The beauty of living here lies in all the great opportunities for hiking. Unfortunately I’m not willing to brave the heat or wake up at the crack of dawn to do it so you won’t find me on the trails until cool weather hits. I’m preparing to hike the Grand Canyon in March and am significantly out of shape. The last 3 weekends I’ve gone to Piestewa – not to hike the peak but the surrounding trails. Today there was a cool breeze – it was lovely.

If you are a beginner or out of shape I would suggest the Mohave trail. It has a nice incline and the summitt has a nice view of the city. It’s a relatively easy climb but the feeling of accomplishment when I finished it was good. Up and back is just under a mile. I vow there will be pictures – I keep forgetting to take my camera. But maybe that will just encourage you to go yourself…

Hiking is the quintessential Phoenix outdoor pastime. The views are amazing and the weather is right. So, get out there!

What is the event that has people so interested? Not politics, not the economy, but…
Rain!

Other desert regions may be similar, but in my experience Phoenicians reaction to the promise of rainy days is fairly unique.

Rain is rare enough that we take pictures

People go hiking, take walks, and dance in the rain. The children run outside and play. Phoenicians tend to appreciate rain, except when mother nature gives a year’s worth in one storm. The tendency of the desert to brew storms like that is why Arizona has a “Stupid Motorist’s Law“.

The “Stupid Motorist Law”, which corresponds to section 28-910 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, states that any motorist who drives around barricades to enter a flooded stretch of roadway may be charged for the cost of his/her rescue.

Example of why the law is needed:

The odds are not so good for Phoenix getting wet this weekend, but we can hope. At very least it will cool down. Since the Monsoon is officially over, I guess that will have to do.

‘Cause I’m almost, I’m almost Irish
And I hope almost, is good enough for you
And I’m mostly, I’m mostly Irish
OK mostly I’m American it’s true
Maybe the little bit of Irish in me
Could be the little bit of Irish in you

What does this have to do with Phoenix? Because Phoenix has a large Irish population and a Celtic music scene.

Thanks to groups like the Irish Cultural Center and the Arizona Irish Music Society, there are a lot of venues to find good Irish music.
One I highly recommend is Saturday, October 4th. The Arizona Irish Festival at Margaret Hance Park and the Irish Cultural Center in Phoenix is a can’t miss event.

Irish Cultural Center
1106 N. Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ, 85004
(602) 308-4601.

If you want to participate directly in the music, you can learn an instrument or how to dance at the Cultural Center. If you just want to listen, the Arizona Irish Festival is a good place to start, but there are many other opportunities in the valley as well.

Jane Hilton - St. Patrick's 2007 - Photo (c) Chris Seggerman

Tim Finnegan’s Irish Restaurant & Pub
9201 N. 29th Ave.
Phoenix, Arizona 85051
Phone: 602.997.2323

Shay also plays frequently at O’Connors Pub located at I-17 & Dunlap (East of Fuddrucker’s), which has been a second home to me for years.

Shay playing, Saint Patrick’s Day, 2007

If you are not into the pub scene (and there are several around the valley, which I will write about later), there are alternatives. This Friday, September 26, at Mama Java’s Coffeehouse (Indian School between 32nd St and 40th St) will feature:

• 8pm Singer-Songwriter David McKay w/ Jane Hilton, violin, viola and mando bird
• 9pm Glaswegian Singer and Guitarist Ian Walinck, Jane Hilton, fiddle, and Sarah Henrich, bodhran

Another great venue is Fiddler’s Dream.
From their web site:

Fiddler’s Dream Coffeehouse is located at 1702 East Glendale, in North Phoenix, just 1 block North of Glendale Avenue on the east side of 17th Street. We are on the grounds of the Phoenix Friends Meeting, on the Southeast corner of 17th Street and Cactus Wren.
We’re open from 7:15 pm until 11:00 pm Friday and Saturday nights (Performances start at 8:00 pm) and on Thursday 6:15 pm to 10:00 pm (music starts 7:30pm), we’re open for our Open Stage Night, so stop and visit. We also have some special events-check our calendar! In January 2009 we celebrate our 22nd Anniversary – and we plan to keep getting better and better. As an all-volunteer organization, we are always looking for nice folks to staff the kitchen, emcee, and lots of other fun stuff. Let us know if you’d like to be involved!
We offer a smoke-free, alcohol-free, COMPLETELY ACOUSTIC musical environment in a small venue. It’s a lot of fun, and we hold an open-stage at the end of most Friday and Saturday shows … 10 minutes or three songs.
For information on each weekend’s events, call (602) 997-9795. Fiddler’s Dream is COMPLETELY ACOUSTIC, which means we have no sound system, no microphones, and no amplifiers – and none are allowed per our incorporating charter. If you are interested in performing at Fiddler’s Dream, and can do a completely acoustic set, e-mail or give us a call.

I have been to all the venues except Tim Finnegan’s and I am pretty proud of AZ’s Irish Music scene. See you around

I will have trouble making up my mind, because the line up is awesome:

AZ STATE FAIR MAIN STAGE
10:45-11:15am – HOUSEMAN ATHLETES
11:30am-12:15pm – MICKEY AVALON
12:35-1:20pm – THE KOOKS
1:40-2:25pm – FLOBOTS
2:45-3:30pm – ALKALINE TRIO
3:50-4:40pm – PENNYWISE
5-6pm – NOFX
6:20-7:20pm – RISE AGAINST
7:50-9pm – FLOGGING MOLLY
9:30-10:45pm – PAUL OAKENFOLD

