Filed under: Arizona, city tours, Restaurants, Shopping, top-feature, university
Tempe Arizona a Fiesta of Fun
Tempe, Arizona is thought by many to be merely a suburb of Phoenix. Yet a visit to this eclectic ‘burb can range from art appreciation and sophisticated dining to retro shopping and cheering with rowdy sports fans or merely enjoying good times with friends — a true fiesta of fun.
Arizona State University boasts four distinct campuses in the metro Phoenix area. The Tempe Campus supports 55,000 students and is a point of interest for frequent visitors and tourists. Home of the PAC-10 championship football team, the Sun Devil Stadium (map) is also the site of the annual holiday Fiesta Bowl. Football fans will be in awe of the beauty that surrounds the stadium, carved in between two mountain buttes. The stadium is truly popping out of the surrounding desert.
Beauty and artistry can also be found at the ASU Art Museum (map) which houses an impressive collection of contemporary art. What began as a generous donation of artwork displayed among the stacks of books in the campus library, expanded into an art museum as a new library was constructed and the artwork remained. With continued donations and acquisitions, the collections are now housed within two facilities, the Art Museum and a recently constructed award-winning Nelson Fine Arts Center (map). Both house a broad collection of art of the Americas, crafts, prints and other contemporary pieces.
Theater lovers will also be drawn to the campus to attend numerous performances from a variety of artists, including Broadway Across America – Arizona at the ASU Gammage (map). ASU Gammage is one of the busiest university based performing arts centers in the world. Known to be one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s final designs, Wright sought to make the theatre acoustically as perfect as possible. Built in 1964, the building continues to be a source of pride for ASU students, alumni and guests to the campus.
A visit to the ASU Tempe Campus would not be complete without a stop at nearby Mill Avenue District (map), the downtown of Tempe. Full of diverse shops, restaurants and bars it is a walkable district and hub of activity and entertainment. From romantic fine dining to tiny hole-in-the-wall establishments, you will find an abundance of dining options –70 to be exact.
One thing I look for while traveling are local dining spots. While you will find a few comfortable old stand-by chain restaurants among the dining choices, try for something local. Who could resist eating at Sucker Punch Sally’s, known for it’s vintage motorcycle decor and home-made pies, Mexican dishes at Hippies Cove, or my favorite, The Tavern on Mill (map).
One block off the main drag tucked on a side street, The Tavern on Mill was, on this afternoon, a quiet spot to refresh. Boasting almost as much seating space outside as inside, we settled into a comfortable table on one of the patios. The patio provided an excellent spot for people watching, yet indoors 30 television screens and monitors allow patrons to watch sporting events and music videos.
The Tavern serves traditional pub fare as well as southwestern dishes. My dining partner ordered a platter of Carne Asada soft tacos, while I experimented with the Mahi Mahi tacos. They were tasty, filling and cheap, if not exceptional, a prerequisite for a college town establishment. Known for its daily specials, the Tavern on Mill is a great spot for late nights, (open until 2 am) and mornings after, as it is one of the few spots known to serve breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings, opening at 9 am. Our server informed us that the popular Tavern can be standing room only on sporting event days.
Bustling with activity, Mill Avenue attracts those with a free spirit, nearby college students and those longing for the bygone days. I have to admit I fell in love with the unconventional District. The shopping on Mill Avenue offers a broad variety. If you need game day attire, Cactus Sports and Campus Corner will have you covered. If you want a t-shirt, hoodie or sweatshirt like no other, create your own at Brand X Custom T-Shirts. Some of the stores appear to be for the more liberal shopper. Don’t believe me, just stop in Hippie Gypsy, Happy Healthy High Horny Herb Shop or Lotions & Potions.
Need something a little more active to do? Visit the 25-acre Tempe Town Lake and Beach Park (map). Sitting adjacent to the Mill Avenue District and ASU Tempe Campus, this area, originally built in 1931, is a great location for visitors as well as locals to enjoy nature, recreation, even cultural events. With a total renovation in 1999, the park offers boating and fishing, jogging and bicycle trails, volleyball courts, a free admission splash park, and relaxing picnic grounds. It is easy to see why so many people are drawn to this recreational area.
Photo Selections: J. Ingersoll, flickr: ASU Gammage
