Bacardi Ltd.

Owners of The Mint, RnR, and Axis/Radius to Open Hi-Fi Kitchen & Cocktails in Old Town Scottsdale

What the hell's a "music-centric retro haunt?" If it's the building currently going up in Old Town Scottsdale's entertainment district, it's Hi-Fi Kitchen & Cocktails. See also: - Gallo Blanco's Doug Robson Opens New Mexican Restaurant in Phoenix - Everyone Knows About This 24-Hour Doughnut Shop in ... More >>

The 5 Worst Valentine Cocktails of All Time

Love is in the air -- and as with other airborne pathogens, you'd prefer to keep a safe distance. For the Hallmark haters and the Valentine adverse, Chow Bella has put together a list of the 5 least romantic cocktails around. Order one for yourself or send some over as a gritty gesture to the PDA co ... More >>

3 Hot (Literally) Cocktails in Downtown Phoenix

When temperatures in Phoenix are lower than they are in Anchorage, Alaska - you know it's time for a drink. Fortunately, these three Phoenix based bars are serving up drinks both hot and heavy - perfect for the over 21 in need of a solution to the under 21 (well, it feels that way) weather. See Als ... More >>

Dwayne Allen of Rum Bar Gives a Tasty Tutorial on Rum

If you've ever been inclined to dismiss rum as a legitimate spirit because of slushy vats of hot pink strawberry daiquiris, flaming tiki drinks or frat boys chugging Bacardi and Coke, hang on one little minute. Dwayne Allen, who co-owns The Breadfruit and Rum Bar with his partner Danielle Leoni, is ... More >>

Make Puerto Rican Egg Nog Now, Enjoy It Later

Ring the bell, it's time for Last Call, where JK Grence, bartender at Shady's, serves up booze advice and recipes. Got a burning question for your bartender? Leave it in the comments and it might be answered in a future column. I'm getting a little stir crazy waiting for cold weather. If the timing ... More >>

District American Kitchen and Wine Bar: Happy Hour Report Card

See also: Humble Pie: Happy Hour Report Card See also: Sierra Bonita Grill: Happy Hour Report Card The Spot: District American Kitchen and Wine Bar, Sheraton Hotel, 320 N. 3rd Street, Phoenix. 602-817-5400, districtrestaurant.com. The Hours: Breakfast 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.; Lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 ... More >>

Malibu Red Tastes Like Coconut Shampoo -- in a Good Way

Years ago, I went on a spring break cruise with a group of my hard-drinking friends and, broke college kids that we were, we dedicated the days leading up to the vacation to finding every possible method of smuggling booze aboard. Clear plastic water jugs, giant blue containers of Listerine, bottles ... More >>

Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers' Classic Fare Goes Awry

Sipping Rums: Beyond Bacardi

After working at Trader Vic's for its entire five-year run at the beautiful Hotel Valley Ho, I developed quite an appreciation for rum. Most people's familiarity with rum is limited to a mere two brands: Bacardi and Captain Morgan. Sometimes people are also familiar with Sailor Jerry. It's a crying ... More >>

Grenadine: It's Better Than You Think

Image courtesy sxc.huBet you thought grenadine was cherry flavored!​A short while ago, a letter scripted in brilliant ruby-red ink landed on my desk. It read: Dear Bartender, A friend just presented me with a bottle of homemade grenadine for my birthday. What do you recommend I do with it? - ... More >>

DJ ill-legal? Talks Dubstep, Subversion, Rusko, Lazer Sword, Hyphy, Hovatron, and More

DJ ill-legal?​Name: Blake Ludera AKA: DJ ill-legal? Genres spun: Glitch, dubstep, breakbeats, and hip-hop mostly. I also like to scratch and get into some turntablism stuff, and on rare occassion I'll play house music or drum 'n' bass. I'm really all over the place when it comes to different ge ... More >>

Top 5 Valentine's Day Cocktails for The Hopeless Romantic

​Nothing says "I love you" quite like an inappropriate public drunken make-out session at your local bar. It's also a good way to scare off your friends and the fastest way for the entire place to suggest the two of you get a room. Save yourself the embarrassment and keep your friends by shaki ... More >>

Happy Hours: Your Guide to Valley Spots Worthy of Your Drink Money

If You Love Something, Set it on Fire

CREDIT: Alex James Bramwell, sundaypaper.com​There's a little pyromaniac in all of us, and it frequently emerges while knocking back a few drinks; so what better way to spark up a good time than combining the human fascination with fire the human fascination with alcohol? From Scottsdale to S ... More >>

