Spring Break
Broke?
Aaron Tavena
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When you’re new to town and looking to party, a lack of funds can ruin your dreams of an “Animal House”-sized event. That’s where we come in. For entertaining fellow partiers on a budget, you need nothing more than a few choice pit stops before the guests start to arrive. And maybe a few stops after they arrive.
PARTY FAVORS
By law, every friend worth his salt must contribute to the beer fund lest they be labeled a cheapskate. So, with crumpled dollars in hand, your best bet for boozing needs has got to be Bev Mo, the Costco of alcoholic distributors. With the leftover cash, don’t forget to buy some cheap entertainment. Bev Mo also offers a selection of beer drinking games including cards, cups, and ping pong balls. Beverages and More, 15 S. McClintock Drive, Tempe, 480.446.0368
NECESSITIES
Food keeps friends happy. So swing by your nearest Food City for the best selection of snacks, chips and other tasty eats that you can buy in bulk without having to pay as much. It helps if you hold onto manufacturer coupons that you get in the mail.
While you’re there, you can stock up on plastic cups, disposable napkins and trash bags; necessities for maintaining a decent-looking house the morning after. Food City, locations Valleywide.
GAMING
It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. So if you can’t afford to shell out $200 to $600 for a Wii or a PS3, find a friend who’s willing to bring it over to the party. Just be sure to negotiate damages like if someone spills beer on the system, he gets your soul. This way, you can simply swing by your nearest Blockbuster, and rent the hot party games like “Wii Sports” and “Guitar Hero” for a significantly cheaper rental fee. Blockbuster, Locations Valleywide.
PLACES TO GO
NORTH
Casino Arizona and Fort McDowell Casino
If you’re new to Phoenix and over 21, swing by one of the major casinos. 524 N. 92nd Street, Scottsdale, 480.580.7777 and 10424 N. Fort McDowell Road, Fountain Hills, 800.THE.FORT
Alltel Ice Den
Ice in Arizona? You betcha! With local sporting events, training classes and public hours, you’ll be able to skate ’til your heart’s content. 9375 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale, 480.585.9117
Solid Rock Gym
Love rock climbing but hate the outdoors? Well you’re in luck, because Solid Rock Gym offers the biggest and best indoor rock climbing walls for a reasonable price. Plus, they have air conditioning. 23620 N. 20th Drive, Suite 24, Phoenix, 623.587.7625
EAST
Fiddlesticks
The Tucson counterpart to this popular amusement park is called Funtasticks. Now aren’t you glad you live in Phoenix? Fiddlesticks just sounds so much cooler. 1155 W. Elliot Road, Tempe, 480.961.0800
Salt River Tubing
In addition to pay stubs and utility bills, proof of residency is also validated by tubing down the popular Salt River at least once in your life. 1320 N. Bush Highway, Mesa, 480.357.9192
Laser Quest
Never underestimate the appeal of firing a faux laser gun at your nearest and dearest. Just make sure that you don’t get too caught up in the laser tag environment and accidently shoot out a retina.
2035 S. Alma School Road, Mesa, 480.752.0005
WEST
Great Skate Roller Skating
Ice skating can be too cold sometimes. That’s why we have regular roller skating, complete with knee high socks and ‘80s break-dancing music. 10054 N. 43rd Avenue, Glendale, 623.842.1181
Westgate
The Westside’s newest attraction features bars, reataurants, various entertainment areas, the University of Phoenix Stadium and Jobing.com Arena, home of the Arizona Cardinals and Phoenix Coyotes, respectively. Loop 101 Agua Fria Freeway at Glendale Avenue, westgateaz.com
Westworld Paintball
Similar to laser tag, the joy of waging open warfare comes with the extra bonus of making a big mess in the process. 4240 W. Camelback Road, Suite C-3, Phoenix, 602.447.8200
CENTRAL
F1 Race Factory
Crank up the go carts to 45 mph and tear down the windy track with complete disregard for basic traffic laws and no concern for human life; the joys of carting. 317 S. 48th Street, Phoenix, 602.302.7223
Phoenix Art Museum
The Phoenix Art Museum’s house collection, plus the series of traveling exhibits makes this downtown icon a choice destination for a lazy afternoon. Best of it all, it’s free on Tuesdays from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. 1625 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, 602.257.1880.
Chase Field
Now through the end of September, catch Diamondbacks baseball. 401 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, azdiamondbacks.com
Best Movie Theaters in Town
Century Scottsdale Drive-In, The one place you’ll want to go if you actually don’t care about watching the movie. 8101 E. McKellips Road, Scottsdale, 480.949.9451
Harkins Tempe Marketplace, Home to the new Cine Capri, the Harkins Tempe Marketplace offers the largest screens in Arizona with plenty of theater perks. 2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, 480.222.4275
AMC Deer Valley, It might be out of the way, but providing the comfort along with a huge IMAX theater right next door makes the AMC Deer Valley worth the drive. 3033 W. Agua Fria Freeway, Phoenix, 480.956.4262
Harkins Camelview, While the Phoenix film scene works to build up, you can enjoy hard-to-find, independent and Oscar-caliber flicks at this spot. 7001 E. Highland Avenue, Scottsdale, 602.22.4275
Arizona Mills IMAX, A love of dinosaurs, underwater life and huge screens can be satisfied at Phoenix’s best IMAX theater. 5000 S. Arizona Mills Circle, Suite 667, Tempe, 480.894.4629
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Eric Gaizat
posted 8/29/08 @ 7:32 AM MST
I know it was made in jest, but just to let you know that we have just completed an intensive study document on the safety of lasers and no one has ever filed so-much-as a complaint because they were 'tagged' in the eye with a laser tag laser. (Continued…)
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