Phoenix Metro Area

Fireworks Over Phoenix

25th Annual Freedom Wireless Fabulous Phoenix Fourth

July 4
Steele Indian School Park
Phoenix

FREEDOM WIRELESS FABULOUS PHOENIX FOURTH— Help celebrate our country’s freedom once again at Steele Indian School Park, 3rd Street and Indian School Rd.  The fun will begin at 6 p.m. with an expanded fireworks display beginning at 9:20 p.m. There will be two stages of entertainment, Kids World area, Classic Car exhibit, refreshment vendors, and more! For more information call 602 262-6862.

For More Information
http://www.phoenix.gov
Phone: 602-262-6862
Phoenix, AZ

Downtown Mesa

Celebration of Freedom

July 2 through July 3
Downtown Mesa
Mesa

Visit downtown Mesa for the inaugural Arizona’s Celebration of Freedom festival. There will be classic cars, motorcycles, beer gardens, art, music, games, and more.

Celebrations start Friday with the ever popular, “Motorcycles on Main” and a flag raising at Stage America. Along Main street bands will be playing music and businesses and restrautants will be open for your shopping and dining pleasure.

Saturday night includes an American classic car show and the official Salute to America program featuring musical performances, brief comments by Mayor Scott Smith and others and a spectacular fireworks display choreographed to a special selection of patriotic songs.

Each night, the event includes “fun zones” and specific program areas up and down Main Street. The Wet Zone, a “you-will-get-soaked” area at the event, is sure-to-be popular with kids and adults with more than a dozen water activities. The Family Fun Zone, your traditional county fair area includes games, pie-eating and watermelon-eating contests, carnival games for the kids and more.

FREE TO THE PUBLIC, FREE PARKING

Fri., July 2, 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Sat., July 3, 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Downtown Mesa (Street Closures: Main Street, from Morris just west of Robson to Centennial just east of Center Street Center, Macdonald, and Robson 1st Street to 1st Avenue)

For more information go to www.azcelebrationoffreedom.org.

July 4th- A Star Spangled Shoot Out!

July 4
Rawhide Wild West Town
Chandler

5:30pm – 11pm

Celebrate your independence this July 4th western style with us right here at Rawhide! If it’s a party yer lookin’ for, we’ve got you covered with cowboys, gunfights, food, fun, family and fireworks!

Attractions & Entertainment:

• Live music throughout town
• Action Packed Performances
• Aerial Fireworks Display

Admission: $10 per person (ages 6 & up), Kids 5 years old and under are Free.
Admission cost includes Rawhide attractions, entertainment & Aerial Fireworks Display.

For More Information
http://www.rawhide.com
Phone: 480-502-5600
Chandler, AZ

If you’re looking for something different to celebrate this year—a chance to get away from the crowds—there are celebrations going on throughout the state. Phoenix.org will highlight a few for you.

Around the State:

Prescott Rodeo

Perhaps you are looking for a Rodeo. At just under a two hour drive, the Prescott Rodeo and dance is sure to please. Or maybe you’re looking for a more small-town rodeo. In that case, why not make the trip to Taylor, AZ, or Eager, AZ, where both towns will be hosting rodeos, and enjoy a scenic drive through the Tonto National Forest while you’re at it.

Should you be looking for a non-traditional way to celebrate the fourth, there are events going on which will be enjoyable and certainly entertain.

Clarkdale Train

Head on up to Flagstaff to watch an outdoor movie on the square, and while you’re there, catch a Renaissance Faire and Mountain Music Festival or the 77th Annual Hopi Festival of Arts & Culture.

Superior, AZ is also offering a unique experience. Make the one-hour drive to Superior and enjoy a Dragonfly Walk; sure to be a highlight in the non-traditional celebration of the Fourth of July weekend.

Or perhaps, you’d like to spend your day riding the Firecracker Express through the majestic tunnels of the Tonto National Forest in Clarkdale. For the athlete, head to Tucson to spend the fourth participating in the 15th Annual Holualoa Firecracker Triathlon. Whatever you choose, Arizona has much to offer.

Lake Powell

Looking for a scenic place to watch the fireworks? Here are a few options in the beautiful state of Arizona. Head north to the city of Page and watch the colors as they gleam off Lake Powell.  As a closer option, choose to visit Parker, AZ and enjoy the fireworks on the Colorado River. If you’re planning a trip to the east-side of the state, make Pinetop one of your stops to enjoy fireworks over Sunrise Lake.

