Phillip popped into the kitchen and declared that I was “cutting up fruit for democracy!”
Which is really just a generous way of saying I was slicing a kiwi, as part of my assignment to bring a fruit plate to the potluck at the voting center where I’d be working the next day. My soon-to-be co-workers and I would need to be on the premises for something like 15 hours, so we were all going to take food to share.
As simple as a fruit plate may seem, I kind of drew a blank about it at first. It had been awhile since I’d needed to pull together the type of “platter food” that you’d set out at a meeting or a party or… other gathering that has been in short supply the last couple years.
One guideline I saw recommended about 10 cups of fruit for 15 guests.
Fruits like berries, peaches, melon, oranges, grapes, kiwi, pineapple, and cherries tend to work well on a fruit tray.
Avoid bananas, apples, and pears, since exposure to air will make them turn brown and mushy.
A variety of colors and textures make even a simple arrangement look really appealing.
Consider adding a garnish of fresh herbs, like mint, basil, rosemary, or lavender, especially if you happen to have them in your garden and can just snip off a few sprigs.
In my particular situation, I knew all the potluck food was going to be crammed onto a single table in an out-of-the-way corner of the room. We’d be rotating lunch times and/or just grabbing snacks when there was a lull.
So I wanted to avoid anything too messy and focus on fruit that would be easy for people to plate up (or pick up) and eat quickly. I stayed away from anything you’d have to pick pits or seeds out of while eating.
There are certain conveniences you can take advantage of if you’ll be serving food from your own kitchen. You have more options when it comes to set up and presentation.
However, if you’re taking a fruit plate to an office party or a friend’s house or a picnic, you have to think about how you’ll get it there, how you’ll keep things fresh, and what you’ll do once you arrive.
I also like the rustic look of a wooden serving tray or board. You can line it with parchment paper for easier clean-up.
Tree blossoming at Chiricahua National Monument near Willcox, Arizona.
Away
Combo containers: A cake carrier or repurposed deli tray would work for both transporting your fruit plate and serving it.
Bring along serving utensil(s). Whether you choose tongs, a large spoon, box of toothpicks, or just a regular fork, having it with you means you don’t have to scramble to find something at your destination.
Leaving stems in grapes, cherries, and strawberries help them keep a little longer – especially if you won’t have access to a refrigerator.
Don’t forget the ice! If you keep your food cool using actual cubes of frozen water (rather than cold packs), empty it out once you arrive and don’t need it. You don’t want ice melting and leaking all over the break room or your host’s floor. Better to dump it on a thirsty plant!
After seemingly wandering the produce aisles in a fugue state, I managed to buy way more stuff than I actually needed. That includes a cantaloupe I didn’t even cut into and some nectarines that I was sure were ripe in the store, but definitely weren’t once I got them home.
What ended up on my fruit tray were grapes, strawberries, blackberries, plums, and kiwi. I used kitchen shears to snip big bunches of grapes into smaller clusters that would be easier for people to grab (a tip from my mom!)
I arranged the fruit on a sectioned plastic tray with a snap-on lid. This very convenient container was repurposed from a meat-and-cheese platter that we’d picked up for Phillip’s Mount Lemmon birthday picnic a couple weeks before.
It was a simple spread, but people seemed to enjoy it. And I think we all appreciated the return of potlucks and platter food.
Handmade Ceramic Dinner Plate image via AVIhomeware on Etsy (affiliate link).
Your Serve
My fruit plate image search also turned up some very cool platters, serving bowls, boards, and baskets. Find my Etsy faves in my Food Serving + Storage collection. Since I’m an affiliate, Etsy purchases you make after clicking that link help support this site too!
I don’t think my dog, Quijote, knows Christmas is coming. But we still use the holidays as an excuse to splurge a bit on pup presents we’ve been putting off purchasing.
It’s even better when we can buy them from independent makers and artists who put extra care into what they create.
