Odd Ones Out: PHX Night Owls

This will be a very chill paddling event at Saguaro Lake. We'll put in / out at Butcher Jones Recreation Site from the beach at about 5:30 pm. The sun sets at 6:06pm and the (almost) full moon will already be up starting at 5:18pm, so we should have plenty of light to get out on the water. We'll mostly be in an area of the lake where the motorboats don't go, so it is likely to be somewhat calm (weather depending). Totally fine if you want to just float / sip on your choice of beverage / socialize at any point... this is about enjoying the moonlight and scenery, not power-paddling!

Bring your own or rent a kayak / paddle board from https://azkayaks.com in Mesa. They allow you to return after they close at 5pm with their locker system. Their last rental goes out at 4pm on Sundays I believe. We will have an electric pump & a manual pump for people to use if you bring something inflatable and don't have your own pump.

PFD's are required, and you'll want to also have a bunch of other basic gear like lights, dry bag, water shoes, etc. and bug spray. If you're new to paddling, reach out and we'll help you plan ahead! We will have some glow sticks / necklaces etc. to share.

We'll meet at 4:30 pm in the parking lot of the Big 5 Sporting Goods at 2930 N Power Rd, Mesa, AZ 85215, along the east wall of the store.

From here you can figure out a carpool or take your own ride if you have a Tonto Pass and want to deal with parking. It's about a half hour drive to Butcher Jones Recreation Site from there. If you want to buy your own Tonto Pass, please do so ahead of time. That Big 5 Sporting Goods sells them, as does the Bashas' in the same plaza.

Rose's has a new team trivia night: Thursday!
And we PHX Night Owls love any excuse for a Thirsty Thursday. As always, there will be non-alcoholic options available.

Location: 5th Avenue and McDowell Road in Central Phoenix

Why 6:30? Trivia starts at 7, but we have to get our drinks and settle into our team table before that.

Per their BYOF policy, you may bring outside food into Rose's.
For eats, they serve only flavored popcorn (by the local Poppies) and Vegetarian crab-flavored chips (by Utz). There are restaurants all around and sometimes a food truck in the parking lot. You can even order walk-over delivery from a couple of the restaurants (menus for those options are provided at Rose's).

Welcome!

NON-MEMBERS: For everyone's safety, before joining us for this or any event, please become a member of Meetup (officially). Thanks, we appreciate it!

Description of the Event (2 Parts: Come for one or both!)
First, for about an hour, we stroll together to get some exercise but at a comfortable pace so we can chat and get to know one another. It's great because everybody walks and talks with everybody.

8-9pm: the Walk and Talk
We start and end at the Phoenix Public Library parking lot on Central Avenue (the main branch called "Burton Barr Central Library"). We meet at the doors on the east side of the building (facing the lot). FREE parking is right there in the lot by that entrance.

As a group, we walk around downtown, Hance Park and/or the surrounding neighborhoods for about an hour; then we return to the parking lot.

9-10pm: the Sit and Sip (optional)
At this time, some say good night. Some say hello and join us. We extend the evening by walking together to a venue on Roosevelt (east of Central and west of 3rd St) such as Arizona Wilderness, the Theodore, or Pedal House, but check the comments in the discussion for the final selection.

By 10pm: We walk back to the library parking lot to end the event.

* * * * *
Tips to get there:
GPS Address: 1221 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004
By Bus: Bus 0 (Stop at Central Ave & Culver Str)
By Rail: "Cultural District" stop at McDowell and Central (the library is just--barely--south of the stop)

The Phoenix Art Museum offers pay-what-you-wish admission on Wednesday nights. We'll meet outside the front entrance at 6:30 pm for introductions then head in to stroll around the museum. Find us at the far right end of the steps that lead up to the front entrance.

The group is likely to spread out and wander somewhat separately, so we'll regroup outside the front entrance again at 8:00 pm when the museum closes. From there we'll go to a bar/restaurant nearby, location TBD (probably The Theodore or Wilderness on Roosevelt, walking as a group but you can also drive to meet us there). We will usually post where we end up in the event comments, so feel free to join us for just that portion if you'd like.

This will be a regular event about once a month.

A NOTE ABOUT PARKING: It can be difficult at the museum on busy nights, so a few other free options this time of night are parking at the Methodist church just north of the museum or at the Burton Barr library. The library is a great choice if you'll be walking with us for drinks/food after on Roosevelt, because it's about halfway between, and there will always be someone to walk back here with at the end of the night. Otherwise, paid parking is available near Roosevelt for that portion of the evening.