Greater Phoenix is a metro area of many downtowns

Phoenix, the fifth largest city in the United States, has a metropolitan area population of more than 3.2 million. Think of this area as a bowtie shape: Phoenix is the circle in the middle, and suburbs spread out north and south o­n the east and west sides of the circle.  While the city of Phoenix is the most populous and has a vibrant downtown, each of the surrounding suburbs has a unique downtown with a personality all its own. Take a look:

Begin in central Phoenix. o­ne of the most popular things to do here is take in a sporting event. Watch the MLB Arizona Diamondbacks at Bank o­ne Ballpark (the BOB to locals) or cheer o­n the NBA Arizona Suns at America West Arena. Explore Native American art and culture at the world-renowned Heard Museum, then see the newest exhibit at the Phoenix Museum of Art.  Downtown Phoenix comes to life o­n the first Friday of every month for the ArtLink First Fridays Art Walk.  Known for its contemporary and edgy art galleries, the downtown area has really burst o­n the scene as o­ne of the top spots for modern art.  When you want to refuel after the big game or before the Art Walk, head to some of Downtown Phoenixs signature eateries.  James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Bianco serves up gourmet pizzas and salads at Pizzeria Bianco.  Cheuvronts and My Florist Café offer an impressive selection of wine, cheese and small plates.  Go to www.visitphoenix.com for more.

Go west to shop til you drop in Glendale. The downtown area, famous for its antique shops, has been named by both USA Today and Sunset magazine as o­ne of the best antique shopping destinations in the nation. There, youll find brick-lined sidewalks, white picket fences and mature shade trees, plus dozens of antique and other specialty shops.  Downtown Glendale is also home to some of the states more interesting museums, including the Bead Museum.  Housing a collection of more than 100,000 beads and beaded artifacts, The Bead Museum weaves a fascinating story of the global history of beads, including beads used as talismans or currency and their importance as religious and social symbols.   Those with a sweet tooth will want to indulge at the Cerreta Candy Company, where candy has been made the old-fashioned way since 1930.  If the candy isnt enough, Downtown Glendale is also a microcosm of international cuisine, with restaurants serving Polish, German and Mexican food, to name a few.  The downtown area is just minutes away from the stadium that will be the future home to the NFLs Arizona Cardinals as well as the 2008 Super Bowl. So its o­nly appropriate that a sports bar here would house the nations largest collection of football helmets. USA Today is so impressed that it named Maxs Sports Bar Museum o­ne of the countrys Top 5 Sports Bars. For more, check out www.visitglendale.com.

As the home of Arizona State University, fun is the name of the game in Tempe, an eclectic town just east of Phoenix. Mill Avenue is the hub of Downtown Tempe and its where youll find the most concentrated area of restaurants, cafes, nightlife and shops in Arizona. The downtown area has become a unique, pedestrian-friendly place to live, work and play. Shady brick sidewalks, turn of the century buildings, historic landmarks, Arizona State University, "A" mountain and Tempe Town Lake all make Downtown Tempe o­ne of the most vibrant places in the state.  Whether you are grabbing a pint at the Rula Bula Irish Pub or grabbing a steak at the historic Montis La Casa Vieja, the options are truly endless.  Tempe Beach Park provides incredible recreation opportunities, from running along the shore to paddling across Tempe Town Lake.  In addition, the Beach Park is home to several world-class festivals, music and sporting events, all within walking distance of the action o­n Mill Avenue. Check out www.tempecvb.com for more.

Just north of Tempe, youll find Scottsdale, which is known for its world-class resorts, spas and golf. What you may not know is that downtown Scottsdale, also known as Old Town Scottsdale, offers more than 125 galleries and museums. Take a free ride o­n the Scottsdale Trolley to explore the art, or spend an afternoon shoppingoutdoors o­n the streets of Old Town, or indoors at Scottsdale Fashion Square mall.  Every Thursday evening the galleries stay open late for the Scottsdale ArtWalk.  There is no better way to cap off an evening of strolling around the galleries than to indulge in Scottsdales unbeatable dining and nightlife scenes.   Sample Chef Nobu Fukudas inventive and award-winning Japanese-style tapas at Sea Saw, or relax o­n the patio with a margarita at o­ne of the areas more casual venues.  Downtown Scottsdale is preparing for some exciting changes with the addition of the Scottsdale Waterfront project and several boutique hotels, including Arizonas first W hotel in 2007.  Go to www.scottsdalecvb.com for more.

Greater Phoenixs many downtowns offer something for everyone. With more than 15 distinct communities surrounding the city of Phoenix, youll never have to wonder what to do here. For information o­n any of these communities, start your search with www.arizonaguide.com.

***If you would like photos to run with this release, please contact Heather Koncilja at hkoncilja@azot.gov***