Tag: Phoenix

Tea at Arizona Biltmore Resort

The right food and drink not only provide nutritional substance, but cleanse & calm the mind.  I drink a lot of tea of many different varieties.  High quality Tea is a thing of beauty.

My friend and I often share Tea stories, varieties, recommendations, and have enjoyed Japanese Tea at Nobuo for lunch earlier this year.  Looking for another great tea experience, we consulted TeaMap.com and started on the list.  Some of these locations have  closed, and others are quite a drive.  Another Tea enthusiast friend just had Afternoon Tea at the Biltmore Resort last weekend, and it was the perfect choice.

Biltmore tea seating for 5
Biltmore tea seating for 5 people

The Arizona Biltmore Resort is Waldorf-Astoria property built in 1929 in the art-deco style of design.  The atmosphere is old Hollywood glamour.  It was a stark contrast to Afternoon Tea at the American Girl Doll Cafe in Chicago last year, but both very enjoyable. Tea at the Biltmore is served in the main lobby, near the restaurant, by the front windows. Continue reading “Tea at Arizona Biltmore Resort”

Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Lounge | Best of Downtown Phoenix, Arizona

Earlier this week we attended the Rush 40th anniversary concert at US Airways center arena in downtown Phoenix.  Not wanting to miss a moment of the show, we called our Uber car and arrived almost 2 hours early.  Our plan was to avoid traffic, and get a light snack & beverages at Cityscape before the show, since we had plenty of time.  Great plan, except that every lounge and bar was packed!  We could see the bar at the Blue Hound, but it was so crowded with people it was impossible to order a drink.

Bitter & Twisted bar and a few signature cocktails
Bitter & Twisted bar and a few signature cocktails

Feeling frustrated and claustrophobic, we wandered toward Central Avenue and discovered the most delightful cocktail lounge.  Bitter & Twisted is deceptively simple on the outside, and a wonder on the inside.  Reclaimed red brick from Chicago and a massive bar, complete with old-tyme bar stools, greeted us on entry.  There are luxurious BT_Wallgolden upholstered booths along the outer wall and a stunning wall canvas.  The atmosphere is glorious!  There were only a few people, which we later learned is because B&T opened on their normal day off to serve the concert-goers (thank you, thank you!).

Fish & Chips
Fish & Chips

The drinks are exquisite.  Each one is poured with skill and attention to detail.  Average drink price was $12 and took a couple minutes to make – worth it.  We ordered cocktails exclusively, but they do serve wine and other beverages.  I shared the Fish & Chips with my friend, and it was the best that I have had in Phoenix!  Next time I will not eat before going, so that I can try more menu items.

BT_drinkB&T are self-proclaimed “Purveyors of fine cocktails, spirits, and good times” and that is the honest truth.  We had such a nice time before the concert that we all met back at B&T for a post-concert beverage before calling our car to take us home.  Traffic and crowds were overwhelming after the concert, so it was a strategic withdrawal to B&T.

The bartenders are funny, charming and talented. Explaining each drink ingredient when we asked, and offering dead-on suggestions for the next delicious beverage to try.  The staff is clearly having a good time, and they ensure that everyone around them has a pleasant evening, as well.  The bartenders were telling us about the New Year’s Eve party, and a few other events that we need to attend.  Turns out, B&T hosted a fabulous Villain’s Ball during Comicon – I missed out!BT_Menu

B&T is located at Central & Jefferson, close to US Airways arena, the Phoenix Symphony, Phoenix convention center, and many downtown events.  Bitter & Twisted is my new top pick for Downtown refreshments!

Sanctuary Spa on Camelback Review and Spa Tour | Arizona Spas

Travel Zoo promo photo
Travel Zoo promo photo

I love a good spa experiance, and I am a sucker for a great pool.  The promotional photo for Sanctuary Spa on Camelback is stunning and serene.  Travel Zoo offered a fantastic deal, so I immediately bought a spa deal and booked an appointment.

Sanctuary Spa on Camelback is nestled at the base of Camelback Mountain.  There is no indication of being in the middle of metro-Phoenix, it feels like you are far-far away.

Sanctuary Infinity Pool
Sanctuary Infinity Pool

This is what the pool really looks like, not as exactly the same as the promo photo using the super wide angle lens to make the pool look much, much bigger.  The slate tile surrounding the pool is beautiful, but dark gray and horribly hot (not a good plan for a pool in Arizona).  The only shade is from the few cabanas (in the photo) and the umbrellas for the majority of the lounge chairs to the left of the pictured pool. The pool was refreshing, but lacking any breeze or shade, I cut my time short.  The pool is shared between the resort & the spa and was starting to get crowded when I left.  The view is beautiful, just not quite as remote as the promo photo indicates.

Relaxation room
Relaxation room

The spa front desk staff were polite and after a quick check-in and payment (the mandatory tip is applied before treatment when using a discount voucher), I was escorted to the Ladies locker area.  I was not offered a tour of the spa facilities, even after I explained it was my first visit, and I had to ask for directions to the pool.

I purchased a voucher for the Sanctuary Jewel 60 minute facial.  The aesthetician asked very few questions and really did not explain what products she was using or why.  One of the masks smelled delicious and she confirmed my theory that is was indeed a Pumpkin mask.  Everything felt really nice and smelled wonderful.  I opted for the additional foot moisturizer and eye treatments.  My face is soft and glowing, so whatever she did, it was a good treatment. Continue reading “Sanctuary Spa on Camelback Review and Spa Tour | Arizona Spas”

Revive Spa JW Marriott Desert Ridge | Spa Review and Tour

Just like reading, the more your spa the more you know.  So, if I had little less spa experience, I would probably like the Revive spa at JW Marriott Desert Ridge in north Phoenix more.  Perhaps ignorance is bliss.

Marriott spa10

Continue reading “Revive Spa JW Marriott Desert Ridge | Spa Review and Tour”

The Buddy Holly Story

 – Guest blogger, Jack Benway contributes the following review of Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story presented by the Phoenix Theater League at the Orpheum Theater March 2015.

The Jukebox Musical Theater genre is growing on me, if for no other
reason than its combination of absurdity and audacity.

The genre takes somebody else’s already popular and well-known musical
body of work, weaves an (often contrived or minimal) narrative around
it, adds some choreography, costuming, and stage work, and delivers it
as a theatrical production.

Considering that a good rock-and-roll live show already includes
choreography, costuming, and stagework, it becomes clear that a Jukebox
Musical is really just extremely clever marketing to significantly
increase the ticket price of a cover band or retrospective musical
review.  Bully for them — bring on the clever marketing!

No rock band ever won a Tony Award for their live tour, but repackage
the songs of that same rock band, performed by others, as musical
theatre, and a trophy will be awarded in short order.

Buddy (the Buddy Holly Story) delivered the best that the Jukebox
Musical genre can offer.

Its narrative, describing Buddy Holly’s rocket ride to stardom and
tragic abrupt demise, contributed nicely to the mostly musical production.

The clever mechanism of radio show snippets for timeline advancement
made for rapid progression with minimal need for set changes or chorus
ensemble.

Its biggest miss was the use of chorus girls singing ad jingles during
the first act, which seemed out of place and a bit contrived for the
production as a whole — a good idea that wasn’t executed or implemented
to fruition.

The impersonator (er, actor) playing Buddy Holly was fantastic, as were
those playing the lesser roles of The Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens, and the
Crickets.  The music was wonderful.  Costumes were appropriate but not
particularly noteworthy.

Buddy made me wish I could have seen Buddy Holly perform live, or at
least, take in a good Buddy Holly cover band.