Cool things to do in Phoenix this weekend
A heat wave is sweeping across the nation, but here in Phoenix it’s the status quo. Phoenicians know how to stay cool in the summer heat, so here are a few of things that we recommend to do this weekend.
Movies! Theaters keep the a/c cranked so they are the perfect place to hang out and chill for a few hours. There are quite a few unique ways to see movies in Phoenix too, from the luxury movie going experience at iPic, indie films and brews at Film Bar and dive-in movies at the Arizona Biltmore.
Here in Phoenix we think culture is pretty cool, literally. Museums are the perfect place to spend a day in air-conditioned cultural bliss. From Native American Art at the world-renowned Heard Museum, hands-on interactive exhibits designed to engage the minds of kids of all ages at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, to the global representation of music at the Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix has some cool culture for any family member of any age. Here’s a tip: Admission at the Heard Museum is FREE this Sunday, July 24!
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream when the temperatures start to rise. Local ice cream shop, Sweet Republic, has been garnering quite a bit of attention these days with national awards and recognition. Their Toffee Banoffe Sundae will be featured on the Food Network’s “Best Thing I Ever Ate” this weekend, so head over and try this now famous dessert!
This Friday shoot some hoops indoors at the US Airways Center during the Phoenix Suns Operation Orange Shoot Around. This free event is open to all ages and will offer fans a unique opportunity to shoot baskets on the main court. In addition, participants of all ages will have a chance to compete in a variety of basketball skills competitions, including 3-point and free throw contests along with a skills competition. Prizes will be awarded within each age group.
Members of the Suns Dancers, APS Solar Squad and Verve Sol Patrol will be on hand to interact with fans. For younger participants, the Suns will have two adjustable hoops and an inflatable slide in the lower bowl of the arena and the APS Gorilla’s Greenhouse will be open for free-play throughout the event.
You don’t have to stay indoors to stay cool this weekend, just wait until the sun goes down for the Desert Botanical Garden Flashlight Tours. Flashlight Tours are a sensory adventure where you will see, hear and feel the desert night with its nighthawks, snakes, insects and night-blooming flowers. Flashlight Tours are great for families and children of all ages and make a perfect summer date night.
Things to do for All-Star Week in Greater Phoenix
Baseball’s midseason showcase is here, so we’ve put together an “All-Star” list of things to do around Greater Phoenix leading up to the big game on Tuesday.
Official MLB All-Star events can be found in our Major League Baseball All-Star Summer comes to Phoenix blog post.
Food and Drink
Greater Phoenix restaurants and bars are stepping up to the plate with fun All-Star themed menu items and specials.
Citizen Public House in Scottsdale (7111 E. Fifth Ave., Ste. E) will be serving up some home-made “Citizen Jacks,” ala Cracker Jack for $5 (with prizes too). Don’t forget to order their Tender Belly Berkshire dog with pastrami fat-braised sauerkraut, bourbon mustard and house-cured pickle served on a rye bun.
Beckett’s Table (3717 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix ) will also be celebrating All-Star week with free endless homemade popcorn, half-priced draughts all night Sunday through Tuesday. Order the hot dog and garlic fries for a gourmet version of the stadium specialty. Beckett’s will also be giving away special edition MLB-labeled bottles of red blend Decoy by Duckhorn Winery.
If you haven’t tried the latest pop-up restaurant, Cycle (1100 N. Central Ave., Phoenix), this weekend is the perfect time to do so. Cycle will celebrate the MLB All-Star Game with an all day happy hour featuring wine, local beer and specialty cocktails.
District American Kitchen & Wine Bar (320 N 3rd St., Phoenix) is partying all week long with live music on Friday and Saturday, and all day happy hour specials. They’ve also created some fun All-Star themed cocktails. We think the Ball Park Cotton Candy Martini sounds pretty sweet.
Nightlife
This desert town will keep things hot at night with plenty of after parties. Who knows, you may spot one of your favorite MLB players out on the town.
The W Scottsdale Hotel (7277 E. Camelback Rd., Scottsdale) will host former baseball players like Jermaine Dye, Frank Thomas and more on Saturday at the Coolest Party in the Desert . The party starts at 8pm and is free and open to the public. Sunday at the W, Maxim hosts Neil Diamond Tribute band, Diamond in the Desert. The Wet Deck will be decorated as a baseball stadium, complete with an Old Spice locker room lounge, sports-themed photo booth and a concession stand. Admission is $100 and the party starts at 10pm. Tuesday night after the All-Star game the W will host an after party starting at 8pm that is free and open to the public.
Check out Old Town Scottsdale’s newest nightclub, The Mint (7373 E Camelback Rd.), on Saturday night from 8pm – 2am for the All-Star Jam fundraiser with Tampa Bay Rays Evan Longoria. The event is free, but attendees are encouraged to buy raffle tickets at this Nike sponsored event for $20 to benefit the Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
Some of the Arizona Diamondbacks will be special guests at American Junkie's (4363 North 75th St., Scottsdale) red carpet affair on Sunday night. The FOX Sports Girls will also be in the house and legendary rapper Biz Markie will be DJing all evening. Doors open at 8pm.
