Craving a little light reading with your morning latte? Earlier this month, the Oregon-based Dutch Bros. Coffee outfit released the first in a series of limited release comic books featuring “Fro”, “Mullet” and several other animated characters made popular by Dutch Mafia creator Brant Boersma (son of late Dutch Bros…
Hungry for some awesome restaurant deals? The Arizona Restaurant Association announced yesterday that they’ll be following in the footsteps of Long Island’s Restaurant Week sponsors, who recently added a spring event to their annual culinary lineup. The first-ever Spring Arizona Restaurant Week will take place May 13-22, 2011 at major eateries across town. The roster of participating…
It’s amazing what ends up in landfills — baby bottles, broken chairs, used condoms, copies of Adam Lambert’s new Glam Nation Live DVD. Tucson-based artist Greg Corman isn’t about to let the best scraps in the junkyard pile go to waste. A landscape designer by day, Corman creates beautiful sculptures…
“There are no barriers in the field of music,” says Nobuyuki “Nobu” Tsujii, the Japanese classical pianist who tied for first place at the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Texas two years ago. Born blind, Tsujii had it a little harder than other child musicians. But like Stevie…
The infamous Nile Theater, which closed down in 2002 after repeated violent incidents including a triple shooting, reopened under new ownership last year with a decidedly cleaner image. Now the all-ages venue is taking that image one step further by adding a small eatery and coffee shop called Lo-Fi Coffee…
We’re always on the lookout for good deals here at Chow Bella. It’s not just about the economy. Everyone’s on a budget — in good times and in bad — and better deals means more opportunities to sample some of the local cuisine and libations to be had around town…
“Do you have a legal prescription for that?”Cheba Hut, the cannabis culture sub-shop chain founded near Arizona State University in 1998, isn’t asking. In celebration of 4/20 — the day pot-smokers come together and often lobby for total decriminalization of the wacky weed — Cheba Hut locations across the nation…
Pray that your buns will look as good as The Virgin’s. Hot cross buns are a longstanding tradition, possibly dating as far back as ancient Greece and Saxony, where they were used in spring celebrations. They were once banned by Queen Elizabeth, who thought the cross-topped yeast rolls celebrated Catholicism…
Chef Aaron May — the guy behind the infamous Sasquatch Burger — spent the weekend before last braving the rain and getting cozy with crowds at the annual Scottsdale Culinary Festival. If that isn’t enough to make you like him, check this deal out. On Wednesday, April 20, May’s Over Easy…
Earlier this month at the annual My Nana’s Salsa Challenge, Chandler’s El Palacio Mexican Restaurant took the grand prize and $1,000 in cash (which they donated to charity) after wowing the judges with their homemade salsa.If your version didn’t place at the festival, or if you were too kitchen-shy to…
We love it when local restaurants take advantage of the benefits of social media while also clueing us in on their goings-on. Because really, we don’t need to hear about your new marketing plan or your kids’ birthday party for the twenty thousandth time, but if you’re going to offer cheap drinks,…
Imagine going to a restaurant where the owner knows your name and has your steaming cuppa joe and two egg platter — cooked over easy with wheat toast, just as you like it — on the table before you even put down your menu. In one corner, local civil servants, from…
Last week, we mentioned that Chef Payton Curry was disappointed that Caffe Boa was continuing his four-year tradition of serving up rabbit on Easter Sunday. As it turns out, Tempe’s Caffe Boa has actually opted to go in a different direction this year. PETA would be proud. Ok, maybe not.Instead of their…
Club dancing is still awesome, but sometimes we’re desperate to get away from the popped collars, tacky go-go dancers, and bland DJ-spun electronica of Scottsdale’s nightlife scene. We crave something simpler, something from an era when hipsters were idolized and “swinging” didn’t involve swapping wives. For that, there’s Savoy Night,…
Arizona’s current and former politicians are making a name for themselves – and its not one that we’d repeat in polite company. Former Arizona governor Janet Napolitano legalized airport grope sessions; while Jan Brewer’s busy provoking state tourism boycotts and slashing funds from schools while cutting more big business tax…
The famous 1930’s exploitation flick, Reefer Madness, informed potential stoners that taking bong hits can lead to all sorts of evil behavior including murder and suicide. Because pot isn’t just a gateway drug — it’s the gateway to Hell. Yeah, ok, what were they (not) smoking? Today’s filmmakers don’t always…
All good things must come to an end: Big Love, Medicare benefits, the Phoenix Suns’ playoff hopes. And Black Pearl Poetry Slam, a weekly poetry competition created by Ohio transplant Ed Mabrey in 2009. With the local poetry schedule increasing to capacity, it was time for one major player to…
Arizona’s current and former politicians are making a name for themselves – and its not one that we’d repeat in polite company. Former Arizona governor Janet Napolitano legalized airport grope sessions; while Jan Brewer’s busy provoking state tourism boycotts and slashing funds from schools while cutting more big business tax…
We were a little worried when the Dunkin’ Donuts on Mill Avenue abruptly closed last month after just a few months of dishing out doughy, fried goodness and damn good coffee to the college crowd. If a donut shop can’t survive situated right next to a major university filled with…
Last week, Top of the Rock, the signature restaurant at The Buttes in Tempe, announced the appointment of Akos Szabo to the position of Chef de Cuisine. Alongside Executive Chef Gregory Wiener, Szabo will be tweaking the current menu in coming weeks to incorporate more seasonal and locally-grown ingredients. The…
After a little more than three months of following my resolution to learn how to cook, I was getting pretty cocky. After all, I’d only killed one pot and ruined one recipe thus far. So when an advance copy of “Cake Mix Doctor” Anne Byrn’s new e-book arrived in…
‘s Great Arizona Picnic at the Scottsdale Culinary Festival was the least attended we’ve seen in years, owing to the disconcerting weather forecast, grey skies and chill in the air. Vendors were bundled in thick hoodie sweatshirts and wool gloves, and even patrons inside the Southwest Festival of Beers — already warmed by…
