Posts Tagged ‘downtown phoenix restaurants’

Mas Calaveras

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

The other day as we were driving over to see the Valley of the Sunflowers field, my companion said, “There’s a new mural.” I knew right away that it was done by Lalo Cota since it features his unmistakable calaveras which I have blogged about before. Here’s a collage I did last year featuring several of them, scattered about the Downtown Phoenix area.

Sometimes Lalo collaborates with Thomas Breeze and/or Pablo Luna. I was excited to see a new one on the front of Tacos de Juarez (authentic Mexican food at 1017 N. 7th Street) and I know there are a couple more around town, too, that I will blog about soon. It’s great to be photographing a few more murals again and we’re coming up on the best time of year to be walking around colorful Downtown Phoenix with a camera.

I didn’t see any signatures so I’m not sure if he did the rooster, too.

Stay tuned for some new and updated murals…

Everything Phoenix Heads Downtown for Lunch

Monday, March 28th, 2011

dining guide“Everything Phoenix”, a recurring program broadcast on PHX 11, recently featured the  Downtown dining scene.  Over lunch at Five Guys Burgers and Fries in CityScape, host Deborah Sedillo Dugan chatted with Jason Harris, Deputy Director of Community and Economic Development, about the wide range of restaurant options available to the Downtown consumer. 

Also featured prominently is the Downtown Dining Guide which provides a wealth of information for those looking to grab a bite to eat.  You can view the Downtown Dining guide online here:  Downtown Dining Guide.  To view the latest edition of Everything Phoenix” please visit:  Everything Phoenix – PHX 11.  A new edition of the Dining Guide will be published June 24.

Neverending Murals

Monday, November 22nd, 2010

This mural and the one below are both located between 3rd and 4th streets on McKinley. Everytime I think I’m getting close to the end of my Downtown Phoenix mural photography project, I see or hear about another one (or several). Originally I thought today’s post was going to be one of the last ones for awhile but now I know where there are at least five more murals. Murals are now a big thing in Downtown Phoenix and someone is constantly working on a new one. There is even a fledgling mural organization program called Mural Match, organized by Roosevelt Row.

The murals in today’s post all have one thing in common: I don’t know anything about them nor who painted them.

According to one of the shop owners that I spoke to in this strip of galleries, this mural is slated to be painted over with a new one soon.

There is a controversy brewing now where some street artists have been tagging murals that other artists were commissioned to do. The street artists feel that murals should have a message, basically their message, and that they have a right to vandalize commissioned murals. Of course, the business owners and muralists whose works are defaced do not agree.

This mural is located at Fresh Gourmet To Go, 110 E. Roosevelt Street.

So this may be the project that never ends and that is a good thing because it means Downtown Phoenix will just keep getting more colorful and more animated.

Block Party Weekend at CityScape

Monday, November 1st, 2010

The wait is over.

This Thursday thru Sunday CityScape will roll out the red carpet and throw a big bash for Downtown Phoenix during its Block Party Weekend

Wondering what’s on tap? Think free food. Free concerts. Free fashion shows. Even a live performance by Macy Gray, the distinctive singer, songwriter and actress who earned five Grammy nominations, appeared in the first Spider-Man movie and even got punk’d by Ashton Kutcher.

That sounds like an eye-popping celebration for CityScape, the mixed-use development on Central and Washington that combines retail stores, office space and a high-rise hotel.  Here’s a quick rundown on scheduled events:

Macy_GrayThursday, November 4 – From 5 to 7 p.m. Mayor Phil Gordon gives his annual State of Downtown Address, with a special performance by The Phoenix Symphony and a “Taste of Downtown” reception.

Friday, November 5 – Highlights include free samples of food and beverage from CityScape restaurants (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.); CityScape’s inaugural participation in First Friday and a Phoenix Suns Pregame Happy Hour (4:30 to 6:30 p.m.); and Macy Gray live in performance (9:30 to 11 p.m.). Other musical guests include The Walkens and Paige Bryan.

