1. Le Painted Grape at El Panzon y Frida – July 19
In an hour and a half, you’ll transform a plain-looking wine glass into a colorful and functional piece of art. July’s design is a bright and inviting sunflower that will bring a bit of happy to any kitchen. The art supplies and glass are provided. $30. 6-7:30 p.m. 7323 E. Shoeman Ln., Scottsdale, facebook.com/events.
If you missed National Fried Chicken Day (July 6) and didn’t get a chance to feast on fabulous fowl, don’t fret: Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles is celebrating all month by offering a free side dish for the table with the purchase of any “Hood Classics” meal.
But if you’d rather try making your own, Larry White, the Valley's king of fried chicken and founder of Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles, has rustled up a variation of his secret fried chicken recipe.
In May, online Travel company Trivago named Kingman No. 5 on its list of the top 10 emerging travel destination in the United States. We poked around to see what's new and newsworthy in "The Heart of Historic Route 66."
Near the beginning of Pamela Tom’s documentary Tyrus, the painter Tyrus Wong, who died last year at the age of 106, explains that his Chinese name, Gen Yo, translates to something like “Buena Vista” in Spanish. The view from his eyes seems, indeed, to have been beautiful.
1. The Little Mermaid Broadway Musical at Dream City Church – July 13-16
Having a fish tail and spending her days under the sea won’t stop Ariel from chasing her dreams. Her curiosity regarding the human world leads her to adventure and love that will get laughs and cries from the whole family. $10-$32.50. Th 7:30 p.m.; F 7:30 p.m.; Sa 11 a.m., 7:30 p.m.; Su 2:30 p.m. 13613 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix, summermusical.org.
If you’re looking for a quick summer dish to serve at your next barbecue, chef Michael Goldsmith of Joe’s Midnight Run shares a flavorful chicken recipe that he also makes at the funky restaurant housed in an old liquor drive-thru on 7th Street. The secret to the dish is the Ras el Hanout, a Moroccan spice mixture of cinnamon, clove, coriander and a few other ingredients, which Goldsmith says you can pick up at Mediterranean markets across the Valley. (Or, here's a recipe on Epicurious.) “I like to try to get out of the box a little bit and incorporate flavors from around the world and keep them as traditional as possible,” Goldsmith says. The recipe also includes a couscous salad and a tangy yogurt dip and can be served as an appetizer or entrée.
Each month, we of the PHOENIX magazine creative team ask ourselves a different question about our favorite dining and drinking experiences in the Valley. Our picks are usually hidden in the back of the magazine among our Dining Guide restaurant listings. Not any more. Our picks are going digital! Feel free to follow us on social media (at least, those of us who tweet) and be sure to tag us (@PhoenixMagazine on Twitter and @PHXMagazine on Instagram) on pics of your favorite picks.
In honor of our Free PHX cover story in the June issue we're asking ourselves, What are your favorite cheap eats in the Valley?
1. Book of Souls Tour with Iron Maiden at Talking Stick Resort Arena – June 28
Whether you were a metal-loving teen in the ‘80s or discovered the genre in the 21st century, Iron Maiden has surely blasted forth from your speakers at some point. They have transcended the decades and continue to rock in 2017. This year’s tour is coming off their 2016 tour that reached six continents and 35 countries. They’ll be joined by the band Ghost while they travel in the states. $65+. 11 p.m. Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix, ironmaiden.com.
For the past few years, The James Beard Foundation has sponsored a contest called The Blended Burger Project to entice chefs into making hamburgers by blending ground meat with chopped mushrooms. The result: burgers that are not only delicious, but also healthier and more sustainable for the planet.
Last year, on June 19, Phoenix broke a daily heat record reaching 118 degrees, killing four hikers in the Phoenix and Tucson area. Unfortunately, this wasn’t a singular incident. Phoenix weather routinely tops a scorching 110 degrees in the summer. Yet people continue to think they can handle hiking around the Valley despite the heat, especially, it seems, Camelback Mountain – the Phoenix hiking trail equivalent of L.A.’s Runyon Canyon in terms of popularity, but with steep ascents and tricky switchbacks over unforgiving desert landscape. It seems there’s always a helicopter rescue or five every year. Don’t forget who pays for those rescues… us, taxpayers.
Being all alone in the world – that's the theme of The Quiet Earth. But I don’t mean that figuratively. Zac (Bruno Lawrence), the hero of this 1985 film from New Zealand showing at 6 p.m. this Sunday, June 4, at Film Bar Phoenix, suddenly finds himself seemingly the only person left alive on Earth after a science project-gone-wrong.
Putting together a charcuterie plate usually involves selecting some good quality cheeses and cured meats. But if you want to dress things up a bit, Quiessence at The Farm at South Mountain co-owner/chef Dustin Christofolo suggests that you try adding some jardiniere (pickled vegetables) and olive relish.
Art, Hispanic culture and gambling. If ever something embodied the spirit of Arizona better…
We kid. But the Arizona Lottery is combining all three by putting out a call for original artwork to be used on a Día de los Muertos themed lottery ticket. The selected artist will create at least two scenes to appear on $2 Scratchers tickets that will be sold in nearly 3,000 stores statewide in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15.
Animal protein ain’t the only way to get your gains, bro.
At least, according to a recent study in the journal “Nutrients” from Arizona State University. The researchers tracked the diets of vegetarian and omnivore endurance athletes for a week then had them complete a series of fitness tests. The findings? Both categories of athletes performed at basically the same level and had very similar body compositions.
Once known for its lumberjack college kids, good skiing and decent drinkin' scene, Flagstaff is quickly making a name for itself as a foodie town (and we're not just talking about the phenomenal pizza). To explore the burgeoning culinary scene up north, we're running a series of Q&As with the personalities behind the chef hats behind the town's restaurant renaissance we're calling the "Flag Food Boom."
Today we're chatting with:
Paul Moir
Proper Meats + Provisions
110 S. San Francisco St., Flagstaff
928-774-9001, propermeats.com
In 2014, the folks behind Brix and Criollo Latin Kitchen opened Proper Meats + Provisions, a neighborhood butcher shop and deli housed in a downtown Flagstaff historic building. The shop features all local, farm-raised meats, poultry and cured products as well as a deli menu loaded with sandwiches to swoon over, including a house-made pastrami sandwich on grilled rye bread and a fried chicken po’boy. Co-owner Paul Moir recently talked turkey with PHOENIX magazine.
