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Archive for December, 2008

That’s right!  The Phoenix Coyotes have partnered with the Westgate City Center to present you with a deal to see your Phoenix Coyotes do battle with the Colorado Avalanche and then spend New Year’s Eve in Style at the Westgate Rocks New Years.

For one single price (per person) you can go see the Phoenix Coyotes play against the Colorado Avalanche at 6 PM (at the Jobing.com Arena) and then walk not even 20 feet out of the arena and go right on into the Westgate Rocks New Years celebration right as the game ends.

You can’t beat the great price and uniqueness of this event at all!

Lower Level Ticket Packages are $55/per person and include a ticket to the Coyotes/Avalanche game and a ticket to Westgate Rocks New Years.  Tickets are only available for fans 21 and over.

Lower Level Ticket Packages are $30/per person and include a ticket to the Coyotes/Avalanche game and a ticket to Westgate Rocks New Years.  Tickets are only available for fans 21 and over.

Ticket packages for this event can only be purchased through the Phoenix Coyotes website (http://www.phoenixcoyotes.com) or by calling the Phoenix Coyotes at 480-563-PUCK (7825).

For more information on the Westgate Rocks New Years Eve, please refer to our article about this amazing event!

Popularity: 6% [?]

Westgate Rocks New Years Eve at the Westgate City Center!!!

Posted by Editor On December - 31 - 2008

Three amazing events are going on New Year’s Eve at the Westgate City Center.  Two of them will be written up here and the third in a separate post.

The first two involve festivities for two separate crowds on the grounds of the Westgate City Center.

The first event is designed for families and takes place at Westgate’s Fountain Park next to the AMC movie theaters.  From 5 PM to 10 PM there will be early New Year’s Eve celebration for those of you who may have kids.  The activities will include live music, group games, arts and crafts, face painting, and a magician.

This early ringing in of the New Year will be right around 10 PM and is perfect for those of you who don’t want to stay up past midnight.

The Fountain Park event is Free and open to the general public!

The next event is the third annual Westgate Rocks New Year’s Eve.  The theme of the festivities will be ‘Rock of Ages’ where you ‘party like it’s 1979, 1989, 1999, and 2009.’  Furthermore, you will be treated to  music from DJ Soulman and Metalhead, fashion, entertainment and many of the Westgate City Center’s Restaraunts and Bars.

Tickets are $20 in advance or $30 on the day of the event.  Military Personnel, with valid Military ID receives a $15 discount on the price of admission.  Sorry, admission to Westgate Rocks New Years Eve is for people 21 and over.

HOWEVER, if you follow the link to the third event below you can find a KILLER deal from the Westgate City Center and the Phoenix Coyotes.

For more information or to purchase tickets please call 1-800-919-6272 or from the Westgate City Center’s website:

http://www.westgatecitycenter.com

The third event is an amazing deal on a ticket package to the Phoenix Coyotes/Colorado Avalanche game and admission to the Westgate Rocks New Year’s Eve.  Please refer to this news item for more informaton.

Popularity: 8% [?]

In these troubled times, the Phoenix Coyotes have announced an Economic Stimulus package to help Coyotes fans be able to better afford going to Coyotes games.

“Offering great value to our fans is a top priority,” Douglas Moss, president and chief operating officer of the Coyotes said recently. “We wanted to make sure there was an affordable ticket available to everyone coming to enjoy exciting Coyotes hockey.”

Stimulus Package #1 – All You Can Eat Tickets!

The first Stimulus Package starts with the New Year’s Eve Home Game against the Colorado Avalanche.  The last time these two teams played, fans witnessed probably the best game the Coyotes played this season.

For $25 per ticket, you can get an upper level ticket to the game and all the hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, peanuts, and fountain sodas you can eat!

Stimulus Package #2 – Howliday Packs/4-Pack Ticket offers

The Phoenix Coyotes are offering a Howliday Pack of four tickets for fans where they can pick any four games for the price of three.  This offer is good through December 31st.  After December 31st, the Howliday Packs will be replaced by a 4-Game Pick em plan.

Stimulus Package #3 – Family Packs

For every remaining Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Coyotes home game this season you can purchase a Family Pack of four tickets starting at $79.  Each Family Pack includes 4 (four) tickets to a Coyotes home game, four hot dogs and four sodas.

