Neat little spot, industrial meets nature!…read more Came for a quick little looksie, of course the heat is a killer but seeing the falls & the short little walk around was lovely.

Ok, I'm going to give this place 5 stars because, technically, it is a cool place that not a lot of…read morepeople know about. It's actually a hydroelectric plant along the Arizona Canal. As we approached the building (you can't go in it), the smell hit us and I thought, oh no, I've made a huge mistake. I think I was just there on a bad day or something, because I didn't see many reviews mention the smell at all. What smell? Raw sewage, very sulphur- and trash-like. I mean, it STUNK. It was strongest at the top overlook, right next to the building. As we went down the staircase to the lower level, the smell began to dissipate and eventually, to my nose, disappeared altogether. On the lower level, we saw the waterfalls. You can walk under/behind two of them and there are "seats" made of stone blocks in front of the third. The water was flowing pretty hard the day we visited, so the seats and all the pavement was wet and there was a slight mist coming off the middle one. The overall place is like a mixture of industrial and environmental architechture. There are metal-looking columns holding up the upper deck, yet the waterfalls look like they were copied from Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, and there are large stones/rocks embedded into the walls everywhere. It sits on the edge of a small park with a decent sized lot and there are hiking paths. We only came for the falls, so I can't speak to the hike, but the area looked fairly nice. I'd like to see it at night as it looks pretty cool in pictures I've seen. If you're looking for something a little different to do or show your visitors from out of town, this is a neat place to go. Hopefully, the smell is a one off, but even if not, hold your breath and go down the stairs..... 13/2026

If you're into murals, stop by Roosevelt Row (otherwise known as RoRo)!…read more I loved checking out the alley that had various murals from different local muralists. The area also has art galleries, boutiques, and various eateries. Easily accessible via the bus or the light rail. +murals

Welcome to the colorful urban area of Roosevelt Row of Phoenix. Here you will find small funky…read morebusinesses, plenty of graffiti and restaurants throughout the area. The area has undergone some gentrification with shiny new bars and eateries popping up here and there. You can still find free street and metered parking. Fewer galleries now than before. All in all, it's a cool hangout for a beverage Al fresco. This is also the First Fridays art walk where vendors will take over the streets selling their goods. Past issues during First Fridays has caused the event to shrink in size.

This scenic drive is pretty in portions. The constructions continues but I do see movement towards…read morecompletion. Staff are planting trees in the center divide. The northbound area is still full of dirt and cones. You really have to pay attention to go southbound or turn left. There are diversions that can change so be careful.

The original intent of the scenic drive has seriously waned over the years, as the area has become…read morecommercialized. It's okay--but I wouldn't go out of my way to see it.

This spot should definitely be on your radar if you are an art lover and happen to be in Phoenix!…read moreTouring the spot Is as easy as driving your car down the alley! If you wanna get out and take some hot photos with some really dope backgrounds, that's a choice too but keep it cute because you are literally in someone's alley! I'm not sure of the story behind these installations but whoever owns these properties have to be cool AF and I tip my hat to them for allowing such an amazing situation to happen!

You can't find better small batch custom chocolates than at Zaks. The ordering is on line, there is…read morenot a brick and mortar store that you can peruse, but their website is excellent and the chocolates are delivered to your car when you arrive. Our guests could not believe the extraordinary quality and taste of the chocolates!

We purchased Zak's chocolates as part of a holiday gift. The online purchase and in-store pickup…read morewas seamless. I appreciated the prompt communication from the business when I requested pickup a bit early. I wasn't able to make it during their business hours, but let them know a courier would arrive to do so on my behalf. They immediately let me know when the order was picked up, and even sent a nice thank you. The chocolates themselves were beautiful. We purchased a larger assortment, and I loved the creative flavor options and wide variety of flavors to fit every palate. Our gift recipients gave them rave reviews. Supporting a local artisanal maker is worth the additional cost to me, and knowing the assortment was something that couldn't be found in a Godiva box made it all the more special & unique. We will absolutely be back as these chocolates make unique and delicious gifts.

