51 Things to Do in Phoenix, Arizona

As America’s sixth largest city, Phoenix, Arizona has a long list of great attractions to entertain you during your next visit. One of the fastest growing cities in the nation, Phoenix has entered the same league as other Southwestern cities like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Dallas/Houston as a convention center and tourist area. Check out these 51 things to do on your next visit to the Phoenix area.

Professional Sporting Events

  1. NFL Cardinals – from August to December
  2. MLB Diamondbacks – from April to September
  3. NBA Suns – from October to April
  4. WNBS Mercury – from June to September
  5. NHL Coyotes – from September to March
  6. ASU Sports via short light rail trip to Tempe – from August to April

NHL at Jobing.com Arena

Jobing.com Arena, home to the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes.

 

Rock/Pop Concerts

  1. USAirways Center – major, national, and international acts
  2. Ashley Furniture Homestore Pavilion – major, national, and international acts
  3. Crescent Ballroom – local and regional acts
  4. Blue Martini Lounge – live Jazz music, dining, and cocktails
  5. The Rhythm Room – local and regional acts
  6. Copper Blues – live Blues music, dining, and cocktails

US Airways Center

US Airways Center, home of the Phoenix Suns NBA Basketball team.

 

Performing Arts Centers and Events

  1. Phoenix Symphony – year round performances in Symphony Hall downtown
  2. Arizona Opera – year round performances in Symphony Hall downtown
  3. Ballet Arizona – year round performances in Symphony Hall downtown
  4. Arizona Broadway Theater – major touring Broadway and Off-Broadway productions
  5. ASU Gammage – theater productions through Arizona State University
  6. Orpheum Theatre – stage shows and Ballet Arizona
  7. Herberger Theater Arts Center – local, non-profit theater production company
  8. Carnival of Illusion – Vaudeville-style magic and theatrics
  9. Stand Up Live – national stand-up comedy acts

Gammage Auditorium

Gammage Auditorium, Arizona State University. Gammage was Frank Lloyd Wright’s last public commission.

 

Museums

  1. Phoenix Art Museum – major national and international touring exhibits
  2. Heard Museum – the art and cultures of Arizona’s Native American heritage
  3. Arizona Science Center – interactive and educational exhibits from all disciplines of science
  4. Sheer Art Museum – contemporary art exhibits
  5. Phoenix Children’s Museum – exhibits designed by and/or geared towards children
  6. Musical Instrument Museum – instruments of Native American and Hispanic background
  7. Hall of Flame – national firefighters’ museum
  8. Pueblo Grande – Native American museum and archeological park

Hall of Flame banner

The Hall of Flame Fire Museum

 

Art Galleries and Events

  1. Artlinks First Friday – art walks on Roosevelt Row
  2. Arizona Latino Arts and Cultural Center – Hispanic art and artifacts
  3. Me the Artist – local interactive gallery
  4. Circle 6 Studios – gallery featuring local artists from Phoenix and ASU

Desert West Park, Skate Park Mural

Desert West Park, Skate Park Mural

 

Indoor/Outdoor Recreation and Adventures

  1. Dawn to Dusk Mountain Bike Race
  2. Castles ~n~ Coasters – Sky Wire
  3. Westworld Paintball Adventures – named Americas Best Indoor Paintball Experience!
  4. Scavanger Dash – an urban adventure
  5. Extreme Arizona – rentals for outdoor motorcycles, dune buggies, watercraft
  6. Hang Gliding Phoenix
  7. Civic Space Park – downtown municipal park
  8. Octane Raceway – kart racing
  9. McCormick-Stillman Railway Park – local theme park
  10. Mystery Castle – local theme park
  11. K1 Speed – kart racing
  12. Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge – bowling at CityScape
  13. Phoenix Public Market – farmers market with local goods
  14. Dining and Shopping – CityScape
  15. Arcadia Ice Arena – year round ice skating and hockey

Civic Space Park

Featuring “Her Secret is Patience,” a.k.a. Sky Bloom –
Civic Space Park

 

Nature and Wildlife

  1. Phoenix Zoo
  2. Desert Botanical Gardens
  3. Smith Mountain Park and Preserve

Desert Botanical Garden

Desert Botanical Garden

 

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How Security in Car Door Locks Evolved Through the Years

When it comes to car security, things used to be much simpler. Many of the earliest automobiles were not locked at all as they were primarily owned by the very wealthy who could afford a driver who stayed with the vehicle at all times. Other security systems were almost equally as simplistic; the 1900 Leach auto was designed with a removable steering wheel so that the driver could simply remove and carry it with him to prevent the theft of his automobile. Other manufacturers adopted this idea.  Here is a 1974 AMC Matador with a quick release steering wheel.

car_1974_amc_matador_removable_quick_release_steering_wheel

As time went on, however, it became apparent that cars would need a little more security. As automobiles became more common, more vehicles were left unattended, placing them at risk for theft, or at least the theft of items left inside the vehicle. Since then, the quest to create the most secure vehicle has continued, today with more modern electronically-engineered locking systems.

Car door handle

Lock Cylinders

Door locks are housed in cylinders. The metal cylinder is mounted inside the door and contains whatever locking system the manufacturer utilized, such as a wafer lock or a pin tumbler system. Regardless of what system the lock contained, most cars up until the 1970s contained the lock code on the outside of the cylinder. This allowed a new key to be created based on the same codes. Because many vehicles used the same key for the door and the ignition, creating a key for the door resulted in the ability to also start the ignition.

