Tempe Conventions & Visitors Bureau

Chili, sunshine and Tempe Marketplace. Sounds like a good combination, doesn’t it? On Saturday, April 2, Tempe Marketplace will be home to the Hooked on Chili Cook Off. If you think you make the best chili, here’s your chance to prove it. And, if you think you know what great chili tastes like, this is your chance to sample and vote for your favorite.

The chili tasting begins at 11 a.m. The band Western Bred will take the stage at noon. There’s also an ice cream eating contest at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids and $20 for chefs who are willing to cook for the crowd. If you go, tell us what you think. This is a new addition to events in Tempe.

If you’re looking for a fun event to plan for this weekend, My Nana’s Best Tasting Salsa Challenge is where you should be! With a purchase of a cheap ticket and an appetite for an array of homemade salsa, one can stroll through the Tempe salsa festival with their chips ready to scoop, and their mouth ready to taste! There will be over 80 restaurants, businesses and individuals on Saturday that compete to make the best salsa in their category. No worries to those who cant handle the heat — there will be both mild and hot categories of salsa.

I went to this annual event last year for the first time and was very impressed with the turnout. Thousands of people show up to enjoy the sunny weather, listen to live music, sip on margaritas and enjoy cold beers and food. Competitors are friendly and full of energy as they attempt to convince the crowd of their potential winning salsa. Only you get to decide and help vote for who becomes the Salsa Champion! Don’t miss this great event for adults and children of all ages. This is definitely a favorite out of all of the events in Tempe.

When: Saturday, April 2nd at 11:00a.m.

Location: Tempe Beach Park

Address: Mill Avenue and Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, AZ

Tickets:

$10 at the gate. Children under 12 are free. Your admission gets you all the chips and salsa you can eat! Other food and beverages are available for purchase.

Discounted tickets are available in advance for $8 at any valley Fry’s or Fry’s Marketplace until Friday, April 1^st or online at http://www.salsachallenge.com

Tempe theatre offers something for every taste from the classic Fiddler on the Roof at ASU Gammage to the drama of Grey Gardens at the Tempe Center for the Arts to the funny, edgy Octopus at Tempe Center for the Performing Arts. There’s also live music from jazz to classical to rock and plenty to enjoy in the visual arts.

• March 28: ASU Latin Jazz Band, Evelyn Smith Music Theater
• March 28: Rachel Eckroth Trio; March 30: Thankful Birds, Dave’s Electric Brew Pub
• March 29: Open Jam, Rula Bula Irish Pub & Restaurant
• March 29-April 3: Fiddler on the Roof, ASU Gammage
• March 30: Walk in Wednesday with Walt Richardson, Tempe Center for the Arts
• March 31: ASU Center for the Study of Religious Conflict Presents: Isobel Coleman: Paradise Beneath Her Feet: How Women Are Transforming the Middle East, Old Main Carson Ballroom
• March 31: Music on Mill, Mill Avenue District
• March 31: Shelby James, D’Arcy McGees
• March 31: Avant-Garden: Word of Mouth, Desert Botanical Garden
• March 31-April 2: Tempe Little Theatre: Grey Gardens, Tempe Center for the Arts
• March 31-April 3: Stray Cat Theatre Presents Octopus, Tempe Center for the Performing Arts
• April 1:  Music in the Garden: Domingon Degrazia, Desert Botanical Garden
• April 1: Peppermint James; April 2:  Static March, Tempe Marketplace District Stage
• April 1: Scott & John of Hello Swindon; April 2: Samba Project, Tempe Marketplace Barnes & Noble Fountain
• April 2: Jazz Jam Session led by Anthony Proveaux Trio, Robbie Fox’s Public House
• April 2: The Paradise Winds Presents: Classical Revolution PHX: Original Music for Chamber Wind Ensemble, Tempe History Museum
• April 2: Kyle Phelan; April 3, Justin Stewart, Dave’s Electric Brew Pub,
• April 3: Live Music on the Patio, Rula Bula Irish Pub & Restaurant

You won’t want to stray from Tempe this week.  If you do, you’ll miss the many great events taking place all week long. From the opening of Stray Cat Theatre’s new show Octopus, to the Tempe Spring Festival of the Arts and the Dragon Boat Festival, there’s plenty to enjoy this week in Tempe.  For information on these events and more, visit our online calendar of events.  