A Win-Win-Win Situation
Not only do I love supporting talented creators, I love introducing others to them – whether it’s in person at a local market or where they’re selling online.
In fact, I was linking to people’s Etsy shops so frequently, I applied to become an affiliate. Now when you click one of the links in this post and then buy something on Etsy, you’re supporting the seller/artist and helping me keep this site going!
Cyberweek Sale: Lots of Etsy shops are offering discounts of up to 60% off from now until November 30!
Gifts for Dogs and Dog Lovers
So here are 5 gift ideas for your canine companions or the dog lover in your life that are made by artists with Etsy shops. I’ve purchased things from all of them before – either via Etsy or here in Tucson – and they all do fantastic work!
Collar is made to be durable – with triple-stitched cotton over nylon webbing.
Available as a set or you can buy the collar without the bow tie.
Lots of other colors and pattern options too!
Our purchase: We have this set in blue and white gingham, and it’s now Quijote’s everyday collar. We add the bow tie to dress it up for occasions when we want him to look like a little gentleman (gentledog?) – even though we know he probably won’t actually mind his manners.
Cord looped through the top, so you can hang it on a Christmas tree right away!
Comes in ready-to-gift packaging.
They have a also have quite a few other animal, kid, and keepsake ornament options.
Our purchase: To commemorate Quijote’s first Christmas with us, we got this cute ornament in the shape of a howling dog. He actually does like to throw his head back and howl sometimes, so this makes me smile!
[UPDATE: This Gift Box will be unavailable through the end of the year. However, there are still tons of fun a-la-carte items in the Aall Forms of Life shop.]
The Product: Curated gift box for dogs and their humans
Original portrait of your pet painted on a wooden plaque.
Pet bowtie made from colorful fabric and a hand-painted cactus wood charm. The bow easily attaches to your dog’s collar.
“Tell Your Dog I say Hi” vinyl sticker.
Peanut butter pretzel dog treats.
Option to include a personalized message for the gift recipient.
Image via Aall Forms of Life.
Our purchase: This gift bundle was a new find for me, so it’s the one thing on this list we don’t actually own. However, I have purchased other things from the artist (Nathalie Aall) and have no doubt this would make a fantastic gift. She also does these beautiful illustrations of desert animals and plants that you can get as prints, cards, ornaments, calendars, and stickers.
Customizable? Yes. Nathalie will paint a black-and-white portrait of your pet(s) from a photo. You can also request a personalized gift recipient message to be included in the box.
A variety of fonts and text colors to choose from.
Our purchase:
Size: small
Color: teal
Font options: #3 and #9 in white
We ordered this fun accessory not long after we adopted Quijote. We were starting to notice that people were drawn to him (he is a bundle of cuteness), but he does not like meeting new people! I summed it up with the phrase “Antisocial but adorable.”
The designer (Andrea Karaha) was great to work with! She sends a mockup of your design before printing, so you can request a change if it’s not quite what you had in mind.
Created from an original, hand-illustrated design.
Ready to attach to your dog’s collar.
They make their own collar charms and they have a ton to go with any dog’s personality! I also like “Adventure Dog,” “Squirrel Patrol,” and “Obedience School Drop Out.”
Our purchase: We chose the “Watch Dog” charm, because Quijote is always on the alert, even for things that are definitely not a threat. He warns us when the mailman is here, when someone walks their dog past our house, when a barista hands me the coffee I ordered…
Customizable? While Rosie’s Barket isn’t able to offer customization, once you receive the charm, you can have the back engraved without worrying about damaging the front.
Which of these is your favorite? And if you were going to purchase one pet present this holiday season, who would it be for?
As unreal as it may seem, the holiday season is right around the corner!
Here is my handpicked List of November and December markets, festivals, exhibitions, and other art/craft/cultural activities. All of them are based in Arizona, but many allow you to participate remotely — just look for the word “anywhere!”
Also, keep an eye out for *asterisked goodies, which are free or discounted extras inspired by items on the List.
