoming season.

The best thing about this event is that it’s FREE!

Alltel Ice Den

9375 E Bell Rd
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
(480) 585-7465

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=110117270783108833567.000454891883e556d379a&ll=33.722626,-111.901245&spn=0.256426,0.54245&z=11

Popularity: 1% [?]

Apologies for the delays in posts…had to fix a few bugs related to the server/domain move.

Anyways….here come the posts….

Popularity: 2% [?]

After some great suggestions by some really cool people, I’m changing the name of the domain tonight so update your bookmarks!

The new site will be

http://www.azvibe.com

I’m moving the domain tonight so stay tuned. Everything should be done by tomorrow….

Popularity: 2% [?]

I’m watching the 2008 Bejing Olympics Opening Ceremonies live over the internet right now (because NBC is too friggin lame to show the Opening Ceremonies Live in the US) and I gotta say….these are the most spectacular opening ceremonies I’ve ever seen.  I started watching this at 5:00 AM my time and it’s still not over with yet (it’s 8:20 AM PST right now).  China (the last team to march in to the stadium per Olympic tradition) just marched into Olympic Stadium)

If you have seen some of the photos on newspaper websites around the world, they do not do the ceremonies justice.  TIVO it, watch it live, whatever.  These are the most spectacular Opening Ceremonies I’ve ever seen in my life.

If you do watch the Opening Ceremonies, use this guide for the order of procession of countries entering the stadium.  Countries do not march in alpabetically but in order of strokes in Chinese characers:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Summer_Olympics_national_flag_bearers

Popularity: unranked [?]

Crap messed this one up.   Busta Rhymes is performing a secret show following his gig at the Projekt Revolution tour show at the Cricket Wireless Ampitheater on THURSDAY night not tonight.

Here’s some videos to check out until his performance:

::edit::

The first video works now….

Popularity: 2% [?]

That’s right folks, The Phoenix Coyotes will be hosting an Open House for all fans on August 9th from 1-4 PM at the Jobing.com Arena.  Coyotes Captain Shane Doan, and veteran Peter Muller will be in attendance along with recently acquired forward, Olli Jokinen.  These players will be available to sign autographs for all fans.  Free Hot Dogs and drinks will be provided for all in attendance.

Fans attending the event should enter at Gate 6 on the east side of the arena.

More information can be found in the official-type press release from the Coyotes:

http://coyotes.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=379300

Directions to the Jobing.com Arena:

http://jobingarena.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=52&Itemid=130

Popularity: 1% [?]

Well, my man crush on the Local Band Black Carl continues as they are playing at the Star Swim -- Poolside at the Hotel San Carlos in Downtown Phoenix. Probably going to check this out but I have an event that I’m going to before hand in Scottsdale. Not sure when the show starts I assume around 10. Anyways, be there and support the local music scene.

Hotel San Carlos
Monroe and Central
202 N Central Avenue
Downtown Phoenix 85004
http://www.hotelsancarlos.com/

Popularity: 2% [?]

Just found out about this gig today!  The asskicking Electronic music of The Crystal Method will be performing live at Myst in Scottsdale This Saturday.  Doors Open at 9.  Tickets are $20 plus service charges (the Myst Website wasn’t clear about the exact price of the service charge).  If you are a fan of the Crystal Method and want to see them up close and personal, this is the perfect time to do it.  This is a must see event that will surely sell out.

Here’s a sample of the Crystal Method for those of you who have been living under a rock since the 90’s (video works now):

Popularity: 2% [?]

Whew! Got done with a really busy but fun weekend.  When I first moved to the area I noticed that the Phoenix area was completely devoid of cultural events/activities compared to other cities around the nation.  This was after an article I read in the Arizona Republic about a Family from Chicago that moved to the Phoenix area for a job opportunity but moved back to Chicago because the Phoenix area was completely and utterly devoid of Cultural activities/events compared to Chicago.  After living in this city for a while, and spending the majority of my life in Seattle and Southern California I would have to completely and utterly agree that the Phoenix area lacks the cultural events/activities that is essential for making a city great.

