The kids were a bit scared of the mouse at storytime

One of The Valley’s best Barnes and Noble’s is a newly built 2 story free standing Barnes at San Tan Village.  Located @ the 202 and Willam’s Field.  They are in the prime location of shopping, dining and fun in the new San Tan Village. This Barnes and Noble boasts a huge selection of books, a great discount book area, a cafe and a huge kids section.  Of course my kids love to go so they can ride the escalator!

Anyways, Story time is everyday at 11AM.  It is a different book with a new theme every time.  The craft is unique and supports the story.  Plus, at the kids section they have a huge Thomas The Train track with a lot of very loved Thomas and his friend’s.  But, BEWARE!  They have the Thomas collection for sale there at an exorbitant price!  Plus it is surrounded with lots of kids toys and stuffed animals!

These people certainly know how to up sale!  A Special guest we had at story time time today was the mouse from, “If you give a mouse a cookie”  It was a fun surprise guest that the kids liked and yet were strangely afraid of at the same time because I believe the mouse suite blinded the wearer and so the mouse had to be lead around by the arm and directed where to sit.  And, it was plain just a HUGE mouse!

We did manage  a few fun pics and headed over to the craft area where they were making fairy wands.  Seeing as we have all boys they were not that interested in the wands.  We perused the books and purchased a few good one’s for the kids.  This particular Barnes and Noble’s check out was a bit slow as they had 10 registers and no one manning them!  But, we had yet another fun story time at  Barnes and Noble at San Tan Mall.

Family Time with The Mouse

Side Shot of Scary Mouse

Playing With The Trains

Ginormouse Barnes and Noble at San Tan Mall

Event Details
When: Thursday November 26th through Sunday, November 29, 2009
Where: Phoenix Convention Center
Times:

• Thursday 9 am – 7 pm
• Friday & Saturday 9 am – 9 pm
• Sunday 9 am – 7 pm

Admission & Pricing Info

Sunday is Family Day with Children under 12 getting in Free!

Parking
Easy In & Out Parking! Follow Signs Off 7th Street

For Additional Parking Options:
http://www.phoenix.gov/extranet/pccd/directionsandparking.html

The four of us here at iTourAZ.com are huge fans of the Phoenix Zoo and so we’ve dubbed this week Phoenix Zoo week! We’ve got lots of exiting blog posts planned so stay tuned for some great posts from the entire team.

Photo Courtesy of @kevinspencer

A little bit about why we chose the Phoenix Zoo as one of our themes weeks:
Well, for starters, they are a fantastic organization that has become a staple of visiting the the Phoenix Metro area as well as Arizona in General. The Phoenix Zoo is home to some 1300 animals and is the largest privately funded zoo in the nation! Additionally the Phoenix Zoo has recently been voted into the list of top 5 zoo’s for children! Though only recently voted on to this list we’ve been enjoying the the Phoenix Zoo since we were children and was a top vacation spot destination for us before we lived in this great state of Arizona!

There’s so much to see and do at the Phoenix Zoo and we plan on sharing our favorite activities, memories, and events that enjoy at the Phoenix Zoo! Here’s a little sample list of some of the articles we’re working on for Phoenix Zoo Week!

1. The top 10 fun facts about the Phoenix Zoo.
2. The top 10 exhibits at the Phoenix Zoo.
3. Support the Phoenix Zoo – 5 Ways you can Help!
4. Kids Corner: THe Top 5 Things to do with your Kids at the Phoenix Zoo
5. Five things you wouldn’t think of doing at the Zoo… but now will

So, stay tuned folks… we’ve got lots of great content on the Phoenix Zoo coming your way!

Please let us know if there is a particular topic or question about the Phoenix Zoo you would like to have answered by hitting us up in the comments!

We built a house in an up and coming area that was being newly developed.  Since I have lived here my whole life I thought I knew what I was doing!  Of course it was during the building boom.  Not much existed but farms, ranches, new strip malls and schools.  A few years later it is a different story.  Our new neighborhood is riddled with graffiti.  The last place you would expect to see crime and gangs…right in this pristine and new tree lined community.

The purpose of this it to inform others about Phoenix and the surrounding communities.  Real estate can always be a good deal if it is in the wrong place to live.   Here are a few facts and tips:

Phoenix: Being the main draw to tourists and visitors it is the most populated city here in AZ.  But, being a native I can say there are selected places to actually settle down in.  Downtown has new lofts that are modern and new age but have yet to find a real draw for everyday people.  Most places are far from shopping and parks.  The smog and traffic leave something to be desired.  There are still many streets riddled with condemned houses and the homeless.  I’d say move there because your job is next door or your single and love culture.  Great Museums!

