It seems the Phoenix winters were created especially for this outdoor activity. And homes that back up to the preserve make the perfect starting point.

Just ask Gene Urban and his wife Amy. They are known to schedule regular hike and brunch days. I was lucky enough to be asked to participate in one of them last weekend.

Take a look at the photos:

We set off on foot from the trail just outside the Urban’s backyard gate. Nice!

We passed a few shady views of big saguaros along the way.

At mid-point, we stopped for the group photo. Reindeer in the middle.

Afterward, we gathered outside for the potluck meal. Just look at that view from the patio. And, yes, we are eating outside under the sun…in December.

Our host is not only a realtor but also a Valley magician. When he says, “Pick a card,” you do it.

Trust me.

What a great way to spend a holiday season weekend.

I hope you’ll make time to do some of the same.

Merry Christmas!

(Photos take and used with permission by Jackie Dishner.)

Post from: The Phoenix Traveler

Mill Avenue in Tempe hustles and bustles with pedestrian traffic year-round. It’s not the place to go if you want peace and quiet. And though I’d say the majority of the people you’ll see milling around are Arizona State University students, urbanites from all over the Valley of the Sun head over on evenings and weekends to shop, dine at the many restaurants, hang out in the taverns, and walk, ride bikes or rollerblade over to Tempe Town Lake.

This coming weekend, however, pedestrians will flock to Mill Avenue–one of America’s “ten great streets” (American Planning Association, 2008)–for one of the city’s most popular attractions: Fall Tempe Festival of the Arts.

Since the Beatles had its #1 hit, “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” on the radio 40 years ago, this festival has been the event holiday shoppers love to attend. I’ve been several times and still recall the gift I purchased for my sister the first time I went in 1988 (the 20th anniversary year). It was a hand-crafted Christmas Elf.

I don’t know if that booth’s still around, but here’s a sample of what I know you’ll experience while there this year:

_250,000 visitors, more or less, with lots of them pushing strollers, so watch out.

_more than 400 juried artists’ booths (woodwork, jewelry, paintings, ceramics, fountains, photography, textiles and more), so you know you’ll see quality work.

_food and beverages to purchase at the Food Court on 6th Street near Mill.

_street performers (stilt walkers and mimes, for instance).

_live entertainment (past performers have been local bands, including Gin Blossoms, Margo Reed, Walt Richardson and others).

_hands-on crafts and activities for kids, thank goodness.

_Arizona Wine Festival with tastings from several Arizona wine growers.

If you attend on Friday, stick around after hours for an added treat this year: the Anniversary Beatles Tribute. It takes place at the Arizona Wine Festival Jazz Stage, with Beatles tribute music played by cover band Apple.

IF YOU GO:

WHAT: 40th ANNIVERSARY FALL FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

WHEN: December 5-7, 10 a.m. to Dusk

WHERE: Mill Avenue in Tempe

ADMISSION: Free

PARKING: Free at Rio Salado Parkway & Hardy Drive, just east of Priest Drive on the north side of Rio Salado Parkway. A free shuttle runs every 15 minutes. (map it)

If you don’t want to hassle with that, nine paid parking garages or lots surround the downtown area, closer to the festival. But still, plan for a lot of walking and wear comfortable shoes.

(Photo of Mill Avenue Festival courtesy of Tempe Convention & Visitors Bureau.)

Post from: The Phoenix Traveler

For instance, Now that gas prices have dropped below $2.30/gal., how about a road trip? In less than two hours, you can hop in your car, pick east or west, and wind up in small town Arizona where you’ll be able to see the Western lifestyle up close. No need to reserve a room, take the dog to the kennel, or pack the American Express. Just grab a map and go.

Not sure which way? Here are two suggestions:

Wickenburg: Located about an hour’s drive west of Phoenix, True West magazine calls Wickenburg one of the Top 10 Western towns. It’s true for many reasons: gold mining history and a gold mine tour, the old stage coach road, Yavapai Indian massacres, the Western museum, cowboy poets, ghost stories, Western clothes, shopping and quilts, dude ranches–they’re all there. You can also visit a nature preserve and do the historic walking tour downtown, and more.

The most scenic drive: Head north on I-17, then west on SR 74 (Carefree Highway, passing Lake Pleasant) to US 60 West into Wickenburg (US 60/93). Turn right on US 93 at the first light; it turns into the main drag, Tegner Street, which will take you downtown where you can pick up local maps and brochures at the Chamber’s Visitor Center (216 N. Frontier St.).

