If you read the prior post then you already know that I was in the White Mountains enjoying a true escape to a place that hosts the darkest skies in the entire state. I was glad enough to get a room at the Red Setter Inn—a sister resort to the best known resort in the White Mountains, Greer Lodge. While the town is smaller, about a little more than a hundred people live their as fulltime residents, the place is warm, welcoming and pristine; an untouched gem in the middle of Northern Arizona. If you have never been to the White Mountains, then I highly recommend that you take a trip up there some time and check out Greer Lodge—affordable, luxury cabins set in the Riparian plains that comprise the valley of Greer.

While there, I obviously had to eat.

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I find myself clambering up the rolling and twisting, winding and often narrow hills of the mountains in Northern Arizona as the early part of the week beckons hello to me. I discover myself on a business trip, headed on my way up to the White Mountains in order to meet with some clients about writing content for their website. As I make my way there, I realize two things: it’s been a really long time since I headed to mountains, and I am really freaking hungry.

As I enter the smaller town of Greer, AZ, which has roughly 130 full time residents, and mostly consists of older log cabins, and the newer Greer Lodge Resort, the homeliness of the place really sets in. Hunger again beckons and as I cruise down Main St. I come across a cozy bar and grill called the Neon Moon; the ideal place for a lunch and an ice cold beer.

Menu: The menu is a bit off the beaten path as far as sports bars go these days.

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There are several factors to any live music venue, club and bar and grill—when they are an all in one joint such as the aforementioned—that come into play as to whether or the not the place is worth visiting and checking out, or moving on to somewhere better. Those factors are actually fourfold in my opinion. How clean the place is. How good the service is. How affordable and tasty the food and drinks are. And, how decent the stage is and how the live shows go over at that particular venue.

The Goat Head Saloon is truly a one of a kind venue. They are tucked into the Trails (head shop) complex on the northeast side of Countryclub and the 60 freeway in Arizona, just north of the 60 on the right hand side of the road. The club offers seating for about three hundred persons, nice high top table with newer stools, booths and normal tables. Dimly lit lighting and a nicely and newly remodeled interior with red and black paint compliment a great bar and grill.

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I missed the era of the drive-in, those kitschy little burger joints where you'd pull your car into a stall. Sometimes the driver would order via an intercom next to the driver's window (a bit like we do now with a modern drive-through) or else a teenager (better known as a car-hop) would appear (possibly on roller skates) to take your order. Eventually, your food would be delivered to your car. Old style drive-ins were the predecessors of chains like McDonald's and Arby's. There's a lot of nostalgia around the era of the drive-in, and they make conspicuous appearances in films like American Graffiti and Nick-at-Nite reruns of Happy Days. A friend's mom talks fondly of one of her first teenage jobs as a car-hop. Even if you're a member of the under-twenty crowd, though, it's not too late; there's a genuine drive-in burger joint not too far from Seattle, just up the I-5 corridor, in Bellingham, WA.

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There are two Father's Office locations; the original, on Montana Ave in Santa Monica, CA, and the second location, in the old Helms Bakery complex at the border of Culver City and Los Angeles CA. It's a good idea to have someone from a group get to the Culver City location a bit early, and snag one of the outdoor tables in front, instead of the tables in side where it's a bit dark, and can be noisy. The tables do tend to free up a bit after around 8pm on Monday through Thursday. You almost certainly will have to stand in line, even if your friends have a table. They do card; you have to be over 21 even if you don't drink. The Santa Monica location is much smaller, and crowded, and hence noisier, but it's a convenient walk from the Third Street Promenade. You may well have to stand in line there as well.

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There are few restaurants worthy of such a positive review, but Seattle, Assaggio Ristorante is one of them. Not because the food, service, or ambiance were all perfect, but because all of these elements and more are blending together to create a truly well rounded dining experience. This restaurant is also home to an amazing wine and cheese selection as well, enough to make any veteran of the cozy restaurants lining the small streets of most Italian cities and villages mouth water and stomach growl.

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The Cheesecake Factory is a chain, mostly in the western United States. It began as a small family owned business in Los Angeles, best known, not surprisingly, for cheesecake. Over time it's expanded to a number of locations. I recently visited one in Sherman Oaks, California. I've been to other Cheesecake factories before, but I generally ordered from the dessert menu. I might as well fess up; my usual practice is to order piece of cheesecake for an entree, followed by a second piece for dessert :D

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Rocket Doughnuts is a purveyor of fresh handmade doughnuts in Bellingham, Washington. The baking begins at around 11 pm each night, and the first doughnuts are put in the case at around 5:30 AM each day. They probably make around 500 doughnuts a day, some of which are sold via a drive-through kiosk. I've gotten a little bit addicted, frankly, to fresh home-made doughnuts. There are times when nothing else will do, especially when I have a busy writing schedule. I've yet to have a bad doughnut, and the fact that they are made fresh daily makes a huge difference.

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Seattle’s unique B&O Restaurant, a Capitol Hill staple and one of Seattle’s oldest coffee houses, is an excellent place to enjoy a drink with friends or family. Whether you’re looking for an upper, like a café noir or americano, or a downer, like a La Fin Du Monde or a Stella Artios, this restaurant and bar delivers every time. I’ve always had excellent service, although I have heard stories from my friends that they have waited for almost half an hour for their check. I’ve never experienced anything of the sort.

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A four hour band rehearsal on the big stage both makes me tired and hungry, and thirsty for a cold, frothy beer. So upon leaving our full dress, stage rehearsal with my new band Scar Lit Soul – we decide that since we are in Scottsdale, rehearsing at Scottsdale Rehearsal Studios that a good bar and grill nearby is in order to eat and drink away our fathoming woes from thirsty gullets and tummies that are grumbling. A few short clicks on the 101 freeway and we find ourselves at the tucked away bar and grill called Duke’s, located off McDowell Road and Miller Road, in the Southeast Complex, at the corner of the complex behind Denny’s.

I have been here many times and eaten here many times, but tonight I tried to be adventurous. I had already sampled the prime rib sandwich at British Open Pub – see previous entries – and it was wonderful. So I place an order for a pitcher of dark, Moose Drool Ale, and their signature 8-ounce prime rib sandwich.

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