Rotgut.org Blog

Thursday, July 05, 2012

#1732 - San Felipe's Cantina, Tempe, AZ - 3/26/2012

Your decision to go to Felipe's Cantina in Tempe can be put this way: Would you enjoy a bit of college spring break in a big shopping mall?

2000 E Rio Salado Pkwy. (at Tempe Marketplace), Tempe, AZ 85281 - (480) 736-8226
Est. Nov 2007
Web site: sanfelipescantina.com - facebook
Reviews: phoenixnewtimes - azcentral - urbanspoon - yelp

#1731 - Cadillac Ranch, Tempe, AZ - 3/26/2012

2000 E Rio Salado Pkwy Suite 2105 (at Tempe Marketplace), Tempe, AZ 85281 - (480) 894-1111

Web site: cadillacranchtempe.com - facebook
Reviews: azcentral - urbanspoon - yelp - metromix

Tuesday, July 03, 2012

#1730 - Harry's Place Lounge (Tempe Mission Hills), Tempe, AZ - 3/25/2012

60 E 5th St (at Mill Ave), Tempe, AZ 85281 - (480) 894-1400

Web site: missionpalms.com
Best reviews: azcentral

#1729 - Monkey Pants, Tempe, AZ - 3/25/2012

Obviously I am not going to stay in the Phoenix area and not check out a bar called "Monkey Pants." Yes, it's yet another Phoenix area strip mall joint, but inside it has some patchwork, dorm room, dive bar goodness.

3223 S Mill Ave, Tempe, AZ 85282 - (480) 337-8100

Web site: monkeypantsbar.com - facebook
Best reviews: metromix - azcentral - yelp

#1728 - Joe's Crab Shack, Tempe, AZ - 3/25/2012

1606 W Baseline Rd (I-10 @ Arizona Mills), Tempe, AZ 85283 - (480) 345-0972

Web site: joescrabshack.com
Best reviews: about - myareaguide

#1727 - Bashful Bandit, Tucson, AZ - 3/24/2012

3686 East Speedway, Tucson, Arizona 85716 - (520) 795-8996
Est. 1943
Web site: thebashfulbandit.com - facebook
Best reviews: metromix - tucsonweekly - yelp

#1726 - Old Pueblo Grill, Tucson, AZ - 3/24/2012

60 North Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85711 - (520) 326-6000
Est. 2000
Previous bars at this location: Cottonwood Café, Lunt Avenue Marble Club

Web site: metrorestaurants.com - facebook
Best reviews: tucsoncitizen - tucsonweekly - yelp

#1725 - Sky Bar, Tucson, AZ - 3/24/2012

"Sky Bar is a Solar Powered Cafe by Day, Astronomy Bar by Night. We have nightly astronomy shows along with deep space images displayed from our own telescopes."

536 North 4th Avenue Tucson, AZ 85705 - (520) 622-4300
Est. Nov. 13, 2009

Web site: skybartucson.com - facebook
Best reviews: loveplayhouse - metromix - yelp

#1724 - IBTs, Tucson, AZ - 3/24/2012

Tucson's most popular gay bar.

616 N 4th Ave, Tucson, Arizona 85705 - (520) 882-3053
Web site: facebook - myspace
Best reviews: gaytucson - metromix - about - yelp

#1723 - Surly Wench, Tucson, AZ - 3/24/2012

424 N. 4th Ave., Tucson, AZ 85705 - (520) 882-0009
Est. 2004
Web site: surlywenchpub.com - facebook
Best reviews: tucsonunderground - yelp

Sunday, July 01, 2012

#1722 - The Hut, Tucson, AZ - 3/24/2012

The Hut is really more of rock club than a tiki bar, and the vibe is less exotic than college beach party. But it does the college beach party well, with a large patio and filling an airy, old metal fabrication plant which once turned out bomb casings for World War II with tiki mugs, a raffia-topped bar, and various tropical themed trappings. But what dominates the place from the moment you see it is the 42 foot Moai head that now serves as the entrance -- the largest replica of the Easter Island figures in north America.

In 2009 the Moai, constructed in 1969 and weighing in at a reported 55,000 lbs, was rescued from Magic Carpet Golf, and relocated with considerable effort and tens of thousands of dollars of donations. (The Hut owners and other supporters used the slogan "Keep Tucson uniquey, save the tiki.")

The Hut also has a special connection to Seattle Mariner fans like myself. The M's current closer, Tom Willemsen, worked there as a bartender after leaving baseball and the Milwaukee Brewers, and before hooking up with Mariners management to try and get back into the game.

The drinks are hit and miss and the Hut does not serve food, but it's a fun place and fits in great with Tucson's undeniably uniquey vibe.