Go on Scottsdale Road through , and there is an abundance of yummy restaurants to choose from. A little farther north, though, is the new , which has only been open for a little over a month but is already seeing busy traffic.
The spot lets people in at 6:30 a.
m. every day for breakfast, which is served until 11 a.m.
The space used to be taken up by Leo s, a Jewish deli, and now Cafe Bistro Bar Grill s menu uses organic produce and natural meats to create items with a Pan-Asian flair.
That s no surprise, considering the owner, Tom Frank, used to be a market partner for . His new restaurant is a far cry from the trendy Asian chain, though.
Walk in, and it s as if you re in your grandparents dining room. Condiments are kept on a table in the middle of the restaurant, and the art, including a monkey face on the walls, by David Venezky, has a cool, kitschy vibe.
The place seems to be a popular hang-out for middle agers, but the staff is hip, young and enthusiastic, creating a good mix of peeps.
For dinner, we had melt-in-your mouth onion rings ($3.95), which come with blue cheese and buffalo dipping sauces. The batter was so flaky, and the rings were cut thickly.
The Grilled Organic Vegetable Pressed Sandwich ($8.95) with pesto goat cheese ciabatta and a side of fries looked quite tasty, but if you re a salad freak, there s six to choose from, including Asian Beef Noodle Salad ($8.25 for a regular) or the Cobb ($12.
75 for a large), with grilled chicken, bacon, egg, avocado and blue cheese.
I created my own, with organic baby greens, tomato, croutons and avocado, and the portion was huge and satisfying. There are also items like a Wild Fish Sandwich ($12.
95) with tartar sauce, Grilled Half Chicken ($16.95) with organic vegetables and mashed potatoes and Japanese Pumpkin Ravioli ($9.95), and all the food is freshly prepared.
Breakfast eaters also have a wide variety of organic goodies, including Italian Basted Eggs ($6.75) with spinach, pesto and toast, Fried Tofu ($8.25) with Indoensian lemon grass fried rice and Banana Pecan Pancakes ($7.
95).
For having such a health-conscious menu, the prices are surprisingly cheap, and the friendly staff is a departure from some stuffier Scottsdale stops. If you re looking to make a daring food choice in a comfy atmosphere, Cafe Bistro Bar Grill is the place to go.
You know you re popular when you can get Phoenicians to brave the cold winter weather and hang out for three hours outside to watch you compete, and this past Saturday, the girls proved they ve got some of the most loyal sports fans around.
The Casey at the Bat complex in Phoenix was packed for the bout between the newbie Brawlarinas, clad in purple tutus, and the Surly Gurlies, whose pirate costumes were very cute.
The floor was packed with people watching these hardcore athletes get their skate on, as they pushed their ways to the front and literally knocked over opponents in the process.
There s an open enrollment session at tonight at 7 p.m. if you re interested.
The league is open to ladies who are willing to practice three times a week and participate in monthly competitions.
The next morning, I got up super-early and headed to 12th Ave. and Jefferson St.
for the .
I suggest you start training now, because this event is incredibly fun and something not to be missed. More than 37,000 peeps showed up to run 13.
1 miles for the half-marathon or 26.2 miles for the full race, and all 50 states plus 36 countries were represented at the event.
I didn t exactly train properly, but I managed to clock in at 2:06:35, and for my first race, I felt I did alright.
The music was so much fun to listen to, as there was a different band every mile, and there were also plenty of cheerleaders yelling along the way. There was also a ton of , water and sports gel, and it was fun to run all the way from downtown Phoenix to downtown Tempe.
That night, I headed to for the Body Art Ball.
Even though it meant missing in concert, this invite-only event for bars and their staffs was so amazing to go to. About 15 models, in nothing besides undies and shoes, were painted by local and national artists to appear as if they were wearing outfits. There was a ballerina, a pimp, a cowgirl, a butterfly and a gangster, and each model danced, sang or beatboxed through a routine.
The performances were amazing, and the get-ups were gorgeous it really did seem like everyone was wearing actual clothes.
