Tempe Conventions & Visitors Bureau

If you’ve never been to Pita Jungle on Apache and Dorsey, you are missing out. I can remember when the restaurant had only about 10 tables and was 1/4 the size it is now. And you know what? I swear that the bigger it gets, the better it gets. It’s so nice to eat at a restaurant that was founded and can still only be found in Arizona. I share the same feelings about Oregano’s, but Pita Jungle will always be #1 on my list. The Tempe location was founded in 1994 and is still the best in my opinion. I highly recommend almost everything on the menu, but my absolute top 5 favorites (in no particular order) are: 

1. Trio of Hummus – Regular, Roasted Bell Pepper and Cilantro Jalapeno. Perfect to share with a friend… that is, if you want to share it.
2. Grilled Vegetable Salad – Yeah, I don’t normally go to a restaurant and order just an entire dish of vegetables for dinner either, but this is unbelievably good just by itself.
3. Spicy Chicken Wrap – Marinated grilled chicken with brown rice, beans, tomatoes, cauliflower, squash, zucchini, broccoli, bell peppers, onions and sriracha hot sauce all wrapped up in a giant pita. So healthy. So tasty.
4. Curried Spinach Potato Pizza – I had never had potatoes on a pizza until I ordered this dish. Surprisingly, it works and all the flavors create the perfect combination.
5. Mediterranean Platter – This is HUGE and can easily be split between two people. With a little bit of everything (hummus, baba ganoosh, tsatziki, taboule, feta cheese, dolmades, falafel and green beans), you can sample some of the best Pita Jungle has to offer without ordering a ton of dishes.

I’m sure I’m missing a lot of other favorites on the menu, but trust me, there is so much good food at Pita Jungle! Just go check it out.

For a welcome break from the complexities of  2008, head to ASU Gammage to see Happy Days, a joyful recollection of the 50s and the hit television series that had us glued weekly to the tube during the 70s and 80s. All those wonderful characters–Richy, Ralph Malph, Potsie, Richy and all the Cunningham family, Pinky Tuscadero,  and of course, The Fonze–are beautifully recreated in this funny, joyful musical.  Opening night was especially fun with red carpet festivities that brought the shows Executive Producer Bob Boyett, Garry Marshall, creator of the original TV show and two of the original TV show cast members, Anson Williams who played Potsie and Don Most who played Ralph Malph.

There’s still time to catch some of this good old fashioned 1950s fun this weekend.  It’s playing at ASU Gammage through November 23rd.

If you haven’t yet heard, Dunkin’ Donuts has come to Mill Avenue! They are located on the northeast corner of 5th and Mill Avenue, so it is very easy to get to when you are craving a coffee or donut! I have already gone twice this week to check out their coffee and morning fare selections. As for coffee, there are more options than one could ever wish for! They offer all different types of flavor shots such as vanilla, caramel or mocha, and milk and cream of course too. They also offer iced teas and iced coffees. And, if you’re into the fancy stuff, like lattes and cappuccinos, they have those too! The best part, is that you can mix and match your favorite drink yourself. Just pick your cup and go to town on whatever it is that is catching your eye. Oh wait, did I say that was the best part? The best part is actually the amazing prices! I bought a medium latte with a shot of caramel for $1.62 – so I had money left over to get a low fat blueberry muffin! Very delicious! I also had the opportunity to sample a variety of their donuts yesterday, and they were mouthwatering good!

I was on Mill Avenue getting lunch yesterday and saw that they were doing some testing on the light rail. Seeing the light rail and hearing about how close they are to finishing everything got me really excited for the grand opening this December. The best part about the light rail is how accessible everything is in Tempe. Instead of trying to find parking on Mill or at a nearby parking garage, you can just park at a station, hop on the light rail and head to restaurants, shopping and bars. And, I love how it takes you directly to Mill Avenue. 

To kick off the light rail grand opening, every single stop in Tempe will be holding a celebration on Saturday, December 27, 2008 from 10am-5pm. Those stations are: • Veterans Way/College Avenue• Mill Avenue/Third Street• Dorsey Drive/Apache Boulevard• Price 101 Freeway/Apache Boulevard. The festivities include games, music, food, crafts, face painting, a performance by Arizona’s own Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers, fireworks and so much more. You’re just going to have to go to every stop to see it all. Plus, the fare is completely free that day! More information can be found at http://www.tempe.gov/DestinationTempe/dtcelebration.htm

I know that I probably say this every year, but can anyone else believe that it’s almost Thanksgiving? Well, enjoy the feast on turkey day, but after the mashed potatoes and stuffing are gone, say goodbye to Thanksgiving and hello to the holidays. And what better way to welcome the holidays than to head out to Mill Avenue on Saturday, November 29 for the APS Fantasy of Lights Opening Night? The event runs from 5–9 pm, with a parade kick-off at 6:30 on 3^rd St. and Mill. After the parade, work your way down to the main stage, where there will be a holiday tree lighting ceremony at Centerpoint on Mill Plaza. The night will be filled with spectacular holiday festivities including street entertainers, a fireworks finale and even Santa Claus will be making an appearance to listen to all the gifts on children’s wish lists this year. For more information, call (480) 921-2300 ext. 19 or visit http://www.downtowntempe.com/APS-Fantasy-of-Lights.aspx

There are hundreds if not thousands of ASU students riding bicycles to and from school, but what about you? Now that the weather’s cooled down it’s the perfect opportunity to get out and explore Tempe by bicycle. Tempe has, after all, been recognized as a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. Visit one of the many friendly bicycle shops in Tempe if you don’t yet own a bicycle. Already have one? Great! Get it cleaned up and ready to ride and then head over to the Tempe Bicycle Action Group blog to stay up to date on bicycle happenings in and around Tempe. There are various recurring group rides for all skill levels, some of which are family friendly. You’ll also find useful resources such as links to other local ride groups, ever important safety information and even advocacy/outreach information. Really into bicycles? Become a member of Tempe Bicycle Action Group (it’s free!) and you can even volunteer your time to help with the various programs Tempe Bicycle Action Group coordinates. Bicycling is a fun and healthy activity for the entire family, why not give it a try? And remember, always ride safely!

DrinkInTempe has just posted what they believe to be the 5 best drink specials in town. I happen to agree with most of the choices on their list, but I think they rather heinously left out Monkey Pants, a Tempe favorite. Excerpted from the Article is their list below:

5. The Tavern On Mill On Wednesday Nights.

4. Sneakers on Wednesday nights.

3. The Big Bang – Money Shot Mondays

2. The Cue Club  on Thursday Nights

1. Dos Gringos on Thursday Nights.

If you want to read their reasons (Not entirely unworth your time), you can at their Happy Hour List.

Everyone is talking about going green these days by making a few little changes here and there, but here’s something that’s really green, really cool and totally exclusive to Tempe: As AZCentral.com reports, Tempe’s new Transportation Center, located at the base of Tempe Butte, is set to become one of the most energy efficient buildings in the nation when it opens next month. The $25 million, three-story, 40,000-square-foot building, which is also home to the bus and light-rail hub, features groundbreaking green technology including:

• A rainwater recovery system to provide drip irrigation
• Screens that move to protect the building from the sun
• Recycled construction materials for the entire building
• Less electric lighting and more natural light
• Low-flow and no-flow toilets that will save thousands of gallons of water

The entire article, which lists even more supergreen features and insightful comments from those involved, can be found at http://tinyurl.com/59cw63.