Phoenix, AZ

The Honorable Pamela C. Gutierrez passed away this week after a two year battle with cancer. She had served as the South Mountain Justice of the Peace for since 1994.

We had great respect for her professionalism and her dedication to all of us, the court and her community,” said Linda Perkins, her court manager. “She had a very caring soul.”

Even near her final days, her spirit of contribution to her community was unwavering. My career is an “effort to make a difference in the community,” Gutierrez told reporters.
 
After learning she had cancer, she helped raise money and the public’s awareness about the disease by participating in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, speaking in public and to the media to share her ordeals.
 
“If I can share my story…my purpose is to get up every day and try to help somebody.”

Judge Gutierrez will be missed by her city.

South Mountain, Judge, cancer, Phoenix

Amazing Jake’s

Not just another Pizza Arcade, Amazing Jake’s is an 80,000 square foot entertainment powerhouse that just so happens to also serve food. A miniature indoor amusement park, it features video arcade games, laser tag, rock climbing, and dozens of rides and a racetrack.

Address: 1830 E Baseline Rd, Mesa, AZ 85204
Phone: 480.926.7499
Website: http://www.amazingjakes.com/

GameWorks

Tempe is lucky to be home to one of only a few of Sega’s massive arcade entertainment venues in the United States. GameWorks, the largest arcade in the valley, features a three story tall Hot Air Balloon video game that sends players whizzing to new heights, not to mention all of the newest arcade releases.

The gourmet restaurant has a full menu for big and small appetites and a full bar for mommy and daddy. GameWorks is a perfect family destination!

Address: 5000 S Arizona Mills Cir Tempe, AZ 85282
Website: http://www.gameworks.com/locations/tempe.php

Rawhide

The best Wild West Town without going to Tombstone. Bring the whole family to enjoy an authentic Old West atmosphere and a gun fight or two. After the duel, takes the kids to the petting zoo or head over to Dead Man’s drop rock climbing wall. The kids can try their luck as a prospect and pan for real gold.

Dine at the Rawhide Steakhouse to get a bellyful of delicious steaks and ribs. For the braver bunch, rocky mountain oysters and fried rattle snake are on the menu. Be sure to give the mechanical bull a ride after dinner.

During the months of hospitable climate, the family can catch a mule-drawn hay wagon and dine out under the stars with the chuck wagon.

Address: 5700 West North Loop Road Chandler, AZ 85226
Phone Number: 800-527-1880
Website: http://www.rawhide.com/

Dinning, Restaruant, Kids, Arcade, Video Games

Like the mythical bird, downtown Phoenix is rising from its ashes. Once a place that many feared to tread at night; once crowed by destitute homeless and frightening figures; the downtown Phoenix area has been undergoing a cultural revival that is hitting full stride. 

Copper Square

Representing the “new wave” of the renaissance, Copper Square is a business center embodying over 90 restaurants, bars and markets, and consisting of 90 square blocks of safe streets. 

During the day, visitors and residents of the downtown area mingle with Phoenix’s high-powered attorneys, government officials, and business elite. After dark, crowds from across the valley congregate for good food, festive parties, and alluring atmosphere. 

Sports Centers and Venues 

US Airways Center, formerly known as America West Arena, is home to the Phoenix Sun during basketball season. But, when balls aren’t bouncing down the courts, the arena is host to such nationally recognized music acts as Metallica, Nine Inch Nails, and Green Day, not to mention family oriented entertainment such as the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, and even business events that bring in a fortune, like motivational speaker Zig Ziggler. 

Home of the 2001 World Series Champions, Chase Field (formerly Bank One Ballpark) brings hundreds of fans not only to watch the D-Backs play, but also to many new and recently established stores and eateries in many of downtown’s shopping districts, most notably the Arizona center – one of the first anchors for business revitalization. 

Chicago the Musical, Dave Attell, Barney the Dinosaur, Nickelback, these are just a few of the diverse types of acts that grace the stage of the Dodge Theatre, a dynamic and welcoming auditorium. 

The Phoenix Orpheum, featuring classic architecture and red velvet seating was home to Democratic President Primary Debates in 2003, and serves the role of movie theater, opera house, and more.  Not to be forgotten in the midst of the larger venues, the Herberger Theater may be small, but it’s the best place in the valley to spend a day at an off-Broadway show. 