Globe: Located just less than two hours east of central Phoenix, this is the place of copper mines, silver and now uranium. Like Bisbee and Jerome, Globe was a boom town back in the late 1800s. Today, the mines are coming back. If you go, you’ll see charming boutiques, such as Simply Sarah, and antique stores. You can step inside Bacon’s Boots and Saddles and watch the owner tool custom orders. The historic county courthouse has been renovated into an arts center, and an old bordello is now a bar. You can also drive up a hill to see Indian ruins that date back 800 years.

This scenic drive involves US 60 East all the way from Phoenix. After passing Apache Junction, the road is referred to as the Old West Highway. At Milepost 214, it becomes The Gila-Pinal Scenic Road for the next 30 miles. You’ll pass the towns of Superior, Miami and Claypool along the way before entering Globe. Pick up maps and brochures at the Globe-Miami Chamber of Commerce on the right-hand side of US 60 East, just before you reach Historic Downtown Globe at the light on Broad Street.

Both of these places offer a unique experience if you want to get out of the big city. Spend as much or as little as you like because it’s really the scenery that makes the drive worth the trip. And that won’t cost you any more than a few gallons of gas.

C’mon, you can afford that.

Post from: The Phoenix Traveler

That town is called Young, and I traveled there this past weekend to do research for my upcoming book, Backroads & Byways of Arizona (Countryman Press, 2009).

Formerly known as  Pleasant Valley, it was the site of what became one of the state’s most bloodiest family feuds. Between the Tewksbury and Graham families, it was called the Pleasant Valley War. And although the bloodbath began in Pleasant Valley, it extended north of the Mogollon Rim and to as far away south as Tempe–where the final ambush occurred.

With several versions written about the feud, it’s not clearly known whether the 20 or so deaths occurred because of a fight between ranchers and sheep herders, or whether the quarreling families were just too stubborn to let it go. Initially, you see, the families were friends, the Tewksburys having invited  the Grahams from California to come to the Pleasant Valley area in the Tonto Basin and buy into ranching. With large pastures of green grass and water from the creeks, this place south of the Mogollon Rim was perfect for ranching in the late 1880s. About 34 years later, the romance of the town’s tragedy (not to mention the hunting and fishing) drew Western author Zane Grey, who then wrote about the feud in his novel, To the Last Man.

But, what started out as a friendship between men turned into a brawl that left the two families nearly wiped out by ambushes and bullets flying into thin air, cabins and torsos. Pleasant Valley is now the home of old burial grounds and tall tales, and several people who no longer mind sharing what they know and the artifacts they’ve been able to salvage.

It’s also home to some of the states most scenic beauty, which makes it hard to believe the area has such a tragic past. But you can learn more about it if you visit on the third weekend of July, during Pleasant Valley Days. That’s the only time the local museums are open. During other times, if you can find a map online, you can still visit grave sites at the Young Cemetery of the original Graham brothers killed, along with others on their side. A few men from the Tewksbury side are buried  on federal land, as is the lone Navajo sheepherder–the first death that occurred because of the feud.

Aside from its curious history, what draws visitors to Young is this: hunting, fishing, cabin retreats, camping and a quiet lifestyle. The largest  employer is the Ranger Station. It’s population is less than 600, made up of the ranchers and retirees. Many folks from the Valley of the Sun, Phoenix, that is, have second homes there.

Aside from the cattle ranches that still roam the countryside between Hell’s Gate and the Sierra Ancha Wilderness, Young is home to wildlife, such as elk, deer, wild turkey, mountain lions and black bear. It’s also a great spot to see wildflowers. Something else you’ll notice as you come into town are the windmills. They’re everywhere.

Even if you aren’t an avid hunter looking for your next taxidermy conquest, or even if you don’t know how to fish or pitch a tent, Young is a great spot to take a weekend break. It’s beautiful. It’s quiet. And once you hit State Route 288, coming from Globe, you’re in for the backroads scenic drive of your life. They don’t call this one “From the Desert to the Pines” for nothing.

Oh, and don’t worry. You probably know Arizona gained statehood in 1912.

(Photos taken by Jackie Dishner.) 

To get there: From the south on SR 188 outside of Globe and before you reach Roosevelt Lake, take a right onto SR 288, head north for 47 miles to Young. It’s now a mostly paved road. A more cumbersome route can be reached via SR 512 out of Payson on SR 260.

Post from: The Phoenix Traveler

A collection of the Valley’s top chefs and culinary experts converge together for this all-day food and wine experience to benefit a charity, the Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

You’ll have the chance to watch top chefs compete against each other and demonstrate their unique culinary styles, and, of course, taste what they prepare at three different marketplace venues. One you might not want to miss is Chef Pierino “Chef Perry” Jermonti’s pastry pizzazz. From the Royal Palms, he’s a master at creating chocolate deserts that look more like sculptured art.

