Written by: Arizona Mills Between warmer weather, longer days and a break from school, summer is the season of adventure, and the perfect time to create lasting memories with family. Whether you’re an Arizona local or visiting Tempe on vacation, Arizona Mills – located in the heart of Tempe and just 15 minutes from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport – is the ultimate destination for fashion, food and fun. With more than 185 stores, diverse dining options and exclusive entertainment venues, the state’s largest indoor value-retail and entertainment destination has something for everyone to enjoy. Shop Beat the summer heat and treat your family to a shopping spree! As an indoor, climate-controlled center, Arizona Mills offers the ultimate shopping experience, with top brands at up to 70% off. Whether you’re looking for a flowy summer dress, the perfect jean shorts, a new hiking outfit, or already thinking about back-to-school clothes for the kids, you’ll find great deals at an impressive mix of stores including Levi’s Outlet, Gap Outlet, Nike Clearance Store, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria’s Secret, Oakley Vault, Express Factory Outlet, Buckle, H&M, Forever 21, Children’s Place Outlet and the Disney Store Outlet. And with top brands like Steve Madden, Skechers, Vans Outlet, Crocs, Famous Footwear, Journeys, Foot Locker and more, Arizona Mills is a shoe lover’s paradise! Dine All that shopping can work up an appetite! Arizona Mills offers a wide variety of family-friendly dining options, whether you’re in the mood for a sit-down meal or something on-the-go. The […]

We donut mess around when it comes to donut shop delights in Tempe  “You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy donuts and that’s basically the same thing.” – Unknown  — The Donut Competition  We thought it would be a blast to showcase some of Tempe’s most beloved donut shops and pin donuts up against one another, sprinkle to sprinkle in the [one of the] most important competitions of the year.  Of course, everyone in our office was willing to participate… no arm twisting here.  Round 1   The first go around, we were so fascinated with the donuts from local creative favorites, Donut Parlor and Hurts Donuts.    Donut get us wrong, we love a fun donut but flavor is just as important, if not more. Some categories that we considered while checking out these round pieces of joy were Most Instagrammable, For the Brave (and Willing), and Most Creative and Colorful.  These categories were kept in the forefront of our taste buds as we tried flavors like Strawberry Special K Cereal, S’mores and Maple Bacon. You read that right!    Conveniently located on your way to work is Donut Parlor – the strip mall location on Elliot near Priest Dr. doesn’t do justice for how awesome tasting the donuts are. You’re sure to be the office hero when you bring in a variety pack of these donuts. It definitely upped our popularity when we brought the donuts in to our office. Group projects and team collabs get a whole lot easier with we’re incentivized by donuts, agreed? Hurts Donuts is located near […]

Now that the end of April is here and May is on the horizon, there are a few things that will once again become prevalent on your social media feeds. First will come the pool photos or some other indication that summer is upon us (#summerbod2019), followed by the Justin Timberlake “It’s gonna be May” memes, that are for some reason still topical. But there is nothing, and I mean nothing, that compares to the amount of Cinco de Mayo photos that will start to come at you at full force. Before the FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) sets in, we have selected a few of our favorite bars and restaurants that will insure that you too will have an Instagrammable time. After enjoying all that Tempe has to offer, we encourage you to continue your celebration by taking the Valley Metro Rail from Mill Avenue and 3rd Street to Washington and Central Avenue for the Cinco de Mayo Phoenix Festival on May 5th. Downtown Tempe El Hefe Tempe 640 S. Mill Ave., #110, Tempe, AZ 85281 (480) 257-2797 Tequila, beer, margaritas…oh my! Serving both as a yummy taco joint and as a hopping nightlife spot, El Hefe has everything you need to party all weekend long. Try the guacamole and queso to get your appetite going, and of course the street tacos are a must here. El Hefe takes standard ground beef tacos and amps them up to a new level. Try the Duck Carnitas, Beef Cheek, Chicken Tinga […]

