Tag Archive: things to do in mesa


Welcome to the Arizona Museum for Youth, where it’s adventure time from the instant you enter until the moment you leave. Some of the key upcoming events include:

Wing It!  All Things That Fly – February 10th through May 6th, 2012

An exhibition that features artwork that showcases our collective fascination with the creatures, inventions and fantasies which allow us to venture up, up and away!

Extreme Pets – May 25th through September 9th, 2012

Domestic animals are not possessions. They are members of the family. Whether it be dog, cat, birds, hamsters, lizards, goats, horses or elephants, our pets provide us with unconditional love. Extreme Pets takes an artistic look at the relationship people have with pets and how much they affect our lives.

Show Me The Money – September 28th through January 20, 2013

Show Me the Money bring to life through art some of the things that make the world go around: dollars, banknotes, bankrolls, bills, bread, bucks, capital, cash, checks, chips, coins, coinage, dough, finances, funds, gold, gravy, greenbacks, hard cash, legal tender, loot, pesos, riches, roll, salary, silver, treasures, wad, wages, and wealth. No matter what you call it, money is an interesting subject to illustrate through art.

Check out membership. For frequent visitors it might be worth considering.

There are a ton of other events listed for 2012. Check the event calendar (link below).

The Museum for Youth isn’t just for kids. There are plenty of things for adults to do as well…in fact there’s a page just for them (see below).

Dates and Times

  • Closed Mon
  • Tue to Sat 10am to 4pm
  • Sun 12pm to 4pm

Admission

  • $7.00
  • Children under 1 are FREE
  • Members are FREE

Address

35 North Robson
Mesa, AZ 85201

Map & Directions

Links

Video Games Live - Things to do in PhoenixImagine going to a classical concert. There’s a hush. The lights dim. The conductor taps his baton. A single note begins and he orchestra starts to play the theme from Donkey Kong…

Did he say “Donkey Kong”?

Welcome to Video Game Live, a concert series that brings classical music and video games together. Orchestras and choirs accompany video footage and music arrangements, synchronized lighting, solo performers, electronic percussionists, live action and unique interactive segments to create an explosive entertainment experience. If it sounds out there, it is.

Take the power and the emotional depth of a symphony and combine it with hi-tech music and visual effects and – wow. Whether you’re a gamer or not, this is an evening you won’t readily forget. You’ve probably heard about at least one or two of the games featured in the list:

Mario, Zelda, Halo, Final Fantasy, Warcraft, StarCraft, Diablo, Sonic, Metal Gear Solid, Kingdom Hearts, Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, Mega Man, Myst, Tron, Castlevania, Metroid, Interactive Frogger, Interactive Space Invaders, Interactive Guitar Hero, Interactive Donkey Kong, Medal of Honor, God of War, BioShock, Civilization IV, Tomb Raider, Beyond Good & Evil, Advent Rising, EverQuest II, Mass Effect, Shadow of the Colossus, Silent Hill, Crysis, Monkey Island, Earthworm Jim, End of Nations, Afrika, Assassin’s Creed II, Uncharted II, Portal, Lair, Conan, Command & Conquer: Red Alert, Headhunter, Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six, Jade Empire, Contra, OutRun, Gears of War, Need For Speed: Undercover, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Pong, Donkey Kong, Dragon’s Lair, Tetris, Duck Hunt, Ghosts ‘n Goblins, Gauntlet, Punch-Out, OutRun….

Started in 2005, Video Games Live has been performed at nearly every major concert venue in the world and has won numerous awards. The 2011 tour includes just one date in the Phoenix area, April 7th at the Mesa Arts Center. The concert starts at 7:30 pm and tickets start at $35.

Don’t miss this one!

Dates
April 7th, 2011

Address
Mesa Arts Center
1 East Main Street
Mesa, AZ 85211

Map & Directions

Tickets
$35 to $50 from Mesa Arts Center Ticket Office

Links
Video Games Live website
Video Games Live 2011 Concert Calendar

As with any event, please check the event website or with the vendor to verify the information posted above. This posting is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for complete accuracy. Please check all dates, times, locations, prices, age restrictions, safety and other information with the event organizer before attending.

