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

This was something that I could not pass up.

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

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

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

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

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.

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)!!!

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

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

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/

Expect a review from us shortly.

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

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

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

http://www.folaz.org/events-kop.php

The festival climaxes at approximately 6 PM with the Harley Davidson Parade with over 100 Harley Davidson riders parading in and around the park while the million lights are illuminated for the first time this Holiday Season.

If you are looking for something really cool and fun to do today, this is the event you want to attend!

For directions and the location of the Desert Foothills Park, please refer to the following link:

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?address=1010+Marketplace+St&zipcode=85048

For more information, please refer to the Festival of Lights Website:

http://www.folaz.org/

1) The Coyotes will be debuting their new 3rd Jersey (Click Link for More info)

2) They will be selling ‘All-You-Can-Eat’ package tickets. The Package includes an upper level ticket, unlimited hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, peanuts, and fountain sodas. Click here to purchase tickets for this game!

3) The Coyotes ‘Leading Ladies’ (The Coyotes players wives/girlfriends) will be hosting the ‘Biscuit in the Basket’ Food Drive at the game. Fans are asked to bring non-perishable boxed and canned food items at donation stations outside Gate 4 and Gate 7. All fans who donate food will be entered to win a Coyotes Jersey signed by the entire team and four (4) glass seats to a future Coyotes game. All food donated benefits the Salvation Army.  Click here for more information.

With all these exciting events going on, why not head on out to the Coyotes game on Friday!

Games that will be available during the Blizzard Sale include:

The Minnesota Wild
The New York Islanders
The Toronto Maple Leafs

Tickets can be purchased via the following three methods:

1) Online at the Coyotes Website http://www.phoenixcoyotes.com
2) At the Jobing.com Arena Box Office
3) By Calling the Phoenix Coyotes at 480-563-PUCK (7825)

Don’t miss out on this great chance to see a great event at a great price!

Raven Events is throwing ‘Raven’s’ Thanksgiving Eve Party.

No Cover and free Appetizers from 8-9 PM.

House Quake, one of the Valley’s best R&B, Funk and Top 40 Dance Bands will be providing the music for the evening.

For more information and the address to the party please refer to the Raven Events Website:

http://www.ravenevents.com/monthlyevents/11262008/

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=33.513991,-111.924891&spn=0.007049,0.015578&z=16&msid=110117270783108833567.00045c95279fbb792884b

The people that benefit from the Instrument Drive is the core foundation that Ear Candy Productions is built on:  making sure children have an opportunity to have their lives enriched through music.  All instruments “will be used to help revive and create music programs in schools, camps and youth organizations near the area they are being collected.”

If you don’t have an instrument to donate, you can still help out Ear Candy Productions by making a donation in numerous ways.

If you have an instrument to donate, please do not pass up the opportunity to give the gift of music this holiday season!

More information and details about where to drop off your instrument can be found here:

http://www.earcandyproductions.org/Instrument-Drive.aspx

To learn more about the wonderful organization that Ear Candy Productions is you have to check out their ‘About’ Page:

http://www.earcandyproductions.org/About.aspx

If you would like to support the wonderful work that Ear Candy Productions does for the community, they offer numerous ways you can support this amazing organization:

http://www.earcandyproductions.org/Support.aspx

Hours this weekend are:

Friday (11/14) from 8 AM to 5 PM
Saturday (11/15) from 8 AM to 5 PM
Sunday (11/16) from 8 AM to 5 PM

Tickets:
General Admission - $17
Kids 7-12 - $6

For more information and pricing if you would like to include your car in this event, please refer to the event promoter’s website:

http://www.good-guys.com/news/newsStory.aspx?newsid=1178

Westworld’s website:

http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/WestWorld

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=33.636435,-111.888499&spn=0.007914,0.011587&z=16&msid=110117270783108833567.00045ba5364f30dcfe8fd

For more information about Matisyahu (there’s a great really bio to read) and to purchase tickets online, please refer to the promoter’s website:

http://www.luckymanonline.com/EventDetail.aspx?eventID=2164

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=110117270783108833567.000457a384f283c5bdf14&z=19

To purchase tickets online, please refer to the promoters website:

http://www.luckymanonline.com/EventDetail.aspx?eventID=2151

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=110117270783108833567.000457a384f283c5bdf14&z=19

The show starts at 7:30 PM with Lisa Hannigan starting as the opening act.