Stimulus Package #4 – XRTA Value Thursday Pack

For every remaining Thursday Coyotes Home game, fans can purhase an XTRA Value Thrusday Pack which includes a game ticket, hamburger, and a bottled beer or soda.  Ticket Prices start at only $30.

Stimulus Package #5 – Student, Teacher, and Military Rush

For every remaining Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday Coyotes home game, Students, teachers and Military personel can purchase low price tickets.  The specially priced tickets start are $20 for lower level seating and $10 for upper level seating.  The only stipulations for these tickets is that 1) they must be purchased at the Jobing.com Arena Box office beginning at 6:00 PM on the Day of the game and 2) you must show the ticket agent your valid military or student ID at the time of ticket purchase.

These are pretty wide ranging choice of tickets that cover just about every possible Coyotes demographics.  People have don’t have any excuses to miss these amazing deals from the Phoenix Coyotes.

For more information, please refer to the Phoenix Coyotes website.

http://coyotes.nhl.com

Popularity: 2% [?]

On Saturday December 13 from 4 to 9 PM the second part of the Fantasy of Lights Parade will take place in and around Tempe Town Lake.

The festivities kick off at 4 PM with tons of fun at Tempe Beach Park.  Lots of exhibits, displays and entertainment will fill the grounds of the Park.  In addition, fifty tons of snow will be shipped in to help get people into the holiday spirit.

The Actual Parade will begin at 7 PM and will leverage a special LED display across the Mill Avenue bridges and will conclude with a tremendous fireworks display.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=110117270783108833567.000458166f2ed676366aa&z=19

Popularity: 3% [?]

Uncategorized

One of the best cultural holiday traditions in and around the Phoenix area is the 8th Annual Food City Tamale Festival.  This festival is held as many Hispanic families around the globe celebrate the holidays by making Tamales (including dessert Tamales….grub!) with their local faith based groups and sell them at the Tamale Festival to raise funds for their given organizations.

The festival is located in Downtown Phoenix on Washington St and in addition to the Tamales, there will be music and family style entertainment. There will also be a selection of Southwestern Latino arts and crafts on display and for sale.

The Festival will take place on the following days and times:

Saturday December 13, 2008 from 10 AM to 6 PM
Sunday December 14, 2008 from 10 AM to 6 PM

In addition there will be a Best Tamale contest starting at 2 PM. Tamale makers will be competing for a wide array of prizes.

Plan ahead as organizers are expecting tens of thousands of people attending this two day festival.

…and the best part of this festival?

Admission is FREE!!

Look, I’m going to put it very simply….

If you LOVE not good but GREAT Mexican food, you DO NOT want to miss this festival.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=33.451621,-112.076297&spn=0.007054,0.01384&z=16&msid=110117270783108833567.00045dd8d5458c82f196b

Popularity: 15% [?]

This event is too cool to pass up. This Friday and Saturday at the Chandler Cinemas, there is a Burt Reynolds double feature of his classic movie “Smokey and the Bandit” along with the “Burt Reynolds Trailer Park” (which is a collection of Mr. Reynolds best trailers).

There is also a contest at 9 PM for the best Burt Reynolds mustache!  Everyone, including the ladies are encouraged to wear a 70’s style Reynolds ’stache!!!

Showtimes are as follows:

Friday 12 – Ban 1 Productions presents $6 Double Feature
5 & 9pm – BURT REYNOLDS TRAILER PARK (Burt Reynolds Trailers)
7 & 11PM – SMOKEY & THE BANDIT

Saturday 13 – Ban 1 Productions presents $6 Double Feature
5 & 9pm – BURT REYNOLDS TRAILER PARK (Burt Reynolds Trailers)
7 & 11PM – SMOKEY & THE BANDIT

In addition to the Burt Reynolds love fest, the Repertory Cinema at Chandler Cinemas is asking everyone to bring non-perishable foods or a new or slightly used toy with them to the movie.

From the Repertory Cinema at Chandler Cinemas people:

We know times are tough right now for everyone, but some have it much tougher than others. So we want to help make the holidays a little brighter for them. Over the next month, you can help out the less fortunate–and see free movies at the same time–with the COME AS YOU ARE HOLIDAY FOOD & TOY DRIVE.

