The ForkChops are perfect for the Chinese foodie, who’s carpel tunnel kicks in before the last rice noodle is slurped. ForkChops are reusable, dishwasher and luckily, food-safe.
FOLLOW US
The ForkChops are perfect for the Chinese foodie, who’s carpel tunnel kicks in before the last rice noodle is slurped. ForkChops are reusable, dishwasher and luckily, food-safe.
Forgoing labor this Labor Day, we’ll be chillin’ and grillin’ up a barbecue feast poolside next Monday. If you’re staycationing like we are this weekend, check back through Friday, September 2nd as we unveil a saucy barbecue dish, side or tip daily to help make your Labor Day fete a finger-licking success.
Barbecue Chicken In a Cornmeal Crepe courtesy of Chef Robert McGrath of Renegade Canteen in Scottsdale.
Hungry? We can’t help you out with that. We can, however, tell you where to go, what to eat and what to make as covered by our favorite food bloggers… just like an overbearing mother. Here’s a redux of this week’s happenings in our favorite food blogs:
You know the saying, “It’s so hot here you could fry an egg on the sidewalk” ? Well, it’s cliche and we’re pretty sure Myth Busters disproved that cracked theory years ago, but how about baking cookies on your dashboard? The genius idea came from Chow Bella and the crazy thing is, it actually worked. Take a baking dish, cookie dough and a dashboard in Phoenix on a hot summer day and you can actually bake cookies in just 90 minutes. The baking dish will heat up to 200 degrees and hold steady for long enough to even over cook the dough. Don’t believe it? Read the whole post here and, if you have nothing to do with your life, try it for yourself. »READ MORE
AMC’s Esplanade 14 is set to reopen its doors September 7th, jumping on the trend wagon of theaters combining flicks and forks with a full-service menu from the comfort of a comfy reclining leather seat. Where Jujubes and Whoppers once anxiously awaited your pre-seating purchase, now mixers and fixers for a martini with your matinee take space.
Though lovely to wine and dine your date in the kid-free, 21 and over Cinema Suites, AMC Theatres proudly offers a family-friendly menu in nine Fork & Screen showrooms, though under-agers must be accompanied by an over-ager. Both with tasty options including burgers, pizzettas, salads and desserts, the Cinema Suites exclusively treats martini-goers to the likes of Lobster Ravioli, Blackened Salmon and lemon-zested hot towels all available at the push of a button before “The End.”
Sneak peek at the new AMC Dine-In Theatres on Desert Living Today.
AMC Esplanade 14, 2515 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85016
No worries, Diet Coke fans. No extra calories will be added to the new “Dk” design. Tell your grandma it’s time to update her Coca-Cola collection with this fancy new can.
Looking for the perfect summer drink to pair with your Finger-Licking Labor Day soiree? Stop by Whole Foods Scottsdale for their BBQ Wine Tasting event, Thursday, September 1st from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sample a swig of Mark West Pinot Noir, Seven Deadly Zins, Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc and Rutherford Ranch Merlot, perfect to pair with your weekend barbecue. Taste for just $5 and includes a little nosh of cheese and fruit.
Image via BlogYourWine
As avid internet researchers, we sift through a significant amount of mind numbing crap content on a daily basis, but rarely do we find such precious gems as these. Behold “55 Banana Breakthroughs” brought to you by Trendhunter. Prepare to be amazed by this multifunctional fruit in ways you never thought possible. From shoes to smoothies and everything in between, count all 55 reasons why the banana just became our favorite fruit. Please take note of #2 (wow), #21 (classic) and, a personal favorite, #29 (genius).
Still bummed about missing out on buying the $8 million Maybach Exelero earlier this year? Well, there’s potentially some good news for those of you still in the market for the one-of-a-kind ultra-luxurious ride. Turns out the gentleman who bought the Exelero, music producer and rapper Bryan “Birdman” Williams, may be second-guessing his decision to drop the money for the Maybach. Seems like a good idea. It is a recession after all. And the Birdman just dropped $1 million for the Laudaulet Maybach last year.
If you’ve been stuffing your very large piggy bank or have sweet talked your bank into one helluva financing deal, here’s what you’ll get if you make the Exelero your own:
The one-off car, based on the Maybach 57, was commissioned by tire-maker Fulda to showcase some of their ultra high-performance tyres (they’re European so they get to spell “tyre” with a “y”). The Exelero was designed by then 24-year-old design contest winner Fredrik Burchhardt and his work was coordinated with the Maybach design team. Unveiled in May 2005, the nearly 3-ton beast boasts a 700-horsepower V12 turbocharged engine and reaches speeds near 220 mph. There are currently no plans for Maybach to turn the Exelero into a line of cars, so the lucky owner will likely be the only person to ever own one.
We’re still deciding whether to pool our piggy banks and make the Exelero the official DLT ride or buy 506 new Honda Civics for the same price. We’ll let you know.