3EBSaturday, November 6 – Live music all day and night, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., plus cooking demonstrations, fashion shows, performing arts groups and comedy acts, presented by Stand Up Live. Lineup headed up by Third Eye Blind, plus Eagle Heart, The Elevens and more.

Sunday, November 7 – It’s family day at CityScape. Balloon artists and face painters will keep kids busy and parents relieved, and the first 250 people to arrive will get their very own free CityScape lawn chair. Hungry for more? From noon to 5 p.m. LGO Public House will host a community picnic and cookout with outdoor grilling stations. Live bands will include the Bad Cactus Brass Band and Claude Mattox.

There are three light rail stops around CityScape, plus free parking Friday and Saturday until 4 p.m. and all day Sunday.

CityScape Tenants Announce Opening Dates

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

November is a big, whopping, super-sized month in Downtown Phoenix. Whether you’re a CityScape watcher or just someone who eats and wears clothes (hopefully at the same time), here’s a juicy update. Three new clothing retailers and a groundbreaking restaurant are opening their doors at CityScape this month.

Check out the line-up, with projected opening dates:

urban_outfittersUrban Outfitters – Scheduled to open on Thursday, November 4th, Urban Outfitters started its retail life as “The Free People’s Store” in 1970 Philadelphia. It’s now part of a company that trades on NASDAQ, which would probably shock the store’s original shoppers. Chances are, you already know that Urban Outfitters is a great spot to find hip, vintage apparel and merchandise, along with luxury brands.

Charming Charlie – Keep your fingers crossed, Downtowners. Charming Charlie, a slice of nirvana for any woman who loves fashion accessories, is planning to open on November 4th, too. As someone who can’t resist earrings, bracelets, bags and belts, I’ve been waiting for this boutique to get up and running. Their items are incredibly affordable, ranging from about $5 to about $50, which simply means: we can all buy more.

Aaron-MayRepublic of Couture – Want to be sure no one else will be wearing your favorite threads?  Then this is your spot. Only 6 to 10 pieces per style are available in-store, so you’ll feel like you’re wearing one-of-a-kind clothes. Plus, the constant turnover means you’ll find something new every time you shop at R.O.C. This fashion-forward boutique offers women’s, children’s, and yes, men’s clothing.  Their eclectic mix of upscale brands includes Joe’s Jeans, True Religion, Ed Hardy, Hugo Boss and Sky. The scheduled opening date is November 4th.

Vitamin T – Foodies, start your engines. Chef-restaurateur Aaron May is opening an ode to Mexican street food, known as comidas corridas. Slated to open on November 12th, this small, authentic restaurant will offer street food basics like tacos, tamales and tortas with one big difference: May uses free-range chicken and grass-fed beef. Yum. Geared toward take-out, Vitamin T will feature an open kitchen, salsa bar and drink station. The joyous color palette is meant to echo the work of Luis Barragan, one of Mexico’s most notable architects.

Riding that Train…

Tuesday, October 19th, 2010

…high on coffee.

I saw this mural months ago when I didn’t have my camera with me. I couldn’t remember where it was but Friday, while out driving, I saw it again on Central Avenue in mid-town Phoenix. It’s right by where the METRO Light Rail runs, covering an abandoned building. It’s interesting because it’s 3-dimensional.

I heard it’s from a coffee advertisement.  Do you recognize it?

Next time you’re on the Light Rail heading Downtown, look on the east side of Central at Columbus Avenue, and check this out. And, when you get Downtown, stop for some coffee at Fair Trade Cafe at 1020 N. Central Avenue, behind Trinity church, or Fair Trade at Civic Space Park at 424 N. Central Avenue. Fair Trade offers “Coffee with a Conscience.”

Have a Ball at the Crawl

Tuesday, October 12th, 2010

Pub crawlers, prepare. The 4th Annual Fall Pub Crawl is this Saturday, October 23rd, which means you’ve only got a short window to get in shape for Downtown’s very own Saloon Olympics. (Note: Save $3 by buying your tickets in advance.) Main events include bench-pressing beer mugs and fishing those slippery olives out of martinis (high marks for laughing without getting vodka up your nose).

