Things To Do In Phoenix Next Week

ACTIVITIES IN CHANDER/PHOENIX AREA - Cheap or Free - more expensive as you go down the list

Comment: Phoenix is a BIG metropolitean city. Whatever you want to do, phoenix can provide it for you. You want a Turkish Heritage Days? We probably have that. You want full nude motorcycle racing? We probably have that, too. So consider this list heavily abridged and get a “New Times” or “Rep” magazine when you get here if there is something specific you want to do (or to imagine the possibilities)

CASA GRANDE RUINS - Indian ruins from the extinct Hohokam tribe - adobe complex and standing multistory “big house.” You can walk right up to the ruins and touch them. 20 minute drive. A couple of bucks (1 or 3, not sure) for admission. Includes museum and informational video.

SOUTH MT HIKING - Free. Trails range from easy to very challenging, most offer beautiful panoramic views of the city at the top. Don’t hike without water. (But if you want something insanely beautiful, you need to hike Camelback Mt just before sunrise… however this hike is Extremely difficult - it took me three tries to make it to the top. If you are in good physical condition, this is the best. Take a snack to enjoy at the top.)

GEMINID METEOR SHOWER - City light pollution and a full moon the next day may wash out the effect of this once a year meteor shower, but we are just a short drive from the middle of the barren desert, where you might see more. If you're back home before this occurs, you'll probably get a better view in a rural location.

BACH ORGAN RECITAL - Free. 7pm Dec 16, St. Barnabas on the Desert, Scottsdale

CHINESE CULTURAL CENTER - Free. Japanese gardens, food, usually some kind of presentation (dancing, martial arts display, etc) museum, etc. (20 minutes away)

ARIZONA’S LARGEST GINGERBREAD HOUSE -Free. On display at Pointe South Mountain Resort (the resort has a waterslide)

SCOTTSDALE INDIAN MARKET - Free. Swap meet for Native American food, jewelry, rugs, pottery and other art. Parada Hall and Convention Center 7303 E Earll Drive Scottsdale.

GIFT TRUNK SHOW - Free. Dec 14 only arts and crafts trunk swap meet. (www.thetrunkspace.com)

MILL AVENUE SHOPPING - The hip drag to be seen at with all kinds of eclectic shops, entertainment, restaurants.

MESA TEMPLE - CHRISTMAS PAGEANT? (I know they do one for Easter and have touristy stuff)

SKATEPARKS - free. cement ramps/street obstacles - world famous (I’ll even loan you my skateboard if you don’t have one)

CASINOS - There are ten local casinos. They always have free concerts and fun events to lure gambling naives to their doors. Too much to list.

ZOO LIGHTS - this event starts at sundown at the zoo. You can see some nocturnal animals, but you should be there mainly for the light show. Some animated to music displays are pretty cool. Great fun for the kids, who are going to want you to buy them a glow stick, guaranteed. Tickets (if purchased in advance at Fry’s Grocery Store) are $1-3 each. ($5-8 otherwise) 20 minute drive

IMAX, MOVIES, SHOPPING AREAS - The “Big” Mall is the biggest Mall in Arizona, has a 24-Plex, and IMAX theatre and 3 miles of shops. King Kong debuts Thur Dec 15.

CELEBRATION OF LIGHTS - $12 per carload to drive 2 miles through an animated light display. 45+ minute drive.

ORGANSTOP PIZZA - The pizza is o.k. Go there for the Organ. It’s one of those big pipes all over the walls kinds. The player is a showman, the organ rotates on a raised platform while he plays - you request the tunes - he knows all of them. Light shows. Very fun. You just pay for the meal - $15-20 per pizza. It might sound dumb, but it is a total blast.

FIDDLESTICKS, GOLFLAND, CASTLES & COASTERS - Three typical amusement venues, mini-golf, water bumper cars, buggies on race tracks… that sort of thing… in ascending order they get “bigger” and more expensive. We can find discounted admissions or coupons for these if someone wants us to look.

