Tempe Conventions & Visitors Bureau

It’s September 1. It’s almost fall.  Here in the beautiful, but toasty until the end of October Sonoran Desert, it’ll be a while before we actually experience fall weather, which we’re all really craving right about now.  However there are a few signs that fall is here.  Public schools and ASU are back in session, fall clothing fills retail racks, football teams are gearing up for the season.  And, the lights of Broadway are beginning to twinkle.

For me, the opening of a new season of glorious ASU Gammage Tony Award-winning Broadway shows signals the onset of fall and I anticipating this year’s fantastic musical filled lineup. From September through June, there’s something for everyone who loves great musical theatre.  There are monsters to suite every taste, tried and true returning favorites and exciting new productions here for the first time. I can hardly wait until September 27 when it all begins. Here’s what we have to look forward to:

Sept. 27-Oct. 23 - Young Frankenstein
Oct. 19-24 - Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Nov. 17-21 - Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
Dec. 7-12 -   Hair
Jan. 4-9 -  Dreamworks’ Shrek the Musical
Feb. 22-27 - 9 to 5: The Musical
Mar. 29-Apr. 3  -  Fiddler on the Roof
Apr. 27-May 8  -  Billy Elliot the Musical
May 17-22 -  Mamma Mia!
June 7-12 - Les Misérables

For showtimes and tickets, visit www.asugammage.com!

Love Jazz? Me too! I have been told that the LakeShore Jazz Series at the Tempe Center for the Arts is excellent, so it’s time to check it out!  

The fall season of the LakeShore Jazz Series begins on September 10 and showcases five great shows. The best news? If you buy tickets for four shows, you get one free!  The ticket buyer gets to pick their free show. The TCA box office phone number is 480.350.2822. You must call the box office to get this package deal – it is not available online. 

To read more about the upcoming shows, visit www.lakeshoreproducers.com. The fall season is listed below – Let the jazz season begin!!

Sept. 10 – LakeShore Jazz Series: Bob Ravenscroft Trio

Sept. 24 – LakeShore Jazz Series: Benny Green Trio

Oct. 30 – LakeShore Jazz Series: Karrin Allyson and the ASU Big Band

Nov. 27 – LakeShore Jazz Series: Bob Corritore’s Blues Bash II    

Dec. 18 – LakeShore Jazz Series: Dmitri Matheny’s Holiday Jazz Party

Tempe’s own Stray Cat Theatre is offering a special deal for their 9th season. Those who love locally produced, cutting-edge and delectably entertaining theatre can now become a Stray Cat Addict and get four tickets for the price of three. Four adult tickets are now on sale for $60 and four senior or student tickets are just $45.

You can use all four tickets in one night, or you can treat yourself to all four Stray Cat productions this season.

Stray Cat Theatre kicks things off with “Reasons to be Pretty,” a funny lesson about why it might not be best to tell someone that you love about their physical imperfections. The show runs from September 24-October 9.

Score your Stray Cat Theatre Addict tickets at https://www.ticketturtle.com/?retail=sct. For more information about Stray Cat’s 9th season, visit www.straycattheatre.org. All performances are held at the Tempe Performing Arts Center, located just east of Mill Avenue on Sixth Street.

With so many great running events taking place in Tempe this fall, this is the place to be for training too! I’m currently training for the Women’s Half Marathon, taking place on November 11. This half marathon begins in Old Town Scottsdale and winds down to Tempe with the finish line at Tempe Beach park. I have a little less than three months to build up to the full 13.1 miles!

My favorite places to go running in Tempe are around Tempe Town Lake and along the Western Canal. Both trails offer the choice of running on a paved path or on dirt. I prefer running on the dirt trail because it’s easier on my knees. After my run I am usually craving a yummy salad for dinner. A few of my favorite places to reward myself after a great run are La Bocca, California Pizza Kitchen, House of Tricks and Four Peaks Brewery.

If you are looking for a great running event, Tempe has several to choose from with varying difficulties:

Oktoberfest das Foot Race 5k Run / Walk – October 2, 2010
Women’s Half Marathon – November 11, 2010
Ford Ironman Arizona – November 21, 2010
P.F. Chang’s Rock n’ Roll Arizona Marathon & 1/2 Marathon – January 16, 2010

There’s still time to start training for one of these amazing atheletics events, so put on your running shoes and enjoy the scenery that Tempe has to offer.

Don’t you love it when you find something great in a place where you least expect it?  How many times have you gone to the Post Office on Mill Avenue to do the usual Post-office things, totally oblivious to the fact that there is some pretty great art in your midst? And I’m not talking postage stamp art.  I’m talking about the art that’s always on display in the big, display worthy Mill Avenue P.O. windows.

For instance, right now there is a wonderful exhibit titled “Urban Metal” that is a commentary on how people are surrounded by industrial forms, materials and structures everyday on the city streets, in school, at their homes and in businesses.  What better place for this exhibit than in full view on Mill Avenue, an everyday street where you’re surrounded by all of the above mentioned forms, materials and structures?  It’s so Tempe!