Forgoing labor this Labor Day, we’ll be chillin’ and grillin’ up a barbecue feast poolside next Monday. If you’re staycationing like we are this weekend, check back through Friday, September 2nd as we unveil a saucy barbecue dish, side or tip daily to help make your Labor Day fete a finger-licking success.
Chipotle Barbecue Sauce from The Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain in Tucson.
Bring the runway to your walls with the latest in wall fashions inspired by the wild side of life. Wallpaper designers have gone wild with the patterns, textures and colors found on safari and on the catwalk, in their latest collections. Take a tour of our favorite wild wallpaper patterns.
Est Est, Scottsdale’s oldest interior design firm, cleaned house with 11 wins at the American Society of Interior Designers Awards. Accolades from projects include the interiors at Chateau on Central, Chrysalis Shelter and nabbing the “Best in Show” Commercial Award for the showroom of tech company, Cybersound. Take a peek of Cybersound’s winning interior space by designers Kristin Fredstrom and Jessica Moreau.
You know how Sonny the Cuckoo Bird (we had no idea he had a name either) takes a bite of Cocoa Puffs and goes nutzo? Well that’s how we feel about the wonders of coconuts. Coconuts have a worse rap than Lindsay Lohan. However, recent research is clearing the coconut’s name. The skinny on this fatty nut is that it’s good for you! From wrinkles to cooking to weight loss, here’s our favorite uses of the nut du jour.
Skin Care
There comes a day where every woman is going to look in the mirror and find a wrinkle. It’s natural, all part of the circle of life. However, not every woman has the desire nor the money to inject in her lines (yes, even around here). And why should she when Mother Nature has provided us with coconuts? Dr. Oz confirms that the super coconut can help with your wrinkles. Simply eating coconut oil, loaded with anti-oxidents and vitamins, helps replenish the subcutaneous tissue beneath your skin, leaving you looking younger and feeling fresher minus breaking the bank, needles or weird placental treatments. Eew! We just scooped up our teaspoon a day. Yum!
The Spa at Gainey Village is now offering seasonal coconut inspired facial and body treatments. Try a delicious and luxurious one-hour Coconut Sugar Scrub or a Daycation Facial, featuring Coconut Cleansing Milk to replenish your crocodile-like Arizona skin. »READ MORE
Did you catch all the VMA action last night? Well, in case you missed it, here’s some music that wasn’t nominated brought to you by a band who probably wouldn’t show up unless they were paid entirely in vintage concert tees and street drugs.
Yuck – Stutter (InSound Studio Session)
Forgoing labor this Labor Day, we’ll be chillin’ and grillin’ up a barbecue feast poolside next Monday. If you’re staycationing like we are this weekend, check back through Friday, September 2nd as we unveil a saucy barbecue dish, side or tip daily to help make your Labor Day fete a finger-licking success.
Barbecue and Meat Smoking Tips from Bobby Q in Phoenix.
Meat
Always buy fresh meat. Fresh meat will always be juicier than any pre-frozen.
Brisket: Look for large cuts with the point on. The point has more marbling then the flat part which helps keep the juices in while smoking.
Ribs: Use a 2- to 2 ½-pound rib. If you buy a larger one, it could easily dry out.
Pork: Use a fresh bone-in pork shoulder. These are usually around seven pounds, and the bone heats first and helps cook the meat without drying it out.
Rubs
Rubs are an important part of smoking. If applied properly, they help seal in the flavor of the meat with a tasty crust. Season pork and brisket heavily. Season ribs and chicken medium. Pre-season for up to 24-hours for more flavor.
We’re saddened by the weekend devastation as Hurricane Irene pounded the East Coast. As we rummage through story after story, photo after photo of the destruction and disaster, sweating living in the #1 Worst State in America doesn’t seem so bad this morning.
Though Irene and past hurricanes devastate so many, we’ve got to extend a virtual high-five to the media reporting from the eye of the storm. We don’t even want to imagine what it’s like to plead everyone to run for their lives while being stuck coastal, as 35 mph winds, rain and the occasional tree branch pelt your face.
Check out these links for how Irene blows for reporters:
Reporter Gives Irene Update Covered in Toxic Waste
NSFW! Streaking Irene Reveler Ruins Weather Channel
Reporter Seaside, Camera Man Inside
And check out The Daily Mail’s “Hurricane Moments” from past storms.
If Maker’s hits the mark, Jim Beam is your favorite bar buddy and Wild Turkey isn’t just for Thanksgiving, then the JW Marriott Camelback Inn is the place for you this September for National Bourbon Month.
BLT Steak is hosting Arizona’s first Bartender’s Bourbon Battle, Tuesday, August 30th from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. to kick off a month of festivities. Fifteen of our state’s best mixologists, each with a unique brand, will battle their bourbon until the final mix-o-master is left standing. The public is welcome to sample the different bourbon concoctions and vote for the People’s Choice “Best Bourbon Cocktail.” Each $1 vote will be donated to the Children’s Miracle Network Charities. Guests can also preview the new Fall items for BLT’s 5@5 Happy Hour menu, such as burgundy escargot and deviled local cage free eggs.
