Ok, I'm going to give this place 5 stars because, technically, it is a cool place that not a lot of…read morepeople know about. It's actually a hydroelectric plant along the Arizona Canal. As we approached the building (you can't go in it), the smell hit us and I thought, oh no, I've made a huge mistake. I think I was just there on a bad day or something, because I didn't see many reviews mention the smell at all. What smell? Raw sewage, very sulphur- and trash-like. I mean, it STUNK. It was strongest at the top overlook, right next to the building. As we went down the staircase to the lower level, the smell began to dissipate and eventually, to my nose, disappeared altogether. On the lower level, we saw the waterfalls. You can walk under/behind two of them and there are "seats" made of stone blocks in front of the third. The water was flowing pretty hard the day we visited, so the seats and all the pavement was wet and there was a slight mist coming off the middle one. The overall place is like a mixture of industrial and environmental architechture. There are metal-looking columns holding up the upper deck, yet the waterfalls look like they were copied from Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, and there are large stones/rocks embedded into the walls everywhere. It sits on the edge of a small park with a decent sized lot and there are hiking paths. We only came for the falls, so I can't speak to the hike, but the area looked fairly nice. I'd like to see it at night as it looks pretty cool in pictures I've seen. If you're looking for something a little different to do or show your visitors from out of town, this is a neat place to go. Hopefully, the smell is a one off, but even if not, hold your breath and go down the stairs..... 13/2026

I heard about this place recently and was in the area and decided to check it out. It basically…read more mini-hydroelectric plant on the canal system and the origin of the canal system is traced back to the Hohokam Indians that lived in the valley about 1500 years ago. The water falls are a cool secondary benefit of the water works plant at Arizona Falls. There is a nice park and biking trail that we look forward to exploring on our next visit. Highly recommended for a unique opportunity to enjoy waterfalls in the valley of the sun and learn about how the innovative Hohokam Indians.

Sure, I love the LOVE sculpture in Old Town, and I've wondered about some of the statues around,…read morebut until today, when I finally explored the Soleri Bridge and Plaza, I didn't really give the art around my neighborhood much thought. But after venturing down to see the Soleri Bridge and Plaza, I was really impressed, and my experience even prompted me to do a little bit of research on where all of this art comes from. Here's what I found (on the Scottsdale Public Art facebook page): Scottsdale Public Art is a percent for art program of the City of Scottsdale, managed by the Scottsdale Cultural Council, a private nonprofit 501 (c)(3) agency that administers the arts and cultural affairs of the City, as well as the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. Interesting, huh? I thought so... and from now on, I'm going to pay a lot more attention to the beautiful public art that surrounds me. Add that to my new year's resolution list! Happy new year, all!

While I am sure one could argue for or against the utility of the Soleri Bridge and Plaza, I will…read morefocus my review on the aesthetics of the structure. While I am not an expert in art or architecture, I really like this bridge. I went to the dedication a couple weeks ago and walked around amongst the throngs of spectators. I heard many comment on how the industrial, silver appearance doesn't really mesh with other old town architectural elements. And that is exactly what I like most about this bridge. It stands apart. It forces your eye to recognize the structure and wonder why it's there, who designed it, and maybe draw you there to walk across. Hopefully, the owners and developers of the surrounding properties will use this piece of public art to their advantage. I want to say to them..."We have built it, and people will come, now what are you going to do about it?" I have hope for the future of Old Town Scottsdale, and works like the Soleri Bridge reinforce that optimism.

So much fun and many places to visit. Beautiful murals too. Lovely coffee shops. I like the shoe…read moremill for Birkenstock and other leather shoes. Great festivals and block parties too. Recently saw Luke Bryan and Kane Brown at Innings Fest. Tempe is so good for entertainment. Walking the lake trail on both sides is gorgeous too. Jogging Mill ave is fun and don't forget the east side of Mill for additional restaurants and couple churches and donut shop- Voodoo donuts, and places to jog.

