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

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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Yes, it’s hot out. So, the best time to enjoy the weather in Arizona during the summer is at night! The sun goes down and the people come out! So, what is there to do at night in Tempe? Head to Tempe Marketplace where live music can be heard every weekend!

Tempe Marketplace has an amazing offering of live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. It can be counted on for a great night out at an affordable price – free! All types of music can be heard – rock, acoustic guitar, alternative, classic, country, contemporary and more!

Choose from two types of music at two different stages every weekend. Live performances take place at the District Stage and also at the fountain in front of Barnes & Noble. Enjoy music from both ends of the main shopping district, so no matter where you are while shopping you can hear the sweet sound of live music!

Tempe Marketplace also offers an amazing selection of restaurants too. A few of my favorites are Lucille’s BBQ, Maria Maria, D’Arcy McGees and California Pizza Kitchen. Delicious food and great music…makes for a perfect night out in Tempe!

For a full schedule of live music performances and a list of dining options visit www.tempemarketplace.com!

Fashion, great food and happy hour? How can you go wrong? Our friends at La Bocca Urban Pizzeria & Wine Bar have teamed up with Here on the Corner, one of the hippest, most fashion forward and affordable boutiques near the ASU campus. Every Wednesday night this summer, from 5-8 p.m., come to La Bocca at 7th St. and Mill Avenue to see the latest fashions from Here on the Corner, socialize with your friends and grab dinner and a glass of wine. Happy hour lasts until 6:30 p.m.  For more about La Bocca, visit their Web site: http://laboccapizzeria.com/.

I watched the Tony Awards last night and got all charged about attending the opening night of In the Heights at ASU Gammage on June 15, which won several Tonys in 2008. I’m a little sad because it will mark the end of the 2009-2010 Broadway show season.  On the other hand, how could I be anything but excited and happy at the prospect of seeing this great show that won four Tony awards for best musical, score, choreography and orchestrations?

This will be my first experience with the show, so I checked the website for some background.  According to the In the Heights website,  “In the Heights tells the universal story of a vibrant community in Manhattan’s Washington Heights – a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open, and the   breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. It’s a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures, where the  biggest struggles can be deciding which traditions you take with you, and which ones you leave behind”.

My kind of story and with a young cast, a score that includes hip-hop, salsa, merengue and soul music with lots of singing and dancing, In the Heights will be a rousing, high-energy grand finale to what has been a terrific season of ASU Gammage Broadway shows.

In the Heights runs through June 20  when the ASU Gammage curtain goes down until the next exciting season which opens with Young Frankenstein on September 27.   It’s definitely something to look forward to.  For tickets and showtimes visit www.asugammage.com.

I would love to hear what your favorite ASU Gammage shows you saw this season and which were your favorites.

To me, Memorial Day weekend is always the signal that summer is upon us. And, since that means relaxing by the pool, cook outs and fun events, I welcome the lazy days ahead. If you’re in Tempe this weekend, here are a few ideas for you:

Rula Bula Irish Pub has live music most nights of the week. But, I’m most excited to check out Sunday Afternoon Live on their lovely patio from 2-6 p.m. Sunshine, drink specials and great tunes sound like the perfect outing.

Art and cartoon lovers alike will love the Chuck Jones exhibition at the Gallery at the Tempe Center for the Arts. Now in its final weeks, you’ll see classic drawings of your favorite characters like Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd and Daffy Duck. And, you’ll get a glimpse into the life of the great Chuck Jones. The Gallery is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday – Friday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is free.

If it’s summertime, then it’s time for water parks. Big Surf, America’s original water park, opens this weekend on Friday, May 28. The wave pool will be in full swing for those looking to recreate a beach experience in the desert. There are also exhilarating slides, and play areas for toddlers and children. Golfland/Sunsplash is fun for the whole family. Guests can enjoy miniature golf, laser tag, race cars, waterslides, a lazy river, a wave pool and more in one location. Sunsplash, the water park, is open on weekends only. Don’t miss Thunder Falls, the thrilling new attraction that is 5 stories high, with 3 breathtaking drops.

