32 N E W T I M E S B I G G A M E G U I D E Feb. 9th-Feb. 15th, 2023 phoenixnewtimes.com of Scott Price, owner of Shady Park and Sunbar, has welcomed huge crowds after debuting in April 2022, as well as sets by EDM stars Bad Boy Bill, JAUZ, Nils Hoffmann, and Cut Snake. (526 South Mill Avenue, #201, Tempe; darkstartempe.com) Fat Tuesday The blithe, boozy spirit of New Orleans’ famed Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras is celebrated on a nightly basis along Mill by the ASU students and 20-somethings gathering at the Tempe location of Fat Tuesdays. A crew of amiable drink jockeys are happy to dole out 28 different frozen daiquiris by the yard or toss out beads, no flashing required, while its resident DJs spin up high-energy tunes of a Top 40 and hip-hop bent five nights a week to keep its two dance floors — one is inside and the other is out on the patio — hot. (680 South Mill Av- enue, Tempe; 480-967-3917; fattuesdayaz.com) Glow Shots & Cocktails Everything’s more fun in the dark, right? Glow Shots & Cocktails is the latest resident of the second-floor space at the corner of Mill Avenue and Fourth Street, and its appeal lies in its dimly lit interior accented with plenty of blacklight decor. A rotating cast of DJs regularly spin at the nightspot while scantily clad servers hand out cocktails on the large dance floor. Check out Sturdy Thursdays, when hip-hop, R&B, and drill mix with drink specials for a hell of a good time. (414 South Mill Avenue, #215, Tempe; 480-329-4090; instagram.com/glowshot- sandcocktails) Mill Cue Club Feel like shooting some stick? You can do so at this combination pool hall, bar, and nightclub in downtown Tempe where dancing to club bangers, Top 40, and EDM is just as much of a focus of the spot as the billiards. If you’re into the former, local DJs are in the mix every Thursday through Sunday evening. For those who dig the latter, Mill Cue Club features close to a dozen wobble-free tables of racking and crack- ing action in the back and no warped cues, scuffed-up balls, or torn felt in sight. Here’s hoping your aim is true, hustler. (607 South Mill Avenue, Tempe; 480- 966-0068; millcueclub.com) Sunbar In 2019, local restaurateur and entrepreneur Scott Price took a decrepit office space and neighboring head shop and transformed both buildings into an EDM wonderland. Sunbar’s enormous music hall boasts the biggest dance floor in Tempe, a high-qual- ity sound setup, banks of lasers, a massive projection screen, and high-style seating areas. Also on the property: a pinball and game room, and an outdoor patio. Put simply, Sunbar is the gold standard for dance-oriented nightspots in the Valley. (24 West Fifth Street, Tempe; 480-687-8409; sunbaraz.com) Varsity Tavern/Rodeo Ranch Bar Varsity Tavern and Rodeo Ranch Bar are sister es- tablishments that occupy the top of and bottom of the historic Laird and Dines building in the heart of Mill Avenue. Both are excellent choices for a good old-fashioned night of drinking and dancing. The young, fun crowd that routinely packs each spot come for the high-energy music, drink specials, and party atmosphere. Downstairs, Rodeo Ranch has a mechanical bull if you feel like ending your night with a ride. (501 South Mill Avenue, Tempe; Varsity Tavern: 480-534-8620; varsitytavern.com/tempe; Rodeo Ranch: 480-534-8620; therodeoranch.com) Zuma Clustered between popular Mill Avenue joints C.A.S.A. and Mill Cue Club, Zuma draws in countless college co-eds multiple nights a week with its par- ty-hardy vibe, booming soundtrack, and ample li- bations. Fair warning: The club is on the narrow side and things can get a bit cozy, bordering on cramped, when things get going after dark on weekends, often resulting in folks jockeying for space and spilling out onto the smallish patio and a huge line to get in. Basically, try getting there early, be pre- pared for some close-quarters action, and expect to shower both before and after, particularly if you get hit will the excess spray from some ASU kids shotgunning beers. (605 North Mill Avenue, Tempe; 480-829-6775; facebook.com/zumamillave) SCOTTSDALE Bottled Blonde Good news party monsters: Last fall, Bottled Blonde topped its expansive patio by adding a 2,000-square- foot rooftop lounge and party deck. The elevated space, which is accessible from the sidewalk, is outfitted with outdoor games like cornhole, ringed
