Tempe Conventions & Visitors Bureau

With our beautiful lake now full of water and ready for use, there’s no better way to celebrate than by enjoying a perfect escape with a nice boat ride on Tempe Town Lake. Beginning next week, this California based company will bring back renting watercraft to the public with a variety of kayaks, electric boats, and pedal boats. Rentals will be offered at Tempe Beach Park, off Rio Salado and Mill Avenue.

This is a great boating opportunity for the public and visitors who don’t want to sign up for a club or take classes but still want to enjoy the use of the lake. There are boats for everyone: electric powered with stereos, tables and seats for family or work picnic parties, kayaks for sporting, and pedal boats for fun date nights!

• Easy to operate
• Reasonable hourly rates
• Bring your own picnic
• All safety gear is provided

Looking for a little more recreational adventure than your average pedal boat? Wait no longer, for the first time you can test your skills while cruising in style on Tempe Town Lakes newest addition: Hydrobikes!

That’s right, on Hydrobikes you’re comfortably seated upright for great viewing as you cruise past canoes, kayaks and pedal boats…. Drink holders and a place for your dry items make this the most comfortable ride on the water!

Be your own Skipper! Come try something new and test your fun out on the water at Tempe Town Lake.

Tempe Town Lake Boat Rentals
72 W. Rio Salado Parkway
Tempe, AZ 85282
(480) 303-9803

Get more details at www.boats4rent.com

Searching for entertaining things to do? You need look no further because there’s always plenty to do in Tempe. Read on to see a sample of all there is to do this week, October 25-31.  For a complete listing of Tempe events, visit http://www.tempetourism.com/events/Calendar/ and www.tempescene.com or call 480-894-8158.  

October 27: David Adjaye: Architecture Lecture, Tempe Center for the Arts                                                            

October 28: Thursday Night Market, Tempe Urban Garden 

October 28: Shelby James: American Roots, D’Arcy McGee’s Irish Restaurant & Pub                           

October 28: Opening Reception: Return of the Corn Mothers, ASU Museum of Anthropology 

October 29: ASU Lyric Opera Theatre presents Music Under the Stars, Nelson Fine Art Center Plaza

October 29-30: Shawn Johnson & The Foundation; DJ Slade & DJ Skills, Rula Bula Irish Pub and Restaurant

October 29: Celtica, World Music Band; October 30: PWK, Alternative Band, Tempe Marketplace District Stage

October 29: Mellis Calvert Duo, Adult Contemporary Acoustic Duo; October 30:  Luke Niccoli, Adult Contemporary Guitarist, Tempe Marketplace Barns & Noble Fountain

October 30: Opening of TCA Biennial: Glass & Glass Blowing Demonstration, Tempe Center for the Arts

October 30: LakeShore Jazz Series: Karrin Allyson & the ASU Big Band, Tempe Center for the Arts

October 30: Dia de los Muertos Celebration, Desert Botanical Garden                                                                              

October 31: Aebi/Coulson Jazz Jam, John Henry’s Restaurant

Tour de Tempe

This Sunday October 24^, Tempe will host the 15th annual Tour de Tempe. With an estimated 82 degree temperature, this FREE community bike ride is perfect for a sunny Sunday! Come out with the family or a friend and enjoy a nice workout while supporting cycling and the City of Tempe.

The ride is a 12 mile course which will begin and end at Kiwanis Park. Mayor Hugh Hallman, Tempe City Council members and Tempe Bicycle Action Group will lead the ride. Registration starts at 7 a.m. with the ride starting at 9 a.m.  All participating riders will receive free breakfast snacks donated from Whole Foods, Wildflower Bread Company, Starbucks and Back East Bagels.  To stay hydrated, make sure to bring your own water and lots of it!

All riders will be entered into a raffle drawing to win great prizes! If you have an old pair of sneakers lying around the house, come donate them in support of the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe program and you will receive an extra ticket! Also, the first 800 registrants will win an artist-designed T-shirt.

Don’t forget to wear your helmets and come out and have some fun!

October 24, 2010

7:00am-11:00am

Kiwanis Park

6111 S. All-America Way, Tempe
(parking lot just north of Guadalupe Road)
For more information:
http://www.tempe.gov/tim/events/

(480) 350-8663

So you’re a pumpkin fan? Who isn’t? Unlike other cities around the country, our leaves don’t have to change color to indicate that fall is upon us. In Tempe, we know that it’s fall because lots and lots of events this time of year celebrate the glory of that beautiful orange fruit (yep, it’s a fruit), the pumpkin. There are 3 upcoming events that are all about the jack ‘o lantern.

