BEST LOCAL ARTIST WHO BUYS HER SUPPLIES AT TARGET 2006 | Lisa Albinger | People & Places | Phoenix
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BEST LOCAL ARTIST WHO BUYS HER SUPPLIES AT TARGET

Lisa Albinger

Over the past year, you may have been wowed by painter Lisa Albinger's stunning depictions of relationships gone wrong, womanhood, and growing up with scoliosis. Her work's been on view at monOrchid, Studeo Tad and Soul Invictus. But did you know that Albinger's painted women and rabbit guides some housed in the private collections of Tori Amos, The Cure's Robert Smith, and fantasy author Charles de Lint were not created using the quintessential brush, but from household items purchased at Target? In college, the Wisconsin-born and -bred artist painted large format canvases up to four by six feet using palette knives and a few large brushes. When she began showing in Milwaukee museums, the gallery owners told her everyone loved the work, but the pieces wouldn't fit in the area's small homes. Unable to dance around on the smaller format, the only answer was to downsize the tools; hence, the birth of the cotton swabs and paper towel method, which has created a more intimate exchange between Albinger and the canvas, while adding a unique scratchy/wispy/playful touch to her work. She uses the occasional brush for face detail and still visits the local art supply stores for oil paints but after a trip to Target, she's got cash in her pocket for the really high-quality oils.

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR, WEST VALLEY

Oggi's

A newer addition to the swanky section of 67th Avenue just south of the Loop 101, Oggi's features a tempting mix of homemade brews and grub as inviting as it is reasonably priced. The real plus: All the drinks and eats can be enjoyed while taking in any and every sporting event via the 21 huge TVs that pepper the main room. Much more than a stinky dive with a boob tube, Oggi's is classy, clean and boasts as great a staff as its menu. Many drinkers will gravitate toward Oggi's home-brewed Paradise Pale or the Sunset Amber Ale, which is a bit darker, and richer than the pale. We got stuffed on Oggi's personal-size pizza the Slam Dunk, like "hot wing pizza" complete with spicy wing sauce and spicy marinated chicken, was wicked good. Located right off the freeway, Oggi's is a great place to grab a quick drink after work, or plan a weekend visit to take advantage of its DirecTV's Sunday Ticket.

BEST LOCAL ARTIST WHOSE WORK HAS BEEN SOLD AT TARGET

Josh Wiley

Joshua Dean Wiley was already known locally for his serene, high-color landscapes and lively abstracts before busting out big with a national distribution deal that brought his bright, metallic-tinged paintings to department stores all over the U.S. The 34-year-old Iowa transplant's work can be found in Target, JC Penney, Bed Bath and Beyond, Linens 'n Things, and Mervyn's, although local art collectors still seek out his one-of-a-kind work, too. Good news: When he's not preparing a new line of mass-market prints for the unwashed masses, Wiley is still making gorgeous paintings and his giant Plexiglas hanging wall sculptures. Look for him at smart local galleries and at a Mervyn's near you.

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR, TEMPE

Doc and Eddy's

Tucked inconspicuously behind a Bank of America at the northeast corner of Rural and Baseline roads is this friendly neighborhood sports bar, where twenty- and thirtysomethings, college kids and working professionals, singles and couples, and sports fans and the happy hour crowd peacefully co-exist over cheap grub and tap beers. The main attraction is the huge outdoor misted patio, where large wooden tables that easily seat 15 people surround the trunks of olive trees, making friendly banter with new acquaintances the standard. Inside, you'll find several TVs, and a separate room with billiards tables, air hockey, Golden Tee, and Big Buck Hunter. You'd expect some greasy eats here, and the bar won't disappoint, with offerings including Doc's Fish Sandwich: fried white fish served on a kaiser roll. The bar was one of the first in these parts to pour pints of Kilt Lifter, and drink specials include a daily happy hour from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and $2 hour of power shots beginning each evening at 10. There's never a cover, and entertainment includes karaoke every Thursday, poker tournaments throughout the week, and acoustic music on the patio during the weekends.

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR, SCOTTSDALE

The Longshot Bar & Grill

Everything you could possibly want in a neighborhood watering hole can be found at this laid-back Scottsdale roadhouse: a rollickingly entertaining karaoke show every night of the week, a fully stocked bar and seven different beers on tap, wait staffers who eagerly provide service with a smile instead of serving up their surly disposition, amusements ranging from arcade games to pool tables, and even televisions in the restroom. That's right, thanks to a few strategically placed boob tubes inside the Longshot's toities, the need to hit the head after a few rounds with your friends will never again keep you from missing out on the big game. After you've finished flushing, mix and mingle with the diverse crowd of regulars who frequent the joint, cashing in on plenty of primo drink specials or a little conversation with their neighbors. Just don't forget to wash up before you start glad-handing anyone, pal.

