Tag Archives: Sports

Spring training in Scottsdale and Glendale a great way to start the season

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This past weekend, I took in a couple of spring training games, one of my favorite ways to spend the spring season. I made my way over to Glendale’s Camelback Ranch for the first time to see the Chicago White Sox play the Arizona Diamondbacks, as well as Scottsdale Stadium to see the San Francisco Giants play the Colorado Rockies.


Camelback Ranch was frustrating from the get-go, with no clear signage in the parking lots to keep track of your car or direct you to the correct stadium entrance. We started to follow the herd of people walking one direction only to be told by someone working there that the center field entrance was shorter—if only that was clear before we started walking. The walk to the gates was at least 10 minutes long, which seemed pretty ridiculous for a spring training stadium.

Once in, I really liked how clean everything looked and how friendly the people who worked there were. There wasn’t much striking about the stadium, but after the game, we saw one of the longest fireworks shows I’ve ever seen—they have them for some night games, so note that for next year. Also, be aware that even in you go to a Diamondbacks game, there will be far more White Sox fans there.

Saturday, before seeing the San Francisco Giants take on the Colorado Rockies, my boyfriend and I went to Carlsbad Tavern in south Scottsdale. Carlsbad is a Scottsdale landmark, in business since 1995 and still a favorite among both tourists and natives alike. I loved sitting on the patio, which has water surrounding the restaurant.


I also enjoyed the weekend Bloody Mary brunch, with $3.25 Bloody Mary’s at a build-your-own bar on Saturday’s and Sunday’s.

The food at Carlsbad is super-spicy, and I got a blue corn cheese enchilada meal with black beans and rice ($11.75). The cheese was sort of chewy, which was gross to me, but I loved the chili powder-dusted chips served with two different kinds of salsa. Overall, it was a great meal and a really fun spot to stop before seeing a spring training game in south Scottsdale.


Tickets for this season of Giants baseball were gobbled up quickly by the public, and I imagine they will only become scarcer in the future. We got lawn seats for this game, and I would never want to sit in the lawn for a game here again—it was filled with Old Town Scottsdale nightclub types—women wearing high heels and drunk loud guys. Considering most of the people I saw who appeared like this didn’t seem interested in the game at all, I wish they would have gone to bars instead.

If you do check out spring training and still have your ticket stubs, bring them over to Ted Baker at Scottsdale Fashion Square. Each ticket stub gets you an entry into a drawing for a $500 shopping spree, with the winner drawn April 9–something I’ll definitely be taking advantage of myself.

After the game, we headed to RA Sushi for some tasty happy hour cocktails and sushi (they have happy hour deals Monday-Saturday from 3-7 p.m.), then to Bungalow for more cocktails and then to Lee’s Cream Liqueur to try out some spiked desserts.


I got a Jack Daniels-chocolate concoction. Thankfully, the alcohol taste wasn’t too prevalent, and while Lee (yes, she was working behind the counter) said you can’t feel the effects of the alcohol from one scoop, you could from two. I only had one, and it was a tasty ice cream treat, regardless of the alcohol that was in it. About two-thirds of the offerings contained alcohol, with everything from rum and brandy to tequila and vodka. Scoops cost $3.75 for one, $5 for two and $7 for three, and I think the alcohol-ice cream idea is a great novelty!

Phoenix Coyotes a fun Phoenix team to support

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Listen up, people! We need more fans at Phoenix Coyotes games, and with inexpensive ticket prices and a great seat guaranteed, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be heading down to Jobing.com Arena to check out some professional hockey and support a cool sports team.

I went to a game for the first time since the team has been at Jobing.com Arena (I know, I’m horrible, I know), and it was a ton of fun! I was surprised to see that maybe only 20 percent of the stadium was full, and there was a good showing for the opposing team. I’ve never been in an arena setting that was so empty, and it made me sad, though the low attendance does make it easy for you to sit anywhere you want and have a great view.

We sat up high in the second level, which actually provides a cooler angle to watch the game from than if you’re viewing it from the lower level, because it’s easier to watch everything play out.

Besides the cool hockey action here in the desert, part of what made the game fun was the personal touch you get from the players through video interviews in-between plays. It was also fun to see opposing players in the penalty box be ribbed with colorful lights flashing on them, and a lucky fan gets to ride the Zamboni in-between periods. The organization definitely values the fans it has and rewards them with cool ways to get close to the players.

