Jonathan McNamara

Peelander Z and The Aggrolites at Sail Inn, 9-18-2011

Jonathan McNamaraPeelander Yellow performs at Sail Inn. ​On the drive over to Sail Inn tonight, my roommate asked if he was going to understand Peelander Z. It was a fair question. Though the band formed in New York, it's made up of four Japanese transplants. "Yes," I said, they mostly sing i ... More >>

Cut Copy at Marquee Theatre 8/12/11

Jonathan McNamaraDan Whitford​ Cut Copy Marquee Theatre Friday, August 12 It's about time Cut Copy played in Phoenix. Sure, it would have been great to see them on the In Ghost Colours tour, but last night was a good time for the band to make their first appearance. Fans had plenty of time to ... More >>

The Counter at Paldo Market

Carol Blonder Paldo Market counter Earlier this summer, we debuted a new Chow Bella feature, "Dare to Dine" -- in which a totally terrified member of our staff agrees to eat at a restaurant chosen by one of his or her colleagues. For the first assignment, we sent Web Editor Jonathan McNamara ... More >>

Alice Cooperstown's Bases Loaded Hot Dog Contest

Jonathan McNamaraThe good news: to win you only have to eat one. ​​The average person's stomach can hold about a liter of food, or close to two pounds' worth. But who wants to be average? All over town, restaurants are offering up contests of confection, defying brave eaters to ingest more food ... More >>

Big Earl's BBQ's Leg of Beast Feast: 30 Pounds of Food, 6 People, 17 Minutes

Jonathan McNamara James King prepares for disaster.​​The average person's stomach can hold about a liter of food, or close to two pounds' worth. But who wants to be average? All over town, restaurants are offering up contests of confection, defying brave eaters to ingest more food than th ... More >>

Trefoil Cookie Showdown: Pear Frangipane Tart

Jonathan McNamara​Got some Girl Scout cookies sitting around? So did we. Hence, the Trefoil Cookie Showdown. Being one of the newest Chow Bella members, I was a bit nervous about entering this challenge. I had seen last year's Thin Mint competition and wondered if I could make something wort ... More >>

Brewed For Battle: Blind IPA Taste Test

Jonathan McNamaraA blind IPA taste test? Let's hop to it!​At what point does one elevate from merely drinking beer to being a full-on beer snob? Answer: when you feel compelled to tell other people what to drink. And the inevitable result of this peculiar ailment is the beer argument. In the ... More >>

Valentine's Day Showdown: Bistro Dinner with Our Resident Chef

Jonathan McNamaraCarol Blonder with most of her Valentine's menu.​Our Virgin Cook, Wynter Holden, refers to the Valentine dinner menu as a competition! In spite of the size your knife (is that from the tool shed?) Wynter, game on! And no apologies, Cyndi Coon, Thrifty Cook, we planned our menu ... More >>

Air Supply at Talking Stick Resort Last Weekend

Jonathan McNamaraAir Supply performing at Talking Stick Resort.​Air SupplyTalking Stick ResortSunday, January 16"Are you ready to fall in love tonight?" Air Supply singer-guitarist Graham Russell asked the crowd between songs Sunday night at Talking Stick Resort. It wasn't really a question. It wa ... More >>

Brewed For Battle: Scottish Ales

Jonathan McNamaraOur Scottish ales.​At what point does one elevate from merely drinking beer to being a full-on beer snob? Answer: when you feel compelled to tell other people what to drink. And the inevitable result of this peculiar ailment is the beer argument. In the spirit of all great be ... More >>

Kinchmas: Kinch and Ladylike in Photos

Jonathan McNamaraKinch tunes up in full-on Santa gear before their set during Kinchmas at Rhythm Room.​It sure as hell didn't feel like Christmas to me until Thursday night. Yes, I dealt with the crowds ransacking Target for stocking-stuffers. I even heard myself spout of the obligatory commen ... More >>

Cookie Showdown: Layer Bars

Cookie exchanges are a staple at every holiday office party, including the offices of Chow Bella. But the contributors to this blog are a cutthroat bunch, and with an inordinate amount of trash talk thrown about, our cookie exchange quickly became a cookie showdown. Check back here each day through ... More >>

Alcohol-Infused Whipped Cream: Just Say No

Jonathan McNamaraWe tried Whipped Lightning. God help us!​Some things are not meant to be. It's hard to find anything that the staff at Phoenix New Times agrees on, but we are in lock step on one thing: Whipped Lightning is terrible. Beyond terrible. It's like eating flavored lighter fluid. A ... More >>