Tickets can be purchased online via our Ticketmaster widget on the lower left hand column of this page.  Just Scroll down until you find the Jason Mraz show and click on it.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=33.451531,-112.079215&spn=0.007931,0.017295&z=16&msid=110117270783108833567.00045ba476d711ac04a67

The Block Party is free and open to all ages and includes the following activities:

• A do it your self Model and Shoot Photo Studio
• Live Music from bands such as Sonorous, Drunken Immortals, Living Humans Being, Hooves, D.S Yancey, and Wizards of Time
• Dee Jays will be throwing down all day long and include DJentrification, Echo, Dehga, Mosha1, Issa, 1Son, Beatnik, Rojahdat, Jon Dread.
• Silk Screen and Stencil Workshops
• A Burlesque show with La Liberata
• Comedy with Mail Order Brides
• A Fashion Show with Smock You, Heroine, Arte Puro, Dolled Up, Sticker Club, Lola + Lola, Makeshift, and Mystic fibers
• A Bike Ride Adventure ‘Hooked up by Hoodride’
• …and much, much, more.

Come and support a great cultural event this weekend and get out and try something new and fun!

For more information, please refer to the Block Party website:

http://www.conspirephoenix.com

Conspire Arts Cooperative
901 N. 5th St.
Phoenix, AZ

Now that the weather in the area has cooled down I’m following up on something I promised to do in a post this summer.  Go hiking.  Now since I am new to the area, I was not sure where to go that would be fun and new.  I was debating on reviewing Camelback Mountain but that will be a review for a later date.  I was taken out by a lovely lady who is very familiar with hiking in the Phoenix area to the Superstition Mountains.

Just about 5 miles north of Apache Junction on Highway 88, as you are driving towards Lake Roosevelt, is Lost Dutchman State Park.  Nestled at the base of the Superstition Mountains, Lost Dutchman State Park is a combination of Day Hiking and Overnight Camping (just about 70 spots from what I can see on the map given to me by the Park Ranger).

Once you arrive at Lost Dutchman State Park, you pay $5 for parking and park usage and $12 for non-electric camping.  We were given a map by the Park Rangers and decided to hike the Treasure Loop Trail.

The trail started out moderately flat but rose in elevation pretty quickly one you were about a mile or so into the hike.  Every once in a while I had to stop, turn around and take a look at the simply breathtaking scenery such as the image below:

With the weather cooler in the area, the hiking conditions were perfect but I needed water as I went up.  There is plenty of opportunity and room to talk side by side as the trails, for the majority of the hike, were pretty wide.  This makes hiking at the Lost Dutchman State Park perfect for dates or taking your significant other out for the afternoon.

With the hiking experiences I had in Seattle coupled with watching all the stories on the local news of idiot hikers who went into the mountains in the middle of the summer without water, I brought more than enough water.  The inclines were somewhat steep but nothing that’s impassable.  Once you got to the apex of the trail you had a simply amazing view of the entire valley from the perspective of the base of the Superstition Mountains.

The Treasure Loop hike is indeed a workout but nothing that’s going to leave you soaked in sweat when you get back to your car….unless you are out of shape.

Lost Dutchman is a great place to go in the middle of the week as there was hardly anyone there when my date and I went.  Furthermore, there is the Saloon at the Goldfield Ghost Town just down the road which is perfect for a post hike beer and/or meal.  My date grabbed a bite to eat there and checked out the town afterwords.

All in all, the hiking at the Lost Dutchman State Park is a MUST SEE/DO!!! It’s the perfect quick getaway from town for the day and can be the basis for a really fun date or day with a group of people.  It’s also a fun time if you want to just spend some time by yourself.  There are plenty of benches along the trails to just sit down and read a book if you wish.

For more information and other events that go on at Lost Dutchman State Park, please refer to their official website:

http://azstateparks.com/Parks/LODU/index.html

For more information about Goldfield Ghost Town please refer to their site:

http://www.goldfieldghosttown.com/

According to the organizers…

The Block Party will provide a special and distinctive shopping experience that will make party
revelers want the Indian School Corridor shops and restaurants to become a part of their regular
shopping and dining habit. It will be obvious for all to see that the success of the Indian School
Corridor rests upon the genuine partnership between businesses, neighborhoods, the police,
Sheriff, firemen, parks, neighborhood services, courts, and civic leaders – each working with
and watching out for the other, for the good of all.

