AZ Vibe – The Ultimate Phoenix Entertainment Resource

All day long at all Cheesecake Factory locations is National Cheesecake Day where everyone can get a slice of any of their 30 different cheesecakes for 1/2 off of the regular price.

http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/shareit/shareit

For you Facebook Types….

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=100262831690

Popularity: 3% [?]

Baskin-Robbins has $.31 scoops tonight only at all locations (in the US and Canada) from 5-10 PM. The promotion is to support firefighters! Check it out

For more information, please refer to the following link:

http://www.baskinrobbins.com/spotlight/31CentScoopNight.aspx

Popularity: 5% [?]

I just wanted to drop a quick note about the wonderful people at the Teriyaki Experience in the Tempe Marketplace which has some of the best and most affordable Teriyaki take out in the area!  They have everything from the Classic Teriyaki meals, to Sushi, Salads, Yahisoba,and  Noodle Soups.  They even have a vegetarian menu!

So swing on by the Teriyaki Experience in the Tempe Marketplace and get yourself some great food!

2000 East Rio Salado Parkway
Tempe, AZ 85281
480-377-YAKI(9254)
http://www.teriyakiexperience.us/

Popularity: 5% [?]

Editor’s Note: Today marks our first article from Karyn Wyatt.  Karyn is our new contributing writer and will be writing about a whole array of topics.

By Karyn Wyatt

I have always joked about the odd location of this restaurant since it is tucked behind a veterinarian’s office. Because of this, I have always steered clear of eating there. However, on Sunday, March 15th I happened to locate a BOGO (Buy One Get One) coupon and figured I had nothing to lose.

When entering you just can’t help but feel like you walked in off the beach. The decor is very basic with a sea side feel. There are a handful of tables straight ahead. To your right and up a couple of steps there are some booths alongside the windows, which lookout to the parking lot and a gas station. To your left is a window with a cash register which is attached to the kitchen area.

The staff, although friendly was limited and very slow to recognizing that there were patrons waiting to be seated. On a busy day I could understand this and let it slide but there was only one table of four people in the whole place. We stood by the front door looking clueless (there is no sign asking that you wait to be seated) and then we finally sat ourselves at a booth.

After sitting at the booth for ten minutes we finally went up to the window to ask if we were supposed to order there. The girl seemed surprised that we were there and informed us that we were supposed to wait to be seated. She did apologize for not seating us, stating she was busy making more chips.

Anyway, we finally got our menus and ordered. The menu has a combination of the usual Mexican dishes and hamburgers, which I thought was odd. I ordered the Taco Salad with ground beef. My friend ordered enchiladas.

The waitress gave us chips and salsa to nibble on while waiting for our food. They were basic.

Finally, we got our food. And the drum roll please……my taco salad was in a crisp tortilla shell with lettuce and cheese and presumably nothing else. I couldn’t see past all the lettuce and had to dig to find the beans and beef. I think there were tomatoes and some sour cream in there too. The beef was not seasoned and it actually tasted like they had grilled up a burger and then broke it into pieces and tossed it into my taco salad.

I asked for salsa and the waitress asked if I wanted mild or hot. I said hot and she said, “Ok, but it’s not very hot I don’t think.” She was right. It was fairly flavorless.

I ate about half of my meal and asked for a box…which is what I usually do because I’m a tightwad and don’t waste anything.

My friend’s enchiladas were nothing spectacular and again flavorless. He ate about half of them and pushed the plate away. No box for him.

I have read reviews that say, “Rio Rico offers diners warm hospitality and mouth-watering cuisine that will not easily be forgotten” and “Thought the food was great!” Where are these people eating??? They must not know how to cook because I am Asian and can make better Mexican food than what I tasted at Rio Rico.

With the BOGO coupon the total for two drinks, chips, salsa and two meals was around $10.00. Not a bad price for good food, but it was a bad price for bad food.

Needless to say, I will not be returning to Rio Rico. And, since I decided I wasn’t getting my money’s worth either way, I threw away my leftovers when I got home.

If you decide to judge for yourself, Rio Rico is located at 747 N. Val Vista Drive, Suite 110 in Gilbert.  When I called for hours I was told they are open from 11:00 am – 9:00 pm everyday….actually, I was corrected, it is not everyday but Monday through Sunday.  You do the math.

Popularity: 7% [?]

One of the best cultural holiday traditions in and around the Phoenix area is the 8th Annual Food City Tamale Festival.  This festival is held as many Hispanic families around the globe celebrate the holidays by making Tamales (including dessert Tamales….grub!) with their local faith based groups and sell them at the Tamale Festival to raise funds for their given organizations.

The festival is located in Downtown Phoenix on Washington St and in addition to the Tamales, there will be music and family style entertainment. There will also be a selection of Southwestern Latino arts and crafts on display and for sale.

The Festival will take place on the following days and times:

Saturday December 13, 2008 from 10 AM to 6 PM
Sunday December 14, 2008 from 10 AM to 6 PM

In addition there will be a Best Tamale contest starting at 2 PM. Tamale makers will be competing for a wide array of prizes.

Plan ahead as organizers are expecting tens of thousands of people attending this two day festival.

…and the best part of this festival?

Admission is FREE!!