We recently had a girl’s night out at a Mesa institution – Organ Stop Pizza. Before you start thinking Chuck E. Cheese, think again. This is the home of the mighty Wurlitzer that rises out of floor at show time. The outer walls and ceiling accommodate the various pipes, drums and even puppets that add to each night’s performances.

We listened to a Sound of Music medley, a couple of Disney classics, and ended with a patriotic selection with a waving flag. There’s also an opportunity to write your questions and song requests and slip them into a box; the organist does his (or her) best to make your night enjoyable and educational.

This is a fun and unique place for groups, families, and even a date night if you’re not looking for a quiet, intimate evening.  It’s pretty challenging to carry on a conversation while the music is playing, but we enjoyed visiting between sets. I’d also reserve some time to get an up close look at the various instruments along the walls – don’t forget to head upstairs too. There’s an innocent looking taxidermy duck that has a party in the Mickey Mouse Club theme song.

The pizza is good. It’s not cheap but reasonably priced. They also have a small salad bar and delicious, hand scooped ice cream. Make sure you go prepared – Organ Stop Pizza only accepts cash. They do have an ATM machine on the premises, just in case.

As the weather warms up, why not take your family to enjoy some great music and yummy pizza?

If you liked this Arizona destination, be sure to check out these!

Desert Botanical Garden

Phoenix Zoo

Superstition Mountain Museum

Every Christmas my family generously gives me gift cards to local eateries and entertainment spots. I get to spend the month of January enjoying them.

This week my husband and I lunched at The Cheesecake Factory in Kierland Commons. They are located on Scottsdale Road right next to Crate & Barrel. Self-parking can be difficult because of the many restaurants and stores in the shopping center. The good news is The Cheesecake Factory offers complimentary valet service so be sure to have your ticket validated before leaving the restaurant.

If you bring the kiddos be aware they don’t offer crayons and a coloring book so be sure to take something to entertain them. (Or do you let them watch SpongeBob on your cell phone when they get restless too?)

Outdoor seating is available but you don’t want to miss the ambiance. The Cheesecake Factory is known for their distinctive décor which includes decorative columns, artwork, cherry wood, and handblown light fixtures.

Once seated you’ll want to take your eyes off the surroundings and peruse the whopping twenty one page menu that boasts more than two hundred items made from scratch daily. As if that didn’t provide enough variety, they keep their menu fresh by updating it twice a year. Of all of the times I’ve visited The Cheesecake Factory I’ve never ordered the same entree twice and I’ve never been disappointed with my meal.

Whatever you order, be sure to save room for one of their decadent desserts, which includes thirty flavors of cheesecake.

If you’re planning an event they can do the catering or you can take advantage of their dining room capable of seating up to 35 guests. You can enjoy brunch on Sundays between 10am and 2pm or use their take-out or curbside service anytime during business hours. Whenever you visit, The Cheesecake Factory won’t disappoint.

During the summer, it’s hard to find activities for families that don’t involve a lot of money or are out in the desert heat.  Chick-Fil-A has been the best thing to happen to our family.  Our son loves their play area and I love the different activities they have during the month.  This past Friday was Cow Appreciation Day.  Although we had other plans, it is just one of many activities that they do.  Last month we went to their Hollywood Night and our son participated in the crafts, drawing and just hanging out listening to the music and getting pictures with the cow!  This Friday, July 15^th, is 50’s Night.  If you dress up, they have specific things for you.  Even if you don’t dress up, it is a wonderful family event.  Because it is open to everyone, we saw quite a few special needs kids participating with their families.  Even if your child is physically challenged, they can still participate in  the activities.  I highly recommend it as a family night out!

This past Friday, my family went to the All Star Fan Fest at the Convention Center in Phoenix.  Having never been to one before, I wasn’t sure what to expect.  Our son particularly enjoyed the interactive activities for kids and adults.  He was able to throw balls, steal bases, obtain autographs, get pictures with mascots, and hit a real baseball with a real bat!  Although it was quite pricey to attend, it was worth the money to attend.  Thankfully we had discount tickets.  They actually had a lot of activities for all levels of disabilities for children and adults.  Our son isn’t physically handicapped, but he doesn’t understand or comprehend some things and he had no issues with accessibility.

