Judy's Phoenix Blog

Now that it is the morning after, did you get some great shots of fireworks? If you did, and you'd like to submit them to the Arizona Fireworks Gallery, here are the instructions. Not only might your picture be selected to be included in the photo gallery, but I might also spotlight it in my weekly newsletter.

If you send me your fireworks photos, don't forget to tell me which celebration you attended when you took them.

Last month I stopped in downtown Phoenix and spent a couple of hours at First Friday. It has been a couple of years since I've been to the event, and I know that galleries and artists have changed significantly since I last participated.

There were quite a few other changes as well. The shuttle system is a little different, due in part to what I imagine are the budgetary constraints of the nonprofit organization that ruins the event, ArtLink. Additionally, some City of Phoenix ordinances created problems for those artists setting up tables on the city streets and now there are designated areas where tables and booths may be erected. If you've never attended First Friday in Phoenix, the new photos that I added to the First Friday Picture Gallery should give you a pretty good idea of what to expect. I also updated some tips that you might find useful.

One would think that they would cancel First Friday this month because of the holiday. Nope. Although the Burton Barr Central Library will be closed on that day (so you can't visit that gallery) I have been advised that the First Friday shuttles will be running and there will be maps available in the parking lot there.

Good news: You can enjoy First Friday and see the Phoenix 4th of July fireworks from wherever you are on the route!
Bad news: The Fabulous Phoenix Fourth Celebration is at Steele Indian School Park. Expect the area to be congested.

There's still a lot of summer left. Some of our local movie theaters are taking the sting out of movie ticket prices for kids this summer.

2008 Summer Movie Fun at Harkins Theaters features a different family movie each week for five more weeks. Individual, one-time tickets for the remainder of the program will be sold for $2 at the box office. Check your preferred Harkins locations first, since some theaters are already sold out of the program. Call the Summer Movie Hotline at 480-627-5525 for more information.

AMC Theatres at Westgate, Deer Valley and Mesa have started the Summer Movie Camp. On Wednesdays at 10 a.m. through August 6, 2008 movies are just a buck. You can also purchase an AMC KidsPack™ for $3 (plus tax) that includes a kids’-size drink, kids’-size popcorn and a kids’-size snack.

Cinemark's Summer Movie Clubhouse (Mesa Riverview) still has five weeks to go. Each movie is $1 and they are shown at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays.

All of the movies for kids shown during these special summer programs are rated either G or PG.

Not a kid anymore? Mike from North Phoenix sent me an email letting me know that "...AMC theaters [is] offering $5 tickets to all movies (even first weekend films) which have a starting time before noon on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays." That's a good deal -- thanks, Mike! I also noticed that the Cinemark at Mesa Riverview is charging $5.50 for the first matinée show, Monday through Friday and seniors can see a movie there all day Monday for $5.50.

You Might Also Be Interested In....

• Map to Mesa Riverview
• Movie Theaters and Maps
• Senior Discounts

_{All prices and offerings are subject to change without notice.}

The Ethan Fire started on June 25. It is located about 12 miles southwest of Phoenix on lands belonging to the Gila River Indian Community, and is expected to be fully contained tomorrow, July 1, 2008. More than 6,000 acres were involved in the fire.

Now the Lane 2 fire is burning in the Prescott National Forest and the community of Crown King has been evacuated. More than 500 structures are in danger. Several buildings have been destroyed. The fire has already burned more than 5,000 acres acres and is zero percent contained. That means that it will get a whole lot worse before it gets better. Crown King is a popular Arizona ghost town located about 2 hours from Phoenix. In case you are wondering, ghost towns aren't necessarily uninhabited.

How did this fire get started? Apparently a lost hiker set a fire to signal for help. Nearly 500 firefighters are working the blaze from the air and from the ground.

You can get up-to-date reports on this and other Arizona wildfires from the Southwest Coordination Center.

Auditions for the eighth season of American Idol will come to Arizona for the first time. Jobing.com Arena will be site for the auditions.

Auditions will be held in 7 cities:

Thursday, July 17 in San Francisco, CA
Monday, July 21 in Louisville, KY
Friday, July 25 in Glendale
Tuesday, July 29 in Salt Lake City, UT
Saturday, August 2 in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Friday, August 8 in Kansas City, MO
Wednesday, August 13 in Jacksonville, FL
Tuesday, August 19 in East Rutherford, NJ

It is only appropriate that AI auditions come to the Valley of the Sun. After, all, the overall winner of Season 6, Jordin Sparks, is from Glendale. In Season 7, two locals -- David Hernandez and Brooke White -- made the top 12.