Schools and Museums

Arizona State University chose the downtown area to build an expansion to its campus. 

ASU’s mission can be summarized in three words – quality, access and impact,” ASU President Michael Crow said at the opening ceremony. “Our downtown campus provides high-quality education and greater access to students who are either just graduating from high school or working adults achieving their educational goals. Additionally, the new campus helps ASU accommodate the state’s burgeoning college-age population and demand for higher education.”

Situated next door is the kid-friendly Arizona Science Center, featuring interactive exhibits, a planetarium, and world renowned traveling displays, such as Body Worlds.  Not alone, the Phoenix Art Museum and Museum of History are also nearby. 

Government and History 

The seat of power for both the City of Phoenix (fifth largest city) and Maricopa County (fourth largest county), are situated downtown. Recent mass construction projects, such as the Downtown Justice Center on Jackson Street proves the government’s dedication to the surrounding area. 

The Rossen House, situated in Historic Heritage Square, is the first brick building constructed in Phoenix. Not far away is the State Capitol, where visitors can learn about the settlement and establishment of statehood that state underwent.  

Far from complete…

Though a lot of the hard work has been done, there is yet much to do. The largest infrastructure project that downtown has ever undergone, Phoenix Metro’s light-rail project is a long way to completion, though tracks already crisscross Phoenix streets. 

“I do think we are five years away from the time when everyone says, ‘Wow,’” says Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, “We have people walking and living in downtown. There’s momentum that has been created.”

 I am already saying ‘Wow’ for myself. Join me as we explore many of the aforementioned highlights of downtown Phoenix as well as several destinations in the surrounding cities. Already one of the top five largest cities in America, Phoenix is setting out to show that it is also among the greatest. 

Phoenix, AZ, Arizona, Copper Square, bars, restaurants, ASU, sports, venue, shows, shopping

If I had $300 dollars I would buy________.

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Considering that Phoenix is one of top ten largest cities in the nation, the traffic inside the city isn’t as bad as, say, Los Angeles. You can still cross the Valley in about two hours, as compared to five to ten hours. You can reach the countryside, depending where you live, in a half hour or less.

The streets of Phoenix are laid out in a grid, making it one of the least confusing cities to navigate. When there are traffic problems, you can figure that going up and over one block will get you passed whatever the situation is. (If it isn’t that easy, thank the new light rail system going in, which is for another post.)

Phoenix streets, grid, light rail system

The Weather. What I like about the weather is that you can set up a call with a relative in the Midwest in winter and say with great conviction: “Brrr! It’s 55 degrees out here!” See what kind of reaction you get!

Today I shall start listing the pluses and minuses about living in Phoenix. I’ll list ten pluses and ten minuses. Here goes!

The U.S. Postal Service is changing some of the Valley’s zip code boundaries in an efficient and cost-effective move. Some residents of Avondale, Chandler Ocotillo Center, Gilbert Val Vista, Goodyear, Maricopa, Phoenix Daisy Mountain, Queen Creek and Scottsdale Kachina will be notified by mail of the change. July 1st is the when the new ZIP codes take effect.

Please remember the families and friends of the following servicemen from Arizona.

Chandler: Sergeant Caleb Christopher was killed in Iraq Sunday from an improvised explosive device that exploded near his vehicle. Christopher was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division out of Fort Hood, Texas. Christopher is the second soldier from Chandler to be killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Florence: Army Staff Sergeant Charles Browning of the 158th Battalion was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle in Afghanistan. Browning was promoted posthumously to the rank of staff sergeant from sergeant. Browning grew up in Tucson and graduated from Palo Verde High. A 10:30 a.m. service will be held on June 14th at Evergreen Cemetery in Tucson. The corrections officer from Florence leaves behind a wife and two stepdaughters.

Army National Guard, Chandler, Florence, Tucson, Gilbert, Fort Hood, Iraq, Afghanistan

Doors open for Canned Heat’s last performance at 7 tonight at 1019 E. Indian School Road. It’s a show for those 21 and older. Tickets are $16. You can call 602.265.4842 for more information or Canned Heat’s website.

