Eat More Pie
Here's what to expect at the eighth-annual Eat More Pie party on Sunday, May 1, at the Dunbar School at 325 W. Second St.: Hundreds of homemade pies will be laid out so a panel of judges can pick the winners. Then the doors will be thrown open, and a mob of fork-wielding pie-lovers will descend, while volunteers serve pie for two or three hours. It's a little crazy, a lot of fun and a chance to see some amazing pie artistry. The pie sells for $3 a slice, or $5 for two, and proceeds benefit the winner's favorite charity. There's usually a raffle, too. Doors open at 4 p.m.; www.pieparty.org.
New: V Fine Thai Dining
Vila Thai Cuisine at 972 E. University Blvd. closed last week and has reopened as V Fine Thai Dining in the former ChiliVerde spot on the corner of Stone Avenue and Congress Street. The new location is nearly three times as big as the former spot, and the bigger kitchen will allow owner Vila Destanii Jarrell to offer a larger assortment of her delicious Thai food. Call 882-8143 for reservations or more information.
New: Hana Tokyo
A Japanese restaurant specializing in sushi and hibachi dining has opened at 5435 S. Calle Santa Cruz, Suite 185, next to the Harkins Theatre. Tucson's first Hana Tokyo has an expansive eight-page menu full of sushi, bento boxes and other dishes, and its happy-hour menu offers some seriously affordable deals on food, beer and sake bombs; www.hanatokyoaz.com.
Coming Soon: Sparkroot
Ari Shapiro of the yet-to-open coffee joint Sparkroot says he'll use organic Blue Bottle Coffee (www.bluebottlecoffee.net) when the place opens later this year at Fifth Avenue and Congress Street. Sparkroot will be the first place in Arizona to use Blue Bottle Coffee, which has gained a loyal following since starting as a microroastery in San Francisco nearly a decade ago. Visit sparkroot.com for more information.
Closing: Something Sweet
There are only a few days left to enjoy the decadence at Something Sweet Dessert Lounge (5319 E. Speedway Blvd.), which is closing at the end of the month. The store opened in 2003 and quickly became a favorite among desert dessert-lovers, who voted it the winner of the Best Desserts category in the Best of Tucson® awards from 2004 on. It will be missed.
