22 NEW TIMES LAST FOUR GUIDE APRIL 4TH-APRIL 10TH, 2024 the middle of a desert metropolis, but for more than 20 years, the Japanese Friendship Garden has been delighting visitors to its spot near Hance Park in downtown Phoenix. Created in partnership with Himeji, Japan, one of Phoenix’s sister cities, the Japanese Friendship Garden features a lake with a waterfall, traditional Japanese structures, secluded walking paths, plenty of koi, and a gift shop stocked with Asian goods. Cost is $10 adults, $8 seniors, and $7 students, military, and children ages 6 to 17. Mill Avenue, Tempe There’s always something happening on the stretch of Mill Avenue in Tempe that runs from Rio Salado Parkway to the north to University Drive to the south, right next to Arizona State University. By day, people of all ages stroll along the street past tightly packed shops, restaurants, and bars. At night, the vibe gets rowdier as a 20-something crowd comes out to party. You can see a movie at the AMC Centerpoint 11, or snap a photo of Harkins Valley Art, the oldest movie theater in Arizona. Snacks, drinks, and hundreds of games are available at game cafe Snakes & Lattes, and you can sing your heart out every night of the week at 414 Pub Pizza & Karaoke. Musical Instrument Museum 4725 E. Mayo Blvd. 480-478-6000 See thousands of musical instru- ments from all over the world, spanning thousands of years of history, at the Musical Instrument Museum in north Phoenix. Much of the museum is organized geographically, allowing guests to experience the music of various cultures as they move through the galleries. But there’s also a space for mechanical musical instruments, and the Experience Gallery on the first floor gives visitors a chance to play instruments from around the world — it’s just as much for adults as it is for kids. Currently on display is “Acoustic America: Iconic Guitars, Mandolins, and Banjos,” a temporary exhibition that features 90 historic stringed instruments. The museum is open daily. Tickets for the museum plus the “Acoustic America” exhibition are $27 for adults, just the museum is $20, and just “Acoustic America” is $10 (tickets for children are discounted). The Mill Avenue bridges across Tempe Town Lake. (Photo by Martin Ely/CC BY 2.0/Flickr)