Ask 10 revelers what event Cinco de Mayo pays homage to and, chances are, 11 of them would have no idea. Why sweat the details when the party extends from one end of the Valley to the other, and even underwater? The action promises to be bigger, better and wetter at Dos Gringos' Cinco de Mayo Pool Party (www.dosgringosaz. com), Friday, April 30, through Sunday, May 2, at 4209 North Craftsman Court in downtown Scottsdale. What better way to celebrate a historic Mexican military victory than with festivities that include a 10,000-gallon pool, sand, dunk tanks, volleyball tournaments, live bands, and something intriguingly titled "Tomato Justice"? Dos' new Tempe location -- 1001 East Eighth Street -- is also set to get wet, with a pool party Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday, May 1, 2 and 5.
Fresh off last year's festival, which featured the world's largest plate of nachos, the 2004 Cinco de Mayo Phoenix Festival moves to Copper Square, at Washington between Central and Fourth avenues. Great food, a host of family activities, and musical performances by WAR, La Ley, Tierra, Odalys Garcia and more are on tap from 1 p.m. to midnight Saturday, May 1, and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, May 2. Admission is $5; children 12 and younger get in free. Call 602-279-4659.
It's all about the music (sans mariachis) Wednesday, May 5, at Depot Cantina, 300 South Ash in Tempe, when some of the biggest names in alternative music celebrate the holiday with an outdoor show. Dexter Freebish, Marcy Playground, and The Kicks share the bill, with gates opening at 4 p.m. Admission, $15, includes a free buffet until 5 p.m. See www.depotcantina.com for more details.
And exactly who is the purveyor of Mesa's best salsa? Find out at Mesa's Cinco de Mayo Fiesta, from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, April 30, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 1, at Pioneer Park, at Mesa Drive and Main Street. Latin and dance music, authentic Mexican cuisine, carnival rides, kids' activities, and a performance by Ballet Folklorico round out the free event. Call 480-644-3836. -- Craig Wallach
Greens Party
Join in the Moonsplash 2004 golf tournament
Fri 4/30
Further proof that golf is no longer your granddad's game of checkered pants and white patent leathers: the Moonsplash 2004 golf tournament on Friday, April 30, at Raven Golf Club at South Mountain. Moonsplash pits teams of four against each another for brand-spankin'-new golf equipment -- and bragging rights. But if golfÕs not your game (the field is full, anyway), stick around for the after-party featuring Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, not to mention $1 beers all night. Admission to the concert, which begins at 6 p.m., is $30, with proceeds going to Valley youth charity A Hand of Hope. The golf starts at 12:30. For tickets, call 480-429-4380 or see www.moonsplashgolf.com. -- Joe Watson
Cool and Collected
It's May "Museum Month"
5/1-5/31
Area museums let it all hang out this May, as the Central Arizona Museum Association and Robinsons-May department stores team up for their annual Museum Month promotion. Starting Saturday, May 1, nearly 40 CAMA member organizations woo visitors with 2-for-1 admission and free trinkets. Through month's end, museumgoers can get their fill of flora (at the Desert Botanical Garden), fauna (Phoenix Zoo) and ferroglaucophane (Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum). Exhibitionists (lovers of exhibitions, that is) can get their hands on free Museum Month Culture Passports at all Valley Robinsons-May locations. See www.azcama.com or call 602-251-0209, extension 6414, for a list of participating properties. -- Jill Koch
Hop Culture
This sud's for you at the Spring Hop Festival
Fri 4/30
Rick Brown brewed his own before it was cool. Twenty years later, Brown is honored at the Spring Hop Festival, 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, April 30, at the Peoria Sports Complex, 16101 North 83rd Avenue. More than 30 microbreweries from Arizona, California and Colorado -- including Copper Canyon and Bandersnatch -- keep the suds flowing to benefit the Rick Brown Memorial Scholarship Fund at Glendale Community College. (It was Brown -- a photography instructor at GCC -- who got Copper Canyon owner Jerry Gantt into home brews in the early '80s. Brown was killed in a bicycle accident in 2001.) Admission, $10, includes five beer tickets. See www.azbrewguild.com for details. -- Joe Watson