Things to do in Phoenix : Community Farmers Market I should have taken that agriculture class in high school. It certainly would have paid off in my later years and maybe saved me from public embarrassment. I was at the grocery store this past weekend looking at tomatoes. Thinking out loud (and not looking for an answer, I might add) I said, “These tomatoes look awful.” The person next to me answered, “That’s because tomato season is June through August”, and looked at me as if I didn’t know who our President is. “You shouldn’t buy out of season vegetables”, she said shaking her head in disbelief.

I’ll admit I’m “intelligence deficient” in the category of seasonal vegetables. Ask me anything you want about real estate and I can give you the answer. But ask me which vegetables are in season and I will stare at you as if you asked me to quickly divide 4,562 into 102,354. This is why I’m leaving all the in-season produce questions to my local grower.

Arizona Farmers Markets is an association of valley markets supporting direct trade between local area farmers and the community. Local growers offer a wonderful selection of the freshest grown, in-season produce and fresh baked breads. You can find pesticide free grown herbs, veggies, and more. There is also a wide selection of organic salsas, jams, Mediterranean foods, range-fed beef, wild salmon and tuna, and other hard to find delicacies at most farmers markets.

So if you’re like me and never realized the importance of when tomato season is, then head to your local farmers market, and all your in-season veggie problems will be solved. If it’s not at your local farmers market, it’s not in season!

Arizona Community Farmers Market website

Phone: 480-292-1100 or 623-848-1234

For information and locations of markets, please click on the area of interest below:

Ahwatukee Farmers Market

Carefree Farmers Market

Glendale Farmers Market

Mesa Farmers Market

Phoenix Farmers Market

Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market

Scottsdale Farmers Market

South Scottsdale Farmers Market

Tempe / ASU Farmers Market

Other Locations

Things to do in Phoenix : Skateboarding Lessons / Skateboarding Parks

Okay, so you may not be able to perform a 360 mid-air loop without serious bodily harm, but skate boarding can still be a lot of fun, particularly when done safely. At venues such as SK8 Asylum you can learn the basics by taking a lesson or two. If you’re a skilled skater, then you can hone your skills as well.

SK8 Asylum is about fun with safety. From individual lessons to camps and public skate boarding, SK8 Asylum offers it all. Don’t have a skateboard? No problem! The shop at SK8 Asylum has gear from the beginner to semi-professional! Their indoor park is very impressive with Vert Ramp, Bowl and a Street Course. See the Sk8 Asylum website (below) for lessons and admission information.

Kids That Rip offers lessons for all ages, focusing on everything from fundamentals to advanced techniques. The minimum age is 3 years old and classes are by age group in a safe environment. The Kids That Rip skate park is something that has to be seen to be believed, with everything from a Vert Ramp that was part of the 2009 X Games to stair and handrail systems, complete with foam for a softer crash. See the Kids That Rip website (below) for additional information.

Waivers, helmets and safety gear are required by all venues.

 


SK8 Asylum

 

  • Lessons Daily (see website for schedule)
  • Rates vary by class

Address
8743 East Pecos Road
Suite 136
Mesa, Arizona 85212

Phone 480-888-9090

SK8 Asylum Map and Directions
SK8 Asylum website
SK8 Asylum lessons web page

 


 

Kids That Rip

  • Lessons by schedule (see website)
  • Rates vary by class

Address
1927 North Gilbert Road
Mesa, Arizona 85203

Phone 480- 844- 9600

Kids That Rip Map and Directions
Kids That Rip website
Kids That Rip lessons web page

 


 

As with any activity, check with the facility before you go for up-to-date prices, admission conditions, dates, restrictions, accessibility and other information appropriate to you and your party.

