Archive for the ‘Deal’ Category

Write Your Best Downtown Limerick

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

Want a chance to win one (1) of two (2) $25 gift cards to Seamus McCaffrey’s Irish Pub & Restaurant in the heart of Downtown? Just submit your very best Downtown-inspired (and clean) limerick. We’ll take entries all the way up until 2 p.m. on St. Patrick’s Day (3/17) and announce a winner at 3 p.m. (Just in time for the winners to start their holiday with a pint or two of Guiness and some Shepherd’s Pie).

For the layperson, a standard limerick is a five-line poem (usually funny, or at least attempting to be) where Lines 1, 2 and 5 rhyme and contain 7-10 syllables and Lines 3 and 4 also rhyme but are a tad shorter in length, usually 5-6 syllables.

Here’s an example thrown together a few minutes ago:

There once was a man from Phoenix

Who couldn’t ever find his own Kleenex

His wife called him a louse

When he sneezed in her blouse

In the garbage sits the garment in a helix

Lame? You betcha, but you get the idea.

May the luck of the Irish be with you as you craft your Downtown limerick and please do keep them clean or run the risk of being disqualified.

You may also choose to submit your limerick on the Fans of Downtown Facebook page.

Tags: downtown phoenix, limerick, seamus mccaffrey's, St. Patrick's Day
Posted in Bars & Nightlife, Deal, Food, Restaurants & Dining, Spotlight | 1 Comment »

Weekend Forecast: Mostly Sunny With a Chance for Awesome

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

As I write this post it’s 52 degrees.

52!

That’s a New England basement, not Downtown Phoenix.

Worry not, fellow Downtowners. If you believe our local weather prognosticators, the generally poopy weather that has plagued us this week will soon be moving out to make way for the glorious sunshine and highs in the mid-70s we’re accustomed to.

Which is fortunate, because Downtown is blessed with a treasure trove of fun things to do this weekend.

THURSDAY

chelsea-handler Comic, late-night talk show host, author, vodka lover and self-appointed floozy Chelsea Handler skewers celebrities, friends and family alike in a show at Dodge Theatre.

Since we’re talking about weather, Class 6 Theatre presents It’s Always Sunny In Phoenix, three short plays by award-winning playwright David Ives, who has been making people laugh for 15 years.

FRIDAY

Kobe Bryant and the detestable Lakers bring Showtime to the Valley for a tussle with Steve Nash, Grant Hill, and that Stoudemire fella Suns fans should be thankful the team didn’t trade away for 50 cents on the dollar.

Actors Theatre Company presents Secret Order, a bio-medical psychological thriller about an upstart scientist on the verge of curing cancer. Intrigued? Read Downtown Blogger Liz Fichera’s review here.

SATURDAY

fitness_pr_bootcamp_fitness Need to get in shape? People of all fitness levels can head to Civic Space Park for Personal PowerTraining Boot Camp with trainer Scott White at 6:30 a.m. or 7:30 a.m. Boot Camp classes are $10 a person, with multi-class packages available. If you’d rather not go the Biggest Loser route, check out the FREE Community Yoga Project that happens at 10 a.m. every week. Just bring a yoga mat or towel.

Want a part-time job working for the 2010 Census? Representatives will be recruiting workers at the Phoenix Public Market from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. While you’re there, grab a Caramel Addiction brownie from Sherrye’s Kitchen.

The finest amateur pugilists in Arizona will be on display at Alice Cooper’stown for Independent Events’ Olympic Style Boxing at 2 p.m.

SUNDAY

Rained out last weekend, the Wheels of Britain car show has been rescheduled for Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Heritage & Science Park.

Adam awakes one morning to find himself alone and locked in a strange, sterile room with four beds. One by one, three more people join him – but nobody knows why they are there. Want to know more? Go see Indivisible at the Herberger at 2 p.m.

There’s no better place to wind down a weekend than at District American Kitchen, where on Sundays bottles of red and white wines are half-priced.