Specific instructions for applying and auditioning in Glendale have not yet been made public. Check here for details as they are released. As far as planning for your audition success, here's an article that every American Idol wannabe should read.

UPDATE June 29: The fire on the Gila River Indian Reservation, dubbed the Ethan Fire, is still burning south of Baseline near 87th Avenue. Around 50 people in the Gila River Indian Community were evacuated on Saturday. The Ethan Fire has now burned about 5,400 acres. It is about 30% contained. More than 200 firefighters are involved in fighting the wildfire.

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The brush fire near south Phoenix on Gila River Indian Community land that I wrote about yesterday is not contained as the fire officials had hoped it would be. About 150 firefighters are working the fire from the ground while wind shifts made it difficult for air crews trying to slow advances by the fire with fire retardant. It is estimated that about 1,300 acres of salt cedar and mesquite in the river bottom have burned, but no residential areas are in danger at this time.

I've got an idea. Why not introduce your family to a special evening of food, music and fun in the old west? Throughout Summer 2008 (and even when summer is over) Pioneer Pepper and the Sunset Pioneers are appearing on Saturday nights at the Carefree Resort and Villas in Carefree. The Wild West Dinner Theater Review includes an all-you-can eat buffet, the show, and an after-show gunfight skit. What a great way to spend a Saturday night with the family or with out-of-town guests who want to know, "what can we do that isn't so hot?"

While it might be nice to get away from home and spend the weekend at the Carefree Resort, it isn't necessary to do so in order to see the show. Tickets are available to the public. You can also get tickets for just the show and gunfight, without the dinner. As an added benefit, just this summer (2008) local area residents who attend the show are invited to stay and enjoy the resort pool that evening.

Carefree, Arizona is north of Scottsdale. Did you know that the elevation of Carefree is about 1,000 feet higher than in Phoenix? You know what that means....yup, it's about 3 degrees cooler there! Seriously, though, I have another bit of good news. I saw that some discounted tickets for the Pioneer Pepper Dinner/Show are available at Showup.com.

Valley monsoon storms have made their debut in the Valley. A fire caused by a lightning strike is burning desert brush on the Gila River Indian Community in the southwest part of metro area, and billowing smoke can be seen from miles around. So far about 1,200 acres near Laveen and not far from Phoenix International Raceway have burned, but no buildings have been destroyed. A few homes have been evacuated. The Gila River Fire Department is managing crews that are fighting the fire from above with fire retardant, since there are few roads in the area. It is said to be a dense, hot-burning brush, making it more challenging to battle. They expect to have the fire under control within a day or two. This is a good reminder that summer wildfires in Arizona are not limited to the national forests. Fires, whether human caused or as a result of natural weather phenomena, can impact the metro Phoenix area.

There are several wildfires burning as I write this in the southern and western portion of Arizona. You can get more information about Arizona Wildfires, and find out how to get wildfire updates here.

Even though it is almost unbearably hot, I still go out there with my 14 sticks in my bag, a sleeve of balls, lots of ice water, a wet towel, a spray bottle, a cell phone and a friend. I play golf. Not well, mind you, but I play nonetheless. When it is summertime and the temperatures are high, I try to play very early in the morning or sometimes even very late in the afternoon. I know how to take precautions in desert heat, especially as they relate to heat-related illness.

Anyone who plays the game has heard of PING, the golf club manufacturer. You might not know, however, that the company that makes PING clubs is headquartered right here in Phoenix, Arizona. Well, OK. I guess you knew that, too. But did you know that you can actually take a free tour of the factory? I did it, and I highly recommend it for those with (or those that want to have) serious golf smarts. I learned so many things. For example, I learned that few people get fitted for a putter even though for most people putting represents about 30% of the strokes on the golf course. Who knew that there are 5 aspects of putters to which you can be fitted? Now I know.

P.S. Of course, I had to buy a new putter after I was fitted. It's an I-Series Half Moon (Compare Prices). I love it!

I took this photo somewhere in the Greater Phoenix area. It could be in any one of the cities and towns located within Maricopa County.

© Judy Hedding

Do you know where it is? Tell us by posting your "comment" below.