Behind the Bar: Steve Howard's Papa Smurf

​When Steve Howard (whom we profiled yesterday) of downtown Chandler's Murphy's Law creates drinks for customers, he lets the drinker name the cocktail. This one has a blue tinge from the Blue Curacao that's sunk into liquid, which inspired his patron to call this drink Papa Smurf. It looks p ... More >>

Behind the Bar: Steve Howard of Murphy's Law

Nicki Escudero Ready to serve you​It's easy to see why Steve Howard of Murphy's Law in Chandler is a popular bartender. The handsome 25-year-old is extremely charming, doing tricks behind the bar and letting customers name drinks he makes for them. And he's had plenty of time to build up a ... More >>

Matt and Kim at Craftsman Court

​Third Thursday in Scottsdale proved a massive mish-mash of ages, scenes and reasons for attendance. Matt and Kim played a free gig for FM 103.9's free concert series, Sean Kingston was at Venue of Scottsdale, plus, there was that whole art walk thing. The Brooklyn-based duo Matt and Kim took the ... More >>

Matt and Kim Play Third Thursday Tonight

​Yes, The Valley's ever-fluxing, erm "format modifying," station FM 103.9, better known as The Edge is still hosting those free Third Thursday concerts that brought acts like MGMT, The Ataris and Alien Ant Farm to the open-air mall Tempe Marketplace. Now a mainstay in Old Town Scottsdale's Craftsm ... More >>

Lucinda Williams, Nathan's Hot Dogs, St. Vincent and Myst Over the Weekend

Lucinda Williams Plays the Non-Hits at Mesa Arts Center It takes some chutzpah to read your lyrics off a music stand. When you've been dubbed "America's Greatest Songwriter" by Time magazine (a publication that's not known for its music criticism, but nonetheless notable in any grand pronouncement) ... More >>

Seven Nights of DJs & Dancing

Guest DJ Madness

The Green Party

The Green Party

Light-Rail Bar Crawl

Fancy Sushi Rolls for Five Bucks at Kabuki

It's been a year since Kabuki, the SoCal sushi chain, made its Arizona debut, at the Tempe Marketplace. Kabuki eventually opened a second location at Glendale's Westgate City Center. To celebrate its first birthday, the restaurant is offering several of its premium sushi rolls -- including the ... More >>

Night Train: The Ultimate Light Rail Pub Crawl

Night Train: Central/Washington (Stop # 13)

Where: Copper Door Restaurant and Bar at The Hotel San Carlos (202 N. Central Avenue). Jump off the train and head East on Central toward the historic Hotel San Carlos. It should take you about two minutes on foot. Drink: The Humphrey's Palm Room Mojito. Bacardi Razz combined with fresh black rasp ... More >>

Fright Nights

Mojito Masterclass at Sanctuary

Hump-Night Ho-Down

The Naomi Watts and Kreme Kong of the PHX hit the PV for Wednesday night's TeeRoy and Donkey Show

Risky Business

Two teens are murdered, as violence escalates at West Valley house parties. Some blame party-crew rivalry

Trails to Terror

Welcome to Creepy Town

The Vagina Dialogues

Bi-curious women are here -- but not quite queer. Welcome to the new lesbian chic

Inferno at Andersons

St. Patrick's Day Guide 2004

Lush Luau

What better way to await the end of civilization than with the pupu platter at Drift?

Indie Rock

Networking group shakes up local screen scene

Groovy Ghoulies

Underworld is a slick and silly creature feature

Meat Loaf Market

Lively music and meals merge at Soho

Voodoo Priestess

Mistress' ministry melds Mormonism, magic and tropical fruit

The Jagger Edge

Furio is no ordinary club pretending to be a restaurant

Best Black Bean Soup

Havana Cafe
4225 East Camelback
602-952-1991
(and Havana Patio Cafe, 6245 East Bell, Scottsdale, 480-991-1496)

Love Sick

Director Bruno Barreto and his wife, Amy Irving, jam their fingers down our throats in Bossa Nova

Austin, We Have a Problem!

What happens when you cram too much music into one city and two pairs of eardrums? Nothing, if you move too fast to hear it all.

Same Crime, Next Year

Wronged Ashley Judd goes gunning for justice in Double Jeopardy

Loco Motives

he Combat Railfans celebrate the new year on the fright side of the tracks

Second Helpings

Eye of the Orb

Picking the "ever growing pulsating brain" of Alex Paterson, don of ambient

Talking Tiki

WHEN HARRY MET SALAD