PubCrawlerInsiderSPOTLIGHTMay’s Spring Fling crawl brought together more than 750 people who had a whopping good time (and hopefully, remembered it the next day). Next Saturday’s event will be even bigger, with a record number of pubs participating. Each location will offer drink/food specials exclusive to Pub Crawlers. See below for a full list, but first, here’s a quick look-see at a few of the locations:

Bar Smith – This bar/dance club/restaurant is like the hottest girl at the party: it’s always in demand. Bar Smith has won all kinds of awards for its nightlife and ambience, even making Sunset Magazines list for the Top 10 Rooftop Bars nationwide.

Lucky Strike Lanes & Lounge – The first spot from CityScape to join the Crawl. With its sleek, neon-lit interiors and 19 locations around the country, Lucky Strike made bowling cool again. CityScape’s location includes 12 lanes, billiards, two bars and a full menu.

Seamus McCaffrey’s – Fun, cozy pub with patio seating and a Publican who knows his liquor. I love the warm vibe you get here.

Hanny’s – Think “Sex in the City.” Hanny’s is all about big city sophistication, with custom leather booths that recline, a horseshoe-shaped bar and a DJ spinning tunes from a crow’s nest above. Wonderful, personal service, too.

Turf Accountant Irish Pub – Sister pub to Seamus McCaffrey’s, The Turf has a big menu and 12 taps with imported draught beer and ale, plus a great selection of – what else – Irish whiskeys.

If you’ve never been to a Downtown Pub Crawl, here’s the how-to. Once the bars close, you’re invited back to Steve’s Greenhouse Grill for an after-hours breakfast/dance party from 1:30 am till 3 am. (Watch video from May’s post-crawl breakfast here.) A DJ will be spinning tunes and there’s a fabulous breakfast buffet special for only $6.95, including scrambled eggs, bacon, tortillas, fresh fruit, grilled potatoes and coffee.

Bonus round: the Hotel San Carlos is offering discounted room rates of $89 plus tax for Pub Crawlers.  This deal includes free valet parking and Sunday morning breakfast at Bistro 202.

Participating locations: Bar Smith, Bentley’s Nightclub, Carly’s Bistro, Coach & Willie’s, District American Kitchen & Wine Bar, Friday Front Row, Ghost Lounge, Hanny’s, Hooters, Kincaid’s Fish, Chops and Steak House, Lucky Strike Lanes & Lounge, Majerle’s Sports Grill, Networks Bar & Grill, Seamus McCaffrey’s Irish Pub, Steve’s Greenhouse Grill, Turf Accountant Irish Pub and The Rose and Crown.

First Friday for September

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

If you’re heading Downtown for First Friday, you’ll find some juicy new attractions this week. And by juicy, I mean melt-in-your-mouth burger sliders and pot roast with gravy, just to name a few of the dishes at Bliss, a brand-new eatery.

But first, for any newbies who don’t know about First Friday, I’ll keep it short and sweet: First Friday is the country’s largest, self-guided art walk. This event takes place every month in Downtown Phoenix from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., and the pleasures range from live music, food and performance artists to more than 100 art galleries.

Roosevelt Row restaurants are always open for business, so be sure to check out Bliss and its companion bar ReBar, which just opened at Roosevelt and Fourth Streets.

Clarification: Roosevelt Row, the district, WILL be participating in First Friday. Roosevelt Row CDC, the nonprofit, will not be hosting an area for artist vending. Galleries, restaurants, venues will continue to have art exhibitions, live music, performance, dinner specials etc.  We regret the confusion.  –Ed.

American Comfort Food, Updated

Bliss is co-owned by Mark Howard, who also owns Fez, one of the most popular restaurants in central Phoenix (oh, Fez, if only you delivered those sweet potato fries). The menu for Bliss features a new angle on American comfort foods, from pot roast and pork chops to mac and cheese with chicken and bacon.  After 10 p.m., Bliss offers $5 nibbles including mini beef tacos and burger sliders.