The Happenings List
Artist Michelle Condrat painting the Grand Canyon. Photo via Grand Canyon Conservancy.
Artwork painted en plein air at the Grand Canyon this past September is now available to view and purchase online at shop.grandcanyon.org and in-person at Kolb Studio! Proceeds will go towards establishing a dedicated art venue on the South Rim.
Kolb Studio is located in Grand Canyon Village, near the Bright Angel Trailhead. It’s open to the public daily from 9am-5pm.
*Vintage Grand Canyon postcards by artist Gunnar Widforss, originally published in 1932, are now in the public domain, online, and available for download anywhere.
Now – January 16, 2023 / Grand Canyon National Park (Northern Arizona) at South Rim of Grand Canyon + online anywhere / Included with park admission.
Thirty-seven years after being stolen from the University of Arizona Museum of Art, Willem de Kooning’s Woman-Ochre returns to the UAMA galleries! A new exhibition features the work and its unusual history.
Hyper-local block party on the final day of the TENWEST Impact Festival. The event will highlight Toole Ave. Arts District’s artist spaces, galleries, and restaurants. Free and open to the public.
100+ food and retail vendors selling art, vintage items, and handmade crafts.
Entertainment: live music, luchador wrestling, skate exhibitions, and performances by Kinetic Arts Tucson.
Large-scale, light-based public art created by artists locally and from around the world will provide an immersive art experience in and around the Arizona Canal.
Nov. 4-5: One Water Brewing Showcase. A drought-friendly beer festival, featuring only craft beers brewed with recycled water.
Drop-in art workshops for all ages include silk screen printing, Victorian flower language collage, geometric ornaments, seed bombs and botanical drawing, and scenic river postcards.
November 4-13, 6pm / Scottsdale (Phoenix area) at The Scottsdale Waterfront / Free.
A weekend of free workshops, community altars, performances, and installation art to honor the lives of our loved ones and ancestors, leading up to a two-mile long procession and ceremonial burning of The Urn.
Nov. 4-6: Dance Of the Dead Concert Series at MSA Annex. MarchFourth with KULULULU, Arts Caravan and more perform to benefit All Souls Procession. Tickets start at $20.
Nov. 5: Procession of Little Angels at Armory Park.
Nov. 6: All Souls Procession and Ceremony, along the Santa Cruz River to the Mercado District.
Celebration of all things Arizona in a family-friendly and dog-friendly atmosphere that is free to attend. More than 200 community vendors, live music, and dozens of food trucks.
Drink in AZ Beverage Garden featuring Arizona wineries, breweries, and spirit makers (ages 21+ only)
Silent auction with over 100 local gifts, staycations, and Arizona experiences
Kid Zone with crafts, games, and activities
*The first 300 attendees will receive a free goodie bag filled with local surprises!
November 5, 10am-4pm / Phoenix at Hance Park / Free.
Elana Bloom, formerly known as Solstice Studio, displaying her naturally-dyed fabrics at last year’s Good Stuff Pop-up.
Two-day, music, art and culinary festival, featuring EDM and indie artists on 3 stages. Area artists and art students create sculptures, digital artwork, and lighting exhibits that explore the intersection of art and music. There will also be a curated lineup of restaurants, food trucks, and chefs that highlight Tucson’s thriving food traditions, as well as its cutting edge cuisine.
All-ages area for backyard games.
Cobra Arcade tent of classic arcade games!
Quality goods from local, regional and national artisans, makers and retailers.
Created and run by local makers + artists, DAM is a recurring pop-up market that aspires to be a day of joy and connection! The fall market will include over 40 local artisans, music from vinyl DJs, Natural Mente food truck, tattoo artists, and floral installations by Bloom Maven.
Tanline Printing will be printing DAM tees (available for purchase) at the market out of their vintage firetruck!
*Anywhere:Bhava Wellness (who is hosting the market) is offering free shipping for online orders over $100. Use code GETINTHEBHAV at checkout.
