azfamily: BREAKING: Phoenix Police Department reports that a toddler was hit by a vehicle – http://snipr.com/c7wqi
azfamily: Traffic alert: SB Interstate 17 blocked due to single-vehicle rollover at Carefree Highway. Real time traffic reports http://snipr.com/avnr0
azfamily: Two Valley men found dead inside cab of truck near Flagstaff – http://snipr.com/c5itd
azfamily: 9-year-old St. Johns boy accused in double murder to plead guilty to 1 charge; http://tinyurl.com/bkywwc
azfamily: New LIVE VIDEO Link: President Barack Obama http://snipr.com/3-tv
azfamily: President Barack Obama is unveiling his mortgage relief plan in Mesa | WATCH LIVE NOW http://snipr.com/awu5l
Well everything has been packed up, the tv trucks that caused businesses so much pain are gone and things downtown are business as usual.
This was my first experience with All-Star Weekend up close and personal. I’ve watched it on TV before and let me tell you I kind of like that better in some respects.
On Saturday night at the Skills, Three-Point, Dunk festivities things seemed to move so slowly that it wasn’t as enguaging as seeing on the television.
Without Charles Barkley’s TNT commentary TV might not have been as good this year, but it does keep you enguaged.
This year the celebrities were courtside and it was the All-Star Game, but it seemed as if the players were actually putting some effort into it. Made for a pretty decent game.
The Shaq – Kobe story line was there and even had a happy ever after ending with the former teammates taking home co-MVP honors.
Overall Phoenix looked good, no-one was run over by the light rail, people were out and about downtown for several days in a row and well one of our Suns took home MVP honors.
Sums up a good 2009 All-Star Weekend – and I’d say Phoenix was a good host 
All-Star Saturday night featured skills challenges, three point shooting and of course the big event of the night was the Slam Dunk competition.
The evening was exciting as downtown was very busy (noticed while I was walking around that light rail was packed). Dwight Howard didn’t disappoint and we were able to do some celeb spotting too!
Check out the slideshow of who we found at U.S. Airways tonight!
I never knew there were so many ways to take an orange ball and throw it towards a basket. Kids and parents alike had fun at multiple different games: the pop-a-shot arcade-style basketball game, a sling-shot syle game where people shot large stuffed basketballs at multiple baskets, a tramponline for kids to jump on to help their shot, and even a rock climbing wall with a basket at the top (the kids carried a small ball in a backpack on their way up). Take a look!
Kids find other ways to get the ball to the basket
The focus at the All-Star Jam on Thursday and Friday was truly on the kids. At the entrance, families were greeted by volunteers cheering to get them pumped for the game.
New Orleans Hornets Guard Chris Paul spoke to kids about eating right and staying fit, and later called kids to the court to help them learn how to stretch.
New Orleans Hornets star Chris Paul shows kids how to exercise
The Harlem Globetrotters also performed and called kids to the stage to teach them new basketball tricks.
Later that night, Harlem Globetrotter Scooter Christiansen broke the Guinness World Record for spinning a basketball on his nose and head for the longest amount of time: 5 seconds for nose, and 6 seconds for head. He told us that he loved his job–take a look!
Saturday afternoon I headed out to Mesa with 3TV photographer Jeff Aguila to do an interview with Jay-Z and LeBron James.
The guys along with Sprite donated 150 instruments to the Mesa Arts Academy and the Boys and Girls Club of Mesa. Also at the presentation Sprite gave the school a $10,000 donation.
It was neat to see the kids reaction to the pair and to Beyonce, who also made an appearance.
Check out my one on one interview with LeBron James and Jay-Z.
Headed downtown to check out the NBA Jam Session at the Convention Center. The Jam Session is one of the events you can enjoy and afford to participate in this weekend,
With all the activities surrounding NBA All-Star Weekend there were lots of people walking around, which I am sure the City of Phoenix is happy about. The entrance to the Jam Session is on 3rd St and Washington St about mid-way north of the intersection.
Lots of stuff going on downtown this weekend with the All-Star game. Here is a list of street closures and restrictions through the weekend.
For a Downtown Map.
The NBA invades the Valley for their 58th All-Star Game this week and you might be surprised there is so much more than Sunday’s game. I’ve put together a list of events happening over the NBA All-Star Weekend.
These have been complied from various sites and press releases we have received. If you would like to your event added please e-mail info@azfamily.com.
When it comes to washing your face, did you know that there is a right way and a wrong way to do it? Getting all washed up the right way can help keep your skin healthy.