Modified Moment

Modified Arts re-opened this weekend with a shiny new space. It is clean, smells good and looks better then ever. The husband and wife team of Adam Murray and Kim Larkin have taken over as the new program directors. I am imagining at this point their fingers must be bloody because the space looked completely different then I have ever seen it. Great job guys! I am looking forward to what is to come for this space. Some pics of the opening and the new space.

The sign out front

Table decorations

Kim Larkin and Adam Murray

January 17, 2010labfive Leave a comment

4 carnivores and 1 non-beef eater

And everyone leaves happy . . . . .

While the in-laws were in town for New Years we ventured to the new 5 Guys burger stand in Tempe and everyone found something to be thankful for and to be annoyed by – perfect holiday experience! The 4 burger eaters were all happy and enjoyed their burgers although the tall one said he wanted to take the group to In and Out burger the next day for what he feels is truly the very best burger. He was vetoed though as a burger a week really is the limit. I am not a beef eater so I enjoyed the 5 Guys grilled cheese with sauteed mushrooms and onions – very tasty! We all enjoyed the fries although do four adults and one child really need a grocery bag filled with fries – the volume was a bit much. We all also enjoyed the “while you wait” peanuts offered in the “help yourself” cardboard bins. What we didn’t enjoy at all was the blasting, blaring, very load music. So loud we couldn’t actually talk to each other. Maybe their idea is to have you shut up and enjoy the food but the loudness was too much for anyone over 30.

The while you wait "help yourself" to the peanuts bin

The joint on Mill Ave.

The bottom of the bag of fries

The short ones plain hamburger

My grilled cheese with mushrooms and onions

January 2, 2010labfive Leave a comment

Have Yourself A Merry Local Christmas

It’s a Southwest Christmas. This idea seemed easier then a turkey or ham for 12. So the day after Christmas December 26, I will celebrate the Holiday with the family. The kick off for this themed event started by placing an order with the best Tamale joint in town – The Tamale Store in Cave Creek. Since my family has such varied tastes and several of them won’t eat so much as a speck of pepper on their food, I had to order several different kinds to please everyone from the sweet and savory to the spicy for the few brave ones. The Tamale Store sells at many of the farmers markets around town. I scheduled to pick my order up at the Phoenix Market on Wednesday night. This was my first time going to the Phoenix Market at night. It was cold but that really made it feel like a “real” chilly winter night. You can take the girl out of the midwest . . . . The new indoor section of the market was hopping with wine, cheese and chocolate tastings. I picked up my tamales at the last stop, thankfully, because I think I may have over ordered. The bag weighed 25 pounds. Nothing wrong with left over tamales – mmmmm . . . . Here are some shots of the downtown Phoenix Market.