Looking for a warm travel destination with endless possibilities for fun? Try Sunny Arizona, a collection of three Arizona cities: Chandler, Mesa and Tempe.  Located in the east side of the Phoenix metropolitan area, these cities provide unmatched access to superb golf courses, Broadway shows, the Sonoran Desert, Major League Spring Training, hundreds of dining experiences, nightlife and some of the Southwest's best shopping. For more information, or to arrange an individual trip to Sunny Arizona, please contact Toni Smith at the Tempe Convention & Visitors Bureau:  toni@tempecvb.comor 800-283-6734. For more information about Sunny Arizona, please visit www.visitsunnyaz.com/Media-Professionals.asp. Topics included below: Story Idea of the Month: Shopping in Sunny Arizona Tempe Marketplace Opening Soon Mesa Adds Nearly 700 Hotel Rooms New Additions to Historic Downtown Chandler Tempe Center for the Arts - Open in September BMX/Freestyle Park New to Chandler Mesa Welcomes New Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World 2007/2008 Events Story Idea of the Month - Shopping! Shopping - perhaps it is the real great American pastime. In a recent survey of visitors to Sunny Arizona, 88% of respondents shopped during their trip, making it the top-ranked activity. With all of the options, it's no surprise that shopping is so popular. While visiting Sunny Arizona, AAA/CAA members will be sure to take home treasures to remind them of their trip. Bargains are there for the taking at Arizona Mills with over 175 manufacturer outlets, such as Last Call by Neiman Marcus, and entertainment venues like GameWorks. Find the latest trends at Chandler Fashion Center, one of the newest malls in the area, and the upscale shops at the outdoor Casa Paloma. In September 2007, the Tempe Marketplace will entertain shoppers with some of the most popular eateries, retailers and movie theaters.  For items that can't be found anywhere else, the boutiques in Downtown Mesa, Tempe's Mill Avenue District and Historic Downtown Chandler are a must-see.  These bustling downtowns offer everything from unique glass pieces of art, to antique books, to the latest in home accessories and fashions. For more information about shopping in Sunny Arizona, please contact Toni Smith at toni@tempecvb.comor 800-283-6734. Tempe Marketplace to Welcome Shoppers and Entertainment Lovers in 2007 Tempe, Ariz. will soon be home to Tempe Marketplace, a $270 million retail project.  The first shops and restaurants will open by July, then every week in September 2007 will be filled with grand opening activities.  Tempe Marketplace will hold 1.3 million square feet of shopping, dining and entertainment.  Tempe Marketplace will be the largest center of its kind in the U.S. Tempe Marketplace, located on Rio Salado Parkway near the intersection of the Loops 202 and 101, will house more than 120 of the nation's finest restaurants, retail stores, lifestyle shops and attractions. Visitors will find Arizona's second location of a state-of-the-art Harkins movie theatre, called Cine Capri. The huge Cine Capri screen is 30 ft. tall by 70 ft. wide, the sound system boasts 146 speakers and the theater will seat 620 movie goers. The theater will open on June 29. Tempe Marketplace patrons will also find a Dave & Buster's, King Fish House, Center Court Restaurant, Target, Gap, Old Navy, and much more. The project is designed as a gathering place, with outdoor fireplaces, raised dining patios, water fountains, a 300-seat amphitheatre, LED Video Walls, interactive kiosks, and incorporated light and lasers. For more information, please visit www.tempemarketplace.com. Nearly 700 Hotel Rooms Scheduled for Summer Construction in Mesa Mesa, Ariz. is in the midst of a construction boom, and that activity will soon take a giant leap forward as 682 new hotel rooms are soon scheduled to be under construction. While anticipation and excitement continues to grow with the development of the Mesa Riverview project and new upscale shopping at the Village at Dana Park and other malls, Mesa can also look forward to the construction of five new hotel properties. At a sixth property, the Comfort Inn (40 rooms) on East Main Street near Pioneer Park, construction has already begun.  This summer work is set to start at the Hyatt Place at Riverview (150 rooms); Courtyard by Marriott at Falcon Field (114 rooms); SpringHill Suites by Marriott (134 rooms) and Residence Inn by Marriott (124 rooms), both near Crimson Road and U.S. Highway 60; and Holiday Inn on East Main Street (120 rooms).  The Comfort Inn replaces the old Copper State Motel, and the Holiday Inn on East Main will replace the Windemere Hotel. Construction will continue into 2008. Look what's coming to town! Historic Downtown Chandler, listed on the National Register for Historic Places, is excited to welcome a few new businesses to the area. The historic square continues to be recognized as one of the best gatherings of independent restaurants and will welcome the San Tan Brewing Company this summer.  