I recently recorded an interview with the Mystery Meet Podcast hosted by Seth Resler to talk about the dining scene in Phoenix. In addition to talking about all the great new restaurants that have opened in Central Phoenix in the past several years, we also discussed the trend of chefs working more closely with local farmers and food producers to build and support our local food economy. My other passion, bacon, was also a consistent theme throughout the interview and one of many reasons why I recommend Beckett’s Table as a not-to-miss restaurant in Phoenix. Click here to listen!

I recently recorded an interview with the Mystery Meet Podcast hosted by Seth Resler to talk about the dining scene in Phoenix. In addition to talking about all the great new restaurants that have opened in Central Phoenix in the past several years, we also discussed the trend of chefs working more closely with local farmers and food producers to build and support our local food economy. My other passion, bacon, was also a consistent theme throughout the interview and one of many reasons why I recommend Beckett’s Table as a not-to-miss restaurant in Phoenix. Click here to listen!

The heat is here! And Hotel Palomar in Downtown Phoenix is offering Staycation deals this summer that give you the opportunity to spend a day by (or in) the pool, and you can also take advantage of all the entertainment options downtown has to offer without the worry of needing to drive home after a few cocktails! $102 and a Round of Brew: Deluxe accommodations plus a round of four beers at Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails. June 1 – September 8, 2013. Rates start from $102 (Rate code:  BREW). Laugh Like a Local: Deluxe accommodations plus two tickets to Stand Up Live. Rate starting from $129 (add just $10 more than the Best Available Rate for two comedy tickets. Rate code: LOCAL). Downtown Discovery Family Package: Deluxe accommodations and choose your own adventure with two children’s tickets to the Children’s Museum of Phoenix or Arizona Science Center two welcome kids packs. Rates starting from $124 (rate code: PFAM).

The heat is here! And Hotel Palomar in Downtown Phoenix is offering Staycation deals this summer that give you the opportunity to spend a day by (or in) the pool, and you can also take advantage of all the entertainment options downtown has to offer without the worry of needing to drive home after a few cocktails!

  • $102 and a Round of Brew: Deluxe accommodations plus a round of four beers at Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails. June 1 – September 8, 2013. Rates start from $102 (Rate code:  BREW).
  • Laugh Like a Local: Deluxe accommodations plus two tickets to Stand Up Live. Rate starting from $129 (add just $10 more than the Best Available Rate for two comedy tickets. Rate code: LOCAL).
  • Downtown Discovery Family Package: Deluxe accommodations and choose your own adventure with two children’s tickets to the Children’s Museum of Phoenix or Arizona Science Center two welcome kids packs. Rates starting from $124 (rate code: PFAM).
Last night’s event at the Phoenix Public Market to mark the opening of the new Cafe, lighting of the sweet new neon sign, and ongoing support for the Open Air Markets was a wonderful celebration of our downtown community and what truly makes it special.

Last night’s event at the Phoenix Public Market to mark the opening of the new Cafe, lighting of the sweet new neon sign, and ongoing support for the Open Air Markets was a wonderful celebration of our downtown community and what truly makes it special.

An Evening with Daniel Hernandez, Jr.

Join us for an evening with an authentic Arizona hero …

When: May 15 from 7 to 9 p.m.

Where: Burton Barr Central Library, 1221 N. Central Avenue, 85004, Pulliam Auditorium

The Friends of the Phoenix Public Library are honored to present Daniel Hernandez, Jr., perhaps best known as Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ former intern, rising to the occasion when gun shots rang out at the 2011 “Congress on Your Corner” event. His quick thinking and bravery effectively saved Giffords’ life.

He has since co-authored a book with Susan Goldman Rubin for young adults titled “They Call Me a Hero: A Memoir of My Youth” which explores his life, his character and the traits a young person needs to rise above adversity and become a hero like Daniel.

While his heroic acts during the 2011 shooting in Tucson are perhaps his most well-known, Daniel had already accomplished much in his young life and is working to achieve much more.

“Although I humbly deny the title of Hero,” Daniel says, “I am honored to be able to share my story with people in the hope that it will inspire them to overcome whatever obstacles they may have in their life and devote themselves to the service of human kind.”

*Books will be available for purchase, and Daniel will be happy to sign your copy at the conclusion of the program.

The new restaurant by Chef Justin Beckett that will be housed in The Newton complex at the old Beef Eaters restaurant (300 W Camelback) will be called Southern Rail. Inspired by flavors of the American South, the menu will feature cuisine from the Carolinas to the Gulf Coast, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, redefining well-known Cajun and Creole dishes and other southern classics. The menu will be complimented with an all-American wine list, local beer and handcrafted cocktails featuring boutique spirits. Southern Rail will open for lunch, dinner, Social Hour and weekend brunch in November.

The new restaurant by Chef Justin Beckett that will be housed in The Newton complex at the old Beef Eaters restaurant (300 W Camelback) will be called Southern Rail. Inspired by flavors of the American South, the menu will feature cuisine from the Carolinas to the Gulf Coast, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, redefining well-known Cajun and Creole dishes and other southern classics. The menu will be complimented with an all-American wine list, local beer and handcrafted cocktails featuring boutique spirits.

Southern Rail will open for lunch, dinner, Social Hour and weekend brunch in November.