Tags: Alice Cooper'stown, amateur boxing, Boot Camp, Chelsea Handler, District American Grill, downtown phoenix, Herberger Theatre, jobs, US Census, Wheels of Britain Car Show, Yoga
Posted in Arts & Culture, Bars & Nightlife, Deal, Family, Featured, Food, Restaurants & Dining, Music & Events, Sports | No Comments »

Happier Hours

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

In Downtown Phoenix, Happy Hours have multiplied faster than bunnies on Viagra. For anyone on a tight budget – and that’s most of us – Happy Hour equals drinks, dinner and meet-ups, all rolled into one affordable package.

So, without further delay, here’s a listing of some of Downtown’s Happy Hours. You’ll find one – or even two – for nearly every day of the week, with all kinds of drink and appetizer specials included.

Martini Mondays

Feel like a member of the original Rat Pack at Majerle’s Sports Grill, which hosts this toast to retro drinks. Martinis are only $5 each.

Tough Guy Tuesday

Every Tuesday, from 4 pm to 8 pm, Bud Light drafts are only $1 at 1130 The Restaurant, located inside the Arizona Center. Appetizers are $5 off until 7 pm.

Wild Wing Wednesday

If you like wings, you’ve just hit the jackpot. On Wednesdays, from 5 pm to 11 pm, Network’s Bar & Grill offers a hefty bucket of wings for $10; a huge bucket for $25; and an enormous, bring-all-your-friends-and-family bucket for $50. Plus $1 off signature wine and well drinks.

Pint Night Thursdays

Knock back half-priced draft beer every Thursday at Coach and Willie’s from 4 pm until closing.

Absolut-ly Fridays

I don’t know about you, but I love Absolut Vodka, and you’ll find all Absolut Flavors for only $5 each during Martini Madness at Coach and Willie’s. This special goes on all day and night each Friday.

Monday-Friday Happy Hour at Sam’s Cafe

I’ve always loved the food at Sam’s Café, much to the dismay of my scale. From 3 pm to 7 pm, Sam’s offers Happy Hour Specials in their bar, including $3 house wine, Coyote and Grand Canyon margaritas – huge and exceptionally fine – and all manner of munchies, including $3.50 for grilled nachos, carnitas cheese crisp, Southwest bruschetta and more. For $4.50, you can munch on Tumbleweed chicken and onion rings, jalapeno poppers and fire grilled cheeseburgers.

If you want more happy hours – and who doesn’t – check out the Monday-Friday specials at My Big Fat Greek Restaurant, the Matador, Hooters, District American Kitchen and Wine Bar, Kincaid’s and Steve’s Greenhouse Grill.

Tags: 1130 the restaurant, Big Fat Greek Restaurant, Coach & Willie's, district american kitchen, downtown phoenix, happy hour deals in Phoenix, hooter's, kincaid's, majerles, Matador, Network's, Sam's Cafe, Steve's Greehouse
Posted in Bars & Nightlife, Deal, Food, Restaurants & Dining, Spotlight | 1 Comment »

The Downtown Phoenix Coffeebar Potluck

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Did you know there are close to a dozen super cool coffeebars in the heart of Phoenix?

Cartel Coffee Lab
Conspire
Copper Star Coffee
Fair Trade
Lola Coffee
Lux Coffeebar
Royal Coffee Bar
Urban Beans

Come see what they have to offer on Saturday, Feb. 27 at Portland Park (next to the Roosevelt light rail station).

Each coffeebar is donating samples of their signature pastry or dessert for the event.

In return they ask that you:

* Bring a bike or ride the light rail to the event

* Bring a friend – preferably one who is unfamiliar with Downtown

During the event, be sure to Tweet about which dessert you liked the best. (Earn more Good Karma Points by posting a picture!)