I haven't written an IL Bosco review for a while. I have been sampling locations, but returned to…read morethe Becker original site, with a couple of cooking friends who were also craving a little IB. I have maintained that the best pie experience I've ever had in America or Italy was once at BIANCO with a celebrity friend who the kitchen adored. That pie was amazing. And my next dozen favorites were IL Bosco. I have tried pizza all over the world (surprisingly good Napoli-style in Sydney AU), and lots in NYC, all over Jersey, Hartford, Detroit, Chicago, LA and San Francisco. I just found IL Bosco's most consistent. Well, last night IL Bosco was FIRE, and changed everything. My friends and I went simple this time...just salad and pies. They were impressed by the dressing on the Kale salad, and the flavorful pancetta. But the pies!!! We wanted extremes...that would complement each other so we went with the white Alba, with caramelized onion, sautéed mushrooms and a honey drizzle. The slightly salty cheese was a beautiful palate cleanser from the other amazing pie...the ZA! With Hatch Green Chili, Pepperoni, Peppadew peppers, red sauce and cheese with hot honey...it was the opposite on the red pie/white pie spectrum. And they were cooked beautifully. A just-right hint of char, beautifully light and flavorful crust and flavors that hit you individually rather than as a mess, they combined careful execution with intense and wonderful flavors. That moved into my #1 slot! And, instead of wine, we all had a Menabrea beer, one of my favorite Italian brews. The hops and subtle citrus and caramel notes worked beautifully to show off the pies. Absolutely amazing evening sampling the pinnacle of pizza.

Small but cozy. Very cool hang. You could smell the pizza on the other side of the block…read more Indoor seating is limited. Great service. Very friendly. Patio in front for good days. Limited seating inside. We ordered our pizza to go. They offered us a seat and water while we waited. Very happy. Great pizza. Will be back.

I've stopped by Queen Creek Olive Mill many times over the years to pick up their hot sauces and…read moreoils, but this was my first time actually getting food here, and it was absolutely worth it! I ordered my usual Italian sandwich, and it was sooo delicious! The olives that came with the meal were also very good but beware they do have pits in them so don't choke on a pit like I did! One of my favorite touches was the complimentary balsamic vinegars and olive oils you can add to your food, they're located near the bar area in the indoor dining room, it was great to be able to try different flavors and customize your foods flavor profile! The service is counter style ordering, which worked fine for us, and we really enjoyed eating outside alongside the beautiful olive groves; Even though it was really hot, they had a massive swamp cooler and misters set up outside that made the heat much more manageable and allowed us to enjoy the scenery. Whenever I run out of olive oil I look forward to coming back to have another round of the soft bread and tasty sandwiches

What started as a plan to head to Queen Creek Olive Mill for Garlic Fest turned into us deciding to…read moreskip the crowds and simply enjoy a delicious breakfast and that we did! Queen Creek Olive Mill is such a delightful place to spend some time. Of course, seeing the olives are fantastic, but their infused olive oils and the dishes they create with them are equally worth enjoying. There's something so relaxing about sitting outside in the shaded portion of the property, looking out over the grounds, and even taking a little stroll among the numerous olive trees. I ended up ordering the ricotta eggs on focaccia, and gosh darn, they were DELICIOUS. The white truffle-infused olive oil was absolutely the star of the dish. It added just the right amount of rich, savory truffle flavor without overpowering the creamy eggs. The focaccia was flavorful, perfectly suited for soaking up all those delicious flavors, and made the whole dish feel extra indulgent. My partner went with the bacon, potato, and ricotta breakfast sandwich, which he really enjoyed as well. It was hearty, flavorful, and a great choice for breakfast. Even though we originally came for Garlic Fest, we ended up having such a lovely and relaxing morning just enjoying the property and the food.