The whole show was entertaining, especially because the emcee was hysterical, and I can now say I m a huge fan of Tuaca alcohol. I had the liqueur with , and it was very sweet sort of like cherry limeade.
It was awesome to see that a venue like Marquee Theatre, which sees more punk bands than catwalks, could be transformed into a space with a fashion show vibe.
Several stars from made it clear independent coffeehouses are so much cooler to go to than venues.
Nehemia, Wes and Johanna, all alumni of the long-running reality show plus contestants on various challenge programs, including current , all made their way to Mesa s Essenza Coffeehouse to attend Arizona s longest-running slam poetry competition.
I was perched on a stool near the bar when graduate Nehemia walked in, and my jaw almost dropped to the floor as he smiled and walked on by.
I got super-excited when he signed up to slam, and he had a great stage presence.
At the first break, I noticed a ballcap-covered Wes sitting next to the very petite Johanna, and it was so cool to see almost half of the Austin house together in Mesa.
After freaking out with excitement of seeing one of the casts of my favorite shows, I made my way to the crew. As I got to the table, Johanna had left, and I bravely started talking to Wes and Nehemia.
Hi!
I just wanted to say I m a huge fan of you guys on and all your challenges!
They both said thank you and introduced themselves. I found out Wes is still at (he just finished winter session finals), and I told them about my interview with a band named .
The pop/rock group was documented by the seven strangers for a film, and trash-talking Lacey dissed the band for being too ordinary. When I told the boys the band s reaction to their roommate, they both laughed. I passed Johanna on my way back to my seat, and she looked sort of freaked out by strangers recognizing her as she nervously shook my hand when I introduced myself.
She later became a judge in the competition, though, and she gave Nehemia a 10 for his second poem.
The whole situation impressed me for a couple reasons: 1) This was Nehemia s first time slamming, and I admire him for getting up in front of the crowd and sharing his personal spoken word; 2) these guys could have hit up on Mill Ave. or another trendy bar or club; instead, they came to a cultural, intellectual event; and 3) Wes and Nehemia seemed to be down-to-earth and confident enough with themselves to have no trouble talking to fans or making new friends.
Maybe we ll see the gang at the next Valley art opening.
Forget rated-R movies if you want to see something truly scandalous, head to the for their Puppet Slam.
This adults-only show features several skits performed by puppets that will hysterically make your jaw drop.
It s really hard to see cute and furry animals talk so naughtily!
Before I saw the show, though, I checked out some of the art at some spots I d never hit up before.
First there was , on 1001 N.
3rd. Ave. The gallery featured several large acrylic abstract paintings, and there were also glass and wood sculptures on display.
The stark gallery was spacious enough to not feel cramped while walking around, but the room was still full of people in clusters intently discussing the art. This gallery sees hardcore art fans, and I m not surprised if some of the pieces, upwards of $55,000, were purchased that night.
Then we went next door to the lobby, where a great display was on the walls, the Stevie G Collection, by local painter .
Glatt has a Jackson Pollack style to him, spraying colors every which way to create an abstract expressionist work. Glatt s paintings were stunning, with brilliant color combinations, and his huge works looked gorgeous in the lobby.
The condos themselves will be finished by this summer, and though they look gorgeous, they start at $250,000.
It s nice downtown is about to have a beautiful living space, and it should definitely help alleviate any dirty Phoenix stereotypes.
Then it was off to the slam. The theater is a former Mormon church, which is super-funny considering it now sells alcohol before the shows.
Before you see a show there, check out the amazing lobby, with vintage puppets and a ton of puppets you can purchase for yourself, including furry hand creatures, string contraptions and figurines. I saw several people playing with them and creating their own puppet improv, which was a funny addition to the actual show.
The presentation was one of the funniest theater works I ve ever seen, and it was pretty cheap at only $10 a ticket.
There were five short pieces, including Baby Bear Gets Schooled, about a young bear who gets bashed in the face for touching a classmate too hard in a game of tag, and The Sacrifice, a witty vignette about a gamer who finds himself about to die for the sake of the black arts.
The show was hosted by Hector, a cussing sock puppet who told dirty jokes in-between scenes. The actors behind the puppets were all excellent, creating very memorable characters, and the scripts were witty and cutting-edge.