Scottsdale: Often if anyone famous visits our fine city they stay in Scottsdale.  Nothing comes close to the nearly pristine conditions you can find on every corner and building.  The shopping is spectacular with a wide variety and convenience.  Really, the customer service is the best.  But, you get what you pay for.  Look at paying up to 10% more just for the zip code.  And, on top of that, expect to work hard to keeping up with the Jones’s.  Great place to visit: Old Town Scottsdale!

Mesa: Talk about a split city.  Mesa has really worked hard the last 10 years to renovate their Main Street.  Putting a lot of dollars into sculptures and a huge convention center.  And, it has been worth it.  Now you can shop, eat and work in a quaint and picturesque little area.  The housing is riddled.  It is a strange demographics of working poor and elite socialites.  Some streets are full of old run down cars while others boats and RV gates.  And, the streets touch. It is also known to be a very religious community.  Great place to see: Main Street.

Chandler: Well the fabulous mall certainly put it on the map.  Located at the 101 and Chandler Blvd.  It is surrounded by shopping and great restaurants.  What a great place to live.  Right in the middle of all the cities and a freeway is always close by!  I have however seen some old and probably what some some would see as historic district filled with what should be condemned houses and in need of an HOA!  But, there are a majority of new homes in gated communities that are real perfect!  Great Shopping!

Avondale: It’s pretty far from downtown but, if you are looking for a little more quiet and new….Here it is.  Not far off the freeway it is easily accessed and easily navigated.  With a majority new homes and shops it is great for a new family that is looking for a deal on a house!

Laveen: Let’s think country.  This community is tucked up near South Mountain and filled with new communities and farmland backing up to each other.  It is still quaint and small with some great custom lots and cookie cutter homes.  Not close to the freeway, no shopping but grocery, and has some rough neighborhoods that are filled with section 8 housing.  Look carefully.  Great place to hike or see South Mountain!

Gilbert: Talk about a town that has grown by leaps and bounds.  They have managed to keep the small town feel and add the eloquent shopping.  A great place with custom and clean homes.  Perfect place for a family.  TOTAL family community.  Everyone has kids and dogs!  Quite a haul from Phoenix but may be worth it!  Great idea of Perfect Suburbia!

Glendale: It is the community that used to be new… and, is now old.  Most things are older and worn.  Homes, shopping and buildings.  But, it does add to the charm.  Some areas are still decent and others not worth looking at.  Great thing to do: Close to the I17 freeway and has a spectacular chocolate affair near Valentines Day!

Paradise Valley: Great place to shop and enjoy the outdoors.  On the edge on the city it is a bit isolated.  pretty far from Phoenix but with a great view.  A little hard to navigate and a lot of homes are custom.  Great Sunday drive!

Queen Creek: What a great city away from the city.  More for families that don’t need a lot of shopping or eating out.  Limited fun and access.  But has a total country feel!  Great way to get out of the city!

Well, These are just of few of our fine cities that make up Phoenix and the surrounding areas!

I instantly loved the clean & open spaces of the museum.  I was each area of the museum was unique with great lighting and allowed the viewer to move into a new direction without getting bored or overwhelmed.   I was impressed with the unique work they had along with the more classical pieces.  I feel that they truly had a little something for everyone.

Some of the Art was very moving.  I personally like Impressionist more than modern art and found that they had many great and interesting pieces.  I feel like they had a good mixture of each of the major areas such as: Native American, Asian, Modern, European, American, Unique, 3 dimensional and kids.  I can say I am glad I did not take my 2 toddlers as the museum does have a lot of steps and levels and it is quite calm and quiet.  

Overall a great place to visit and see.  I toured most of the exhibits within 2-3 hours.  I will definitely go back again!  To See more great pictures click here to see a slideshow!

We arrived a little early waiting for our friends to join us (which almost never happens), so we sat in the bar.  I have to say that the bar was hopping!  Yes, it was happy hour and the bar and bar tables were packed.  Luckily they had really comfy chairs around the room that you could order from.  The service in the bar was great, even though the room was practically full.  I was a little hungry, so we started out with an appetizer.  My husband has dubbed it the best garlic cheese bread ever!  We will probably have to get it every time we go there, since it is so tasty.