Over the years, I have visited the ASU Downtown Phoenix Campus and Civic Space Park on a regular…read morebasis. While there have been different people, different roles, and even different buildings, one consistency has been the "Her Secret is Patience" sculpture in the park. In fact, almost 13 years ago, I even did a photo shoot under the sculpture. The sculpture is in the Civic Space Park, where there is a nice, grassy area, some tables, and chairs right next to the US Post Office and ASU Student Center. I have seen groups of students and even community members holding events in the park either in front of the Student Center entrance at the tables and chairs (gatherings by students or staff), on the grassy lawn area (community members playing soccer, frisbee, or having a picnic), or even on the south side of the walkway (though the lighting wasn't very good in the evening in that area). "Her Secret Is Patience" is a public art sculpture commission designed by artist Janet Echelman for the City of Phoenix. The sculpture consists of painted, galvanized steel, polyester twine netting, and colored lights. It is 145 feet tall and suspended as an aerial sculpture. It is monumental yet soft, fixed in place but constantly in motion. It dances gently in the air, choreographed by the flux of desert winds. During the day, the sculpture hovers high above heads, treetops, and buildings. The sculpture creates what the artist calls "shadow drawings," which she says are inspired by Phoenix's cloud shadows that captivated her from the first site visit. At night, the illumination changes color gradually through the seasons. The goal in selecting the colors is to provide residents some small climate relief through color, adding cool hues in summer, and warm tones in winter. The lighting design also changes what portion of the sculpture is illuminated, leaving parts obscured in mystery, much like the phases of the moon. I've heard students and staff at ASU discussing how the artist was supposedly inspired by monsoon cloud formations and the shadows they cast, in addition to forms found in desert flora. Now that I work only a short walk away from the sculpture, I see it almost every day at work!

This is one of the most eye-catching pieces of public art that I have had the pleasure of seeing…read more It is located in the Civic Space Park and is the work of artist Janet Echelman who made the piece in 2009. Echelman got the name of the piece from a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson. It is constructed of painted, galvanized steel, polyester twine netting, and an assortment of ground mounted colored lights that give the nets its color. The piece is not cheap though and costed $2.5 million. The massive piece starts at 38 feet off the ground and extends to 100 feet in the air. To give it more perspective, the piece's largest ring is about 100 feet wide. The piece is intended to resemble a cumulus clouds. However, I see a tornado or jelly fish when I looked at it. It was given the title of Best Public Art by the Phoenix New Times. The wonderful mix of blue, orange and purple just draws you in like a moth to a flame. It is cool to visit during the day, but is amazing at night. The color of the piece changes constantly with the seasons throughout the year. The piece is not without its critics. Many people question the cost of the piece and whether that money could have been used elsewhere. Additionally, the piece's nets and lighting has to be replaced every five years, which makes this piece a gift that keeps on costing. It is unknown how much this periodic maintenance costs the city. This piece has metered street parking located within a reasonable walking distance, as well as commercial parking lots. There is also a train stop right in front of the piece, if you are plan on taking public transportation to get there. I really like this piece. It is a marvel, but I too am a critic of the price tag and reassuring maintenance fee. This piece can rally become the face of the city and one of its iconic images. It is very picturesque and Instagramable. Anyway, as with most public art that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 10 minutes. So, you may want to consider making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. You can start with Civic Space park, where the piece is located.

Visited for lunch today and as always it was wonderful. My wife had their Italian sub (extra house…read moredressing!). I ordered Araceli's arancini, my new favorite. Arancini is light-saffron-arborio rice (much like traditional risotto) wrapped around a delicious mix of peas, carrots, beef and sausage. It's then coated with breadcrumbs and cooked at high heat. Making these is truly a labor of love and requires skill plus patience. Hers are the best!

Went here Friday night for pizza. When we walked in the inside of the restaurant smelled amazing…read more The pizza was one of the top 3 Ive tried in the Phoenix area, with the highlight being the taste of the cheese. It was so good we decided to go back the next day for lunch. I got a chicken parm sandwich which was also amazing. The taste of the cheese obviously boosted that as well. We will be coming back here much more often.