College Times

Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: Calendar

Media Credit: Desert Botanical Garden

After a brief layoff during the dog days of summer, the Desert Botanical Garden is again playing host to Spiked! Thursdays, a night of drinking, dancing and socializing among our beautiful native flora.

The change in weather certainly can't hurt its chances to stick around this time, nor its intriguing music lineup.

This week, DBG hosts Los Rambleros, a musical trio that's mastered Cumbia, Latin and Blues music, and features Mario Moreno, a local guitarist who has recorded with bands including the Hoodoo Kings and the Kenny Love Experience.

The show's setting, Ullman Terrace, is actually a very beautiful venue for a concert, tucked at the top of a rocky hill, seemingly far from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Plus, the relaxing mountain views are made all the more soothing with the introduction of stiff, boozy cocktails, a Spiked! specialty. Past favorites include Raspberry-Apple Ale, a Roasted Pear Bellini and, still to come, the Smashing Pumpkin, the Fire Eater and Hot 'Spiked' Cider.

Spiked! event coordinator Katy Spratt urges locals to come out and enjoy the music and recommends trying the Smashing Pumpkin.

"It's a great seasonal cocktail," Katy says.

Add in hors d'oeurves provided by the Atlasta Catering/Event Concepts, a Phoenix-based company, and Spiked! may just be worth a second look, after all.

Spiked! Thursdays, Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, 480.481.8188, Thursday, October 29, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., $20


OTHER OPTIONS

Weird Al's "UHF," This 1989 film is about a quirky guy who transforms his uncle's dying television station into a ratings giant with the use of gags and sick humor. There's a bad guy, of course, played by Kevin McCarthy, who wants to tear down the station for a parking lot, and it stars "Weird" Al Yankovic, Michael Richards (Seinfeld), SNL alum Victoria Jackson and Fran Drescher (The Nanny). MADCAP Theaters, 730 S. Mill Avenue, Tempe, 480.355.6060, Thursday, Oct. 29, 7:30 p.m., $8

Nightmare on Kent Street, Kevin and LeNetta Leger started their modest at-home haunted house 10 years ago, and now its grown into a huge, scary sight to behold and a worthwhile cause: all donations benefit ICAN, a non-profit group that helps the most at-risk kids in Chandler. 6402 W. Kent Drive, Chandler, 480.705.7351, Thursday, October 27 to Saturday, Oct. 31, call for times, donations encouraged

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