Calendar of Things To Do along Light Rail

by | Mar 18, 2011 | Event Calendar

Looking for fun things to do along the Phoenix-Tempe-Mesa light rail? Want to find entertainment, shows, sports, and theater? We have it for you! Search the Calendar at LightRailConnect.com for updates on events near light rail. There are more than you think! Event Calendar – Along light rail in Phoenix-Tempe-Mesa...

Microsoft makes a move to Tempe Town Lake area

by | Mar 8, 2011 | News & Information

by Luci Scott – Mar. 5, 2011 Arizona Republic Microsoft has opened an office at Tempe Town Lake. The company has taken the top floor of Hayden Ferry Lakeside II, the 12-story building at 60 E. Rio Salado Parkway. About 150 sales, marketing and service employees have moved from Phoenix Plaza, at 2929 N. Central Ave., into 23,535 square feet in Tempe, 1,500 square feet larger than their Phoenix space. Four other tenants recently signed leases for the building as well. Details aren’t being disclosed, but Bryan Taute, senior vice president of CB Richard Ellis, indicated that the soft commercial market helped promote the deals. The tenants wanted to upgrade their facilities, and they took advantage of landlord willingness to negotiate. “Even though, for example, Microsoft probably could have renewed for less than they’re paying at the new facility, it’s less than they were probably previously paying,” Taute said. “It was an opportunity to take advantage of the market and upgrade their facilities. That’s probably true for all tenants.” The four other recent leases: • Citrix Online, subsidiary of Citrix Systems of Goleta, Calif., will occupy 19,919 square feet and will expand its space when it moves in May from Fountainhead Corporate Center. Citrix Online provides the Web conferencing tool Go To Meeting, among other products. • The New York-based Guardian Life Insurance Co. moved its sales office in November from Airport Technology Center, at 44th and Van Buren streets in Phoenix. It took 8,092 square feet. • Financial advisers Ronald Blue & Co. of Roswell, Ga., located from Mesa Financial Plaza in December. It occupies 7,842 square feet. • Solium Capital LLC moved its...

Arizona CityFest

by | Mar 8, 2011 | News & Information

Two Full Days, One Big Celebration By: John Kelly In the closely connected world of Evangelist Christians, two names (three if Jesus counts) stick out: Billy Graham and Luis Palau Jr. Billy Graham is, of course, the famous Christian preacher with radio and TV broadcasts who’s sermons are said to have reached over 2.2 billion people as of 2008. Luis Palau, however, is an equally impressive celebrity preacher who has captured the attention of many of the younger Christians around the world. He is said to be Billy Graham’s successor and was actually funded by Graham to start his own ministry. Palau will being coming to Tempe Town Lake from March 19-20 hosting a free festival to celebrate and share “The Good News” about the big man upstairs. It is said that Palau has brought spiritual enlightenment to more than 25 million people in over 48 countries, and will do so again during his festival. There will be an impressive amount of free entertainment present. Besides being serenaded by Palau’s ultra-holy voice and godlike presence, artists such as Toby Mac, Skillet, Mat Kearney, The Band Perry, Marisol and Phil Wickham will be rocking the crowd all day and night (imagine a KISS concert, now the exact opposite). The party doesn’t stop there, however, with the likes of Vic Murphy, Brian Sumner, local rider Chris Weigele and the Riders for Christ performing BMX, Freestyle Motocross and Skate exhibitions all weekend in an attempt to draw the younger crowds. There will also be face-painting and characters from the VeggieTales present to entertain the youngest of festival-goers. Although this festival probably won’t...

Apache American Sign Language Center

by | Feb 28, 2011 | Apartments, News & Information

Apache American Sign Language Center by Lynne Smith, ASU Student Soon to be re-opening along the light rail is the American Sign Language Center. This establishment has been closed and under construction since May 2010 and is due to open again this summer 2011. This facility has been designed for def seniors who wish to leave their lives of lonely living and isolation for a habitat amongst other users of American Sign Language. For people whose first language is American Sign Language there is now no longer a reason to be left out of a conversation or to be living in a world where people find it difficult to understand you. The center offers the comforts of safety and security for the elderly. Living in a home like this is ideal for people with this difficulty as it caters specifically to their needs and offers comfort and security. This complex holds 75 apartment units designed for the deaf and the deaf and blind. The amenities include flashing light signalers for the phone and doorbells; videophone equipped lobby as well as videophones in each apartment. The ASL center looks out for the thorough care of their clients with light fixtures and windows designed to minimize glare, high contrast interior finishes and amplification systems for hearing aids. All management staff members use American Sign Language to communicate to their clients and American Sign Language is incorporated into the centers culture amongst client activities and social events. This helps break down any barriers clients may have when communicating with others and ensures a relaxed, safe and happy environment. Development of this apartment...

