Rail Pints
Train whistles used to conjure up thoughts of hobos, but that was
before I discovered “rail pints” on a recent visit to Barrio Brewing
Company (800 E. 16th St.; 791-2739). If you’re at Barrio and you hear a
train whistle, you get a pint for $3 as long as the road blocks are
down. It’s a fun—and literally earth-shaking—way to enjoy
one of the brewery’s 11 beers.
Picnic Fixings
Who doesn’t love a Fourth of July picnic—especially when
someone else handles all that tedious preparation? Delectables (533 N.
Fourth Ave.) has pre-packed picnic goodies available from 11 a.m. to 4
p.m., Saturday, July 4. 884-9289; delectables.com.
Red, White and … Elvis?
Dr. Pepper marinades? Elvis impersonation? Welcome to the world of
chef extraordinaire Janos Wilder. His Fourth of July buffet features 20
items ranging from street-vendor corn to Dr. Pepper-marinated pork
shoulder, and entertainment by country crooner Bill Ganz, magician
Steve Ehlers and an Elvis impersonator named Freddy G. It goes down at
J BAR (3770 E. Sunrise Drive) at 5:30 p.m., Saturday, July 4. $29.95
adults; $14.95 for kids 12 and younger. Reservations are recommended.
615-6100; www.janos.com.
Casting Call
The Food Network is holding an open casting call in Scottsdale for
The Next Food Network Star. Get over your stage fright, and show
off those culinary skills at the Embassy Suites Phoenix (4415 E.
Paradise Village Parkway; 602-765-5800) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
Wednesday, July 8.
Wine, Wine, Wine
Enjoy half-price bottles of wine at Wildflower (7037 N. Oracle Road;
219-4230) on Tuesdays; Montana Avenue (6390 E. Grant Road; 298-2020) on
Wednesdays; and NoRTH (2995 E. Skyline Drive; 299-1600) on Sundays. The
specials continue through Wednesday, Sept. 30.
Lodge on the Desert Temporarily Closing …
Lodge on the Desert (306 N. Alvernon Way), which recently completed
a $15 million renovation, has temporarily closed its restaurant,
according to www.lodgeonthedesert.com. The
online note says the eatery is “undergoing additional renovation and
(a) concept change” and will reopen this fall.
… And a Red Lobster Opening
A Red Lobster is set to open at 11695 N. Oracle Road, Oro Valley.
Dinner service starts at 4 p.m., Monday, July 6, with lunch getting
underway at 11 a.m., Monday, July 13.
This article appears in Jul 2-8, 2009.