All-Star events will be held nearly every evening from Friday night through the big game on Tuesday night at Club Silver (136 East Washington St.) in downtown Phoenix. The parties taking place Sunday through Tuesday will also feature the duo, Mando and Fuego, appearances by Arizona Diamondbacks players, and special giveaways. Doors open at 8pm each night. Admission is $10.
Pool Party
NFL legend Roy Green will host a charity pool party on Saturday afternoon at the Millennium Resort (7401 North Scottsdale Rd.) in Scottsdale. Attendance is expected by such greats as Eric Dickerson and William "The Refrigerator" Perry. Gates open at 11am and admission is $20.
Music
MLB announced an all-star roster of musical guests throughout All-Star Week.
Country music star Jason Aldean will perform before the State Farm Home Run Derby at 5pm on Monday, July 11. He will also play in the Taco Bell Legends and Celebrity Softball Game on Sunday, July 10th.
Bernie Williams will perform the National Anthem acoustically with his guitar at the Legends & Celebrity Softball Game, in which he will also play.
Phoenix native Jesse McGuire, an internationally famous trumpeter who's performed the National Anthem for three U.S. presidents, will perform the National Anthem prior to the Home Run Derby.
Hometown girl and American Idol star, Jordin Sparks will sing the National Anthem before the big game on Tuesday and Sedona native, Michelle Branch will perform during the 7th-inning stretch.
“The Voice” judge Cee Lo Green, the Soul Machine, will perform at the Major League Baseball Gala at the Phoenix Convention Center.
If you’re looking to catch some local music before or after some of the All-Star events, on Saturday, July 9 and Sunday, July 10, The Foundry on First (402 S. First St., Phoenix) will host a two night grand opening party. Cowboy Mouth will play both nights to celebrate downtown Phoenix’s newest music venue.
Also in downtown Phoenix, Kepi Ghoulie plays The Trunk Space (1506 W. Grand Ave., Phoenix) on Saturday night. Doors open at 7:30pm.
Have an All-Star Week!
New Orangutan Habitat Opens at Phoenix Zoo
The new and improved Orangutan Habitat at the Phoenix Zoo opens to the public on Monday, April 11. I had the privilege of a sneak peek this morning and had a blast watching them play. Four Orangutans call the Phoenix Zoo home: Duchess (she's 51!), Bess, Michael and Kasih, the baby of the group at just 5 years old.
Kasih is hiding behind a piece of lettuce.
Lots of green grass and fun stuff to play with.
For more information and to learn about conservation efforts to save these amazing animals, check out the Zoo's website.
To see more Phoenix Zoo Orangutan photos, visit our Flickr page.
Spring Butterfly Exhibit – Desert Botanical Garden
Swallowtail, Desert Botanical Garden
Spring has sprung and so has the Butterfly Exhibit at the Desert Botanical Garden. This colorful, fluttering exhibit runs through May 8, so there's plenty of time to check it out. You can catch it daily from 9:30am to 5:00pm in the Marshall Butterfly Pavilion. Watch these beautiful, carefree creatures go about their daily life. If you're lucky, one might hitch a ride on your shoulder.
DBG members get in free. For the general public, it's $3.50 with Garden admission.
Desert Botanical Garden
1201 N. Galvin Parkway Phoenix, AZ 85008
www.dbg.org
Koalas at the Zoo
Do you see 'em in there? The Phoenix Zoo opened its new Koala exhibit with two koalas: two-year-old Sooky and her brother, Kobi, who is four years old.
They came from San Diego and now they're happy and healthy in their new home here. They seem quite excited to meet all their new friends in Phoenix, and people are excited to see them! At the zoo, visitors walk up to a cave-like tunnel to see the koalas in their habitats.
Because they're so new and so adorable, the lines can get long during the midday hours on the weekends, so the best time to go is on a weekday or at the beginning or end of your Phoenix Zoo trip. You'll want to spend a lot of time watching them climb trees, play or eat eucalyptus leaves - they are incredibly cute. Of course, you can take home a cuddly souvenir [stuffed] koala available at the gift shop.
See more information about the koalas.
Phoenix Zoo
455 North Galvin Parkway
Phoenix, Arizona
(602) 273-1341
BODYWORLDS & the Brain Preview
We're so excited to have Gunther von Hagens' BODYWORLDS & the Brain exhibit at the Arizona Science Center. We were lucky enough to get a sneak peek before it opened to the public on January 21.
BODYWORLDS aims to educate the public about the inner workings of the human body and show the effects of poor health, good health, and lifestyle choices. It is also presented in the hopes that it will stimulate curiosity about the science of anatomy.
Here's just a little bit of what's in store for you:
Dancer Plastinate
The Brain
Skateboarder Plastinate
Brain with Spinal Cord
Lungs: Normal, Smoker, Coal Miner
Arizona Science Center
600 E. Washington Street, Downtown Phoenix
602.716.2000
www.azscience.org