We were pleased there was no waiting at 6:00 pm on a Friday night when our friends got there.  The ambiance of the restaurant was very laid back and classy, just how we like it in Arizona.  The waiters were all dressed up in normal steakhouse attire, which makes the restaurant feel a little more formal.  We took our son last time and we had no issues with blending in with a toddler.  Everything we have tried so far has been delicious.  Their steaks are cooked just how you ask for it and have a fantastic flavor.   This time my husband had a steak with mushrooms and a balsamic sauce, it was mouth-watering good.  The steaks start from $20 and hamburgers starting at $11, with most Entrees starting around $15.  The service was excellent.  They had to refill our waters several times and they were always on top of it.  They server bread at the table once you order and offered more bread once that was out.   I know some places have changed to only bringing bread upon request, so it was nice not to have to ask for it.  We lost track of time, so we were almost late for our movie, but all in all it took about an hour and a half to order, eat and pay.

Everyone ordered drinks, but I have to say the presentation was unique.  My husband ordered a Vodka Red Bull and our friend ordered a Rum and Coke.  They both came with the alcohol in a bar glass and the mix in on the side (Red Bull and Coke) as you can see in the picture.  The drinks tasted good.  They also feature freshly squeezed citrus drinks and the lemonade was tart, just how I like it!

I would recommend The Keg Steakhouse and Bar to friends and will definitely be going back!

Parking Garage – Yes, I know that it sounds kind of lame, but not all the malls in Arizona have parking garages.  Parking can be a nightmare if you are going to Chandler Fashion Center or Arizona Mills.  I think all malls should have a parking garage, especially when it is over 110 outside.

Food Selection – I was impressed that they had Pita Jungle in the food court, but I opted for Panda instead since there was a shorter line.

Entertainment – There is a movie theater, water fountain, spa and good people watching.

Store Selection – They have a wide variety of stores, from the large anchor department stores (Dillard’s, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus & soon to be Barney’s of New York) to the normal mall stores (Gap & Pottery Barn) to the designer stores (Michael Kors & Louis Vuitton) to the little off the wall boutiques (iLori & Socrati) .  Here’s a link to the full listing of stores.

Directories – There are several directories…conveniently placed.  I hate going to a mall and not knowing where any of the stores are…that is the way I feel with Chandler Fashion Center and I can never find a directory when I need one, instead it ends up being a large marketing add instead of a directory.

As I mentioned before, the Scottsdale Fashion Square is going through an expansion right now.  They will be complete with the new wing on October 15th adding another 30 stores, including Barney’s of New York.  If you end up on the East end of the mall, you will see that the tiling is being redone and there is a bunch of caution tape.  There were no hassles getting around it though.  I don’t visit this mall that often, but I will probably check out the finished product after the Grand Opening.  Happy Shopping!

The Arizona Lottery and Powerball is very popular. There are lots of people who buy tickets every week out of habit and there are those that set thresholds before they will buy a ticket. I fall into the latter category…if the Arizona Powerball is over $100 Million, that might be worth a $1 or $2. I am glad they have those billboards off the freeway that show how much the Arizona Lottery and Powerball is so I can keep on track. It is hard to believe there are 24 of them in the Phoenix area.

If you are looking for the rules of the Arizona Lottery, check out their website. There is a lot of useful information out there. I was surprised at the $2.3 billion that they claim has been given back to Arizona from the Lottery since its’ inception in 1981. At least the money is going toward a good cause.

Here is a listing of the AZ Lottery games available – drawings only (there are more than you think):

Powerball® is a multi-state jackpot game with a jackpot starting at $20 million and growing until someone wins. Drawing is every Wednesday & Saturday.

2by2™ is an Arizona $2 daily drawing game with a jackpot of $20,000. Drawing is daily Monday – Saturday.

CA$H4™ is a $2 daily drawing game with a jackpot of $10,000. Drawing is daily Monday – Saturday.

The Pick™ is Arizona’s $1 jackpot game. Jackpots start at $1 million and keep growing until someone wins. Drawing is every Wednesday & Saturday.

Pick 3™ is a $1 daily drawing game. Play one game for $1 and win up to $500, or play two games for $1 and win up to $250 per game. Drawing is daily Monday – Saturday.

Pick 5™ is a $1 daily drawing game. Jackpots start at $50,000 and keep growing until someone wins. Drawing is daily Monday – Saturday.

Of course, I have never won the Arizona Lottery. I will just have to keep dreaming…and playing on occasion.