Desert Oasis

The Chandler Ostrich Festival celebrates it's 21st anniversary this year. This is a 3 day extravaganza that offers something for everyone!
More food than you can shake a stick at, carnival rides, live bands, ostrich, pig and camel races, a petting zoo, you name it!

We went on a Saturday afternoon and had a great time. March is wonderful time of year in Arizona...the temperature is around 80 degrees and there are nice breezes to help cool you off.

There are beer tents all over the grounds for those adult patrons, as well as frozen lemonade, ostrich burgers, indian fry bread, hot dogs, pizza, fish, beef jerky, ice cream...it's all here!
There are live bands in the evenings..this year Foghat and Starship played.

The Annual Ostrich Festival is held in honor of the tradition of Ostrich Ranching in Chandler. Ostrich ranching was huge back in the day, mainly for they're expensive plumes. Over 300 volunteers help put this event on, and the place is packed everyday.

It's great for kids of all ages and there are vendors hawking everything from ostrich meat, to martial arts, to massages, to real estate.

There is a HUGE stage that hosts the big bands, and a smaller one that has local comedians and dance troupes throughout the day.

There is no indoor plumbing here, only groups of porta potties. There are hand washing stations by the bathrooms and hand sanitizer in each porta-pottie.

The park is wheelchair friendly, as are the restrooms. Some of the paths are paved, others are gravel.

If you happen to be in town during the festival, you should head ob over...it was a lot of fun and we ATE ALL DAY!

Flancer’s Café in Gilbert is a great little neighborhood place that serves WONDERFUL food and has great prices!
We’ve only been eating here for about 3 years, but I’m always thinking about the next time we can come, even before I’m done eating.

Jeff Flancer, the owner lived in Santa Fe NM for a few years and fell in love with one of my favorite things in the world…..green chile.

A lot of his sandwiches incorporate green chile, which makes for a yummy outcome!

Lets start with the green chile and mushroom phyllos. This is one of my favorite appetizers here. (I say ONE of my faves because it’s impossible to choose just 1 fave) Cream cheese, green chile and shrooms wrapped in phyllo dough and baked till golden brown. All I can say is, WOW! If you ask for a side of balsamic dressing and barely dip the phyllo in it…it’s even better…if that’s even possible! These suckers are HOT when they arrive at your table. So don’t take too big of a bite at first.

The soup special the last time we were there was a green chile chicken noodle and was OUT OF THIS WORLD! This is what you need when you have the cocktail flu...AKA a hangover.

My other favorite app is the goat cheese bruschetta. Warm, breaded goat cheese with chunks of marinated roma tomatoes on top of toasted French bread and drizzled with balsamic vinegar. TO DIE FOR!!!!!

You can’t go wrong with anything on this menu.

Now the sandwiches are the real draw here. Flancer’s bakes their own bread daily and it’s obvious….now store bought rolls here!

My favorite sandwich is called the ‘Perfect Prickly Pear’ and it’s a chicken breast baked in prickly pear glaze, topped with melted provolone, lettuce, tomato and mayo on one of their wonderful rolls, but you HAVE to try it with the green chile mayonnaise. It adds just the right kick and flavor to it.
Prickly pear may sound strange, but if you try it, I guarantee you’ll be thinking about it for days afterward.
A word to the wise…..the chicken is pink when it comes to your table because of the prickly pear, but it’s cooked all the way thru…trust me.

Speaking of prickly pear…they have a yummy drink called the Flancerita. It’s a margarita with a splash of prickly pear. And it’s PINK! Sooo yummy!

Another fave is the ‘Chile verde birdie’ sandwich. Turkey breast right from the bone with provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato and that green chile mayonnaise. Try it with bacon and avocado for an extra kick of flavor!

The Philly Cheesesteak is yummy as well as a sandwich called, ‘We must meat, I ain’t lion’. It’s sliced filet mignon with gorgonzola cheese, chipotle mayo, carmelized onions and finished off with lettuce and tomato. I gotta tell ya…this is no joke of a sandwich….it’s heaven!

The sandwiches are ala carte, but you can get a ½ sandwich with soup or a salad if you like.

Flancer’s serves salads, calzones, burgers, pastas and pizza but sadly, I have never been able to try any of those things cuz I keep getting the same thing…I’m a creature of habit and comfort. Although maybe next time I’ll try this pizza that sounds SO good. It’s called ‘Goat to get you into my life’ and it’s a pizza with no red sauce, goat cheese, basil pesto, roasted red bell peppers, chicken, red onion, fresh basil and garlic marinated roma tomatoes. Doesn’t that sound delish?

Ok…as soon as I’m done writing this…I’m going there!

The atmosphere is nice…they play old rock and roll, but softly, so you can hear yourself think. I have not been to the new location yet, but the original one is a small place with maybe 10 tables inside and a nice patio with maybe 8 more tables.

They do have happy hour M-F from 3-5pm. $1.00 off alcoholic beverages and ½ price appetizers as long as you order an alcoholic beverage.

I know it’s off the beaten path for tourists, but if you get a chance to get out to Gilbert or East Mesa…..try this place. It’s great!
Hours of operation are 7 days a week from 1030am to 9pm at both locations.

Go to flancers.com for more info.

On December 27, 2008, Phoenix finally caught up with the rest of the world and added a light rail system. The route is small as of now...but hopefully it will go all over the city in the near future.

Compared to Brussels or Vienna or even NYC, the rail system isn't as accessible, but it's pretty nice. It's above ground and goes from East Mesa, to central Phoenix...about 20 miles in all.

We were allowed to ride for free for the first few days, so we did, to get the experience in and see what it looks and feels like. It's excellent for hubby and I to take to the airport because we live about 30 miles from the airport and we can avoid the high parking fees there.

As of 2008/2009, the route goes from Christown Mall on Bethany Home and 19th ave in Phoenix, to Tri-City Pavilions at Sycamore and Main St in Mesa. There are 28 stops along the way, including downtown Phoenix, Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, ASU, Mill Ave in Tempe, Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, and Mesa.

The stations are clean and outdoors which may be hard to deal with in the summer, but the train comes every 15 minutes, so maybe not too bad.

We boarded at the station in Mesa and went West, to the airport which is the Washington and 44th st stop. The ride took about 20 minutes and was smooth.
Once you get off the train for the airport stop, you'll have to cross the street and then take a shuttle bus to the terminals, which is free of charge. That shuttle will take about 5 minutes, depending on what terminal you need.
There will eventually be a train to take you directly to the terminals, but that's a couple years way still.

