Arizona

Holbrook, AZ

Lodging
Wigwam Motel-811 W Hopi Dr-Holbrook, AZ 86025 (928) 524-3048 -one of the last of the Wigwam motels that used to be all over the place
http://www.galerie-kokopelli.com/wigwam/

Mesa, AZ (greater Phoenix)

Eats-

Waldo’s BBQ “world Famous Ribs”-mesquite-grilled BBQ- 4500 E Main St #1, Mesa, AZ 85205

Phoenix, Arizona

The Local Weekly Alternative Paper is the Phoenix New Times.

Tiki bars-

Bikini Lounge-Cash-only 1947 tiki bar with djs.  – 1502 Grand Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85007  ? Closes 2AM many nights.  (602) 252-0472

Hula’s Modern Tiki-4700 N Central Ave # 122, Phoenix, AZ 85012-Fancy, maybe too fancy, tiki bar and restaurant.

Museum-

Musical Instrument Museum -4725 E Mayo Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85050 Daily 9AM–5PM  (480) 478-6000

Phoenix Music has a listings for lots of local bars and clubs. Zia Records has lots of info on the local scenes as well.

Live Music-

The Lost Leaf-914 N 5th St, Phoenix, AZ 85004-Venue and art gallery
Modified– 407 E. Roosevelt in Phoenix (602.252.7664). Artspace/live music venue.

Crescent Ballroom -lounge in former garage with tex-Mex cooking & much free live music. 308 N 2nd Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85003 (602) 716-2222

The Pressroom -Live music venue- 441 W Madison St, Phoenix, AZ 85003
(602) 396-7136

The Lunchbox-4132 E McDowell Rd., #7  Phoenix, Arizona 85008

Valley Bar-Music, film, spoken word & comedy venue with a game room : Rear Basement, 130 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004 til 2AM  (602) 368-3121
The Rebel Lounge -2303 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85016 til 2AM (602) 296-7013

Rhythm Room-1019 East Indian School Road-Phoenix, AZ 85014-4811
(602) 265-4842  www.rhythmroom.com

Amusement Park-

Castles ‘N Coasters Amusement Park– 9445 North Metro Parkway East, Phoenix, AZ 85051 (602) 997-7575   Small amusement park with a couple of small coasters.

Scottsdale, AZ

Stateside seems to bring some cool shows to town

Bars-

Rusty Spur Saloon-7245 E Main St, Scottsdale, AZ 85251-Oldest bar in Scottsdale, now a live Country, free peanuts-shell on floor place.  Over 60 years old

Coach House-Since 1959,Scottsdales oldest dive bar: 7011 E Indian School Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Tiki bar-

Hula’s Modern Tiki -7213 E 1st Ave, Scottsdale, AZ 85251  (480) 970-4852-another branch of this fancy tiki bar.

Dessert-

Sugar Bowl-Ice cream shop since 1958.  4005 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251  (480) 946-0051

 

Eats

 

El Chorro-5550 E Lincoln Dr, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253 (480) 948-5170-full sit down restaurant famous for giving free cinnamon sticky buns.

Tucson-
The weekly alternative paper for Tucson is the Tucson Weekly.

Local Chain Eegees has italian ice and subs started in 1971

Another Local Chain, Lucky Wishbone has fried chicken and a “Lucky Wishbone” sauce unique to them.  2545 N Campbell Ave Tucson, AZ 85719 and other locations.  They also have gizzards, shrimp and steak fingers, which are essentially battered and fried steak strips.

Tiki bars-

Kon Tiki Restaurant & Lounge-Since 1963 – 4625 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85711 Closes 1AM  (520) 323-7193

The Lotus Garden -5975 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85712  (520) 298-3351-not tiki in the slightest, this 1968 Chinese restaurant has mai tais and a koi pond.

Record Store-
CD Depot, 1712 E. Speedway, Tucson, AZ 85719

ZIA SPEEDWAY, 3370 EAST SPEEDWAY BLVD, TUCSON, AZ  (520) 327-3340
ZIA ORACLE, 3655 NORTH ORACLE RD, TUCSON, AZ  (520) 887-6898
ZIA PANTANO, 7940 EAST SPEEDWAY, TUCSON, AZ (520) 731-0361

Provisions-

Sausage Shop Meat Market and Deli -1015 W Prince Rd, Ste 141, Tucson, AZ 85705 (520) 888-1701-Home made sausage deal with a number of sandwiches too.

Attractions-

Trail Dust Town-6541 E Tanque Verde Rd, Tucson, AZ 85715-Old west themed mall with the circa 1960s Pinnacle Peak Steak house.

Hotels-

Hotel Congress-311 East Congress Street-800-722-8848-Art Deco Hotel with “Club Congress” downstairs open til 1 am, as well as a late night restaurant serving til 1 am.  Rates from 125 dollars with discounts for students and artists.  I dont know how you prove that one.

