Sunny Arizona is the perfect blend of the beautiful Sonoran Desert and the excitement of three cities: Chandler, Mesa and Tempe.   There are so many activities in Sunny Arizona, your memories and souvenirs could fill an extra suitcase or two. Located in the east side of the Phoenix metropolitan area, these cities provide unmatched access to superb golf courses, Broadway show, desert exploration, Cactus League Spring Training, hundreds of dining experiences, nightlife and some of the Southwest's best shopping venues. Sunny Arizona is promoted exclusively to AAA/CAA members. For more information, or to arrange an individual press trip to Sunny Arizona, please contact Toni Smith at the Tempe Convention & Visitors Bureau: toni@tempecvb.comor 800-283-6734. Topics included below: Story Idea of the Month: Sunny Arizona Art Scene Historic Downtown Chandler New Tempe Interactive Maps "National Geographic Live!" at Mesa Arts Center Cubs and Cactus League Spring Training are Fan Favorites Accolades for Chandler from AARP Sunny Arizona Events Story Idea of the Month: Sunny Arizona Art Scene Broadway. Theatre. Art Exhibitions. Dance. Live Music. The possibilities for cultural experiences are endless in Sunny Arizona.  The Tempe Center for the Arts, opening September 2007, will be home to Childsplay, Arizona's professional theatre company for young audiences, and several other locally-based theatre, music and dance companies.  Tempe's ASU Gammage presents a series of Broadway productions each year, with shows such as Jersey Boys, Annie and Camelot on the way this season.  Mesa Arts Center has received numerous awards and accolades for its programs and outstanding new facilities. It is Arizona's largest arts campus, home to four theaters, five art galleries and fourteen art studios.  The Chandler Center for the Arts is the only indoor cultural venue in Chandler, and one of the only venues in the Valley that is able to provide quality programming at a highly competitive cost. There is much more than performing arts in Sunny Arizona.  The award winning, five gallery visual arts complex at the Mesa Arts Center features changing exhibitions, installations and works of contemporary art from emerging and internationally recognized artists. It will re-open for the season on September 14.  The Vision Gallery is a non-profit art gallery located in Historic Downtown Chandler, managed by the Chandler Cultural Foundation. The gallery features new exhibits every six weeks. All artwork is for sale and includes works on canvas, watercolors, glass, mixed media and sculpture.  The Tempe campus of Arizona State University has over 20 free museums and galleries, including the contemporary art experiences at ASU Art Museum. That's just the beginning. For more information, please contact Toni Smith at the Tempe CVB: 800-283-6734 or toni@tempecvb.com. Looking for Something Different? Try Historic Downtown Chandler Historic Downtown Chandler is truly a unique and vibrant downtown with over 100 businesses filling the square mile that defines Downtown.  Currently, it features over 20 award-winning restaurants with four new hot spots opening in the fall, including San Tan Brewery, opening in September.  This downtown area is the first to feature both a micro-brewery and Arizona winery. The area has become a hub for the arts and cultural sector with the Chandler Center for the Arts, numerous art galleries and the monthly Downtown Chandler ArtWalk, held the first Wednesday of each month. www.visitchandler.com/static/index.cfm?action=group&contentID=32 www.santanbrewing.com Navigate Tempe with New Interactive Map The Tempe CVB has added interactive maps of Tempe and the Mill Avenue District accessible from the Tempe CVB and Mill Avenue District Web sites.  These new maps feature hotels, restaurants, Arizona State University buildings, attractions, offices and other points of interest.  Users can access the Tempe regional and Mill Avenue District maps on the Tempe CVB Web site. The maps can be customized be each user.  For instance, visitors to the online maps will be able to view their hotel and see the distance to local restaurants, shopping centers, area attractions and other nearby cities. When visitors click on a business category and a business name, the map automatically locates the business and a pop-up window gives detailed information including address, phone number, description and a link to the business's Web site. Visit the new maps by clicking on one of the links: www.tempecvb.com/maps.aspor www.millavenue.com/maps.aspx. Mesa Arts Center Announces "National Geographic Live!" Speakers Series Presented in select regions of the country, and now for the first time in Arizona, National Geographic Live! brings its acclaimed series - presentations by dynamic National Geographic explorers, scientists, filmmakers, photographers and journalists - to Mesa Arts Center.  