Bourbon-centric events continue throughout September including poolside specialty bourbon cocktails such as Berry Mint Julep and the Peachy Keen Splash, Saturday Bourbon School for $25, and the Build Your Own Manhattan Bar at BLT Steak.
JW Marriott Camelback Inn – 5402 East Lincoln Drive – Scottsdale, AZ 85253 - 1-800-24-CAMEL
You’ve got less than a week to shape up for the Sand Slam Volleyball tournament, to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Arizona, returning to Cadillac Ranch at Tempe Marketplace this Labor Day. Saturday through Sunday, September 3rd and 4th, 120 tons of sands will be trucked in as 20 teams of pro and semi-pro players, local bartenders and retailers compete for the Sand Slam Title Belt and cash prizes. If you’re like us and sticky sand just isn’t your thing, enjoy the live music and bikini fashion show inside Cadillac Ranch.
As chosen by you, here are the most popular stories OF ALL TIME (aka last week). Just in case you missed it.
From starting his own foundation benefiting childrens’ charities, to opening a designer shoe store and starting his own clothing line, it seems like Adrian Wilson has a lot underfoot these days. This, of course, is in addition to starting his 11th season with the Arizona Cardinals after being named one of the Top 100 players in the NFL by his peers. We got a chance to talk with the Pro Bowler about the ups and downs of owning High Point Shoes, what’s hot in back to school kicks and what it’s like to finally join the twitterverse. Read our full interview to get all the details and how to get a killer deal on some sweet sneaks.
As chosen by you, here are the most popular stories OF ALL TIME (aka last week). Just in case you missed it.
Ouch, this hurts. Gawker has just completed their “Ranking The USA” feature and it looks like we have ended up on top or in this case, the bottom. Tell us what you think readers?
Says, Gawker:
The Good: Arizona has lots of natural beauty, from the dizzying Grand Canyon to, well, the areas immediately outside the Grand Canyon (Kaibab represent). That’s about it. Well, OK, Flagstaff has its moments.
The Bad: First off, it’s the middle of the goddamned desert so why is everyone there? Why is Phoenix? Ecological catastrophes, the twin brown stars of Phoenix and Scottsdale are insanely destructive, places so hot that they have mist sprayers everywhere even though there is no water there. Dreadful! The sheriff of the area is an insane lunatic cowboy wannabe who rules the town like Gene Hackman in the The Quick and the Dead. Alabama’s batshit immigration law was inspired by Arizona’s own SB 1070, a racist and xenophobic piece of legislation representative of Arizona’s roiling immigration crisis that was signed into law by the state’s governor Jan Brewer, a perky-eyed psychopath who speaks in tongues. Arizona is swiftly devolving into a dystopic free-for-all of armed mad men patrolling the state with guns, often to disastrous effect. (As witnessed in the Gaby Giffords incident — though, c’mon, you can’t blame Arizona for Jared Loughner any more than you can blame Colorado for Columbine.) Arizona is a hissing snakepit of angry old white people (they are angry because they are literally being cooked to death) yelling at the immigrants and other Others whom they fear and loathe, and it is probably going to explode someday soon into a bright ball of orange fire and we will know that either the end times have come for us all or thank god we are finally rid of Arizona.
Final Score: 2.76
As chosen by you, here are the most popular stories OF ALL TIME (aka last week). Just in case you missed it.
Well, let’s not get too far ahead ourselves. What we do know is that the folks at everyone’s favorite state school are aiming to clear the air a little with its recent partnership with locally owned and operated company, Clean Air Cab. With the quality of air, the public education system and the economy taking the plunge these days, we are all on board with the idea of giving back to the students who take the time to call and ride in the environmentally friendly Prius cabs. As the official cab company of the university, Clean Air Cab has now designed two special ASU themed cabs (like the one pictured) and $1 of every ride will be put back into an academic scholarship fund. $7,500 has already been donated by owner, Steve Lopez. Like Sparky, we give this program two horns up.
Talk about Sasha F.I.E.R.C.E. Beyonce’s new video for 1 + 1 is total trip, but quite different from her usual glitzy, glamorous, bootylicious videos. We love it and would expect nothing less from the reigning Queen B.
As chosen by you, here are the most popular stories OF ALL TIME (aka last week). Just in case you missed it.
The AMC Esplanade 14 is set to open September 7th as AMC’s latest Dine-In Theatre concept. We couldn’t be happier since our office is just steps away from the new luxury theatre. We’re already planning our midday martini matinees. Check out this video peek of the new concept. We give it two thumbs up.
We’re still hanging on and on through this horrid heat. Even if you don’t have plans to cool off while you Get High (in the Pines) this weekend, turn up the cool with these sweet beats, courtesy of DJ William F-Ing Reed.
Jens Lekman – An Argument With Myself
Blitzen Trapper – Love The Way You Walk Away
Ganglians – Drop The Act
Clockopera – Lesson No. 7
Active Child – Hanging On
