Hunting for opportunities to step away from traditional pairings to simply explore what tastes good and makes us feel strong seems like a worthwhile exercise for us to engage in regularly. Lots of upside, little down. Earlier this week, I wrapped up a long work and needed a clean meal to wrap the night. I found myself stopping at the bar at the Vig in downtown Phoenix, just … [Read more…]

A message to wait staff everywhere: when a customer asks for help with a meal order, be decisive. Recently, I strolled into a new Indian restaurant in Phoenix. The food was strong, the service was attentive and the experience was enjoyable…sans a two minute stretch in which the woman serving my table struggled to make a recommendation. She didn’t want to be on the … [Read more…]

Empty and dark, the weight room in the desert, rational thoughts and emotions collide I’ve been here before. Thought bubble pops, cursive emerges even though I don’t know the alphabet “You fucked that conversation up, you lost all your cool.” Your plan is out the window once you get punched in the face. Broken treadmill sounds are a crazy violation of my space. As fast as … [Read more…]

You know I don’t plug restaurants around here. I will, however, plug friends and illuminate the relentless and inspirational work they’re doing. We don’t have rules or guidelines. That’s the spirit of our blog. We’re perpetually fascinated by learning about people and their stories, told in their own words. Aric, you’ve got the floor. Life-changing experiences don’t always … [Read more…]

Sweet tooth? We can get candy flavors from our black coffee. We just have to be willing to slow down. I don’t eat caramel anymore, but I still love the taste. Yesterday, I waltzed into Trader Joe’s. It’s been a while, but I was grabbing a bottle of Monkey Shoulder for a friend (TJ’s carries my favorite basic scotch, among other things). I browsed the coffee selection and … [Read more…]