This was just about the coolest sport I have seen live. Okay, the balloons were kind of lame, but what were they going to shoot? Watermelons? Ten balloons arrayed across the rodeo ground. Two pistols, five shooters with black powder shot. 18 seconds or less. What a great show. Where can I sign up.
AlohaFest is this weekend. The Hawaiian cultural festival in downtown Phoenix. This signifies the true start of spring for me.
The weather is great. And the food is fab! Don’t miss a plate lunch. The best food vendor is Aloha Kitchen from Mesa. Yummy. Huli Huli Chicken, Kalua Pork, rice and mac salad. Delish. And don’t miss the manapua. A steamed pork bun. Similar to char sui bao if you’re familiar with dim sum.
The dancing is great too! So fun. It’s particularly fun to watch all of the little kids in the audience try to imitate and hula.
Lots of great goods. I love the crack seed shop. Li Hing Mui and Li Hin Pineapple. Makes my mouth water just thinking about it.
If you can’t head to the islands for a long weekend, I highly recommend the AlohaFest!
More details at Arizona AlohaFest.
Unfortunately, we’re spending a long weekend in San Diego and will mis AlohaFest. Have a shave ice for me!
Now in season, get em @ Sunflower Market / Sprouts / etc.
Mmm, they have a more exotic flavor that your typical orange.
Just make sure you don’t wear a white shirt while eating one!
The rain couldn’t have come at a better time. My backyard is in shambles due to a nearly full re-landscaping project I’ve embarked on. I was dreading digging up stumps and trenches for irrigation. But now, who knew that dirt in Phoenix could be so soft! I have been literally able to rip out old irrigation piping with my bare hands, that’s how much rain we got! Digging out stumps and holes for new trees has never been this easy. It’s almost like living back east again where dirt is more like dirt instead of this brown concrete we have in Phoenix.
And while I missed the actual rain event here in Phoenix, I did catch it in Minnesota as a nice big snowstorm while there on business. Nothing like sitting on the tarmac for 40 minutes waiting for the plane to be de-iced.
And in what may be the largest snowfall in AZ history? Sunrise got 5.5 feet.
This is what it looked like in Desert Hills earlier today. Yes, HERE! (Thanks to c_az for the picture.)
I guess when we finally break a dry spell, we break it in style: “The National Service has issued a heavy snow warning for northern Maricopa County through 5 a.m. Sunday.” (How often do you read a phrase like that?)
Everyone I met today is giddy. The weather bunnies are giddy, my neighbors are giddy, and I am giddy. I guess if you go 143 days without some and then get it you get giddy. I am trying to think what the longest time I have gone without. I know there was that dry spell in college…
It is snowing in Scottsdale! What fun.
This is so sad. I feel bad for the family and for the City of Mesa, neither of whom needs this kind of publicity. The Republic has the story, though everyone has been talking this up. Someone mentioned that this made the Stern show. The photo, by the way, comes from freebird4.
Folks always ask me, how do you know about all these shows? Jambase my friend, Jambase. It’s your one stop shop for music events in and around Phoenix (and across the country). Are you in a local band? If so, post your shows on Jambase and start spreading the word. It’s all free.
If you’re looking for a good show tonight, try Melefluent at Hollywood Alley in Mesa. A blend of Reggae and Funk with a bit of Hip Hop thrown in for good measure.
The trees are turning green again and everywhere I look the grass is coming back. In an effort to be good water stewards we do not overseed (plant winter grass). So this winter has been dry and dust coloured. But, with the warming nights the grass is coming back. Cycle of life. That used to make me happy, watching the changing of the seasons. But spring is short here, and then comes the pain. I have been in denial these wintry months snug under my comforter. But I can hear it now. That low bass. That ominous hum… Something evil this way comes. Summer.
I haven’t had wings as good as the ones I had last night since Long Wongs on Mill closed. Visited my Dad in South Phoenix and on our way home we stopped at Gallagher’s on 32nd St and Baseline. Not only do they have fried wings, but also baked wings. Mmmmm. I had baked BBQ and my girlfriend had baked Suicide. Mind you I’ve never been a huge fan of wings, but these were awesome. Some places just don’t know how to do wings, either they’re overfried or way too greasy. One place with horrible wings is WingStreet. The word “wing” is in their name and they can’t even make good wings. Go figure. I’ve never had baked wings before, but I’m hooked. The meat was juicy and tender and their BBQ sauce was excellent. My only complaint is that the red wine we had there was too warm, almost like they had it sitting on top of a refridgerator or something heating it up. I’ve noticed that, in general, restaurants are finally carrying more types of red wines than your typical run of the mill reds (Cab, Merlot, etc). This is a good thing, however, some seem to disregard the recommended serving temperature of these wines. Pinot Noir is one that comes to mind, it’s typically served in the 55 - 62 degree range, not room temperature. Even the common reds should be served at under 70 degrees. In any case, it was unexpectedly good.