The cars are wheelchair accessible and there are racks for bicycles. The stations are announced verbally as you are arriving as well as on a digital reader board overhead in each car. There is also a routemap over the doors.
No bathrooms at the stations or on board, just an FYI. I didn't see any vending machines at the stations either, so if you need to have something to drink, have it with you.
There are seats as well as bars to hold on overhead, but I'm 5'2" and I could barely reach the overhead bar.

You can purchase single ride tickets, all day passes, as well as passes for, 3days, 7days or 31days. The passes are good for the bus system as well. There are machines to purchase passes at all stations. You can also get passes on the bus or online at the website below.
The train operates on a proof-of-payment system, meaning you must have a ticket to ride. Inspectors will ask people at random to see their ticket. If you don't have one, you may be fined from $50 to $500. A single ride is only $1.25, so don't risk it.
If you DO have a pass, you simply wave it over the orange validator target on the pass machine at the station before you board.

Hours of operation are M-F 4:40am to 11pm.
Weekends and holidays 5am to 11pm
Between 6am and 7pm, trains run every 15minutes, other hours, they run every 20minutes.

If you would like to see the map, click on the link below. You can also get info on the bus system and buy passes on that website.

www.valleymetro.org/metro_light_rail/downloads/maps/

If you love real Italian, then Pasta Brioni is for you. Nestled in a nondescript strip mall right off Camelback Road, this place is like a hometown restaurant. The food is incredible, and the waiters... they're even MORE incredible! Pasta Brioni is known for the guys that work there, called "the Brioni Boys," but once you try anything off the menu, you'll come back for the food. They have a cold artichoke appetizer that's out of this world, and the spinach dumplings are to die for. While the desserts aren't made fresh there, they're awfully good. My friends and I try to eat there at least once a month. You should give it a try. You won't be disappointed.

I've been eating here for about 9 years, and it's by far the best Indian food in Phoenix. They just opened a huge, new two-story building across the street from the original location. It's a lot bigger and nicer in the new building. They have a lunch buffet 7 days a week from 11am til 4pm for $7.95. This all-you-can-eat buffet is great for first-timers because of the selection of different foods. There are always a couple of vegetarian dishes, as well as meat dishes. You can also order off the regular menu if you don't see what you want on the buffet. The buffet comes with naan, which is an Indian flatbread. Ask for the garlic naan--it's much tastier, and they won't charge you extra for it.

The family that owns it is very friendly and always recognize regulars, even if it's been a while since they were last there. I'm working on getting some pictures.

Carolinas is, in one word, a dive. But they've got the best Mexican food around! This gem is just around the corner from Bank One Ballpark (now known as Chase Field), and the reviews for this place are always top-notch! They make fresh tortillas, bigger than your head and the homemade salsa is to die for!

 

Nothing is made until you order it, hence the long lines at the lunch hour. Enter on a weekday around lunchtime and the place is packed with firemen, Police, Military guys, construction workers and airport employees, and for good reason. Nothing on the menu is over 6 bucks. I get the #9 which is 2 shredded beef tacos with rice and beans. $4.35 . You can’t beat that. I like the shredded beef inside the tacos...it's seasoned perfectly and has a slight garlicky taste. The shells aren't the Taco Bell kind...the hard, premade corn ones. These are corn tortillas, filled with the meat then deep fried. This makes them really crispy and tasty. It's the way I make my shells at home when I make tacos. YUMMY! The chimichangas are wonderful and the machaca plate is fabulous! I don’t think there’s a bad dish on the menu. They make their own guacamole and they have menudo on Saturdays. They even make their own tortilla chips. A large side of chips and salsa is a measly $1.29. A chicken chimi with sour cream and guac is $5.25.

You can either call your order in and pick it up at the takeout window or eat in. Like I said, the place is a dive, but people don’t flock here for the décor. They do have breakfast, but I’ve never had any.

Their website is www.carolinasmex.com. Read the reviews for yourself.

So if you find yourself hungry before or after the game, take a short drive to the barrio and have a great meal for not alotta cash!

The original location is 3 blocks from Chase Field, on Mohave Rd and 12th st. There is another location up North on Cactus Rd. , for those of you up in that part of the Valley.

Mon.-Fri. 7:00AM-7:30PM
Saturday 7:00AM-6:00PM
They’re closed on Sundays.

If you've never had Ethiopian food, this is the place to have it. They consitently get awards for best Ethiopian and Ethnic restaurant. Lalibela serves vegan, vegetarian, and meat dishes. I always get the exclusive platter. It has a little bit of everything on it. Chicken, beef, lamb, salad, collard greens, chickpeas, cabbage, peas--it has it all. Injera is the bread they eat and use as their fork. It's a spongy, sourdough type of cold bread. They serve a tea called Tossign, which is a spicy herbal tea. Ethiopian is kind of like Indian--some of the items can be a bit spicy. If you talk to your server, he will be more than happy to walk you through the menu and help you order.
Ethiopian is one of my favorite types of food, and Lalibela does it right.

If you like barbeque, El Paso Barbeque Company is a not-to-be-missed restaurant to visit. All meats are smoked over pecan wood on the premises. They consistently win awards for the best barbecue, and the long wait on a weekend night proves it. They have baby-back ribs, chicken, sausage, St. Louis-style ribs, beef ribs, turkey, and pulled pork, and even the prime rib is smoked, something meat fans HAVE to try.

They also have the BEST baby-back ribs I've ever had. They slow smoke them and brush a honey glaze on before they go on the plate. They’re sweet and juicy. I haven’t found better ribs yet.

The smoked salmon dinner is a wonderful, light meal, served with a side of citrus barbeque sauce that has a taste all its own. The side orders are not to be missed: cowboy beans, which are pinto beans and brisket meat, cooked in Texas sauce. They are so good. There’s homemade creamed corn made with real cream and sugar - it's one of my favorites. The jalapeno cornbread served with homemade honey butter is a huge hit with everyone who ever tries it. Then there are the REAL mashed potatoes with the skins on - it's a damn shame you only get to choose two with your meal. And the 100% pure Angus beef burgers and choice cut steaks grilled to your liking makes the menu complete.

Don’t get too full. The dessert menu only has a couple items, but they’re GOOD. The homemade apple walnut cobbler topped with dulce de leche ice cream and caramel is big enough to share, but you won’t want to. Mud pie is a coffee ice cream with almonds in an Oreo cookie crust, the perfect after-dinner snack.

I was never a huge barbeque fan until I stared eating here about 6 years ago. Now I can’t stop. Try it and you’ll love it.