The Great Pumpkin Festival at Desert Botanical Garden started today and continues through Sunday, October 24. It features a hay ride to a magical pumpkin patch that “sprouts” up every year in Papago Park. Kids and their parents can choose a pumpking to take home, create an art project, hear live music and even see a petting zoo. http://dbg.org/events-exhibitions/the-great-pumpkin-festival

The Phoenix Zoo will be transformed this weekend when Boo at the Zoo takes over. This is a fun, fun event for kids 7 and under. On Saturday and Sunday, families can see their favorite animals munch on pumpkins (a special treat for the weekend), participate in a fall festival event at Harmony Farm, go through a hay bale maze and visit a pumpkin patch and more. http://phoenixzoo.org/events/special_events/special_events_detail.aspx?ARTICLE_ID=100783

And, for adults looking to get into the spirit of the season, Four Peaks is hosting a pumpkin carving contest on Tuesday, October 26. Starting at 6 pm, you can bring your own pumpking and carving essentials and create a masterpiece, all while sipping on Pumpkinn Porter. The judging starts at 9 pm and the winners will receive, what else?, beer! http://www.fourpeaks.com/blog/index.php/events/annual-pumpkin-carving-contest-on-october-26th/

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast returns to ASU Gammage this week!  And, that’s not all.  Read on to see what else there is to do to do in Tempe this week, October 18-24. This is just a sample. For a complete listing of Tempe events, visit http://www.tempetourism.com/events/Calendar/ and www.tempescene.com or call 480-894-8158.  

 October 18: Stan Sorenson, Guitar, Dave’s Electric Brew Pub

 October 19-24: Disney’s Beauty & the Beast, ASU Gammage

 October 21: Thursday Night Market, Tempe Urban Garden

 October 21: Shelby James: American Roots, D’Arcy McGee’s Irish Restaurant & Pub

 October 22: The Love Brokers, Rula Bula Irish Pub and Restaurant

 October 22: Peppermint James; October 23: Chicks with Picks, Tempe Marketplace District Stage

 October 22: Dulce VAS; October 23:  Jeordie, Tempe Marketplace Barns & Noble Fountain

 October 23: Dance Contest: your chance to win $5,000 and a spot on MTV!, Tempe Marketplace District Stage 

October 23: Harbhajan Mann; October 24: Apsara Dance Concert, Tempe Center for the Arts 

October 24  Aebi/Coulson Jazz Jam, John Henry’s Restaurant

I attended the ASU Art Museum fall reception.  It was a lively, high energy event attended by art lovers, students and the artists whose works are represented in Open for Business. Brent Green, the artist whose installation Gravity Was Everywhere Back Then was also there. It was exciting to have the opportunity to actually meet and talk to the artists about their work. 

I love the whole concept of Open for Business.  It’s a wonderful interactive collaboration between Mill Avenue businesses, artists and the public.  The gallery in which it is displayed was abuzz with activity with the artists there to lend additional explanation and information about their portion of the exhibition.  The participating businesses were also involved by featuring installations that complemented those on display in the museum.  This exhibition allows us to view art in the context of a business establishment and conversely to see aspects of local business explored in an art gallery. The exhibition is on display in the businesses and the ASU Art Museum through January 29^th.  Maps are available at the ASU Art Museum and in the participating businesses.   

Gravity Was Everywhere Back Then is powerful, if a bit perplexing. You can’t help but be drawn into this incredible work of art by Brent Green.  It’s dark and melancholy on the surface, but there is also a message of hope, promise, and passionate belief in the power of love and faith.  I also attended the screening of the film. It was more like a performance piece with live music, sound effects and narration interspersed throughout the film. Parts of the film are incorporated in the rooms that comprise exhibit.

While your there, take time to visit Lasting Impressions: Japanese Prints from the ASU Art Museum.  It features work by 60 Japanese artists from the 18th century to contemporary times. Most are wood cuts and the complexity of color and details is extraordinary. Every piece in this impressive collection is gorgeous and a true testament to the amazing skill of Japanese print-makers through the ages.  Lasting Impressions is up through November 27.

