Grand Avenue Festival
Grand Avenue runs diagonally through Phoenix. "Off the grid," so to speak. So it's only appropriate that they have some of the hippest shops, restaurants, galleries around. It's an eclectic group, and the Festival this weekend is the place to be.
Grand Avenue is popular for its First Friday crowd in particular, but their all-day Festival THIS Saturday, Sept. 26th, will have live music from noon to midnight, three fashion shows (including "Boho haute hippie"), and historic/adaptive re-use tours (basically, old historic buildings that are once again shiny).
Over 15 galleries and studios will be open for perusing, including painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, and more, more, more. Restaurants will be open and bustling (don't miss The Paisley Violin - it's a local staple), and shops have crafty, urban, creative gear (my personal fave is Butter Toast).
To find out where to go, see the map. Parking should be easy on any of the side streets, and weather will be beautiful for walking.
Tilt Gallery
For all the details, check out the Grand Avenue Festival page. See you there!
Arizona Restaurant Week
Tarbell's Restaurant
Arizona Restaurant Week is here again! It started last Friday, and runs through Saturday, Sept. 26th. There are over 100 premiere restaurants participating, which means this is the time to check the ones you've been dying to try off your list.
Each restaurant serves 3 courses (some include a cocktail!), $29/person, $58/couple and is a real deal. The restaurants take the time to show off their best, so this is the time to try their specialties.
Some of our fave places include BLT Steak, Vincent's on Camelback, Zinc Bistro, Tarbell's, Ko'Sin and True Food. But really, they're all delicious, they're all over town, and they're all the kinds of food you crave.
Check out all the deets and a full list of restaurants, then head out!
America's Taco Shop
When new places in downtown Phoenix are being built, it's exciting to see the change from day-to-day, particularly in the old, historic homes that turn into new restaurants.
America and Terry Bortin morphed an old home on 7th Street into one of the most coveted Mexican lunchtime spots. The wood floors, the brick, the porch are reminders of once was, but now makes for an extremely cute atmosphere (read: just festive enough without being crazy). America's Taco Shop has even just been recognized by Sunset Magazine for its fantastic carne asada - their specialty - and with a lot of competition in Phoenix, that is an amazing achievent for such a new place. The menu is basic but delicious, and good for the pocketbook as well; you can easily do lunch under $10.
My favorite is the burrito, with guacamole of course, and with one of the Mexican sodas, it's like going on vacation during the lunch hour. The beans are amazing and soft, and the chips supremely fresh.
2041 N. Seventh St
Phoenix, AZ 85073
(602) 682-5627
Meet Your Favorite Authors
The Fairmont Scottsdale is hosting a Season of Personal Discovery, appropriately scheduled before the holidays, and after a year of the battles of the economy, most of us need a little rejuvenation. Besides the mental health break, this is just a ridiculously fun event series to attend.
But this isn't your average package.
Six author weekends are each happening one-time-only, arranged by genre, and gather some of the most famous and influential authors of our time. The package includes two nights at the oh-so-luxe Fairmont Scottsdale, and discounts on spa treatments and rounds of golf at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course, not to mention the events with the authors:
Friday
"Meet the Authors" cocktail party
Saturday
Continental breakfast
Readings, demos and Q&A sessions
Lunch with the authors
Mix & Mingle cocktail party
Gala dinner with the authors
Sunday
Farewell continental breakfast
So. Now you are wondering which authors are coming, right? Here's the breakdown:
Sept. 25-27 Living Your Best Life - Self Improvement Weekend Chris Crowley, Sean Foy, Joseph C. Piscatella, Nicholas Boothman, Tom Moon and Tom Valenti October 2-4 For the Love of Books - Book Club Weekend Anita Diamant, Lisa See and Debra Dean October 9-11 Ultimate Girls Getaway Weekend Nadja Piatka, Kathy Balland, Beverley East, Linda Henley-Smith, Sandi M. Marques adn Lisa McKenzie. October 23-25 Food & Wine for the Soul - Culinary Weekend Michael Mina, Jamie & Bobby Deen, Michelle Bernstein, Karen MacNeil and Robin Goldstein. November 6-8 Cloak & Dagger - Mystery Thriller Weekend Steve Barry, Joseph Finder, Les Standiford, M.J. Rose and David Morrell December 4-6 Literary Stew - Grande Finale Dave Barry, Ridley Pearson, Scott Turow, Jacqueline Novogratz, Wendy Smith, Jessica Jackley I'm sure you want to see more about their books, etc., so check out more details on the Fairmont Scottsdale's website.
Do Me A Favor
I'll tell you one thing, this store does me a favor just by being there.
Do Me A Favor is the quintessential gift store. I mean to tell you - it is stocked with the world's perfect gifts for every occasion. Going to a wedding? The silver and crystal pieces, and amazing dishware, is yours for the taking (matter of fact, they even have registries). Mother's Day? Check out the decadent robes, pajamas, fragrances, and luxurious bath products. Father's Day? Easy. How about some wine glasses, or barbecue serving ware? Christmas and Hanukkah? Don't even get me started.
It's the place to go when you don't know what to get, but you know it has to be unique and special (shouldn't all gifts be that way?). They have great seasonal stuff too (read: perfect hostess gifts). For summer this year, East Coast lobsters, crabs and starfish are center-stage, and the fall stuff is straight out of New England red-brown-golden forests.
Here's the best part: the gift wrapping. Pictures can't even do a justice. They have a staff that will make your gift look like a million bucks, when it certainly won't cost that much at Do Me a Favor. There is something at every price point, believe me.
It's also centrally located on Camelback Road and 10th Street, so go stock up on presents...and remember the best gifts of all are to yourself!
Do Me a Favor
835 E Camelback Rd # 102
Phoenix, AZ 85014
(602) 200-0190
Copper Star Coffee
Yes, I love coffee. LOVE. But it's a chicken-and-the-egg thing because I'm not sure which came first: my love of coffee that led me to great places, or the fantastic places that make it so easy to love.
Copper Star Coffee is one of those places.
Built in an old gas station turned transmission repair, Copper Star Coffee on 7th Avenue has all the great nostalgia and aesthetic of its former life, but an entirely new smell. Instead of gas and oil, aromas of freshly roasted coffee beans and pastries made on site. Now, Copper Star refuels me instead of my car.
The funky couches and tables are a second home to a lot of locals who spend quite a few hours there. The staff is so friendly, it's easy to see why. Or maybe it's the pastries. There is this rocky road brownie there that will blow your mind. I mean seriously. It is absolutely one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten, to the point that I would never share it. Get your own, for sure. See below in all its glory.
Pop into Copper Star when you're checking out the other 7th Avenue shops, like Hollywood Regency, Paris Envy, Qcumberz and more. It's right in the Melrose District, and you can't miss it.
Copper Star Coffee
4220 N 7th Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85013
(602) 266-2136
