Tag: arizona

Fresh & Easy

Fresh & Easy

 

So, as you may or may not know, I detest grocery shopping. The stores are always crowded, people are rude and shopping for food is boring (especially if it’s alone). In comes Fresh&Easy. I love this grocery store. It’s minimalist by design. This in itself is appealing but there are other added features that make me happy when I shop there. A small list follows:

 

  1. Not Crowded – You aren’t going to find the moms with 8 children buying 10 carts of food in this store.

  2. Food is Fresh – The produce is some of the best I’ve seen in a long time and their pre-made “From our Kitchen” selections are also quite nice. No preservatives or the smallest amount possible are used in all they sell.

  3. All Self Check Out – No more waiting in line as someone chats up the cashier about their lives. This store is all self check out and I love it.

  4. Limited Selection – You want yogurt? Only 2 brands to choose from. Want bread? You might have 3 brands to choose from. This just makes it that much faster to choose items that may not be on your list or that you don’t care about brand.

So, if you have a Fresh&Easy near you, try it out. I’m pretty sure you won’t be disappointed.

P.S. Fresh&Easy won’t replace the regular grocery store completely as they are lacking in unique produce and other items that can be easily found at other grocers. That’s ok though as these unique items are only needed once in a while.

Happy Birthday Arizona!

azseal.gif azflag.gif

Today Arizona is 96 years young.  I love my state for many reasons.  Below is a list of just a few.

  • The Sunsets (and sunrises, if you’re awake that early)
  • The Weather
  • The Grand Canyon
  • Sedona and Oak Creek Area
  • Flagstaff and the High Country
  • The “after rain” desert smell

If you’ve never been to this great state, you need to visit ASAP.  I’m always happy to talk about my state and I’d be happy to answer any questions.

Restaurant Review – FEZ

One of my favorite restaurants in the Phoenix area is FEZ. It is located on Central Avenue half way between Thomas and Indian School.

FEZ serves traditional American fare but with a twist. Think of pizzas made on pita bread, salads with spiced pears, dried fruits and nuts mixed in, and burgers/sandwiches served on ciabatta bread with various types of soft cheeses. The food is fresh and different. I have yet to try something on the menu I did not like. They have sweet potato fries that are killer and desserts that make you wonder why you even ordered regular food.

Another thing that FEZ serves up well is ambiance. The decor is modern but comfortable. Subdued colors mesh well with the candle light and painted cement floors. The music is an interesting mix of techno and dance, but at a level that doesn’t distract from the conversations being had at the tables. FEZ is hip and cool without being pompous and pretentious.

If you’re in the area, pay this place a visit. I doubt you’ll be disappointed.

FEZ Restaurant & Bar
3815 N. Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85012
ph: 602.287.8700

Another “Wonderful” Az Republic Story

The linked story below is just another reason why I dislike the Arizona Republic. The story only shows one side of the issue and treats Global Warming as fact. The piece is titled “Climate-change Realities Could Ruin Water Planning”, which caught my interest. Too bad it’s a worthless read. Anyway, feel free to read it here. That is, if you can get past the first paragraph:

Human-caused climate change could undermine a century of building dams, canals and reservoirs across the West as warmer temperatures alter the way water flows through the dry country, scientists say.

Global Warming Pressure

Hoax

Choose Life – License Plate Gets Green Light

Well, Arizona was in the news today because of a stupid statute on the books that allows anything and everything to be put on a license plate as long as it meets a very small list of requirements. Not only does it allow for crazy law suits like the one listed in the story linked below but it also allows for a plethora of crazy looking license plates to be created and used throughout Arizona. I think it’s pretty dumb, but what do I know?

Except follows from the 9th Circuit Appeals Court:

The License Plate Commission “clearly denied the application based on the nature of the message,” Judge Richard Tallman said in the court opinion.

He said the commission’s job was limited to deciding whether groups meet the legal guidelines for specialty plates. That means deciding whether the sponsoring organization serves the community, is not “offensive or discriminatory in its purpose,” and does not promote a religious message, Tallman said.

The Life Coalition met those criteria by providing evidence of its community and charitable work, Tallman said.

Full story here.

Image of the new plate:

Choose Life

What ever happened to having a standard license plate for everyone in the state to use? At least this one looks more like the standard plate than some of the crazy ones we have here in AZ. Let’s just hope the commission learned their lesson. AZ doesn’t have the $$ to spend on lawyers!

State of the State 2008

I’ve posted the link to the PDF version of Governor Napolitano’s 2008 State of the State Address given to the Arizona Legislature on January 14, 2008.

State of the State 2008

In my opinion, it’s probably one of the best she’s ever given.  Janet’s got two more years to make AZ a better place to live and I think she can do it.