Arizona Inn-2200 E Elm St, Tucson, AZ 85719  (520) 325-1541-Fancy charming old style hotel.

Eats-

El Corral-Since 1926-Super busy Steak house with charm with tamale pie, ribs, photogenic prime rib & mexican Specialties.: 2201 E River Rd, Tucson, AZ 85718

Saguaro Corners Restaurant & Bar- 3750 S Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ 85730-Cool bar with burgers and meat loaf and other tasty things.  Since 1956 and has the old charm.

Daisy Mae’s Steak House-Southwestern-style steakhouse mesquite-fired steak, baby back ribs & more since 1990 – 2735 W Anklam Rd, Tucson, AZ 85745 (520) 792-8888

Frank’s & Francisco’s Denoche Restaurant-breakfasts during the day & Mexican dinners at night.-3843 E Pima St, Tucson, AZ 85716  (520) 881-2710

Lil Abners Steak House-8500 North Silverbell Road- 520-744-2800-Eat at picnic tables or in rooms with fireplaces.  The waiter tells you the menu, as there is no printed menu.
For Mexican, go to St. Mary’s Tortilla factory order at least a dozen of the finest Sonoran thin flour tortillas you’ll ever eat, and order a “Machaca Burro” (In AZ there’s no such thing as “burritos”)and savor a true Sonoran Mexican nosh. Machaca is a stew of dried beef (jerky or carne seca in Spanish) and in this case it is mixed with mild green chiles and refried beans. St. Mary’s Rd and Silver Bell Rd
Mi Nidito Restaurant-1813 S 4th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85713 til 10:30PM (520) 622-5081 carneseca, where they essentially make beef jerky and then stew it, and shredded beef tacos.

Kappy’s Bar & Sandwich Place -2190 N Wilmot Rd, Tucson, AZ 85712 (520) 296-9500-Dive bar with good burgers.

Pat’s Drive In-1202 W Niagara St, Tucson, AZ 85745 (520) 624-0891-Chili dogs in an old timey drive in.

Silver Saddle Steakhouse-Cool ass sign with  mesquite-grilled steaks & a salad bar. 310 E Benson Hwy, Tucson, AZ 85713 (520) 622-6253

Little Anthony’s Diner-7010 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85710 (520) 296-0456-Circa late 80s 50s style diner with decent burger and a lot of gimmick nights, car shows, etc.

Tempe, AZ

Eats-

For some reason there is a branch of Buffalos Teds hot dogs here, which like all Teds have good onion rings and their hot sauce which is basically ketchup, bbq sauce and relish.  Theres also a branch of the Chicago chain Portillos.  And In and Out, and Culvers and more.

Micky’s Hot Dogs -108 W Broadway Rd, Mesa, AZ 85210 (480) 668-7777-Sonoran hot dogs, ie bacon wrapped  hot dogs with a bunch of sauces.

Cornish Pasty-960 W University Dr Ste 103, Tempe, AZ 85281- 480-894-6261-regional chain selling these meat pies

The Chuckbox– 202 E University Dr, Tempe, AZ 85281  (480) 968-4712-cash only older burger joint which cooks over actual charcoal.  Burgers kind of look like whoppers though.

Simon’s Hot Dogs -4280 Drinkwater Blvd Ste 200, Scottsdale, AZ 85251  (480) 426-9218-Columbian style hot dogs and a great chili dogs.

Dave’s Dog House -Arizona State University – Wilson Hall, 240 E Orange Mall, Tempe, AZ 85281 (480) 967-3647-on Campus chili dogs served in toasted New England Style rolls.

Detroit Coney Grill -930 W Broadway Rd, Tempe, AZ 85282(480) 219-7430-Detroit style coneys and sliders. Also in Phoenix.

Live Music

FiftyoneWest -Coffee Shop with rare punk shows- 51 W Southern Ave, Tempe, AZ 85282
(480) 306-6129

Nitas Hideaway-soon to move to the corner on Price (101 Freeway) & Southern.  Call to check before you go. 480-966-7715Record stores-

Stinkweeds Music-1250 E Apache Blvd , Tempe AZ
(480) 968-9490

Yucca Tap Room -Located in: Danelle Plaza, 29 W Southern Ave, Tempe, AZ 85282 til 2AM  (480) 967-4777
ZIA Tempe-105 WEST UNIVERSITY, TEMPE, AZ  (480) 829 – 1967
Hoodlums Music and Movies, 6434 S. McClintock Drive, Tempe, AZ 85283
(480) 775-2722

Darrel’s Root Beer Stand- 1001 N Williamson Ave, Winslow, AZ 86047,  (928) 289-2891-Burger drive in.

Arizona Oranges? WTF?!