MLA 2006 Local Assistance Committee: Phoenix

Rent at the airport or at the hotel? A January 2006 article in USA Today shows that it is cheaper to rent away from the airport - lower fees and location costs. Ask at any hotel concierge desk for help in renting a car - a $2.00 tip is appropriate.

Why should you rent a car?

10. Where else is the average speed on surface streets over 50 mph?

9. It's 100 degrees outside and all the cool places to go are more than 5 miles away!

8. All the cool places near the conference are filled with medical librarians!

7. Phoenicians don’t believe in public transportation.

6. The conference is in Phoenix but Scottsdale is where it is happening!

5. You can get to the Indian Casinos in a hurry!

4. The Grand Canyon is only 5 hours away.

3. A car has air conditioning (but it’s a dry heat!).

2. A trunk to hold everything you buy at the wonderful shopping available in the Valley.

1. On second thought don’t rent a car because you if you see too much of the Valley of the Sun then you will want to move here like everyone else!!!!!

oh, lots.... !!!

For Example,
Arizona Science Center-http://www.azscience.org/
Heritage Square-http://www.phoenix.gov/PARKS/heritage.html
Encanto Park-http://www.enchantedisland.com/
Heard Museum-http://www.heard.org/
Desert Botanical Garden-http://www.dbg.org/
Phoenix Art Museum-http://www.phxart.org/ all have programs, activities, and exhibits for children.

Good Websites:
General: http://www.evjcc.org/resources/parenting/phoenix.html#amuse http://phoenix.about.com/cs/familyactivities/ht/freefunkids.htm http://phoenix.gov/AVIATION/kids/

Restaurants for kids...
http://phoenix.about.com/cs/rest/a/kidsrest01.htm - Rawhide: http://www.rawhide.com/kids/default.asp

Most of Arizona has no Daylight Savings Time.

So in practice:

Hawaiian Standard Time = Arizona MST time + 3 hours
8:00 HST = 11:00 MST
8:00 MST = 5:00 HST

Alaska Daylight Time = Arizona MST time + 1 hours
8:00 ADT = 9:00 MST
8:00 MST = 7:00 ADT

Pacific Daylight Time = Arizona MST time
8:00 PDT = 8:00 MST
8:00 MST = 8:00 PDT

Mountain Daylight Time = Arizona MST time - 1 hour
8:00 MDT = 7:00 MST
8:00 MST = 9:00 MDT

Central Daylight Time = Arizona MST time - 2 hours
8:00 CDT = 6:00 MST
8:00 MST = 10:00 CDT

Eastern Daylight Time = Arizona MST time - 3 hours
8:00 EDT = 5:00 MST
8:00 MST = 11:00 EDT

EUROPE
Central Europe Daylight Time Time = Arizona MST time - 7 hours
Amsterdam/Paris/Brussels/Berlin
8:00 CEDT = 1:00 MST
8:00 MST = 17:00 CEDT

With any luck, when you get off the plane the stewardess will tell you what the local time is. For planning purposes, early morning (the best time of the desert day!) will be less early for Easterners.

There is an exception to the "No Daylight Savings Time." The Navajo Nation (Naabeehó Dine'é), in the Four Corners, is spread across three states. Therefore, it does practice Daylight Savings Time to keep everybody in the nation on the same clock.

Anyone visiting from Europe, Africa, Asia or Australia who would like to share their time?

Arizona extends a warm southwestern invitation to you to attend MLA ’06. Please mark your calendars and plan to spend May 19-24 at the Phoenix Civic Plaza Convention Center, where MLA is planning a dynamic and transforming annual meeting.

There are many reasons to come early or stay a few days longer to explore the southwest. Adventures abound in the beautiful Sonoran Desert. Phoenix is a place where Mother Nature is at her best– more than 325 days of sunshine a year make it easy to enjoy the things to see and do in Phoenix. Hiking, cycling, hot-air ballooning, horseback riding, visiting museums or casinos, bargain or luxury shopping, fine dining, attending the symphony or a ball game are examples of activities you can enjoy during your stay in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

We highly recommend visiting the Phoenix Destination Guide at www.visitphoenix.com to discover why so many people love visiting or living in the desert.