While there are sure to BBQs going on in neighborhoods and backyards all over the state, should your mouth be watering for professional Barbequeing, head to Williams, AZ where teams will compete for $10,000 in prize money. At a closer option, Maricopa, just outside South Phoenix, will also be hosting a city-wide BBQ.

Maybe you’re looking for something to do with an old-fashioned feel. Well, look no farther! Visit Clarkdale to eat a pancake breakfast, ride the train and a live band concert. In Williams, AZ you can join in a game of vintage baseball, railhead shoot and hometown parade.

Tucson Music Hall

If you’re looking to light up the weekend with the sounds of patriotic music, head to the Tucson Music Hall to enjoy the Arts Express Choir and Orchestra.

Regardless of what your tastes are, we’re confident that one of these activities highlighted by Phoenix.org will be right for you and your family. If you know of an event that is not listed here that you would like our readers to know about, please contact us and we will be sure to update this article.

Have a safe and happy fourth!

Check out other celebrations happening throughout Arizona!

Railhead Shooting Competition

July 1 through July 4
Williams Shooting Range
Williams

43rd Annual 4th of July Celebration

July 2 through July 4
Veterans Memorial Park
Sierra Vista

2010 Light Up the Sky Festival

July 2
Maryvale Baseball Park
Maryvale

6th Annual Art Barn 4th of July Arts and Crafts Festival

July 2 through July 4
Pinetop
Pinetop

Frontier Days Parade

July 3
Courthouse Plaza
Prescott

Independence Day Celebration

July 3
Alpine

31st Annual Prescott Rodeo Days Fine Arts & Crafts Show

July 3 through July 5
Courthouse Plaza
Prescott

30th Annual Pine-Strawberry Arts & Crafts Festival

July 3 through July 4
Pine Community Center
Pine

Show Low Main Street Farmers’ Market & Art Walk

July 3 through July 31
Festival Marketplace
Show Low

4th of July Celebration

July 4
City Park
Benson

Fourth of July Celebration & Fireworks

July 4
Paul Mason Sportsplex
Casa Grande

11th Annual Fantastic Family Fourth of July

July 4
Cottonwood Kid’s Park
Cottonwood

Freedom Fest

July 4
Florence Pool & Heritage Park
Florence

Fourth of July Celebration

July 4
Patagonia

Family Style 4th of July

July 4
Medigovich Field
Tombstone

Bisbee’s Annual Fourth of July Celebration

July 4
Tombstone Canyon
Bisbee

4th of July Fireworks & Celebration

July 4
Veterans Memorial Park
Douglas

14th Annual 4th of July Parade

July 4
Historic Downtown
Flagstaff

Star Spangled Spectacular

July 4
Crossroads at Silverbell Park
Marana

July 4th Celebration

July 4
Pioneer Park
Prescott

Prescott Valley 4th of July Celebration

July 4
Mountain Valley Park
Prescott Valley

39th Annual Fourth of July Celebration

July 3
Sunset Park
Wickenburg

Fourth of July Fireworks

July 4

Emil Nasser Stadium

Winslow

24th Annual Independence Day Flag Raising Ceremony

July 4
Caballero Park
Yuma

This is where the fun starts...

To view any of the pictures in greater detail simply click on them. To view our complete portfolio from Phoenix.org’s Camelback Mountain hike click here.

Don’t let anyone fool you, even though it is only1.2 miles up, hiking Camelback Mountain in Phoenix can be quite a feat. It is not just that even in April it can be well over 90 degrees outside (only a crazy person would try to do it in the Summer), it is not just that there are portions so steep that I wanted to buy life insurance before attempting them or even that the trail is so crowded that at least you are comforted in the thought that if you did happen to fall off a cliff and have an unfortunate splat below that at least you would leave this life knowing that hundreds of absolute strangers would have in a way shared that moment with you. No, Camelback Mountain is not a difficult hike simply because of any one of these things alone, but instead as a result of all three of them combined.

As anyone who has climbed the mountain anytime after 2am knows, the first part of an ascent up Camelback begins with about an hour of fruitlessly searching for a parking spot. Naturally, after you find one you realize that you forgot your water bottle so you will have to leave the spot you spent the last hour looking for only to come back from the grocery store with overpriced water bottles and start the search for a place to park all over again.

