My first thought was that the truck wasn’t worth fixing until I spoke with Alex (the owner). Now I’ve referred quite a few friends to Alex over the last five years but I was shocked that he was willing to fix the truck for the price he gave me just because I had sent new customers there. I’m not going to mention what I paid because I think he might have taken a loss. Even if that’s not true there’s no way he’d made much. And his mechanic gave me a ride home :) .

The truck runs great.

If you stop in there don’t mention this post. I’d sorta feel bad. :)

I went to a Diamondbacks game with a friend of mine last week and checked out the Sonoma Coffee Cafe downtown (corner of Van Buren and 1st Street). Now I am not a coffee drinker or even a fan of coffee cafes but I had a few great reasons to like the place. First - with a decent selection of microbrews on tap it’s just as much a bar as it is a coffee shop . And right before a ballgame it’s a much more chill place than most other bars around the ballpark.

But most importantly, there is secret free parking in a garage right next door. Unfortunately you’ll have to find that on your own (but it isn’t that difficult). We did however, pay for a pedicab down to Chase field. But even that was less expensive than parking near the park.

The beer prices were comparable to anywhere else downtown if you’re not counting domestic bottles served from a trough. And although I’m no connoisseur my friend Jason believed the coffee selection and prices to be about the same as Starbucks.

I spoke with the owner briefly and they have other coffee franchises under construction in Scottsdale and California.

The restaurant is in central Phoenix on the corner of Osborn and 7th Avenue. (The construction on Osborn made this difficult to get to - it’s on the Southeast corner and it’s easier to get to from 7th than it is Osborn).

A coworker and I stopped in for a late happy hour after getting off of work early. My impression upon entering was favorable as it’s clean and the host greeted us almost immediately even though they were obviously busy. We were seated quickly and next to a table of cops. In my experience the presence of police officers is a pretty good indication of good and inexpensive food. And a lack of criminals.

Because I’m not very imaginative I ordered the number 99 combo which is a chile relleno, a cheese enchilada, a bean tostada, and rice. My coworker ordered a vegetarian burro grande with beans, rice, guacamole, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and pico de gallo. And we both ordered margaritas.

The chille relleno and the enchilada were good. The portions are, like most Mexican restaurants I’ve been to, entirely too much for me. The real surprise was the vegetarian burro grande. I’m a meat-eater and wouldn’t have thought you could make a decent burro without it tasting bland. But both my friend and I thought the pico de gallo was outstanding.

After dinner we bellied up to the bar for another margarita. Then we went next door to the Hidden House. Which is also worth checking out for it’s eclectic mix of customers!

PS. I hear construction on Osborn will be finished soon so not a big deal.

With Southern fried chicken and golden brown waffles Lolo’s satisfies that curiousity.

But chicken and waffles aren’t the only dishes at Lolo’s. They also serve catfish, chicken gizzards, grits and more Southern soul favorites.

The amiable family restaurant has been celebrated in publications from the Arizona Republic to the Food & Life dining guide.

Lolo’s is locatiod at 10 West Yuma Street - two blocks south of the intersection of Buckeye and Central.
Even more interesing though, is the approval of famous guests from Phoenix and beyond. The walls are covered with a diverse array of autographs from local basketball favorites Amare Stoudamire and Charles Barkely to an American hero Tuskegee airman.

More info.

Part 1:

1) Frank Lloyd Wright spent his winters in Scottsdale from 1937 until his death in 1959. His winter home, Taliesin West, is located near the northeast corner of Scottsdale. Wright was also commissioned to help with the planning and construction of the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa. The building’s designers balked at Wright’s unusual design but a compromise was reached. Today the Biltmore boasts that it is a Frank Lloyd Wright-influenced design.

2) Alice Cooper became famous for his stage persona and heavy metal music in the late 60’s. Alice Cooper, or Vincent Furnier, attended Cortez High School in Phoenix before beginning his music career. In 1974 he changed his name to Alice Cooper and became an international superstar. In the late 90’s Cooper opened Alice Cooper’stown near Bank One Ballpark and America West Arena in downtown Phoenix. The bar and restaurant are where Jock meets Rock.

3) Gary Condit was a United States Congressman from 1989 to 2003. Condit received national attention when the body of his intern, Chandra Levy, was found in a Washington D.C. park approximately one year after she had disappeared. At first Condit, also known for his honest-looking grin, lied about his relationship with Levy. He later admitted to a romantic relationship with the intern. The case remains unsolved. Condit is no longer a suspect.

4)Jenna Jameson is one of the best-recognized female adult movie stars working today. She lives in Scottsdale.

Coming soon: Don Bolles, Robert William Fisher, and Wonder Woman.