There are definitely easier ways to die. Unconscious asphyxiation, firing squad, car crash…really, anything that takes less than three to six hours to complete would probably rank as “easier” than running a marathon. I mean, I didn’t actually *die* while running the Nineteenth Annual Lost Dutchman Marathon this weekend. I’m writing this, after all. But there were definitely moments on the course when I thought that death might be preferable. At rough guess, I’d say that those moments covered 21.4 miles of the 26.2-mile distance. The first few miles were downhill. My parents are... Read More

As recommended by a gentleman I met at another brewery I decided to make a stop at The Shop Beer Co. This place looks like a small house covered in shrubbery from the street. It is lodged between apartments and another business so as most of these small breweries it is easy to miss. Upon entering the brewery, you can see two large digital screens hang behind the bar with the list of the current beers they have on tap. As I take a seat at the bar a sign is propped up for display reading “Best of Phoenix Best New Brewery 2017” which gives a promising outlook on the beer and this establishment... Read More

Those of you who have kids or are in college might be gearing up for the wonderful and carefree summer season. Summer vacations, trips to the beach, anything you can do to cool off in the intense summer heat. But how do you cool off in the scorching desert that is summertime Phoenix? Simple, you can check out the called Slide Rock State Park.  Named for a unique sandstone ‘slide’ formation, it’s one of the more well-known swimming holes in here in Arizona. Located in Oak Creek Canyon, 7 miles north of Sedona, Arizona, the state park is a 2-hour drive north of Phoenix if you follow the I-17N... Read More

You show me someone that does not like pizza and I will show you a damn dirty liar, because EVERYONE likes pizza. Therefore you are only a stone’s throw away from a pizzeria at any given time in this country, but with so many options, it is easy for the good stuff to get overlooked. That’s why I do my very best to tell the people I meet about Pomo Pizza. Priding itself on authentic Neapolitan pizza, the restaurant makes sure to go the extra mile in almost everything that they do. In fact, some of what they go through to provide you with the best pizza they can serve is almost unbelievable.... Read More

The Litchfield Taproom is a small building that looks like an old coffee shop. It is the first location for Peoria Artisan Brewery where small batches are brewed, as they also have a second location, which is a gastropub in Peoria. Inside it the Litchfield Taproom it is tiny. The room consists of a bar top with five barstools, four tables and a high-top table. There is a small patio out front to sit outside which provides more room.  A chalkboard hangs behind the bar with the list of the eight beers that are brewed here. I started with a flight that consisted of half the beers on the list and... Read More

Hello Hiking Enthusiasts! This week the weather is still fairly cool, so it is a good opportunity to take a hike on Camelback Mountain, arguably one of the most famous landmarks within the city of Phoenix. The mountain, named for its vague resemblance to the humps of a camel, has an elevation of 2,706ft at its peak. This gives hikers an opportunity to get a spectacular view of the whole Phoenix Metropolitan Area. There are two major trails, Echo Canyon Trail and the Cholla Trail. They are both considered fairly challenging trails and should not be attempted without proper planning and moderate... Read More

I chose to go to Arizona Wilderness this week because Arizona Wilderness rolled out their O-Line Triple IPA for the weekend. The O-Line Triple IPA was created in honor of Pat Tillman the former Arizona State and Arizona Cardinal football player. The beer has been made with 42 hops as Pat Tillman’s number was 42 in college while playing at Arizona State. The triple IPA was brewed with the help of the Arizona Cardinals lineman. All the proceeds from purchasing the beer went to the Pat Tillman Foundation. Typically a beer may have a maximum of five hops but this had 42 hops, which is incredible... Read More

Two Brothers Taphouse and Brewery in Scottsdale is the second location for Two Brothers, referred to as the 4321 location, with the original in Warrenville, IL. Two Brothers is a large brick building with a patio and an outside bar. As you enter the building it is similar to a sports bar with televisions hanging, customers at the horseshoe bar top and at the tables eating and drinking, with music playing overhead. There are stairs to go up to a second-floor balcony where there was a painting event going on. I sat at the bar ready to enjoy the most popular beer that they serve, the Wobble IPA. Wobble... Read More

This restaurant has a special place in my heart. Times Square Neighborhood Italian Restaurant has a few locations scattered about Phoenix, and some of my fondest meals with my family have taken place there. They are a fine Italian restaurant with a large menu, generous portions and quality food that has made it one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the valley. Let’s get right to the food. My personal favorite is their Pescatore. If you are a fan of seafood, this will be your go-to. Jump shrimp, clams, mussels and calamari, all served on top of their linguini with red sauce. The sauce soaks... Read More

State 48 Brewery is a brewery themed after, as the name says, the great state of Arizona. This theme runs deep in this brewery. The taps are in the shape of the state of Arizona, touted with the state flag on one side and the number forty-eight on the other. Each beer is named after something in Arizonan history. I sat at the bar top that flows from both inside to out onto the patio. A lifted garage door separates the bar top to merge the inside where people eat food from the booths and watch television to playing corn hole on the patio. I sat outside to enjoy the beautiful weather we are presented... Read More