Mill Avenue is a staple out here in Tempe and a must stop if nearby. Yes it's a college spot as ASU…read moreis in walking distance, but it's also rich in history with the Hayden Flour Mill and more. You can rent boats disguised as ducks and go adventure Tempe town lake and more. You won't find a shortage of bars here as well as so many great restaurants and shops. A few of my faves have to be 411 Pizza, Daily Jam, Loco Patron and more. We visited Pedal Haus Brewery today and it was awesome as well. Plenty of parking garages nearby to spend some time adventuring.

I don't know why there are so many bad reviews for this light parade and just wonder why people are…read moresuch bah humbugs out there! Its the holidays, lighten up a bit! I enjoyed seeing this Fantasy of Lights but also I didn't fight for a seat in the front row on Mill Ave or had to hand over my kidney for a parking spot. I can see why people were annoyed as parking anywhere near Mill Ave is usually a pain. My game plan was to get in an evening jog and at the same time see this parade and it worked out! I parked my car close to the Tempe Town Lake marina near the 100 mile Brewery and then jogged my way parallel to the lake and then jogged over the bridge to Mill Ave and voila...you're right in the smack dab of all the excitement! I walked when it was pretty crowded on the street and definitely there were a lot of people and then I made a U turn back onto the other side of Mill Ave at Unviersity. Mill Ave on the other side was less congested and I just jogged back to my car while also getting some good videos and pics of the parade. Overall, for me, I got two things done, was able to get in a 5K and see this cool parade! I might just now make this an annual tradition and just jog here to see this parade and avoid the hassle of parking and fighting for a prime viewing spot on Mill Ave.! I left happy, with my heart a little healthier and not annoyed with all the people! Its an all around win win situation!

Wow! Just miserable. What a waste of a holiday weekend. First had to park about a mile away in…read moreorder to get to event 2 hrs early. Then wait in line for 30 mins to $15 for a chicken and white rice bowl. Then try get a spot 15-20 people deep along the Tempe lake. Waited there 30 more minutes while show was to start and still didn't see a thing. Finally left to walk another mile back to try and find our car in the dark and fight traffic on the way out as others also ditched this waste of time. Tempe should not hold an event like this again. Even the MC of the event couldn't continue to appease the frustrated crowd! I would give event zero stars if I could.

I live in Scottsdale and recently ordered two boxes of StoneGrindz truffles on their website for…read morelocal delivery. My order was delivered free and dropped at my door with an icepack! The truffles are delicious! And incredibly (truly hard to believe) are both vegan and gluten-free! I honestly couldn't tell. I asked how long they last and was told "Best fresh within 3 weeks. Keeping them in fridge will prolong freshness as well. The truffles will be good for months if no nut butters are added, texture will only begin to be compromised." Great customer service from a local small biz. Both boxes have beautiful wrappers and would make such a nice gift if I didn't eat them all already :)

Bought their blue espresso chocolate bar at a decadent coffee shop! Obsessed, purchasing for all my…read more friends. Ensure that you keep it cold in the fridge, perfection! The coffee beans produced and organically sourced from Peru, taste profile is profound. LOVE the marketing and aesthetic of the product- reminds me of a modern day "Willie Wonka" ticket granting access to gold.

We always order to go! We had never had an issue when you open the pizza and it is different from…read morewhat you ordered!

Terrible in comparison with Chicago. Absolutely criminal misrepresentation of food. If they make…read moredough there the people need to be replaced with ones that can follow instructions. Maybe frozen and reheated? It's one of the two and it's food fraud either way.

