Along with pretty respectable corned beef and cabbage and a few other dinner delicacies, this sports-centric westside watering hole also gives good breakfast, embedding ham, cheese, onion and bell peppers in eggs with particularly potent results. The secret is that it’s cheese-forward – rich, gooey American, and plenty of it. The flavor is mile-high.

Suddenly, this year, we all remembered how much we love drive-in movies. But almost all such outdoor theaters are long gone. Time to DIY with a little assistance from the kind folks at Outdoor Movie Magic. They’ll do all the heavy lifting, with a selection of screens and sound systems, you just need to find the right spot and choose your movie (or make your own video). They even rent popcorn machines for when we...

Classic pancakes are abundant (and delicious) at Old Town institution OPH, but the baked pancakes – like the cinnamon-glazed apple and puffy Dutch baby – are showstoppers.

We miss being out and about and picking up a copy of ON Stage to see what’s going on around town, so we were pleased to see it make an early pandemic pivot, quickly becoming a comprehensive go-to for virtual events. From archived performances from Ballet Arizona to a geometry masterclass at Arizona State University, you can find just about every local offering online, then enjoy it from the comfort of your couch. They’ll even...

When farmer Maya Dailey announced that her weekly CSA (community supported agriculture) was available for pick-up at Ollie Vaughn’s, we were there – literally. Each week we grabbed a bag packed with carrots, kale, lettuce, beans, flowers and more, then added a few baked treats from the mothership. Some weeks this spring this was our only outing – and a bright, tasty spot in a dark, scary time. ollievaughns.com, mayasfarm.com

Don a wetsuit and bring your waterproof camera for the aquarium’s SeaTREK Helmet Dive. The guided underwater adventure is less of a “dive” and more of a “walk” along a manmade ocean floor during which you’ll (safely) encounter sharks, stingrays and other Indo-Pacific marine life.

Valley-bred brewpub chain boasts dog-friendly patios at all four Valley locations.

Woman cannot live by Amazon alone. We know, we’ve tried. We miss browsing in a boutique, considering nonessentials like handmade earrings and fashions from the ’80s and ’90s. Thank goodness for NOONS and sister shop Deep End Vintage, housed in the same spot on Seventh Avenue. Message ahead on the website for an appointment, mask up and pretend for a little while that the world isn’t on fire.

Online confectioner Alex Olmos Axelson sculpts chocolate into inspired shapes and patterns, often integrating unexpected flavors in visually astonishing ways. He has made smooth fuchsia bonbons that look like halved eggs, pumpkin-spice chocolate-covered peanuts and bars studded with pistachios. Recently, the Spaniard even flavored a spicy-sweet bar with pecans, dates and chiltepins.

Launched by The Nightmare Before Christmas superfans Jessica and 
Francis Brown in 2017.

Even before carryout became a bigger deal in most of our lives, this tiny nook, barely noticeable in an Albertson’s strip mall, already focused on meals to go; the handful of tables and chairs were a rarely used formality. But it’s truly first-rate carryout: juicy steamed dumplings, perfectly cooked and spiced General Tso’s. It’s all soy good.

When Mia Mo moved to Arizona from California, the dry heat left her formerly healthy tresses depleted. Determined to heal her own hair and to help other Black women with their unique hair needs, she went to cosmetology school and developed My Hair Goals, a virtual beauty program that teaches natural hair maintenance and includes a personalized plan for every participant based on their individual hair goals – scalp health, strand strength, curl definition, etc.

If the auditory arts are your jam, string together three free concerts on First Fridays. Trinity Episcopal Cathedral’s ark-like ceiling creates soaring acoustics for Phoenix Chorale rehearsals and choir performances. The Irish Cultural Center’s replica 19th-century cottage hosts rollicking seisiúns. And The Nash (pictured) is a groovy place to sip wine and listen to sexy jazz. thenash.org, azirish.org, trinitycathedral.com

Kathy Cano-Murillo, founder of the Crafty Chica brand, often combines her colorful classes at Mucho Más Art Studio with culinary bonuses, à la Pan Dulce & Piñata craft workshops, in which participants indulge in Mexican pastries while creating sugar skull piñatas. Who knew you could have such fun with cardboard, tissue paper and hot glue?

Finally, Phoenix has a decent place for Nashville-style hot chicken, that crunchy, craggy and capsaicin-packed poultry that swept the nation a few years ago. Monroe’s is tops for its incredibly juicy boneless tenders and its choose-your-own-adventure heat levels: Southern (no spice), mild, medium, hot, extra hot and What Da Cluck!, which is so singeing you have to sign a waiver.