Neighbors
www.SanTanSun.com
Oct. 3 - Oct. 16, 2015
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Neighbors Loverboy ready to bring hits to Chandler page 65
Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation lists upcoming events page 73
Where to Eat page 60
Experience the new Old West
Rawhide Western Town and Event Center opens for the season There are a variety of delicious hand-cut If you’re looking for a fun, familysteaks alongside an endless salad bar, friendly outing that doesn’t involve gluten-free menu items and new familyleaving the Southeast Valley, consider friendly pricing. Rawhide Western Town and Event Center, which is now open to the public for its 2015-16 season. Located on the Gila River Indian Community, Rawhide Western Town is the state’s largest 1880s Westernthemed family entertainment venue and steakhouse. Open Friday through Sunday, it’s a great chance to step back in time and experience everything from Rough Riders reenact tales of the Old West. Submitted photo panning for gold to a live action stunt show. Insider tip: If a steakhouse isn’t your Here are some of the fun things to speed, Rawhide also features a honkytonk expect when you visit: for the 21-and-older crowd and a pizza tavern. Rawhide’s Steakhouse The town’s signature restaurant, Six Gun Theater Rawhide’s Steakhouse, was recently With several shows a day—each one a featured on Food Network’s “Craziest little different—the Rough Riders reenact Restaurants in America.” The welcoming tales of the Old West at Six Gun Theater. restaurant features “daily live music, With mock gunfights, daring falls and hometown hospitality and authentic great audience interaction, visitors should western fare including Rawhide’s famous see one or more of these great shows. fried rattlesnake and Rocky Mountain A fun side note for the kids: the actors oysters, prepared by Executive Chef sign a wanted poster at the end of each Jonathan Scott, who was also featured on performance. It makes a great souvenir. the show,” according to a press release.
BY MICHELLE TALSMA EVERSON
see OLD WEST page 51
Self-proclaimed ‘coffee traveler’ brings hope to Valley BY JADE FRAZIER
Imagine meeting hundreds of individuals from a social media friends list for the first time and sharing life stories over a cup of coffee. It may seem impossible, but not for a 22-year-old Chandler resident, who has made it a goal to have a cup of coffee with her unknown social media friends. Tara Swan woke up one morning and said she felt like she needed to get up and do something different. “I felt an urge from God that I needed to stop being scared, start new relationships,
and socialize more,” Swan said. The fascination of learning about people while drinking coffee intertwined and inspired her to start what she has now called Coffee with Tara. “Everyone has a story but sometimes you don’t know who people truly are because of social media,” Swan said. There are nearly 2 billion social media users, according to social media statistics. Swan said she went through a time in her life where she didn’t socialize much, but that soon changed when she realized that see COFFEE page 54
Mayor Jay Tibshraeny, center, officially opens the Downtown Stage at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The new, permanent downtown venue will host a variety of concerts and entertainment for Chandler residents to enjoy. STSN photo by Tracy House.
Downtown stage opens in time for fall season BY TRACY HOUSE
It’s been seven years in the making, but downtown Chandler now has a permanent stage that will allow for openair concerts and performances, attracting high-profile entertainment and increasing visitors to the area. Mayor Jay Tibshraeny spoke at the recent dedication, explaining that the council approved a cost-sharing agreement with the Downtown Chandler Community Partnership (DCCP) to build and manage the stage. The new venue, named Downtown Stage, will be able to host national, as well as local performers for upcoming festivals and concerts. The first event that will be utilizing the stage will be the eighth annual SanTan Brewing Oktoberfest from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 3, which will feature Matisyahu, Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers and a local polka band. For tickets and more information visit, www. santanoktoberfest.com. The City is hosting its Halloween Spooktacular from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 30, at the Downtown Stage area. The free event will feature games and activities, as well as booths to Trunk or Treat and a costume contest. For more information, go to www.chandleraz.gov. A fall and spring concert series has been scheduled for the downtown area, promoting the surrounding businesses. The dedicated stage will make it easier for larger acts to perform, allowing for set-up without interfering with other activities downtown. The area surrounding the stage can hold a capacity of 20,000 attendees, Tibshraeny said, with two parking garages and surface lots in the near vicinity for parking. “The surrounding grass area creates a cohesive space for band attendees to view the onstage performances.” Ed Hines, DCCP board president, said the stage was a long time coming. “It represents a collaborative effort between the City and the Downtown Chandler Community Partnership.” see STAGE page 52
City celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month BY TIM J. RANDALL
National Hispanic Heritage Month, which began Sept. 15 and runs through Oct. 15, is a tribute to Latino and Hispanic cultures, with acknowledgement of the significant achievements and the impact that Hispanic and Latino individuals have made to the United States. Locally, the “City of Chandler and the Human Relations Commission proudly celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
through several community events, to honor the contributions of Chandler’s Latino residents,” according to Stephanie Romero, a public information officer for the City. To commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month, the City recently partnered with the Downtown Chandler Community Partnership (DCCP) for the Friday, Sept. 18, Chandler Art Walk in Chandler Park. see HERITAGE page 52