And how could you not like a team whose mascot is the closest thing to a cute dog that we have here in the state? I’ll definitely be going back to more Coyotes games, and I hope more people in the Valley give hockey a chance, as well.

Sand Bar great for drinking, watching the game, but skip the food

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I’ve been hanging out a lot recently at the Sand Bar at Desert Ridge, watching the Arizona Diamdondbacks dominate in the baseball world and sampling some strong margaritas. You’ve got to appreciate a bar that has actual sand you can sink your toes into, bringing a little bit of the beach to the Valley.


At the Desert Ridge location (there are three in the Valley), there’s a massive bar in the center of the outdoor patio, along with a ton of umbrella-covered tables atop the sand, as well as a big indoor restaurant.


The bar is full-service and has a slew of televisions, and there are also three more secluded cabanas with ultra-comfy couches and televisions.


This past Sunday, my friend and I were surprised to see no one was sitting at the cabanas, and we got our own private viewing party at one after requesting to sit there.


I’ve only had the food at Sand Bar once, but it was nothing special and definitely not something I’d crave. I did like the endless bucket of chips ($5) and two types of salsa (the green is my favorite), but I’d stick to that if you want food.


The cheese enchiladas ($8.99) were rubbery and forgettable, and I didn’t enjoy the red sauce that covered them. The saving grace of the dish was the rice, but even that didn’t stand out.


Instead, go to Sand Bar for an island-y atmosphere and a ton of viewing options. Even though all the TV’s at the bar displayed football games, the bartender had no problem turning on the Diamondbacks for us at the cabana, and the service there has always been great for me.

Lucky Strike bowling lanes a major disappointment

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I’ve been putting off going to Lucky Strike bowling lanes in downtown Phoenix for awhile now. While I’m absolutely stoked downtown Phoenix now has a chic and trendy bowling alley for people to go to, I’ve also heard bad things from friends who have gone there–mostly about how expensive bowling there is. But when I got to go there for a holiday work party recently, I was glad I had an excuse to check it out without having to drop mad moolah.

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When I walked in, I immediately noticed the bar to my left. It was  a very long bar with a ton of stools as well as  a few tables. I almost liked the bar area more than the bowling area, because it was so roomy. The lanes, on the other hand, were pretty ridiculously crowded.

First off, there weren’t that many lanes. While there were also several pool tables in the building, the actual bowling area was pretty small, with only a dozen lanes. Each lane had some couches and additional stool seating behind the lanes, but to get by everyone at your lane, you really had to wiggle around them because the couches were so close to the balls. It was incredibly awkward and forces you to get super-close to the people you’re with.

Also, while there were some televisions broadcasting sports above the lanes, one of the screens simply scrolled through random pieces of art. I much rather would have watched music videos of the songs that were playing (which were not good, by the way–Jamiroquai, seriously?!). The whole art thing was sort of bizarre to me and actually made the place seem less hip.

The crowd there, surprisingly, was mostly suits who probably came straight from work. Maybe they too were there for their office holiday parties, and I was surprised the place was as busy as it was. While our lane waitress was super-friendly, service was really slow, and someone in our party said it almost would have made more sense just to walk to the bar ourselves for drinks.

Prices vary depending on times and days, but if you’re going to bowl Friday and Saturday nights after 6 p.m., it’ll cost a whopping $39.95 per lane per hour. That, to me, is ridiculous when so many other lanes have unlimited cosmic bowling (with good music and music videos) for only $20 a person. Don’t go to Lucky Strike–try here instead.

RnR not exactly relaxing before a spring training game, but it has potential

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Aah, lazy Sunday’s. I haven’t had one in awhile, and yesterday was the perfect springtime day.

After breakfast at U.S. Egg, I went to RnR for a couple cocktails before going to Scottsdale Stadium to watch the San Francisco Giants play the Milwaukee Brewers.

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RnR just opened Saturday, so there were definitely a ton of kinks. Let’s start with the good stuff first.

The drinks I had were wonderful, and the bartenders who served me seemed knowledgable and friendly. Mimosas were only $2.77 (odd price, I know), making it easy to sip steadily throughout brunch.

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When I went back for dinner that night, I had an amazing drink, the Stigmata Caprioska.

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Bartender Cori Woods, who was an excellent bartender, gave the recipe.

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Muddle any berries (she used blackberries, blueberries, strawberries and raspberries), plus sugar or triple sec (lime is also optional.) Then add berry vodka and a splash of berry liqueur. It was one of the best drinks I’ve ever had, and the fresh berries definitely made the difference. It’s a perfect dessert drink.

