Phoenix Electric Light Parade 2009
Phoenix Electric Light Parade 2009
If you are looking for something unique to light up your day, attend Phoenix’s annual Electric Light Parade. Every year Phoenix strives to create one of the most fantastic displays of lights anyone has ever seen. They do so by inviting entrants, often earning close to one hundred participants. Themes are always left vague so that entrants can create with freedom. This year’s theme, in keeping with the trend of making the environment better for everyone, is “Going green for the holidays.”
Entering into its 23rd year, the parade is made possible despite the many budget cuts because expenses are generously covered by sponsors. With those sponsors donating generators and volunteers assisting with cleanup, the event always manages to rally people together to build something everyone can enjoy without having to worry about how they’ll pay for it. Indeed, that’s the best news for the city and for families hoping to get into the holiday spirit without having to dip into their pocket books. The parade is not only cheap for the city to put on, it is done with no cost to the public. That’s right, anyone can come watch it for free.
The parade will feature more than 2 million lights on display, including lights on the instruments and uniforms of participating high school marching bands. In addition, the Phoenix Fire Departments spruces up their vehicles with some extra lighted flair, and even businesses join in by adorning their cars with spectacular light configurations. Some overachieving entrants or businesses have gone so far as to don over 50,000 lights on one piece.
From the Carlie Back Team at Keller Williams Lifestyle Realty, spokesman George Young promised that the business will use its van as an entry in the Electric Light Parade. Already known for their generous efforts to aid home buyers and sellers by assisting them in moving from one Phoenix home to another, they will blanket the business van in around 20,000 lights.
Not to forget that the holiday season’s heart is at it’s title, Christmas, Arizona Public Service Co’s (APS) volunteer clown troupe will be in attendance with slight alterations to their clown costumes: they will come dressed as elves. Though APS has reduced its sponsorship funding for this year, the company is not to be dismissed for lack of contribution. Where it has no more money to give it has more than made up for it by increasing its aid in other areas, such as sending its famous mascots “The Renewables,” which includes Wind Woman and Solar Man, who will join in the parade by walking with other entrants and rallying donations for St. Mary’s Food Bank. If that’s not enough, they also plan to assist employees with any other part of the parade where help is needed.
With Phoenix offering the community an event that has unparalleled quality and an unbeatable price, the annual Electric Light Parade is one event you can count on this holiday season.
The Greatest Earth on Show
The Greatest Earth on Show
The Greatest Earth On Show
Beginning October 3rd and now extended through February 21, 2010, a spectacular event will happen on the fringes of Phoenix. The Greatest Earth on Show will feature a collection of the finest work from traditional and contemporary landscape artists, including John Henry Waddell and Clive Pates. Their art work captures the mystique and elegance of the American West. The pieces on display will come from the Phippen Permanent Collection as well as from the archives of private collectors.
Among the many works on exhibit, Phippens Museum is proud to feature the work of Waddell. Describing what went into creating his pastel drawing “River Runs West, Clouds Moving East,” a picture depicting the Grand Canyon, Waddell told the story of him taking two years to complete the piece as he carried canvases back and forth from his home in Cornville to the Grand Canyon. He explained that to capture the elegance of the Canyon he had to often move back 20 to 30 feet away just to gain the proper perspective. He would then apply his strokes in exaggerated motions that he says made him feel more like an acrobat than a painter.
Also featured is the work by Clive Pates, a Jerome artist, who has delivered two beautiful works for the show. The first is called “The Verde River at Dead Horse Ranch,” and the second is called “The Larger Conical Hill, Punta Cerotito, Baja, California Sur.” Both are oil-on-linen painting, the medium perhaps chosen in his attempt to make the painted landscape hold the fountain of meaning he dreamed of expressing. When describing the experience of painting the landscape, Jerome said, “I could walk within a new location for weeks, absorbing the color relationships and compositions peculiar to that place. “The picture started to become more of a journey for me, a part of my life … a way of representing myself as part of the world.”
Not only does the exhibit offer you a unique collection of art. Your ticket into this fabulous display also includes one free Docent Led Tour, which are conducted on the first Saturday of every month. Docents will show you all of the current exhibits and increase your appreciation of these fine works of art by sharing their extensive knowledge of each work’s history and meaning.
Prices are great for the family looking for an event that won’t hurt their wallets, charging $5 for adults and $4 for Senior, Students, and AAA Members.