Map of the Overflow Parking Lot: Click for larger Version

Here are just two small pieces of advice for you. One, there is an overflow parking lot just at the point where McDonald Drive turns into North 44^th Street. It is about a 25 minute walk to the trailhead but I personally guarantee that it will be a lot shorter then driving around for 30 minutes looking for a place to park in the neighborhoods, eventually giving up on that and waiting in line to park at the trailhead for 30 minutes then finally losing your sanity and parking at the overflow anyway. Just park at the overflow first thing, you are going to end up doing it regardless whether it is the first or last place you look. Second, the closest grocery store to the north is on Tatum and Shea and their bottles of water are actually reasonably priced.

Starting the Hike:

The trail starts out deceptively simple, nothing more that a short 300-500 yards of progressively steeper dirt steps. While most of us, myself included, broke a sweat early on in the hike, by the time you reach the end of this simple portion of Camelback you are starting to think pretty highly of yourself, 500 yards done on a hike that is only a mile and half anyway makes us all feel kind of good but as you turn right around a corner you notice that your accent has not even begun yet. Seeing what is coming up next, after the first 500 yards of simplicity,  is sort of like being invited inside the home by a beautiful girl after your date and thinking that you must be doing pretty well, only to see her 6’5 300lbs father cleaning his guns at the kitchen table, needless to say it is a little depressing.

Trust me, it is steeper than it looks!

The first really steep portion is equipped with a mounted metal rail to assist you for over 50 yards as you attempt to climb up what appears to be a scene out of movie cliffhanger. Truly the worst part of this portion of the climb is asking the people that are coming back down how close you are to reaching the top and seeing their snide smiles and hearing their obnoxious laughs. Truth of the matter is that you are nowhere near the top at this point, just don’t tell yourself that and you should be fine.

The nice thing about finishing this first hard climb, apart from finishing the climb, is that you are rewarded with a nice view of the valley. You are starting to get high enough that you actually feel a good deal above the valley

This is probably the first decent view from Camelback

around you and that is a nice experience. The area just after this first steep climb is more of a transition from one part of the mountain to another. Naturally as you make this transition you will be gaining a lot of elevation. The major difference between this part of the hike and the portion before it is that while the portion before, albeit steep, was on relatively firm ground and had an additional handrail for support and guidance. This second part is just as steep but it is done over scattered rock fall and small boulders and there is no handrail to help you feel good about yourself. It is on this second portion of the hike that you will reach your halfway mark, yeah, .75 of a mile down.

The third portion is similar to the second; you will be crawling, sometimes even using your hands, over large rocks as you make your way up a small ravine. As you reach the top of the ravine you will hook to the left to start you final assent on the mountain. Warning, if you do not hook hard enough to the left you will soon find yourself off of the main trail overlooking the southwest valley thinking, “This sure is pretty… I wonder where everyone else went”. If you find yourself in this situation do not despair, you are not the first (it has happened to as least one other person that I know of).

If you see this you are probably lost... find the trail.

A mistake such as this is easily remedied and it will be no time at all until you find yourself inching your way over the final assent of the mountain and are rewarded with the opportunity to rub shoulders with about 100 other hikers, all as sweaty as you, as well as the opportunity to take some wonderful pictures of the valley below. If you are lucky enough you will meet some interesting individuals on the top as well. I was fortunate enough to meet a gentleman from Scotland and had a pleasant conversation, if you are reading this my Scottish Friend; remember

Very happy to arrive at the summit

you were going to send me an email.

Either way you look at it climbing Camelback Mountain in Phoenix, AZ is tough, but it is also worth it. The view from the top is the best in Phoenix, the climb can be invigorating and the company is certainly interesting. I recommend that everyone take the opportunity at least once. As for me, I am just hoping that my next assigned review for Phoenix.org involves a water slide.

If you would like to request a review of a local Valley of the Sun activity please contact Phoenix.org. Thanks for reading!

Arizona Science Center

Whether you only have a hour or two to fill, or whether you are looking at a full day experience for you and your children, the Arizona Science Center is a great choice when you want an educational experience that will never be forgotten. There are three full floors of exhibits, experiments and adventures. What other place on earth can your child lay on a completely real bed of nails, ride a bicycle across a suspended cable, or even experience what a hurricane or tornado feels like?

Staff members from Phoenix.org were invited to do a walk-through tour of the Arizona Science Museum in early April and naturally we jumped at the opportunity to acquaint ourselves with one of the Valley of the Sun’s most beloved adventures. Below you will find a little write up of our time at the center as well as some pictures that were taken during the visit.