Canned Heat, The Rhythm Room, jam

As a creative, I’m always excited to find a new event supporting the arts. Here’s one if you enjoy music, poetry reading and watching painters create. It’s simply called Paint, which is open to the public every Tuesday’s 8 p.m. at The Paper Heart Arts Venue
at 750 N.W. Grand Avenue. It’s $3 before 10 p.m. and $5 after 10.

art, music, poetry, Paint, The Paper Heart Arts Venue

We’ve got another food recall in relation to E.coli contamination. Again.

Fresh ground beef in chubs from United Food Group in Vernon, California were produced April 20th and sold at least at Albertsons, Smart and Final and Fry’s stores in the Valley. Any of the bad beef that has hit the store fronts has been taken off the shelves, so you won’t be running into any of it at all if you haven’t a chub or two already. If you have more questions about this incident, you’re welcome to call 1-800-325-4164 any time of the day.

E.coli, E-coli, ground beef, United Food Group, California, Albertsons, Fry’s, Smart & Final

I read an article about Mayor Phil Gordon meeting with home builders and utility companies last week to talk about copper wire theft rising in the Valley. Hubby and I do our own “newsing” by reading other cities’ and countries’ updates, so we’ve seen this coming for almost a year. What happens when the government acknowledges that this is a problem? It passes new legislation to up penalties for the thieves and for those selling copper to dealers to keep from being mystery faces. Woo.Hoo. Our taxpayer money hard at work.

Here’s the real head scratcher: anyone risking electrocution to steal a bunch of copper for maybe $20. If these thieving “geniuses” approach stealing copper wire wrong, they end up dead. Talk about swift in more ways than one.

copper wire theft

Announcement blurb: The Arizona Department of Transportation is wanting public input on an alternate route to northern Arizona other than Interstate 17. There are four public meetings being planned for next week in Flagstaff, Prescott Valley, Camp Verde and Anthem. There is already a study being conducted to see if an alternative route should be pursued.

Now for my two cents: ADOT, ya think? To say that particular stretch of interstate is prone to accidents, career rubberneckers, and Sunday drivers pluggin’ up Friday drive-time is a major understatement — right up there with someone standing downtown in summertime muttering “Wow — it’s hot today.”

One particular time I vividly recall of such ridiculous situations is my wedding in 2003 being delayed severely due to a quad falling off someone’s trailer on northbound I-17. Hubby and I traveled with two friends up to Prescott Valley early on that Friday, not even in rush hour getaway traffic…and we ran into that mess. The only way we got around it was being diverted through the Sunset Point northbound ramps. I was an hour late to my own wedding. (A plus out of this was that most of the people coming up from Phoenix were delayed, too — but not much. Our interstates are poorly planned out, so the most know-how Arizonans have ways to make up for lost time. Don’t ask.) The only late wedding in my father’s 36 years of ministry and it’s his own daughter’s!

ADOT should also seriously consider checking out an alternative route out to Globe. The Renn Festival that runs out that way in Apache Junction every February through April is a great and fun thing to do…but the traffic is horrible going to it and leaving it. Personal experience: coming back from a Renn Festival visit last year, a guy on the side of the road walked passed us three times before we got to Highway 60. Kid you not. We didn’t go to this year’s festival because we knew we’d spend more time in traffic than at the festival.

Seriously, ADOT has a lot to make up for across the state, especially on the routes getting out of Phoenix. I have traveled on I-17 to go visit family and friends in northern Arizona many times over the last 15 years that I’ve been in-state. Each time I did, I realized in certainty, and with an underlying fear, that there would be no chance for an effective evacuation out of Phoenix, should one ever be called for. More times than not, there would be some minor accident (like with a quad falling off a trailer) that would back up the traffic, most times all the way back into Phoenix. With the threat of terrorists, and Phoenix being a top ten city in their sights, the possibility of a (what’s left of the city) evacuation is more real than any other time in state history. The most Arizona-driving savvy would make it out, I’m sure…most would not, I fear.

I have never understood this state’s lack of forward thinking in key areas. With transportation, I would think being prepared for the betterment of the people would be a priority, especially after recent, granted, natural, disasters still affecting other states in the Union.

Now — fellow Arizonans in Flagstaff, Prescott Valley, Camp Verde and Anthem — show up for those meetings! You could always say you were late because of the backup on I-17…

ADOT, Phoenix, Flagstaff, Camp Verde, Prescott, Prescott Valley, Anthem, Globe, Apache Junction, Renn Festival