Things to do in Phoenix : Haunted Houses

It’s October, Halloween is just around the corner and haunted houses have mysteriously appeared all over the Valley…

There’s nothing like a good fright to get the blood pumping, and there are several scary places to visit in the Phoenix area, from the traditional “haunted house” to complete towns where the person standing next to you might be already be dead…

Phantom Manor is a charity haunted “experience” hosted by Professional photographer Douglas Pimental and pop recording artist Mandi Leigh in Peoria. Hollywood horror movies are the theme throughout and there is a cemetery, haunted house and interactive attractions. Kids under 13 should be accompanied by an adult. The nice thing about this attraction is that the visitor determines how much the donation, 100% of which goes to benefit Habitat for Humanity, should be. There is additional information on the Phantom Manor website (below).

Night of Impending Doom is a free haunted house, hosted by Jasyn.com, also in Peoria. It’s open for one night, Halloween and promises “fun for all ages”. Not too much information available for this one, but there is a website (see below).

Jack and Jill’s Haunted Hill in Phoenix is open most weekends on October. A donation of $5 per person. The house on a hill is pretty creepy before you even enter the place. Visitors can find out why Jack and Jill went up the hill and never came down again…after they found an abandoned mine…Additional information can be found on the Jack and Jill’s Haunted Hill website (below).

Fear Farm in the West Valley, rivals The Nest (below) for variety. The venue features four attractions, and an “extreme haunt”, “Decimator”, an “in-your-face experience not for the weary at heart”. The other features include “Chainsaw Mayhem”, “The Asylum”, “Apocalypse” and “Condemned”. You want fear? Then this is the place because things will jump out at you again…and again…Fear Farm also features a Corn Maze, just in case there’s any adrenalin you still need to get rid of! It’s not the cheapest venue, starting at $20 (not including the corn maze or “Decimator”. You can save $1 on the Fear Farm website (below).

Dark Scares features “over 15,000 square feet of terror” in Mesa. Featuring Paradise Falls: Resort for the Mentally Disturbed and Feardom: Fear Itself, Dark Scares isn’t recommended for younger children and kids under 13 should be accompanies by an adult. Guests are advised not to touch the exhibits as “s the guests often lose control and brutally murder, dismember, and otherwise devour anything that upsets them”. Consider taking spare underwear…Additional information can be found on the Dark Scares website (below). You can save $3 by purchasing your tickets online.

Chambers of Fear claims to be “Arizona’s Scariest Haunted Attraction”, and this may be no idle boast. This attraction has been highly rated by AZCentral, MSNBC and the Arizona Republic. Not recommended for younger children, Chambers of Fear combines animatronics with live actors to scare the heck out of you. There are also Oktoberfest, a pumpkin patch and other activities. See the Chambers of Fear website (below).

Field of Screams at Tolmachoff Farms is a haunted cornfield planted over an old cemetery in Glendale. It’s a corn maze, so the fear factor grows as visitors try to find their way out while trying to avoid the ghosts within. You never know who might be waiting around the next corner…was that a chainsaw? Children under 15 require an adult to be with them and Field of Screams is not recommended for kids under 10. Save $2 with a coupon on the Field of Screams website (below).

The Crypt Haunted Attractions offers two venues. Visitors can enter both the Crypt and the Asylum for one price, or pay for each. The Asylum was once a hospital for mentally insane where electroshock therapy was practiced, but it appears that the inmates might have taken over the asylum. The Crypt should have been a peaceful final resting place for the dead, but they refused to stay dead…Both the Crypt and Asylum are at Fiesta Mall in Mesa. See the Crypt Haunted Attractions website for a $2 coupon (below).

The Nest is probably the Grandaddy of them all. Located at Rawhide, visitors are greeted by a “Monster Midway”, and creatures who wander the grounds. Attractions include Mirror Mania and the Graveyard, a 3D haunted house and Bleak, a pitch black maze – not for the feint-hearted. Just when you think your heart can’t take any more, you enter the Nest itself, right out of your worst nightmare, with trained actors, Hollywood-style effects and has been featured on MTV and MSN. There are two ticket options available, regular and VIP, the latter allowing a second visit to the attractions and no waiting. Buy your VIP tickets online and save $6 (see below).