The first thing that a person notices while walking into the Arizona Science Museum is the sheer size of the structure. The open design allows a visitor to look from the bottom floor up through both the second and third floors. This certainly is a far cry from what was present back in 1984 when the center was a small 10,000 square foot storefront exhibition space located in the parking garage level of the downtown Phoenix Hyatt. Now-a-days the Center boasts over 120,000 feet of display space alone, an I-max movie theater, three full floors of exhibits as well as a gift shop and concession stand. We are not kidding when we say that there are literally hundreds of things that a person or child can find to do there, and most of them will leave the child having learned something new.

Jamie on the Sky Cycle

The first exhibit that we saw while touring the facility was the Sky Cycle, a metal bicycle that is counterbalanced with a weight that allows riders, after they have been strapped in, to ride the bicycle across a metal cable. Oh ya, did we mention that while doing this the riders are 14 feet in the air! The ride typically lasts about 3 minutes and consists of the rider pedaling the bicycle about 60 feet across the extended cable and then pedaling backwards over the length again to get back to the platform. Typically at some point in time most riders, after beginning to feel comfortable with the balancing of the bike, will actually shift it back and forth which causes the bike to sway. This supposedly makes the experience even more exciting although it is not something that I chose to do.

After our experience at the Sky Cycle we were ready to try something a little less adventurous so naturally we found our way to the “Get Charged Up” exhibit where we could take a relaxing few minutes and lay down on a bed of nails, yes, you heard me right, we laid down on a bed of nails! To be more direct a person actually lays down on a flat piece of Plexiglas with hundreds of circular holes in it. After the person is settled on the Plexiglas they press a red button and in a uniform movement

Jamie on the Bed of Nails

nails slowly extend from the holes and lift the person’s body about an inch and a half above the level of the plastic. The nails are sufficiently dull enough and your weight is sufficiently distributed enough that not only do you not feel any pain while laying on the nails but you actually have to pay very close attention to even be able to tell that your body is being raised up by the nails.

Also in the “Get Charged Up” exhibit are smaller exhibits on generators, pulley’s and an electromagnetic workbench where objects move before your very eyes. The pulley tug of war was fun, especially for my 130lbs wife that, thanks to a properly located pulley (as well as a “positive mental attitude” in her opinion) was able to out-pull me in a tug of war contest. If only we could have used a pulley system back in elementary school. Surely then my class would have won the coveted “Tug-of-War” trophy that I so desperately wanted.

Dancing Iron Shavings

Just off the stairway between the 2^nd and 3^rd levels is what is called the “Music Landing”. This was one of my favorite areas of the Center. There is one exhibit made up of iron shavings that move in time to the music of your choice. “Flight of the Bumblebee” has never been so entertaining as it is when piles of iron shavings dance back and forth with the pitch of the piccolo. There are also a series of large pipes that when your ear is placed up against the bottom cause you to hear a very low pitch, showing that there is truly music everywhere.

On the third floor you will find three of the best exhibits in the Center, these are “Forces of Nature”, “The Science of Fear” and “My Digital World”.

“Forces of Nature” is a large circular standing platform complete with a television screen above you. The narrator then explains the various types of natural forces that we experience in Arizona from floods, to monsoons to intense desert heat. The participants then get to experience each of these “Forces of Nature” with wind and rain present for the monsoon and heat lamps that turn on for the desert scenes. It is quite the experience.

The Drop in "The Science of Fear"

The “Science of Fear” allows a participant to experience many of the most common types of fears such as the fear of spiders, fear of heights and the fear of falling. The fear of falling exhibit was one of the most popular. In this one the participant is strapped securely to a bench and the bench is then suddenly dropped backward making use of a pivot joint in the bench. As if the fear of falling was not enough a camera also takes of picture of the face of the participant just as the free fall begins.

One of the most memorable exhibits at “My Digital World” was the facial structure reorganization exhibit. In this exhibit you were able to adjust a picture of your face and warp it into shapes and forms that seem to be strait from Picasso’s newest painting, he does have a new painting doesn’t he? In this exhibit I was able to see a picture of my lovely wife’s face that in all honesty I hope I never have to see again.

Facial Reconstruction: Not a Great Idea

Our final experience at the Center was a 30 minute video in the IMAX theater on Black Holes. The video was very interesting and seeing it projected on a dome that was 30 feet above your head just added to the excitement and mystery that are black holes.

In conclusion the Arizona Science Center is a wonderful place to spend a day, or an hour, with your children or even someone else’s. They have affordable entrance fees, especially if you sign up for a yearly package and it is the kind of place that children will enjoy going back to again and again. We recommend that you take the time to experience it for your self, and tell them that Phoenix.org sent you…

Phoenix.org routinely does reviews of local attractions, restaurants, and more. If you know of a location that you would like to have reviewed then please contact us and let us know.

