Downtown Tempe, Arizona

Release Date: Thursday, July 1st 2010

Downtowner - July 2010

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In This Issue

  • Social Media Day
  • Tempe 4th
  • Summer Flowers
  • Recycling on Mill 

Social Media Day is June 30 at MADCAP Theaters

Facebook. Twitter. Foursquare. YouTube. They help us keep up with friends and family virtually when we don't have time for the in-person experience. Mashable, the leading information outlet for social media, has declared June 30 to be Social Media Day. More than 525 places around the world are hosting events in honor of the decreed day, including Downtown Tempe.

Social Media Arizona (SMAZ) is hosting the official Phoenix Social Media Day Party at MADCAP Theaters from 5-7 p.m. SMAZ is inviting people to get on the MADCAP stage and give a verbal, in-person Tweet about why they love their favorite social media tool and talk about something great that happened because they used it.

Listen to music by Bears of Manitou and hang out with some of the Valley's social media illuminati. If you can't be there, you can Tweet your favorite social media story using #smdayphx and a scrolling Twitterfeed will show it in the MADCAP lobby. SMAZ will live stream the event, too. Watch the event online at www.socialmediaaz.org/smday

For those who are inexperienced users of the medium, a drawing will be held for some coaching on how to have the best social media experiences. More than that, the people at the event are happy to help.Social Media Day is a great way to meet fun, friendly experts.

It's not a party without the prizes. City of Tempe, Downtown Tempe Community, GoDaddy, Smashburger, and others will have some impressive swag to give away and you can win tickets to the September SMAZ conference.

Tempe 4th and Fireworks Spectacular

Tempe will once again celebrate Independence Day in grand fashion this year by hosting the largest fireworks display in Arizona. The 59th annual CBS 5 July 4th Tempe Town Lake Festival, produced by the Kiwanis Club of Tempe, will take place on Sunday, July 4, at Tempe Beach Park. Gates open at 4 p.m. All ages can celebrate the holiday with live local entertainment, a splash zone, kids activities and games, rock climbing walls and face painters. The 59th annual fireworks spectacular begins at dusk. Net proceeds will benefit the Kiwanis Club of Tempe.

ATTRACTIONS

  • Wells Fargo Hot Summer Nights Stage: A variety of bands will take the stage beginning at 4 p.m. Entertainers include NO BIG DEAL - Rock n' Roll High School, Roxster, Casey Lee Smith, KONGOS, The Big Zephyr and more!
  • Fantastic Family Fest: Free inflatable village for all ages with a variety of rides, rock climbing wall and more.
  • Azcentral.com Splash Playground: Cool off with water fun and games for all ages.
  • Assorted Food Courts: Foods for every palate, including Macayo's, brats, hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, ice cream, snow cones, smoothies, fry bread, Pepsi products, Budweiser beer gardens and more.
  • SKYE VIP Garden: Ticket to exclusive area includes a seat in a misted area, SKYE Restaurant dinner, two drink tickets and a great view of the fireworks show. Limited tickets available for $60 each, plus applicable service charge. $30 for children 5-12 years old. Children younger than 5 but do not receive a meal.
  • Fireworks Spectacular: A 40-minute fireworks show launched from the Mill Avenue bridge and choreographed to patriotic and classical music.

TICKETS
Children 12 and younger and current military with military ID card receive free admission. Tickets can now be purchased at the following locations:

  • City of Tempe offices: Advance general admission tickets are available for $5 until July 3. Please visit www.tempe4th.com for locations.
  • Fry's and Fry's Marketplace stores: Advance general admission tickets are available for $6 at all Valley Fry's stores.
  • Day-of at Gate: Adult tickets are $8 each, or two for $15. Tickets will be sold at the gate until park reaches capacity. Pre-sale tickets will be honored all night.
  • Bring a can food item the day of the event and save $1 off your gate admission. All canned food items will be donated to the St. Mary's Food Bank.

PARKING
Because of high attendance, plan to arrive early and leave late for the best parking. Event patrons are encouraged to consider these parking suggestions:

  • ADA parking is available at the US Airways Garage.
  • Patrons traveling from the west should park at the lot located at Rio Salado Parkway and Hardy Drive.
  • Patrons traveling from the east should park at the ASU lots near Rural Road and Rio Salado Parkway or the SunCor building on Rio Salado Parkway and Mill Avenue.
  • There are several thousand parking spaces in the Mill Avenue District. Visit www.millavenue.com/parking for locations.
  • Avoid parking on the north bank. The Mill Avenue bridges will be closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Patrons who park on the north bank of the lake will NOT be able to walk across the Mill Avenue bridges to attend the event.
  • For street closures and traffic updates, visit www.tempe.gov/streetclosures.

Flowers Planted in Tree Beds Along Mill Avenue

The Downtown Tempe Community is happy to announce that new flowers have been planted in the tree wells along Mill Avenue. These flowers are the first step in our overall beautification plan for Mill Avenue District. Dianthus and Lisianthus flowers have been planted and they will be changed out approximately twice a year based on the season. 

Recycling on Mill Starts July 15

The City of Tempe Public Works Department in partnership with Downtown Tempe Community, is pleased to announce the installation of new recycling containers on July 15, 2010. The blue recycling containers will be located on Mill Avenue at 5th and 6th Street and Tempe municipal building, 31 E. 5th Street.

The blue recycling containers will be placed adjacent to the existing brown trash containers. This will provide visitors with options to recycle while visiting downtown Tempe. The new outdoor recycling containers are blue, with a small circular opening, and clearly labeled of what can be recycled. Acceptable items that may be placed in the downtown blue recycling containers are empty beverage containers, (aluminum, glass, plastic) and newspapers.

For the past twenty years the City of Tempe has provided recycling service for businesses in the downtown area. This represents Tempe's commitment to building a sustainable community by diverting recyclables from the landfill.

For questions about Tempe's business recycling program, please contact: Public Works, Solid Waste at (480) 350 8145 or visit the website: www.tempe.gov/recycling