They ll be back in February, and this show is not to be missed!
In honor of the big , hosted a party Sunday night at what seems to be his new favorite night spot, the , which he canoodled with at last week.
As of 11:30 p.
m., Leinart hadn t even showed up, though, despite the hottie waitresses wearing his jersey on their backs. The place was absolutely packed, with barely enough room to walk, so after chilling at a booth on the patio outside for a couple hours, my companions and I decided to peace out.
The club lives up to its hype as the newest sexy Scottsdale spot, with burlesque dancing throughout the night, and though I missed seeing Leinart, the patrons, bartenders and security were attractive enough to make up for him.
Just don t expect any dancing here people were talking during a Justin Timberlake techno song! If anything, though, seeing the dancers toned tummies is enough to make you keep that New Year s resolution to get in shape.
After watching about seven big-name movies in the past week (do not go see , but do check out ), it was refreshing to check out a little indie at at the once-a-month program Film Nuit la Paper Heart.
This independent showcase features indies by local and national filmmakers, with a discussion at the end that gives great insight into the filmmaking process.
Before my bud and I watched the movie, we checked out the Sex, Drugs and Rock N Roll exhibit in the gallery.
The pictures are absolutely amazing, and it s probably my favorite exhibit I ve seen at the spot. Some ink and paint images of weird creatures and patterns look demented, like visions you d have if you were under the influence.
Then there are some classy photographs of musicians surrounded by a collage of words from magazines and newspapers.
My favorite is of Nate Ruess, from Valley band .
Finally, there are the sexy shots. There are really cool renditions of the girls from burlesque troupe, and if you have a foot fetish, there are some classy photographs of some sexy stems and feet.
The movie last night was called Water Therapy, a very short film by local filmmaker Andrea Magwood.
The movie was about a couple that discovers they both have AIDS, but not until after a flashback of them building trust with each other through the male teaching the female how to swim.
The story was very thin, but the production was impressive for a community filmmaker.
It was great to hear Magwood and the actors talk about making the film and answer questions about production, and Magwood is currently shopping the film to several festivals.
Next month is a young filmmakers showcase with projects by high school students, and it s only $3 to see some great quality movies.
If you re sick of nightclubs featuring Paris Hilton tunes masquerading as dance music and are craving a true hip-hop vibe, is the place to go on Friday nights.
The place is urban to the max, with ladies wearing their skinniest stilettos and guys bearing super-heavy bling.
Alas, the video DJ won t play any on your typical Friday, but he will spin other divas like , and , plus old-school thug jams. While it may seem sort of sketchy to be padded down before you walk in, all those security guards that lined the walls didn t really seem necessary.
The biggest no-no I saw was when a girl took off her shoes because her feet hurt and was forced to put them back on. People seemed more concerned with bumping and grinding than fighting, so if you're looking to be surrounded by tons of people getting their dance on, this spot is it.
Saturday I went to an easy-to-miss Tempe coffee shop that is worth seeking out.
is a little locally owned joint with a studious vibe it seems like the perfect place to either do homework or converse with friends because of its comfy lounge chairs, patio seating and indoor desks.
Steve s also features delish drinks. I had a soy Mocha Europa ($3.
50), complete with a velvety chocolate taste and enough espresso to give me energy the rest of the afternoon. The bakery also features treats like melt-in-your-mouth cheesecake and chocolate caramel mudslide cake (both $3.)
If you d rather watch men beat each other to a pulp than have a quiet conversation, the Biltmore area is the sports grill to beat all others.
Not only does the restaurant have an extensive menu with an endless list of combinations (for a healthier meal, try a Spicy Black Bean Garden Burger in a whole wheat tortilla with side salad, $8.50), it also features flat screen televisions throughout the place broadcasting the best in sports.
While I really don t support super-aggressive sports that involve literally knocking people out (football, schmootball), as a Tae Kwon Do black belt, I figured it might be slightly entertaining to watch.
