Chihuly: Night and Day
The Desert Botanical Garden (or "The DBG" as us locals like to call it) welcomed a new Chihuly exhibit on Nov. 22. Dale Chihuly is a master of glass and has created special installations for the powerful desert landscape of the DBG. You may know his work best from the Bellagio's "glass ceiling" in the lobby. That is one little fraction of what you would see at his exhibit here.
Tickets are available through May 31, and you can choose to go either in the day or night. We were curious and decided to investigate the difference. Below are some comparisons. To see all our pics, visit our Flickr stream at http://flickr.com/photos/visitphoenix/. If you've been, feel free to send us your pics!
Matt's Big Breakfast
This mornining, I had the yummiest start to my day at Matt's Big Breakfast in Downtown Phoenix. It's a tiny little place located at 1st Street and McKinley. You may have to wait, but let me tell you, it's well worth it!
Cheese Omelet with Mushrooms and a Side of Hashbrowns and Toast
As you can see, I choose the cheese omelet. I selected provolone as my cheese du jour and also added mushrooms. Throw in a side of hasbrowns and wheat toast and it was my version of a perfect breakfast. (Note: my friend had the same thing only she selected cheddar and sourdough toast).
Now, something that's really important to me is that fact that Matt uses only humanely harvested, cage-free eggs. It's generally not something you'll find at the chain places. For me this is a biggie because if he was serving the standard factory egg, I'd have been eating oatmeal or corn flakes. Although I'm sure he serves up a mean version of either. Besides the delicious food and diner atmosphere, it's something that'll keep me coming back.
I've also heard great things about the pancakes and as we walked in, a woman leaving the restaurant was raving about the waffle she had. I pretty much think any selection you make at Matt's will be a good one.
Lola Tapas & Coffee
If you haven't been to Lola Tapas for dinner, you are sorely missing out. But if you haven't been to Lola's in the morning for coffee, you're practically a criminal. It is a quite possibly the best coffee I've ever tasted, and the whole ambience is something to be experienced. The staff knew me by name after just a couple visits, and it's such an authentically Spanish feel. It's on 8th St and Camelback, so stop in on your way to work. And by the way, the prices are incredibly reasonable.
It's so decadent!
Their hours...Coffee, Tues - Sat, 7am-noon. And really, DO go for dinner - I just couldn't squeeze all the Lola greatness into one post.
http://www.lolatapas.com/lolaroast.html
Children’s Museum of Phoenix
With all due respect, it shouldn't be called a "museum." A museum means historic, stagnant things to look at, which is the opposite of the new Children's Museum in Phoenix. The front exterior is the old Monroe school, but from one glance of the "back" (which is now the entrance), you can tell this is not a normal museum tour.
It's three stories of pure joy for kids. Kids of all ages, really. This is a look down to the first floor, filled with a huge tube structure. This is the future site of one of the world's largest jungle gyms. Stay tuned for that.
There is a tri-cycle car wash, a nearly real grocery store complete with a stock room, a full "automotive" area, classrooms with crafts and tons more. But this - in my opinion - is the REAL treasure. The noodle jungle. It's hundreds and hundreds of pool noodles suspended, creating a forest to run through. I must have run through it a hundred times.
A hint of the amazingly creative artwork throughout the building:
This was the seriously fantastic art room, where every kid gets a smock and every table has something new. And then, there in the corner is this: A house with so many layers of paint that it's just oozing off. Every day they change the paint color and all the kids work together to cover it.
If you have kids, know kids or feel like a kid, take an afternoon at the Children's Museum. And make sure to leave plenty of nap time afterwards!
Get more details at http://www.childrensmuseumofphoenix.org/
First Friday: Transportation Change
Just got an email from Artlink:
"Artlink has announced its new shuttle arrangement with the Phoenix Art Museum. The new arrangement begins with First Friday on February 6, 2009.
First Friday Shuttles Move to the Phoenix Art Museum
Phoenix, AZ – Artlink Phoenix is proud to announce that the First
Friday's Free Shuttle program is moving to the Phoenix Art Museum.
Beginning Friday, February 6th, 2009, the shuttle station will be
moving from the Burton Barr Public Library. These free shuttles
program runs from 6 to 10 pm every First Friday. The shuttles take
riders to 4 separate routes, with stops at galleries, restaurants,
coffee shops, and bars for the nearly 80 participating spaces that
make up the Artlink Phoenix First Friday Art Walk. Artlink Phoenix
sponsors the longest running, and most well attended art walk in the
country with nearly 25,000 people in attendance, as well as an annual
3 Day Art Detour weekend. This event is kicked off by March First
Friday, and features a Kid's Art Detour program, March 7, and 8th.
Giuseppe's on 28th
In PHX, we take authenticity of the food very seriously. Don't call it "Mexican food" just because it has a tortilla, and don't call it "Southwestern" just because there may be a trace of a green chile. So when it comes to Italian, I don't want noodles and tomatoes. I want Italian.
Enter Giuseppe's on 28th, which I paid a visit to carbo-load for the half-marathon. I'd heard much-to-do about it, and let me tell you - it's worth it. Everyone at the table had the fresh pasta with one of the amazing concoctions. I had the seven-meat sauce and almost ordered another order to-go. Oh, and Guy from the Food Network profiled it on "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives," I found out as I glanced at the wall.
I recommend getting there early; there are only about 20 seats in the whole place.
And, it's owned by Richard Bock, principal cellist for the Phoenix Symphony. Majorly local, casual and dee-lish. OH - and - it's BYOB. Yeah, I know. Doesn't get better.