Top Ten Phoenix Information Websites

Top Ten Websites for Phoenix, Arizona

Information runs the internet & Phoenix.org thought that we would put out a list of local Phoenix websites that are rich on information for local residents. While we recognize that some might not think we could be completely unbiased in this choice (and we agree to a point) we like to think that we have taken off our competitive blinders and honestly looked for good websites.

Below you will find a list of what we think are the Top Ten informational websites that serve the metro area. On this list you will find sites with job listings, restaurant reviews, phoenix coupons and discounts, traffic conditions, local up to date news and more. There is no particular order in this top ten. If you know of other sites that you think should be on this list make sure to contact us and we will consider adding it.

Now, with no further adieu, here are the “Top Ten Information Websites for Phoenix, Arizona”, brought to you by Phoenix.org.

AZCentral.com

AZCentral.com is the official website of the Arizona Republic newspaper. Because of this on the website you will find information on Phoenix as well as other metro areas in Arizona. When it comes to local news there really is not much better than AZCentral.com. New local stories are added on a daily basis. You can also find some local information such as live traffic conditions as well as local jobs listings (using CareerBuilder.com) and some local Arizona “Things to do”.

PhoenixNewTimes.com

If you are looking for local Phoenix entertainment news The Phoenix New Times website is a great resource. Their writers cover most of the concerts, plays, and shows that come to town and do a great job of it. The Phoenix New Times is also a great place to find reviews for local restaurants, nightclubs and bars. With entire sections of their site dedicated just to the arts and movies, you can tell that PNT’s knows what’s happening anytime, day or night.

Phoenix.org

Ok, so I have to admit that I am a little bit biased here. Phoenix.org is the new kid on the block when it comes to local Phoenix information and resources. We are working daily to build up our job listings, business reviews, golf courses section, coupons and more. While Phoenix.org doesn’t carry the bulk that some other local sites do, we like to think that our slim and trim focus allows up to stay up to date on what is going on and keep in the know to the benefit of our readers.

If you are looking to save some cash this weekend try our coupons section, if you just flat out want to know what to do head on over to our local events page.

ArizonaGuide.com

ArizonaGuide.com naturally focuses on the entire state of Arizona but there is still plenty to do with the Phoenix area. Both their “Things to Do” and their “Event Calendar” can be beneficial to residents of the Valley of the Sun if you make sure to filter out the results that are outside of the Phoenix metro area.

ArizonaGuide.com is also a great place to send friends and family that are looking for information on taking a trip to Arizona. Website visitors can book a hotel if they desire as well as request a free travel brochure. It is the official website of the Arizona Office of Tourism.

VisitPhoenix.com

VisitPhoenix.com is another travel focused website and a great resource for anyone that is looking to take a trip to the Valley of the Sun. Even if you already live here, VisitPhoenix.com can still provide you with some great information. Their website has a great list of stuff to do in Phoenix, hotels with reviews and an extensive list of restaurants organized by fare.

Phoenix.gov

Ok, so Phoenix.gov doesn’t have much in the way of restaurants, night life, shopping or discounts, but what they do have they do better than any outer site out there. On Phoenix.gov you will find anything and everything government in Phoenix. Just some of the information that they have posted is how to get a business license, trash pick up schedules, information on public transportation, social services and even information on grants. Anytime you have any questions about how Phoenix is run, or when to put your trash cans out on the curb, visit Phoenix.gov, you won’t be disappointed.

Phoenix.about.com

About.com is a major informational website that covers hundreds of subjects, Phoenix only being one of them. In spite of this the Phoenix dedicated page at Phoenix.About.com does a great job of keeping its readers up to date on what is going on and when it is happening.

Judy Hedding is the full time contributor and in addition to moderating a forum, writing local articles and keeping readers up to date Judy still manages to find time for consistent updates to her blog, found at http://phoenix.about.com/b/

FeastingInPhoenix.com

It has been a while since Seth Chadwick has update his Phoenix restaurant review blog at FeastingInPhoenix.com but that doesn’t lessen the quality of the reviews that he has put up in the past.

In addition to wonderful and creative posts about various restaurants in the valley, Seth also posts lots of great pictures for each of his posts. Some restaurants that he has reviewed on his site are Modern Steak, Aiellos, China Chan, Floyd’s Kitchen, and Bison Witches Bar and Deli. If you are looking for a great and in depth review of eating in Phoenix than make sure to visit FeastingInPhoenix.com.