The matches were bloodily brutal, making me cover my eyes during instant replays and cringe for a good amount of time, but what was more fun than actually watching the contest was seeing all the people in the restaurant get so into what was happening on screen. At Half Moon (which very classily displays photos of people with their bottoms half-exposed), there are several private spots for groups to watch their fave athletic competitions away from the main restaurant. The party I sat with jammed more than 20 people in a small area with only some couches and a few chairs and footstools.
We used the stools as tables, and people even sat on the floor and didn t seem to mind. It was like being in a much fancier living room.
Half Moon also features periodic Lunar Parties, where women compete to be the next model displayed in one of the half-moon pictures around the venue.
Lunar Parties feature great drink specials for ladies, so the restaurant is a popular spot for many types of patrons.
Sunday night, New Year s Eve was absolutely crazy, with tons of random hook-ups and partying throughout the night. I volunteered to be designated driver, because I wasn't that crazy about paying tons of moolah on drinks, not to mention risk ruining a cute party dress.
I caravanned some friends to the Tempe Block Party, which had a $15 pre-sale cover charge. While about 20 clueless drivers waited in line to get into the garage, I entered through the Chase employees only" side. Who needs to be an employee when you can charm your way in to nab one of only 11 parking spots left?
About 15 of us entered the block party and made our way to the , which had a $5 cover despite the fee we already had to pay to get on Mill in the first place. A few of us peaced out to catch playing piano, and she really didn t seem to excited to be playing for a bunch of drunks who probably had no idea who she was.
In fact, she stopped mid-way one of her songs to demand the piano levels be turned up, but she told the audience probably no one noticed it anyway because of the alcohol.
Carlton may have scared a few people when she announced her obsession with vampires, but a little while after she played her popular track A Thousand Miles, which is definitely less creepy.
We went back to the Tavern, where the cover had crept up to a whopping $15, but it ended up being a super-fun time because the young crowd really got into tearing it up on the dance floor. The bar also had a fun countdown, and afterward, the dancing got really out of control.
My celebration this year was hard to compare to my witnessing the pine cone drop in last year, but on , crazy football fans plus sexy college co-eds plus inebriated bar hoppers equals a raucous good time.
Normally I m an advocate for local businesses and restaurants, but I recently became a fan of , which has eight locations in the Valley. I know it s lame, but even though I ve lived in Arizona all my life, I ve never ventured to the cutest-looking chain ever.
I m so happy I did this past Saturday to the 1250 S. Alma School Road location, and I even went back again last night.
One of the major reasons I like the restaurant is that bread is served with every meal.
You have a choice of crusty French bread or soft and chewy zuchinni bran, which is so good with the sweet whipped butter. I normally don t eat the fatty garnish on my food, but I slather it on here.
Mimi s food is also so fresh and seems healthier than other chains.
The veggie burger ($7.59) is delish, and if you get it with fries, know that all the fried foods are made with zero grams trans fat, cholesterol-free cooking oil. You can also substitute the fries for soup or yummy fruit like pineapple and melon.
Plus, their salads (which are served with muffins) are large portions, so opting for a low-carb meal can still be filling. Try the Bleu Cheese Walnut salad ($7.59).
..beautiful!
The faux French d cor, which includes paintings and brick walls, also stands out from typical American-style joints. I m not going to Paris anytime soon, so this restaurant is a great destination in the meantime.
Last night I was at one of my favorite last-Wednesday-of-the-month activities, the Phoenix poetry slam, which goes down at .
The second finalist for the finals in Canada was chosen, mean spitter Paul Davis, whose quirky pop culture-laced poetry should fare well in our neighbor to the north.
He ll be accompanied by Chesko, who has dominated at Essenza Coffee House every time he s made an appearance at that slam. Chesko is an energetic, charismatic guy who is known to recite more than one steamy haiku, and Arizona is lucky he made the recent move here from San Francisco.
I am also so happy to have learned that , the former coffeehouse-turned-kitchen/coffee bar in The Paper Heart, is going to be serving its delicious food for lunch seven days a week starting in the new year.
Their menu is crazy, with a variety of delectable vegetarian and vegan dishes, including a pita pizza, dolmades, to-die-for salads and sandwiches. The food is cheap and healthy, which is so much better than cruisin for some greasy fast food grub down the street.
