Summer is an interesting time in Downtown Tempe. ASU students have gone home for the summer. The office dwellers collectively decide to cash in on their vacation time. And it’s hot. With temperatures rising to 100⁰+ daily, business in The Valley’s most walkable destination is slooooow.

Despite everything that may keep the usual Mill go-er away, I think NOW is the perfect time for Tempe residents to get reacquainted with their downtown.  Believe it or not, I often hear from people who live in Tempe about how they never spend time downtown.

Anyone who hasn’t been to Downtown Tempe in a while would be pleasantly surprised to see what’s been going on down here.  Here at the DTA, we’ve come up with the perfect way for people to do just that. That way is the good old fashioned bar crawl.

Stay with me now. I know the image that bar crawls can bring to mind.  But I challenge you to consider what a bar crawl is down at its core. It’s a concerted effort to hit as many establishments as possible in one fell swoop. It’s for those who aren’t satisfied with a one dimensional experience and need variety. It’s a new experience, comprised completely of mushing together a string of smaller experiences. In a concentrated area like Downtown Tempe, a crawl is most likely to take place on foot. At its core, a bar crawl is a tour!

Last month, we decided to not fight the heat, but embrace it with the Beach Please Bar Crawl. Beach Please was more of a traditional bar crawl, taking people decked out in their beach gear through some Mill Avenue favorites. As you can see below – the Beach crawlers had a blast!

 

This month – and this one is exciting – we’re taking you on a “tour” of some of the newest and most popular brunch spots.  If there is one area where Downtown Tempe shines - its brunch.  The Brunch Crawl is a compilation of all of the breakfast spots that I’m sure you’ve been meaning to check out, or have been meaning to check out again. It’s a way for you to nosh your way through three super popular, award winning restaurants and to not break the bank, or your belly.

This is a rare opportunity to try sample sizes and small-bites plates of some of these restaurants most popular items. There’s no need to commit to full sized, appetite-satisfying plates and ruin your whole crawl – you get to try everything! And don’t worry, the drinks are full sized.

So what’s on this crawl? Well, after you get your Brunch Crawl wristband at check-in, you will have access to all of the specials mentioned below.

Blasted Barley

The crawl kicks off on Blasted Barley’s signature patio. Live music and a bite-sized plate of their famous chicken and waffles is the perfect way to start the best brunch day ever.

Special: $4 Sparking Mojitos, $3 Buttermilk Brined Chicken and Waffle Bites

Orange Table

Orange Table is pulling out all of the punches, offering what are undeniably their most popular dishes. The Green Flannel and Buttermilk pancakes are sure to leave an impression.

Special: $3 Bloody Marys or Mimosas, $6 Green Flannel Sample plate and choice of buttermilk pancake or famous monkey cakes

Postino Annex

The super chill Postino Annex is the last stop on the crawl, and the best way to wind down after such an exciting brunch excursion. 

Special: $5 Mimosa or Bellini, $4 Small Bites Plate

Let’s touch back on something I mentioned earlier. It’s hot outside. You may be thinking, "This all looks great (because it does), but it’s just too hot to walk from place to place". And you’re right. I completely agree with you. So to top off an already amazing Brunch Crawl experience, I decided to add one more extravagance – there’s a trolley! An air conditioned trolley will be available to drive you to each of the crawl stops so you can enjoy your next mimosa in comfort.

If you haven’t visited Downtown Tempe in a while, now is the time. Get your Brunch Squad together, and get ready to ride the trolley through the best brunch experience of the summer!

For more details and to RSVP, visit: http://dtbrunchcrawl.splashthat.com/