Target Free First Fridays

childrensmuseumThanks to Target, the Children’s Museum of Phoenix is open and free of charge during First Friday. A tribute to imagination, this interactive museum has one kid-friendly exhibit after another, from the Noodle Forest to the Texture Café, where kids use fabrics to create entire meals. The astonishing 3-story Climber, made from odd and found materials, provides kids with a one-of-a-kind experience.

Adult’s Night Out

This adults-only event returns this Friday to the Arizona Science Center with a free lecture from an actual CSI-type scientist. Kim Kobojek, forensic scientist, will give you the skinny on Hollywood vs. reality when it comes to crime labs. The lecture starts at 7 p.m., but for the regular admission fee, you can stick around and see an IMAX film or a Dorrance Planetarium presentation at 8:15 p.m. (the topic is “Black Holes”).

The Rat Pack

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

Very close to one of our favorite restaurants, Cibo, 603 N. 5th Avenue, in the heart of the Downtown arts district, is this dynamic mural of the Rat Pack, Marilyn, Jack, Alice Cooper, and more. The buildings in this area are old houses; some are residences, some are businesses. The mural is a few houses north of Cibo on 5th Avenue, facing north. The gate was locked so I couldn’t get in but I was able to capture most of the mural in these shots.

I was surprised and pleased to see the artist’s name because Greg Bucher is the same person who painted the mural on the side of a Mexican restaurant, El Pacifico, that I wrote about a few weeks ago on my own blog.

El Pacifico is at 3311 N. 16th Street.

It’s definitely colorful here in Phoenix.

I have a feeling that Bucher has more public murals and, if I keep looking, I’m sure to come across some more of his excellent artwork.

Downtown Grab Bag

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

When I was a kid, I used to love pulling presents from a grab bag. Or getting those mystery lollipops wrapped in question marks. If you’re like me, and have a soft spot for the unexpected, this is your week in Downtown Phoenix.

Face Your Fears at Arizona Science Center

snakesI know plenty of people who are fascinated by eight-legged critters and will rush over to see the spider exhibit from the ASU Spider Lab. I’ll be avoiding it like the terrified, overgrown child I really am. But, the rest of this event should make for spine-tingling fun, this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

From Pyrophobia (fear of fire) to Coulrophobia (fear of clowns; no joke), this event will help you face your fears or at least laugh them off for a while. If you’d like to overcome a fear of needles – or just do some good – The American Red Cross will be sponsoring a blood drive on site. Contact Brittany Conklin at conklinb@azscience.org to pre-register.

Law Enforcement Appreciation Night at Churchill’s Fine Cigars – Open to the public this Thursday from 4-8 p.m., this charity event will benefit the 100 Club, which supports the families of police officers and firefighters. That’s a fine thing, but so are the Perdomo cigars you can taste for free. Nick Perdomo, the owner of Tabacalera Perdomo in Florida, makes some of the best Nicaraguan cigars in the country.Churchills_CigarsWEB

Third Fridays Latino Style – The Arizona Latino Arts & Cultural Center (ALAC) currently has an exhibition that focuses on urban Phoenix through the eyes of Hispanic artists. The exhibit, called “La Phoeniquera,” should be soul food for lovers of Phoenix history and culture. This Friday, from 6 pm to 10 pm, you can also catch live painting demonstrations and hear Latin music.

Fashion 4 A Cause – This live fashion show at the Wyndham Phoenix highlights a nonprofit group called Athletes 4 Awareness, which works to enlighten the community about health and fitness. Local clothing designers, hair stylists and barbers will display their cutting-edge skills. Tickets are $15 per person.

Live Fridays at Seamus McCaffreys – In case you’re wondering what’s surprising about this event, it’s the pairing of an Irish pub and a pop/funk/jazz trio, Nick Heward and The Elements of Style. The show starts at 9 p.m., and you can knock back a Guinness or two beforehand.