Phantom Manor Charity Haunt

Hours (October)

  • 29 / 30 / 31 6pm to 10pm

Admission

  • Donation requested – visitor determines amount
  • Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult

Address
8537 West Windsor Drive
Peoria, Arizona 85381

Phantom Manor Charity Haunt Map and Directions
Phantom Manor Charity Haunt website
Phantom Manor Charity Haunt online ticket purchase web page


Night of Impending Doom

Hours

  • October 31 5pm to 11pm

Admission

  • Free

Address
3836 West Peoria Avenue
Peoria, Arizona

Night of Impending Doom Map and Directions (Approx)
Night of Impending Doom website


Jack and Jill’s Haunted Hill

Hours (October)

  • Fri / Sat / Sun 7pm to 10pm
  • Closed 15ht / 30th

Admission

  • $5

Address
9847 North 14th Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85020

Jack and Jill’s Haunted Hill Map and Directions
Jack and Jill’s Haunted Hill website


Fear Farm

Hours (October)

  • Thu / Sun 7:30pm to 10pm
  • Fri / Sat 7:30pm to Midnight

Admission

  • $20 for 4 attractions : “Chainsaw Mayhem”, “The Asylum”, “Apocalypse” and “Condemned”
  • $8 for “Decimator”
  • $8 for Corn Maze
  • $25 for 4 attractions (above) and Corn Maze
  • $10 for “Fast Track” (no waiting)

Address
2149 North 99th Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona 85037

Fear Farm Map and Directions

Fear Farm website
Fear Farm online ticket purchase web page
Fear Farm $1 coupon page


Dark Scares

Hours (October)

  • Thu / Sun 7pm to 10pm
  • Fri / Sat 7pm to Midnight

Admission

  • $18 at the door
  • $15 online
  • Rated PG-13

Address
6912 East Hampton Avenue
Mesa, Arizona 85209

Dark Scares Map and Directions
Dark Scares website
Dark Scares ticket purchase web page


Chambers of Fear

Hours (October)

  • Thu / Sun 7pm to 10pm
  • Fri / Sat 7pm to Midnight
  • Wed (10/27 only) 7pm to 10pm

Admission

  • General Admission $15
  • Fast Pass $20
  • Not recommended for children under 6

Address
11340 West Bell Road

Surprise Arizona 85374

Chambers of Fear Map and Directions
Chambers of Fear website
Chambers of Fear promotions / coupons web page


Field of Screams

Hours (October)

  • Fri / Sat 7pm to 11pm
  • Sun (10/31 only) 7pm to 11pm

Admission

  • All ages $15

Address
5726 North 75th Avenue
Glendale, Arizona 85303

Field of Screams (Tolmachoff Farms) Map and Directions
Field of Screams website
Field of Screams $2 coupon (PDF)


The Crypt Haunted Attractions

Hours (October)

  • Sun / Wed / Thu 7pm to 10pm
  • Fri / Sat 7pm to Midnight

Admission

  • $13 for a single haunted house
  • $17 for both attractions

Address
Fiesta Mall
1445 West Southern Avenue # 775
Mesa, Arizona 85202

The Crypt Haunted Attractions (Fiesta Mall) Map and Directions
The Crypt Haunted Attractions website
The Crypt Haunted Attractions $2 coupon


The Nest

Hours (October)

  • Thu / Sun 7pm to 10pm
  • Fri / Sat 7pm to Midnight

Admission

  • At the door
    • $25 General Admission
    • $35 VIP Admission
  • Online
    • $25 General Admission
    • $29 VIP Admission

Address
Rawhide
5700 West North Loop Road
Chandler, Arizona 85226

The Nest (Rawhide) Map and Directions
The Nest website
The Nest specials / coupons web page
The Nest online ticket purchase


As with any activity, check with the facility before you go for up-to-date prices, admission conditions, dates, restrictions, accessibility and other information appropriate to you and your party.

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