I tried to have lunch here yesterday, but I couldn't get any service. We were greeted at the front by the manager, who asked whether we wanted outside, inside, or bar seating. My husband is a smoker, so we went to the bar area. We sat at a table, not at the bar, and continued to be ignored for about 10 minutes by the bartender. At one point, the same manager that greeted us a few minutes earlier called over to the bartender to go out front and help her with something. We waited. About 5 minutes later, the bartender came back and still ignored us... even though we were both staring at her. We left. We walked right by the same manager, and even she didn't acknowledge us--not even to say goodbye. We will never go there again.

I LOVE Kyoto. I've been eating here for 10 years. This restaurant is an institution. It's been around for over 15 years--one of the few originals left in Scottsdale. Teppanyaki at its best. Kyoto is a very small place, with eight teppan tabels, a small sushi bar, and tiny lounge, but it's ALWAYS packed. I have never had a bad meal here. I just spent my birthday there this weekend with 10 of my closest girlfriends. My meat is always cooked to perfection, and my sushi is always fresh and great-tasting. Where else can you get a big bottle of Kirin beer and saki for $4?

I highly recommend dinner here. Reservations should be made early, because on Friday and Saturday night, the wait can be long if you don't have a reservation.

Fogo E Brasa is Brazilian for fire and smoke. Let me tell you--this restaurant is not for vegetarians. It's meat, meat, and more meat here. This is all you can eat, and once you taste the slow-roasted meats, you won't be able to STOP eating.

The meal begins with a divet that is red on one end and green on the other and is used to tell the meat slicers when you're ready to eat.

The salad bar has over 30 items on it: couple of hot dishes--usually fish--Brazilian potato salad, chicken salad, egg salad, octopus, shrimp, ceviche... it's all here.

Turn your divet to green, and here come the skewered meats, one by one, sliced right at your table. There's chicken and sausage first, then ham, then beef, then lamb. As long as the divet is on green, they will continue to bring you meat. When you're ready to rest, turn the divet to red, and the slicers will leave you alone. You can seriously sit here for hours. Every piece of meat that I had was incredible. No steak sauce needed here--it was all juicy and very flavorful. They also put side dishes on your table, which include garlic rice, beans, and my personal favorite, fried bananas. There's a sweet, hot salsa that goes great with the bananas.

Save room for dessert: coconut flan, chocolate mousse, tiramisu, chocolate cake... YUM! Don't forget the traditional Brazilian drink, the Caipirhina. I love this place and bring my out-of-town guests here all the time. It's definitely an experience. Come hungry.

They have a website: www.fogoebrasa.com.

Kona Grill is the place to be seen. Not only is it a great place to hang out, but the food is amazing. Fresh sushi awaits you at the sushi bar. In the dining room, entrées like macadamia nut chicken and chili-glazed salmon will have your taste buds wanting more. I love the seared ahi salad and the big island meatloaf. The interior is eclectic, as is the menu. They have two locations in Phoenix, at Scottsdale Fashion Square and at Chandler Fashion Mall. It’s a great place to stop in while shopping and have a bite to eat. They have a great happy hour with $3 margaritas and half-price appetizers.

Dine where the locals do for a fabulous breakfast or lunch. Dining at The Good Egg is like eating at grandma’s house. The harvest-yellow walls seduce and the pastel impressionistic art sooths. It puts people in a relaxed country state of mind. A pitcher of lemon water waits on every table. It is absolutely one of my favorite places for breakfast.

There are 10 locations throughout the Phoenix area and 4 in Tucson. The Good Egg is a great place with a huge menu that includes low-fat and low-carb options. They also feature skillet meals; benedicts; "Crepeggs" (combining omelettes with crepes); a dozen different omelets; pancakes; blintzes, French toast; yogurt smoothies; HUGE, homemade cinnamon rolls; Southwestern options; sandwiches; and salads.

My favorite dish is the Harvest Benedict, with smoked turkey with avocado and tomatoes on an English muffin topped with poached eggs and hollandaise sauce. YUM! Other great items include the Greek Frittata, with sautéed mushrooms, spinach, red onion, red bell peppers, chicken under melted parmesan, asiago, and provolone, and topped with feta, kalamta olives, and marinated tomatoes. And the Hey Ricky omelette is stuffed with green chili, chorizo sausage, and guacamole and topped with cheese, with a side of sour cream and salsa. It’s VERY tasty.

They also serve fresh squeezed OJ and grapefruit juice, which is a HUGE deal to me. The lunch menu has some interesting options as well. Try the strawberry fields salad with organic field greens tossed in a non-fat raspberry vinaigrette and topped with diced bacon, honey smoked turkey, dried cranberries, sliced strawberries, feta cheese, red onion, and pecans. OH MY GOD, it’s SO good!

Be warned that on the weekends, there is always a line to get in. During the week, the place is full of people, from construction workers to business suit-clad diners to college students.

There’s a reason why this is a valley favorite. The Good Egg was voted "Best Breakfast" by the Arizona Republic, Phoenix New Times, and Zagat Survey of Restaurants in the Southwest.

Hours are 7 days a week from 6:30am to 2:30pm. You can Google the name for the various locations.

The Keg Steakhouse is a Canadian-based restaurant chain. They have stateside locations in Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, Texas, and Washington. Considered a step down from Ruth’s Chris, The Keg has a variety of different cuts of of steaks, chicken, ribs, salads, and seafood. They have an extensive appetizer menu with choices like calamari and baked goat cheese. My favorite is the old standard, French onion soup. I love it here. They use a sourdough crouton and Swiss and Parmesan cheeses. SO sweet and cheesy. Fresh, hot bread is also served at every table.

Steak cuts include, sirloin, prime rib, filet mignon, New York, and rib steak. Meat temperatures range from blue rare which is cool, blue throughout, to Chicago style which is charred on the outside and cooked to order, inside.

Like Ruth’s Chris, The Keg also offers several side dishes for an extra cost. The cauliflower au gratin is not to be missed. Creamy and cheesy, this is my favorite of the sides. They also offer steamed asparagus, portabella and button mushrooms, garlic mashed potatoes, creamed spinach and a couple others. The interior is classic steakhouse: rich, mahogany wood, white table cloths, fireplaces and soft lighting.

Unfortunately, I've never had a great steak here. Only mediocre. The soup is good and the sides are good, but the meat just isn't very tasty. I've given it 3 tries, and it's always the same outcome. A bland meal. It's a bummer because I had high hopes for the place. on a positive note, they do have an extensive list of martinis and those are good as well.

I love this small restaurant. The owner, Justina always has something to talk about and is honest when you ask her about the menu items.

 

If you've never had Vietnamese food, this is the place to try it. The menu has a lot of variety and nothing is over $12. Justina is the owner and the only server in this 10 table restaurant.

