Monday, July 18, 2011

PHOENIX

(includes Black Canyon City, Carefree, Mayer, Paradise Valley, Scottsdale & Tempe)

BAKERIES, COFFEE, ICE CREAM, JUICE & TEA
Essence Bakery Café – 825 West University Drive (Tempe); 480-966-2745; essencebakery.com; excellent cookies, especially macaroons; caramel filling in macaroons more like custard.
Rock Springs Cafe – 35769 Old Black Canyon Highway (Black Canyon City); 623-374-5794; rockspringscafe.com; since 1918; try to get seat by fireplace; known especially for its pies.



BARS & NIGHTCLUBS
Alice Cooperstown – 101 East Jackson Street; 602-253-7337; alicecooperstown.com.
Axis/Radius – 7340 East Indian Plaza (Scottsdale); 480-970-1112; axis-radius.com.
Hotel San Carlos – 202 North Central Avenue; 602-253-4121; hotelsancarlos.com; Hollywood stars like Mae West and Marilyn Monroe stayed in this 1928, Italian renaissance landmark; take drinks (check for permission) to rooftop pool and relax under sky.
Pussycat Lounge – 4426 North Saddlebag Trail (Scottsdale); 480-481-3100; pclaz.com.
Sky Lounge – 132 East Washington Street; 602-229-1110; skyloungephoenix.com; Latin club with busy dance floor and “very fit people.”
Suede Restaurant & Lounge – 7307 East Indian Plaza (Scottsdale); 480-970-6969; suedeaz.com.



HOTELS
Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa – 2400 East Missouri Avenue; 602-955-6600 or 800-950-0086; arizonabiltmore.com; 39-acre oasis of garden and green designed by Frank Lloyd Wright’s workshop; don’t have to stay to walk grounds.
Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa – 34631 North Tom Darlington Drive (Carefree); 480-488-9009 or 888-5792631; theboulders.com; casita-style property; rooms have wood-burning fireplaces, hand-hewn beam ceilings, private patios with Sonoran Desert views.
Chaparral Suites Resort Scottsdale – 5001 North Scottsdale Road (Scottsdale); 480-949-1414 or 800-494-3146; chaparralsuites.com.
Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North – 10600 East Crescent Moon Drive (Scottsdale); 480-515-5700 or 800-819-5053; fourseasons.com; casitas and rooms.
Hermosa Inn – 5532 North Palo Cristi Road (Paradise Valley); 602-955-8614 or 800-241-1210; hermosainnn.com.
Intercontinental Montelucia Resort & Spa – 4949 East Lincoln Drive (Scottsdale); 480-627-3200 or 888-627-3010; icmontelucia.com; dramatic scenery, flower-lined paths, and splashing fountains; Andalusian-style architecture and Moroccan-style spa.
Mondrian – 7353 East Indian School Road (Scottsdale); 480-308-1100 or 888-500-8080; mondrianscottsdale.com.
Montelucia Resort & Spa – 4949 East Lincoln Drive (Scottsdale); 480-627-3200 or 888-627-3010; montelucia.com; Camelback Mountain looming overhead and architecture inspired by Spain’s Alhambra; among Arizona’s prettiest resorts, with splashing fountains, excellent Mediterranean restaurant, and spa inspired by Moroccan hammams (public baths); guest rooms in Moroccan-Spanish theme, divided into 5 different “villages”; for quieter rooms, ask for Bocce Garden Village location; throughout property, Spanish antiquities, including 2 giant amphorae in entry courtyard and huge wooden doors that lead to ballroom; not too big, not too small.
Royal Palms Resort & Spa – 5200 East Camelback Road; 602-840-3610 or 800-672-6011; royalpalmsresortandspa.com; Spanish colonial revival villa; tiered garden.
Saguaro – 4000 North Drinkwater Boulevard (Scottsdale); 480-308-1200 or 877-808-2440; jdvhotels.com; where you should stay in Scottsdale.
Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain – 5700 East McDonald Drive (Paradise Valley); 480-948-2100 or 800-245-2051; sanctuaryaz.com; casitas terraced on Camelback Mountain’s north slope; 3 infinity pools.
Sheraton Phoenix Downtown – 340 North 3rd Street; 602-262-2500 or 800-325-3535; sheratonphoenixdowntown.com; 31 story, 1K rooms; flat screen televisions, contemporary décor.
Hotel Valley Ho – 6850 East Main Street (Scottsdale); 480-248-2000 or 866-882-4484; hotelvalleyho.com; mid-century landmark.
W Scottsdale – 7277 East Camelback Road (Scottsdale); 480-970-2100 or 877-946-8357; starwoodhotels.com/whotels.



