#1046 - Stone Rose Lounge, Scottsdale, AZ - 3/23/2010

The Scottsdale area has a lot of posh resorts and hotels, and just because you don't want to pay $600 a night to stay there doesn't mean you shouldn't enjoy their bars, with their expansive desert views and opulent fire and water features. 

One of the better ones to visit is the Gerber Group's Stone Rose Lounge in the Scottsdale Fairmont, a "modernist take on a classic 1950s beach club." 

The Stone Rose has a woody indoor bar that opens to a large patio area with fire pits and fountains.  A central fountain contains a large flame in a globe, while blue lit water and river rock surround an elevated bar across the way.  The cocktails are significantly better than average -- and significantly more expensive.  But it's worth it to go once in a while and take in the surroundings, especially around sunset.
7575 East Princess Dr., Scottsdale, AZ 85255 - (480) 585-4848
fairmont.com - facebook - gerber group - azcentral - yelp

#1045 - Mac's Broiler and Tap, Tempe, AZ - 3/23/2010

6430 S McClintock Dr., Tempe, AZ 85283 - (480) 755-3050
yelp

#1044 - The Lodge, Scottsdale, AZ - 3/23/2010

This, as the name implies, is very lodge-like indeed.  That includes not only the decor, but the fairly standard drinks, with a few interesting beer choices, the better than average food (I had a fine sloppy joe and salad), and a warm feeling like you just came in through four feet of snow rather than 80 degree sunshine.

And their web site is a little trippy.

4422 N 75th St., Scottsdale, AZ 85251
scottsdalelodge.com - myspace - newtimes - yelp - metromix

#1043 - Pattie's First Ave. Lounge, Scottsdale, AZ - 3/22/2010

Patties is a standard issue dive bar with a random crowd oddly inserted into the middle of the faux cowboy art environs of Old Town, Scottsdale.  It's a fairly large place, with a semi-open patio with ping pong, etc., and it attracts more old drunks and losers than most bars in Scottsdale, which usually makes for a better bar

7220 E 1st Ave., Scottsdale, AZ 85251 - (480) 990-0103
yelp

#1042 - Italian Grotto, Scottsdale, AZ - 3/22/2010

This place is old-time Scottsdale, along the lines of the famous Pink Pony, and its easy to see why it is often packed.  It has good food, stunningly cheap prices (e.g. $11 for entree, salad, and bread), and a great selection of local characters (including RT, working the bar, and a couple umpires from the game when I went.  Since it was overflowing on the late Monday evening I attended, I asked RT what it would be like on a Friday night; he pointed out that it was that full because the Giants had a home (spring training) game that day, and "It's been like this since 10 this morning."  But every subsequent evening I passed it was just as full.  The bar is just the basics and you need to expect a wait for dinner, but it's worth it.

3915 N Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85251 - (480) 994-1489
italiangrotto.com - yelp

#1041 - Red Garter Saloon, Tucson, AZ - 3/22/2010

This is basically one of those small, minor highway casinos.  I can see how a few people in the area might come to love it, but only in the same way that you might come to love a retarded nephew.  The devotion is real, it's just a sort of arranged marriage -- not what anyone rational would choose if they had a lot of options.

3143 E Speedway Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85716 - (520) 325-0483
redgartertucson.com - yelp - igougo - citysearch

#1040 - Fray Bar, Nogales, Mexico - 3/22/2010

A fairly classy place in a fairly old (1950) and classy hotel.

Fray Marcos Hotel, Campilo 91, Nogales, Mexico
hotelfraymarcosdeniza.com - tripadvisor