 

My favorite appetizer is beef carpaccio. Aside from the beef carpaccio I had in Paris, this stuff is out of this world. It's paper-thin sliced raw beef, swimming in a sauce of lime and mint, which was SO good, I almost ordered 2 more plates for my meal. It comes with sesame crackers that look like twisted bread with black seeds in it. You put the meat on the cracker and add some chili sauce, and voila--you have a tasty treat. The mint and the lime compliment each other so well, neither one overpowers the other. The menu says it comes with pineapple, but I didn't see or taste any, but that's okay--it was perfect. In my opinion, this is the best thing on the menu.

 My other favorite appetizer is the pepper shrimp, which is shrimp in a spicy pepper sauce and served with grilled bread. VERY TASTY. Entrees range from chicken to beef to seafood. The lemongrass chicken is a favorite as well as the crispy rice noodles with beef, scallops and shrimp. The Vietnamese soup bowls are HUGE and 3 or 4 people can share one. Again, the bowl is only $9, and each person who shares is $2. The best soup is the seafood noodle soup that has shrimp, crab and scallops and rice noodles. Served with the soups are Vietnamese condiments consisting of herbs, lime, chili, and sprouts that you add to your liking.

To drink, try the Thai iced tea, which is Thai tea topped with cream. It's so tasty and sweet, you won't have to add any sugar at all. If you've never had a Thai iced tea, give it a try.

 

There is a small dessert menu consisting of jasmine crème brûlée, rice pudding with mango, and a cake option. The jasmine crème brûlée is my favorite. Sweet and creamy, it's a can't-miss.

 

The second best part of the meal is the Vietnamese coffee. Starbucks has nothing' on this caffeine-laden drink. You get a small glass the size of a rocks glass, with condensed milk in the bottom. On top is a mini-coffee filter filled with coffee that drips into the glass below and is then served over ice. No need for sugar--the condensed milk is sweet enough, and the caffeine will keep you going all day long. SO GOOD.

 Justina told me that her boyfriend told her he can never leave her because she makes him Vietnamese coffee, and he's addicted to it--he doesn't know how to make it. Too funny.

If you like Mediterranean food, Romeo’s Euro Café is the perfect place for you. Located in Old Town Gilbert’s Heritage Square, Euro Café is a small restaurant, maybe 10 tables, but it has a HUGE menu. They have at least 30 appetizers, 15 salads, and a plethora of chicken, seafood, pasta and eggplant dishes, pizzas, sandwiches, burgers, and pitas, not to mention the many desserts that are on display as you walk in the front door. YUM!

One of my favorite dishes is the gyro platter. It’s huge plate filled with gyro meat, tomatoes, red onions, pita triangles, kalamata olives, a chunk of feta cheese, and the best yogurt sauce this side of Greece. The meat is so tasty and not dry, like you sometimes find at gyro stands.

My favorite appetizer is a toss-up between the blue tomatoes or the asparagus puffs. The blue tomatoes are sliced tomatoes covered in blue cheese and baked. It’s served with a baguette and is REALLY cheesy and tangy.

The asparagus puffs are puff pastry filled with asparagus, almonds, garlic, and Swiss and ricotta cheeses, then baked and served with a side of ranch dressing. Doesn't that just SOUND good? It is... let me tell you.

Dessert is a specialty at Euro Café. The pastry chef Cynthia Selby (a.k.a. The Chocolate Goddess) is a wonder at making sweet concoctions. With dessert names like Intoxicated Love, Satin Explosion, and The Sarah Bernhardt truffle, you’re sure to find something to curb your sweet tooth. They also offer other sweets like brownies, cookies, cheesecake, and, of course, baklava.

They also have a wide range of coffee drinks and a small gift shop on the premises, as well as a small wine shop. Romeo, the owner, is always there, wandering around asking everyone how their meal is.

So, if you ever find yourself shopping in Old Town Gilbert and want to try something different, you should stop in. The food is great and Romeo is a fun guy to talk to. They also serve beer and wine.

Ever have dinner somewhere you never expected to eat and absolutely LOVE IT? That happened to me recently, when I went to a small Italian place called Tutti Santi. Little did I know that Tutti Santi is on Zagat’s list of America’s 100 top restaurants, and I can see why. With a diverse menu including veal, chicken, and pasta dishes, this place is a real gem.

I visited the Mesa location and was greeted with dark woods, soft lighting, and white tablecloths to set the mood.

The menu isn’t your "typical" Italian dishes, like spaghetti and ravioli. Nina Vincenti, the chef, has created dishes that offer many different types of sauces and flavors.

To start off, bread baskets are brought over with focaccia-type bread, and on the side are dishes of garlic herb butter. I could eat just that for my meal; it’s so good. The bread is crispy and slightly salty on the outside and tender inside. It pairs perfectly with the garlic butter. Heck, I could slather that butter on my foot and eat it.

The appetizers menu only has a few items, but you don’t really need to fill up before your dinner comes. I like the escargot in spinach garlic butter. Snails served with spinach and hot garlic butter with lemon slices is all you need to get the evening off to a great start. The calamari fritti is also a fave. The calamari is lightly breaded and deep-fried, but never greasy. A light marinara sauce served on the side makes it perfect for before dinner.

Dinner is something very special here. Great care has been taken to prepare your meal, and it shows. The best dish on the menu, in my opinion, is the chicken fiorentina with penne panna rosa. This is a chicken breast topped with spinach and mozzarella cheese, sautéed in a creamy cognac sauce, and served with a side of penne pasta with your choice of sauce. Let me tell you, this dish is incredible. The sauce was so good, I HAD to sop it up with my bread. I couldn’t let any go to waste. The gnocchi was outstanding as well. You get small potato dumplings in your choice of sauce. The waiter suggested the signature sauce, which is a base of cream sauce with a light tomato sauce on top. He couldn’t have been more on the money. The dumplings were tender and the sauce was creamy and slightly sweet. Other signature dishes are penne della casa, which is penne pasta with artichoke hearts, mushrooms, escarole, and sun-dried tomatoes sautéed in garlic and olive oil and topped with Romano cheese. Man, this place is good.

Dessert is also a treat. I had what they call cappuccino crunch, which is coffee and vanilla gelato in an Oreo cookie crust topped with white and milk chocolate. YUM! I tell ya, I was planning my next visit before dinner was even over.

When driving from Phoenix to Las Vegas, or vice-versa, you have to pass through a little town called Wikieup, Arizona. It’s between Kingman and Wickenburg on Highway 93, and there’s not much here but a gas station, a motel, and the Wikieup Trading Post.