Arizona’s largest open-air market, the Phoenix Public Market in downtown Phoenix, is opening a full-time, on-site café on Wednesday, May 8. The Cafe will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, seven days a week (7 am – 10 pm) at 14 E. Pierce St. in Phoenix. Brought to life by the team responsible for St. Francis restaurant, the Phoenix Public Market Café is a natural extension of the Market’s efforts to bring the Valley’s food community closer together. At the Café, this translates to market fresh cuisine crafted with seasonal ingredients—many sourced directly from the adjacent farmer’s market. Prices are $10 and under during breakfast and lunch; around $15 and under at dinner. All proceeds from kid’s meals will support the St. Mary’s Foodbank’s backpack program, which provides weekend meals to underprivileged youth. Furthermore, the café will house a small retail component highlighting products and handmade goods from Arizona purveyors. The Café’s indoor-outdoor space will be outfitted with rustic picnic tables and plenty of natural lighting. Guests are encouraged to linger and lounge, meet with colleagues, and surf the web using the complimentary Wi-Fi access and tableside charging stations. Every morning, the Café will serve freshly roasted coffee via an indoor/outdoor bar, which later transforms into a cocktail hotspot offering red wines, white wines, beers on tap and signature cocktails available by the glass or the pitcher. The Phoenix Public Market Café is located at 14 East Pierce Street (cross streets are Central Avenue & McKinley Street), Phoenix, Ariz., 85004. Free parking is provided and it’s located right off the Valley Metro Light Rail. The Phoenix Public Market is open Wednesdays (5 – 8 pm) and Saturdays (8 am – Noon), rain or shine, as well as hosts Food Truck Fridays from 11 am – 1:30 pm.

Arizona’s largest open-air market, the Phoenix Public Market in downtown Phoenix, is opening a full-time, on-site café on Wednesday, May 8. The Cafe will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, seven days a week (7 am – 10 pm) at 14 E. Pierce St. in Phoenix.

Brought to life by the team responsible for St. Francis restaurant, the Phoenix Public Market Café is a natural extension of the Market’s efforts to bring the Valley’s food community closer together. At the Café, this translates to market fresh cuisine crafted with seasonal ingredients—many sourced directly from the adjacent farmer’s market.

Prices are $10 and under during breakfast and lunch; around $15 and under at dinner. All proceeds from kid’s meals will support the St. Mary’s Foodbank’s backpack program, which provides weekend meals to underprivileged youth. Furthermore, the café will house a small retail component highlighting products and handmade goods from Arizona purveyors.

The Café’s indoor-outdoor space will be outfitted with rustic picnic tables and plenty of natural lighting. Guests are encouraged to linger and lounge, meet with colleagues, and surf the web using the complimentary Wi-Fi access and tableside charging stations. Every morning, the Café will serve freshly roasted coffee via an indoor/outdoor bar, which later transforms into a cocktail hotspot offering red wines, white wines, beers on tap and signature cocktails available by the glass or the pitcher.

The Phoenix Public Market Café is located at 14 East Pierce Street (cross streets are Central Avenue & McKinley Street), Phoenix, Ariz., 85004. Free parking is provided and it’s located right off the Valley Metro Light Rail. The Phoenix Public Market is open Wednesdays (5 – 8 pm) and Saturdays (8 am – Noon), rain or shine, as well as hosts Food Truck Fridays from 11 am – 1:30 pm.

Downtown mom Chris Pruitt and artist Sebastien Millon have teamed up to organize a free, family friendly event where children, young and not so young, are encouraged to make art and forts. “Drawing With Sebastien Million & FORTS! With The Pruitt5” will be held on Saturday, May 4, from 9 am to 2 pm at the pop-up park formally called The Lot: What Should Go Here? at 1005 N. 2nd Street in Downtown Phoenix. Families are encouraged to bring their best fort-making materials and skills, as well as lunch/snacks. Carly’s Bistro will also be offering a brown bag special for $5/kids and $8/adults.

Downtown mom Chris Pruitt and artist Sebastien Millon have teamed up to organize a free, family friendly event where children, young and not so young, are encouraged to make art and forts. “Drawing With Sebastien Million & FORTS! With The Pruitt5” will be held on Saturday, May 4, from 9 am to 2 pm at the pop-up park formally called The Lot: What Should Go Here? at 1005 N. 2nd Street in Downtown Phoenix.

Families are encouraged to bring their best fort-making materials and skills, as well as lunch/snacks. Carly’s Bistro will also be offering a brown bag special for $5/kids and $8/adults.

Alexandra Dee Melikian, a junior at Phoenix Country Day School, has created a deck of playing cards featuring historic landmarks in Phoenix. Each playing card features an original color photograph of one of 54 historic landmarks in the city along with the building’s name, address, and date of construction. The playing cards are available online at Amazon.com, Phoenix Art Museum and Hotel San Carlos. 5% of the proceeds will be donated to the Arizona Preservation Foundation.

Alexandra Dee Melikian, a junior at Phoenix Country Day School, has created a deck of playing cards featuring historic landmarks in Phoenix. Each playing card features an original color photograph of one of 54 historic landmarks in the city along with the building’s name, address, and date of construction.

The playing cards are available online at Amazon.com, Phoenix Art Museum and Hotel San Carlos. 5% of the proceeds will be donated to the Arizona Preservation Foundation.