There are a couple of great children’s movies coming out as well this summer, Cars and Winnie the Pooh.  We are planning to take our son to his first movie.  If you bring your child earlier in the day, it is cheaper for you as well and kids tend to do better earlier in the day.  There is also the rare cheap movie theatre to catch some of the other kids cartoons on their way to dvd.

Even though Valentine’s Day is all about love, I’m not into a big romantic Valentine’s celebration with my husband.  I prefer to celebrate our love with a weekly date night or on anniversaries.  On Valentine’s Day our family exchanges cards and candy, eats our special Valentines muffins for breakfast, and does something special for dinner.

That’s where Joe’s Farm Grill in Gilbert comes into the picture.  I love the atmosphere and food at “the Farm”; it’s an oasis in the desert with plenty of outdoor seating beneath huge shade trees.  Find a table for two and you’ll have a great date night dinner, or bring the whole family and let the kids run around on the grass while waiting for your food.  Enjoy a romantic stroll around the grounds or a light-hearted exploration with the kids.  It’s a winning location for either way you like to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

And the food…I’m getting hungry just typing about it; you can smell from blocks away.  My favorites are the Grilled BBQ Chicken Pizza (especially the blue cheese on top) and Garlic Fries, even though they might not leave your breath smelling lovely.  If Joe’s Farm Grill sounds familiar, that might be because they were featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.  Guy Fieri showcased the farm’s Fontina Burger, the Ahi Tuna Sandwich, Sweet Potato Fries, and my favorite Grilled Pizza.  While there is no dollar menu, the food is moderately priced.  I especially like the freshness of the food; most of the produce comes from their personal 15 acre farm.

Adjacent to Joe’s Farm Grill is the Coffee Shop.  It’s housed in a converted maintenance garage.  They serve breakfast and sandwiches, but I’m all about their cupcakes.  They too have a little Food Network fame from competing on Cupcake Wars.  At $3 a pop, it’s a special, and occasional, treat; but Valentine’s Day is pretty special and occasional.  My favorite flavors are the Lemon and Vanilla Glam, while my children prefer the Cookies and Cream.  A sprinkle a little fine, edible glitter makes the cupcakes so pretty.  They even dressed up the Vanilla Glam for the season of love!

Whether it’s a family adventure or a romantic getaway, this dynamic duo makes a great destination!

Sports bars have consistently been a safe haven for microwavable appetizers and cheap beer. Well Antar’s Sports Bistro is not any old sports bar. It’s a sports bistro and they don’t support any part of the cheap food trade. They have combined a love of sports with a love for upscale dining, presenting a whole menu of gourmet bar food such as Szechuan garlic chicken wings and onion rings made from real onions along with foodie approved pasta and seafood dishes. Antar’s has enough TV’s and projector screens to ensure whatever game or event you want to watch is on, and if it isn’t they’ll change the channel for you.

There’s no need to sacrifice your taste buds to the sports gods. Antar’s understands that your craving for high quality food can go hand in hand with your craving for sports. They have a menu fit for a connoisseur to whet your appetite and 16 beers on tap to wet your whistle. Sport loving foodies rejoice even more because you can save 60% on your next visit to Antar’s when you purchase a certificate through CityDeals. You can wrap your onion ring fingers around a $25 certificate for only $10!

Couch potatoes, listen up. You might think that bowling with your video game controller qualifies as a sport, or even worse, exercise. It’s time to free yourself from the clutches of your gaming system and step into Let It Roll bowling alley where you can tone those gaming-atrophied arms by lifting a real bowling ball and pitching it down a beautiful glossy wooden runway. Let It Roll bowling alley is a clean and classy bowling establishment where you can bowl all night, stopping only temporarily to visit their bar or Oaxaca Restaurant located right in the same building.

If discounts are up your alley, you can grab one through CityDeals! Pin down a $20 certificate for only $8 – that’s 60% off!

Once you line up your deal, knock out the details of your bowling team at Let It Roll or on their website. If you have a team selected, you can sign up together and if you don’t, you can get placed on a team of friendly strangers. Nothing makes friends of teammates faster or more effectively than experiencing the thrill and despair of competitive bowling together—plus how can you not love a group of people all with ridiculous matching footwear?

Hours

Sun 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Mon 1:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Tue 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Wed 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
Thur 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
Fri 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Sat 11:00 am – 1:00 am