The spot, I think, is best described as a hipster sports bar, since there are a ton of gorgeous high-definition televisions throughout the place, but the staff is young and trendy, even donning brightly colored shoes.

It has sort of an industrial feel to it, with exposed floors, steel accents and bare bones bathrooms. There’s also a staircase leading to a second floor with more tables and another bar, which made me think it was like Old Town Scottsdale’s answer to Hanny’s.

There were several things that went wrong on my visits. At lunch, the music would go soft and loud, and at one point, it blared form the speakers and made the whole place go silent. I’m not sure if they use people’s iPod’s as the radio, but it was very jarring.

Also, the spot had the entire staff on, and there were 10 people hanging out behind the downstairs bar inside at lunch, which looked crowded and was annoyingly loud. I understand everyone was training, but it was a little much, and it seemed like there were just as many servers as patrons.

At dinner, the hostess didn’t greet us, which was really weird–she just looked at us and waited for us to speak–not friendly.

The place also ran out of two items by dinner on their already-limited menu, including the one vegetarian item other than salads and a cheese plate–the grilled cheese sandwich. I was stuck ordering a side house salad and sweet potato fries. I really liked the fries, although I would have preferred them crispier. 018

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My pal Peter got a grilled chicken sandwich, which he wasn’t too crazy about. The drinks made up for the food, though.

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I would love to go back and check it out once the wait staff knows what they’re doing, and the menu expands. I think it has great potential to be a cool hang-out spot and a nicer alternative to what was once Mickey’s Hangover, and with Furio gone, it’s nice to see the corner bustling once again. For more info, check out www.rnrscottsdale.com.

Bunker Indoor Golf great for novices like me

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I’m a pretty inexperienced golfer, having swung a club maybe five times in my life. So, really, who would have the patience to have me walking around a course and slowing down people’s games?

Thankfully, there are a few places in the Valley that offer indoor golfing, where you can hit 14-stroke holes and no one will get mad at you for holding them up. That’s because at places such as Bunker Indoor Golf in Goodyear, you hit the balls into a virtual screen, and they immediately come rolling right back to you. And you and whoever you are with get your own private screen, meaning there aren’t groups of people on your tail.

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The spot, which offers 18 holes for about $20, allows golfers to play courses from all over the world, which have been recreated using video technology, not animation. That means that what you see on the screen looks exactly like the real thing, and you can play beach-y or forest-y spots while it’s raining at night in Phoenix.

The place also offers beverages, including beer and wine, just like you can get on a real course. The atmosphere is relaxing, the staff is friendly and willing to help with just about anything, and I can shoot a 152-stroke game in less than 3 hours. Score!

If you live in the Chandler/Gilbert area, Crosswoods Indoor Golf offers a similar service. I haven’t played there myself, but a friend recommended the locations.

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Scottsdale Lanes good, clean, bowling fun

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Last night, I had the time of my life at the recently remodeled Scottsdale Lanes bowling alley near my house.

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My pals and I cosmic bowled for about three hours, for $16 a person. (Shoe rental is included.)

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The Lanes have come a long way since their dingy days–I was impressed with how clean and modern-looking the bowling alley was. It now has a full bar (drinking wine at a bowling alley? Priceless!) and three giant video screens displaying the latest in pop music. Be warned: it can get distracting when you’re trying to hit a strike but the gentlemen of 3OH!3 are staring you down.

Sadly, the place was just about empty while we were there. I think it is definitely a great alternative to an Old Town Scottsdale nightclub–the music was great and the fun was inexpensive. On Friday and Saturday, the Lanes are open until 1 a.m., and they’re available until midnight all other nights.

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Yes, the Cardinals’ color is red

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I found this out last night when I attended my first ever game at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, as the Arizona Cardinals football team played the Green Bay Packers in a pre-season game. 

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Sadly, the home team lost (though there were a ton of Packers fans, so I guess it didn’t matter much to the Valley.)

I was paying more attention to how pretty the stadium was, how cushy the club level seats were and how it seemed that just about anywhere you sat, the action on the field still felt up-close-and-personal, thanks to two Jumbo-Trons and nice views of the field.

I was also amazed at how efficient getting to the stadium was. Even though I parked in a public parking lot that required a shuttle back and forth from the lot to the field, there were plenty of busses transporting fans in a timely manner. And parking was free, which is something I wish the Arizona Diamondbacks would work on getting for Chase Field games.