Brewed For Battle: Saisons

Jonathan McNamaraFantome Hiver, Saison Dupont, and Dupont Foret. ​At what point does one elevate from merely drinking beer to being a full-on beer snob? Answer: when you feel compelled to tell other people what to drink. And the inevitable result of this peculiar ailment is the beer argument. ... More >>

Brewed For Battle: Pumpkin Ale

Jonathan McNamaraOur selection of pumpkin ales. What's the mysterious unmarked bottle?​At what point does one elevate from merely drinking beer to being a full-on beer snob? Answer: when you feel compelled to tell other people what to drink. And the inevitable result of this peculiar ailment i ... More >>

Pumpkin Showdown: Pumpkin Cookies with Brown Sugar Frosting

We are obsessed with pumpkin so much over here at Chow Bella that we thought it was time to take all the smack talk to task with a pumpkin showdown. All the blog contributors gathered 'round the table with their best pumpkin recipes to see whose dish gets the Great Pumpkin award. Today's contender? ... More >>

Desert Botanical Gardens' Beer Garden: Why We're Not Going

Jonathan McNamara We'll be hanging out at Taste of Tops instead. ​You fancy yourself a bit of a beer aficionado. You enjoy knowing about different styles and you have your favorite. You're a regular at Four Peaks and Papago and you're becoming a regular at Taste of Tops. You can get down wi ... More >>

From Print: Blogs Teased in Our 8/19 Issue

​This week, New Times ran a list in our print publication highlighting some of the most interesting posts published at Up On The Sun over the past week. Here are links to those posts. How does 19-year-old Wolfgang Van Halen demonstrate everything wrong with his generation? What does JRC, owner o ... More >>

Vans Warped Tour's 10 Biggest Douchebags

  Jonathan McNamara ​To some, the Vans Warped Tour is heaven -- dozens of pop, rock and punk bands on multiple stages and tons of young, scantily clad people reveling in the sweaty, fun mess of dancing and moshing. And to others, Warped Tour is hell. Besides the 100-plus degree heat, ... More >>

Salsa Showdown: Pretty Simple Pico

Jonathan McNamara​Real cooks can't stay out of the kitchen. That's why four of Chow Bella's regular contributors have concocted four different types of salsa just in time for Cinco de Mayo. Check in next week to see who won the showdown. Now, someone pass the chips.  Today's salsa: Pr ... More >>

Thin Mint Showdown: Fudge Truffle Cheesecake w/ Thin Mint Whipped Cream

Jonathan McNamara ​ One can never have enough Thin Mints. At least that's what we thought until Managing Editor Amy Silverman brought in a dozen unsold boxes to a recent Chow Bella meeting. If one must make lemonade when life hands one lemons, we theorized one must make dessert when life han ... More >>

Arizona Barbecue Festival 2010: We'll be There. Any Chefs Wanna Play for Pinks?

Jonathan McNamara Here's our smoker. Yes, we're serious. ​"Don't let your mouth write a check that your tail can't cash" -- Bo Diddley, coining an age-old axiom. "Props to [Karnivorous BBQ Team] for having brisket when everyone else was out, even if that intensely-dry brisket tasted a lot l ... More >>

SxSW: Japan Nite and the Future of Japanese Music in America

Jonathan McNamaraJinnyOops! performing at Japan Nite 2010. See more shots in our Japan Nite slide show. ​The chances are fairly good that you have never heard of Japan Nite. Never mind the fact that this SxSW showcase has been going on for 15 years; the odds are you won't recognize any of the band ... More >>

Smashburger on Camelback Opens Today

Jonathan McNamara​Those Smashburger folks are pretty ambitious. Their Arizona presence only dates back to August 2009, with the Tempe shop, and they've since added an Avondale location. Today, number three -- in the Colonnade at 1949 E. Camelback Rd. -- is open to the public. In case you ... More >>

Smashburger Coming to Camelback Corridor

Jonathan McNamara​Calling all carnivores in the Camelback Corridor: Hot meat is on the way. Burger chain Smashburger, which recently made Arizona inroads with a Tempe location that debuted this fall, plans to open another restaurant at 1949 E. Camelback Rd., #164, in February 2010, accordi ... More >>

Stuffing Showdown: And the Winner Is . . .

