Thoughts, Reviews, and Ramblings

7.25

Reviewed By Andy
7.4.2022
Making your way in the world today...takes everything you've got...taking a break from all your worries sure would help a lot...wouldn't you like to get away? Sometimes you want to go...to Dad's. Right around the corner from everyone is great little pub with just the right amount of charm and a couple of Dads to feed you and create the perfect cocktail. read more

7.25

Reviewed By Leslie & Andy
8.11.2021
Before we left town for a month in June, we watched closely as two new restaurants were on the verge of opening in our neighborhood.  By the time we returned, both restaurants were up and running much to our delight.  Being our cousin and neighbor, Laura's, birthday it was time to try out Campo Italian Bistro & Bar.  Let's find out if we have yummy authentic Italian food within walking distance of our house. read more

7.25

Reviewed By Leslie
3.16.2020
I have to admit, coming from my home state of Colorado--where you can find a micro-brewery, a dispensary, and a Starbucks on just about every corner--the transition to AZ was a bit of a learning curve.  We love micro-brews!  So when we visited Scottsdale to scout out neighborhoods for a potential move, we chose our neighborhood because it is within walking distance of PHX Beer Co. (Sure, Andy will say the cost of living, property value, blah blah boring...but don't be fooled.) We love micro-brew beers that much. read more

7.20

Reviewed By Andy & Leslie
4.5.2021
Let's get things straight right off the bat...Mountain Shadows is a miniature golf course. I don't mean that they have windmills and giant clown trying to eat your golf ball, but it feels like a regular 18 hole course that got zapped with a shrink ray. I will admit my experience with 9-hole courses is limited. The ones I played in Colorado before moving were Windsor Garden's Emerald Greens--nine holes of flat yard with some greens--or Foothills Par 3 in Denver which has some design to it, but only just 9 holes. Starfire Golf Club in Scottsdale has The Mulligan, which is also a 9-hole par three which feels like there was some extra lawn, so they added some tee boxes. read more

7.00

Reviewed By Leslie & Andy
5.24.2021
One beautiful Spring day, we woke up early and looked at our phones to see if the end of the world came over night. Happily, the world still existed in its same ol same ol--the politics are still politics, the stock market is still cranking away, and the weather is still HOT.  However, this particular morning it hadn't made it out of the mid-seventies by 8 A.M. which gave us a great (looks like I spelled "terrible" wrong again) idea: let's walk to Old Town and get breakfast!! What could possibly go wrong on an 11 mile round trip walk in the early summer of Scottsdale, AZ?? So we did that. We walked into Old Town and found an awesome coffee shop which provided a lovely atmosphere to eat a healthy breakfast and to really concentrate on answering the question of our teetering sanity: Schmooze. read more

7.00

Reviewed By Andy
5.21.2021
There are lots of ways to say mediocre and I know I will piss off lots of locals by saying, Talking Stick defines mediocre. Right from the Talking Stick homepage, "Stunning Scenery"... Going to have to say no on that. If I replaced the cacti across the fence line with rows of corn, you wouldn't know you weren't in Iowa. But don't write this course off, I like to start with the bad and then work my way into the good. read more

7.00

Reviewed By Andy
5.1.2021
I love when people say stuff like, "Lynyrd Skynyrd is a really good singer" and you think to yourself, um, that is the name of the band, not the name of a guy... do I tell them? Well don't expect to go into the kitchen and find Paul Martin either because I can't figure out how the name came about. Paul Flemming and Brian Bennett the founders of Paul Martin's, must have some story behind the name, but I may never know. read more

7.00

Reviewed By Leslie
3.13.2021
Bandolero Cocina de Mexico is located in the Shopping Center on Double Tree and Scottsdale Rd in Gainey Ranch.  For those of you directionally challenged folks (like me) there is a Sprouts Market and Pomos restaraunt nearby.  We visited Bandoleros a couple of times, once for dinner and another time for brunch.  The restaurant is decorated nicely, lively colors and great music.  The drink menu boasts an extensive range of tequilas, as well as a nice selection of beers and wines. read more

7.00

Reviewed By Andy
1.6.2021
Whenever I ask people if they have played Silverado their response is almost always, "Yeah, I love that course". They don't say it in an "The course is amazing!" sort of way, but people just tend to find it a good fun course. Located at the south end of McCormick Ranch, in the same lowland that a handful of other courses share, lives Silverado meandering through neighborhoods and adjacent to Hayden Road (for a good part of the front 9). read more

7.00

Reviewed By Leslie & Andy
12.15.2020
Sometimes when you are making your 47th trip to Floor & Decor to shop for travertine tiles that match the existing floor in your house, but you are feeling uninspired--because, really, how many times can you go to Floor & Decor without completely losing it in the grout isle--well, you come across free brussels sprouts and suddenly you feel renewed and ready to make your 48th trip.  This sounds like I totally made it up, but it's a true story.  And it all happened at The Macintosh. read more