The trading post is a small gift shop carrying Southwest art, jewelry, and trinkets, but the real gem here is the pie. Your own personal hot apple, peach, or cherry pie, topped with vanilla ice cream, served in your own ceramic deep dish! "It don’t get no better than this," for lack of a better phrase. It doesn’t matter how full I am when I get here, I HAVE to stop and get pie. (I always use the excuse that I need to go to the bathroom.) This is the best pie in the world. And to think, you get it at some tiny, little out-of-the-way place.

As I’m sure you can imagine, this is no Ritz, but who cares? When they pump out the world's best pie, it doesn’t matter if it’s served IN the bathroom. These pies are made fresh daily and the top crust is sweet and crunchy! It really is to die for. If we’re running behind schedule, I get it to-go, but I never pass through here without getting one. I’ve only had the apple and the peach, as I’m not a huge cherry fan, but both are wonderful!

The restaurant does serve other food besides pie, but I’ve only had breakfast, once. It was pretty decent, but the pie is the real reason we stop here. So next time you pass through, make it a point to stop and say hello. Did I mention the pie?

Oh yeah, the bathrooms are $0.25 for non-customers of the restaurant, just an FYI.

Joe’s real BBQ has quite a name around here. They’re known for their homemade root beer, pecan smoked meats and homemade sides and homemade BBQ sauces. People around here LOVE this place. I, on the other hand, think it’s just OK. I’ve been really spoiled by eating El Paso BBQ (see my review), and to me... Joe’s gives little competition.

The prices at Joe's are great. You can get a three meat plate with two sides and bread for $10.50! That’s a smokin’ deal (no pun intended)! On this visit, I had a two meat plate with ribs and ham and my two sides were homemade coleslaw and mac and cheese and hand-squeezed lemonade, all for under $12! The ham was wonderful…something El Paso doesn’t offer, but the ribs were bland and fatty. The coleslaw was good, but I thought the mac and cheese wasn’t cheesy enough. It too, was bland. The lemonade was great, though. I really thought the homemade sauces were good. They offer a mild one and a spicy one. Of course I liked the spicy one. You can pour your own sauce at the sauce station. The meats they offer are beef brisket, pulled pork, ham, hot links, pork ribs, chicken, and turkey. There homemade sides are, apple sauce, potato chips, coleslaw, potato salad, mac and cheese, corn, BBQ pit beans, and cheesy potatoes.

The atmosphere at Joe’s in kind of 1960s country house. Big, long booths line the walls and big tables and chairs fill the middle of the floor. This is definitely a place for large families to gather. Outside is a covered patio with picnic tables and the ‘back yard’ has more tables. The food is served cafeteria style, where you get your tray and silverware, grab your own drink, then order your food from the buffet line, where the server plates it and hands it to you. You then pay for it all at the cash register before you sit down.

They must be doing something right because I see lines here on the weekends, so people like it. I’d eat here again because of the prices and the proximity to my house. It’s not the best BBQ I’ve ever had, but it’s good. They have several dessert choices, none of which I’ve had.

So if you’re wandering around old town Gilbert, stop in at Joe’s. You can’t miss the sign. They also offer take-out if you don’t want to eat in. Joe’s is on Gilbert Rd, just south of Eliott.

www.joesrealbbq.com

They also have the only 25¢ cup of coffee in town.

I’m a sandwich kind of girl, and I have found my Heaven! Lee’s Sandwiches is a mammoth of a place serving Asian and European sandwiches on fresh made baguettes. Yes, they make their own baguettes and they are great! The best part is the price... you can have a full 10-inch fresh sandwich made for under $4 bucks! A full 10 INCHES! I tell you, I don’t know how they do it, but I sure am glad they DO!

The proper term for the sandwiches here is, ‘Euro Asian’ and for good reason. They have some great Asian type meats on the fresh made bread that will knock your socks off!

 

Upon entering this place, which I initially thought was a tiny deli, but was surprised to see a HUGE shop, you’re greeted by the aroma of bread baking. That in itself is a reason to eat here... just the smell. Lee’s has a very large menu of almost any kind of sandwich you could want, and they make it right there. Did I mention the bread? The bread here isn’t like Subway bread... all bready and thick. The baguettes are thin and crispy on the outside, tender and chewy on the inside. You can buy a fresh made one to take home for a buck.

 

The menu is a little overwhelming at first, so I suggest getting a paper one by the order station and studying it. This place moves pretty fast, so standing around, looking up at the menu is not the best idea. Plus, the paper menu is easier to read. Okay... so I suppose you want to know what my favorite thing is, right? My fave sandwich is the #6. The Chinese BBQ pork sandwich. It’s loaded with Chinese BBQ pork, pickled daikon and carrot, onion, cilantro, jalapeno, mayonnaise, and soy sauce. Sounds crazy, but it’s so good! The cilantro and jalapenos go together and give it a zing, and the mayo/soy sauce mix is fabulous. For $2.55, you can afford to try one and throw it away if you don’t like it, but you’ll like it! PROMISE! You read it right... $2.55 for a 10inch sandwich. You can get extra meat for 75 cents! What a steal!
I recently tried the #1 which consists of...get this....Ham, headcheese and pate. Now I'm not a heacheese kind of girl, but this was really amazing.

Lee’s offers an array of drinks including fresh smoothies, fresh squeezed juices, Vietnamese coffee and Thai iced tea. Appetizers like egg rolls, hot wings, and even homemade ice-cream.

Another specialty of Lee’s is a dessert called Delimanjoo cake. They of course make them fresh and they’re like mini, hot Twinkies. They’re SO good. About as big as your thumb, for a buck you can get 4 of them to try. This is my favorite place for an inexpensive, awesome meal. The only thing is, it’s not in the Phoenix metro area, it’s out in Chandler. But worth the drive!

You can view a smidgen of their menu at www.leesandwiches.com. There are several locations in California, but only one in AZ.

A word to the wise...they don't take credit cards. There is an ATM inside if you need it.

Climb up the back side of Camelback Mountain to its 'hump'. This is a great place to hike, but there are some difficult areas. Much of it after the first half-mile gets very steep and rocky. Don't try this if you're a beginner--getting down is much harder than going up.

There's a water fountain at the bottom but no facilities on the trail. Once at the top, you have a great view of Phoenix and the surrounding vegetation. The hike takes about 2 to 3 hours, depending on your level of expertise and the other hikers in front of you. Parking is very limited, and on weekends, you may have to wait a while to park. Between the months of October and April, anytime is a good time, but in the summer months, don't try it after 6 or 7 am--it's too hot outside.

