Full interview - Phoenix Police Chief Daniel Garcia sat down with John Hook to discuss the firing of Officer Craig Tiger after a DUI. Officer Tiger was diagnosed with PTSD and later committed suicide. Chief Garcia discusses the firing, the no-confidence vote against him, how he would handle PTSD cases in the future, and the role of unions in the discussions following the suicide.

Desert Botanical Garden is Awesome!

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Top Festivals in Phoenix

As well as a hugerange of fixed venues for the arts and culture, annual events such as auto shows, music events and fairs, Phoenix has a range of festivals and entertainments for residents and visitors to enjoy.

There is everything from movie festivals, beer, wine, food and the arts. Whatever your taste, whatever your means, there is a festival here with your name on it.

Arizona Fine Art EXPO

The Arizona Fine Art EXPO is where local artists showcase their expertise and where you get to see more art that you can shake a stick at. Organized by the Thunderbird artists, the festival celebrates over 100 local and regional artists and lets them showcase their work for all to see.

Artlink First Fridays

Artlink First Fridays is an opportunity to explore more art and culture. It is your opportunity to walk around 70 galleries, meet artists and share food and drink with the best of Phoenix creative community. Well worth a few hours of your time on the first Friday or every month.

Fiesta Bowl Parade

The Fiesta Bowl Parade precedes the annual Fiesta Bowl football game in Phoenix. The Parade draws thousands of people from all round Arizona to watch the parade flow through the city before going to, or watching the game.

Arizona Diamondbacks Fan Fest

The Arizona Diamondbacks Fan Fest is the team’s way of saying thank you to the fans. You can  tour the park, ask questions of the players, and swing a bat in the cage. It’s an excellent opportunity to get up close and personal with your local baseball heroes.

Glendale Chocolate Affaire

The Glendale Chocolate Affaire is a sweet lovers heaven. The festival of chocolate is primarily a commercial affair, but it’s also a great way to try new sweets, take a free tour of the area and indulge in everything chocolate. There are also entertainments, demonstrations and activities for all the family.

Glendale Jazz and Blues Festival

The Glendale Jazz and Blues Festival is an annual Jazz festival featuring local and national talent from the jazz circuit. Held in Downtown Glendale, the venue is superb, the atmosphere relaxed and the music amazing. A must-visit if you like your jazz.

Mighty Mud Mania

The Mighty Mud Mania event grows in scale every year. This even is primarily for children, but there are increasingly opportunities for adults to indulge in getting dirty in a good way. Mud is the order of the day and going home clean is not an option!

These are just a few of the many annual festivals you can enjoy while you’re in Phoenix. There is something here for everyone, from clean, dirty, food and football. All of nature’s requirements rolled into one!

Things to See and Do in Downtown Phoenix

The Downtown area of any major city is a hub of nightlife, shopping, dining and drinking. They are the beating heart of any metro area and Downtown Phoenix is no different. As the nation’s sixth largest city, the entertainment options in Phoenix are many and varied.

If you’re coming to live or work in Phoenix, the choice may be overwhelming, so let us give you a high-level view of Downtown Phoenix so you have some idea of what to expect once you’re here.

Food

If you love food, you’ll love Downtown Phoenix. Our range of restaurants and eateries is enviable and if you don’t go home full to bursting we would be very surprised. Local highlights include Pizzeria Bianco, Matt’s Big Breakfast, Carmel's Coffee &Bakery, Lola Coffee, Lux Central and Hanny’s. Each offers something different and each is a must-see.

Edutainment

Check out the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, housed in a historic school and see what’s on offer. The venue includes the Noodle Forest and the Climberini, as well as a number of exhibits and seasonal entertainment. The Arizona Science Center has a wide selection of hands-on exhibits and the Dorrance Planetarium is an engaging way of learning about our planet and its place in the universe.

Sports

Chase Field is where the Diamondbacks play. The Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury play at the U.S. Airways Arena, all are within reach of downtown. They are also bordered by places to eat, enjoy a cold beer and enjoy the atmosphere of the game.

There are also a range of sports bars and bars who have the game on if you would prefer to enjoy sports from the comfort of a bar stool!

The Arts

The arts are very well served even out here in the desert. Phoenix has a range of venues, including the Herberger Theatre, the Orpheum Theatre and Symphony Hall. Catch the Metro Light Rail to the Phoenix Art Museum and Heard Museum too if you still need a culture fix.

Shopping

Now Downtown experience would be complete without a little retail therapy. Fortunately, Downtown Phoenix has more shopping than you could shake a credit card at. Shopping venues include brands, labels, individual boutiques and local products. Visit Arizona Center, Historic Downtown Glendale and Scottsdale 5th Avenue Shops for some amazing retail experiences.

Phoenix has a huge amount going on at any one time. So much so that a single blog post simply isn’t going to do it justice. While we have done our best to highlight each area, there really is no substitute for getting over here and seeing it all for yourself.