Podcampaz Social Media Conference

This is proof that Phoenix and The Valley is on the front edge of the digital wave. I have been attending Social Media Club and have met a bunch of great people and learned a lot. This is a bigger more organized version of that. Podcampaz is November 1 and 2 and best of all it's free. 

University of Phoenix Stadium home of the Arizona Cardinals

Whether you can make a Cards game or not you should visit this facility. It is amazing seeing it from the car on the 101. But it's more amazing going inside. It's a state-of-the-art facility who happened to host the most viewed Super Bowl in NFL history. And hopefully we will get some more. Check out some other pics here. And the stadium site here.

La Tolteca Authentic Mexican Food and Market

La Tolteca  is amazing. The food is out of this world and the portions are huge. The Mahi Mahi tacos are my favorite and the Carnitas is close behind.  Everything is great and the menu goes on forever. You can add some Mexican pastries on your way out and buy anything you need from a Mexican market while waiting for your food. Don't worry about the neighborhood. It's fine. 

Dining outside ... anywhere

Here is a photo my wife took (I'm in the black t-shirt) and we are eating on the patio at Gordon Biersch in Tempe. Our friends are Aaron and Leah. That place is great but eating outdoors is one of the simple pleasure of Phoenix. Imaginer doing that in the midwest with all the bugs or in the east with all the cold. October 11th is when this photo was taken and it was 78 degrees. Sweet.

Hot Stix Pro Golf Club Fitting

This is the bomb if you are a golf freak. Hot Stix gives you a tour-level fitting. First you hit your clubs and the golf pro/tech nerd maps your swing and your clubs. Then figures out what you should be hitting. Grips, shafts, club heads of all kinds and best of all ... made up just for you. Hard to explain. But I walked out fitted for every club in my bag and the ball I play. 

The original one is indoors and there are others on ranges that let you watch you ball flight in course-like conditions. Check it out. 

Four Peaks Brewery

Fresh local beer is what they say on their website. And I say very good bar food. Right next to ASU campus you'll find the brewery and original location. There is another pub in Scottsdale. Very casual/college vibe. Kiltlifter is my favorite brew but you should try a seasonal or two. Beers are for sale at other pubs and liquor stores but it's best to go to the source. Love this place for a sunny afternoon of drinking on the patio. 

Phoenix Metro Light Rail

Hooray! We are all grown up now.  A train that goes to the city center helping commuters and ASU Downtown students. Seriously about time. Check out the video. OK, not a big deal to some of you but we have been putting up with construction for a while now.

Wright Bar at Arizona Biltmore

One of my favorite places just received another recognition. The New Times just called the Wright Bar the best hotel bar in the valley. Quite an honor if you know how many hotel bars there are in Phoenix. The Frank Lloyd Wright styling and old-school atmosphere are unequalled. This is a place that the Rat Pack and Marilyn Monroe called their favorites. Seriously. 

ASU Radio 1260 AM The Blaze

ASU's Original Alternative is a great radio station. Alternative in format for sure and all college. Great way to hear new bands and great way to hear about the live music scene in Tempe and Phoenix. Even though it's found on the AM side of the dial it's worth checking out. I stream it though iTunes at work to pass the time. 

Matt's Big Breakfast

Matt's is the kind of breakfast you get in midwest small towns. Being from Iowa I appreciate the Chop and Chick. A great Iowan pork chop with eggs how you like 'em, some pototoes on the side and an RC. OK, if you are a coffee drinker, I get it. The daily breakfast and lunch specials are unique and Matt is usually around somewhere. Recently featured on The Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins ad Dives" this place will make you smile. Be prepared for a little wait if you are there at peak time. It's tiny but worth it. Easy to find in downtown Phoenix. 

Pop the Soda Shop

Love soda or the idea of too many things to choose from? A whole store for soda. Pop the Soda Shop is the place to find Moxie. The original soda created as a medicine a million years ago.  I'm partial to the root beers. Cruise the aisles and you will find a drink that suits you, I promise. It's easy to find but remember they are not open on Sunday. 

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA)

This place is great. Contemporary art and a beautiful building. Free Fridays are a great surprise. From 10a-5p admission is a big fat zero. SMoCA is a favorite of mine for sure. 