Here’s how it works: From Friday, November 28 through Wednesday, December 24, whenever you bring in a non-perishable food item or a new (or gently used) toy, you will be given a coupon for a free movie (on your next visit), and your name will be entered into a drawing to get free movies throughout 2009! No limit to how many items you can bring in!

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=33.338327,-111.844779&spn=0.003532,0.00692&z=17&msid=110117270783108833567.00045dd87af818059aa96

Popularity: 4% [?]

REVIEW: Indian School Block Party

Posted by Editor On December - 11 - 2008

I found out about this event on Facebook of all places as I was going to go check out Black Carl play a set at this event called the ‘Indian School Block Party’. However, I was intrigued as to what this block party was all about.  Since I moved here from San Diego, you just don’t see Block Parties pop up anywhere in the Greater Phoenix area. After some investigation, I discovered that the purpose of this block party was to help the public know what sorts of businesses and activities the Indian School Corridor (between 32nd and 38th) offers to the residents of the Greater Phoenix Area.

This was something that I could not pass up.

Black Carl in Action at the Block Party

Black Carl in Action at the Block Party

Now, the Block Party organizers didn’t have a map of where everything was in advance so I couldn’t organize a plan of attack. I was basically flying blind.

“No worries”, I told myself.

A sample of some of the great booths at the Block Party

A sample of some of the great booths at the Block Party

I arrived at the Block party a little over the halfway point of the event and began to make my way down from 38th, all the way down Indian School Road to 32nd street and back again. What I saw in that long walk through the Block Party was probably the most perfect representation of what this neighborhood in Phoenix has to offer the rest of the Greater Phoenix Area.  The sights, the smells, the attitude of the Block Party was that of a fun and festive occasion.

A DJ that was spinning some Sick beats

A DJ that was spinning some sick beats

People were demonstrating Massages, there were free group salsa lessons, music, artists selling their works, mini salons were setup, a DJ was spinning some great beats, and LOTS of great food. However, people with home or small businesses were probably represented the most at the Block Party. All of these components absolutely helped make this Block Party a memorable one.

Group Salsa Dancing Lessons

Group Salsa Dancing Lessons

I sincerely hope the organizers put one on next year as the Indian School Block Party has all the components to becoming a lasting cultural event for all the residents of the Greater Phoenix Area.

The aftermath of a slider eating contest

The aftermath of a slider eating contest

Popularity: 1% [?]

REVIEW – Tempe Fantasy of Lights Festival

Posted by Editor On December - 10 - 2008

Reviewed November, 29th.

This was a last minute event as I only found out about it the day of the event. The weekend that the Tempe Fantasy of Lights occurred, there were many, many other of holiday lighting festivals all around town and I wanted to check out one of them. Little did I know this lighting of the….well…lights was probably the best example of a great event that probably no one knows about. I arrived in downtown Tempe with my date and right away the roads around Tempe had all the signs that this festival was going to be a great event:

Parking was horrible all around downtown Tempe.

When we found a suitable parking spot (we made our own spot…I am good at that), we headed towards Mill Ave and noticed that all of Mill Avenue from Rio Salado to University was blocked off to all traffic. The more we headed down Mill Avenue, the more we noticed thousands upon thousands of people and all the lights down Mill were not lit. My date and I stood amongst a group of people and waited for the events to start. In the darkness, I could look down Mill Avenue and notice that not only the sidewalks were packed like sardines with people but the middle islands that divide Mill Avenue were packed with people.

‘A pretty impressive turnout’ I thought to myself.

Not too long after that, the first ‘float’ of the parade made the turn onto Mill Avenue and with that turn, ALL of the Christmas lights down Mill Avenue were lit! Just seeing the lights turned on and the reaction and festive atmosphere of the crowd really started to get me into the Christmas spirit.

One of the best sights at the festival was watching the Mayor of Tempe and members of the Tempe City Council, who were assigned convertible cars to sit and wave to the crowd from. However, none of them sat in their cars. They all were visibly charged by the festive holiday atmosphere and spent their time on the parade route running back and forth from either side of the street waving and handing out candy to the spectators.  Just those moments alone made this festival a special one.

