AZ Flavors

Downtown Gilbert is full of modern, fun places to eat. From Postino to Liberty Market, there are tons of unique places revolutionizing the way we eat food. Recently opened is The Brass Tap, a pub that features live music and over 300 craft brews. The beer selection in itself is amazing. Craft brews are the way of the future - the new generation of beer drinkers prefer craft and IPA’s to the more traditional brews. The Brass Tap caters not only to beer drinkers, but lovers of a good pub atmosphere. In its opening weeks, The Brass Tap has drawn a huge crowd of people. It’s worth a try!

A limited time event! During spring break, my boyfriend and I decided to visit the Phoenix Zoo. It had been a long time since I’d been there. I was glad to see the the zoo has recently begun to implement more research into conservation and rehabilitation. It is important that zoos do not become known as places for people to gawk at animals. They are meant to education and rehabilitate. The effort I saw at the zoo to show that they were taking a huge step forward in conservation was satisfying. It is so rewarding to see animals that get a second chance at life due to the dedication of people.

We had seen advertisements for Dinosaurs in the Desert, but weren’t quite sure what it really meant. We got a really cool bundled deal through Groupon that allowed entrance into the zoo as well as a look through the limited time Dinosaurs in the Desert. 

Upon entrance to the exhibit, they have you take a picture with your group in front of a green screen. If you’d like, you can purchase the picture later, now complete with you in front of prehistoric relics. 

The exhibit is very short. So if you were expecting a long walk and lots of different dinosaurs, I wouldn’t spend the extra money to get in. However, for the experience, it was very cool. There are a few different animatronic dinosaurs along with descriptions of how’d they be if they were living. There was even one dinosaur that spit water at you! I learned that a T-Rex could carry up to 300 lbs per arm.

The experience, while short, was very enjoyable. It’s always an enriching moment to get to learn about something you know next to nothing about. The event ends April 30th, so get out there before it’s too late!

Ready for a bite to eat? Salut Kitchen Bar is located off University Drive, only minutes away from Arizona State University’s Tempe campus. Unassuming, this tiny bar restaurant rests on the corner of a tiny complex, right across from a video game store called Flashback Games. Upon entering, this restaurant is exceedingly nice for the casual area is surrounds. There is a beautiful patio that is dog-friendly and full of plush couches and a comfortable atmosphere. The menu houses a wide variety of alcohol, and dishes that are both healthy and sinfully delicious. Start your meal off with a tiny, personal bottle of Moscato and a delicious bruschetta. I recommend their beehive burger for a delectable, unique burger that will melt in your mouth. Pair this with truffle fries, and you’ll be in foodie heaven.  

Finish off your dinner with a chocolate lava cake. As soon as your spoon hits the chocolate cake, warm, melted chocolate runs down across the plate, making for one of the most delicious desserts I’ve had in a while. This place is a must for reuniting with friends, enjoying a drink, or sitting on the patio with your dog and having a quick lunch. It is a bit pricey, so definitely not a local eat for the college student on a budget!

Back again with some indoor fun! The OdySea aquarium, a relatively new conservation project, is an amazing experience for all ages. I went with my boyfriend on a Tuesday morning, so the crowds were not bad at all! We got discounted tickets with our student IDs. Right now, they are running a promotion where if you buy a ticket after 5 pm, you get five free dollars to spend at any of the stores or restaurants around the aquarium.

This aquarium is extremely geared towards education and conservation awareness. Each of the tanks are spectacularly pristine and designed to best fit the creatures’ natural habitats. There are so many employees walking around, very willing to help anyone with questions and provide the guests with facts and information about the animals. We even got to see a three-toed sloth on exhibit named Squidney. 

There is a large cafe inside the aquarium and a tiny movie theatre with a film about the beautiful whales across the sea. The environment is cool, relaxed, and informative. OdySea Aquarium is big on conservation, and houses many disabled animals that would not survive in the wild, including a sea turtle with a condition called “Bubble Butt Syndrome”. This is a condition caused by a sea turtle being struck by a boat, causing deformities in their shells that result in the turtle floating. Turtles that float are not able to survive in the wild, and must be brought into captivity to be taken care of. OdySea houses many disabled animals, and strives to bring awareness to preserve the integrity of these animals’ environment and their safety.

After a long walk at the aquarium, you can sit down at one of the restaurants and enjoy a pick-me-up. There is a place called the Ice Bar, which boasts frigid temperatures and a new experience. All in all, this makes for a fun day to get out of the sun and learn more about some of the world’s most beautiful creatures.

Looking for something cool to do as temperatures warm up outside? Recently, some friends and I booked a room at Escape Room Mesa. There are some great group rates on Groupon.com that make it affordable and incredibly easy to check in! Escape rooms are a relatively new phenomenon. You can see celebrities doing it via their Snapchats or Instagram, and popular TV shows putting their characters in quirky situations involving hijacks within an escape room. So we decided to see if it was all about the hype, and here’s what I can say:

At Escape Room Mesa (their website boasting to be the largest escape room facility in the nation) you enter a very old building that looks as though it used to be a hotel. Inside, however, is very modern. You check in through an iPad, while the very enthusiastic staff warns in you in a theatric tone about all the puzzles that are ahead. While the room is prepared, you wait with your group in a lobby filled with games and locks to practice unlocking, for the adventure ahead. It is advised to come in a group of four to six, or even more. The more people in your group, the more likely you are to get your own room.

When the room is finally ready, we are brought in. There are only two rules: don’t use your phones, and don’t rip objects off the walls. Other than that, it’s fair game. You have an hour to get out, and three clues if you get stuck. The theme of the room we went to was Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.

If you are not a fan of teamwork or logical puzzles, this activity is not for you. Without the help of your teammates or patience in the face of a ticking clock and a difficult puzzle, it is very unlikely you will find the key to get out in time. If you need a clue, you simply look into the camera and say, “We need a clue please.” The clue will then appear on the TV monitor. If you run out of clues, but still need help, you can ask for another clue, but it will shave some minutes off your time. 

This round, we managed to get out! I have to say, it was very satisfying finding the key and being able to get out of the room with only three minutes left on the clock. For a reward, we got to take a silly picture with props in front of the checked backdrop of the thematically decorated room. We left feeling like we wanted to turn right back around and go for another round.

All in all, the escape room was a success. From the positive attitude of the staff, to the clever puzzles and decoration, this is a fun, relatively inexpensive activity to do when the temperature starts to become unbearable outside. A tip for the Groupon: they’re usually only valid for Friday thru Sunday, so make sure you book accordingly!