56 East Wine Bar

56 East is one of our favorite places to grab a drink and chill. It has a great inside outside bar and great bartenders. The dining are is a little small but enough. Our favorite is the cheese plate appetizer. Chef's choice of cheeses with berries, breads, etc. Easy to find on Ray Road and 56th Street east of I-10 in Chandler. 

China Chili Chinese Cuisine

So here's another dining post. Yeah, we eat out a lot. But China Chili is a local favorite. Pictures of Jerry Colangelo and other PHX celebs dot the walls. Great food and FAST. Seriously. We laughed that they may be mind readers in the kitchen. But it comes out fresh and I promise it's made to order. My favorite is the Orange Chicken (pictured). Lunch time is busy but you should get a seat in a reasonable time. Lunches well below $10 and dinners not much more. Located just north of downtown off 3rd Street just north of Earll Easy to find. 

Phoenix facts

• The first flight into Phoenix Sky Harbor airport was for the opening of the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in 1929

• Many movies have been filmed here. For example: "The Gauntlet" with Clint Eastwood, "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" and "Days of Thunder".

• Phoenix is the 9th most misspelled city in the us according to about.com

• Phoenix is a high-tech city. Aerospace and Tech industries make up a majority of employers in the valley.

• At the Hermosa Inn, Lon was a real person and is now a friendly ghost. The restaurant is named after him.

• Phoenix is the 5th largest city in the country. 

• South Mountain Park is the largest municipal park in the world. It covers 20,000 acres with more than 1,700 acres of traditional park land.

Pecos Park

This is a place for everyone. My dog loves to PetsMart sponsored dog park. There a roughly 5 soccer fields, a swimming pool, a skate park, kids play area with splash are and the safety that a Police Station right in the middle brings. What an amazing place to be in the beautiful Phoenix weather. Located at the end of 48th Street in Ahwatukee right over the 202.

AJ's Fine Foods

Seems odd to even me that I would call out a grocery store. But I have to say AJ's is awesome. I just walked through the beer sections and filled a six-pack of random beers from Portland to Japan and places in between. Then I walked over ad picked up a few cheeses and crackers. I passed up the bakery because I figured beer ad cheese was bad enough. But they may have the best single serve deserts in the Valley. No I don't work there or get paid in any way. Not for this or any post, but if you need a nice treat or a quick bottle of wine on the way to a party, this is your place. Located all over Phoenix and open at the times you need it with impeccable service. 

The Raven At South Mountain Golf Course

Most of the courses in the valley are considered desert courses. Tee boxes to fairways with desert washes or landscaping in between. Saguaros and the like reach out to grab your off-center shots. The Raven is a big green space with pine trees everywhere. Seems like it should be up the hill in Flagstaff. Great course that I paid $40 to play today. Of course prices will go up in high-season. It's located south on I-10 in the Ahwatukee Foothills right off Baseline. 

Bell'Italia Pizzeria

Some of the best pizza in the Valley. South Valley to be exact. It's in the middle of Ahwatukee. Right on Chandler Boulevard at 48th Street. The pizza has a great crust with very fresh ingredients. Try the sangria. And if it's not on the menu, just ask. They are more than willing to get you what you want. Don't be surprised when you find them in a strip mall.  Just found a coupon. 

Breakfast in the Valley

The Good Egg Restaurants are great and spread throughout the Valley. My favorite breakfast is the Hot Juan Frittata. Eggs, chorizo, pico de gallo, veracruz sauce and cooked in it's own cast-iron skillet. Served with some potatoes and tortillas on the side. Everything is great and they have healthy ways to make many of their dishes. Be patient, there may be a wait, but it won't be long.

Scottsdale Sliders

Stax Burger Bistro is the place to go if you like tiny hamburgers. OK, so they also have ostrich, turkey, salmon, buffalo and other tiny burgers. Not to mention tater tots and sweet-potato fries. After you decide what kind of meat you desire, you then have to customize them. Too much to list on that front. But a place to check out. We walked away after eating 3 burgers, tots, fries and 3 beers with a tab of around $35.  