Special thanks to all the coffeebars for taking part in the event! Please be sure to RSVP on the Facebook evite so we can get a good head count for the event. Information on how to ride the light rail can be found here. Hope to see everyone there!

Tags: Cartel Coffee Lab, Coffee, Conspire, Copper Star Coffee, Fair Trade Cafe, Light.Rail.Blogger, Lola Coffee, Lux Coffeebar, Royal Coffee Bar, Tony Arranaga, Urban Beans
Posted in Deal, Family, Featured, Food, Restaurants & Dining, Music & Events, Travel, Shopping & Leisure | 2 Comments »

Mardi Crawl with the Ambassadors

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Mardi Crawl is your chance to hobnob with Downtown’s elite.

beads You might think of the Downtown Ambassadors as knowledgeable, charming, helpful, and orange–and they are certainly all of those things–but what you probably don’t know is that the Ambassadors are some of Downtown’s most frequently stalked and talked about public figures. In fact, Ambassador Guy gets caught in paparazzi crossfire more often than Mayor Phil Gordon.

0333 Sounds like some peeps you’d like to party with, right?

Well, this Friday you’ll have your chance.

Starting at 9 p.m., the Ambassadors will gather outside their swanky Information Center at 101 N. First Avenue (Adams side of the US Bank building) and embark on an epic Mardi Crawl to five of Downtown Phoenix’s most beloved pubs–The Rose & Crown, Seamus McCaffrey’s, Friday’s Front Row, Bar Smith and Coach & Willie’s.

For the unbeatable price of $10 (or $15 night of the event), you can join the Ambassadors aboard Ollie the Trolleys and bump from from pub to pub, taking full advantage of the awesome drink and food specials while chatting up 60 or so potential new best friends.**

Want to join in on the fun? Simply visit this link and submit your payment via Pay Pal. You can pay cash the night of the event but it will cost you an extra $5 and, since space is extremely limited, you run the risk of being turned away. Leaving folks sitting on the curb crying is not the way any of us wants to start the evening so save us all the emotional trauma and buy your seat now, deal?

See you Friday!

**Mardi Gras regalia is strongly encouraged!

Tags: Ambassadors, bar smith, downtown phoenix, friday's front row, Mardi Graw, Pub Crawl, Rose & Crown, seamus mccaffrey's
Posted in Bars & Nightlife, Deal, Food, Restaurants & Dining, Spotlight | No Comments »

Be Our Valentine

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

If you’re looking for anti-Valentine’s Day sentiment–you know, like those hater parties where lonely, angry people sit in a circle and drink heavily while pretending they’re totally at peace with being single and loveless–Downtown Phoenix isn’t the place for you. Try Old Town.

Downtown Phoenix is all about embracing Valentine’s Day and here’s what we’re doing as Cupid’s Accomplices. Seriously, if you don’t have a Valentine just hang out with us for awhile and you’re bound to find one.

Design a Date Contest: Visit the blog post or our Facebook page and submit your idea of a perfect Valentine’s Day date Downtown. We want to know where you’d go, what you’d eat, and what you’d see. The greater the detail, the better. Two winners will receive a $25 gift card to Kincaid’s.

Festive Friday: From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, the Ambassadors will be stationed outside the Information Center [US Bank Building, 101 N. First Ave., Ste. 190] sharing sweet treats courtesy of Downtown businesses. You can also pick up coupons for FREE food items from participating restaurants to be used throughout the month. Plus, music by FATIGO!

Heart Grab & Dash Contest: Approach five (5) different Ambassadors Friday morning before 1 p.m. and ask each one for his or her heart. The first five people to collect five hearts and deliver the lot of them to the Information Center will receive an awe-tacular Valentine’s Day gift bag filled with gift cards and goodies from generous Downtown businesses. We won’t tell you exactly what’s in the gift bags but suffice it to say the street value is well over $40. Now go get those hearts!

14 Downtown Loves

We polled our thousands upon thousands of Facebook and Twitter followers and concocted this essential list of things you love about Downtown Phoenix.