Why not come out and support the businesses of the Indian School Corridor and have some fun while you’re at it.  We will be there covering the event.

Among the bands scheduled to Perform:

Hands on Fire
Sketching in Stereo
Holy Rolling Empire
Kinch
Black Carl
SRP Band
Groove Defenders
2nd Shift (SRP Corporate Band)

The events that will be available to all in attendance will include:

- Local school performances including Christ Lutheran’s Bell Choir, Sage Hip Hop
Dance Team, Squaw Peak’s Cheerleading and Chorale, Veritas Prep Madrigal Singers &
Saxphone group.
- Demonstrations including Self Defense demo, Capoereira
- Radio Live Broadcasting –The Blaze (ASU radio station) at Ticket Lobster.com Stage
at 36th Street & Indian School Road
- Slider Eating Competition
- Dunk Tank

Location of the Block Party:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=33.497369,-112.006409&spn=0.008016,0.017209&z=16&msid=110117270783108833567.00045b028cec046b83261

The Hours of the event are as follows:

Friday, November 7  (11am-10pm)

Saturday, November 8 (11am-10pm)

Sunday, November 9 (11am-7pm)

For more information please refer to the Scottsdale Festival of Greece’s website:

http://www.azgreekfest.com

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=33.495025,-111.922531&spn=0.008017,0.017209&z=16&msid=110117270783108833567.00045b026fb5f7cfc0c3f

When I was looking for something to do on Halloween I wanted to avoid going to the places that everyone would be at and wanted to find something that was just really cool and unique.  Sure I went down to Mill Ave for a while and watched the Parade of Costumes.  However, I split around Midnight and headed down to the After Party at Modified Arts in Downtown Phoenix.

I used to live in Seattle and San Diego many moons ago and when the bars closed, there were always places to go and continue the party.  I’m not talking about all-night Diners, I’m talking after-hours clubs where people can go, hang and shake their booty until the sun comes up.  Needless to say when I saw the After Party listed on Promoter Psyko Steve’s website, there wasn’t a second thought as to what I was doing on Halloween.

The After Party was scheduled to start at 1:30 AM but it was more of a general time of when people should start showing up as the music was going before 1:30 AM.  Once I paid my cover I grabbed a free energy drink and checked the place out.  The venue wasn’t as full as the last After Party event (according to the Pictures on Psyko Steve’s Website) but it was hoppin’.

The Beats that were being thrown down were pretty sick.  I was pretty damned impressed by DJ William Fucking Reed and what he created in his electronic lab for all who were in attendance.  However, it was clear that he wasn’t too happy with the lack of people on the dance floor which is completely understandable.  The event lasted until 4:00 AM where pretty much everyone in attendance then moved onto another party down the street.

I talked to some people that were planning on going to this event but didn’t and the majority of them basically said that they got too hammered at the places they were before hand and couldn’t make it out.  I can see that happening as Phoenix is a relative newcomer, compared to other cities around the nation, to the after hours events/clubs scene.  People are so used to what’s familiar to them that they don’t pace themselves to party all night.  They are so used to just going until 2 AM that it’s ingrained in their minds to party for only that long.

Regardless of attendance on Halloween, The After Party is an event not to be missed.  This is one of those events that come along every once in a while that is going to make going out on the town in Phoenix a memorable one.  The next time that another After Party is scheduled, we will post it for you.  This is an event that is NOT to be missed.

Every Friday morning from 9AM to 1PM, the Mesa Community Farmers Market opens for business.  This is a year-round event (holidays excluded) that has everything that a Farmers market could offer.

The Mesa Community Farmers Market is located “On Center St. just South of University at Rendezvous Green (260 N. Center St. 85201)”.

The Organizers of the Mesa Community Farmers Market would like to encourage you to visit the Arizona Farmers Markets website for the latest updates for the Mesa Community Farmers Market:

http://arizonafarmersmarkets.com/PageMesa/Mesa.htm

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=110117270783108833567.00045adce81a03be6cbbe&ll=33.424027,-111.831872&spn=0.007629,0.017209&z=16

The Organizers of the Farmers Markets would like to encourage you to visit the Arizona Farmers Markets website for the latest updates for the Roadrunner Park Farmers Market:

http://arizonafarmersmarkets.com/pageRoadrunner/roadrunner.htm

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=110117270783108833567.00045adbd3b660eb2a69e&ll=33.601752,-112.006624&spn=0.007614,0.017231&z=16