Joe's Diner: A Little Piece of Mayberry in Melrose

Small town, local, and making friends with customers is common where I am from, but here in Phoenix, it seems rare. Leave it to another hard working, creative, small town transplant to show Phoenix how it can still be done.

Joe’s Diner on 7th Avenue and Indian School Road exemplifies the classic diner experience. The food is standard American comfort foods and diner fare, but this where so many “home style” diners in Phoenix, end the experience. A diner is not just a title on a business. It’s not just the classic eggs and bacon breakfasts, and burger and fries lunch menu. Diner means friendly, local and home. It means coming out to greet your customers as the neighbors they are. It means supporting neighborhood farms, suppliers and other businesses.

Joe has been the prime example of the little Mayberry like town in Southern Arizona that he was raised in. Bringing the small town attitude is no easy task in a big city, but Joe was willing to take on the task. With jams and jellies, croissants, and biscuits made in house, and nearly everything else including; the eggs, sausage, and vegetables locally collected, this diner means the business for living local. Built on love, respect, and with his own sweat and blood, the diner itself is a labor of love. From the dividing walls of each booth, to the paint on  the walls, Joe and his family had their hands in making this dream a reality.

So, where did it all start really? After nearly 25 years as a professional chef, Joe knows food. Even when camping, Joe couldn’t keep out of the kitchen. Spending time to make some of his favorite dishes during vacations with his wife and young children, Joe puts to shame those of us who are content with an unevenly charred hot dog or burger. Inviting another family along on one excursion lit the fire for a new adventure in his cooking career. So in awe of the feasts laid by Joe, his friend’s praise spread to several more families. It wasn’t long before Joe was catering for the entire campsite and reviews of his food made it clear.

Requests for Joe to open a restaurant would not be silenced. And the rest is hometown history.

Joe’s Diner

4515 N. 7th Ave.

Phoenix, 85013

(602) 535-4999

Monday - Sunday 7:00 am - 3:00 pm

Pirates, Trolls and Books at Lo-Fi Cafe, Mesa

This outing really did become an adventure! On Sunday mornings Brick Cave Books hosts a local authors book browse at downtown Mesa’s Lo-Fi Café. Max and I were not just there to browse however, we were part of the action! I will get to that after the thrill of the pastry!

Lo-Fi is very much the trendy coffee shop of the new millennia, with everything from hot and cool Chai Lattes to the hi-tech brewing methods for some very earthy teas, there is something for anyone. Oh and the pastries, of course! They are to die for of course, and vegans need not feel left out. Try the vegan chocolate chip scones!

So, what about the books? Lo-Fi Café caters to pirates, fairies, rogues, and trolls as well as the casual hipster and hometown coffee seeker. Stop by on a Sunday morning to be a part of the story, or any day to make your own. 

Lo-Fi Café

105 West Main Street

Mesa, Arizona

(602) 769-3689

www.loficoffee.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

Prowl and Play with Moon at Phoenix Zoo

It is an extra adventure week! Max and I spent Saturday evening at the Phoenix Zoo’s Prowl and Play event. The original intent was to visit our favorite mermaid, Moon (www.amermaiddream.com). We enjoyed so much more!

The Phoenix Zoo was Moon Mermaid’s last appearance in the Arizona desert before swimming to far off waters. As she rested in her cozy mermaid lagoon, zoo patrons were invited to take pictures with Moon, some even took away some gifts of mermaid treasures. Max, of course, had to have a picture.

The Prowl and Play was also our first meeting with Moon’s new pirate ally, Black Haven, who was very friendly for a pirate, though that might be because Moon introduced us as fellow rogues of the sea from The DREADFleet. Max and I were also happy to see little Orion helping out and staying as out of trouble as a young pirate can.

Continuing on through the zoo and allowing Moon to visit with an endless line of awe struck children and inspired grown-ups, Max and I discovered the many other exciting entertainments at the Prowl and Play. We paused for a time at the drum circle, listened to some karaoke, and enjoyed the very different look of the Phoenix Zoo at night. Very few of the animals were out, but we did watch the always adorable otters for a while.

Of course, what is a visit to the zoo without a quick stop to the gift shop to check out the interesting animal themed items. We found some very interesting things this time around. For the aspiring writer or artist in your life, whose skills might not be quite up to snuff just yet, how about the gift of a notebook made from PooPooPaper. Yes, that is indeed paper made from a variety of animal feces. No joke. Well, at least nothing can make it any crappier. Max was disturbed by both the wide-eyed animal plushies and the giraffe hats. I did convince him to let me take a giraffe hat home though by pointing out the very stealthy attributes. 

We closed the night with a final visit with Moon and her pirates to wish her well on her next journey. Moon we will miss you, but will certainly visit you at the next Prowl and Play on July 14^th.

Phoenix Zoo
455 North Galvin Parkway
Phoenix,Arizona
(602) 273.1341
www.phoenixzoo.org

Payson, Arizona

Sedona, Sedona, Sedona, it is the place to be in Northern Arizona; if you are looking for moderate overkill on the New Age gimmicks and commercialized tourist hot spots. Sure the Red Rocks are a wonderful hike and great view, but there are so many other locations for a relaxing, quiet, more down to earth escape from the city.

The town of Payson, Arizona with its population of around 16,000 people is a haven for nature enthusiasts, families, hikers and bikers. It is perfect balance of relaxing entertainment. The town is home to many quaint antique shops, while nature surrounds as a great place for fishing, hiking, hunting and swimming.

Max is fortunate to have an adorable little cabin at the edge of Payson. This is one of my favorite places to escape to in November, or in the heat of summer. Spending time at the cabin draws up memories, for me at least, of my childhood home in Central New York with slow, relaxing days wandering the woods or hanging out in the quiet town.

Every weekend visit has to start at the Knotty Pine Café. There are quite a few little mom & pop restaurants in town but the Knotty Pine has the best breakfast and service, and pie! Do not go to the Knotty Pine if you are into gourmet spreads, fancy foods, or artisan meals at exorbitant prices. This is the perfect place to escape all of those things and just get an honest meal at a fair price.

While we are on the topic of food, I should mention that while there are plenty of fish and crayfish (more on that later), there is no sin in ordering a pizza while camping out. This is especially true if it is from the Pizza Factory.

So, you are well fed and looking to work off some of the calories? Pick a trail and wander, there are so many wonderful places to get lost. Some of the more marked trails include the Natural Bridge or the walk down to the creek to swim. If you drive a few miles out though, and are willing to venture into unmarked territory there are many places to pick out fossils and even crystals! Max is always open to showing off the best spots for fossils. He loves finding crinoids and fossilized shells. I am a complete girl however and very much attracted to shiny objects. I love treasure hunting! Crystals are incredibly easy to find just off the road if you are willing to keep your eyes to the ground and be patient.

Speaking on patience, Max loves fishing, even though he rarely catches anything worth keeping and cooking. Shh! Don’t tell him I said that. I prefer at least a small prize to take home; that is why I hunt crayfish! The little, and sometimes not so little, monsters are easy to catch with patience a shoelace and bits of raw bacon. Never use Bologna; the little buggers steal it every time! Crayfish are tedious to peel though, so be aware, it takes at least a dozen to reasonably feed one person.

Writing this makes me miss the cabin and the cool wide open spaces even though we just left. I am excited to be able to escape again soon for NaNoWriMo in November.

 Knotty Pine Café
1001 South Beeline Highway # A
Payson, Arizona
(928) 474-4602

Pizza Factory
238 East State Highway 260
Payson, Arizona
(928) 474-1895
www.pizzafactory.com

crinoids
http://www.paleosoc.org/Crinoids.pdf

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