For additional fees, you can sign up to attend the Food Forum or the Wine Forum classes. These 30-minute workshops include lessons on how to pair wine with certain foods, how to cook pork or duck, what kinds of appetizers you can make with steak, and much more.

Additional fun to find here: an ice carver at work on the patio; wine tastings inside the ballroom; and a place where you can purchase kitchen gadgets.

If this sounds like fun, here are the details:

What: Phoenix Cooks!

Where: Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, 2400 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix, 602-955-6600. (See the map here.)

When: Saturday, Aug. 30, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Cost: $80/advance ticket purchases; $95/at the door.

Parking: Valet your car for $5 or park in the garage for free.

More details: http://www.phoenixcooks.com

Post from: The Phoenix Traveler

Every big city has its unique neighborhoods, or the neighborhoods that define a specific culture or two. Being so close to the Mexican border, we have our fair share of ‘hoods that define the Hispanic culture.

One of them is in South Phoenix–not necessarily the safest place to play. But tucked away in a hidden corner, is something you might want to see–El Gran Mercado. For a little adventure and a place to practice your Spanish verbs, pick a weekend afternoon to drive over to 35th Avenue and Buckeye. That’s where you’ll find this secret gem. On the south side of the street, watch for the wooden sign on the sidewalk that says Entrada. Turn there. You’ll have to pay for parking, but they don’t charge admission till after 7 p.m.

Inside, you’ll see an authentic Spanish marketplace (reminiscent of what you might find in Guadalajara) hidden behind a palm tree grove on the south side of Buckeye. It’s safe to shop and stroll here. You’ll be with friendly people who are happy to have you. Underneath covered awnings, you’ll find auto parts, tools, women’s clothing on mannequins, men’s clothing folded, Western wear (leather boots, belts and lassos), kitchen appliances, furniture, fresh fruit and vegetables, Mexican music on CDs and cassettes, used cars, and so much more. With most of the signage in Spanish, it really feels as if you’ve crossed the border. As you make your way through the crowds, watch out for the baby strollers. If it’s not too hot outside, you might make it to all 350 vendors. If nothing else, be sure to catch the live music. Bands play on two different stages. And later in the evening, there’s dancing.

You can also play billiards, get your hair cut at the outdoor barber shop, eat roasted corn on the cob (They cover it in lots of butter and offer grated goat cheese and hot sauce as condiments.), drink ice cold Coronas, watch a wrestling match, and have your shoes shined.

I must admit that I probably would never have known about this place if it weren’t for a friend, Tim Nelson. He happens to be running for political office and was giving a speech here last weekend. My boyfriend and I went to hear what he had to say, and we really enjoyed our visit.

And thanks to Tim, if I ever need a piñata the size of my front door, I’ll know where to go.

What: El Gran Mercado
Where: 1820 S. 35th Avenue
When: Saturdays & Sundays, 7 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Admission/Parking: Free until    7 p.m., then it’s $3/person. Parking is $3.

(Photos above taken by Jackie Dishner at the Mercado.)

Post from: The Phoenix Traveler

I had the pleasure of being invited to attend a live performance by this local six-member band in Phoenix called Shallow Water. Click on the video above to hear a portion of my new favorite song called “Clap.” The group has a few CDs that you can purchase: the first called “2 Dollar Sailboat” was produced in 2002; the second called “What’s Her Name” was produced in 2006. “Clap” appears on that one.

The six-member band plays a rock, punk, ska and alternative mix of sounds, and has opened at concert performances for top touring groups, including Live, Smash Mouth and Barenaked Ladies.

Influenced by various musical styles, they’ve created an upbeat sound that even an old Boomer like me can enjoy. No one seems to steal the limelight in this group–not even the vocalists–but the two horn players really rev up the crowd and get the dancers on the floor. It was fun to watch.

And from what I could see at the sports bar (Sport Peppers, northeast corner of 16th Street and Bell Road, Phoenix) where they were playing and hope to again, they have a decent following.

The band originally consisted of four members: Kris McCoy, lead vocals; RJ Rizzo, drummer; Johnny Baba, guitar; and Scott Calhoun, bass guitar. They added the horn players, Ed Zubow and Paul Nolde-Morrissey, after a New Year’s Eve performance last year with the two proved to be successful. 

You can catch them yourself if you’ll be in Phoenix this weekend. They’ll be playing at Tailgater’s (northwest corner of 59th Avenue and Bell Road) on Saturday, Aug. 16, beginning at 9:30 p.m. Their next performances at Tailgater’s will be in November. You can check the band’s schedule here.

(Photo of the band above used with permission by Shallow Water.)

Post from: The Phoenix Traveler

Owned and operated by Jef and Shurlin Rawls, this family-friendly comedy theater is home to the Jester’Z comedy troupe–a really fun and lively bunch of comedians, ages 18 to mid-40s, who really put on a good show for their audiences every weekend. It’s fun, interactive, and entertaining.