Hotel Accommodations
The official meeting hotels for the annual meeting are the Hyatt Regency and the Wyndham, both located in the heart of downtown Phoenix across the street from the Phoenix Civic Plaza Convention Center and Symphony Hall. They are within walking-distance to the Arizona Center, Heritage Square, Arizona Science Center, and Chase Field Ballpark, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Amenities at the Hyatt Regency and the Wyndham include high-speed Internet access in the guest rooms and the business center, concierge services, fitness center, heated swimming pools and spas. Please see the individual hotel Websites for other services when making your choice of hotel for the annual meeting.

The Hyatt Regency (hyattphoenix.com) is the largest hotel in downtown Phoenix and is only three miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The Hyatt boasts the spectacular Compass revolving rooftop restaurant and lounge, where you can enjoy unparalleled views of the Valley of the Sun from the 24th floor. You may be fortunate and witness one of Phoenix’s spectacular sunsets.

The Wyndham Phoenix Hotel (phoenix.wyndham-hotels.com) is one block west of the Hyatt Regency and provides the comforts of home along with a focus on the needs of the business traveler. A bonus at the Wyndham is entertainment at Rascals Comedy Club. Stop in for laughs after a long day at the annual meeting.

Phoenix Civic Plaza Convention Center
The Phoenix Civic Plaza Convention Center is undergoing a multi-million dollar transformation, so please excuse the construction during your short walks to the meetings. The city of Phoenix itself is also being transformed with the new Valley Metro Light Rail under construction on several of its main thoroughfares.

Rent a Car and Explore
While in Phoenix, why not plan a pre- or post-convention vacation? Stay a while and see more. From the natural beauty of the Grand Canyon and Sedona to the Old West charm of Tucson, the amazing state of Arizona offers a variety of exciting vacation ideas to complement your time in Phoenix. Whether you decide to explore the state’s natural wonders and Indian ruins or enjoy the resorts and golfing in the metropolitan Phoenix area, you will need to rent a car.

Did you know that the James Beard Foundation has cited greater Phoenix restaurants and chefs as among America’s best? Phoenix restaurants are especially celebrated for their unique brand of southwestern fare. You can choose a cowboy cookout or a champagne brunch, or you may want to stand in line at Pizzeria Bianco in Heritage Square. “It might be the best pizza in America” proclaimed the New York Times. The variety is endless! If you want to spice it up, go to Alice Cooper’s Town Bar and Grill, “where jocks and rock meet,” with rock music and a big menu of barbeque and spicy southwestern food.

Tours
Check MLANET for links to tours in the area. Additionally, www.visitPhoenix.com has a link to tours and sightseeing information, including aerial tours of the Grand Canyon and the very popular Jeep and desert tours.

Weather
Please plan for the climate when you arrive in the “Valley of the Sun” at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport in May. The average high temperature in Phoenix is 92 and the average low is 62 degrees. Be prepared with layered clothing. Clouds will be few, so bring a hat and sunscreen, and enjoy the blue skies and abundant sunshine.

-->Register for MLA ’06 online at www.mla.net/am/am2006/register/.

Come to MLA Phoenix and discover the vibrant culture that charms its 1.5 million residents and increasing number of visitors. The cityscape of Phoenix in the surrounding southwest desert is growing and changing. Phoenix has transformed from the dusty small town of long ago to the fifth largest dynamic, thriving city in the country. Like its legendary mythological namesake, the Phoenix bird, the city itself continues to renew and bloom, making it one of the brightest spots on the national map. Plan to enjoy the many special places to visit while you are in Phoenix for MLA. These are just a few ideas:

