Finding the Sweet Spot at the Sugar Bowl

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! This is especially true on a hot summer day in Downtown Scottsdale when the temperature tops 110 degrees. But other than another hot day in the Valley of the Sun, July 18th is also National Ice Cream Day and a good reason to enjoy a cool ice cream treat.



My dear friend and college roommate, Lisa, joined me at the Sugar Bowl. We enjoyed our fair share of ice cream treats while attending the UofA at Eric's Ice Cream, a short walk from the sorority house. But on Saturday's the walk wasn't necessary, as the dinner menu always included Burgers & Splits.

The Sugar Bowl is a favorite of generations of Valley residents, located for more than 50 years in Old Town Scottsdale. I don't think much has changed since it opened its doors. The vinyl pink booths and bar stool and the Tiffany-style lamps are straight from the 1950s. The menu is too. Simple fare from a simpler time -- traditional sandwiches, burgers, sundaes and floats. Just like you remember from your childhood. Maybe better.

Lisa and I each ordered a Pinnacle Peak Sundae, with its two scoops, fudge, whipped cream and a cherry on top. Nothing could be better than that, except catching up on old times. Friendship, like the Sugar Bowl, doesn't change, no matter how many years pass by.

Take a Trip Back in Time to the Orpheum Theater

In terms of architecture, Phoenix is a relatively young city. Much of the area's growth occurred after the 1950s, and old buildings were often torn down to make way for new developments. While some tout this as the path to progress, I find it a sad loss of culture and history. Fortunately there are others who agree, otherwise the southwest corner of Second Avenue and Adams Street in downtown Phoenix might house another high-rise office building -- or worse, a parking lot -- rather than the beautifully restored Orpheum Theater.

My tour of the Orpheum Theater was like a trip back in time. Built in the late 1920s, the Orpheum was the pride of Phoenix with its ornate Spanish Medieval and Baroque-style architecture. Back then it was also one of the coolest spots in town, which drew in audiences on hot summer afternoons for vaudeville and silent picture shows.

Inside the auditorium were large murals with views of expansive mountains ranges, trees and waterfalls, giving patrons the illusion of sitting in a courtyard of a Spanish villa. Detailed arches, niches and columns lined the walls. Overhead, the ceiling changed from an orange glow at sunset to a night sky filled with twinkling stars and moving clouds.

All this grandeur was nearly lost. Subsequent owners, with little appreciation for art and architecture, made changes to the Orpheum, removing furniture and fixtures. One went so far as to paint the entire auditorium black, covering up the beautiful murals and Baroque columns. His reasoning, the audience was there to see the performance on stage, not look at the facility.

After many years of neglect the Orpheum was facing the wrecking ball. Another landmark would be lost forever if it weren't for a group of well-intentioned civic leaders, a bond election, public fundraising and a wealthy benefactor. These groups, combined, raise $14.5 million to restore the theater to its former beauty, which cost only $750,000 to build nearly seven decades earlier.

Today, thankfully, we can enjoy a performance at the Orpheum much like audiences did when the theater first opened. Upcoming events include music, dance, drama, comedy and even an old-fashioned silent picture show. The only difference today is the price of admission. It's a bit more than it was in 1929, but well worth it.

Note: If you work in the downtown area, take a mid-day break and visit the Orpheum Theater. Volunteers conduct free, guided tours twice a month at noon and 1:00 p.m.