District Restaurant
With the new convention center downtown came the new Sheraton (which is pretty amazing, btw). The new Sheraton brought us the new District Restaurant and Bar on the first floor of the hotel. I'll be the first to say that I was a tidbit apprehensive going to District because I didn't want to "eat at a hotel." Who wants the boring, over-priced food in a hotel restaurant. Not me. But I went. And I'm converted.
AZ Sweet Shrimp Po'Boy Sliders
I'll never forget the first time. I had fish 'n chips, which are made from this cornmeal mixture and I really thought I would come back every day for them. But there have been many trips to District since then, and I can honestly say I haven't had a bad thing. They use local purveyors for anything they can (you can find a list on their website) and they take comfort food and add some local flavor (no pun intended) to spice it up (okay, pun intended).
Their happy hour is great too - cheap drinks & eats. They have live music Thurs-Sat nights and gotta tell ya, the bar is full. Probably due to the very cool atmosphere too.
Try it for lunch or dinner - check out their menu and deets at: www.districtrestaurant.com
Pane Bianco
Pizzeria Bianco has been on the receiving end of wonderful reviews, celebrity patrons, and a hurry-up-and-get-there mentality for anyone hoping to get a spot. And while Pizzeria Bianco is all-deserving, I'd like to introduce you to Pane Bianco, the brother of Pizzeria Bianco (the younger, funkier brother). Both are the offspring of Chris Bianco, the creator and chef using only local ingredients, everything from scratch, and you know, overall dee-lish.
They have a limited menu, with four sandwiches, a couple salads and some great sides, but that doesn't mean you won't find something you like. Matter of fact, I can't break away from my usual Soppressata with Aged Provolone & Roasted Peppers sandwich. The secret is the bread. They put it in a wood fire to bake it fresh for each sandwich - crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. Yum.
Good idea - take the light rail to get there! Get off on Campbell on Central and PB is RIGHT there. There's seating outside in front of the restaurant - it's all VERY casual. This is not a dress-up place, ladies. Though you wouldn't know it from the food.
Pane Bianco
4404 N Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85012
Camelback Ranch
Camelback Ranch, Greater Phoenix’s newest spring-training facility, hasn’t even hosted a game yet, but it’s already made the world a better place.
How? Simple: More baseball, fewer Brussels sprouts.
I toured Camelback Ranch last week and learned that the new Cactus League home of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox was built on land formerly leased by the City of Glendale to farmers who grew broccoli and Brussels sprouts. No offense to our nation’s proud and hard-working farmers, but any project that tilts the cosmic balance between leafy vegetables and spectator sports toward the latter is OK in my book.
But that’s far from the only reason to patronize Camelback Ranch this spring. First off, the ballpark and its surrounding facilities are gorgeous. Baseball fans who have visited some of the country’s newest pro stadiums know that the idea of a ballpark as a sea of asphalt is as outdated as white cleats and AstroTurf. Still, Camelback Ranch takes the bucolic-ballyard thing to a whole new level.
There’s a creek. There are walking trails. There’s an orange grove. For goodness sake, there’s even a lake stocked with bass, bluegill, catfish and turtles.
Apparently, the developers’ creed was: “If you build a nature preserve, they will come.”
The main stadium, which the Dodgers and Sox share, is filled with 10,000 box seats the color and sheen of melted caramel. There’s room for 3,000 additional fans on the grassy berms along the baselines and beyond center field.
Since the playing field is sunk 12 feet below grade, sight lines are fantastic. Depending on where you sit, you’ll be treated to backdrop views of the White Tank Mountains or the silvery shell of University of Phoenix Stadium.
The stadium is surrounded by a dozen practice fields, two of which are built to the exact dimensions of the Dodgers and Sox’s home parks. I was told during the tour that Roger Bossard — the Obi-Wan Kenobi of major league groundskeepers — oversaw the construction of all the fields. (No word on whether he had a hand in creating the turtle habitat.)