Obviously, gaining access to the lock cylinder of a car is not something that can be done quickly in a parking lot, but it is a way for a thief to gain access to a vehicle if he can first get the car door open. Once the car door is open, the cylinder is relatively easy to remove. This is the main reason why many car manufacturers switched to separate keys for door and ignition.

Types of Locks

Although the type of lock on car doors has changed through the years, all the early locks were mechanical rather than electronic. Manufacturers would use a certain type of key blank which could be cut to fit any lock in their lines of cars. Two main types of locks have been utilized:

Pin Tumbler – This lock has metal pins of various sizes within the lock cylinder. To open the lock, a key with the proper height of cuts must be inserted in order to raise all the pins to the correct level for turning.

Wafer Tumbler – Quite similar to the pin tumbler, this lock utilizes flat, one-piece wafers of different sizes. Again, the proper key pushes the wafers into place, allowing the lock to be turned.

Both pin tumblers and wafer tumblers can be easily picked if a person has access to the right tools. Pick sets and instructions are abundant on the Internet, but in the early days, it was a bit more difficult to gain access to the tools as well as the know-how to utilize them.
However, bumping is a much easier way to gain access to such locks. A key is used that is similar to the proper key (a blank for that particular make of car) but that has been cut to the deepest possible depths. The key is inserted, and then some sort of tool such as a screwdriver or hammer is used to bump the key, forcing the pins in the lock to create a space to turn. Bumping is much easier to master than picking.

The Slim Jim

Cars manufactured before 1992 can often be opened with a tool called a Slim Jim. Many locksmiths have these and can help people who have locked their keys in their cars. Some individuals attempt to do this on their own, but it can cause expensive damage to the door if the person does not know where the working parts for the lock are. Newer cars often have a Slim Jim plate, preventing such access, and the doors are filled with wires, airbags, and other objects that can be greatly damaged by any attempt to open your car door with a hanger or other device.

car_thief_slimjim_slim_jim_breakin_break_in

The Electronic Age

Most new cars have electronic locks. Although many still also have a keyed lock, number pads and key fobs are often used to electronically open the door locks. Many keys are designed with computer chips inside, preventing a duplicated or fake key from gaining access. Due to the complicated nature of today’s locks, locksmiths must undergo specialized training in order to keep up with the ever-changing world of electronic locks.

car_woman_danger_safety_door_lock_key_computer

httpsssss://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/345732/lock#toc4263

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How Does a Skeleton Key Work?

Skeleton keys have always had a bit of mysterious allure about them and have been central objects in countless mysteries and detective novels. They have even reached movie stardom. Perhaps you’ve heard of The Skeleton Key starring Kate Hudson, Peter Sarsgaard, and Joy Bryan? Despite legends to the contrary, skeleton keys are not magical; they work on simple mechanical principles. So, let’s get the skeletons out of the closet and learn what these keys are all about.

ancient-lock

What Is It?

If the words “skeleton key” bring up images of an old-fashioned key with a long neck and a rounded, sometimes decorative top, you are at least partially correct. There are two basic types of keys that are commonly called skeleton keys.

The Old-Fashioned Key – One of the first types of mechanical locks were warded locks. These are the ones featured in mystery movies. Many older pieces of furniture still feature smaller warded locks, but they have been largely eliminated because of their susceptibility to picking. Warded locks are long and hollow and are able to be seen through. In fact, the keyhole used to make a great way to peep in on someone behind closed doors.

The keys that fit in these channel-shaped locks were called skeleton keys. These keys were barrel-like, with a long, round shaft. Warded locks were invented by the Romans and are based on projections built inside the key hole. These projections would block flat keys or wrongly shaped keys from turning the lock. Instead, each lock had to have a key fashioned that matched the projections inside the lock. Despite the fact that locksmiths became very creative in the design of the projections (even featuring crosses and other figures), warded locks were relatively easy to pick. Thus, the skeleton key in this form has pretty much become relegated to the past, except when lore, mystery, and intrigue bring them back in print and to the screen.

The Master Key – Some people refer to a master key as a skeleton key. A master key is one that fits into a number of different locks in one facility – all of the rooms in a specific hotel. While individual keys are designed with channeling on them that enables them to open only one door, the master key has no channeling and can open any of the doors that have been designed to be opened by the single key.

Another type of lock, the pin-and-tumbler-style lock, is designed to be opened by two different keys, the single key for that door and the master key for a group of locks. This is accomplished by making a third pin next to a pair of pins. This third pin can be raised to one of two levels, depending on the key used.

How It Works

Whether you refer to a master key or the old-fashioned skeleton key, both work on simple principles of mechanics. No electricity, codes, or magic are involved in these locking mechanisms. The locksmith or manufacturer simply creates a lock that opens to a key that matches the mechanical parts of the lock, whether a set of obstructions inside the lock (warded lock) or a set of channels, pins, and tumblers.

Resources:

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5 of the World’s Most Secure Vaults & Bunkers

From seed banks to famous Fort Knox, securing valuables from would-be criminals and Mother Nature’s elements isn’t a job the designers of these engineering marvels took lightly. The examples outlined in the below infographic, though extreme, required incredible amounts of forethought and man-hours, not to mention the trained security personnel whose ongoing duty it is guard them and their contents following completion, both by foot and sophisticated cameras. In other words, security breeches are practically a non-factor, and should they ever occur, would more than likely be the result of an inside job, ensuring a short list of suspects.

world's-most-secure-bank-vaults

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