How much do I love pumpkin? I’ve petitioned coffee shops to keep pumpkin on the menu year-round, my bedroom smells of pumpkin-scented candles, and I beg family and friends to save their pumpkin seeds during carving season so that I may bake and season them for holiday munching. Here are five more ways I get my pumpkin fix.
Posts Tagged ‘Fair Trade Cafe’
Five Ways To Get Your Pumpkin Fix
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009Free Yoga In Civic Space Park
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009Laci Lester had a great idea: free yoga in the park. Now, every Saturday in November, from 10 am to 11 am, Valley yoga instructors will teach hatha yoga for free at Civic Space Park.
The Community Yoga Project arrives just in time to take advantage of the brisk fall weather and the need to release those pre-holiday knots, now forming in my neck and yours as the relatives fly in and the chores mount.
“The classes are designed for all levels,” says Laci, a yoga instructor herself. For anyone who’s pretty much a newbie like me, that translates as: beginners will feel at home, and advanced yogis and yoginis can get back to their roots.
The classes offer traditional yoga, which pairs breath and movement. The sun salutation – a basic flow practice that opens the shoulders and hips – will be taught in each class.
Got kids? A storytime and creative dance class for children will be offered at the same time, so you can enjoy a worry-free hour. After all that peaceful chakra-aligning and third-eye-gazing, you may need a caffeine boost, and the Fair Trade Café is just a few steps away.
Class sizes are still relatively small, but Laci hopes that the park will eventually be filled with practitioners, moving in quiet harmony on the lawn.
Be sure to bring your own yoga mat, towel or blanket and wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes. So far, classes are only scheduled for November, but depending on the weather, Laci may offer classes in December and January, too.
Places to Play Hooky
Friday, November 13th, 2009To me, sitting outside on a balmy fall day feels like playing hooky. And what could feel better than that? To help you create your own ditch day, here are five downtown spots that offer outdoor seating:
My favorite thing about this British pub is the old-fashioned porch. Comfy sofas and chairs are scattered across the porch and lawn so you can bask in the sunlight or chat by moonlight. The Rose and Crown has terrific fish and chips, Guinness on tap and The Clash on their playlist. On weekends, it’s a big draw.
2. Seamus McCaffrey’s Irish Pub & Restaurant
First Britain, now Ireland. I can’t blame them for escaping to sunny Phoenix. Speaking of which, this friendly little pub has plenty of outdoor seating where you can dine or sample any of 10 draught beers or their enormous selection of Irish whiskies.
3. Anyplace at the Arizona Center
When fall hits, they amp up the ambience here. I had dinner recently on the patio at Sam’s Café, and the trees were dotted with tiny blue lights that added to the charm. If you just want to hang out, there are benches in the gardens, one of the most artfully landscaped spots in all of downtown.
I love this charming little spot. The outside patio is usually filled with locals, who play cards, use the free wi-fi and leaf through the used paperback books, which are only $2 apiece (though you’re welcome to sit and read while you sip their coffee). It’s located in Civic Space Park at Central and Van Buren.
This casual eatery offers patio seating and most of the usual suspects: steak, Caesar salad, chicken, hot wings. And then, just as you’re lulled into complacency, you see it: The Ostrich Burger. Ostrich? Really? I couldn’t go there, but maybe you’ll work up the courage. Steve’s is open for lunch, dinner and Sunday breakfast.
Word on the Street: Hidden Gem
Thursday, October 1st, 2009
I have a soft spot for neighborhood businesses. My father owned one. So did my grandfather. Maybe that’s why I found Fair Trade Café so darned irresistible.
When I walked in, it was 7 p.m. on a weeknight, and the locals were still hanging out, playing gin rummy, using the free wi-fi, and leafing through the used paperback books, only $2 apiece.
This little gem of a coffee shop has such a mellow, hipster vibe, it’s hard to believe they’re serving caffeinated drinks. Which brings me to the White Chocolate Espresso I ordered. Would it really taste like white chocolate and coffee? It did. Yum.
After that, I drew the line. No more carbs for me. Then I saw the banana nut bread, made fresh on the premises. Uh oh.
One slice of chunky, walnut-studded banana nut bread later, I headed for the door. The Beatles song, “Get Back,” was playing on the sound system. Was Fair Trade Café playing with my subconscious? No need. I’ll be back.
FYI: Fair Trade Café is a bit tough to find. Just remember that it’s in Civic Space Park (at Central and Van Buren), on the basement level of the A.E. England building. It’s literally a hidden gem. Check out their homemade soups and sandwiches at lunchtime, and the made-to-order Sunday brunch.