2019 marked the 35th year of the My Nana's Best Tasting Salsa Challenge. An annual fundraiser that…read morebenefits the Arizona Hemophilia Association. I have attended the event 3 times, each at a different locations in the valley. The first time at Tempe Beach Park, then in Phoenix at Steele Indian School Park and now at Sloan Park in Mesa. This year was great because of the location. Sloan Park is the perfect venue for the festival. There is plenty of space, places to sit down, shade if you want it, and tons upon tons of salsa vendors with room to grow! Tickets are $15 dollars the the gate on the day of the event. I got tickets for just under $10 - thanks to Groupon. Salsa contestants can enter in three different categories - mild, hot, and "anything goes". So as an attendee you can expect to sample salsas ranging the spectrum: smoky chipotles, fruity ones featuring mango, pineapple, and even cranberry salsa, too. As well as, salsas that are so hot you'll swear your face could melt off - save those few for the bravest among your group. To enjoy all the salsa samplings, you get access to an unlimited supply for chips brought to you by friendly volunteers at the chip stations located throughout the event. I'd recommend bringing an extra $1 to purchase a tray for your chips and salsa. It'll be one of the best investments you'll make all day. I was too busy trying over 40 salsa vendors, but the event also offers a morning 5k Run, Margarita Mix-Off, Music Stage, and Kids Zone if you need even more activities to enjoy.

This sculpture was designed by Robert Indiana. It's one of dozens around the world. It's a popular…read moreplace for selfies, tourists and newly engaged couples to use as a background. It weighs 3,800 pounds and is 14 ft tall, 14 ft wide, and 6 ft deep. It is made of polychromed red and blue aluminum. Indiana originally designed LOVE as image on a Christmas card in the sixties. It was even used as an image on a US postage stamp in 1973. I simply like it for it's overall look and massive size. The Civic Center Park only reopened in January 2023 after being closed for a multi-million dollar remodel. I am glad it's back in a new permanent spot for the next 20 years. As a photo tip, consider taking a selfie from the reverse 'back' side. In most selfie modes on phones the image is reversed and the LOVE will be facing the right direction in your photo.

LOVE was designed by Robert Indiana during the Pop art movement in 1965 for a Christmas card. It…read morewas a symbol for peace during the Vietnam war. Now many sculptures are present all over the world, some in different languages. The original sculpture is in Indianapolis. I've always been fascinated with the LOVE art. I have seen quite a few of the sculptures in different places across the U.S. Scottsdale purchased theirs through the Scottsdale Public Art Program. It is made of poly-chromed red and blue aluminum and weighs 3,800 lbs. It's located in the Scottsdale Civic Center and was just recently relocated. It is pretty popular and makes for great photo shoots.

I loved the bolognese, ate the whole bowl. Can't wait to have it again. The cheese bread is to die…read morefor!

The Original Caffe Boa has been one of my favorite restaurants in Tempe for years, and after…read morecountless visits, it continues to impress every single time. There is something special about finding a restaurant that consistently delivers exceptional food, expertly crafted cocktails, and warm hospitality year after year, and Caffe Boa does exactly that. The atmosphere strikes the perfect balance between upscale and inviting, making it ideal for everything from date nights and celebrations to a casual evening out. The service is always attentive and professional, and you can tell that great care goes into every detail of the dining experience. The cocktails here are outstanding and never disappoint. Whether you're trying one of their signature creations or a classic favorite, the drinks are always beautifully presented, balanced, and expertly prepared. For dinner, I ordered the Voodoo Pasta, which continues to be one of my favorite dishes on the menu. It's rich, flavorful, and packed with bold ingredients that come together perfectly. We also enjoyed the ravioli, which was cooked beautifully with a delicate texture and incredible flavor. One of the standout dishes of the evening was the shrimp served in a savory sauce with toasted bread. The sauce was absolutely delicious--so much so that we found ourselves using every last piece of the toasted bread to soak it up. It was one of those dishes you continue thinking about long after the meal is over. What keeps me coming back year after year is the consistency. The food is always on point, the cocktails are fantastic, and the overall experience never falls short of expectations. In a dining scene where restaurants often change, The Original Caffe Boa remains a Tempe classic that continues to set the standard for excellent Italian dining. If you're looking for a restaurant that combines incredible food, amazing drinks, and a welcoming atmosphere, The Original Caffe Boa is a place I can confidently recommend time and time again. Truly one of Tempe's longtime gems. Located in the heart of Tempe, The Original Caffe Boa remains one of those rare places that earns repeat visits and never disappoints.