A Parade Float from the Fantasy of Lights festival

After that a long procession of floats began consisting of anything from kids dressed from everything from Angels to Gingerbread men, to a group of Senior citizens doing a synchronized mop drill routines.

For me, the Fantasy of Lights Festival was the best way to start off the holiday season!  If you could not get in the holiday spirit after attending this event you probably don’t have a pulse.

If you get a chance to go out and experience a holiday event like this, do it! These are the types of events that not only get you ready for the holiday season but they make you feel like you are a real part of the community.

The Fantasy of Lights festival is absolutely a great event and when it comes around next year this is a DO NOT MISS event!!!

I almost forgot!

The Parade ended with an appearance by a VERY special VIP (see below.  Right click the image and view it for a bigger image)!!!

Santa makes his appearance at the Fantasy of Lights festival

Popularity: 1% [?]

The greatest holiday tradition is here!  The Nutcracker is in it’s last weekend at the Chandler Center for the arts and it is not to be missed!  For those of you who haven’t seen the Nutcracker or been to the Chandler Center for the Arts, now is your chance to see a great ballet at one of the best venues in the greater Phoenix area.

For show times and to purchase tickets (with no service charge!!!) please refer to the Chandler Center for the Arts site:

http://www.chandlercenter.org/performances/ballet-etudes.html

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=33.313387,-111.838889&spn=0.014453,0.021372&z=15&msid=110117270783108833567.00045d5648e06951841c9

Popularity: 4% [?]

The Arizona Cardinals continue their dominance of the NFC West with their next game against the St. Louis Cardinals.  Kickoff Starts at 2:15.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=110117270783108833567.00045491c6b0bfe97acc3&z=19

Popularity: 2% [?]

One of the greatest tribute bands ever is coming to the Marquee Theater in Tempe.  The Atomic Punks are a tribute to the early years of Van Halen (the David Lee Roth Years).  If you haven’t seen the Atomic Punks and are one of those people who long for the days of when Van Halen turned goat piss into gasoline (to use a line from the Blues Brothers), the Atomic Punks are a must see!

Voodoo, Grind, Breakout, Lounge Fly open the show for the Atomic Punks.

Tickets can be purchased at the Luckyman Concerts website:

http://www.etix.com/ticket/servlet/onlineSale;jsessionid=10479F5120DADB270761075B6C18BB16?action=selectPerformance&cobrand=luckymanonline&performance_id=820672

For more information about the Atomic Punks, please refer to their website:

http://www.theatomicpunks.com/

Popularity: 3% [?]

For the 17th year, the Phoenix Zoo will be putting on ZooLights and the emphasis will be on the new orangutan exhibit the Phoenix Zoo has been concentrating their efforts on. With over 2.5 million lights and 400 light sculptures, ZooLights looks to be one of the must see holiday events of the season!!

Expect a review from us shortly.

More information can be found at the Phoenix Zoo’s website:

http://www.phoenixzoo.org/events/zoolights/

Popularity: 2% [?]

Ok by now you’ve probably read about what the amazing folks at Ear Candy Productions are doing over the next couple of months with their Instrument Drive.

If you haven’t, PLEASE read this article before continuing as this is an extremely noble effort that is going on.

On Friday December 5th starting at 6:30 PM the Hard Rock Café in Downtown Phoenix will be hosting the kick-off concert for the Ear Candy Instrument Drive.

The line up for the Show is as follows:

Random Karma
The Preserve
BS (AC/DC Tribute Band)
The ROWYCO All-Stars featuring members of Guns N Roses and Quiet Riot.

In addition, Fender Guitars will be hosting a Rock Band Stage out of the back of a car.

The instrument drive and kick off party is shaping up to be one of those events that will be remembered for many years to come. Don’t miss out on the fun. Tickets are $25 and will sell out!

FYI this is a 21 and over event.

For more information please refer to the Ear Candy Products web page:

http://www.earcandyproductions.org/Event.aspx?Id=10

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=110117270783108833567.0004575018912c7506b8e&z=19

Popularity: 9% [?]

