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Open since September 14, Postino South Tempe is the eighth location of the Arizona-based wine café. It takes over the former spot of Tempe Public Market Café, closed since January 2020, and a Circle K before that.
This is the second Postino in Tempe, but it feels more Tempe than the Annex location just north of Arizona State University. That's because its Midcentury modern design pays tribute to the Valley in various ways.
The hostess stand is an out-of-commission, 1960s-era cigarette machine used in Mad Men. Seriously. They got it at an estate sale. Elsewhere here, you'll find a lounge area complete with antiquarian lamps, books (racy and otherwise), and sofas fit for a Don Draper nap. The crown jewel? A dangling Murano glass chandelier. The hostess says on breezy days, it sounds like an oversize wind chime.
Intermixed with these elegant vintage items are trashy (in a good way) vintage items. A 300-square-foot collage on the north-facing wall is papered with show fliers, skateboard ads pulled from old Thrashers, Tempe concert posters, and more than can be depicted here. Restroom walls are packed with show fliers from The Mason Jar, Boston’s, Silver Dollar Club, and Madison Square Garden (the Phoenix one). Fliers announce decades-old shows for JFA to Bikini Kill, Meat Puppets to Black Flag and The Circle Jerks.
And this being Postino, there are, of course, racks of colorful wine bottles, an always-chill playlist, and a garden patio. Modern amenities, too, like contactless mobile payment, right-in-front curbside pickup parking, and plenty of signage to direct patrons to the takeout area. Delivery is also available, as is dine-in at reduced capacity.
Postino South Tempe is open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch starting at 11 a.m. daily. -
Much like her Scottsdale bakery, Jenna Leurquin's new Phoenix cafe delights.
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We are lucky to have a place like Cruisin’ 7th Show Bar & Lounge in Phoenix.
It’s open 20 out of the 24 hours in a day — closes at 2 a.m. and opens back up at 6 a.m., making it one of several bars in town where you can imbibe that early — and it's dark, and its drink specials are great ($3 bloody marys until noon every morning; all day $5 cocktails). A gay and drag bar, Cruisin' 7th used to be called Cruisin’ Central. It opened in 1977 in a little gift-box-looking bar just north of Roosevelt Street and Central Avenue (the location is still unoccupied). The bar moved to its current spot in 2003.
Husband-and-wife owners Lynn and Mike McGarry, a few veteran bartenders, and the house DJ recently took advantage of the COVID-19 shutdown to completely remodel the entire bar, inside and out. Masks are currently required inside, but that shouldn't stop you from checking out the completely revamped lounge and patio area.
The real accomplishment is the all-new showroom, though. There's a more open floor plan, new VIP seating, redesigned bar area, and brand-new platform for longtime Cruisin’ performers like Lady Christian and Espressa Grande. This'll allow them to make more of an entrance.
“Since we’ve been closed over the past three months, we have touched on every single surface of this building ... and outside,” says Mike of the remodel, seated six feet away in the sparkling new showroom.
For now, Cruisin’ 7th remains open for those long hours, but is not hosting any drag shows, bar games, club nights, or special events. When it can, though, the whole bar will be plenty prepared. Have a look for yourself. -
H Mart opened its first Arizona location on Thursday, June 11.
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H Mart, the Asian supermarket chain from New Jersey opened its first Arizona store in Mesa on Thursday, June 11, just across the street from Mekong Plaza in the Mesa Asian District.
The Mesa location is the newest addition to the H Mart company, which has more than 97 stores around the nation.
Here are some shots from out first visit. -
The former home of Circles Records & Tapes in downtown Phoenix has become the latest location for Snooze: An A.M. Eatery, the chain of breakfast and brunch spots. The property, which is situated at Central Avenue and McKinley Street on the ground floor of The Stewart apartment building, has one or two remnants of its former life, including a record-shaped display on the ceiling.
Here's a look inside of the spot, which opened in late December, as well as some of its signature dishes and drinks.