The featured artists are Joan Waters of Phoenix, Jose Benavides of Chandler, John Tuomisto-Bell of Phoenix and Ryan Lamfers of Tempe. Each artists’ work is distinctive and unique, which makes me stop and take a closer look each time I go by the P.O.  Believe me,  there are some very cool pieces in this exhibit.   

So the next time you’re at the Mill Avenue P.O. or waiting to cross the street at Mill Avenue and 5^th Street, be sure to  linger for a while at the windows and enjoy the art. (Think of it as a kind of urban version of  “stop and smell the roses”.)  The eye-catching exhibits change regularly and always highlight local artists working in a variety of media and themes.

The students are back! This is one of my favorite times of year. I love to see the streets of Tempe bustling with ASU students returning for the fall semester. It’s the first time away from home for many. For others, it’s the last year of college before joining the “real world.” A record number of students are moving into the residence halls this week — 13,000.

ASU has a Web site that lists all of the activities happening for students and parents during Welcome Week: http://students.asu.edu/fallwelcome.

It’s time to put on your favorite maroon and gold attire and get ready for an exciting year! Classes begin on August 19 and the first football game is Septmber 4. To buy tickets, go to www.thesundevils.com.

Curious about what’s happening at Tempe Town Lake? 

There was a breach of a section of the west dam of Tempe Town Lake on July 20. Crews are working now to repair the dam and refill the lake by early November.

For the latest updates and information about the lake, please visit  www.tempe.gov/lake and click on the yellow bar at the top of the page that reads,  “Dam Replacement Information Here.” The direct link is http://www.tempe.gov/lake/DamReplacementUpdates.htm 

On that page, you will find the Friday Status Report, which provides a quick-to-read list of weekly accomplishments, photos showing some of the work, a link to information releases, answers to frequently asked questions and a variety of videos and lake-related links.

For more information, please email townlake@tempe.gov or call 480-858-2188.

Looking for something to do on Monday nights? If you like jazz and live music, then Dave’s Electric Brew Pub in Tempe is a must! Jam’n Jazz Productions  is presenting a new Jazz Series at Dave’s Electric Brewpub every Monday Night at 8 p.m. In addition to the great entertainment, you can also enjoy $5 glasses of wine and the tasty dishes served at this popular brew pub. Upcoming shows include:

AUG 9        STU SIEFER GROUP WITH SIMON AMES & SANTO MAGLIO
AUG 16      JEFF LIBMAN TRIO

For more information, please visit http://www.jamnjazzproductions.com/ or www.daveselectricbrewpub.com.

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The Phoenix Rock Gym is excited to announce that it will be joining the fight against AIDS by hosting a birthday bash to benefit The American Foundation for Children with AIDS (AFCA) on August 18, 2010. Recognized as one of the region’s premier indoor rock climbing facilities, Phoenix Rock Gym is participating in AFCA’s Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up fundraising initiative by donating 18% of the event proceeds to help children affected by the African AIDS crisis.

“Phoenix Rock Gym is excited to mark our eighteenth birthday by helping others” mentions gym owner Paul Dief.  “We are excited to get the opportunity to combine our birthday celebration with Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up (http://www.climbupsokidscangrowup.com/)  . We’re planning an event that climbers of all skill and experience levels will enjoy.”

Founded in 1992, Phoenix Rock Gym allows experts and beginners alike to enjoy the vertical world. With 30 foot high ceilings and 15,000 ft², the gym goes beyond the basics of most rock climbing gyms; it also has 56 top-ropes and a wide variety of terrain challenges like faces, cracks, arêtes, chimneys and more.  The gym offers a fun environment in which to get exercise increase strength and be challenged. Climbing routes are regularly changed, so there’s always something new.

“This event is going to be a great way to build on our fundraising success from Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up events earlier this summer” states Bill Rowland, Climb Up volunteer and Event Manager. “We’re very grateful to Phoenix Rock Gym for hosting an event on our behalf. Most people would be surprised at just how much of an impact an event like this can have on the lives of children that really need the help.”

Event Details
Date:         August 18, 2010
Time:         3-10 pm
Cost:         Varies

Location:
1353 E. University Dr.
Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 921-8322

About The Phoenix Rock Gym

The Phoenix Rock Gym is the place to climb. They’ve got the environment, equipment, and the expertise to get you climbing. So, no matter what your age or experience, Phoenix Rock Gym helps climbers enjoy the thrill, excitement and challenge of climbing!
1353 E. University Dr.
Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 921-8322

http://phoenixrockgym.com

About Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up

Climb Up So Kids Can Grow Up is a set of fundraising events created by The American Foundation for Children with AIDS to benefit African children with AIDS. Climb Up events are self-directed charity challenges created by businesses, groups and individuals. 100% of all funds generated from Climb Up events are converted into aid and delivered to partner agencies serving African children with AIDS. More information can be found at www.ClimbUpSoKidsCanGrowUp.com or www.HelpChildrenWithAIDS.org