Posts filed under 'Attractions'
The Fair has arrived!!
GoGo Ginger here again….
Ok, so I know that we focus on Mesa and the East Valley, but one of my favorite times of years just started last weekend…. The Arizona State Fair!!
Why?? You name it, but my faves include indian tacos, fresh corn dogs, cotton candy and FREE CONCERTS!!!
The highlight for me at the fair this year is that they are helping me save money. You can purchase a season pass for $21, which if you got at least 2 times it’s paid for itself. Just pay for your regular admission to the fair and then go to customer service to have it applied to the season pass price, they also give you a coupon book that includes a play one-get one free on the midway as well as food and drink discounts. Don’t forget about unlimited ride wristband days, a new “happy hour” discount of $1 on Fridays from Noon-6pm.
Arizona Stat Fair - Cotton Candy Lady
I went to the Lady Antebelum concert last night and they played for just over an hour. I am now counting down to Saturday night to see John Michael Montgomery & The Honky Tonk Tailgate Party 2009 Featuring: Mark Wills, Jeff Bates, and Trent Willmon.
www.azstatefair.com
(602) 252-6771
19th Ave & McDowell, Phoenix
Now thru November 8th (closed Mondays)
Oct. 22 • The Black Crowes 7pm
Oct. 23 • ABBA: THE MUSIC 7pm
Oct. 24 • John Michael Montgomery & The Honky Tonk Tailgate Party 2009 7pm
Oct. 25 • NWA Wrestling Showcase 5pm
Oct. 28 • Raven-Symone 7pm
Oct. 30 • Old School Jam Presents Freestyle Explosion 8pm
Oct. 31 • Creation Festival: The Tour Featuring Jars of Clay 5pm
Nov. 1 • Rodney Atkins with Julianne Hough
Nov. 3 • David Cook 7pm
Nov. 5 • Arizona Derby Dames all girl roller derby 7pm
Nov. 6 • Little Big Town & Billy Currington 7pm
Nov. 7 • Kelly Clarkson 7pm
Hope to see you there!!! ….GoGo Ginger
Add comment October 22, 2009
Therizinosaur – Who’s that???
“Therizinosaur-Mystery of the Sickle-Claw Dinosaur”
- Therizinosaur – Skeleton
One of the newest and strangest dinosaur fossils from North America is the subject of a stunning new major exhibit that opened last Friday at the Arizona Museum of Natural History.
Paleontologists from the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff made this an once-in-a-lifetime find in 2000 in southern Utah. The discovery led to the recovery of the most complete Therizinosaur skeleton ever found.
The exhibit includes fossil beds and a life-size Therizinosaur that is a free-standing skeleton, cast from the original bones of the 13-foot tall, one-ton sickle-clawed and feathered dinosaur. It is the first mounted interpretation of the animal’s stance and posture.
While all dinosaurs lived on land, the Therizinosaur was found in a location that was the bottom of the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway, an ancient sea that covered the middle of North America. But how did the whole animal, 93 million years ago, get buried in a seafloor, 60 miles from shore? Come find the answer.
Little Dino
Arizona Museum of Natural History
53 N. Macdonald, Mesa
(480) 644-2230
ttp://www.azmnh.org
…GoGoGinger
Add comment October 7, 2009
Free Time at Mesa Museums
GoGo Ginger, here again! Need something free to do with the family ????
Come downtown Mesa and take part in 3–4–Free!!
Special event extended through October 2010, held on the first Sunday of each month
Not only can you visit the dinosaurs and pan for gold at the Arizona Museum of Natural History, but you can experience their current exhibits where you can learn about Mesa’s first residents in “Hohokam! Ancient Monuments of the Salt River Valley”.
AZ Museum of Natural History
Arizona Museum for Youth’s feature hand on exhibits for the little ones.
The Mesa Contemporary Arts is open for the new 2009-2010 exhibition season.