Dale Chihuly at the Desert Botanical Gardens

I am stoked to hear Chihuly is going to have an installation at the Desert Botanical Gardens. The DBG has had some great art and this will keep the tradition going. I love how DC uses nature as a backdrop for his amazing glass. And the Gardens are an amazing way to experience all that is the Valley in a compact area. Typically you would imagine a lot of flora in the desert. But this will surprise you. November 22, 2008 through May 31, 2009. 

The Greatest Show on Grass

The FBR Open, held at the TPC Scottsdale, is the most attended event on the PGA Tour. This event is insane. The 16th hole is stadium seating and can hold as many as 20,000 people at one time. The roars for a good shot are equal to the boos for a bad one. Phil Mickelson fans chanting A S U don't seem to bother the pretty people in the corporate tents. There are many who don't know a golf tournament is going on around them. Held in the beginning of February, the temperature is absolutely perfect. This is a great place to play the course the pros play. A little pricey in the winter but very affordable in the off-season. 

Barrio Cafe - Traditional Mexican Food at it's best

The Barrio Cafe is amazing. Starting with the guacamole made table side to the mole sauce this place is the bomb. The Barrio isn't in a shiny Scottsdale strip mall. It is in a barrio. Awesome. Make sure you order a margarita. I prefer the Cadillac but chat with the server to find the tight one for you. I guess you could chose from one of the countless tequilas (best in the valley) and sip away. 

South Mountain Park

It's the largest park in the country. Yes, the country. South Mountain trails are amazing and is fun for all levels of outdoor enthusiasts. Some trails are flat and can be accessed from car and others are a downhill mountain biker's dream. Dropped in south Phoenix, it's very easy to get to and tons of fun. I've seen scorpions, havalina, coyotes and even a rattle snake. Be smart and they leave you alone. The photos are from a Christmas Day hike. 

Best Vietnamese dining in town

My wife and I joined some friends at a place called Cyclo. A tiny, BYOB, eatery off Chandler Boulevard. Great food with the owner coming around helping with suggestions. Had a great seafood noodle soup. Be ready for a little wait. Mmmm. 

Go Suns!

You can't be in Phoenix and not love the Suns. STAT, Nash, Shaq and the gang have fun on the court and it's a blast in the stands. Check them out any time you can. What a scene. My photo may not be the best but you get the idea.

And click the link to check out the Virtual Locker Room. See what really happens behind the scenes.

Tour de Fat

A festival put on by New Belgium Brewing Company. They brew Fat Tire Beer. It brings together beer and bike lovers to one spot for a carnival-like atmosphere. Every year has been a blast and this year it hits Tempe Town Lake on October 11th. Don't miss it and bring your bike and a costume. See link for more info.

Whirlwind Golf Club

How can you talk about Phoenix and not bring up golf. Some of the best in the world. And some of the best in the Valley is at Wild Horse Pass. Devil's Claw and Cattail are tough and long. You can't go wrong with a Troon course. Play from the tips. You have to give it a try. And when you are driving there, you will think you are heading out of town and you are. On the south side of PHX past South Mountain. 

First Friday Art Walk

An unbelievable display of creativity. Strung throughout cool old neighborhoods, this is an eclectic trip that makes you appreciate it all. First Friday of every month ... duh. Check it out and bring some cash. You may need to buy a painting, or a mask, or a t-shirt, or who knows what. Check them out on Facebook. I shot this in a vacant lot across from the Roosevelt Tavern. 

A weekend at the Biltmore

My wife and I spent a relaxing weekend at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa. Hung out by the pool and drank a few margaritas. Too much to list, but the s'mores cart was a big hit. Summer rates are very reasonable. And take the history tour, you can't imagine the stories. Marilyn Monroe called one of the pools her favorite in the word. White Christmas was written by that same pool. Very cool.

Great lunch at Cibo

Just ate at Cibo. A house built in the 1930's turned in to a restaurant. Great service and even better sandwiches. I had the Spek with fruit salad. It's smoked prosciutto, smoked mozzarella and tomatoes. The fruit was a fresh blend of melons and pineapple with yogurt and granola. Delicious and with the lemonade I made it our for less that $15. We sat indoors but the patio should hold 20 people or so.