​One week ago, we gave you the first installment of daily posts in our special Stuffing Showdown, and now I'm here as the so-called celebrity judge to tell you which one of our contributors came up with the tastiest rendition of Thanksgiving stuffing. But I'm not going to tell you the winne ... More >>

Concert Review: Everclear at The Big Pour

Jonathan McNamaraEverclear at The Big Pour.​It's a well-established fact that the mark of a truly brilliant pop song is its ability to stand the test of time, captivating new generations or, at the very least, remaining meaningful to it's intended audience over a lifetime. As an admitted Gen X/Y c ... More >>

Shonen Knife at Plush in Tucson

Jonathan McNamaraNaoko Yamano of Shonen Knife​Here at Up on the Sun, we're constantly shaking our fists in frustration watching band after band head to Tucson and pass us by. Last night, we rebelled. If Tucson's going to take our bands, we're going to take Tucson! At least that was the sentime ... More >>

Microsoft Strikes Back: Touring the Microsoft Store

Jonathan McNamaraThe Microsoft Store at Scottsdale Fashion Square​Just last week Scottsdale Fashion Square became a new home for chain department mega store Barneys New York and now this: the first ever Microsoft store. Jumping on the coat tails of another high-end computer store we won't mention ... More >>

The Sun Sessions: Green Day's "Longview" As Played By Nowhere Man and Whiskey Girl

Jonathan McNamaraNowhere Man and Whiskey Girl​Nowhere Man and Whiskey Girl aren't a Phoenix band, per say. The duo lives down in Bisbee, a former mine town in southern Arizona. Shooting our latest installment of The Sun Sessions they regaled us with tales of life in the quaint town, where the temp ... More >>

The Sun Sessions: The Sugar Thieves Play Eric Clapton

Jonathan McNamara Out of the dozen or so talented locals we've featured thus far in our ongoing Sun Sessions series, Mikel Lander and Meredith Moore (a.k.a. The Sugar Thieves) have a singular distinction unmatched by the rest.A major-label contract? Distribution through Hop Topic? No ... More >>

Ignite Phoenix 4: Sun Tzu, Death, Capoeira and More in Five Minutes and Twenty Slides

Jonathan McNamaraJeff Moriarty (left) of the Ignite Phoenix Crew and other igniters hanging out at La Bocca Pizzeria on Mill Ave. during the Ignite Phoenix 4 after-party. "Now, where you go when you die is an age-old question. Here's the answer: 7th Avenue and Jefferson." Stacy Holmstedt didn't ski ... More >>

AZ Ghostbusters Raise Money for Salvation Army and Promote New Ghostbusters Video Game

Jonathan McNamaraMatt Haynes (center) with the AZ Ghostbusters Though there were no spiritual apparitions at Gamestop at 5707 Northern Ave. in Glendale during the midnight launch of the new Ghostbusters The Video Game, there were plenty of EKG meters and "proton packs" just in case. These delicate ... More >>

Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest Arizona Qualifier

Jonathan McNamaraA group of competitive eaters downing dogs at the Nathan's Hot Dog Contest Arizona Qualifier at Arizona Mill Mall. See more shots in our slide show. Matthew Ramirez stepped out on to a raised platform in the Arizona Mills Mall food court and struck the sort of body building pose tha ... More >>

Star Swim Returns This Saturday

Jonathan McNamaraThe scene at last summer's Star Swim. Last summer, one of the coolest (and indeed, hottest) places to be seen was at the Hotel San Carlos for the weekly Star Swim party. An absolute throng of hundreds of hepcats and kittens crowded the tiny pool area at the vintage auberge in down ... More >>

First Friday in Photos

Jonathan McNamaraSee more shots from First Friday in our slide show. Local music was the focus of First Friday on May 1, 2009. Back Ted N-Ted hit up Roosevelt Row for an outside gig, while local favs What Laura Says, and Dry River Yacht Club battled it out for band supremacy at Phoenix Art Museum. S ... More >>

The Flaming Lips Dazzle at McDowell Mountain Music Festival

Jonathan McNamaraSee more shots of The Flaming Lips in our slide show. Major labels get a lot of flack. Whether it's because they supposedly put out nothing but overly-commercialized crap, or because they're suing computer-using kids in a vain effort to salvage their busted business model, it's rare ... More >>

Spooning: Steak Au Poivre

Jonathan McNamara See this recipe in photos.For this week's Spooning, Colin Redding illustrates the joys of celebrating Valentine's Day with a tasty dish called Steak Au Poivre in addition to some other whacky holiday antics. Take a look at the recipe after the jump:

First Taste: True Food at Biltmore Fashion Park

Edgefest 2008: Recap

This Weekend: Breaking Dawn, Discount Assassin and Pret-a-Porter

Brew Review: Nut Brown Ale

Benjamin’s Weekend Word: First Friday, Just Blazed, and Richard Cheese

Caught in the Act: 1700 Curry

Last Minute Monday: Cinco De Mayo

This Weekend: Marijuana, Free Comic Book Day and Mini Kiss

Tempe Music Festival Wrap-up

Catch the Fever