Football isn’t exactly my favorite spectator sport, but the energy at the stadium was pretty amazing , and the game was a really fun experience–even being surrounded by people cheering against your home team.

Take me out to the ball game…and a fiesta for your mouth!

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Last night, I attended my first Diamondbacks game of the season. Yes, that’s right, I’ve been a lazy fan, but I finally got over to Chase Field to see the D-Backs beat the New York Mets 6-2.

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Hottie with the body, Australian-born Trent Oeltjen (OMG, he has an accent!) went four-for-four…and he’s only 26 years old. I can’t wait to see what this rookie has up his sleeve next!

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After the game, I went to In-N-Out Burger. Last time I was there, I didn’t order anything because there are no veggie burgers on the menu, but a worker there later told me they had them and to order one next time. So, last night I did, and all my “burger” had on it was veggies! No patty!

Lesson learned: stick with just the fries next time.

Today, for a healthier meal, I went to That’s a Wrap in Phoenix. The eco- and vegetarian-friendly spot  serves up wraps, bowls and salads using fresh ingredients (mmm, avocado.)

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My friends got the Veggie Jackson (includes zuchinni, feta and salsa)

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and the Prince of Thai’s (spicy peanut chicken and fresh ginger slaw.)

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My bud Jamel had this to say about the Veggie Jackson:

“I started dieting recently so in an attempt to avoid any extra calories I decided to forgo meat and try a vegetarian wrap. After looking over the menu for a minute, the “Veggie Jackson” with its seemingly random mix of veggies: (zucchini, asparagus, onions, carrots, broccoli and eggplant) was calling out to me. The meal came with a medley of fruit and self serve drink, it wasn’t cheap at around $9.50, but I’d eaten here before and knew it’d be worth it.

Our meals came out quickly and my stomach moaned an excited growl at the sight of it. The food looked and smelled fantastic, in fact I am a little concerned Tim and Nicki might have mixed feelings about the way I tore into my meal, my only consolation is they were likely too busy enjoying their own wraps to notice.

Was the food good? Let’s just say while I have no plans to become a vegetarian, the promise of meatless meals this tasty definitely makes me less adverse to the idea.”

I opted for the Senorita No-Meata, a fiesta for your mouth, containing peppers, black beans, corn and rice–it reminded me of a delicious wrap I used to get all the time in college.

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The wraps ($7.25 each) come with a side (my pals got fruit salad, and I got pasta salad), and they’re filling without that gunky, weighed-down feeling you don’t want when you head back to the office.

The place also serves their fountain drinks in recycled cups and offers a recycling station in the restaurant. No wonder there were hippie types mixed in with the business crowd.

It’s open Monday-Friday from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

Hitting around some balls

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I went golfing for the first time in more than a year at the Valley Golf Center in Avondale, whose driving range and putting green is open from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.

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If you’ve never golfed at night, I highly recommend it, especially in the summer–it’s so cool, literally!!

According to my golfing buddy, Chris, it’s one of the nicest driving ranges in the Valley, with two levels and lots of mock holes to aim at.

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The tee-ing-off points are also automated, so you just swipe your golf credit card and the balls automatically pop up.

Here are Chris’ tips on how to have an awesome swing. He’s an amazing golfer, so listen up!

1.  Visualize the shot- Always know how you intend to hit the ball. Pick a shot that you know you will give you the best chance to stay out of trouble. Pick a target line and then locate a spot a few feet in front of your ball to aim at.

2. Grip the club correctly- Place the club more in your fingers than in your palms. Wrist action is a power source and gripping the club too much in the palm of your hand reduces wrist action. The V’s created by your thumb and forefinger should point at your right shoulder.

3. Get your stance right- Take an athletic stance, feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent. Stick your a%& out and let your arms dangle about a hand’s-width from your groin area. In general, you want your weight to be slightly on the balls of your feet, about a 60/40 ratio. Press the club forward and hide your right knee.

4. Hit down on the ball- Most amateurs try and “scoop” the ball, which can actually decrease distance. The loft of the club will do the work for you. Try and think about hitting down on the ball first, then contacting the turf and making a dollar bill sized divot.  And remember to keep your head still during the entire swing!

5. Hold your finish- This is the fun part where you get to pose and look good even if you hit a bad shot. Seriously though, holding your right arm straight and pointed down the target line after you swing will help increase accuracy. Finish balanced with the club behind your head and your belt buckle facing the target.