Graduation season at Arizona State University (ASU) is upon us and that means students are transitioning from adolescent college years into mature (hopefully employed) alumni. And parents, well… you’re probably more focused on how many tissues you will need to get you through the ceremony. Pro tip: about 75 tissues come in one box of Kleenex, so two boxes should suffice. You’re welcome. Let’s be real, ASU graduation in Tempe is a momentous occasion for both parents and students alike. And although this should be a joyful time, we know that wrapping up your college experience can get a bit stressful. That’s why we are here to give you the 411 on how to get the most out of your graduation week! Where to eat For all of you soon-to-graduate students, you’ve got your cap and gown and now your diploma is in hand (well, they actually mail you your real diploma). So, it’s time to C-E-L-E-B-R-A-T-E good times, come on! Rejoice in this big accomplishment with all your friends and family at these Tempe restaurants. Any special occasion in a Sun Devils’ life starts and ends with House of Tricks. Located just steps from Mill Avenue, House of Tricks is hidden inside two charming turn-of-the-century homes, behind a vine-strewn courtyard. Their private dining areas and patio can accommodate all your family and guests. And, their menu is full of creative and delicious dishes that you’ll remember long after you finish your meal. Top of the Rock is a local […]

Tempe has a latte of great coffee spots and per usual I have a ton of puns that I could relate to this…but I won’t. I mean, I can’t espresso to you how brew-ti-ful Tempe is this time of year with a cup of joe in hand. Okay, I will stop, but seriously Tempe is the hub of great coffee. We ask you to step away from the “Bucks” (Starbucks), and seek out the best coffee in Tempe at these local cafes. Cartel Coffee Lab 225 W. University Dr., #101 | (480) 621-6381 Tempe’s coffee claim to fame would have to be Cartel Coffee Lab. Their first shop opened in Tempe a few years back and they now have seven locations, including Phoenix Sky Harbor, Tucson and one location in Palm Springs. Their empire is growing and that’s a very good thing. Cartel’s espresso is top notch and their flavors are out of this world. Each type of coffee is curated and sourced responsibly from countries including El Salvador, Colombia and Rwanda. This coffee shop gets straight to the point with limited menu items, but don’t be fooled, these coffee connoisseurs can whip up just about anything. Don’t feel like leaving your house to get Cartel coffee? No problem. Subscribe and they will deliver it wherever you would like. Now you can Netflix and brew! Press Coffee 601 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., #103 | (480) 794-1107 1221 E. Apache Blvd. | (480) 566-5380 Ever wonder how coffee starts from a […]

Celebrate National Pi (Pie) Day at these favorite Tempe spots Whether you’re celebrating the glorified National Pi Day (3.14) or looking to satisfy a craving or just something different to consume, we’ve got the best pies in Tempe! From savory hand pies to classic fruit pies to a play on words with pies, we’ve got them all. Here are some great places to get pie in Tempe on National Pi Day or any other day that ends in ‘y.’ Definition of pie: a baked dish of fruit, or meat and vegetables, typically with a top and base  Cotton & Cooper: Traditional pie can be found at the ever-cool Cotton & Copper in South Tempe. Their innovative drink inspo compliments the exquisite taste of their pies. Chef Tamara Stanger has really crushed it in the pie game taking grandma’s classic dish and kicking it up a notch. Check out her latest creation: Brown Sugar Peanut Butter Cheesecake Pie with Dark Chocolate Whip. Mind = blown. 1006 E. Warner Rd., #113, Tempe, AZ 85284 (480) 629-4270 Cornish Pasty Co: A name you don’t naturally think of when it comes to pie… but we’re looking at the definition. We love food that you can hold in your hand so why not call upon a great hand pie from Cornish Pasty Co. like the Lovely Bit of Salmon or the Greek (available with chicken or as a vegetarian dish). Y-U-M. So good you must separate “yum” to emphasize the flavor boasting from their handcrafted delights. 425 S. Mill Ave., #111, Tempe, AZ 85281 (480) 629-4726 Squarz Bakery & […]

Spring is bursting out all over in Tempe with perfect weather, fragrant citrus blossoms, Cactus League Spring Training and a bunch of fun outdoor events, concerts and festivals. One of Tempe’s biggest, most popular festivals, the Spring Tempe Festival of the Arts, comes to Downtown Tempe Friday, March 29 through Sunday, March 31, 2019. Admission is free (yay!) and festival hours are 10 a.m, to 5:30 p.m. each day. The Tempe Spring Festival of the Arts is one of my favorite events. As many as 375 artists are selected to display their works from booths that line Mill Avenue and the surrounding streets in Downtown Tempe. Unique, hand-made works include woodworking, photography, paintings, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry and wearable art. There’s also an entire area devoted to the cottage edibles and crafts where you can find ideal gifts for teachers, hostess gifts or goodies for you such as handmade soup mixes, jams, seasonings, salsas, dips, soaps, lotions, aromatherapy and other hand-crafted goodies. I enjoy the festival, not only for all the beautiful arts and crafts that are on display for three solid days, but also for all the other fun vendors, activities, sights and sounds that make it a total sensory experience. Other highlights include: Street performers, entertainers and buskers scattered throughout the festival Live music on three stages Two beer and wine gardens and an Arizona wine and spirits tasting Kids Block, a hands-on interactive area for young artists on Saturday and Sunday The “Young Artist Exhibition” showcasing 300+ student […]