The Beer Was Strong With This One

by | Feb 28, 2011 | News & Information

By: John Kelly The Beer Was Strong With This One On Saturday, February 19, 2011, a gathering of biblical proportions, along with beers with equally amazing alcohol contents, assembled at Steel Indian School Park in downtown Phoenix for the 11th Annual Strong Beer Festival. As the name and tag line of this article allude to, the beers served here were specially crafted to subtract one’s sobriety at an alarming rate. They were, of course, craft beers and being such, had the utmost respect for taste, body, texture and fragrance, but the brewmeisters who concocted these deadly libations were in a bit of a contest to test the physical limits of yeast’s ability to convert malted barley into alcohol. Between this and the fact that the beer gods decided it was a good day for wind and rain made the Strong Beer Festival resemble the original Woodstock by the time 4:30pm rolled around. The Festival also featured an eclectic mix of local food and musical entertainment for the patrons to enjoy, and was a welcome compliment to the quality of beer being consumed. Unfortunately, the Festival is over but listed below are just a handful of the brewery’s that participated this year. Hopefully this list will entice many of the loyal readers to join in the ruckus next year: Four Peaks                                                                   Widmer SKA Brewing                                                                 Rogue Arizona Society of Homebrewers                                   Stone Sierra Nevada Brewing                                                   Odell Grand Canyon Brewery                                                  Dave’s Electric Big Sky Brewing                                                            Nimbus Sam Adams                                                                  Left Hand Breckenridge                                                                 Full Sail Deschutes                                                                    Dogfish Head The Steele Indian School Park is located directly next to the Light Rail station located just...

Connect to Sky Harbor Airport with Light Rail

by | Feb 26, 2011 | light rail corridor, News & Information, Valley Metro

Courtesy of Metro Light Rail METRO connects to Sky Harbor International Airport at the light rail station at 44th and Washington streets using the PHX Airport Shuttle. From the 44th Street/Washington METRO station, passengers can cross Washington Street heading south and board the free airport shuttle bus. The airport shuttle buses travel to all terminals and parallels METRO’s service schedule. Click on the map to the right to download the airport shuttle map. The PHX Sky Train™ will soon replace the existing PHX Airport Shuttle. Stage one of the PHX Sky Train will transport airport visitors and employees between METRO light rail, east economy parking and Terminal 4, which serves 80 percent of Sky Harbor’s passengers. Construction will be complete in late 2013. Stage two, which will continue through the airport all the way to the Rental Car Center, will be up and running in 2020. A new gateway to Sky Harbor will be created at 44th St and Washington. This station is just a short walk in an air conditioned pedestrian walkway from the 44th Street / Washington light rail station. The elevated train will help relieve traffic jams, reduce wait times, provide hassle-free travel in climate controlled vehicles and connect to the Valley’s light rail and bus systems. Equally important, the PHX Sky Train™ will accommodate our region’s future growth and be a welcomed addition to Sky Harbor’s renowned customer service. The PHX Sky Train™, free to the public, will run 24-hours with predictable travel times—arriving at stations every three minutes during peak periods and delivering passengers to their destinations within about five minutes of boarding. For more...

Metro Light Rail Rates and Fares

by | Feb 26, 2011 | News & Information

Provided as a Public Service Announcement From Metro Light Rail news page For $1.75 you can take one ride on light rail or any local bus route. One ride on an express or RAPID bus costs $2.75. If your trip requires changing routes, or if you want to make a round trip, we have other options which may save you money. There are several pass options to choose from, depending on how you use transit. These include All-day, 7-, and 31-day passes, as well as semester passes for college students. Check our RATES & OPTIONS page for...