For more information on 3-4-Free Series: http://mesaartscenter.com/3ForFree.htm
Museums direct:
AZ Museum of Natural History: (480) 644-2230 www.azmnh.org
AZ Museum for Youth: (480) 644-2467 www.arizonamuseumforyouth.com
Mesa Contemporary Arts: (480) 644-6560 http://mesaartscenter.com/mca.aspx
Have a great time…. GoGo Ginger.
Add comment September 2, 2009
♬ ♪ Happy Trails To You ♪ ♬
Usery Mountain Regional Park Opens New Nature Center
UseryVisitorCenterFront
GoGo Ginger here again!!
Sorry it’s been a while, but I was actually out exploring the desert….braving the heat!!
I spent 2 hours at Mesa’s Usery Mountain Regional Park last Friday morning getting to know “the lay of the land”. Usery Park just opened its brand new Nature Center last month and there is more to this building than meets the eye! The nature center is just before the pay station, so visitors can utilize the facilities at no charge!
Ranger Jennifer gave me a complete tour of the BRAND NEW Nature Center and drove me around the park to get acquainted with all the offering and amenities. I took pages of notes, but here are a few of the highlights about the NEW Nature Center…
Retail store offers snacks and cold beverages, souvenirs and outdoor necessities like sunscreen, hats and water bottles available for purchase; Cactus garden & boulders are all relocated from original site (prior to construction); Garden rooftop; 12 Solar panels for sustainable energy; Restrooms utilize waterless urinals and low flow toilets and an outdoor amphitheater (that will seat at least 100ppl)
UseryVisitorCenterBackPatio
General Park amenities: 4,000 acres, 4 playgrounds w/canopies, 75 campsites with hookups, Ramada sites to be reserved, Merkle Trail – Barrier Free (wheelchair/stroller accessible, via “paved” path), Vista Trail – has a sundial located at top of trail, great trail for toddlers and Equestrian Staging area and trails available, There are many monthly ranger lead programs to choose from, complimentary with regular park admission.
Now Ranger Jennifer & Ranger B are working on getting me out on the Merkle Trail, to get me away from this computer (
So plan a visit with Ranger Jennifer or Ranger B soon…..Free guided tours the New Nature Center now available in Mesa! August dates include the 19th and 27th. The official public Grand Opening ceremony and festivities are scheduled for Saturday, September 26th, so plan on visiting in August to beat the rush!
With the opening of the new center, they have implemented a new onsite Yoga classes, three times a week. You can register as a regular participant and drop-ins are always welcome.
Usery Mountain Regional Park
(part of the Maricopa Country Parks & Recreation Department)
3939 N. Usery Pass Road, Mesa 85207
(480) 984-0032
www.maricopa.gov/parks/usery
Park Hours: Sun-Thu: 6am-8pm & Fri-Sat: 6am-10pm – 365 days a year
until later, Hiking, Camping….Blazing New Trails with GoGo Ginger
Add comment August 4, 2009
Get Ready Laugh with Your Entire Family!!!
National Comedy Theater is a great place to enjoy Improv Comedy with your entire family. After learning about NCT on twitter @nctphoenix I decided to give them a try a few weeks back. Me and my 3 kids went to the Friday 7:30pm show and were pleasantly surprised by the talented comedians. And yes, comedy can be family fun with their “House Rules” NCT doesn’t allow the comedians to be vulgar or disrespectful. If live comedy, laughing, and family time are things you like to do I would recommend checking out NCT Phoenix right here in Mesa. They are located at 1111 Longmore Road near Fiesta Mall. Give them a call to make reservations 602-374-5638.
Here is a brief description about NCT that from their website: NCT Phoenix, recent winner of azcentral.com’s BEST of Phoenix poll in BEST Theater Company and BEST Live Theater Venue categories, is the premiere location for cutting edge improvisational theater and comedy. For two decades, the National Comedy Theater has been entertaining audiences of all sizes and types across the nation with our unique brand of interactive, Improv comedy.
