One crawl rules them all.

Strap on your drinking boots and come explore 18 Downtown Phoenix bars and restaurants during the 2012 Spring Fling Pub Crawl, which returns on Saturday, May 19, from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Spring Fling Pub Crawl is your opportunity to experience the unique nightlife in Downtown Phoenix, collect colorful beads, enjoy exclusive drink specials, and meet new friends in a truly urban environment.

Over 1,000 Crawlers will participate in the Spring Fling, many traveling in large teams led by Downtown Phoenix Ambassadors.

Trolleys will loop through the Spring Fling Pub Crawl route from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., giving Crawlers safe passage to as many bars as they want leading up to the scrumptious after-hours breakfast and dance party hosted by Steve’s Greenhouse Grill from 1:30-3 a.m. Breakfast is $6.95. Dancing is free.

Mandatory check-in is located at Adams Street and First Avenue and is available from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on May 19. The My 103.9 street team will be supplying the check-in soundtrack and working Crawlers into a proper frenzy.

Pub Crawl tickets are $12 online or $15 the day of the event. All Pub Crawlers must be 21 years old to participate. Tickets purchased in advance must be picked up at check-in.

The Spring Fling Pub Crawl features 18 Downtown bars and restaurants: Bar Smith, Brick Pizzeria, Bliss/ReBAR, Carly’s Bistro, Coach & Willie’s, Copper Blues, Friday’s Front Row, Ghost Lounge, Hooters, Kincaid’s, Lucky Strike Lanes, Majerle’s, Networks, Seamus McCaffrey’s, Steve’s Greenhouse Grill, Tilted Kilt, Rose & Crown, and Turf Irish Pub.

The 2012 Spring Fling Pub Crawl is proudly sponsored by Downtown Phoenix Partnership and My 103.9 FM.

Hotel San Carlos is offering Pub Crawl participants discounted $89 rooms and Discount Cab Company (602-200-2000) will give Crawlers a free ride back to their vehicles the day after.

For discounted Spring Fling Pub Crawl tickets visit

www.downtownphoenix.com/pubcrawl

and enter code: Insider

at checkout for a $2 discount.

Maybe your mom is like mine. Maybe she said all she wanted for a Mother’s Day gift was a little time together or, “just something small, honey.” Maybe you’re like me and you just looked at your calendar and realized you have less than a week to get this all together. Maybe, this year, instead of hastily buying a $20 scarf at 10 p.m. on Saturday and wrapping it in tissue paper in the car (just a random example), you take mom out for a nice day around town.

Don’t panic. We got this.

1. Start with a nice brunch…

Breakfast in bed is nice gesture, but it inevitably ends with a kitchen full of dirty dishes and orange juice on the comforter. Skip the mess and pick one of the fabulous brunch options below:

Province is reviving their Eggs Benedict Action Station, giving mom the option to create her eggs Benedict one of 252 ways. The make your own Bloody Mary bar and complimentary mimosa and house-made pastry with Meyer Lemon curd are back as well. If a buffet is more your speed, The Compass Arizona Grill has endless sweet and savory options for $69, while District American Kitchen is rolling out a bottomless Bloody Mary and mimosa bar and special brunch items. Maybe you’re a little short on cash, in which case you should head to Steve’s Greenhouse Grill where the Mother’s Day brunch has moms eating free with the purchase of an adult entree.

… or, head straight to lunch:

Let mom sleep in (that means you!) and forget the breakfast shuffle. Go for a late brunch or just skip all those breakfast sweets and go for lunch:

The Arrogant Butcher is opening on Sunday at noon with a special menu featuring eggs Benedict, Banana Bread Pudding and a veggie scramble. If mom is all about eating healthy, My Big Fat Greek Restaurant is offering a three course meal for $21.95, while Kincaid’s – a seafood lover’s haven – is open for lunch at 11 a.m.

2. Then, take in a special event:

Nothing says quality time with mom like America’s pastime, and the D’Backs are going all out with a Mother’s Day earring giveaway. The first 5,000 moms will get a pair and, psst, gifting secret here, if you pay for tickets, those earrings totally count as a present.

If mom isn’t a sports fan, head over to Stand Up Live for the 3 Blond Moms show and share a chuckle with Joanie Fagan, Donna Cherry and Kat Simmons as they joke about all those irritating things moms deal with on a daily basis. For more laughs, head to the Phoenix Comedy Festival for a bevy of comedians and musicians, all in support of the Bill of Rights Monument Project.

