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Two visits in, I’m completely smitten with Neutral Ground Lounge, the cozy but sophisticated restaurant and bar tucked away in The Marilyn boutique office complex on Thomas Road and 46th Street. I love the assonance of “ground” and “lounge” as well as the New Orleans-centric history behind the term. See, in NOLA, “neutral ground” denotes the grassy median that separates opposing lanes of traffic, but long before cars superseded horses, the term was used in...

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40 Love Chef Ryan Pitt oversees the kitchen of Old Town Scottsdale’s newest celebrity-endorsed, upscale lounge and restaurant in the former Kelly’s at Southbridge space. Look for modern American cuisine with French technique and Japanese ingredients. 7117 E. Sixth Ave., Scottsdale, 40lovegroup.com   Aristocrat Coffee Roasters Downtown Chandler now has a roastery that serves coffee drinks and pastries. The shop gained fame last summer (while under construction) when it hosted a pop-up wedding for newlyweds whose...