My mother dearest decided to take me out to dinner last week, stating that she had discovered a place I simply HAD to try. This brings me to Original Gravity near 12th St and E Highland Ave. It is one hell of a hidden gem that I am glad to have found. After speaking to our friendly bartender, I learned that the place has been open for a little over a year. Sliding a drink menu in front of me, she walked me through their pretty sizeable drink menu, which was impressive for such a small restaurant. Telling her I was a fan of sweeter wine, she snapped her fingers and fetched me a glass of something... Read More

Shaw Butte Trail on Northern Mountain trail is one of the less popular hiking trails in North Phoenix. At nearly 5 miles (4.6 miles), it’s a long trail with moderate to difficult inclines. You’ll want to make sure you wear proper hiking footwear for this trail because of the rocky terrain and be sure to bring plenty of water, as it is a moderately challenging hike. The best way to get to the trailhead is near the parking lot south of Thunderbird Rd, on Central Avenue. The first part of the trail is paved, but once you come to a fork in the trail, both forks become more rocky and natural. The... Read More

Another beautiful weekend in Phoenix, another great day to go hiking. This week we check out one of many trails at South Mountain Park. South Mountain Park is one of the largest urban parks in North America, with a wide variety of trails, picnic areas, each with their own ramada, and some great viewpoints to see the Downtown core of Phoenix from. Many of the trails in the park will range from being leisurely strolls to difficult rocky terrain for more experienced hikers. However, if you’re looking for a moderate level trail to hike, then you’ll enjoy the Kiwanis trail hike. At roughly 1 mile... Read More

It’s officially springtime in the Valley of the Sun, the perfect season to go hiking. There’s plenty of places to hike in Phoenix, but given how quickly spring turns into an intense summer, you will definitely want to take advantage of the spring season. If you’re looking to check out a nice, leisurely hike in Phoenix, look no further than Papago Park. About 8 miles east of downtown Phoenix, this beautiful park is also conveniently located near both the Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Gardens. There are two sections to Papago Park; the first is east just to the side of the Phoenix Zoo... Read More

Driving along the I-17 one afternoon, I was suddenly struck with a craving. A hunger that came without warning, that DEMANDED to be heard! With a shaky hand, I called up my best friend Ian who was quick to recognize what I so desperately needed. “Burger time?” He asked. “Burger time,” I responded. Burgerquest! Week two! With my bro in tow, I suggested we try the plainly named Cold Beers and Cheeseburgers, a sports bar that has a few locations scattered about Phoenix, (we went to the Deer Valley location). Sitting down, I took a quick look at their menu and ordered the All American, which... Read More

I chose to go to Mother Bunch Brewing, simply because the name reminds me of the band Mother Love Bone, this week to indulge in their craft beer. Approaching this old brick building attached to a Cheeba Hut I didn’t know what to expect, from a sports bar type feel to a hipster run establishment. Inside it was neither. The vibe was very relaxed with the classic music of Tom Petty’s Free Falling and the Eagles Hotel California lightly playing. There are two small TV’s playing March Madness games, families and strictly beer drinkers encompassing the area. One wall displayed a mural painted... Read More

Sitting in the back of an industrial complex surrounded by dance and martial arts studios, a brewery is the last thing you would expect to see. On the Westside of the valley off of Fairway Drive (in between Avondale Blvd and Dysart Road) and Van Buren lies a small beer gold mine by the name of 8-Bit Aleworks. 8-Bit Aleworks lives up to its name as it is a video game themed brewery that brings back the nostalgia of all-night gaming sessions on summer breaks as a kid.  The theme of this brewery is ingrained in every detail. 8-Bit Aleworks has a tasting room comfortable enough to sit and enjoy the... Read More

People of Phoenix; I am hungry. Not just regular hungry. I am good old-fashioned red, white, and blue, full-blooded AMERICAN hungry! And when one gets this hungry, I dare say there is only one thing that will do. I want a burger. But not any old gas-station burger will do, oh no! Only the best will make its way onto my plate, for I am on a quest. A quest to find the best burger in Phoenix. Before I get on with it, I want to lay down the rules I have made for this little experiment. First, I will be ordering the same thing no matter which burger joint I go to, namely, their signature burger (cooked... Read More

People love to talk about how good the BBQ is wherever they are from, but it seems like the three front-runners for the best BBQ in America are Texas, Louisiana, and Tennessee, so when I see that a restaurant in Phoenix, Arizona is advertising itself as one of the best BBQ joints in the nation? Needless to say, I called bullshit. And now you kind folks get to watch me eat my words. When it comes to my BBQ, I am a rib man, so let’s talk ribs. I ordered a half rack there (baby back style of course). After taking only a single bite, I knew that this place was the real deal. The way the meat was... Read More