• March 21: Stan Sorenson, Dave’s Electric Brew Pub
• March 22: Open Jam, Rula Bula Irish Pub & Restaurant
• March 23: Walk in Wednesday with Walt Richardson, Tempe Center for the Arts
• March 24: Music on Mill, Mill Avenue District
• March 24: Ed Mazria Lecture, Tempe Center for the Arts
• March 24: ASU School of Music Presents Eduardo Isaac, Guitar, Katzin Concert Hall
• March 24: Shelby James, March 25: Manny Moonz Duo; March 26: Trevor Jones, D’Arcey McGees
• March 25: Agave on the Rocks, Desert Botanical Gardens
• March 25: Think Horses; March 26: Knee Deeep Experience, Tempe Marketplace District Stage
• March 25: Just Jade; March 26: Avery Colten, Tempe Marketplace Barnes & Noble Fountain
• March 25: The Paper Snowmen; March 26: The Switch; March 27: Live Music on the Patio, Rula Bula Irish Pub & Restaurant
• March 25-27: 34th Annual Tempe Spring Festival of the Arts, Mill Avenue District
• March 25-27: Stray Cat Theatre Presents Octopus, Tempe Center for the Performing Arts
• March 26: Jazz Jam Session led by Anthony Proveaux Trio, Robbie Fox’s Public House
• March 26-27: Arizona Dragon Boat Festival, Tempe Town Lake
• March 27: Frederic B. Wildfang and Linda Spears: Tempe: Then and Now Book Signing, Tempe Center for the Arts
• March 27: Sonoran Chamber Music Series: Sonoran Piano Quartet, Tempe Center for the Arts

I’m always impressed by the Broadway shows at ASU Gammage in Tempe, but I’m equally impressed with the special shows that they host throughout the year. This Sunday, March 20 at 3 p.m., Maya Angelou will be at ASU Gammage as part of “Unique Lives & Experiences,” a women’s lecture series.

This is a great chance to hear such an eloquent and inspirational speaker in person. Tickets are $35. For more information, please visit http://www.uniquelives.com/city/11maphoenix.html.

Tempe celebrates St. Patrick’s Day in a big way with lots of green and Irish fun in locations throughout the city.  It’s true that St. Patrick’s Day may take center stage this week, but there are also plenty of other events in Tempe, including music, plays and arts exhibitions.  Here’s a sample. For more Tempe events, visit our online calendar of events. 

• March 14: Open Jam, Rula Bula Irish Pub & Restaurant
• March 15: Walk in Wednesday with Walt Richardson, Tempe Center for the Arts
• March 15: West Valley Symphony Members Jim Nelson, Scott Werner & Gene Cervantes; Paul McDermand, Tempe Center for the Arts
• March 17:  2001 St. Patrick’s Day Bash Featuring Flogging Molly, Tempe Beach Park
• March 17:  ShamROCK! St. Patrick’s Day Block Party on Mill Avenue, The Businesses of 4^th Street & Mill Avenue
• March 17: Third Thursday on Mill Avenue, Mill Avenue District
• March 17: St. Patrick’s Day Tent Event, D’Arcy McGee’s
• March 17: Avant-Garden: Green Is Good: World Famous Rani “g” ,Mikel Lander, Meridith Moore, the Sugar Thieves, Desert Botanical Garden
• March 17: The Sullivan’s; the JJ’s Band; Paul Ludenia Band, Rula Bula Irish Pub & Restaurant
• March 18: The Paper Snowmen; March 19: The J J’s Band, Rula Bula Irish Pub & Restaurant
• March 18:  Music in the Garden: Bata Ire, Desert Botanical Garden
• March 18: Sunday Morning Drive; March 19: Tractor Pull Divas, Tempe Marketplace District Stage
• March 18: Gradymusic; March 19: David & Amy, T empe Marketplace Barnes & Noble Fountain
• March 18-20: Grey Gardens, Tempe Center for the Arts
• March 19: Lake Shore Jazz Series: Regina Carter, Tempe Center for the Arts
• March 19: Jazz Jam Session led by Anthony Proveaux Trio.  Robbie Fox’s Public House
• March 20: Unique Lives Experiences presents An Evening with Dr. Maya Angelou, ASU Gammage

Cookies and milk. Movies and popcorn. St. Patrick’s Day and Tempe…some things are just meant to be together.

March 17 is the day when we all are Irish, whether we really are or we just pretend to be and Tempe really knows how to celebrate. The only thing that we don’t do is dye Tempe Town Lake green. I guess we’ll leave that tradition to Chicago. Here are a few St Patty’s Day Tempe events to help you celebrate with a green beer and a bit of corned beef and cabbage.

Flogging Molly will once again headline the St. Patty’s Day Bash at Tempe Beach Park. This popular band blends traditional Irish sounds with punk. Gates open at 4 p.m. Moneybrother, The Drowning Men and Keltic Cowboys will open the show.

D’arcy McGee’s at Tempe Marketplace is hosting a St. Patty’s Day Block Party featuring  Irish dancers, bagpipers, themed games, green beer, live music and other festivities. The restaurant opens at 6 a.m. with a breakfast and bloody mary bar and the tent event begins at 5 p.m. This is the official after party for the Flogging Molly concert. Ticket holders will get free admission. Otherwise, it’s $10 to get in.