In addition, the museum is also offering a treat for parents and children by hosting a Christmas Ornament and Holiday Card Workshop for kids. Don’t worry about what you will need to do to keep the kids entertained. This very special offering is a holiday workshop for young people between ages 8 and 14. The program is entitled, “Howdy Holidays.” A hands-on art workshop, craft projects will involve participants to use paper, glue, and found objects to create their own pieces of Western art inspired by Holiday Cards and Christmas Tree Ornaments. The workshop cost is $5 per child. All other workshop costs, included materials, are covered by the Museum, and if you are a Phippen Museum Family Member your entry in this exclusive workshop is free. Make sure to call the Phippen Museum in advance to preregister your child as space is limited.
All materials will be provided by the Museum. The Cost is $5.00 per Child. Phippen Museum Family Members are free. Space is limited so pre-registration is required. Please call the Phippen Museum to register your child.
Phoenix: The Perfect Vacation
Phoenix Vacation Spot
The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa is located just 11 miles from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on the Gila River Indian Community’s beautiful 372,000-acre reservation in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, famous for its lush variety of cacti and stunning mountain views. This AAA Four Diamond resort features an award-winning spa and one of Arizona’s hottest restaurants, Kai, which is the only restaurant in Arizona to win a the Five-Star Award from the Mobil Travel Guide. Other attractions include 500 luxury rooms, two golf courses, four swimming pools, a 1,000-acre equestrian center, the Gila River Casino, and the Rawhide Western Town at Wild Horse Pass.
The Aji Spa at Wild Horse Pass is one of only ninety-five in the U.S. to have a Four-Star ranking from the Mobil Travel Guide, and is one of the top seven spas in the state. This 17,500 square-foot relaxation haven is a unique Native American experience, offering a signature line, “Indigenous,” featuring organic products locally sourced from the Gila River reservation. In addition to deluxe massage and spa treatments, the Aji Spa offers authentic Native American healing treatments based on ancient Pima and Maricopa traditions. Yoga, Pilates, meditation, and “Sweat and Sculpt” classes are also offered.
If activities are more your thing, there’s plenty to do outdoors. The Koli Equestrian Center offers horseback riding lessons, trail rides, wagon rides, and more. The four swimming pools have cascading waterfalls, and one features an 111-foot waterslide! You and the kids can take a scenic boat ride down the 2 ½-mile replica of the Gila River that winds through the resort and also acts as transportation to the Whirlwind Golf Club and Rawhide Western Town, which locals claim is the “Best Western Experience” in Arizona. For grownups, why not take a golf lesson from PGA and LGPA pros at the Bird Golf Academy? Other attractions nearby include the Bob Bondurant School of High-Performance Driving, where you can indulge your need for speed on a 1.5-mile racetrack, and the Arizona Mills Mall, which has over 175 stores, from Virgin Megastore to Neiman Marcus, to satisfy your every shopping need.
Rooms at Wild Horse Pass are beautifully appointed with art reflecting the Pima and Maricopa Indian traditions and history, private balconies and/or patios, flat-screen TVs, bath suites with separate tub and shower, and scenic views of the Sierra Estrella and South Mountain ranges. You can also choose to participate in their “Green” program, which rewards you for helping to conserve natural resources.
If you’re hungry, Wild Horse Pass offers a range of dining options. Their AAA Five Diamond restaurant Kai gets rave reviews from customers and food critics alike, offering a Southwestern menu with authentic Native American flair. Much of Kai’s food is farmed organically right on the Gila River reservation, making it a sustainable dining choice. Other choices include Ko’Sin, a desert fusion restaurant offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the Aji Cafe located in the Aji Spa, and the Hanyo Grill, conveniently located poolside so you don’t have to stop having fun to have lunch.
Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway or a rollicking family vacation, the Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa is the perfect choice for you.
Restaurant Review: Brinkley's Restaurant
RESTAURANT REVIEW
Binkley’s Restaurant is a little off the beaten path, but its adventurous “molecular gastronomy” approach to food is well worth the drive. Every stunning dish here is presented like a work of art, and customers will appreciate Chef Kevin Binkley’s knack for unexpected flavor combination’s and Amy Binkley’s welcoming presence as maitre d’. Binkley’s was one of the Bon Appetit 50 Hot Restaurants of 2005 and has received accolades from the James Beard Foundation. Despite its stellar reputation amongst locals and critics alike, you won’t feel out of place if you show up in jeans and a blazer; Binkley’s is worlds away from pretension and has a laidback atmosphere with incredibly friendly service who will make you feel like you’re at home.