Phoenix Public Market – When you care enough to send the best, make sure it’s grown locally.

The Ambassadors — Your significant other might leave you, but the Ambassadors never will.

The Herberger Theater — Some of you got more specific and referenced the “naked dudes” out front. Go check out “13″ playing now and “[title of show]“ coming soon!

The Phoenix Suns — Steve Nash, in particular, got mad love.

Majerle’s — You said if you couldn’t watch the Suns play at US Airways Center in person, then the next-best option was cheering the team on from Thunder Dan’s joint. Beer might also be involved.

The Light Rail — Can you believe we’ve had light rail for a year? For more light rail love, check out ace Light Rail Blogger and Downtown Phoenix contributor Tony Arranaga.

First Fridays — If you ever need a good first date idea, take him or her to First Fridays.

Chase Field — Roof open when possible, please.

Coffee — Conspire, Daily Grind, Cartel, Lola and Fair Trade all received votes.

Matt’s Big Breakfast — You heart Matt’s pancakes. Proof that good things come to those who wait.

Dodge Theatre — Three of you mentioned the recent comedy acts to hit Dodge–Joel McHale, Gabriel Iglesias and, soon, Chelsea Handler.

The District – Their music and drinks tested very high in this market.

Civic Space Park — From acoustic lunches to yoga, Civic Space Park offers a little something for everyone.

The People — Yes, you’re what really make Downtown Phoenix a special place to work, live, and play.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Tags: Chase Field, civic space park, Dodge Theatre, downtown phoenix, First Fridays, herberger theater, majerles, Matt's Big Breakfast, phoenix public market, phoenix suns, The District, US Airways Center
Posted in Arts & Culture, Bars & Nightlife, Deal, Family, Featured, Food, Restaurants & Dining, Travel, Shopping & Leisure | No Comments »

Late Night Eats Under $10 Along the Light Rail

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

There may not be a late night greasy spoon diner near the light rail, but there are plenty of other places to eat which are open until at least midnight in Downtown Phoenix. Now keep in mind, this is Phoenix and we’re coming out of a recession. Our choices are few, but at least we have some. For the purposes of this blog post, my definition of late night is a) open until at least midnight and b) the restaurant must have meat, chicken or fish on the late night menu. And of course, each restaurant is a quick walk or bike ride from the light rail. Enjoy your late night eats!

Hanny’s (Washington station) – The former department store turned contemporary restaurant has three dishes under $10. One is a margherita pizza, another is a snack plate, and the last one is a bar plate. The snack plate consists of prosciutto and sopressata. Add melon to the snack plate and you’ve got the bar plate. Hanny’s also has $5 martinis. The kitchen cooks until 1 a.m. You can find Hanny’s at the corner of 1st Street and Adams in Downtown Phoenix. Kudos to the restaurant for putting light rail directions on their Web site here.

The Turf Restaurant and Pub (Central station) – The Irish pub has delicious wraps for under $8 and is open until midnight on the weekends. I like the Buffalo Chicken Wrap and their French fries are pretty good too! Turf is located on 1st Street – see the menu and location information here.

NINE 05 (Roosevelt station) – The modern Asian fusion restaurant has a selection of dumplings, crepes and buns at $10 – including my favorite bbq pork belly with hoisin glaze. NINE05 is open ’till midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. More information on their menu and other events during the week can be found here.

PastaBAR (Central station) – The italian eatery is nestled in the middle of restaurant row on 1st Street behind Turf and Sens. PastaBAR has the latest hours on this list – and of course, we love that! Even better – PastaBAR has a $10 menu complete with a selection of pasta entrees that come with a side. PastaBAR does late night right in Downtown Phoenix! Need more information? Click here.

