Must Do
November 24-December 30
Las Noches de las Luminarias
Desert Botanical Garden’s longest-running tradition will once again light up the season as thousands of paper lanterns and holiday lights add a warm glow to the garden’s lush trails and courtyards. This year, Fernando Botero’s large-scale sculptures will add an extra layer of luminescence. Select dates, 5:30-9:30 p.m. $16.95-$39.95. Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix, 480-481-1225, dbg.org
“Because I have no other way to describe my concerns about this policy, I’ll do an object lesson.”
—East Valley father of four Ira Latham at a Higley Unified School District board meeting in October, seconds before removing his shirt to reveal a midriff-exposing, spaghetti-strap crop top. Latham was making a point about the vague wording of the district’s new dress policy.
X-Mas Hike
Not all holiday traditions are set in stone. Like their celebrants, they can evolve. That’s the case of the Camelback Christmas tree, an annual custom that started more than 30 years ago when anonymous hikers schlepped a Christmas tree up Camelback Mountain for hikers to decorate. “Although it was a fun tradition, this led to litter, and the rangers had to remove the tree and litter after every season,” says John Cressey, known as “Camelback Santa.” He and other regulars advocated to preserve the practice when the city of Phoenix considered banning it. Now, only natural birdseed ornaments are allowed, and the “leave no trace” hiking ethic is observed. “During December, John and the hiking elves coordinate a schedule to be sure we keep the agreement with the city, putting up the tree each morning and removing it in the evening,” says Jes Dobbs, “elf” and director of apparel brand Camelback Culture. On weekends that month and during Christmas week, Cressey dresses up as Santa, hikes the peak, hands out candy canes and takes photos with hikers, who post using #CamelbackSanta. “The crowds that flock to the summit to see Santa and the tree during the holiday season are a testament to the joy shared in the tradition,” Dobbs says. “A fun and uniquely Phoenix tradition.”
Data Dump
Of all the rando, useless email we get at PHOENIX, our favorites are the big-data “studies” that rank Arizona against other states based on Internet searches or other specious criteria. (Example: “Arizona: 8th best state for cat lovers!”) Anyway, a few have been piling up in our inbox, so here they are, offered with commentary.
MISC.
4 Best Bar Bathrooms for Selfies in Phoenix
Whether we want to admit it or not, we’ve entered an age in which we document our day-to-day via quick pics in the mirror. Embrace your bathroom selfie era at these four fancy water closets.
AZ/88
The shimmery walls of the powder room at this posh Scottsdale spot – also known for its deluxe martinis – are reminiscent of a disco ball. The Valley’s original lux loo. az88.com
Belly Kitchen & Bar
We love the fusion cuisine, creative cocktails and rotating artist spotlights at this Melrose mainstay, but what we love the most is the dope lighting and artsy wallpaper in the baño. belly-phx.com
Hanny’s
Skip the creepy dolls in the basement and head upstairs to snap a pic in the neon-lit, mirrored hallway and glass floor leading to the head. It’s vertiginous! hannys.net
Quartz
You might need to use your phone light to flush in the dimly lit lavatory at this Downtown Phoenix cocktail lounge, but don’t use the flash to take a moody portrait in the mirror as the lights flicker from ruby to emerald. quartzphx.com
