Scottsdale, Arizona - The Brush Bar

I went to "The Brush Bar" again on Friday for a painting adventure.  The photographs show from beginning to end.  Yes, we were painting "Starry Starry Night"!  Could you tell?  Enjoy our versions, then see the original at the end. Shout out and thanks to Tiffany and her family for including me in the "Girls Night Out".

San Francisco, California - Samovar (By Nick Florio)

Guest photographer Nick Florio provided these latest photographs of his tea adventure at Samovar while in San Francisco.

Phoenix, Arizona - Kokoro Sushi

This Asian restaurant at the Arizona Center offers a variety of Asian food. I like to order Japanese sushi and Vietnamese Pho. "Kokoro" means "heart; mind; mentality; emotions; feelings" in Japanese.  I added some wikipedia info at the bottom of this post about the book "Kokoro".

Today the order included spring rolls, 

Phoenix, Arizona - Ethiopian Famous Restaurant and Cafe

Tucked away in a four store strip mall on 41st Street and McDowell is Ethiopian Famous Restaurant and Coffee. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. We ordered a large sample plate for the table but my delight came when she turned on the burner and fresh roasted the coffee. The taste was smooth and the feeling afterward energetic with no jitters. Let's keep this place going!

Phoenix, Arizona - Pallets Food and Bar

Friday night and I decided to stop at Pallets again after work. I had a sushi roll (Chef's Favorite with Mexican flavors), a Four Peak's draft with a light peach flavor, and ice cream for desert. The ice cream was Mochi Green Tea. I learned about Mochi, a sweet rice dough. It is the outside covering. It tasted good and the covering was similar to some of the treats served in Japan.

Phoenix, Arizona - Luci's Healthy Marketplace

Quirky mix of coffee shop, cafe and grocery store. Food and coffee were good. I didn't have time to browse the stuff for sale but it looked fun. Northwest corner of 16th Street and Bethany Home Road. 

Food photos are of a southwestern egg dish a

Phoenix, Arizona - Lunchtime Theatre

Take a break from the work day and attend a lunch time play. The Herberger Theater Center presents short plays on The Kax Stage on Van Buren. 

Phoenix, Arizona - Pallets Food and Bar

I stayed downtown for "First Fridays" and the art walk in the Roosevelt neighborhood.  I had driven past Pallets every day on my way home from work, so I wanted to give it a try.  Cute bikes outside and it makes this place easy to find.

Phoenix, Az - Bliss Rebar

I drive past this place every day on my way home from work. Tonight I'm staying in town for the arts of First Friday. Reporting in live all night. Enjoying a local beer: Oak Creek hefeweizen. Normally $5 but $3 for happy hour!!

Phoenix, Arizona - What's Up With Starbucks? (Live post)

I have, in general, stopped going to Starbucks in favor of home brew and indie-coffee shops. I stopped by today on my way to work. What is with this French look? Have you seen this? Does it make you think that you are in Paris? The writing on the windows, coffee insulator and treat bag is all Frenchy. And pink.