SRP STAGE
10:45-11:15am – THE MILLIONAIRES
11:30am-12:15pm – CIVET
12:15-12:45pm – AUTHORITY ZERO
1:05-1:50pm – THE AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT
2:10-2:55pm – EVERLAST
3:15-4:10pm – THRICE
4:30-5:30pm – REV. HORTON HEAT
5:50-6:50pm – GOGOL BORDELLO
7:10-8:20pm – KOTTONMOUTH KINGS
8:50-10pm – ATMOSPHERE

And last but not least:

LOCAL STAGE
10:45-11:30am – BRETHEREN SOL
11:45am-12:15pm – ONE STAR NITE
12:30-1pm – EMERALD HONOR
1:15-1:45pm – CAPTAIN SQUEEGEE
2-2:30pm – FRIDAY NIGHT GUNFIGHT
2:45-3:15pm – MARISSA MISHELLE
3:30-4pm – MEDIC DROID
4:15-4:45pm – CONFORT FOR CHANGE
5-5:30pm – VISTALANCE
5:45-6:15pm – DIMONET
6:30-7pm – 4TH MAN IN THE FIRE
7:15-7:45 – FLIGHT TO LONDON

I honestly don’t know when I will have time for the rest of the attractions:

* Water park featuring dunk tanks and slides
* Art walk featuring local artisans including graffiti, caricatures
* Nitro fueled Rc remote control racecars
* Fan friendly Chill Tent to deep freeze your bones
* Nighttime laser spectacular
* Snow… that’s right snow at Schnepf Farms

Mask at Fetish Falls

From their site:

Fetish Falls is the alternative to the mainstream alternative for all your hair and costume accessories. We specialize in these embellishments to complete your Gothic, Lolita, Punk, Rave, Anime, Cosplay, and Sexy unique look.
History
Krista Manson, owner of Fetish Falls, is a gifted creative soul and raw talent entrepreneur, wears her hair long, dark, with a shocking pink color on her bangs to express her artistic spirit. She exudes a non-assuming nature with a fastidious work ethic. She started Fetish Falls after seeing the stretchy, light weight ribbon, called crin, at a craft show. Krista spent countless hours over the course of months researching crin ribbon, sourcing suppliers and convincing her long-time boyfriend to invest money into this venture.

In early 2006, Fetish Falls was born as small craft company selling crin hair accessories at alternative lifestyle events like Fetish Ball and Phoenix Comicon. Krista quickly saw the need to expand her business to be accessible beyond the shows she would vend. Fetish Falls launched their web site in late 2006 that has grown into a very successful Internet business. Gradually, Krista expanded the Fetish Falls product mix to include goggles, steel rings, wigs, blinky and glow items, leather goods like bracelets, hosiery, sunglasses, gloves, Demonia bags, and a variety of special order costumes, clothing and Pleaser shoes.

It was a long, busy day, but fun. Moniker & DJ Headspace/Joseph Collier were giving the music. They work raves & clubs and are working into production.

DJ Headspace & Moniker

There were fashion shows featuring Cherry Frequency & other brands:

Model during Fetish Falls Fashion Show

Also present were some of the Dysfunctional Dolls modeling the hair falls that are Fetish Falls Trademark.

Dysfunctional Doll at Fetish Falls

The main reason I showed up, however, was to see Sin Aesthesia perform. They did several blocks throughout the day, and we had as much fun as the night before.

Sin Aesthesia Can Can Finale

Quinn of Sin Aesthesia- Photo (c) Chris Seggerman

Sin Aesthesia at Fetish Falls - Photo (c) Chris Seggerman

I participated as well. Never tell staff you want to be tied up:

Trying on a corset at Fetish Falls - Photo (c) Chris Seggerman

Getting Tied at Fetish Falls- Photo (c) Chris Seggerman

Maybe that is why it took me so long to write this up! Go by the store and tell the ladies hi. I am going back soon for a hair fall to match the new corset I ordered.

Meanwhile, while I am sitting in a training in Chandler tomorrow night, you can be practicing your Arrrrr’s and Me Matey’s for Talk like a Pirate Day.

The Arizona Corsair Network is hosting the Arizona Talk Like a Pirate Day at the Tavern on Mill.

Details: September 19 @ 7 PM
404 S. Mill (in Hayden Square)

From the site:

The largest pirate get together and party yet for the Arizona Corsairs.

“talk like a pirate” contest
best Pirate costumes (men and women) contest
Pirate Photo Booth
$2 rum shot with Arizona Corsair Coin purchase.

So be prepared to join in on this pirate raid of Taven on Mill Ave or you’ll only hear stories of how great it was.

I am not about to use this forum to promote my politics, but this picture I snapped with my phone today goes beyond political boundaries. If you are going to show that kind of commitment to your party, spell your candidate’s name right.
(If you can’t see the note, it is spelled Macian. I tried three times and could not get a good non-glare shot. The bottom words are “Vote the Ticket”)

Play Ball! If you want to check out a game, here’s the schedule, and feel free to pick up tickets from Phoenix-based Team One Tickets.

My best advice if you fall victim to this crud is to consume lots of OJ and warm water. Drinking warm water and breathing steam were the only things I found comforting between bouts of hacking and crouping. The dry, desert air is not conducive to recovery, so flood those damn germs out by warming your drinking water and consuming it in mass quantities. I took airborne and coldeeze and I think most of that stuff just ended up in the Valley sewer system. Since flu shots haven’t been given yet, wonder if it’s worth it to get one? Probably end up with another version of the stupid flu. Good luck.

This past weekend, we finally ventured past Power Road to Queen Creek. There was an emerging private community called The Pecans. The entire community was one big pecan orchard. Lots (not homes) started at $400,000, and they had strict guidelines for homes built there. The whole concept was so surreal since the surrounding location was all undeveloped land. They will be building next March and I am sure those almost acre lots will definitely appreciate in time as has Agritopia.