Phoenix

The circus came to town. The actual, capital-C circus — Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey rolled into downtown Phoenix, and Charlotte had never been to one. I remember my first. It was her turn, and she didn’t go alone: GiGi brought Sammy and Nathan along, so it turned into a six-person outing in Section 115. We’d booked the opening weeknight to dodge the weekend crowds, with the bonus of a day off right after for the cabin. Here’s how it actually went — the pick, the seats, the food, and what turned out to be the best act of the night. ...

I love the Arizona State Fair. Not “yeah it’s fine” love — block-out-multiple-nights, ride-the-SkyRide-every-time love. So this year I’m not treating it like a one-and-done: I’m planning several visits, each with its own mission — a food crawl one night, the demolition derby another, a concert, a kids-and-rides afternoon. This post is my running game plan so I can make the most of the whole month. The Arizona State Fairgrounds on McDowell Rd, with the Veterans Memorial Coliseum and downtown Phoenix behind. Photo: Gchiordi, CC BY-SA 4.0. ...

Some of the best days are the ones you barely plan. We met up with cousin Elana and Uncle Joby for a west-side outing — start with good barbecue, end with a science center, and let the afternoon fill in the rest. 🍖 Eric’s Barbecue – West Side First stop, lunch. Eric’s Barbecue sits in an old Spanish-tile spot on the west side, and the second you walk in you know it’s a real one — graffiti-painted walls, hockey sticks and license plates, an Anthony Bourdain shrine, and the smell of smoke baked into the place. ...