Tempe Conventions & Visitors Bureau

I tend to consider myself a pretty serious foodie, so I’m highly critical of restaurants and food in general. Now, I know that Fresh & Easy has been sprouting up for over a year in Arizona, but every time I go into that store, I am amazed with their variety and quality. I’ve almost made a full transition from shopping at the regular grocery store to shopping entirely at Fresh & Easy.

I love how their quick meals don’t contain artificial flavors or colors. Plus, I can get items here that I can’t easily find at the larger, corporate grocery stores including Greek yogurt, organic milk and cage-free eggs. If grocery stores do carry those items, they’re usually much higher in price.

I can’t always get everything I want at Fresh & Easy, but I still love them just the same. Definitely try their peanut butter. It’s amazing! I also love their fresh chicken and selection of organic lunchmeat.

There’s even a location in Tempe. If you haven’t been to Fresh & Easy yet, you should definitely go today. There’s one conveniently located on Kyrene and Baseline, in the middle of Tempe.

Anyone else love Fresh & Easy as much as I do?

There are a lot of museums in the state of Arizona.  They are all unique in their own right and deserve a visit.  But one that I love to support is the ASU Art Museum.  As part of Arizona State University, it has a reputation for contemporary art throughout the world. But, not as many locals know about it.  The building itself it a masterpiece of design.  The space is cool, art is amazing and the visiting artists are always interesting.  And they have one of the best gift shops anywhere. Check it out – and decide if it’s one of your favorites too.

What do you get a hotel for its 25th anniversary? This question had me stumped until I realized that the best gift is from the hotel to their loyal guests.The Sheraton Phoenix Airport Hotel Tempe is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this week. Through August 31, they are offering a few specials to commemorate this achievement:

- Buy one night at regular rate and get the second night for $25
- Anyone celebrating their 25th Anniversary in 2009 will receive a complimentary bottle of Champagne and chocolates with a dinner purchase in the Fire + Spice Arizona Grill
- There is a $25 per person wedding package which includes Entrée & Cake cutting for any wedding reception booked before August 31, 2009.

If that wasn’t enough, the great staff at the Sheraton Phoenix Airport Hotel Tempe is also giving back to the community. According to their General Manager, Mike Harrison, community service has been a part of this hotel since it opened its doors in 1984. This year, the hotel sponsored Nevitt Elementary School through the “Best in Class” program. The staff has been working with to identify where funding and volunteer support could best assist the students and faculty. Employees, hotel guests and community members have been encouraged to donate money for Nevitt Elementary at the front desk. Sheraton staff even volunteered at the school’s end of the year carnival.

Good work! And, congratulations on a successful 25 years!

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=954

The answer is another fun and fulfilling summer activity in Tempe that combines a delicious meal in one of the Valley’s most popular restaurants, a bit of local history and a ride on the light rail. Monti’s La Casa Vieja has come up with a nifty package which includes lunch or dinner at Monti’s  followed by a light rail ride to the world renowned Heard Museum in Phoenix. It a blends the old with the new and delicious food too!  Get the details at http://www.montis.com/ or call 480-967-7594. 

I kid you not–this show has everything you could ever want in a musical intended for family enjoyment.  It has really cute, but also extremely talented kids, good guys, scoundrels, some of the most sumptuous sets ever, hilarious gags that are totally kid appropriate and suitable for adults too, a bunch of good tunes and about five of the most adorable dogs you’ve ever seen.  No kidding, dogs!  The star pooch is so precious that you might be tempted to jump onto the stage to reward him with a big hug and a couple of Liver Snaps.  And the adult actors  (whose characters have fun names like Truly Scrumptious, Caractacus Potts and Baron Bomburst) manage to do a great job of not being totally upstaged by all the cute kids and canines.

You know how so-called family friendly musicals can put adults to sleep? I promise, this will not happen during  Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.  It is truly scrumptious entertainment for all ages.  It delighted the opening night audience, which was a good mix of kids and adults and it will delight you too.  So gather up your favorite peeps and see it at ASU Gammage (www.asugammage.com).  It’s there through June 21. Did I mention the flying car?   