There also may be some cool lunchtime entertainment starting up there, which beats out most regular spots in downtown Phoenix, so keep an eye out for new developments.
The closest thing to Irish I am is that my father s side of the family is from nearby Spain, but in Arizona, it doesn t matter what nationality you are, there are a ton of Irish bars available to spread some luck to you.
Last night I went to .
A look at the menu shows a lot of Irish signature items, like Shepherd s Pie ($7.95), Corned Beef and Cabbage ($8.95) and Guinness Steak Boxty ($8.
95), which is Guinness-marinated steak served in potato pancakes. Plus, for people who don t want to eat dead animals found in many Irish dishes, you can still munch on appetizers like Big Peter s Pretzel Basket with beer mustard ($5.25) and Ring O Kerry Onion Rings ($5.
75), which are beer-battered.
You can bet any restaurant that puts beer in its meat is going to be an alcohol-friendly place. The place was packed for a Tuesday night, even though the kitchen had closed, and it seemed to be an especially hot spot for large groups of people to get their drinks on.
Rosie s has plenty of large booths and long tables, so it's easy for parties to get together.
There s also a downloadable juke box and some arcade games, and Wednesday through Saturday features live bands. The most prevalent thing I saw, though, was laughter and conversation.
Even though it s not really hip or trendy, this pub is happening in its own right.
Oh, how I love three-day weekends.
While most of my Christmas vacay was spent being lazy, with three trips to the movie theaters, a couple house parties and a family gathering tossed in, I did manage to venture out for the holiday weekend.
Friday, I checked out one of my fave pop singer/songwriters in the Valley, . He s known for doing some covers, but this hottie with the body is no geek, and his original songs are radio-friendly stuff. Simison has a powerful, melodic voice, and his songs are perfect to sip coffee to, which is what I did when he played at .
The coffee place is a primo spot to study or take in music at. Its dim lighting is calming, and there are comfortable couches and a mini-library to find a new book in. It also has a much greater sense of community than a chain shop; the people who go to Mama Java s are friendly and welcoming to each other, not high-strung or rushed.
Before Simison came on stage, another acoustic musician, , played for the crowd. It s sad she said she failed auditions four times, since I think she was 100 times better than last year s runner-up . Mecker s songs have a unique duality to them while she comes off as sweet and innocent, her lyrics are strong and harsh.
Plus, she has great range and a beautiful tone.
Then, while Simison also plays solo sets, he brought along the entire band for this show, complete with a saxophone player who could really wail. The jazzy band s prominent pop touch makes them stand out from other acts in the Arizona music scene.
Then it was off to check out the at . The show featured three youngish males who all have big things happening right now, though you ve probably never heard of them.
The tour s first comic, , recently opened up for Bob Saget at the Improv, and while his bit hadn t changed much, his laid-back comedy style makes it easy to believe he really is just like the average guy.
He definitely got the crowd chuckling with his observations about relationships and getting older.
Next up was the funniest of the night, , who has appeared on s . He s Italian, and his comedy was loud, a little obnoxious, but super-lovable.
Finally, , who like Ernst, is featured in s new movie Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy, took the stage. The soft-spoken comic spouted off about long lines while holiday shopping and the dangerous world of dating, and while a couple he picked on in the front row didn t seem amused by his jokes, no one could deny his wicked dance moves.
The tour is an awesome way for people to see some fresh talent, and the guys can definitely hold their own.
And while I love him to death, at the Improv made me laugh less than Ernst.
The next night, I accompanied a bud to see her friend in s Christmas 1943. The play, about a group of soldiers at an airbase during World War II, was incredibly simple the cast of five people was a group giving a Christmas Eve musical presentation to the other soldiers.
Most of the play was so corny, but the cast was full of great singers. I didn t take much away from the weak script, but it was fun to watch talented locals show off their goods.
The theater was also very cute.
While it was so tiny, it provided for a very intimate performance where the audience became a part of the play, and it was fun that the cast interacted with the audience in character before the play and during intermission. You don t really see that at bigger productions at , and often the quality at small community theater plays or musicals is just as strong.
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