If not for all the construction workers milling about last week (about 800 of them, working hard to get Camelback Ranch ready for its March 1 opening day), I might have assumed the entire complex just sprung from the earth. It’s very organic. The teams’ clubhouses — low slung, with walls of natural stone and rusted-metal panels — look like they might have been designed by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West pupils.
Bottom line, without hyperbole: I’ve been to spring-training parks across Arizona and Florida, and Camelback Ranch might be the most spectacular one I’ve ever seen. I’ve got a Dodger-fan friend coming out from L.A. next month, and I can’t wait to take him to a game.
The only thing I’m not sure about is the name. “Camelback Ranch” sounds like something you might get drizzled on a salad at one of Phoenix’s resorts. I mean, you can’t even see Camelback Mountain from Glendale.
But, hey, at least the place isn’t called Brussels Sprouts Farm.
Ticoz Resto-Bar
Ticoz, ah... Ticoz (pronounced: tee-koze). On the SW corner of 7th St and Missouri is Ticoz "Resto-Bar," a fitting name for this "Swanky-casual," "Retro-Modern," "Gourmet-Cheap" place to go. But a "Resto-Bar" it is - Restaurant on the Right. Libations on the Left. A hip but laid-back feel, it's where to be for one of the best sangrias in town - white or red - and one of the best apps...(wait for it)...guacammus. Guacamole and hummus together. So refreshing, so delightful. And the street tacos can't be beat. Go at happy hour and get it all on the cheap. And they cater to the city life - they're open till midnight on Friday and Saturdays.
Vincent's French Market
Vincent's on Camelback is one of the best locally-known restaurants in Phoenix, hands-down. It's been in the same place for over 20 years (40th St and Camelback) and it's French cuisine has been written up in magazines and newspapers numerous times. That's all great if you want a nice dinner out, but now Vincent has added another facet to his offerings.
On Saturday mornings, he opens up the parking lot of his restaurant to a French market, with produce for sale, tons of amazing french pastries, but also real food to make a meal of. There are panini stations, crepes (savory or sweet) made fresh with all the fixins you want, omelette stations, paella, traditional french casseroles, etc. BUT at the very end of the market is the wood-burning oven making the best pizzas you've ever had. Maybe because Vincent himself is back there manning the "Vincent Van Go."
There is so much more that we could write about, but you really need to go taste for yourself! There's sunny or shady seating available, so go have yourself a good French morning!
First Friday
You don't need us to tell you. It's First Friday. It's going to be a high of 73 degrees today so tonight will be just the right temp to get out and cruise the galleries. Never been? It's 6-10pm in downtown Phoenix, and because the map changes so often, you should stop by Phoenix Art Museum to get a current one. Also, Artlink runs shuttles so PAM can help with that too. 
Special for tonight:
at Modified Arts: First Friday Art Walk: featuring a group show from ASU's graduate program.
"In the spirit of Valentine's Day, "Love Letters" is an exhibition of art created by current ASU graduate students and recent graduates of the program. Artists working in various media including paint, ceramics, video, woods, fibers, metals, printmaking and photography each received a letter of the alphabet and made a piece in response to that letter. Work by 29 different artists will be presented."
at Phx Art Museum: The Heart is a Drum Machine Movie Premiere:
"...the film, directed Christopher Pomerenke and produced by Ryan Page, Joe Mundo and Hans Fjellestad, explores music’s role in shaping human history the profound connection people have had to music throughout human history and how it has shaped our experiences and its involvement in our daily lives.
The cast includes George Clinton, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ John Frusciante, Kurt Loder of MTV fame, Carl Sagan’s widow Ann Druyan, music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas (Grey’s Anatomy, Mad Men), Tool’s enigmatic frontman Maynard James Keenan, Jimmy Tamborello of the ground-breaking Postal Service, Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock, music collector/actor/label owner Elijah Wood, Los Lobos, Jason Schwartzman, KCRW’s Nic Harcourt, Spoon’s Britt Daniel, The Silversun Pickups, Juliette Lewis, X’s John Doe, Sleater-Kinney’s Janet Weiss and many others..."
Remember, a lot of the restaurants and boutiques in and around downtown are open late too! Happy Fridaying!