Heard Museum: An Arizona Treasure http://www.heard.org/
The world-renowned Heard Museum is a “must-see” during your trip to Phoenix. The museum is dedicated to educating visitors about Native peoples of the Southwest. The Heard spans ten exhibit galleries and a beautiful outdoor courtyard. The latest signature exhibition is HOME: Native People in the Southwest reflects the importance of family and community in the traditions of Native people. The Heard is open daily 9:30 until 5:00 pm. Guided tours are available. Remember to stop in the famous Heard Museum Gift Shop to shop or browse the beautiful Native American jewelry and art creations. Delicious lunch selections are also available at Arcadia Farms at the Heard 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Museum is less than two miles from MLA and is a short five minute ride away.

Taliesin West: Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation http://www.franklloydwright.org/
Taliesin West is located in Scottsdale, Arizona, and is the international headquarters of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. Taliesin West began in 1937 when Wright purchased the land. He along with his architecture apprentices began his organic architecture studies here. The desert environment inspired his organic philosophy of architecture conserving the natural environment. He continued to work, teach organic design and build on the site for twenty more years. Wright used the location as his personal home, studio and campus for his architectural school. A variety of tours are available seven days a week in May. Taliesin West is located approximately 27 miles from downtown Phoenix. Allow at least 30 minutes travel time to Scottsdale. Please check the Website or call 480-860-2700 for additional information.

Desert Botanical Garden http://www.dbg.org/
The Desert Botanical Garden, located at Papago Park, is home to 139 rare, threatened and endangered plant species from around the world. The Garden is a one-of-a-kind 50-acre museum of outdoor desert plant exhibits. The Desert Botanical Garden seeks to promote the appreciation of the Sonoran Desert and the importance of conserving the desert environment. Exhibits explore using desert plants for food, construction, tools, basket-making and more. Throughout the year garden tours include birding, wildflower classes, cactus and desert plant collection. Tours are seven days a week 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. in May. The Garden is a 15 minute drive from MLA headquarters in downtown Phoenix and about a nine mile drive. Visit the Website to find out “How to Get the Most out of Your Visit.”

Sedona: Red Rock Country http://www.visitsedona.com/
Arizona’s spectacular red rock country is a short two hour drive from Phoenix. Sedona is located at beautiful Oak Creek Canyon. The winding road through Oak Creek Canyon is one of Arizona’s scenic highways, as well as on the way to the Grand Canyon. The area is a delight to any visitor. Whether you are interested in a Jeep tour, hiking, archaeology, geology, art galleries, shopping in Sedona’s eclectic shops, or relaxing at an outdoor patio restaurant taking in the breathtaking scenery, you will enjoy Sedona any way you chose to spend your time. Sedona is located 120 miles north of Phoenix, so plan on a two hour drive to see Arizona’s beautiful red rock country. Visit the Sedona-Oak Creek Canyon Chamber of Commerce for specific information regarding travel plans - http://www.visitsedona.com/

Indian Ruins
What is a visit to Arizona without exploring one of our spectacular Indian ruins?
Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park is located in downtown Phoenix at 44th Street and Washington. The 100 acre park and museum is dedicated to the study of the prehistoric Hohokam people, who lived as farmers in the Valley of the Sun until 1450 AD. Pueblo Grande Museum is a convenient ten minute drive and only seven miles from our downtown Phoenix MLA meeting location. Educational programs and guided tours are regularly scheduled. Please check the Website: http://phoenix.gov/PARKS/pueblo.html

Arizona's ambiance is casual: denims or shorts are always in style, with comfortable shoes for walking around the convention center and downtown. In mid-May, temperatures generally range from 61 to 92 degrees, with a possibility of going into the low 100s. Leave your business suits, ties and hosiery at home; dress for comfort and enjoyment in casual clothing. Do bring a sweater or jacket for air-conditioned meeting rooms and, possibly, evenings outdoors. Extreme summer sunshine with the heat is always possible, so bring dark glasses, sunscreen, water, and a visor or broad-brimmed hat.