Ain’t Misbehavin’ Alice in Chains American Idol A Night in the 40’s Arizona Cardinals Arizona Diamondbacks Arizona Renaissance Festival Arizona State Fair Arizona State University Sports Arizona Theater Company Art Walk ASU Basketball ASU Football ASU Gammage Ballet Arizona Barrett-Jackson Black Carl Black Dynamite Black Pearl Poetry Carold King Celebrity Theater Chandler Center for the Arts Chandler Multicultural Festival Concerts Concerts – National Acts Concerts – Phoenix Concerts - Glendale Concerts - National Acts Concerts - Phoenix Concerts - Tempe Cool Places to take your Husband/Wife/GF/BF Country Thunder Cricket Wireless Pavilion Cross Canadian Ragweed Cultural Events Cultural Events Dancing Dave Matthews Band Dennis DeYoung Desert Botanical Garden Dodge Theater Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter is dead Donate Time / Donate Money Downtown Phoenix Public Market Ear Candy Productions Entertainment Event Reviews Events Arizona State Fair Event Venues Farmers Markets Farmers Markets FBR Open Fiesta Bowl Fiesta Bowl Parade Fiesta of Light Electric Light Parade First Friday First Friday Art Walk Food Free Food Free Food! Free Stuff to do Fun Stuff FUSE Garrison Keillor George Winston Glendale Glitter and Glow Block Party Gluten Free Places to Eat Grand Avenue Hal Holbrook in Mark Twain Tonight! Harlem Globetrotters Heard Museum Heart Hiking Itzhak Perlman James Taylor Jobing.com Arena Karaoke KISS La Boheme Leann Rimes Live Comedy Live Music Live Music Live Music – Phoenix Live Music - Phoenix MACFest Madama Butterfly Madcap Theaters Make a Wish Mardi Gras Party Gras Market on Mill Modified Arts: Looking Back on the Future Monster Energy Supercross Monster Jam Movie Events Movie Nights Movies Movies in the Park Movies Under the Stars Movie Trailers Movie Trailers Music New Music NIN Nine Inch Nails NU Olio Nuovo (New Oil) Festival One Night Only Phoenix Movie Events Parada del Sol Paul Oakenfold PBR Bullriding Phoenix Art Museum Phoenix Coyotes Phoenix Entertainment Phoenix Fear Film Festival Phoenix Mercury Phoenix Music Scene Phoenix Music Scene Phoenix Opera Phoenix Suns Phoenix Zoo Pink Floyd Laserspectacular Places to go to get out of the Doghouse Places to Take Dates Raise Money for a nonprofit organization Raven’s B2B Networking Mixer Raven Event’s Little Black Dress Night Raven Events Riverdance Roka Akor Farmers Market Running Salsa Salt River Tubing Score Brownie points with your Wife/GF/SO Scottsdale Arts Festival Scottsdale Art Walk Scottsdale Fashion Week Scottsdale Festival of Greece Scottsdale Latin Jazz Festival Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art Shake! Site Announcements Site News Sleeping Beauty Spring Training Star Swim Star Trek Styx Tempe Center for the Arts Tempe Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade Tempe Music Fest Tempe Town Lake’s 10th Birthday Party The Annual Arizona Renaissance Festival & Artisan Marketplace The Eagles Things to do – Friday Things to Do – Monday Things to do – Saturday Things to do – Sunday Things to do – Tempe Things to do – Thursday Things to do – Tuesday Things to Do – Wednesday Things to do - Friday Things to Do - Monday Things to do - Saturday Things to do - Sunday Things to do - Tempe Things to do - Thursday Things to do - Tuesday Things to Do - Wednesday Things to do around ASU Things to do for Free Things to do for under $10 Things to do in Ahwatukee Things to do in Apache Junction Things to do in Cave Creek Things to do in Chandler Things to do in Gilbert Things to do in Glendale Things to do in Mesa Things to do in Paradise Valley Things to do in Peoria Things to do in Phoenix Things to do in Scottsdale Things to do in Suprise Tim Reynolds & Tr3 Tony and Tina’s Wedding Try something new! U2 US Airways Center Walk for Wishes pancakes and pajamas Walking Walk in Wednesdays WaterDance Film Festival Ways to Donate your time/money Westgate City Center WM Phoenix Open Wrestlemania XXVI Yoga in the Park ZooLights

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