If a play is more mom’s speed, Herberger Theater has two on tap for Sunday. RED, a searing portrait of famous expressionist painter Mark Rothko, is showing at 1 and 7 p.m., while Time Stands Still – showing at 2 p.m. – tells the story of a photojournalist and foreign correspondent working to find happiness in a world that seems to have gone crazy.

Finally, let mom in on the secret of Crescent Ballroom for the Portland Cello Project – a group of classically trained cellists playing symphony-style music. Moms love live bands and great cocktails, too.

3. And, after a full day, give mom a foot rub.

Yes, with your hands.

Really.

She’ll love it.

The Greatest Two Minutes In Sports doesn’t have to end at the winner’s circle.

On Saturday, after the 138th running of the Kentucky Derby has concluded, don your best sun dress, rock that oversized hat and head down to Frank Murray’s Turf Irish Pub for the Kentucky Derby Blowout.

The fun starts at 8 p.m. and highlights will include:

* OTB (that’s off track betting, for the layperson)

* Prizes for best hat (cash for 1st, Turf gift card for 2nd)

* Cuervo Margarita specials

* Woodford Reserve Mint Juleps**

* Kilkenny Irish cream ale on tap

* FREE admission

**Mint juleps are similar to mojitos except instead of rum the booze of choice is bourbon. And in this case Woodford Reserve is a top shelf bourbon.

Salsa dancing in the street, performance art and video projection onto the walls of the Hyatt Regency Phoenix.

This isn’t your typical Cinco de Mayo celebration – this is Cuatro de Mayo and it’s all about arts and culture.

In celebration of Cinco de Mayo and First Friday, the Downtown Phoenix Partnership and the Arizona Latino Arts & Cultural Center (ALAC) will bring together art, dancing, games and a celebration of Mexican culture at the Cuatro de Mayo Street Celebration on Adams Street between 1^st and 2^nd streets from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The evening’s entertainment includes a performance from Ballet Folklorico Quetzalli at 6:30 p.m., an hour-long, free salsa lesson from Anthony Estrada and Audrey Atkerson at 8 p.m. and open-to-all salsa dancing in the street to DJ VRoc until 11 p.m.

But dancing isn’t the only feature.

In conjunction with the 2^nd Annual Latina Art Exhibition and Festival at ALAC, art will spill out of the gallery and into Adams Street. Look for a digital art projection from local artist Carlos Rivas onto the walls of the Hyatt Regency Phoenix starting at dusk, chalk and sidewalk art, and live, outdoor painting sessions from local artists.

The fun kicks off at 4 p.m. with a Pop-Up Park from the Downtown Phoenix Ambassadors. Skip the traffic and start your First Friday revelry early with CornBag, basketball, board games and Frisbee all to the kicking jams of DJ Sean Watson.

This family friendly event will feature food and drink specials from Steve’s Greenhouse Grill and Networks Bar & Grill.

Remember when we asked you who you think has the best coffee? The best burger? Or the best spot to impress your date in Downtown Phoenix?

Because, you know, we’re nosy and inquiring minds want to know.

Our Best of Downtown Annual Dining Guide survey closes April 27, 2012 and this is your last chance to get your votes in for your favorites.

At 5 p.m. tomorrow, we’ll bust out our fancy calculators and name the winners. The most voted on restaurants will be mentioned in our 2012 Dining Guide, which will be hitting the streets in June.

So come on, vote for your favorite by clicking here.

(Restaurants listed on survey are within the boundaries of Downtown Phoenix Partnership, which are Fillmore to Jackson streets, 7th Street to 3rd Avenue)

Is art meant to provoke, soothe, or disturb?

That’s the question at the heart of Arizona Theatre Company’s new production Red, which opens May 3 at Herberger Theater Center.

Based on true events, master abstract expressionist Mark Rothko has been commissioned to paint a series of murals for New York City’s Four Seasons restaurant.

The grandeur of the job is intimidating and Rothko’s assistant raises some thought-stirring questions about art and commerce.

Provocative dialogue between master and apprentice drives the story. A battle between new school and the old guard.

Red is a searing portrait of an artist’s ambition and vulnerability as he tries to create a definitive work for an extraordinary setting.

This play contains mature language.

Tickets are $32-$69.

Call (602) 256-6995.

Red runs from May 3 to May 20. For more information, click here.

Sustainable. Green. Recycle.

We’ve all heard the buzz words and felt the guilt of trashing plastics or throwing out old cell phones. But with Earth Day right around the corner, it’s time to give our little blue green planet the love she deserves.