Four Peaks Brewing Company will be open early with a special $12 all-you-can-eat breakfast, beginning at 7 a.m. They’ll also have St. Patrick’s Day-themed menu items for lunch and dinner.

Rula Bula Irish Pub is also a great choice. They’ll have live music beginning at noon, prizes, giveaways and other fun stuff.

The first-ever ShamROCK! Block Party will take place on Fourth St. and Mill Avenue. Starting at noon on Thursday, March 17th, ShamROCK! will feature live music, food and plenty of St. Patty’s Day inspired cocktails and green beer. Four bars and restaurants including Caffe Boa, Margarita Rocks, The Tavern on Mill and Silvermine Subs will host St. Patty’s Day revelers with live bands Saving Abel, Redline Chemistry, Danko Jones and The Brix. Specialty food and drink will be featured at each of the locations within the block party with a main stage at Margarita Rocks hosting headlining band Filter.

A portion of the proceeds from ShamROCK! will benefit one of Mill Ave.’s oldest community organization, The Hackett House which supports City of Tempe programs, including the award-winning Tempe Sister Cities Organization, which sponsors student, teacher, professional and practical exchanges with Tempe’s International Sister Cities.

Tickets can be purchased for $12 at any of the participating bars and restaurants in advance or are available for $20 at the door.

No matter what you do on St. Patrick’s Day in Tempe, have fun and be safe!

 What a great time of the year to be in Tempe!  Along with our beautiful weather, there’s theatre, ballet and music to enjoy all week long. Here’s a look at some of the Tempe events taking place this week.  For more events, visit our online calendar of events.

• March 8: Open Jam, Rula Bula Irish Pub & Restaurant
• March 9: Walk in Wednesday with Walt Richardson. Tempe Center for the Arts
• March 9-11: ASU School of Theatre & Film Presents: A Bridge to the Stars, Lyceum Theatre
• March 10: Music on Mill, Mill Avenue District
• March 10: Shelby James; March 11: Trevor Jones; March 11: Sharrett Miller and Tom Mein, D’Arcey McGees
• March 11: Los Guys; March 12: Jed’s A Millionaire, Tempe Marketplace District Stage
• March 11: Andrea Torzala; March 12: Leah Koestner, Tempe Marketplace Barnes & Noble Fountain
• March 11: Shawn Johnson & the Paper Snowmen; March 12: Take Cover, Rula Bula Irish Pub & Restaurant
• March 12: Dulce Dance Company: “Expresiones Cuatro,” Tempe Center for the Arts
• March 12: Howard the Duck; Spaceballs; The Rocky Horror Mardi Gras Show, Madcap Theaters

This is only the second full week of Cactus League Spring Training, which means that all of us have a bit more time to plan trips to see our favorite teams play ball in the warm Arizona sun.

The Tempe Tourism Office makes planning your spring training weekend in Arizona easy with our complete guide at www.TempeBaseball.com. There, you’ll find a baseball spring training schedules, stadium map, ticket information and hotel, attraction and restaurant specials in Tempe.

Tempe Diablo Stadium, home to the Angels, is located just 10 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and within minutes of several Tempe hotels and resorts. Tickets at the Angels home field start at just $6, one of the lowest tickets prices in the league.

Arizona baseball spring training sites are smaller than MLB home stadiums, so fans feel closer to the action. You can also take advantage of the casual setting and watch practices for free from 9:00 a.m. to noon every day during spring training season. Players are oftentimes willing to sign autographs as they walk from the practice fields to the stadium.

Fans and history buffs alike will also want to visit the Play Ball! Experience at Tempe’s Arizona Historical Society Museum. There are more than 400 items that trace the history of spring training in Arizona. Many of the items are arranged by team, making it easy to find your favorites.

And, thanks to everyone who entered our spring training trip to Tempe giveaway. Our lucky winner was baseball fan Mary H. from Georgia.

The Tempe Museum of History will celebrate Arizona’s cowboy heritage with a year long exhibit, The Finley Boys: Arizona’s Royal Family of Rodeo. The exhibit tells the story of Luther, Larry and Frank Finley through photographs and artifacts donated to the museum by Luther’s widow Meity Finley.

The Finley boys began testing their ranching skills as teenagers at local rodeos and became national rodeo stars during the 1930s through the 1950s.  Over the years, the brothers won several world championships and rubbed elbows with legendary cowboys of the time like Casey Tibbs, Slim Pickens and Roy Rogers. 

The exhibit grand opening will kick-off the exhibition this Saturday, March 5, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. The fun will include rodeo demonstrations, arts, crafts, game and cowboy/bluegrass music performed by the Hey Boyz.

 For more information, visit www.tempe.gov/museum or call 480-350-5100.