Jef, who teaches the acting classes, along with some of his talented performers, trained with, among many others, instructors at the Second City conservatory in Los Angeles, and is a working actor himself. Not only that, but he’s a really good guy, and you gotta support a man who cares about the impact he’s making. No cuss words allowed in his theater, for one thing. Plus, they sell Snickers bars–a fan favorite, of mine, that is. If you’re looking for something to do with the family, a first date, the 50th anniversary, give the Jester’Z a try:

WHEN: Fridays & Saturdays, 8 p.m. & 10 p.m.

WHERE: Inside Papago Plaza, 7117 E. McDowell Rd., Scottsdale.

COST: $12, all shows.

RESERVATIONS: 480-423-0120.

All shows run 90 minutes, without intermission. Candy, popcorn, soda and water can be purchased at the snack bar prior to show time. The theater is a smoke-free establishment and does not serve alcohol. But, hey, that means there’s no drink minimum!

(Above graphic provided by Theater 168.)

Post from: The Phoenix Traveler

Locavore is a word used to describe someone who eats only locally grown and locally produced foods. That’s also the meaning behind the special dinner event hosted this month by James Porter, chef and owner of Tapino Kitchen & Wine Bar. He’s working with Chef Payton Curry from Digestif at Scottsdale’s Southbridge near the Waterfront to plan and prepare the five-course meal. 

Every taste of the meal comes from an Arizona  farmer, artisan or winemaker. In fact, farmers, ranchers, food producers and the winemaker will attend both evenings to talk with guests about eating local.

Together, they hope to promote patronage of Arizona-owned businesses and help preserve the local economy and environment.

To help keep costs down, the event is sponsored by Local First Arizona and the Arizona Farm Bureau. To reserve your space, call 480-991-6887.

Here are the details:

What: Locavore 3: The Bountiful
When: Tuesday, Aug. 5 and Wednesday, Aug. 6, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Tapino Kitchen & Wine Bar, 7000 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale
Cost: $49/person, plus tax and tip
Menu: http://tapino.com/menus/locavore3.html

Post from: The Phoenix Traveler

Watch for more to come in the future. Once a month, I’ll include a quiz, centering it around a theme, such as Native American art, sporting events, outdoor recreation, and other things travel-related. You can join in on the fun by leaving your answers here in the comment box.

1. Till next time, let me know if you knew the answers to this quiz without having to do an online search, or phone a friend.
3. If this quiz was too easy, let me know that as well. The answers are:

1. There are three places in Greater Phoenix where I know you can find Allan Houser sculptures. I may have mentioned them previously in this blog. Do you know the names of these places? THEY ARE: HEARD MUSEUM, FIGARELLI FINE ART and THE PHOENICIAN RESORT.
2. Phoenix is situated in the heart of what is considered the most ecologically diverse desert in the world. Do you know the name of this desert? THE SONORAN DESERT.
3. Phoenix is one of how many U.S. cities with franchises in all four major professional sports leagues: Phoenix Suns (NBA), Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB), Arizona Cardinals (NFL), and Phoenix Coyotes (NHL)? ONLY 13 U. S. CITIES HAVE SUCH FRANCHISES.
4. In what year did the Arizona Diamondbacks win the World Series Championship? IN 2001.
5. Can you name all six lakes that can be found within a 75-minute drive from Phoenix? THEY ARE APACHE, BARTLETT, CANYON, LAKE PLEASANT, ROOSEVELT AND SAGUARO.
6. Frank Lloyd Wright built a studio here. Though he is now deceased, his foundation operates a teaching facility for students interested in organic architecture. Visitors can take tours and workshops there. Do you know the name of this facility? IT IS TALIESIN WEST. 
7. The largest municipal park in the world is located here. It covers more than 16,500 acres. Do you know the name of this park? IT’S CALLED SOUTH MOUNTAIN PARK AND PRESERVE.
8. Three major industries are located in Phoenix. Can you name all three? THEY HAVE BEEN MOST RECENTLY CONSTRUCTION, HIGH-TECH MANUFACTURING AND TOURISM (though construction is questionable these days…).
9. A famous rock star from the 70s lives here. He’s still producing albums and going on tour. He’s also very active in philanthropic projects. Do you know his name? Hint: He invested in a downtown Phoenix restaurant near what used to be known as Bank One Ballpark. THAT WOULD BE ALICE COOPER.
10. The late Senator Barry Goldwater donated a collection of unique dolls to the Heard Museum. Do you know what these dolls are called? THEY ARE CALLED KACHINAS or KATSINAS.

(Photo used with permission by the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau.) 

Post from: The Phoenix Traveler