If you have old electronics stuffed in attics or cluttering your office (and who doesn’t?) you can safely recycle them at CityScape or the Arizona Center on Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. Haul out those computer monitors, cell phones, DVD and CD players, televisions etc. and bring ‘em and dump ‘em in the big City of Phoenix bins. Ten points if you find a tape player, or, better yet, an 8-track. For a full list of accepted recyclables, click here.

To see what local businesses are doing to keep their practices green or learn more about proper recycling techniques head over to Cesar Chavez Plaza from 11 am to 1:30 pm for the Keep Phoenix Beautiful event. Over 80 exhibitors will showcase products, provide information and give away freebies. (If you go for nothing else, go for the freebies. We hear that there will be whoopie pies from District American Kitchen.)

To wine is divine and in Downtown Phoenix we celebrate the many splendid wonders of The Grape twice a year during our Urban Wine Walk.

The Spring Urban Wine Walk gets uncorked Saturday, April 21 and features 17 restaurants in Uptown Phoenix, Downtown Phoenix and Downtown Tempe ready and willing to serve up wine and snack pairings at wallet-friendly prices.

Whether you’re a regular Downtowner, an occasional visitor, or a newbie eager to get your first taste of the unique urban lifestyle, Wine Walk is an excellent opportunity to experience the very best of our Central City while enjoying the idyllic Spring weather with friends.

Urban Wine Walk restaurants will be pouring three featured wines between 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. but you’ll need to come early to get the freebies:  600 commemorative Urban Wine Walk glasses and goodie bags will be dished out at Tom’s Tavern & 1929 Grill. And be sure to enter to win two free tickets to the Arizona Theater Company’s production of Red being given away at all Downtown Phoenix Urban Wine Walk locations.

Participation is free and wine samples cost between $2 and $4. Be sure to tell your server you’re on Urban Wine Walk to get access to all the awesome palate-pleasing deals.

Designed to be METRO Light Rail-friendly, culinary adventurists are encouraged to park-and-ride to stay safe while soaking up the city scene. An all-day light rail pass is just $3.50.

In addition to Tom’s Tavern, this Spring’s Urban Wine Walk also includes 1130 The Restaurant, Brick Pizzeria & Wine Bar, District American Kitchen & Wine Bar, Icon Lounge at Renaissance Marriott, Kincaid’s, Networks, Province at the Westin Downtown, Rose & Crown, Sam’s Café, Steve’s Greenhouse Grill, Ghost Lounge, Urban Grocery & Wine Bar, Maizie’s Café, Hula’s Modern Tiki, Caffe Boa, and first-timers La Bocca Urban Pizzeria & Wine Bar.

For all things Urban Wine Walk, including maps, menus, and more visit www.downtownphoenix.com/winewalk

Join Valley METRO for a bike ride to Chase Field to watch the Diamondbacks take on the Braves, and enjoy a full day of bike-centric activities during the 2012 Great Bike Chase this Sunday, April 22.

Group rides originating from several different locations will converge at Chase Field at 10:30 a.m. for an expo featuring free bike valet, bike rodeo, entertainment and snacks, plus drawings for prizes.

The baseball game starts at 1:10 p.m. and discounted tickets are available that support METRO bike programs.

Proceeds from the 2011 ride helped fund the fabrication of 11 bike racks (see photo), the first of which will be installed on Monday, Feb. 6, at Carly’s Bistro (128 E. Roosevelt). Installations are also planned for Blooming Rock, Cibo, Tucan Properties, Harder Development, Advantage Logistics SW, Buttertoast Boutique, CO+HOOTS, Dukes Sports Bar, The Centers for Habilitation, and Stadium Lofts.

To register your riding group or find one to join visit Valley METRO or call 602.253.5000.

Who do you think has the best coffee? The best burger? Or the best spot to impress your date in Downtown Phoenix?

Hey, inquiring minds want to know!

As a part of the Downtown Phoenix Partnership Annual Dining Guide, we want to hear from you – the people out on the streets eating and drinking your way through our urban core.

You can vote for your favorite Downtown Phoenix hot spots until April 27, 2012, at which point we’ll bust out our fancy calculators and name the winners. The most voted on restaurants will be mentioned in our 2012 Dining Guide, which will be hitting the streets in June.

So come on, procrastinate on that project just a little longer and take our 5 minute survey by clicking here.

(Restaurants listed on survey are within the boundaries of Downtown Phoenix Partnership, which are Fillmore to Jackson streets, 7th Street to 3rd Avenue)