Sens (Central station) – Another 2 a.m. restaurant on restaurant row in Downtown Phoenix. Sens has an Asian tapas menu so most of the items are under $10 – my favorite is the spicy won ton with sauteed chicken and pepper jack cheese. Honestly, though, you really can’t go wrong at Sens – everything is delicious! Need more information or reasons to visit? Click here.

Now that we’ve covered late night eats, let’s talk about places to have dinner on Sunday nights over here.

Information on riding the light rail can be found here.

Tags: downtown phoenix, Hanny's, late night, LightRailBlogger, METRO, Nine / 05, PastaBAR, rail, restaurants, Sens, Tony Arranaga, Turf Restaurant and Pub
Posted in Bars & Nightlife, Deal, Food, Restaurants & Dining, Spotlight | 1 Comment »

Design a Downtown Date Contest

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

Now that you’ve read the Downtown Blog’s guide to Valentine’s Day On a Budget, here’s your chance to really wow us with your romantic strategery.

Kincaid's Impress us enough and we’ll help fund your Valentine’s Day dalliances by awarding you one of two (2) $25 gift cards to Kincaid’s Fish, Chop, and Steak House.

Send us your perfect Downtown Valentine’s Day Date by 3 p.m. on Friday Feb. 12 and the top two entries will each win a $25 gift card to Kincaid’s. There, you can treat your main squeeze to Warm Brie with Macadamia Nut Crust, the Calamari with Plum Sauce, or the Kobe Meatloaf Sliders. And those are just the appetizers! Entrees include garlic prawns and corn-fed, aged steaks that are as good as they come.

So, in the comments section below, unveil your Downtown Valentine’s Day Date. And the more detailed the date, the better. We want to know where you’d go, what you’d eat and drink, and which extra-special touches are guaranteed to make your lovely’s heart melt like butter over a porterhouse.

We’ll contact the winners by email with instructions on how to claim your prize. Good luck!

Tags: Chop and Steak House, downtown phoenix, Kincaid's Fish, Valentine's Day, Valentine's Day Contest
Posted in Deal, Food, Restaurants & Dining, Spotlight, Travel, Shopping & Leisure | 1 Comment »

Mesmerize Your Valentine On a Dime

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

Downtown Phoenix has more than its share of swoon-worthy spots, and you don’t have to empty your wallet to enjoy them. Here are a few suggestions for Valentine’s Day to keep your budget in check and curb those last-minute raids on the drugstore candy aisles:

Picnic at the Park

Grab some bread, cheese and wine at the Phoenix Public Market and head for Civic Space Park. While you’re at the Market, pick up some Wei of Chocolate, a wonderful brand of organic dark chocolates made right here in Phoenix. (If you’re a guy, remember that chocolate is an aphrodisiac to women; a study in Italy found that chocolate can actually increase a woman’s sex drive. Go ahead, buy in bulk).

Friendship Garden

Picture stone footbridges, lanterns and flowing streams. Frankly, you had me at stone footbridges. Ro Ho En, also known as the Japanese Friendship Garden, is a beautiful spot that’s perfect for a little canoodling. Admission is only $5 per person. If you’ve got some extra spending money, make reservations at Sens for some Asian tapas.

Hot dogs Plus Home Tour

When it comes to romance, all it takes is a little creativity. Stop by Ed the Hotdogger, load up on your favorite condiments, then hail a cozy pedicab to take you around Downtown’s gorgeous historic districts. To arrange a ride, call the Arizona Pedicab Co. or the Bumble Bee Pedicab Co.

Make a Wish

I’m a big fan of the gardens at the Arizona Center, one of the most undeniably romantic spots in Phoenix. If you’d like to romance your date with a gesture that costs just pennies, throw a few coins in their fountains and tell your honey to make a wish. Cap off the night with dessert at the Teeter House in Heritage Square, the perfect intimate setting. The ice cream topped with chocolate-dipped strawberries is just $5.

