I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to get away. Don’t get me wrong, I’m loving all the snow we’ve been getting recently, but I am just a little over it at this point. As wild as I am about keeping up on snow-related small talk, all my speed-dial lines are getting a little stale: “Oh my gosh, I’m not complaining, we totally need this; Have you seen the lines at City Market recently, they’re insane; Are you following Durango Snow Lovers on Facebook yet? He knows more than the NWS!” Plus, my brain hurts from trying to figure out where to put the next 5-foot tall pile, and my back is even more annoyed that I haven’t bought a snow plow by now. Yes, winter is great – no doubt – but it’s supposed to be 75 degrees and sunny in Tempe this weekend, and I am STOKED.
It’s not just a random get-out-of-town trip, either. It’s the Innings Festival, Arizona’s spring training celebration for music. You can catch a Cactus League game before heading over to the event, or skip baseball altogether and just get involved with the festival’s baseball-related events. They’re interviewing famous MLB players like Roger Clemens, Ryan Dempster, and Jake Peavy, but there will also be batting cages, base-stealing competitions, and the opportunity to dive into a padded pit to catch a fly ball. And, of course, it’s not just baseball. It’s basically a lineup of your favorite ’90s bands: Incubus. Eddie Vedder. Sheryl Crow. Liz Phair. Cake. Blues Traveler. Guster. Jimmy Eat World. Band of Horses. I’ve been listening to the Spotify playlist nonstop, and I just can’t even.
Plus, there’s supposed to be some pretty killer food at this thing. Steamed bao buns? Tasty churros? Hoss Doggies? Arepas and gourmet quesadillas and all the tacos? Fork yeah! And while I’m not sure how I feel about food truck sushi, I just have to check out a truck that calls itself Pokitrition – they have a sushi burrito on the menu, which is definitely speaking my language.
So … what are you doing March 2-3? Your answer should be heading to Tempe. It’s not too late to get your bandwagon on and go somewhere warm. As of this moment, tickets are still available. Plus, if you’re crazy enough to drive (like we are), there’s a Costco on the way. I won’t miss an opportunity to stock up on the essentials (and I may or may not need to replace my husband’s giant bag of Trail Mix that is, by now, nothing but peanuts and raisins … no, I would never pick through it and only eat the cashews and M&Ms).
Lindsay Mattison