HAZAH! Step back in time to the Renaissance period. This 30-acre village is open from the first weekend in February through the last weekend in March every year. Plenty of food, drinks, shops, shows, and costumed workers keep the period alive. Spend the day holding court with King Arthur and watch the several jousting events to see who wins the princess's hand. There's a dungeon museum, pubs, food at every corner, shops selling clothes, candles, jewelry, incense, ceramics costume rentals, and more. There are 12 stages with shows including The Ded Bob Show, The Tortuga Twins, The Singing Executioners, The Wyld Men, a rock wall, sword-swallowing show, and a birds-of-prey show. Don't be surprised if a tree walks up to you... because there's a guy on stilts dressed as a tree. It's very creepy. One minute, he's not there, and the next, he is.

There are modern bathrooms with flushing toilets and running water, as well as a petting zoo for the kids. You can even get married here.

The festival is open from 10am to 6pm on the weekends and Presidents Day. The cost is about $15 for adults and $5 for children. This is an all-day event if you want to see it all.

Martini Ranch is a two-level club with two different ambiences. Downstairs, there's a stage for a band and three bars, and upstairs there's one bar and deep, dark, candlelit tables with curtains that you can close, where they spin house music. Of course, they have an extensive martini menu. Last time I visited, I had a mango madness one. It was really yummy.

Martini Ranch is very much a "Scottsdale" club, meaning the beautiful and pretentious gather here. If you can look past all the plastic, this place is a lot of fun.

This is the perfect place to take the kids and cool off in the Valley of the Sun during the hottest months of the year. You could spend the entire day here because there’s SO much to do. This park has a number of waterslides, tube rides, miniature golf, mini Indy cars, bumper boats, laser tag, and much more.

The Sunsplash side is a great way to cool off in the 110°F Arizona sun. There are five inner-tube waterslides to get you wet. Try the two blackout tubes, The Tornado or The Hurricane. SCARY! There are two bonzai speed slides, which thrust you down at over 25 miles per hour into an awaiting lagoon. The Thunderbay wave pool is a 450,000-gallon rolling wave-maker to surf on. There’s an 800-foot endless river to float down and a kiddie play area for the little ones. The Master Blaster sends you flying both uphill and downhill by shooting strong jets of water at your inner tube.

There are also locker facilities (bring a safety pin so you don't lose your key), a food court, and plenty of restrooms.

On the Golfland side, there are three different miniature 18-hole golf courses, a bumper-boat lagoon, three 250-foot-long Dragon Tail body slides requiring no inner tube, The Fastcar Raceway, and King Bens Playland, which has over 200 video games and a pizza parlor. Its feature attraction, The Fastcar Races, allows you to challenge a partner while winding around the made-up streets. The entire park has a King Arthur theme throughout the grounds and attractions. Try your hand at Lazer Knights, the laser tag arena that will keep you on your toes!

The water park is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day from 10am until 9pm, and the golf side is open from 10am until midnight on the weekends. The park is open to all ages.

A word to the wise - wear shower shoes. The pavement is HOT and shower shoes won't get lost like sandals. See www.mesa.golfland.com for park info and pricing.

e4 is the hottest place around and a crazy, wild place to spend your weekend night. As the name implies, e4 is themed around the four elements -- earth, air, water and fire. This IS Scottsdale, so shimmy into your $200 jeans and Jimmy Choos’ and head out for the evening.

I watched this place evolve over 4 years from a dirt lot into a behemoth of a club. With two levels of fun and dancing, this is surely the place to visit.

You can start with happy hour on the Air patio, an open air space to smoke and have a couple cocktails. White and blue are the colors here. The bar top is completely illuminated, giving off an eery glow. Seating is kind of limited, but this is the only place you can smoke.

Dinner is served in the Earth Lounge, where the theme is Dr. Seuss meets the Bellagio.(so I’m told) Cool earth tones and funky lighting make this room a place to relax. This is also the brightest room, meaning it’s not dark, like the other rooms. You can actually have a conversation in here. There are plenty of seats and the menu is reasonably priced.

The red-lit Fire Room’s theme is a gothic castle/dungeon, complete with a ‘cage of love’ seat and girls dancing inside sheaths of fabric. Everything is red, including the bathrooms. Red velvet seats and pillows line the walls. This is by far my favorite room to hang out in. The music is a little more my speed--industrial and rock.

Enter the piece de resistance, the Liquid Room where floor to ceiling waterfalls are the main attraction. Lava lamps are the tables and the dance floor has two levels. The color, of course, is blue and silver. Blue everything, from the carpet to the seats to the lighting.

Cover is upwards of $10 to $20 per person, and the drinks are expensive. Martinis can run 12bucks a piece. But hey, it’s the weekend--relax. The dance floors are small and the place gets packed.

The Fire and Liquid rooms don’t open til 9pm. The lines are LONG, so get there early. I suggest having a bite to eat or arrive at like 6 or 7 pm to avoid the cover charge and get an early start. The club holds 600 people, but there’s usually a thousand people lined up after 10pm.

There is a dress code. No baseball caps, torn jeans or wife beaters.

One Saturday, every October is set aside for Fido and friends. Barktoberfest is held annually from 9am til 2pm and people from all over the valley bring their pooches for a day of fun in the sun. The event is sponsored by the Friends for Life Animal Sanctuary, a nonprofit, no kill animal shelter.

Many different vendors have tables hocking their wares. Dog sitters, vets, dog shops, pet resorts, dog bakeries, the Animal Humane Society, etc. set up shop for the day to educate all of us about our beloved family members.

There are plenty of drinking water bowls and treats for the dogs, as well as shaded areas to relax and a hot dog vendor for a snack. There’s a dog wash and contests such as Most Agile Dog, Best Dressed Dog, Person/Pooch Look-A-Like, Best Trick, Best Manners, Dog & Egg Race and Egg Toss. The Gilbert Police Department also gives a police dog demonstration that’s always amazing.

The event is free to attend, but the dog wash and the raffles require a donation.

I’ve been attending this event for 4 years now and always have a good time. There are so many different breeds of dogs are there to admire. The best dressed dog is my favorite contest and people go all out, dressing up their dogs like angels or devils or horses. It’s crazy.

Feel free to bring a blanket or lawn chair and spend the day dog-watching. All dogs must be leashed and aggressive ones should be muzzled. There are bags available to clean up after your dog and a Frisbee or two is always around for a toss.

I recommend getting there early as it still gets very hot by noon in October. Bring plenty of your own water for you and your pet. Feed your dog before attending--it keeps them from eating all the treats that are available, preventing that awful upset tummy he might get later. (And we all know how awful that is to clean up)

The event is held at a small park on Gilbert Rd., 1 block north of Baseline. Go to www.petfinder.org for more info.

