The Spot: Philly’s Sports Bar & Grill, 1826 N. Scottsdale Rd., Tempe, 480-946-6666 http://phillyssportsgrill.com/ The Hours: Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 pm, with reverse happy hour deals Sunday through Thursday from 11 pm to close. Some pretty killer drink deals are available all day, every…
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 beer-related discussions, we present…
Yesterday we met Nate Kolasa, who keeps the tequila flowing and the smiles showing at Scottsdale’s Loco Patron. Today he shares with us the recipe for the Mango Deck, a drink he crafted after a trip to Mexico that’s earned its place on the bar’s drink menu. “I was in…
For fans or tacos, tequila and all things Mexico, the knowledge that Cinco de Mayo comes but once a year is depressing. Luckily all the joy of the annual fiesta can be found year-round at Loco Patron (4228 N. Scottsdale Road, 480-874-0033), the popular cantina tucked in the heart of Old…
The Spot: DiVerti Bar & Grill, 4 E. University Dr., Tempe, 480-284-5972 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tempe-AZ/Diverti-Bar-and-Grill/147317605296799 The Hours: Every day of the week from 3 to 7 pm and reverse happy hour from 10 pm to midnight (but the reverse happy hour deals are just Monday through Friday–sorry late night weekend boozers). The…
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 beer-related discussions, we present…
Yesterday we met Jason Jereb, the man behind the bar and in front of the daiquiri machines at Mill Ave.’s Fat Tuesday. Today he shares with us the recipe for Applesauce, which is every bit as simple and tasty as it sounds and goes great with pork chops. Just don’t…
On Mill Ave. in Tempe, there’s a bar for every personality. Rula Bula’s the place to be for Irish music; Pool sharks can hit the Cue Club. But for those looking for the taste of New Orleans and the flair of Mardi Gras, there’s Fat Tuesday (680 S. Mill Ave., 480-967-3917)…
The Spot: Dave’s Electric Brewpub, 502 S. College Ave, Tempe, 480-967-5353 http://www.daveselectricbrewpub.com The Hours: Monday through Saturday from 4-7 pm, and then again from 10:30- close. Happy hour deals are good all day long Sundays. The Details: Dave’s offers a buck off all appetizers, and to wash it down, $3…
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 beer-related discussions, we present…
Yesterday we met Gina Florio, the buxom babe who mixes it up in north Phoenix’s relaxed gay bar, Kobalt. Today she shares with us a recipe she crafted for Kobalt when it first opened four years ago: the Va-Gina. “I tell everybody it’s pink and delicious, like me,” Florio says…
Thumping dance music, rainbow-colored flags and a live poodle aren’t things you’d find at your average bar in downtown Phoenix. But Kobalt (3110 N. Central Ave., 602-264-5307) isn’t your average bar. A favorite of the central Phoenix gay community, for four years the raucous tavern’s been bringing a little color…
The Spot: Rosie McCaffrey’s, 906 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, 602-241-1916 http://www.rosiemccaffreys.com The Hours: An almost unheard of three full hours of happy hour deals: 4 to 7 pm, Monday through Friday. The Details: A buck off all drafts, glasses of wine, and well drinks, or $2 domestic bottles if you…
Yesterday we met Boots Byrd, the awesomely-named Chatty Cathy who serves up drinks and manages the bar at St. Francis. Today he shares with us the recipe for one of his original creations that graces the restaurant’s menu: the Cucumber Cooler. The cocktail’s made with Hendricks gin, a liquor whose…
Well, they said it would be off-centered. The first annual Beer for Brains Foundation Off-Centered Experience was held Saturday at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort, and it was a weird, wild ride. The day began with the toots of horns and the bangs of drums courtesy of the Bad Cactus Brass…
Boots is a talkative guy. Ask him about any of the wines, cocktails or foods on the menu of the cozy uptown Phoenix café St. Francis (111 E. Camelback Road, 602-200-8111) and he’ll talk you ears off, going into great depth about the methods Trappist monks employ to create beer…
The Spot: Iruña, 7217 E First Street, Scottsdale, 480-398-3020 http://www.irunaaz.com/ The Hours: La Hora Feliz is celebrated every day of the week at Iruña, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. The Details: Sangria or a Smirnoff-based beverage will run you 3 bucks, while wine, specialty cocktails, and martinis are priced at…
To everything there is a season — a phrase that applies especially to beer. Take a hint from nature. As the leaves begin their annual shift from gold and green to deeper hues, so should your drink. Fall is the season of maerzens, oktoberfests, harvest ales and pumpkin beers, and…
Yesterday we met Charleen Badman, the chef-slash-bartender-slash-plateful-of-awesome who cooks up food and cocktails over at FnB. Today she shares with us the recipe for her Pomegranate Fig Gimlet, which premieres on the cocktail menu this week and makes use of her specialty, a fruit infused vodka. “I use dried Turkish…
The kitchen at FnB restaurant (7133 E. Stetson Dr., 480-254-9463) isn’t where it should be. Rather than safely hidden behind closed doors in a back room, the Scottsdale eatery’s pots, pans, grills and blenders are out in the open, smack in the middle of the Technicolor tile floor. Tiny tables and chairs…
The Spot: Modern Steak, 7014 E. Camelback Rd, Scottsdale, 480-423-7000 http://www.foxrc.com/modern_steak.html The Hours: Happy hour begins at 3 and goes until 6 pm, Monday through Friday. Make sure to snag a seat in the bar since this is the only place in the restaurant where these discounts are good. The…
Yesterday we met Carol Skolnick, the Chicago transplant who mixes classic cocktails at the Duce (525 S. Central Ave., 602-866-3823). Today she shares with us the recipe for the Duce’s Screwdriver. It’s not an original recipe, to be sure, but with fresh-squeezed juices, organic vodka and a grocery store’s worth of…