Also don’t miss the remarkable survey of work Karen Karnes, who has been a major force in the studio pottery movement for more than 60 years. A Chosen Path: the Ceramic Art of Karen Karnes is her first major retrospective and highlights 69 masterworks.  I found it interesting that she was one of the first to produce pottery that could be placed directly over heat and actually supported herself by producing this functional pottery back in the 1950s.  Her works are both functional and decorative, but always beautiful. Her salt glazes are perfection. The labels are really interesting and feature pictures of Karen at work with many of the artists whom she worked with and whose work she influenced.  This exhibit is on display in the Ceramic Research Center through January 11.

I suggest you go to the ASU Art Museum this Saturday or sometime soon and see all four of the exhibits.  It’s open 11:00 am-5:00 pm and it’s free.   Let me know which exhibits were your favorites.

University Crossings Tempe Block Party:

All Free Access – Killer Tunes by EastonAshe + Free Beer (21+ for beer) + Free Food + Raffle for cool schwag including iPad, iPods, Cruiser bikes from Tempe Bikes, Flat Screen TV’s, Gift Cards to the Vine in Tempe etc.

Location: 950 S. Terrace in Tempe
Date: Saturday, Oct. 16th
Time: 2:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

If you are looking for a new flair of fun for your next Mill Avenue adventure, Canteen Modern Tequila Bar is a must see this weekend!

This new edgy bar is just the perfect touch to what Mill Avenue in Tempe has been waiting for. Its ambiance will charm you – it has a sophisticated and contemporary feel with darker lighting, chic interior, and Techno/Latin- fused music. There’s a sense of openness that lets more energy from the streets in and the great hardworking staff are very friendly, outgoing, and work well together.

The Canteen Modern Tequila Bar offers over 120 100% Agave Tequilas and adds a bright new twist to gourmet Mexican food. It is located off 6^th and Mill and open for lunch, dinner, and late night. Let the tequila pour and the music beat; come enjoy a margarita and a taco at its grand opening this Friday!

FRIDAY OCT. 15^th: Half off Espolon Blanco and Reposado Tequilas until close.

SATURDAY OCT. 16^th: $3 Chilled Parton Pineapple Shots until close.

Happy Hour FRIDAY & SATURDAY until 9:00pm (Half off 100% Agave House Margaritas, Bottled and Draft Beer, Premium Well Drinks, all Tequilas, and select food items).

AND a special giveaway: win a free hotel stay at the Mayan Resort in Mexico!

CANTEEN MODERN TEQUILA BAR
640 S. MILL AVE., SUITE 110, TEMPE, AZ
480.773.7135
www.canteentequilabar.com



It’s October, it’s gorgeous and wow, there’s a lot going on in Tempe this week.  With all the music, theatre, art exhibits and author events you’ll have plenty of choices.  It doesn’t get any better. And this is just a sample. For a complete listing of Tempe events, visit http://www.tempecvb.com/Events/Calendar and http://www.tempescene.com/

October 13:  Deepak Chopra: Muhammad: A Story of the Last Prophet, Changing Hands Bookstore

October 13: Walk-in Wednesday with Walt Richardson, Tempe Center for the Arts

October 14: Thursday Night Market, Tempe Urban Garden

October 14: Shelby James: D’Arcy McGee’s Irish Restaurant & Pub

October 14: The Spin, Rula Bula Irish Pub and Restaurant

October 15: Friday Conversations @ 11: John Spiak: Open for Business, ASU Art Museum

October 15: Hello Swindon; October 16: The Jeff Hunt Band, Tempe Marketplace District Stage

October 15: Just Jade; October 16: Jess Hawk Oakenstar, Tempe Marketplace Barns & Noble Fountain

October 16: Childsplay Presents: A Year with Frog and Toad, Tempe Center for the Arts

October 17:  Aebi/Coulson Jazz Jam, John Henry’s Restaurant  

October 17: Persian Classical and Folk Music Concert, Tempe Center for the Arts

The Tempe Convention & Visitors Bureau, the most trusted source for Tempe tourism information for more than 20 years, has changed its trade name to the Tempe Tourism Office.

Why, you ask? We wanted a name that was familiar to travelers worldwide. Tourism offices are easily recognizable as a destination for visitor information. It’s pretty simple.

Don’t fret, however. Despite our name change, our mission is still to provide visitors with the same, valuable information about Tempe hotels, Tempe attractions, Tempe shopping, Tempe dining, and everything else you need to know about this sunny city.

Not only did our name get a makeover, but so did our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn . If you want up to date information about what’s happening in Tempe today, tomorrow, or in the near future – this is where you can find it.

Want more info? Visit us over at www.TempeTourism.com or give us a ring at 800-283-6734.