In the spring of 1998, the Diamondbacks baseball team (who, by the way, won the 2001 World Series) finally had a home. Bank One Ballpark is a state-of-the-art park that can be configured to host an array of events, from concerts to monster truck pulls to soccer games to motocross racing and even trade shows. The park has a retractable roof that slides open for "outdoor" games and is the only US park with a pool inside its walls.

The BOB, as it’s known around here, is a great place to see a baseball game or concert. The place is huge, covering over 1,300,000 square feet of space on 21 acres of land. There’s not a bad seat in the entire park. During baseball games, there are over 49,000 seats available. For concerts, like NSYNC, who played here like 2 years ago, the park expands to allow 60,000 people in the front door. WOW! The Insight.com bowl football game is also played here every December.

The pool is available by reservation only for private use. You can't use the pool unless you're with the party that reserves it. It's great for corporations as a team-building event or as an incentive.

The retractable roof uses a pair of 200-horsepower motors to operate it. It can be opened or closed in 5 minutes.

For your eating and drinking pleasure, there are 39 concession stands on four levels; two beer gardens, one in right field and one in left field; and four lounges, all on different levels of the park.

Seeing the D-Backs play here is real treat. The park itself is amazing, but the real joy is seeing all the fans that come out. There are 1,500 parking spaces at the park itself, and otherwise, there are plenty more about a block away. From my memory, those lots aren’t free to park in. I think they run about 6 bucks a car.

There is no better place to watch America’s favorite pastime in my opinion.

Grab yer boots and yer hat, cuz a rodeo’s in town!

Gilbert Days is a 3-day celebration that will bring out the cowboy in everyone. Every November the town of Gilbert (America’s fastest growing city) has a party to commemorate the paving of Gilbert Road and the rich history of the town. The event starts off with a re-enactment of the Pony Express ride from Gilbert to Casa Grande, followed by a parade and rodeo complete with amusement park rides, dances, and concerts.

This is a huge deal for the residents of Gilbert. They crown a "Rodeo Queen" and the rodeo is complete with extreme bullriding, jackpot roping, barrel racing and the ‘lil dude rodeo’ that’s a competition for kids 4 to 7 years old. The winner even gets a belt buckle to start of his/her collection. Lil dude events include mutton busting which is riding a sheep bareback and roping where they rope a plastic steer head. It’s really cute to see these little guys riding around on sheep and trying so hard to rope.

The Gilbert Days Rodeo is the largest International Professional Rodeo Association rodeo in the southwest and people come from all over the country for this event. Artisans hocking there wares, information booths and PLENTY of food will surely keep you busy.

Friday night the rodeo starts at 6pm and is $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for seniors and children over 7. Children 6 and under are free. Saturdays the rodeo starts at 2pm and is $12 for adults and $8 for seniors and children over 7.

OPA! Everyone loves a Greek Festival, and the one in Phoenix is one of the best! One weekend in October, you can sample some of THE best Greek food around, learn some dance steps, pick up some homemade pastries, shop for handmade gifts, or help roast a pig--all in the name of fun.

The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church has a 3-day event with proceeds going to the parish that draws a huge crowd each year. There is SO much to eat that even I get full (a feat in itself). Moussaka, roasted lamb, pastitsio, feta cheese, dolamathes, spanakopita, saganaki, loukoumades... the list goes on and on. All the food is homemade by church members, and you know that’s got to be good. Greek beer is served, and of course, there's ouzo for the bold ones!

Dancers of all ages tear up the dancefloor under the tent outside. From the littlest dancers to the elders, in full costume. There’s a childrens’ play area with a bouncy hut and other games to keep them busy as well as hourly tours of the church.

Admission to the festival is measly 2 bucks a person and the food ranges from $2 to $20. There is a whole section dedicated to pastries and sweets as well as a small grocery to purchase chilled items. Personally, the best part of the day is the eye candy. Greek men all over the place. Now that’s my kind of party! I may be married, but I’m not dead!

Parking can be tricky if you don’t get there early. The parking lot isn’t that big, and parking on the street could land you a ticket. There’s a park about a third of a mile past the church that you can use, and there is also a park and ride area at 24th Street and Lincoln where shuttles transport you to and from the festival for no fee.

Food, over 1000 slots, poker, keno and off track betting make Casino Arizona a great place to spend some time. The casino is small and intimate. Everything from nickel to dollar slots and a card room that offers Texas Hold ‘Em and 7 card stud. There are also three restaurants and six lounges, as well as live entertainment.

Because it sits on an Indian Reservation, the theme is Native American and it shows. Native American pottery and artwork adorn the walls. Restaurant names like Blue Coyote Grill and the Eagles Buffet tempt with wonderful food with a Southwestern edge. The Eagles Buffet offers a dinner buffet 7 days a week and champagne Sunday brunch as well. My favorite dish on the brunch is the strawberry salad. It’s salad greens with fresh strawberries, cheese and a sweet vinaigrette dressing. The buffet is standard buffet fare such as carved prime rib, an omelet station, salad bar, peel and eat shrimp, oysters, eggs benedict, waffles, blintzes, breakfast meats, hot lunch items like fish and pork chops as well as a huge dessert area... and let’s not forget the all you can drink champagne and mimosas.

The Cholla Steakhouse is an upscale restaurant serving elegant entrees and diverse appetizers. It repeatedly wins the New Times "Best Of" category. Dishes like elk tenderloin, rack of lamb and duck confit, you would think you were in a whole other place. They even make their own mozzarella cheese. The best part is they’re open until 11pm during the week and midnite on Fridays and Saturdays.

The unique air conditioning system is what catches peoples’ eyes. The a/c vents are on the ground, built into the floor that blows cool air upwards and helps disperse cigarette smoke. Plus when you walk over it, it cools you off. Ladies be aware if you’re wearing a skirt, you may pull a ‘Marilyn Monroe’ if you’re not careful.

The restaurants are nonsmoking, but the casino floor allows smoking. There is a bar in the middle of the casino that has poker slots so you can sit and enjoy a cocktail or two and a 24hour café (Salt River Café) that serves burgers, sandwiches, a native American dishes. The Willows restaurant is also open 24hours a day for a sit down meal in a nonsmoking environment.

For entertainment, the Showstoppers Live show is a great way to see your favorite performers. Madonna, Tina Turner, Blues Brothers, Elvis and more. The show is every night except Mondays. You can go to the casino website for more info. BeatleMania also comes thru town once a month, if you’re a Beatles fan.

The only downside for me is the smell of cigarette smoke. I’m a casual smoker and it’s definitely not smoky inside the casino, but it’s the cigarette smoke smell that reeks all over you when you leave. YUCK!