By Angela Muniz Photos by Mark Lipczynski Given its tucked away setting, it’s easy to believe House of Tricks is named for the way it plays on the mind like an oasis—a touch of green in Downtown Tempe’s growing urban landscape. In reality, the cozy restaurant takes its name from owners Bob and Robin Trick. And though the space made up of two historic homes seems untouched by time, the Tricks have nurtured the space to grow as the city has over the last 30 years. It started in 1987 when the couple left their regular jobs to renovate an old house into a neighborhood restaurant. It seated 11 people. Over time, they expanded. “It grew organically,” explains Robin Trick. “It didn’t happen all at once.” The restaurant now includes a signature bar wrapped around a tree on the deck that joins the original house to a second one next door. It’s a popular hang out spot for Tricks’ eclectic mix of guests. On any given night, business people and ASU Gammage show goers mingle with neighborhood locals and visiting tourists. “You can wear a suit or shorts,” says Trick when asked about how diners dress. “You’ll see both. We’re not pretentious. We’re real people.” While Tricks offers craft cocktails and beer, it’s known for its wine. There are about 25 wines by the glass on the menu and a deeper list by the bottle. And just like their guests, there is something for every occasion and price range. Where […]

National Margarita Day 2019 Let’s be real. National Margarita Day shouldn’t be limited to just one day… but it is a day where you can drink as many margaritas (responsibly) without the judgement of others because, “…it’s National Margarita Day guys!” (extra kudos for this fun holiday falling on a Friday this year). I ventured out on these streets of Tempe to find the best options for you to celebrate this revered holiday. You’re welcome. I’ve had my fair share of margaritas in all its glorious forms (on the rocks or frozen and salt or sugar and house to specialty). My poor liver just wouldn’t be the same without the wide variety of margaritas. Most popular in Arizona, you’ll find each place has their own tasty version of Prickly Pear Margarita. In all honesty, I usually get it just to see how pink it is going to be at that particular place, as you’ll notice there’s a variation of a blush pink all the way to electric, 80’s pink. I personally look for the pink that is MOST Instagrammable. #millennial #doitforthegram Here’s a quick roundup of the best margaritas in Tempe. Illegal Pete’s Mill  A fun place with incredible patio space to knock out several margaritas. They want to celebrate National Margarita Day with an awesome special! Coin Style Margs made with Pete’s Patrón—Patrón reposado selected by Pete, himself—will be just $5 all day long (while supplies last). I know I personally love to pair their Chicken Quesadilla with any […]

Without question, breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. I have a list of places where I love to start my day, but I also like discovering a new spot for breakfast. I’ve found my new happy place at Scramble, a new addition to Tempe’s dining scene.  Scramble in Tempe is located at Lakeshore Drive and Baseline Road, near Alamo Drafthouse. It is a bright and airy space, with orange, green and white décor. They also have a large, dog-friendly patio. I was surprised to find out that patrons order at the counter instead of table service. But, I actually like that option because I don’t always have time to linger over a leisurely breakfast. I have a hike, a yoga class or errands to run.   The menu is displayed on large boards right by the front door. Breakfast and lunch items are served all day. You can choose from omelettes or scrambles, eggs Benedict, burritos, a variety of pancakes, French toast, sandwiches, salads and wraps. They also have lots of gluten free and vegan options including the Soyrizo Burrito and the Portobello Wrap.   I went with the Veggie Omelette, with squash, sun dried tomatoes, red onion, bell pepper and Monterey jack cheese. It is served with hash browns and toast. I’m picky about my eggs – runny eggs can ruin my whole day. But, I am happy to report that their eggs were cooked perfectly and it may be the fluffiest omelet that I’ve ever had. The hash browns were crispy on the top with just the right amount of seasoning and the wheat toast tasted fresh-baked. I […]