DESERT BOTANICAL GARDENS - ($8-$16) 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm 45,000 candles illuminate trails. / or an alternative is Boyce Thompson Arboretum (a more expensive admission Desert Garden, but of course, better gardens/trails - no light show that I know of)

PHOENIX ART MUSEUM is doing a lingerie over the years display for all you perverts.

OTHER FREE ART GALLERIES (with featured displays )
Artspace in Scottsdale (all works)
ASU downtown center gallery (high school advanced work)
Burton barr central library (humour illustrations)
Chandler Center for the Arts (quilts)
Cline Fine Arts (“eyes”)
Danela/May Gallery at the Borgata (Southwestern art)
Desert Eagle Fine Arts (rocks: from fossils to diamond jewelry)
Kerr Cultural center (Local artists)
Larsen Gallery (pastel life drawings - that’s the art-word for “nude” for all you perverts)

THEATRE/CONCERT/COMEDY -
Temple Little Theatre presents: Over the River and Through the Woods, Downtown Tempe Daily 8pm, 2pm matinees on Saturday and Sunday.
Shakespeare Theatre presents: Much Ado about Nothing. W-Sat 2pm, 8pm at Phoenix Little Theatre, $15 adv -20 at the door
Actor’s theatre presents: A Christmas Carol, Herberger Theatre - Tickets (602) 252-8497 ($16-25)
Ballet Arizona presents: Nutcracker Symphony Hall - Tickets (602) 381-1096 ($10-102)
Phoenix Symphony presents: Handel’s Messiah - Tickets (602) 495-1999 ($28)
Center Dance Ensemble presents: Snow Queen, Herberger Theatre - Tickets (602) 252-8497 ()
Phoenix Boys Choir Concert 16th, 17th, 18th only ($10-30)
DJ BT plays at club MYST in Scottsdale Dec 16.
Glen Miller Orchestra , Pinnacle Presbyterian Church, Scottsdale Dec 16 ($25 - gen, $5 for students 5-18)
Rogue Wave 8:30pm Dec 15 Modified Arts, Phoenix ($9)
The Aquabats with Goons of Doom and Valiant Thor at Marquee Theatre, Mill Dec 15, 7pm, $13-15
The Lovemakers play with She Wants Revenge and Rock Kills Kid at the Brick house Dec 16, 7pm $10
Clutch with Elliot Whitmore play at Marguee Theatre, Mill, Dec 18 at 8pm ($18-20)
All I never wanted for Christmas stand-up with Jeremy Scott, Stu Baker, Don Steinmetx, Robert Fata, benefits Toys for Tots, 7:30pm Dec 15 ($10 or $5 with new, unwrapped toy)
Valley Youth Improv at Valley Youth Theatre, Dec 17 at 7pm $5

“SHOWS” (Car shows, boat shows) Desert Sky Pavilions

GOLF - Phoenix is a golf mecca, but it is peak season, so start your game after 1pm and The Legacy Resort only charges $35 any day of the week (1-800-796-4461) 6808 S 32nd Street (10 minutes) - This is a pretty typical green fee… you shouldn’t have to pay more… shop around, lots of competition (of course the world class greens go for 100+ per round…).

SPORTS - (College season will be over, so just pro - see listings for home game days/times)
I am not totally sure what all the sports in season are. I think we have football, baseball, and hockey right now. Tickets range from $10 in the upper bleachers to $1000 courtside and everywhere in between.
Cardinals Football,
Diamondbacks baseball
Suns baseball
Coyotes Hockey (Dec 20 home game)
Roadrunners Hockey (lower division)

SANTA’S THEME PARK - ($23-adult $18-kids/seniors) Firebird Int’l Raceway sponsored event, 74 foot tree, 50 amusement park rides, carnival… I don’t know what admission tickets cost. 10 minute drive. Muscians, Magicians, puppets, white tigers, fireworks. There are also races every Friday night - amateurs…