BEST NEW GALLERY, LOCAL ART

Lords of Art Town Studio and Gallery

Censorship? Totally against it. Controversy? Bring it on. Sex? Well . . . they'll just leave the hard-core stuff to Phoenix's other alternative galleries. "I wouldn't want to exhibit anything that I would be ashamed to show my kids," says Lords of Art Town co-owner Gaea Bailey. Luckily for us, that's not much. The space used to be a recording studio in the historic Garfield Galleria, and the new residents have elected to keep many of the studio's unusual features: a glass divider, a bamboo-lined sound booth, and an entire room lined in egg-crate and felt padding. The result is an eclectic space ideal for exhibiting edgy, controversial works. It's also perfect for the Lords' other passion performance art. They can run video clips, host bands, and blast sound bites in the soundproofed spaces, and the neighbors won't hear a thing.

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR, SOUTHEAST VALLEY

Uncle Bear's Bar and Grill

From the hardwood floors covered in peanut shells to the outdoor patio, this friendly neighborhood bar immerses itself in a modern country-and-western feel. The Uncle Bear's moniker comes from the owner's pooch, and the pup's insignia is plastered on the walls and the menu donning a full offering of pasta dishes, gourmet pizzas, Tex-Mex fare, burgers, and sandwiches. We particularly enjoy getting our paws into a number of "Bear's Favorites," like the Cajun Belly Rub Burger smothered with homemade Cajun rub spice, chipotle mayo, diced onions, and jack cheese. Booze is a man's best friend with a bar serving up frosty microbrews and a number of tropical "doghouse drinks" be sure to try the Fire Dog concoction with Meyers Dark Rum and juices served on fire. Weekly entertainment includes Texas Hold 'Em poker tournaments on Tuesdays and Thursdays, free pool and shuffleboard on Sundays, and even a kids-eat-free special on Wednesday nights.

BEST NEW GALLERY, NATIONAL ART

Costello-Childs Contemporary Gallery

How do you separate your new gallery from all the other "upscale, contemporary art" galleries on Marshall Way? Simple. Don't put it in Scottsdale. Michael Costello and Daryl Childs chose wisely when they selected the historic Gold Spot in downtown Phoenix as the location for their new gallery. The building, constructed in the 1920s, has been completely restored to its original beauty, with a few modern additions namely, the polished concrete "faux tile" floors. It has all the charm of a vintage brownstone, while allowing Costello and Childs to set up a bright, airy, welcoming space to draw emerging and mid-career artists like painter Pat Berger, sculptor Kate Ritson, and photographer Richard D'Amore. Costello and Childs, who together bring more than half a century of experience to the table, have found their niche in featuring only national artists. The downside? Local artists need to look elsewhere for a new space to exhibit in. The bonus? If you've ever been out on a First Friday, we need say no more.

BEST ENGLISH PUB

The British Open Pub

If an English pub is well-lighted and smoke-free, be suspicious. No self-respecting Brit would be caught dead in a place like that, which is why owner Gregg Troilo created the British Open. It's clean enough to suit American tastes, but it's windowless and the ashtrays are always full. The wooden bar is as dark and stout as fine ale, and the walls are plastered with advertisements for Guinness and Newcastle. Looking around, it seems that the British love golf almost as much as they love tea. Images of golfers in plaid vests and knickers perch behind the bar, in photos and newspaper clippings, and the menu sports clever wordplay like "sandwedges" and "on the greens." We can't get enough of the home-style bangers and mash with brown gravy and the Guinness-infused pot pie, usually ordered with a black-and-tan chaser. You might be subjected to a bit of golf trivia, but this friendly bunch will overlook your Yankee roots if you know the difference between a nine-iron and a putter.

BEST GALLERY, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

Lisa Sette Gallery

Andrew Pielage
With all the talk about edgy Phoenix, we forget that some of the Valley's strongest art roots are, in fact, in Scottsdale and we're not talking howling coyotes here. Try those equally iconic gussied-up Weimaraners, since William Wegman is a longtime member of Lisa Sette's posse. Sette is one of the most elegant women in town, with a gallery to match whether with a recent group exhibition focusing on hair or the amazing show that celebrated her 20 years in Scottsdale. She challenges and tempts us, and we're grateful.

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