Binkley’s menu is seasonal and changes daily. Offerings include cold and hot appetizers, fish, meat, poultry, cheeses (over 50 varieties), and desserts. Entrées range from $30 and up, and feature locally grown organic products whenever possible, such as Mclendon Farm beets. You’ll find anything from filet mignon to pheasant breast. Vegans and vegetarians, as well as other customers with dietary preferences or restrictions, can request special dishes in advance via Binkley’s online reservations service, OpenTable.
We find the best values are the tasting menus, which are available in four, five, or six courses. While the portions are slightly smaller than the à la carte offerings, you get to taste a wide variety of dishes without having to pay for or waste full-size dishes, and even better, you get to pick the dishes you want to taste – no worrying that the chef will send you out some strange dish you didn’t want! Tasting menus start at just $60. You might enjoy a black truffle pasta salad, smoked baby octopus with fiddlehead ferns, caramel-crusted quail, marinated white anchovies with purple potatoes, or a Grand Marnier frozen souffle with candied mint. Or, if you’re in a more adventurous mood, try the foie gras dipping dots, deconstructed baked potato shot, pear consommé lava lamp, or flash-frozen banana split. If you’re a true epicure, you can have the sommelier pair each course with its own wine for $35 more.
If you’re in the mood for entertainment with your food, try and reserve a seat at the bar, especially seats 1 and 2. You’ll be able to see straight into the kitchen and watch as talented chefs work their magic. Chef Binkley often comes through the area to ensure that customers are happy and well-fed, and you’re likely to end up with a free course or two if he sees you. While prices are higher than your average American steakhouse, a dinner at Binkley’s is more than a meal: it’s an experience to remember.
Binkley’s Restaurant
6920 East Cave Creek Road
Cave Creek, Arizona 85331
Reservations: 480-437-1072
This Weeks Phoenix "Hot Spot"
Phoenix Hotspots
Metro Phoenix is one of the hippest, most happening places in the Southwest, and the hottest area of Phoenix these days is the suburb of Scottsdale, just 20 minutes from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Kind of like an Arizona Mykonos, Scottsdale is home to the upscale and beautiful, but it’s got its dive bars and honkytonks too.
With dozens of watering holes and clubs, Old Town Scottsdale is a great place to bar-hop. Start things off classy at the Drift Lounge. This Polynesian-themed lounge bar brings a South Seas flair to the desert with kitschy-but-cool 60s décor and a hip, casual atmosphere. Indulge in a tiki drink on their gorgeous patio, or dig into a hearty Pu Pu platter with friends. Their prices are reasonable, and Tuesday through Friday from 4-7 pm there’s even a free buffet offered with drink purchase. What’s not to like about free food and rum punch?
For a different feel, head to Mickey’s Hangover. This dive lounge has 15 different beers on tap and offers hearty diner-style food perfect for loading up for a night of drinking. Their happy hour specials are pretty sweet too, half off almost the entire menu – including all wines and beer – from 4 to 9 pm. Check out a game on their big screen TVs as you chill on couches or the screened-in porch.
Suede is a Euro-Asian restaurant and lounge with a full bar, great for a more relaxing evening. Its décor is sleek and sexy, giving the place a very upscale club feel. High tables are scattered throughout, but we recommend nabbing one of the corner couches for more intimate conversation. If you’re the adventurous type, you can try out the dance pole, though you should wait till the DJs start their thing around 11 (from 8-11 they play live jazz). The coolest part of Suede is their frost-top bar, which keeps your martini at the perfect temperature as you chill – literally – with your pals. The menu features Asian fusion cuisine and a large selection of liquors.
Across the street from Suede, Axis/Radius is a great choice for dancing. It’s actually two multi-level clubs connected by a large outdoor patio. Different rooms play different music, and if you have a larger party you might be able to score entry into the VIP room, which has a better view and great service. Axis/Radius is also a popular post-concert spot – you might spot celebrities like Pete Wentz (who’s also DJ’ed for the club occasionally) or Nick Lachey as you bump and grind on the dance floors. The staff are hot and dress to impress. There’s also Myst, which is typically regarded as the place to see and be seen in the Phoenix area, but it’s often crowded and can be hard to get into. If you can spare the time in line, though, it’s worth checking out: the atmosphere is lavish and extravagant, and has a variety of swanky themed rooms. People party late in Phoenix, so don’t expect the party to start before 11 p.m. – which gives you plenty of time for dining and drinking first!
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The Real Estate Market
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