November 12, 10-4pm / Tucson at 6th Ave. + 6th St., in front of Bhava Wellness / Free entry.
Hands-on experiences in traditional and contemporary Japanese culture for visitors of all ages and abilities. Activities include trying shodo brush painting and origami with instructors from the Japanese Friendship Garden, playing mini matsuri games with the Japanese Outreach Initiative, and designing an anime or manga character with Scottsdale Artists’ School Teen Academy.
45-minute guided walking tours covering the ancient history of stones used to build downtown’s iconic buildings, the progression of architectural styles, and an overview of more recent historic events. Participants will search for fossils on the Ice House walls, visit the layers of the “Grand Canyon” at Heritage Square, and view beautiful stone etchings.
Fourth annual market, featuring over 100 local makers with one-of-a-kind wares, including art, clothing and accessories, furniture, food, and health and beauty products.
Live music.
Raffle prizes to benefit Phoenix Children’s Foundation.
*Free photo with Santa with any donation to Phoenix Children’s Foundation.
November 19, 9am-3pm / Phoenix at Shops @ Town + Country / Free.
Festival celebrating the rich variation of tamales from the Southwestern U.S. and Mexico. It features a tamale contest, live local entertainment, food trucks, artisan booths, and farmers market vendors.
*The Del Sol Marketplace offers city and state tax-free snacks, drinks, ice, tobacco products, gas, and an automatic car wash.
December 3, 10am to 5pm / Tucson at AVA Amphitheater at Casino Del Sol / Free.
Large, two-day celebration of the arts for all ages, which creates positive opportunities for artists to educate the public about their work and opportunities for the public to support artists financially. There will be food vendors, free Children’s Activities, and entertainment.
Dec. 3, 6pm: Tree lighting
Live music: Jazz, student performances, and Tubachristmas (an ensemble holiday concert of tuba and euphonium players).
Dogs on leashes are allowed.
December 3-4 / Oro Valley (Tucson area) at Oro Valley Marketplace / Free.
Holiday festival in Downtown Marana that includes the largest Christmas tree light show in southern Arizona, live holiday music performances, activities for kids, a holiday market, and more than 40 food trucks and a coffee and sweets zone. Take a free picture with Santa, enjoy live performances and music, ride the train, or jump around in the foam snow dance party. The big light show begins once the sun is down.
Dec. 3: Holiday Festival + Christmas Tree Lighting. Lighting of a 25-foot Christmas tree with synchronized music and dancing lights.
Dec. 4-28: Christmas Tree + Light Show (nightly on the hour from 5-8pm).
*The Discover Marana site has tips on how to make your own margarita with fresh citrus (anywhere) or find one locally.
December 3-28 / Marana (Tucson area) at Marana Municipal Complex / Free.
Street Fair that hosts artists from around the world, local entertainment, and food! Funds are used to support Fourth Avenue’s infrastructure and events.
*Free shuttle service from the Pennington Street Garage.
You can also park along the streetcar line + take Sun Link in.
No pets.
December 9-11, 10am to dusk each day / Tucson / Free.
Finally, I’m not the one running any of these events, and details are, of course, subject to change. The purpose of the List is to support independent creators and point you towards festivals, performances, workshops, markets, exhibitions, and other goings-on you might be into. I can’t make it to everything, so if you participate in any of these Happenings, I’d love to hear about it!
Here’s my handpicked list of upcoming events you should know about!
Goodies marked by an asterisk (*) are free or discounted extras inspired by things on the List.
If you are outside of Arizona, look for the “WORLDWIDE” designation to find goodies and events that have online components or other ways to enjoy them from anywhere!
Free general admission day at participating museums and cultural institutions when you present a Museum Day ticket! You need to reserve your ticket in advance by signing up with your email address on the Smithsonian magazine’s site. Museums may have a limited number of available tickets.
Each ticket provides free general admission for two people on Saturday, September 17, 2022.
Over 150 total museums participating, including 14 in Arizona.
Local artisan market on Mt. Lemmon held Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summer until October. Part of the proceeds benefit Southern Arizona Animal Food Bank (SAAFB).
*Vendor samples and tester products abound! We tried some delicious mushroom jerky from Fungirl’s Fungi and spiced cashews from Sonoran Sweetery.
Celebration of Art (CoA) is a recurring event that invites participating artists to paint en plein air (outside on location) for a week at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Proceeds will go towards establishing a dedicated art venue on the South Rim.
Sep. 2-17: Online Silent Auction (worldwide)
Sep. 10-16: Plein Air Painting. Park visitors will have the opportunity to watch artists painting on the South Rim.
Sep. 18 – Jan. 16, 2023: Exhibition and Sale. All available artwork will be available for sale worldwide at shop.grandcanyon.org and in-person at Kolb Studio on the South Rim, open to the public daily from 9am-5pm.
*Vintage Grand Canyon postcards by artist Gunnar Widforss, originally published in 1932, are now in the public domain, online, and available for download worldwide.
September 2 – January 16, 2023 / Grand Canyon National Park (Northern Arizona) at South Rim of Grand Canyon + worldwide / Included with admission.
45-minute guided walking tours covering the ancient history of stones used to build downtown’s iconic buildings, the progression of architectural styles, and an overview of more recent historic events. Participants will search for fossils on the Ice House walls, visit the layers of the “Grand Canyon” at Heritage Square, and view beautiful stone etchings.
Outdoor performances by Ballet Arizona with a stage, lighting, costumes, and beautiful Arizona weather. Both contemporary and classical ballet excerpts.
Bring a blanket or lawn chair.
*If you go to Fountain Hills, you can take a self-guided art walk tour before the performance. There are 35 pieces in Fountain Park alone! (PDF map)
10 days when Tucson-area restaurants offer special prix fixe menus for $25, $35 or $45. This year over 80 locally-owned eateries are participating!
Part of the proceeds benefit San Xavier Co-op Farm, which is a cooperative of Tohono O’odham landowners committed to using healthy farming practices to grow traditional crops.
Read ourreview of Maynard’s, which has re-opened and is participating in Sonoran Restaurant Week.
Outdoor market with a curated selection of artisan fashion, food, home goods, and visual art sold directly by local makers. Entertainment will include pop-up music performances, live mural painting and interactive artist demos, and grab-and-go art activities.
Food trucks and vendors.
Dogs on leashes are allowed!
October 1–2 / Oro Valley (Tucson area) at Oro Valley Marketplace / Free.
Annual celebration of the folk arts of the Sonoran region. It features artisans, home cooks, dancers, musicians and special exhibits from Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico.
October 7–9 / Tucson at Downtown Tucson / Free. (Donations accepted.)
Thirty-seven years after being stolen from the University of Arizona Museum of Art, Willem de Kooning’s Woman-Ochre returns to the UAMA galleries! A new exhibition will feature the work and its unusual history.
Oct. 6, 7pm at Centennial Hall: Screening of the documentary The Thief Collector which looks at 1985 theft of Woman-Ochre from the University of Arizona Museum of Art and its recovery decades later. Free. Tickets are required.
Oct. 7, 6pm at UAMA: “Woman-Ochre” Homecoming Reception. Musical entertainment, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and the chance to see Restored: The Return of Woman-Ochre before the exhibition opens to the public. Ticket prices TBA.[UPDATE: Sold out.]
Fall festival to showcase talent and artistry against the beautiful backdrop of the Patagonia community, nestled at over 4000 feet in the mountains of Southeast Arizona. Besides artisan booths, there will be entertainment, a kids’ zone, library book sale, and the Patagonia Fire Department’s annual barbecue, along with other food and beverage vendors.
*Spirit Tree Inn B+B in Patagonia has wine and dine packages for guests staying at least 2 nights.
October 8–9 / Patagonia (Southeastern Arizona) at Patagonia Town Park / Free.
An enrolled citizen of the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe and contemporary fine art photographer, Cara Romero’s work is shaped by years of study and a visceral approach to representing lived experiences from a Native American female perspective. She stages theatrical compositions infused with dramatic color to depict the modernity of Native peoples, illuminating Indigenous worldviews, and aspects supernaturalism in everyday life.
Reception at Arizona State Museum will follow the talk. The Cara Romero piece the museum recently acquired will be on view.
Parking: $1/hour at Main Gate Garage (Euclid/Second St) or Tyndall Ave. Garage (Tyndall/Fourth St.)
*Sunlink streetcar stop: 2nd Street + Olive Avenue. Sunlink is free to ride through the end of 2022.
Worldwide: The talk will also be livestreamed on ASM’s Facebook page.
October 11, 6:30pm / Tucson at The Center for English as a Second Language (CESL) is one building east of ASM North, at 1100 E. James E. Rogers Way + worldwide / Free.
Eight-day showcase of independent, foreign and classic cinema. Film fans can experience hand-selected festival favorites from Cannes, Sundance, SXSW, etc. and meet internationally-renowned artists from the world of independent cinema.
*Members save $50 on festival badges + memberships start at $90 (even less for teachers/students/military)!
October 12-20 / Tucson at The Loft Cinema / Full festival badge $200 ($150 for members)
Hands-on collaborative workshop series teaching mesquite management and artisan skills that can enhance Southern Arizona habitats. Workshops will be conducted outdoors and will provide practical knowledge.
Register in advance by emailing the Borderlands Restoration Network contact person for your class (listed on the events page).
Classes are limited to 20 participants.
October 14 – 16: Beekeeping and Honey Production, Patagonia.
October 22: Mesquite Pod Milling + Food Safe Processing of Mesquite Flour, Patagonia.
Outdoor fine arts festival with jewelry, paintings, metalwork, ceramics, silks, and different kinds of home decor items. Live art demonstrations and music will be presented in the Southern Arizona Artists Guild (SAAG) Gallery throughout the weekend.
Leashed dogs are allowed.
*Check out current sales at La Encantada Shopping Center, where the festival takes place.
October 22–23 / Tucson at La Encantada Shopping Center / Free.
A weekend of free workshops, community altars, performances, and installation art to honor the lives of our loved ones and ancestors, leading up to a two-mile long procession and ceremonial burning of The Urn.
Nov. 4-5: All Souls Benefit Concert Series at MSA Annex.
Nov. 5: Procession of Little Angels at Armory Park.
Nov. 6: All Souls Procession and Ceremony, along the Santa Cruz River to the Mercado District.
My list of Tempe restaurant recommendations is shrinking.
Even before COVID, some favorites from our old neighborhood had already been pushed out by rising real estate prices and new construction.
View from South Mountain in Phoenix
However, there are still some longstanding gems that are worth a visit when you’re in town. And, since I’ve recently had some Tempe-bound friends looking for suggestions, I thought I’d share a list of the places I tend to point them to. Some of these are technically in Phoenix, Scottsdale, etc., but they are all Tempe-adjacent.
Most restaurants I’ve listed here have ample free parking – which is true of the majority of metro Phoenix.
However, when you’re near ASU/Downtown Tempe, things change. Spaces become scarce, and enforcement officers are quick with the citations. (Remember the rabbit in Zootopia?)
It’s probably the area in the entire state of Arizona where you’re most likely to end up with a parking ticket. So I’ve noted restaurants with trickier parking, as well as including some additional Tempe parking and transit tips at the end of the article.
Tempe Town Lake
Tempe-Area Eats
Nearby: Tempe Beach Park at Tempe Town LakeInside The Chuckbox
Charmingly rough around the edges university student haunt that serves a simple menu of exceptional burgers, chicken, and sides. It’s a strictly cash-only operation that does not accept debit or credit cards.
They take your order and then flame grill it right in front of you. If you want anything besides cheese on your burger, you add it yourself at the condiment bar.
It’s a formula that has worked since my mom and her siblings hung out there when they were in college. In fact, The Chuckbox is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month! I grew up eating there, especially when one of my uncles was in town. As divey as the place may seem now, they’ve actually cleaned it up since I was a kid!
We especially like The Big One (their signature burger) with cheese and a side of fried mushrooms, zucchini, or onion rings.
Open daily for lunch and dinner
Seating indoors + on the patio (on wood crates and stumps)
Located at 202 E. University Dr., Tempe
East of Mill Avenue
Light rail: Veterans Way/College Ave
Streetcar: Ninth St./Mill Ave
Parking: A few designated spaces, but you may need to look elsewhere when it’s busy.
Maker of hearty, savory pies from Cornwall, England called pasties (pronounced kind of like “past-ease”) in an upscale pub atmosphere that feels a world away from its strip mall location. Cornish Pasty’s wide variety of fillings include some with traditional ingredients, some of their own invention, and a lot of vegetarian and vegan options.
Open daily for lunch and dinner
Seating indoors + patio
Located at 960 W. University Dr., Tempe
University + Hardy Dr.
Also locations in Mesa, Scottsdale, Phoenix, and a few outside the Valley
Pizzeria, deli counter, and market stocked with Italian staples like pasta, gelato, wine, cheeses, spreads, and olive oil. It was recommended to us by our good friends Michelle and Carlos, who used to live in the neighborhood.
We especially like the Centurion pizza or a calzone with Italian sausage and roasted red peppers.
If you’re looking for really good Mexican food near Tempe, I’d send you to this Sonora-style taqueria.
It’s located in El Mercado de Guadalupe along with about a dozen other businesses, which open onto a large central courtyard. (That’s also where you’ll find its seafood-focused sister restaurant, the recently-renovated San Diego Bay.) El Mercado is probably the main shopping center in the town of Guadalupe, and the colorful murals on the outer walls make it easy to spot.
Guadalupe was founded as a refuge for Pascua Yaqui Indians fleeing Mexico after the revolution in the early 1900s. You’ll know you’ve crossed from Tempe into the one-square-mile town when the street names change to Spanish.
Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner
Seating mostly indoor but there are also a few tables on the well-shaded patio
Located at 9201 S. Avenida del Yaqui, Guadalupe
Inside El Mercado de Guadalupe on the southeast corner of Guadalupe Road and Avenida del Yaqui (which is Priest Drive in Tempe)
Nearby:
Thanks-a-Latte Coffee + Snacks– Opened earlier this year in El Mercado de Guadalupe. I stopped in with my dad, who gave their mango-pineapple smoothie rave reviews!
Urban farm and open space oasis. There is a lot of grass, a shop with locally-made products and unique gift items (Botanica), wedding/event venues, and a restaurant for each meal of the day!
Since this is a largely outdoor experience, parts of it close down in the summer to avoid the heat. Double check the hours before you go during the hottest time of the year, May through September.
All 3 of the restaurants feature organic produce grown right there on The Farm!
Morning Glory: breakfast/brunch at cafe tables with shade umbrellas
Farm Kitchen: picnic-style lunch under pecan trees
Quiessence: intimate dinners with a multi-course tasting menu (reservations recommended)
We especially like Farm Kitchen’s pecan chicken salad sandwiches, coffee, iced tea, and individually-sized desserts.
Seating all outside
Located at 6106 S. 32nd St., Phoenix
South of Southern on the west side of 32nd Street
Parking: mostly in the lot across the street, a few spots near the entrance to The Farm
Restaurant serving up Middle Eastern favorites plus a market selling baklava, bulk spices, pita bread, kalamata olives, fresh cheeses, henna hair dye, olive oil soap, plus a variety of imported snacks, sweets, and other goodies.
We especially like the chicken shawarma plate! The plate now comes with a small side salad, but you can substitute tabooli (which I recommend). Their garlic sauce is also downright addictive.