RESTAURANTS
Barrio Café – 2814 North 16th Street; 602-636-0240; barriocafe.com; Southern Mexican cuisine in unpretentious atmosphere.
Binkley’s – 6920 East Cave Creek Road; 480-437-1072; binkleysrestaurant.com; topflight American contemporary cuisine, with French influence, in super-casual atmosphere; 35 miles north of downtown; unprepossessing, strip-mall location.
El Chorro Lodge – 5550 East Lincoln Drive (Paradise Valley); 480-948-5170; elchorro.com; steak.
Deseo – 6902 East Greenway Parkway (Scottsdale, at Westin Kierland Hotel); 480-624-1202; Latin ambience.
Garcia’s Las Avenidas – 2212 North 35th Avenue; 602-272-5584; garciasmexicanfood.com; family-run and known for traditional fare and cavernous setting; try carnitas de puerco.
Geordie’s Restaurant & Lounge – 2501 East Talawa Trail (in Wrigley Mansion); 602-955-4079; wrigleymansionclub.com; sunset view excellent for cocktails; 1930s Art Deco style.
Grind – 3961 East Camelback Road; 602-954-7463; thegrindaz.com; organic steak burgers.
Lola Tapas – 800 East Camelback Road; 602-265-4519; lolatapas.com; Spanish – not Mexican, both in atmosphere and menu.
Lux – 4404 North Central Avenue; 602-266-6469; luxcoffee.com; high-end coffee shop.
Matt’s Big Breakfast – 801 North 1st Street; 602-254-1074; mattsbigbreakfast.com; tiny & long line.
Mission – 3815 North Brown Avenue (Scottsdale); 480-636-5005; themissionaz.com; modern Latin cuisine.
Noca – 3118 East Camelback Road; 602-956-6622; restaurantnoca.com; good lunch food.
Los Olivos – 7328 East 2nd Street (Scottsdale); 480-946-2256; losolivosrestaurant.com; solid Tex-Mex food.
Prado – 4949 East Lincoln Drive (Scottsdale, at Montelucia Resort & Spa); 480-627-3004; montelucia.com/prado; lovely setting & excellent but limited menu.
Rock Springs Cafe – 35769 Old Black Canyon Highway (Black Canyon City); 623-374-5794; rockspringscafe.com; since 1918; try to get seat by fireplace; steaks.
Roka Akor – 7299 North Scottsdale Road (Scottsdale); 480-306-8800; 1st American branch of London sushi eatery; high-priced.
Sens – 705 North 1st Street, #120; 602-340-9777; sensake.com; Asian tapas hot spot.
Sushi Roku – 7277 East Camelback Road (Scottsdale, at W Scottsdale); 480-970-2121; sushiroku.com.
T. Cook’s – 5200 East Camelback Road (Scottsdale, at Royal Palms Hotel); 602-808-0766; royalpalmshotel.com/dining/tcooks-restaurant-phoenix; Mediterranean.
Tarbell’s – 3213 East Camelback Road; 602-955-8100; tarbells.com; nouvelle-American cuisine with exhibition kitchen.
Welcome Diner – 924 East Roosevelt Street; 602-495-1111; small; good for brunch (opens at 11).



SHOPPING
Conspire – 901 North 5th Street; 602-237-5446; conspirephoenix.com; local clothing designers and artists, with coffee bar.
Downtown Phoenix Public Market – 721 North Central Avenue; 602-493-5231; foodconnect.org/phoenixmarket; 65 vendors offering local produce, jewelry, herbal remedies, and ice creams; make sure to try Crave Artisan Ice Cream.
Eye Lounge – 419 East Roosevelt Street; 602-430-1490; eyelounge.com; contemporary art gallery.
Made Art Boutique – 922 North 5th Street; 602-256-6233; madephx.com; eclectic boutique that carries vintage magazines, ceramics, and jewelry.
Jesse Monongye Studios – 6102 East Charter Oak Road (Scottsdale); 480-991-2598; jessemonongyestudios.com; beautiful jewelry.
Perhelion Arts – 610 East Roosevelt Street, #137; 602-334-6299 perhelionarts.com; contemporary art gallery.
Spoken Boutique – 610 East Roosevelt Street, #148; 602-687-9755; spokenboutique.com; trendy denim labels, t-shirts, and dresses.
Urban Grocery & Wine Bar – 14 East Pierce Street; 602-254-1799; wine bar serves Arizona labels.



SIGHTS & SITES
Arcosanti – 13555 South Cordes Lake Road (Mayer); 928-632-7135; arcosanti.org; architectural experimental town; began construction in 1970; Architect Paolo Soleri seeks to improve urban conditions while minimizing destructive impact on earth through “arcology,” concept combining architecture and ecology; on 25 acres of 4K acre land preserve.
Biltmore Fashion Park – 24th Street and Camelback Road; 602-955-1963; shopbiltmore.com; largely outdoor shopping district with about 70 high-end stores.
CenPho – North 5th Street; central Phoenix cultural zone.
Cosanti – 6433 East Doubletree Ranch Road (Paradise Valley); 480-948-6145; cosanti.com; Italian-American architect Paolo Soleri’s gallery, residence, and studio.
Desert Botanical Garden – 1201 North Galvin Parkway; 480-941-1225; dbg.org; spread across 50 acres in Papago Park, is oasis of towering cacti, redolent flowers, and surprisingly verdant plants.
First Fridays Art Walk – Roosevelt Row; artlinkphoenix.com; arts district.
Heard Museum – 2301 North Central Avenue; 602-252-8848; heard.org; American Indian cultural museum;
Mystery Castle – 800 East Mineral Road; 602-268-1581; Seattle architect, Boyce Luther Gulley, moved to Phoenix in 1930s to recover from tuberculosis and built castle from found objects; trippy monument.
Old Town Scottsdale – along North Brown Avenue, between East Indian School Road and East 2nd Street; clothing and leather good stores and farmers’ market.
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art – 7374 East 2nd Street; 480-874-4666; smoca.org.
Taliesin West (Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation) – 12621 North Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard (Scottsdale); 480-627-5340; franklloydwright.org/about/TaliesinWestTours.html; formerly, architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home; today, Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture main campus & houses Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation; check online calendar for tour availability.

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