Sonoran City News

Fair-ly Fun

Today was Armed Forces Day at the Arizona State Fair. My dear husband had the presence of mine to devote 20 years of his life serving his country so we could go to the Arizona State Fair today for free. OK, maybe he wasn't thinking about the fair when he spent a year freezing his butt off in Korea, but let's pretend he was.

The fair is not a big attraction for me. I won't eat the food. The thought of deep fried Dr. Pepper is scary. I don't ride the rides (also scary, but for safety reasons) and I'm not a big fan of carnival games. So why, you ask, go to the fair?

Cows. Pigs. Horses.

And a Zebra.

I pet this Zebra. A first for me. My husband pet the Zebra too. Do you think he was glad it was a free day at the fair for us?

  I thought this guy looked a bit like Silvio on the Sopranos. At least they share the same barber.

Looks like someone forgot to comb his hair today.

Cows. Wouldn't be a Fair without cows.

  Happy Pig Family

Grand Prix Arizona

Tickets are on sale for Grand Prix Arizona. Held in the heart of Downtown Phoenix November 30 - December 2, 2007. The website is a little less user friendly then one might hope but it does have ticket information and a .pdf of the race track.

This should make for an interesting weekend. I know the Sheriff ran noise tests a few months back over concerns for the 911 system. Light Rail construction has the streets pretty torn up but this should have no effect on the race as construction should be fairly wrapped up by then.

Classic Carriages Collector Car Auction

Classic Carriages Collector Car Auction and Show - March 14-18 - Arizona Cardinals Stadium (University of Phoenix Stadium) Glendale, AZ.

Featuring over 700 cars and more than 100 custo and classic motorcycles. Events include a Celebrity Car Challenge, Sports and Exotic Car Gallery, Car Club Extravaganza, Motorsports Festival, Family Zone and more.

Auction preview, ticket information and event schedule available on the Classic Carriages website.

Flightless Birds and Agile Dogs

Did you know the Ostrich, native to Africa, is the largest living bird species usually weighing in at 200-285 pounds? Well, here is your chance to learn more about the Ostrich. The 19th Annual Ostrich Festival will be held March 9 - 11, 2007 at Tumbleweed Park in Chandler, AZ.

The event features live entertainment, a carnival and Ostrich Races. The Races include all kinds of animals like camels, zebras and our frisky ostriches. Strangely you can also buy ostrich meat at the festival.

If flightless birds aren't your thing, the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge will also be taking place during the festival. The featured events include

Jack Russell Hurdle Racing

60 Weave Poles

Dog Diving

Freestyle Flying Disc

Agility Competition

Click here for Map of Tumbleweed Park:480-786-2727 2200 S McQueen Rd Chandler, AZ 85249, US

Champ Car Testing to Close Some Streets

Because Light Rail Construction wasn't enough...

Sheriff Joe is concerned about the noise the proposed Champ Car Race (Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 ) will cause, sound barriers are being tested today (Tuesday) at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Each test will take about 20 minutes and local access will be available between the road tests.

The roads affected will be as follows:
Madison Street from First Street to Third Avenue.  Central Avenue from Madison to Lincoln streets.  First Avenue from Jefferson to Lincoln streets.

More Information

Canstruction® in Phoenix

Canstruction^® , an International Community Service Project of the Design and Construction Industry, is making a significant contribution to the fight against HUNGER. Competing teams, of architects and engineers, display their talents by designing giant sculptures made entirely out of canned foods. At the end of the competition, the canned goods are donated to shelters, soup kitchens, and day can and elderly centers.

Canstruction^® Phoenix is on display
March 5th - March 9th, 2007
at Phoenix City Hall, 200 W. Washington Street 1st Floor Assembly Rooms

Monday, 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Tuesday - Thursday, 8:00am - 5:00pm
Friday, 8:00am - 3:00pm

At the close of the exhibitions all of the food used to create the structures will be donated to
St. Mary's/Westside Foodbank

Arizona House Beautiful - The Desert Living Show

The Arizona's House Beautiful - The Desert Living Show will be March 2-4, 2007 at Cardinals Stadium (University of Phoenix Stadium). Discount coupons are available on their site.

This is the place to be center for every type of home improvement. The show features design rooms, exciting landscape displays along with hundreds of exhibits and top professionals available to answer questions and provide direct assistance to those seeking outside help to complete home projects.  Viewed as one of the most prestigious shows in the industry. This show is new to the Phoenix market.

49th Annual Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market

Saturday and Sunday, March 3 & 4, 2007 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. the 49th Annual Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market at the Heard Museum, 2301 N. Central Ave. (Central and Encanto).

Hundreds of artists including jewelers, potters, weavers, painters, carvers and more will be on-hand to feature and sell their work. The fair and marketplace began in 1958 and has become one of the most popular American Indian art events in the nation drawing over 18,000 visitors.

From my office window I've been watching them set up for this event for the past few days. The light rail construction will cease near the event for the weekend. There are many free parking lots available within walking distance. In fact, my building is opening our lot to the Heard for the event.

Tickets are $15 for adults. Children up to 16 are free and a two-day pass is $24

First Fridays - Artlink Downtown Phoenix

First Fridays (artlink inc.)runs from 6pm till 10pm on the first Friday of each month. Start at the Phoenix Public Library (Central and McDowell) where you can grab a brochure which includes the shuttles and member galleries. Free shuttle buses are available and take about 20 minutes to make the entire route.

Print this map so you can plan your evening ahead of time (there is too much to do and see in one evening.

If you can't make it Friday, Art Detour takes place March 3&4. Art Detour hours are 10am - 6pm on Saturday the 3rd and 12 noon - 6pm on Sunday the 4th. Widely reported to be the largest, most well attended art event of its kind in the country.

Historic Phoenix Home Tours - Coronado

The 20th Annual Coronado Home Tour will take place on Sunday, March 4th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tour begins and ends at Coronado Park, the heart of Coronado. Built between 1920 and 1940, architectural styles include Bungalow, Tudor, Spanish Revival, and Ranch.

Tickets are available at a pre-sale price of $12.75 or $15 day of tour.

Coronado Park is located at Palm Lane between 12th and 13th Streets, just north of McDowell, in Phoenix.