Granted, there are a few events (emphasis on few) around town that can be considered cultural activities and the First Friday Art walk in downtown Phoenix is one of them.  When I first saw the Arizona Republic’s detailed map (below) of the First Friday Participants I was pretty shocked at the large amounts of participating galleries for this event.

I met up with a bunch of people at the event and focused on the area around 7th and Roosevelt, the majority of which was blocked off to traffic.  In addition to all the galleries in the area, there were a ton of booths and other cool stuff set up (that wasn’t on the map).  Some of the things that were going on were:

- An Elevated DJ spinning 80’s and 90’s R&B Tunes
- A Brazilian Jujitsu group singing and doing a display.
- A magician showing how he can handle springing a mouse trap on his tongue

Even though it was hotter than hell out that night, I had a blast and I’m going to keep going back to this event as it’s a GREAT way to spend the first part of your Friday night.  This reminded me of the Bite of Seattle and Bumbershoot in Seattle in the sense that it was an event that people from all around the area loves to go to but it’s an event that it’s a Phoenix institution.

If you ever get a chance to go to a First Friday Art Walk, do it.  This is one of the events that makes Phoenix a really cool city.

Here’s a really detailed map of the First Friday Participants along with bus routes to all of the goings on.

http://www.azcentral.com/flash/firstfriday/index.html

Popularity: 3% [?]

I wanted to post this before I headed out to the First Friday Art Walk tonight.  One of the funniest comics in America, Gabriel Iglesias is performing at the Tempe Improv now until August, 10.  If you want to roll on the floor laughing, check this guy out!

Here’s a sample of his comedy.  There’s more on You Tube if you’re thinking about going.

Tempe Improv
930 E. University Dr.
Tempe, AZ

480-921-9877

http://www.tempeimprov.com

Popularity: 1% [?]

Well, I went to the Temple Bar Sports Grill this afternoon to meet an old buddy from High School who called me up out of the blue one day.

One thing to note is that Temple Bar Sports Grill is REALLY hard to see from Bell when driving away from the Loop 101.  It’s on the left side of the road right before the intersection of East Bell Road and North Thompson Peak Parkway.

Before my buddy arrived at the Temple Bar I got a chance to get a look around the place and the inside is just as big as the outside patio.  There’s lots of TV’s inside and the waitress said they will be installing lots more TV’s on the outside patio.  They also have the ability to play two simultaneous games of Cornhole on the patio as well.  (Don’t know what Cornhole is?  Click Here.)   This place just opened seven months ago and they seem like they are always expanding.  They have a full bar with a great selection of beer/wine/booze.

Their menu is pretty much classic ‘Pub Grub’ with some exceptions.   I didn’t have a full meal but they seem to have some good food that people seemed to enjoy.

Here’s their menu:

http://templebaraz.com/menu.html#menu

All in all, The Temple Bar Sports Grill is a great place to watch Sports, hang out, or eat.  It’s a wee bit off the beaten path but it’s definitely worth the drive.  I’ll have to go back on one of their busier nights to see if the Bar lives up to the hype.

Here’s the list of their specials according to their website:

Happy Hour: Monday – Friday 3p.m. to 7:00p.m.
1/2 off Apps
$3.00 Draft Beers…..
$1.00 off Bottled Beers
½ Price Well Vodka, Gin, & Rum
$5.00 14 Hands Chardonnay, Merlot, & Cabernet

Reverse Happy Hour: Sunday – Wednesday 10p.m. to 1a.m.

Monday Night: ½ Off Bottles of Wine 8p.m. to close.

Thursday Night: Ladies Night ½ off cocktails 8p.m. to close.

Temple Bar Sports Grill
17050 N. Thompson Peak Parkway
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
(480) 429-4520

http://templebaraz.com

Popularity: 3% [?]