Stroll through “The District” at Tempe Marketplace on Friday or Saturday night to hear some of the best local musicians perform for free. The bands are located in front of Barnes & Noble and at the District Stage. The music starts at 7 p.m. And, don’t forget to bring a swimsuit for your kids. The Splash Pad fountain is the perfect spot to cool off.

If you love jazz, then you’ll love Dennis Rowland. This local musician always draws a crowd. He’ll perform this weekend on Friday night at Desert Botanical Garden’s Jazz in the Garden event. And, you can end your Memorial Day weekend on a high note with Dennis at “JAZZ at Monti’s,” a Monday night event at Monti’s La Casa Vieja.

If you want to stay in town, but feel like you’ve taken a trip, head to Tortilla Flat. This unusual spot has a population of 6, but lots of Old West charm. Travelers come from miles around to try the tasty chili, burgers and prickly pear ice cream. Tortilla Flat is located just past Canyon Lake on the Apache Trail, about 45 minutes from Tempe.

Have fun this weekend and don’t forget your sunscreen!

A mash-up is when you take multiple sources and combine them into one. It works in music, especially in my favorite episode of “Glee”, and now, it’s fashion’s turn.

The Mill Avenue Fashion Mash-up, this Saturday, May 8, combines fashions from Mill Avenue’s boutiques and Arizona’s top designers. Attendees can find out what’s hot for summer 2010 as these looks are featured during a runway show at MADCAP Theaters. Downtown restaurants will also participate, giving patrons of the show samples from their tasty menus. Mood Swings Salon is donating makeup and hair styling.

This one of a kind event takes place from 5-7 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door. They can be purchased at www.madcaptheaters.com. For more info, go to www.millavenue.com/fashionmashup

Music provides the soundtrack to my everyday life. There just aren’t enough hours in the day to listen to all the music that I would like to hear. Luckily in Tempe, there is a wealth of talented musicians who play in our local clubs, restaurants and concert venues. You can find a complete calendar of live music, and all Tempe arts and cultural events, at www.TempeScene.com.

Live music and a college town like Tempe just go together. In the 1960s, JD’s in Tempe was a venue of choice for up and coming artists of the day, such as Waylon Jennings. More recently, Tempe emerged on the music scene with its unique blend of jangly pop in the mid-1990s, with the Gin Blossoms leading the charge. The Meat Puppets, who heavily influenced Kurt Cobain and Nirvana, also hailed from Tempe. Today, bands like the ska-influenced Hello Swindon, the American roots music by Shelby James, the feel-good tunes from Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers and the ever popular world music by Walt Richardson are increasing in popularity.

“Music on Mill” brings musicians to Mill Avenue every Thursday evening from 5-9 p.m. “Jazz at Monti’s” gives local jazz musicians a chance to showcase their talents every Monday night. “Walk in Wednesdays” at the Tempe Center for the Arts, hosted by Walt Richardson, is an open-mic night for talented local singers and bands.  Emerging musicians have plenty of opportunities to showcase their talents at weekly open mic sessions at other popular night spots such as the Yucca Tap Room, Club Red, Big Fish Pub and Rula Bula Irish Pub.

And, venues like, The Clubhouse Music Venue, The Sail Inn and Marquee Theater, Club Red, Long Wong’s at the Firehouse, 910 Live, Yucca Tap Room, Big Fish Pub, The Big Bang, Sucker Punch Sally’s Old School Diner, John Henry’s Restaurant, Pier 54 and Tempe Marketplace have full calendars of live music  – so much so that you can find a performance every night of the week. National acts coming to Tempe soon include 30 Seconds to Mars, Angels & Airwaves and Jordin Sparks.

For a taste of Tempe’s excellent music scene, check out the video of Sean Wheeler and Zander Schloss performing live at Sucker Punch Sally’s Old School Diner: