Bill Johnson's Big Apple

I have been severely slacking off on these postings and there are just too many great local places to let that continue. So, this week Max and I adventured to the original Bill Johnson’s Big Apple in Phoenix.

I have to say my initial reaction to the BBQ eatery with the larger than life diorama looming from the second story was not exactly open to walking in. The giant, long horned cow painted on the double doors didn’t help really. Once I accepted that this was an incredibly cheesy western style venue complete with gingham clad staff I eased up and allowed myself to enjoy the quaint cuteness of the place. 

Bill Johnson, a radio star in Arizona, once broadcast his shows from the now afore mentioned cowboy diorama. There is some rather interesting information on Bill and even a few of his show recordings can be found on the restaurant website.

So, beyond the kitschy western theme this place was pretty good. The staff was sweet and attentive without being totally pushy for a tip. The food was classic American fare and well done. Even picky eater, Max was happy with the Spanish Omelet and noted how perfect the bacon was. I will be eating French Toast for days and that is a great thing!

Bill Johnson’s Big Apple

3101 West Indian School Road, Phoenix

www.billjohnsons.com

Tovrea Castle Summer Hours

There was little time for a Castle related excursion this week due to holidays, pirates and writing adventures, but I cannot go without mentioning the change in tour hours and summer plans without feeling as though I am shirking my duties on this subject.

Tovrea Castle tours will not cease even in the summer heat! July through September Tovrea Cararro Society docents remind visitors to wear lightweight clothing, apply sunscreen and drink plenty of water on the outdoor tours but please do not let the desert heat keep you from experiencing this amazing site. In fact, the early bird 7:00 AM tour time might be an even better reason to schedule during the summer. What could be a more inspiring start to the day than a sunrise view of the spectacular castle and grounds? We dare you to have a bad day at work after that.

So, please, do not forget our humble castle this summer!

Tovrea Carraro Society
5025 East Van Buren Street
Phoenix Arizona

www.tovreacastletours.com/

602-256-3221

MacAlpine's Egg Creams of Awesome!

Strawberry Daiquiri Egg Creams! Oh dear gods my mouth is watering as I type this! I need another!

Okay, so Max took us out to MacAlpine’s in downtown Phoenix to work on some gaps in the Max’s Despair story, and, to have lunch, of course. The food is great and I can personally recommend the Toasted Cheese sandwich if you like classic grilled cheese and tomato, the potato salad was a filling side dish to this. Max enjoyed the Malibu Chicken sandwich. Max was rather boring in his order of a bag of chips as a side and a classic Dr. Pepper for a drink. That leads us back to the complete epicness that is the Egg Cream!

MacAlpine’s boasts 99 flavors for sodas, floats, and the Amazing egg cream. Did I mention how stunning this drink is? It is sweet and lightly creamy and bubbly and cool and even looks interesting. I swear I am going on a soda binge this summer and ordering every flavor, but so far the strawberry daiquiri is my dream drink.

So, what does MacAlpine’s to do with the Tovrea Castle I am constantly yammering on about? Well, food is not the only reason to drop into this soda shop. Flanking the 1920’s-esque seating area are two vintage shops. It was from these shops that some of the temporary display pieces for the kitchen were loaned; specifically the icebox and the stove. These pieces are no longer in the castle, but if you are seeking more history of the castle’s era this is the place to start.

I also found a stunning 60’s era phone booth that I and my Netbook fit super nice in and I think would make a perfect writing office. Just close the door to make it clear that writing is in progress. Only $300 for the office of Czep’s dreams! Anyone want to throw in?

Seriously. Anyone? Five bucks? Maybe ten? I have PayPal!

Until our next adventure!

Mac Alpine's Soda Fountain

2303 North 7th Street

Phoenix, Arizona

(602) 262-5545

www.macalpines1928.com

Tovrea Pyramid and Hunt's Pyramid

There’s a Pyramid and a Castle?

If you have not made it to tour Tovrea Castle and Carraro Heights yet you are missing out on the castle and the pyramid. Carraro’s dream was to bring a piece of Italy to the states by building the castle inspired structure and use it as a show piece hotel at the center of his resort community. This dream fell short due to the economic hard times of the 1930’s and the expanding cattle property of E. A. Tovrea. Tovrea had a dream structure fall shy of its purpose as well.

Hunt and Tovrea

The first governor of Arizona, George Hunt built the white tiled pyramid near the Papago Buttes to entomb his wife in 1931. He too was buried in the pyramid 1934. Several other members of the family were also buried there as recently as the 1980s.

Max and I took a walk around the islands of Papago park and up to Hunt’s Pyramid. I was surprised that it was finished in simple white tile, about the same as my bathroom. The view is more spectacular than the pyramid but it was worth the short climb and a great place to have a small picnic on a lunch break.

But, what does Hunt’s Pyramid have to do with the brass pyramid Tovrea constructed? Not as much as E.A. Tovrea would have liked. E.A. and Hunt were long time friends and because of that, or maybe because of good old fashion friendly competition, Tovrea wanted to be buried beneath a pyramid too. It didn’t really work out for him. By the time Tovrea passed on the laws had changed and bodies could only be entombed on cemetery grounds.

The pyramids can be seen from one another, just barely, by the naked eye. I would love to see the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation department and the Tovrea Carraro Society work together to place a pair of those public binocular setups at each location. Just a thought. Until then, take your binoculars with you and visit these interesting structures.

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/15171

On a side note, do you know how many pyramids are actually in Phoenix? Leave some answers for me until next time.

Hunt's Tomb

Phoenix, AZ

(602) 262-6862

Tovrea Carraro Society
P.O. Box 61043
Phoenix Arizona
602-256-3221
http://www.tovreacastletours.com

The Stockyards Restaurant

Hooray! The TCS Docents received official shirts today! Yes, Max and I did another training tour at Tovrea Castle this morning. We also discovered that for some reason we are not officially certified yet. Not sure what happened there. Either way, I am still loving every minute of offering tours of the castle and the grounds. It was a stunning day for the tour, but it is already beginning to heat up so I highly recommend wearing lighter clothing and bringing a water bottle if you have a tour booked. Max was feeling awesomely generous this afternoon and treated me to lunch at the Stockyards Restaurant. What has this to do with chatter about the castle?

The Stockyards

In 1919, Ed Tovrea settled his cattle stockyards in Phoenix, Arizona. Smack in the middle of this 200 acre feed lot, in 1947 Tovrea constructed The Stockyards Restaurant. I am so very glad that Max and I did not experience that level of authenticity when stepping into this historically western styled eatery. I would like to take this moment to tap into the memories and imaginations of those reading this. Have you ever been near a cattle farm? Have you ever been near a meat packing plant? Now, allow your nose to reminisce that experience and then, sit down to dinner with that thought in there. I just really do not understand how that could have been remotely pleasant.

The décor does retain the less offensive historic tidbits though. My favorite is the branding iron chandeliers. Max and I managed not to order any beef at all, which is sort of lame I suppose, but no less tasty. I totally recommend the portabella wrap, though maybe try one of the other sides option because the fries were nothing to go crazy over.

So, when you visit the Tovrea Castle for a morning tour, be sure to stop in to the Stockyards for lunch. There are some great maps of the area as it looked during the time of the Tovrea family as well as some historical informational blurbs on the walls as you walk through to the dining area. Note the proximity of Cararro Heights and again, just imagine the aroma. And, if you happen to have Max or I leading the tour you are on and you feel so inclined to invite us along for lunch, we would be happy to join you. *Hint Hint*

Stockyards Steakhouse

5009 East Washington St # 115  

Phoenix, Arizona

(602) 273-7378

http://www.stockyardssteakhouse.com

Tovrea Carraro Society
P.O. Box 61043
Phoenix, Arizona
602-256-3221

http://www.tovreacastletours.com

Tovrea Castle!

Docents of TCS First Class

Knowing the history, knowing the present, knowing the plants, driving a tour cart, early hours, study, research, and a ready smile; all of these are required to be a docent for the Tovrea Carraro Society. The first class of docents began training in 2012. With the aid and guidance of TCS board members, Eileen Marraro, Sharon and David, as well as City of Phoenix employee, Roger Lidman, this dozen or so volunteers, offered to be guinea pigs for this position. I am privileged to be among their number.

It is important to remember, that TCS and all docents are volunteers. We are here from many lifestyles and vocations; teachers, retirees, local business owners and employees, and students. Though varied in our personal histories, our adoration and devotion to local history unites us. We all have an interest in the vitality of our city, and the history of this thriving desert community.

Training Begins

Our first day of training was primarily lecture and reading. The draft of facts, talking points, and basic tour script were given to us in a binder. While, a member of the TCS board wrote these drafts, docents in training were encouraged to edit, offer suggestion, and rework where needed. We really had a lot of say in the formation of the tour visitors will experience. This tour will evolve as TCS and docent knowledge grows and we always welcome public input and personal stories.

It was not until we set foot on the castle grounds that the real thrill and meaning of our purpose was clear. This stunning piece of history and the information surrounding it, was in our care. We offer the answers to the public’s questions and we take care that each visitor walks away with a joyful and informative experience.

Driving History

All volunteers of TCS hold valid Arizona state driver’s license, some even qualified CDL, but learning to drive the multi passenger golf carts an education for all. The Carraro Cactus Gardens and Tovrea Castle are contained on a 44 acre plot of land. It is a lovely walk, but in the interest of time and in the case of visitors unwilling or unable to traverse the graveled and sometimes steep terrain, tours are given on golf carts. We all took turns testing on the gas powered and the electric carts. Personally, I prefer the electric.

When visitors ride with us we do ask that you always remain seated until the engine is turned off, keep appendages and children within the frame of the cart, and do hold on, because while we make every effort to be careful, the roads are uneven and steep in places.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Changes are still being made to scripts and fact sheets. Docents are still working to memorize the information we do have. We do get nervous in large crowds. We are just as excited as you, the visitor, when we open those gates. Practice tours are happening now, and we are trying our best to be perfect for the first paying visitors, but we are human. Please, be as inviting and congenial as your guide is to you, and remember we are all volunteers here. If you do see a few cars in the visitor center lot and you have a couple hours to spare. Call the castle, there may be a seat for you in one of our training groups!

Welcome

On the out I want to welcome you. Now that you know a smidge of what goes on within Carraro’s granite walls, are you interested? TCS is always seeking enthusiastic volunteers to help as docents, grounds keepers, and assistants to our varied volunteer staff. Call, e-mail, or visit the Facebook page to join us in our adventures!

Tovrea Carraro Society
P.O. Box 61043
Phoenix Arizona
602-256-3221

www.tovreacastletours.com/

Bisbee Arizona

The town of Bisbee, adorable! This was completely worth the four-hour drive into Southern Arizona from Phoenix.

Similar to Jerome, artists and antique dealers reclaimed the former mining town of Bisbee. I love these little towns. In contrast to the bustling, commerce-centric ideals of Phoenix, Bisbee is slow, and friendly and fun. It boasts having the “most perfect year round climate”. It lived up to the motto while I was there. So much cooler than Phoenix though slightly humid, I was actually a bit chilly at night.

I really do not know where to start in explaining the town. We drove in and again much like Jerome worked our way up narrow winding streets with barely a yield sign to direct traffic. I didn’t see a single traffic light! It reminded me of home, in upstate New York. It is much easier to get turned around in Bisbee thought. While Jerome is essentially one winding street up the mountain, Bisbee has a few branches that twist on to one another. Our hotel was blessedly on the main road and at the top of the shopping district.

The Inn at Castle Rock is a lovely 1800’s era hotel and I absolutely recommend staying there if you visit Bisbee. A warning from the start, the parking is severely limited. Carpool if you intend on going in a large group. The rooms are very small, but in a cozy sort of way, not like a living in a broom closet sort of way. Each room has a private bathroom and plenty of storage space. Our room was quaintly decorated in a Coca-Cola theme; not my favorite, but still Americana cute. None of the rooms have the typical modern hotel frivolous amenities like a television, or an office work area. This is a classic old west set up. There is a very welcoming family room with a television and comfortable seating on the second floor, and a kitchen area with a microwave and fridge, fresh fruit, snacks and coffee. Both areas are open at all hours and completely complimentary. Most of the time, we saw hotel occupants and locals lounging on the verandah or the sitting area on the first floor. If you do need to connect to the modern world, there is free wi-fi. JD made fair use of that while Max and I hit the after hours pirate events.

Day or night there really is a lot to do in Bisbee. From a tourist perspective, the shops and mine tours are absolutely worth a look. Locals have a plethora of friendly bars and restaurants. The town does cater to its artsy denizens but it is family friendly as well. About half the bars welcome families well into the evening. We had to visit Old Bisbee Brewery to seek out Vanessa (my contact for the Pirate Days) and it was the best of the bars, for certain. The brewery has seven of its own ales. Max and I tried two of them. I am sad to say I do not recall the first one, but we fell in love with the Mountain Lime. If you do go I recommend trying the Flight. It is a ring of cordial sized glasses of the seven locally brewed ales. It is a great way to sample and see what you like. When you do make a choice, buy the Growler to take home! A large glass Old Bisbee Brewing Company jug, filled with your choice of beer only costs $16.00. It made a great souvenir to share when we arrived back in Phoenix.

So, I covered accommodations, entertainment of the liquid variety, how about food? Keep in mind you are paying mid-range restaurant prices for quality vittles and nothing near fast food, and you will do fine. We ate breakfast on the second day at Sully’s Café. I wouldn’t say it was a disappointment, but if any of the other places had been open, I think we would have chosen elsewhere. The food was decent for basic ham and eggs. The home fries left a bit to be desired though. Service was reasonable, but you could tell, locals visited to shake off a hangover or for coffee talk. Not horrible, but there are much better places like Screaming Banshee Pizzeria. Max and I were drawn to the pizza place for the rum tasting, and JD was drawn to the idea of pizza and wings for dinner. The rum was mildly disappointing having had the best of the three choices before and not liking the other two at all. The food more than made up for it though. Fresh is the word. Banshee pizza does lean on the gourmet pizza side of the line, but not in the “this is not a pizza” sort of way. It is classic toppings, pepperoni, sausage, veggies, but of a gourmet quality. The cheese was fantastic and gooey without being like a second sauce. The chicken wings were not typical, but again, still great. I am pretty sure they were a Pirate Days special too; Jamaican jerk style flavor. They were very tasty! The atmosphere at Banshee was again a sort of small town bar and grill with an artsy flair. As the evening wore on people mingled and chatted on the porch until the wee hours.

The town of Bisbee exemplifies in my mind how things should be. People take the time to do things and to do them right. Nothing is a slapdash job. Life is slow but steady not lazy but comfortable with little need to rush into anything. Time is valuable to the people of Bisbee is the assumption that can be made by looking at the care that goes into attending to their town, preparing their food, and welcoming their guests. I do not think it is any different than what the town used to be, but they have taken a different spin on it. The miners who once ran this town were salt of the earth, hard working men and women. They had to look out for themselves. While most people did not tour a mining town, people did pass through on business and for business to boom care must be in all that you do. In a way the pendulum has swung for this town, but has not changed course to drastically. The miners came to make something of themselves by taking from Earth’s offerings. The artists are here to care for the wounds left by this but make a living just the same. Bisbee would not be what it is without the work of both types. I hope to take a bit of this hard working mentality with me wherever I travel and in everything I do.

The Inn At Castle Rock
112 Tombstone Canyon Road
Bisbee, Arizona
(520) 432-4449 ‎
www.theinnatcastlerock.com

Old Bisbee Brewery
Review Alley 
Bisbee, Arizona
(520) 432-2739
www.oldbisbeebrewingcompany.com/

Sully’s Café
24 Brewery Avenue
Bisbee, Arizona
(520) 432-3558

Screaming Banshee Pizzeria
200 Tombstone Canyon Road
Bisbee, Arizona
(520) 432-1300
www.screamingbansheepizza.net