Casino Arizona is a 10-minute drive from the clubs in Scottsdale so it’s easy to get to from anywhere in clubland.

www.casinoaz.com

The Phoenix zoo is a privately owned, non-profit sanctuary that offers the animals wide open spaces to run free in large enclosures.

The grounds are split into different themes like the Africa Trail, Harmony Farm and the Arizona Trail, directing you to the different animals that live in those climates and habitats. My favorite animals are the Galapagos Tortoises. These huge guys are so interesting to watch and SO cute.

Below I will try to break the zoo down into must-sees and give tips on making your day easier, especially if you have small children.

For those of you that don’t want walk thru the entire 125 acres, there is a zoo train that will take you around the whole park and give a wonderful narration about the animals. This way, you can get an idea of what you do and don’t want to see later. The tour lasts about half an hour and costs $3.00 per person, 3 years and older. It leaves every 20 minutes at the train station near the main lake.

The zoo rents pedal boats and 3-wheel bikes but are on the expensive side. They also rent strollers and will let you ride your own bike or rollerblades, inside the grounds.

Restrooms and water fountains are around almost every corner. Snack bar food ranges from sandwiches and hot dogs to gelato, pizza, kettle corn and Mexican favorites. Snack bars can be expensive and are dispersed thru the grounds. As always, I advocate bringing your own water bottles and a few snacks to curb the urge to splurge on expensive menu items. (I DO love my kettle corn.) Make sure you get a map at the entrance to help you navigate.

The zoo offers different events throughout the year that anyone can attend. Zoo Lights is a huge one. See my attached review about that.

Another big event is the Zoofari benefit dinner and concert where all the proceeds go to the zoo itself. It’s a wonderful evening filled with fabulous food, wine and entertainment, all in the name of the zoological Society of Arizona.

A couple of things to remember. The summer here is way too hot to be spending it outside at the zoo. Anywhere from late October thru early May are ideal times to go. Always have a hat and sunscreen and wear comfortable shoes. No coolers are allowed inside and always bring your wallet. Especially if you have children--there are a few gift shops throughout that will tempt them with knick knacks. Other than that, have a GREAT time.

Gentlemen, start your engines! If you like NASCAR, come to Arizona in November for a weekend of races and parties galore! Racing is a huge pastime and we have a track built for speed. PIR is a nationally recognized track that has races all year round and holds the yearly Nextel Cup and various other races such as, Busch, Craftsman Trucks and the Featherlite Southwest Series, not to mention the big race, the Checker Auto Parts 500 NASCAR Winston Cup Series.

Fans line up for front row tickets to these races and PIR is the track that a lot of records have been broken or set. Phoenix is a great place to see the races, especially in November, it's not too hot and it's not too cold. PERFECT for sitting outside all day. I love wandering around the grounds and talking to all the vendors and other race fans.

PIR is located west of Phoenix in Avondale and as of right now, 2005, there aren't a whole lot of hotels in the immediate area. We're working on that. Not really a big deal, just a matter of seat preference. Single tickets range from about 40 bucks on up for reserved seats. There are hillside seats that run around $25.00, but not in the bleachers. Pit passes are available to the general public and can be expensive. They get you closer to the action, but do not allow you access to the drivers and/or crew.

You're allowed to bring in one soft side bag / cooler, no larger than 6 X6X12 inches and no outside alcohol, umbrellas or firearms are allowed. You can download a guest brochure at: www.phoenixraceway.com/uploads/assets/fans/pir_2005guestguide.pdf

If you like to spend your day shopping, then the place for you is the IKEA store in Tempe. For those of you not familiar with the name, IKEA is a Swedish furniture store. They carry everything from furniture for all rooms, to kitchen utensils, cookware, tableware, framed art, plants, window coverings, children’s furniture, and lighting, it’s all here in this 324,000 square feet of space. Yes, you read right... 324,000 feet. This place is HUGE! There are over 10,000 items in the showroom, over 50 room setting ideas, and a restaurant, in case you can’t bear to leave. The phrase, ‘shop till you drop’ was probably coined here, because it can literally take all day to get through the maze that awaits you! Maybe I should have put this under the 'experiences' category because visiting this place truly is an experience.Now, when you get to the store, it is essential that you pick up a store map and a pencil at the front door. The entire layout is mapped for you, so you know where you’re going. The pencil is handy because on the back of the map, there is a spot where you can list all the big items you’d like to order on your way out, then it can be wheeled out to your car—quite handy. Ikea is synonymous with the tiny apartments in Sweden, making functional, inexpensive, quality furniture to fit in these small spaces. IKEA believes one shouldn’t have to go to several different stores to furnish and decorate your home.This massive store has everything you could possibly need, with the exception of pet food and groceries. The restaurant serves one heck of a breakfast deal, Scrambled eggs, bacon, Swedish pancakes with lingonberries, potatoes, and coffee for $1.99! If breakfast isn’t your thing, they have sandwiches, salads, hot dogs, fresh soups and of course, Swedish meatballs. There is a marketplace that carries a Swedish candy called Daim, which is like mini Heath bars. SO GOOD!

Some things to know... restrooms are plentiful, there are elevators as well as an an escalator, there are room planners and associates available to answer questions, tape measures are available if you forgot your own, as well as strollers. The main thing to know is that all of the furniture needs to be put together. Nothing is pre-assembled, so if you’re not good with directions or a screwdriver, this might not be the place for you.

Wear comfortable shoes and bring a pillow, for your afternoon nap!

Every year from late November until January 4th, the Phoenix zoo hosts an evening light extravaganza to please all ages. Zoo Lights transforms the zoo into a light and sound display that will amaze and entertain you.

For only $7, you can enter the zoo from 6pm until 10pm and walk the grounds witnessing holiday lights and music. It’s a wonderful way to spend an evening with the family. This has become a tradition with families in the valley and is busy on given night. The exhibit takes approximately an hour to an hour and half to walk through.

I love relaxing and walking around looking at all the huge Christmas and animal themed displays. Most of the animal exhibits are closed in the evening, but there are a few that remain open, due to the animals natural habitat and the ample lighting. Zebras, otters, javelinas, monkey village and coyotes are open, but no promises on seeing any of them.

For those of us with small children or people that don’t walk so good, there is a mule wagon that will take you thru the exhibit for $3.00 per person, but it does travel a different route than the walkways. A couple snack bars are open if you crave a snack, as is the main gift shop at the front.

We used to go on Thanksgiving night, but it’s very crowded…apparently everyone else goes on Thanksgiving, too. So now we wait and go the Sunday after turkey day--it’s way less crowded.

So put on your jacket and head over to the Phoenix Zoo. You’ll be happy you did!