Add comment July 17, 2009
$$ Keeping Cool – for Free $$
3 - 4 - Free, First Sunday
http://mesaartscenter.com/3ForFree.htm
GoGo Ginger here… planning for my holiday Staycation.
I am excite to combine my favorite two things to do this weekend, #1=Free #2=Museums (staying cool in the summer).
We are mid-way through our wonderful year of 3-4-Free, 1st Sundays at the downtown Mesa museums, sponsored by Target (Noon-5pm). The museums have tallied record numbers since January, and I received an insiders tip…since families are planning on going out of town to escape the heat on this long holiday weekend….they anticipate the crowds to be manageable.
I am planning on ”landing on” the Mars exhibit, seeing “My Favorite Monster” and “meeting” Sergei Isupov at our museums. I am thinking I will head over to the new Il Vinaio Bar & Wine Bar and celebrate my independence with a toast to our country…with a Red, White, and Brew . (
Add comment July 1, 2009
Rock out on the 4th of July!
It’s a weird July – the down economy has forced several event organizers to abandon efforts for Fourth of July events across the Valley so sadly, there just won’t be as many lights in the sky as there used to be. But, one Mesa business that is carrying on with tradition is Rockin’ R Ranch. In true, Western style, they are ready to put on a show for residents of Mesa and gathering friends and family. Their “Old Fashioned 4th of July Spectacular” starts with activities at 5:30 including watermelon eating contests, wagon rides and gold panning. A hearty dinner with all the fixins’ starts at 6:30 with BBQ chicken and beef (all you can eat!). The Rockin R Wranglers hit the stage at 7:30 and the evening will end in celebration – fireworks and all just before 9. Tickets are $20 for kids, $30 for adults. Find out more at www.RockinR.net.
Add comment June 30, 2009
Who’s Your Daddy? The Party Continues in Mesa
Winners, losers, smokers, boozers. High techs and rednecks, bikers and thirsty hitchhikers. They are all welcome at Mesa’s newest offering, Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill. Earlier this month, local celebrities and fans came out in the hundreds when Toby Keith rolled into town to open his newest restaurant. And, restaurant is an understatement. This place is GINORMOUS (thank you Webster’s for acknowledging such a cool term so I don’t look like a fool using it). At 20,000 square feet, there is literally no stopping what can take place here. Toby himself said he “expects great things”, and so do we at the Mesa CVB.
The restaurant has a fully-equipped stage and you can catch live entertainment every Thursday night through Saturday night. As the lyrics to “I Love This Bar” dictate -there is never a cover charge and yup, beer is served in a Mason jar. On the weekends, you can be equally impressed with their “flare”tenders putting on a good show behind the bar. I’ll have to let someone else from our team blog about the food as I simply haven’t had a chance to get at some. Both times I’ve been to TK’s I was so busy running around all I could do was drool at the heavy platters of food as they whizzed by me. But, I wanted to make sure folks knew that this place caters to all – there is no dress code and honestly, you don’t have to appreciate country music (or even know who Toby Keith is for that matter) to enjoy this newest offering at Mesa Riverview. You just have to be seeking out a good time as you’ll definitely find it here – in Mesa!
Add comment June 15, 2009
Close encounters of desert creatures
Just as the sun is setting, creatures and plants at the Desert Botanical Garden begin their evening adventures. Participate in one of the garden’s Flashlight Tours and get a chance to see everything from night-blooming flowers to owls, bats, and nighthawks. The tours are held Thursdays and Saturdays from now until August 29 from 7 to 9 p.m. Interpreters will be on hand to introduce you to a king snake and a tarantula. You may be one of the lucky ones to see the Arizona queen of the night bloom. Now that’s a treat!
The garden is located at 1201 N. Galvin Parkway in Phoenix. For more information: www.dbg.org
Add comment June 10, 2009