Other new independent merchants include Inspirador, a contemporary environment to welcome all of life's special occasions, Tryst, a unique and modern art gallery opening May 2007 which will showcase emerging and established Arizona artists, and Vivi's Clothing Boutique. Other new arrivals include Art on Boston, a contemporary art gallery featuring eight artist studios and classrooms all providing an area for individuals to create, explore and learn. Urban Tea Loft, described as a "hip, urban, upscale, chic place" to find gourmet loose-leaf teas, soups, salads, sandwiches, desserts and gourmet sipping chocolates. Both facilities will also be available as small meeting and reception venues.  Downtown Chandler...Where Good Friends Meet!  For more information, please visit www.downtownchandler.org. Tempe Welcomes New Performing Arts Center The new Tempe Center for the Arts is set to become a reality. Scheduled to open September 7-9, 2007 the 88,000-square-foot facility will feature a 600-seat theater, a 200-seat studio theater, meeting and administration space and a 17-acre Arts Park. The Center is located in Tempe Beach Park, on the shore of Tempe Town Lake. One of the most striking features is an outdoor patio with an infinity edge pool and an artistically-designed fire feature.  Scheduled performances will include the Tempe Symphony Orchestra, Childsplay, Tempe Little Theatre, Desert Dance Theatre, Actors Renaissance Theater, A Ludwig Dance, Arizona Academy for Performing Arts and Tempe Community Chorus. For more information, visit www.tempe.gov/TCA. BMX/Freestyle Park Opens in Chandler The City of Chandler will dedicate its new BMX/Freestyle bike riding facility on Saturday, May 5, 2007, with a morning of professional rider demonstrations, giveaways and a ribbon cutting ceremony. The Chandler Bike Park is located at 450 E. Knox Rd. in the City's Espee Park This is the first public bike-only park built in an Arizona municipality, and its opening has been highly anticipated in the BMX/freestyle bike riding community. The grand opening event is expected to attract riders from around the state, and professional riders from throughout the southwestern United States. More information is online at www.chandleraz.gov/bikepark. Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World Nears Completion at Mesa Riverview It is the number one outdoor store in America. It is the world's leading supplier of premium outdoor gear. It is Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, and construction of its newest store is nearly complete at Mesa Riverview, the 1.3 million square-foot retail project in west Mesa. The 200,000 square-foot Bass Pro store is scheduled to open this Memorial Day weekend. Mesa's Bass Pro Shop will be much more than a retail store. The sights and sounds of the outdoors will be brought indoors through an indoor waterfall and a meandering stream with live fish, wildlife dioramas, chandeliers depicting outdoor scenes, wildlife carvings, an aquarium stocked with native fish species, a climbing wall, archery range, golf simulator and a pistol range. Bass Pro started 35 years ago with just eight feet of store retail space in Springfield, Missouri. Sporting Goods Business Magazine proclaimed it the number one outdoor store in America, and Bass Pro has won numerous awards for innovative store designs. Bass Pro has received more awards for conservation efforts than other outdoor retailer in the United States. Bass Pro currently has 38 locations in 23 states and Canada that attract more than 78 million visitors a year. www.basspro.com 2007/2008 Events Check www.visitsunnyaz.comfor even more event updates. Way Out Oktoberfest October 5 -7, 2007 Tempe Beach Park www.wowoktoberfest.com Men’s Senior Baseball League October 14 - November 3, 2007 Tempe Diablo Stadium www.msblnational.com ZooLights (Opening Night) November 19, 2007  The Phoenix Zoo www.phoenixzoo.org Las Noches de las Luminarias November 23-25 &  December 6 -8, 12-23 Desert Botanical Garden www.desertbotanical.org/luminarias APS Fantasy of Lights (Opening Night)          November 24, 2007    Mill Avenue District www.downtowntempe.com/APS-Fantasy-of-Lights.aspx Tempe Festival of the Arts                        November 30 - December 2, 2007 March 28-30, 2008 Mill Avenue District www.tempefestivalofthearts.com Chandler Parade of Lights & Tumbleweed Tree Lighting December 1, 2007 Historic Downtown Chandler www.chandleraz.gov/default.aspx?pageid=164 P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon & 1/2 Marathon                January 13, 2008 Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe www.rnraz.com  Arizona Renaissance Festival & Artisan Marketplace February 9 - April 5, 2007 Festival Village, Apache Junction http://royalfaires.com/Arizona Chicago Cubs Spring Training at Hohokam Park Angels Spring Training at Tempe Diablo Stadium March 2008 http://cubs.mlb.com www.angels.mlb.com 20th Annual Ostrich Festival March 7-9, 2008 Tumbleweed Park, Chandler www.ostrichfestival.com