I love Thai food. That being said, I’m pretty hard to impress when it comes to going to new Thai restaurants, but I was looking for something new this past weekend and decided to try Thai Elephant on University Road.

The restaurant wasn’t very crowded for a Friday evening, but had enough customers to reassure me that it was ok to sit down for dinner. We started with a few items from the happy hour menu, which includes both drinks and appetizers. The peanut sauce was a little different than most places, but still very tasty with the Satay Chicken, and the sauce that came with the Crispy Sweet Potato was fantastic. So far so good.

But the real test for me is my favorite: yellow curry with chicken.  The waitress brought my dish out and I easily could have split this with my boyfriend, but he felt like Pad Thai that night. I took a bite and it was fantastic. Definitely one of my top choices in the Valley. It was everything that I love: slightly sweet from the coconut milk, a spice that enhances flavor instead of overwhelming it and that beautiful fragrant curry mixed with tender chicken and vegetables.

My mouth is seriously watering as I write about it. Just go. It’s really good. Check out their site here for locations and menus.

A few years ago I lived just a few blocks away from ASU and enjoyed the tasty dishes of one of my favorite neighborhood restaurants, Sahara. But alas, the place closed because the building was razed to make way for another building (as if we needed another drug store in Arizona). Now, a few years later and a move to a home in mid-Tempe, I find myself again living just a walk away from Sahara’s new location at the NE corner of Southern & McClintock.  The same family, great service, good prices and awesome food are back!  Many thanks to the owners of Sahara for making a comeback and providing Middle Eastern delights!  I ate there on Saturday and it was like going back in time to when I was a few years younger (and a few pounds lighter) and craved the hummus, pita and gyro platter.  Some things deserve a second chance.  If you remember Sahara on Mill, then get over to their new place so they stick around for a long time to come!

Looking forward to AzBizGreen 2010 to be held in March of next year! Please visit www.azmbec.com for additional information.

The purpose of this conference is to provide practical and immediate Green Solutions that can help “Save Money, Make Money, and Grow Money Today.” This conference will provide high-quality education and networking opportunities. The single-day, multiple-track format offers a facilitated learning environment with presentation sessions, interactive forums, and, a business Expo. Presentation sessions, will focus on Green/Sustainable Solutions for individuals as well as business enterprises.

Please visit www.azmbec.com for additional information.

I love seeing Broadway shows at ASU Gammage. The auditorium, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, is beautiful with its many shades of terracotta and outstretched walkways that embrace you as you enter – It really is the perfect place to see your favorite shows! And this season has an exciting line-up – now is the time to get your season tickets! Check out the 2009/2010 season:

LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL – September 22-27, 2009
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA – October 28-November 22, 2009
LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE – December 8-13, 2009
ANNIE – December 29-January 3, 2010
AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY – January 5-10, 2010
MARY POPPINS – February 11-28, 2010
AVENUE Q – March 9-14, 2010
Alfred Hitchcock’s THE 39 STEPS  – April 20-25, 2010
IN THE HEIGHTS – June 15-20, 2010

Season tickets are available for purchase now. Single tickets for the 2009/2010 season will go on-sale to the general public July 27. Groups can order tickets now. Discounts are available for groups of 20+ and 50+. For more inforation, or to purchase tickets, visit www.asugammage.com.

Family and school reunions can be fun or agonizing, or both.  But, this Saturday a truly special reunion will take place in Tempe that’s bound to be both reflective and exhilarating.  Desert Dance Theatre is turning 30. Can you believe it?  This modern dance company has been a part of Tempe’s arts scene since 1979 and will commemorate the milestone with a 30^th Anniversary Celebration Performance at 7:30 p.m. at the Tempe Center for the Arts (www.tempe.gov/tca) on June 13^th.  The program will feature Director Lisa Chow, 11 dancers (including founding member Billbob Brown) and special guest artists. Audience members who have been around since Desert Dance’s beginnings will enjoy reconnecting and reminiscing.  Everyone will be treated to a wonderful evening that combines a nostalgic look at Desert Dance’s past along with premiers of exciting new works. For ticket information, visit www.desertdancetheatre.org.  I would love to hear your memories of Desert Dance, including your experience at the anniversary performance.