From adventures with wildlife conservation in Africa to examining ground zero for global warming in Antarctica, these speakers inspire, enlighten and engage audiences worldwide. Naturalists and filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert Relentless Enemies: Lions & Buffalo Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 7:30pm Photographer Maria Stenzel The Deep South: Journey to Antarctica Wednesday, Nov. 7 at  7:30 p.m. Cultural Anthropologist Wade Davis Light at the Edge of the World Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. Underwater Photographer David Doubliet Secret Underwater Edens Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. Single ticket prices are $38/$34/$28/$26 and are available now by calling the Mesa Arts Center's Box Office at 480-644-6500 or visiting the office at 1 E. Main St. in Downtown Mesa.  Box Office hours are Monday - Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m. Cubs Are a Fan Favorite -- Along with Cactus League Spring Training In 2007, the Chicago Cubs once again led the Cactus League and Florida's Grapefruit League in Spring Training attendance. The Cubs broke baseball's Spring Training all-time season attendance record set in 2005 by drawing a total of 193,993 fans. The Cubs also broke baseball's all-time single-game attendance record with 12,917 fans in HoHoKam Park, March 29, 2007 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. This season, the Arizona Office of Tourism, in partnership with the Cactus League Baseball Association, completed a Cactus League Attendee Tracking and Expenditure Impact Survey.  In 2007, Spring Training fans spent a total of $310,775,015 within Arizona, a 54% increase from 2003.  In addition, 57% of Cactus League attendees came to Arizona from another state or country, compared to 48% in 2003.  More than 68% of those visitors said that coming to a Spring Training game was the "primary" reason for visiting Arizona. Cactus League Spring Training, which brings 12 MLB tems to Arizona, will begin again in late February and continue through March.  The Angels play at Tempe Diablo Stadium and other teams, such as the Giants, A's and Brewers play in stadiums throughout Metropolitan Phoenix and Tucson. For more information, visit www.visitsunnyaz.com. Accolades for Chandler from AARP Chandler has recently been named as one of the top five places to live in the US for boomers 50 and older by AARP Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine.  The Chandler community is described as "gracious desert living combined with an activist twist that encourages residents to get involved with the spirit of the town. A city climate and plenty of parks and open space provide ample recreation opportunities." Sunny Arizona Events For more events, please visit www.visitsunnyaz.com Art Quilts XII October 10 - December 1, 2007 Gallery at the Chandler Center for the Arts www.chandlercenter.org Glassworks 2008: An Exhibition of Arizona Glass Artisans December 7 - January 19, 2008 Gallery at the Chandler Center for the Arts www.chandlercenter.org Calo Flamenco, "Levanto" November 2, 2007 Chandler Center for the Arts Calo Flamenco: Ballet de Martin Faxiola returns with an encore presentation of "Levanto." Voted "Best of Phoenix", this ensemble features over 15 dancers and musicians.  The performance will arouse the passion of the heart in a brilliant display of the live music and dance that is flamenco. www.chandlercenter.org Jeff Daniels in Concert November 10, 2007 Chandler Center for the Arts Join us for an intimate evening with film star Jeff Daniels who has been writing songs for over 30 years. Daniels has partnered with the Chandler Center for the Arts to raise money for the Center's endowment funds. www.chandlercenter.org Raku Arts & Crafts Festival November 16 - 17, 2007 Held in front of the Downtown Community Center in Chandler, this free event celebrates the ancient Japanese pottery method called Raku, which is used today by contemporary potters. www.chandleraz.gov/default.aspx?pageid=50 Jim Brickman: The Holiday Concert with Lonestar's Richie McDonald Nov. 23- 24, 2007 Mesa Arts Center - Ikeda Theater The warmth and brilliance of Brickman's pop-style paired Richie Mcdonald's stellar vocals will make this concert of holiday music and all their greatest hits an event to touch your heart. www.mesaartscenter.com Tempe Festival of the Arts November 30 - December 2, 2007 More than 400 fine artists and craftsmen display and sell their work and attract a crowd of more than 250,000. Voted one of the top 20 art festivals in the country. Open 10:00 a.m. to dusk daily; free admission. Mill Avenue District www.tempefestivalofthearts.com Tumbleweed Tree Lighting Ceremony and the 18th Annual APS Parade of Lights December 1, 2007 Historic Downtown Chandler Celebrate the holidays with holiday music, entertainment, arts & crafts, great food & beverage and pay a visit to Santa at his winter home! www.chandleraz.gov/default.aspx?pageid=165 Insight Bowl December 31, 2007 The Insight Bowl will match the Big Ten and Big 12 conferences. An electric atmosphere featuring bands, cheerleaders, hard-hitting action & rambunctious fans are staples of the game. Sun Devil Stadium www.fiestabowl.org/index.php/insight/ Insight Bowl Block Party December 31, 2007 As a closing to the Insight Bowl festivities, as well as a celebration of the new year, this block party covers all of the Mill Avenue District & brings thousands of fans and other partiers together to end the new year in style. Mill Avenue District www.fiestabowl.org/index.php/insight/