How to support late-night-light-rail service

Posted on 07. Aug, 2009 by Tony Arranaga in Featured

Looking for places to go and things to do tonight on First Friday?  I’ve put together a list of what some railfans in Phoenix are doing along the light rail.  Is there a hip and happenin’ spot along the light rail that you don’t see below?  Go ahead and post a comment below.  You can learn more about First Friday here.

First, you may have read on my Facebook fan page about Gallo Blanco offering light rail passengers one free taco when you bring in your fare card.  Over the last few weekend nights. I’ve stopped in for a drink and I can report the Clarendon Hotel is the midtown hot spot!  The place is packed with a fun crowd!  The taco promotion is good through September.  GB and the Clarendon are on 4th Avenue, deboard at either the Indian School or Osborn stations.

Next, if you’re in the mood for live music then you MUST go to the Phoenix Art Museum and check out the next round of Train Tracks quarterfinal action.  You may have heard how each week a local band or artist plays a live acoustic set on the light rail for the passengers.  You can vote for your favorites online, those winners then compete in the quarterfinals with a shot at playing the Tempe Music Festival in 2010.  According to the website, this week’s quarterfinal round will include..

• Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl
• Matthew Reveles
• Captain Squeegee

I’m listening to this weeks contenders as I type.    You may recall, I blogged about the last quarterfinal round here.  The band I liked (Dry River Yacht Club) won that round – they had so much energy – as you can see from the picture I took of them warming up before their set.

I love the look on the drummer’s face.  Ahh, life as a rock star.  If only I had kept up with my piano lessons as a kid…

I know I’ve gone on and on about the event before.  Either it was really that good, or the bartenders were a little too generous with the Ciroc.  I’m gonna say it was the former because I will be there tonight for another great time, plus I’ve been dying to see the museum’s latest exhibit Phantom Sightings which you can learn about here.  Did I mention admission to the museum is free on First Fridays?  (McDowell station)

And last, Portland’s is celebrating their 8th anniversary this month.  Tonight, Dylan and the gang are offering $2 Pacifico bottles from 10 p.m. to midnight, in addition to Deschutes Twilight Ale for $3 – you can check out their website here.  If you go, you may notice DJ Heavy Heart Breaks backup/stand in spinning tonight while Anthony takes the night off to clean his turntables.  I think I just dated myself.

If you’re still going strong after all this and you’re keeping the party going somewhere using the light rail, let me know!  Follow me on Twitter @lightrailblog – the new and handy little social media button is at the top upper left hand side of this page – or you can post a comment below and let me know about some of the fun places you find along the light rail.

Whatever you do, have fun, be safe and support late night light rail service!

Tags: car-free, First Friday, lightrail, Phoenix