Open daily for lunch and dinner (Mon to Sat: 11am–8pm, Sunday: 11am–5pm)
Seating indoors + a couple tables outside
Located at 1513 E. Apache Blvd., Tempe
West of McClintock Dr.
Make sure you go to the restaurant – not their wholesale store down the street!
Family-owned Tennessee-style barbecue joint. Honey Bear’s meats are slow cooked until they’re so tender that (they claim) you could eat them even without teeth!
Some Tempe restaurants I haven’t been to as much or as recently or that I’d just recommend for something specific, but I still feel are worth mentioning:
Cafe Lalibela (849 W. University Dr., Tempe) – Ethiopian restaurant with lots of fans! I thoroughly enjoyed eating there and hope to make it back there soon.
Dilly’s Deli (3330 S. Price Rd., Tempe) – Premium sandwiches and soup. Their cream of chicken noodle soup in a bread bowl is top-notch comfort food.
D’lite Healthy on the Go (125 E. Southern Ave. Suite 101, Tempe) – Nutritious food with a drive-through. The menu includes items like quinoa bowls and vegan protein shakes, as well as classic breakfast burritos and good coffee.
Four Peaks Brewing
Four Peaks Brewing Co. (1340 E. 8th Street, #104, Tempe) – Original location of a neighborhood brewpub gone national. Besides their well-loved ales and IPAs (i.e. Kilt Lifter, 8th Street, Hop Knot…), they also offer a delicious menu of beer-battered food, as well as salads, burgers, and pizza made with beer bread crust. Free street parking.
Mekong Sandwiches (66 S. Dobson Rd., Mesa) bakes the French bread for their Banh Mi right there in their kitchen. I also enjoy their iced Vietnamese coffee. It’s located in Mekong Plaza, along with an international supermarket, gift shops, a bakery, and eateries featuring a variety of Asian cuisines.
Postino (615 S. College Ave., Tempe) – Wine bar with panini, bruschetta boards, and a tapas-like menu of “snacky things.” Originally opened in an old Phoenix post office, the Tempe location is the Postino Annex at ASU. Parking: Fulton Center Garage ($4/hour) or meters north of 6th Street.
Transit
Valley Metro runs the transit system throughout the Phoenix area. It includes buses, light rail, neighborhood shuttles (small free busses that run on localized routes), and Tempe’s new streetcar – which is free to ride until May 2023!
Light Rail
The Valley Metro light rail goes through Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa. It’s especially convenient for getting to/from Sky Harbor Airport, Phoenix Convention Center, and ASU.
I made a video explaining how to ride it, if you haven’t before. Since then, the line has expanded in both directions, but the Tempe stops remain the same. And all day fare is still $4!
Park-and-Rides
If you decide to drive to your stop and then hop onto transit, you can park in one of a dozen Valley Metro Park-and-Ride lots located across the greater Phoenix area.
Parking is free all day for transit riders.
There’s no overnight parking. You risk getting towed if your car is still in the lot between 1-4am.
Gammage Auditorium
Parking Tips for Downtown Tempe
I don’t feel I can send you off to Tempe without a heads up on parking in the ASU/Downtown area. The main thing is to make sure you’re parking where you’re clearly allowed to. If it’s ambiguous or you don’t see any signs, you could still end up getting ticketed or even towed (it’s happened).
There’s typically not a discount for vehicles with disability placards in garages.
During eventslike ASU football games, lots may charge higher, flat rates for parking.
Outside of the old-timey cowboy themed Chuckbox
Customer Parking
If you’re lucky, the place where you’re going will have some free parking spots for its customers (“Chuckbox only” parking, for example).
Technically, you’re not supposed to remain parked in these customer spaces and leave the property. I’m not sure how strictly this is enforced, but you might want to park elsewhere before wandering off.
Light rail station artwork
Don’t forget Park-and-Rides! (Details under “Transit,” above.) It’s easy to park in one of these lots, and let the light rail take you the rest of the way to your destination.
No parking signs in a neighborhood near South Mountain.
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