Phoenix.Metromix.com

Phoenix Metromix is a great resource for the more exciting nightlife businesses, bars, nightclubs and more. The site targets a younger demographic then other local Phoenix sites and don’t be surprised to find articles ranging from the best places to find an afterhours party, to the best places to put a butterfly tattoo.

Their hip approach to categorizing the Phoenix nightlife has helped Phoenix Metromix become one of the best sites to find out just where to get the best bang for you buck, or even the best bang all alone, while out on the town.

AZ.gov

AZ.gov is very similar to Phoenix.gov. Don’t expect restaurant reviews or exciting nightlife pictures. However, if you are looking for information on Arizona services, licensing, education issues or how to start a business in Arizona, then AZ.gov is a great resource.

Vivian N. Is the owner of PhoenixNeighborhoodBlogger.com and a regular contributer to the entertainment and food columns on Phoenix.org

Yelp in Bloom Highlights Some of the Best of Phoenix

With the gorgeous Desert Botanical Gardens as a back drop, Yelp in Bloom took place on Wednesday evening, March 4^th, offering Valley Yelpers a chance to indulge in some of the best Phoenix has to offer. Yelp is a website that allows readers to review and vote on popular eateries, businesses and events throughout the country. Phoenix is quickly a top city for Yelpers to write, talk and blog about.

The Yelp in Bloom event was a way for Yelp to thank their members and offer local culinary hotspots an environment to spotlight their best eats. From heavenly foie gros from Petite Maison to delicious bruchetta from 5^th and Wine, eateries from around the Valley provided succulent fare for tasting. There was no lack of sweet stuff as cupcakes, brownies and gelato were all in attendance.

For tasty drinks, Maker’s Mark,  Cruz Tequila, Full Sail Brewery along with several other distributors offered plenty of spirits. Water was in abundance, provided by the Valley’s new Main Ingredient restaurant, to ease up on some of the succulence. The Botanical Gardens staff offered evening tours to Yelpers leaving many checking membership costs and researching the Botanical Gardens event calendar.

5th and Wine, Bombay Spice, Cien Agaves, Gelato Spot, and Petite Maison are a few of the participants that really should be added to your evening-out lists. The staff at these establishments were delightful to talk with and really went out of their way to make a positive impression on new patrons. Of course the Desert Botanical Gardens are a must visit as well and provides a lively canvas for a fun event.



The Tempe Improv Comedy Theatre

930 East University Drive, Tempe, AZ

Tempe Improve Comedy Theater

The Tempe Improv Comedy Theatre is Arizona’s premier comedy club. The comedians who perform here are some of the nation’s best, and have been featured on Comedy Central, The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, and the Late Show with David Letterman. Big names like Jerry Seinfeld, Mitch Fatel, Christopher Titus, and Bob Saget are regular acts here, but there’s plenty of up and coming talent too, making the Tempe Improv one of the best comedy clubs in the country.

Tickets can be a little pricey for big headliners, although most tickets aren’t more than $25. However, the club runs a special deal to make weeknight shows more accessible. If you come wearing one of the club’s t-shirts, you get free admission to all Thursday night shows (except for special events). There’s a $3 “convenience charge” for purchasing a ticket online and/or with a credit card, so pay cash at the box office for the cheapest tickets unless you’re sure a show will sell out.

The venue itself is an intimate theater setting, which means you don’t have to worry about sitting half a mile away from the act. We think the best seats are the front row of the balcony: you get a great view and you have plenty of space – the table seating can get pretty crowded, especially at a sold-out show. However, if you’re on a date, you might want to try and snag one of the high top tables in the back; they seat just two, so you won’t have to deal with strangers putting a damper on your date night.

The club’s 8 p.m. shows are dinner shows. Prices for dinner range from $10-$18, with desserts around $8 and drinks from $5 and up. Like most comedy clubs, the food can be a mixed bag, but we always enjoy the beer battered mozzarella sticks, the chipotle pasta alfredo, and the cheesecake. While dinner prices are a little steep, diners get priority seating (doors open at 5 p.m. for 8 p.m. shows) and a free pass to a future show, so it still works out to a pretty good value. The club’s 10 p.m. shows offer burgers, appetizers, and desserts, but not full meals. Beware, though; if you sit too close to the stage, you might end up becoming part of the evening’s entertainment, since a lot of the acts are known for pulling audience members up onstage!

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.