Tags: Arizona Center, civic space park, downtown phoenix, phoenix public market, Ro Ho En, Science and Heritage Park, Sens, Teeter House, Valentine's Day on a Budget, Valetine's Day, Wei of Chocolate
Posted in Arts & Culture, Deal, Featured, Food, Restaurants & Dining, Travel, Shopping & Leisure | No Comments »

Super Sunday (and Saturday) Downtown

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

You don’t have to be a fan of the Colts or the Saints to get geeked for Super Bowl Weekend. Whether you’re the hardest of hardcore football fan who watches all 43 hours of pregame coverage, or simply someone who favors party dips and expensive commercials featuring primates, the Super Bowl is a global event that blurs the lines between football and holiday.

sbxliv While it won’t be quite as busy as Miami’s South Beach, site of Super Bowl XLIV (or, 44 for the layperson), Downtown Phoenix is offering its own super mix of activities this weekend.

SATURDAY

Saturday Market at Phoenix Public Market

From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., enjoy cool temps and beautiful Arizona sunshine while experiencing the best in local produce, cheese, jewelry, fish, breads, sweets, salsas and sauces. Grab a coffee from Royal at the Market, enjoy the music of Ron Bowen, and get your hands on some special Valentine’s Day offerings from the vast array of Arizona vendors.

yoga2 Community Yoga Project at Civic Space Park

This is the perfect gathering for first-timers or those who want to practice yoga outdoors in front of a truly urban backdrop. It starts at 10 a.m. and is totally free.

Heritage & Science Park

At 10 a.m., you can see some of the Valley’s most beautifully restored antique and classic autos at Motoring Thru Time. The event is free, and after you’re done coveting the shiny cars, you can head over to Rosson House at noon for Hertage Craft Saturdays, a free historical crafts program for the whole family.

Herberger Theater

If you prefer the stage over turf, the Herberger Theater is putting on multiple performance of Valley Youth Theatre’s “13″ The Musical and Actors Theatre’s Shipwrecked! all weekend long. For more on ”13,” watch VYT’s Web series.

Sonoma Casual Dining

Want to combine dinner and a show? Head over to Sonoma Casual Dining for its crowd-pleasing Mystery Mansion Dinner Theater, with two shows (including a three-course meal) every Friday and Saturday.

iglesias Dodge Theatre

Comedian Gabriel Iglesias brings his Fluffy Shop Tour to the Dodge for a 8 p.m. performance. If you haven’t seen Iglesias on ”Last Comic Standing” or on one of his many specials on Comedy Central, you’re missing out on one of the most gifted young storytellers on the comedy circuit.

SUNDAY

Need a place to watch the Big Game? Downtown Phoenix has you covered.

Coach & Willie’s

cwlogo_blk The 9th Annua l S u per Bowl Bash features a complimentary buffet during the game and unbeatable drink specials, not to mention a football crazy crowd.

Hooters

Nothing goes better with football than chicken wings and beer and Hooters is offering Big Daddy Budweisers for $4 and Big Daddy Sam Adams for $5. Plus, at halftime, Hooters will give away a 40-inch HDTV!

Majerle’s

Majerle’s will be giving away hats, T-shirts and gift cards throughout the game, plus offering 1/2-off well drinks, drafts, wine and margaritas on the rocks. Get your grub on with $5 boneless wings and $7 gorilla wings and celebrate touchdowns with special Super Bowl Bombers for both the Saints and Colts.

Friday’s Front Row

Friday’s will be offering $3 and $4 drink specials and $4 appetizers from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Pizzeria Uno

Drink and food specials starting at $2.99, plus 1/2 domestics and house wine.

Tags: Coach & Willie's, Dodge Theatre, downtown phoenix, herberger theater, hooter's, majerles, phoenix public market, pizzeria uno, Sonoma Casual Dining, Yoga
Posted in Arts & Culture, Bars & Nightlife, Deal, Family, Featured, Food, Restaurants & Dining, Music & Events, Sports | No Comments »