Phoenix News & Information

My son and I went to our first Arizona Cardinals game at the new stadium Sunday, and it lived up to its billing even if the team didn’t.

Of course, I am very familiar with the stadium, having mowed the field and done “Good Morning! Arizona” from inside before the season. But you sure can’t beat a game to fully appreciate a stadium.

It was our neighbors who gave us their tickets because nobody there wanted to go to the game. Needless to say they also didn’t want the tickets to go to waste — not at $325 a pop. Yes, $325 a ticket!

They were on the 40-yard line in the Club Level, so they were very good seats. But, you still have to pay for food and drinks.

Don’t get me wrong, I know somebody has to pay for that big ol’ building. But for $325, you’d think they could toss in a couple of hot dogs and the house brand soda from Safeway and still have that thing paid off in a couple of years. Add in the naming rights for the new University of Phoenix Stadium (UPS) and I’m thinking Bill Bidwill ought to come by and at least ask how we’re all doing. Not gonna happen, though.

Would I ever pay that much for a ticket? Absolutely not. Will I go again on somebody else’s dime? You bet –and I’ll even drive.

Arizona

I love to eat. But what I love to do even more, is find great places to eat at! So, when I read my favorite bachelor’s (Ross Shimabuku) blog a couple of days ago, I thought I’d try helping a friend out! It’s part of my job as 3TV’s Lifestyle Reporter to find those hidden valley gems. So here are some of my NEW favorite places!

Healthy and Great Meals To Go:
Rumbi Island Grill
- If you don’t love the prices (every entre is under $9) you’ll love the food! Try the Luau Pork Sandwich or the Volcano-Blackened Mahi Mahi.
Several Valley locations: www.rumbi.com.

Dinner and a Cocktail:
Fenix Bar and Eatery
- Hidden in a strip plaza next to Wild Oats, when the weather is right, they lift up a garage door looking thing, and the restaurant and mother nature all become one! Try the Ahi Tuna appetizer!
3943 East Camelback Road, Phoenix
602-952-0013

Let’s All Get Together:
The Rokerij
- One of my new favorites! Make reservations and give yourself some extra time to walk downstairs into their cellar for a great glass of wine by the fireplace! Their salads are incredible, and don’t miss their fresh halibut with pasta!
6335 North 16th Street, Phoenix
602-287-8900

Great Place for Lunch:
Taylor’s Cafe
- Choose from the dozens of salads … wraps … and sandwiches, and you’re sure to find something good to munch on! My favorite is their Pesto Chicken Wrap.
5053 North 44th Street, Phoenix
602-954-5659

I hope you check out a few of my favorites. And I would love to hear about yours!

Bon Appetit!
Suzanne

3TV Anchors & Reporters, Suzanne Bissett

Burgers, onion rings, and root beer, it’s not exactly the feast that comes to mind when envisioning a cuisine for a queen. However that was the spread when Oprah Winfrey, the “Queen of Media” stopped in, unannounced, to Mr. D’z Diner off old route 66 in Kingman, Arizona.

So Photographer Nolan Tornquist and I decided to follow in the footsteps of the billionaire and head to the 50’s style burger joint. Oprah traveled in from Las Vegas, Nevada as part of her “Road Trip” with best friend Gayle King. The cross country trip which started in Santa Barbara, California and ended in New York City, lasted 11 days and kicked off her season premier this past week. Although we didn’t travel in from “Sin City” our route from Flagstaff into Mojave County was about a three hour trek. According to “O” they were supposed to eat healthy but whatever diet was planned was quickly pushed to the side once pulling up to the bright teal and pink building. This former gas station built in the 1930’s is now decorated with Rock-N-Roll memorabilia with a focus on filling YOU up as opposed to your car.

To the surprise of all in the restaurant, including Armando Jimenez who has leased the building for the last six years, Oprah walked through the back door with her entourage of about twenty people. Her comment to the waitress “I heard you had the best burgers and root beer on Route 66?” Did someone say root beer? Oprah must have heard about their creamy caramel flavored root beer. Now I have had root beer before, but this takes your mouth to a whole new level. So where did this stuff come from?

The owner of Mr. D’z actually had someone concoct this beverage from something he had in the past. Scott Dutton, whose father Roy used to be called “Mr. D” opened the restaurant back in 1992. Prior to opening he wanted to locate a root beer he used to drink at the World Fair in the 50’s. However, upon searching for what was called “XXX Root Beer” he found that it was no longer made. So he hired a company to make a creamy root beer. Once they came up with a recipe the entire Dutton family agreed that was the right creaminess for their root beer. But Scott wasn’t satisfied yet, he asked the manufacturer to add caramel. BAM! Now you have “Mr. D’z Creamy Caramel Flavored Root Beer.” Let me tell you it is absolutely TONGUE TANTALIZING. Oprah liked it so much she had the Jimenez family make her a root beer float to go and then requested 17 cases for her entire studio audience.

Although the root beer was the highlight of the trip, Mr. D’z burgers and onion rings were FABULOUS. Not a bad day to follow in the footsteps of a billionaire. Hopefully eating the same food Oprah ate will translate to her fortune.

Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner
105 East Andy Devine Avenue, Kingman
928-718-0066
www.mrdzrt66diner.com

3TV Anchors & Reporters, Javier Soto

It’s the first official week of fall and we’re looking at 100 degree temperatures. Looks like another typical Arizona autumn. For many parts of the country, changing leaves signify the arrival of fall. For Arizonans, it’s turning down your car air conditioner from the highest setting to the second-highest setting.

Still, you can feel a change. The humidity from the monsoon is gone, our overnight temperatures have dropped into the low 70’s and upper 60’s and there’s Halloween candy tempting me at the grocery store checkout. So despite what mother nature might suggest this week as temperatures rise, fall is here.

In fact, some leaves ARE beginning to change….you just have to get out of the Valley to see them. In the White Mountains of Eastern Arizona, aspens are 40-50% finished turning color. The Coronado Scenic Highway is expected to be spectacular in the next couple of weeks. The maples are turning in the Happy Jack area of Rim Country and the oaks and maples are just starting to turn in the Coconino National Forest near Flagstaff. In one of my favorite spots in the state, Oak Creek Canyon, no color changes yet…but it’s still early.

You can find out the best spots to see changing leaves by calling a Forest Service Hotline: 1-800-354-4595. It will give you weekly updates on some of the most popular spots across the country to see the colors of fall, but really you don’t have to go that far. A day trip to Northern Arizona or the White Mountains will show you the beauty of the changing seasons right here in Arizona…and give your car a break from the air conditioner at the same time.

3TV Anchors & Reporters

I’m excited to be working on a new franchise called, “The Storytellers”. These are in-depth stories that allow us to go beyond the headlines. There is so much going on in our society, in our world — I believe that we need to have public discourse. I also believe that people care about what’s happening, even if it doesn’t directly affect their life.

For three months, I followed the story of a woman named Tracy. She and her husband were making ends meet, one paycheck at a time. That is, until her husband died and she could no longer pay the rent. Tracy found herself out on the street, with her 12 year old son, Hans. For weeks they were sleeping behind a dumpster outside a Target store.

Read more…

3TV Anchors & Reporters, Carey Peña

Here’s Some Food For Thought. …

Since I’m single and living in a bachelor pad, I’m always eating out. Yes, it’s pathetic but I don’t cook. Does using the microwave count?

Either way, I found some awesome places to eat during my dinner break and here are my favorites:

1) Thai Rama
2) Ono Hawaiian BBQ
3) Cyprus Pita Grill
4) Chipotle Mexican Grill
5) Zoe’s Kitchen

I need your help people! If you know a place with good grub that’s pretty healthy, tell me about it.

I’m trying to eat clean since my cholesterol is sky high. But hey, if you can’t have some cheat days — why work out??? I love ice cream and fried chicken.

Also, if you would like to come over and make me a home cooked meal, I’m all for it!

3TV Anchors & Reporters

One of the most frequent question we get in the weather department is, “Why isn’t my town/city on your map?” So I figured I’d try to set the record straight.

First of all, we want data from ALL cities around the Valley and ALL cities/towns around the state because it improves the weather picture we can paint. We want to put your community on our maps. However, we are limited by a couple of factors.

1. Local/live temperature/rainfall data: We use a combination of National Weather Service sites which report hourly and our own Forecast Net sites which report in real time to give you temperatures around the Valley and state. If your city isn’t on our temperature map, we can’t get the data. We’re working hard on getting data from areas we currently miss, like Apache Junction and Maricopa.

2. Storm Tracker includes ALL Arizona cities and towns. That’s right! Every city, town and unincorporated village is in the database. When we zoom into different areas, you see those different areas highlighted. And for most of the state, when we zoom close enough, we have street level mapping, so you’ll actually see your block if we focus on your neighborhood. It’s a super powerful, super-cool tool.

We invite you to continue to report weather to us at weather@azfamily.com and to send us storm pictures. That’s yet another way we can make the weather as local as possible. Remember the Saturday last March in snowed like crazy in the north Valley? Literally hundreds of you sent us pictures and email reports on what the weather was doing in your neighborhood. As a result, we had the best coverage of the storm of any TV station by far! And it was all because of you. Keep it up!

3TV Anchors & Reporters, Royal Norman

It’s 1:08 a.m. and I should really be asleep considering that I have to be at work at 9 a.m.. However, I looked at my calendar and realized that it’s my turn to write a blog. The question is: what could I write about that would make our azfamily.com visitors want to read? Well, I will share with you the details about my recent trip to NYC. I went with my nieces, Vanessa and Gannel, it was their first time in the Big Apple and they loved it! It was also an important trip being that we were there for the fifth anniversary of 9/11 which I had the opportunity to cover for Good Morning Arizona and Good Evening Arizona. It was a time to reflect and remember the thousands of innocent men and women who died in the attacks. I really wanted my nieces to see Ground Zero and for them to learn more about this sad chapter in our nation’s history; I believe they did. Vanessa said she felt a knot in her throat the moment she saw the photographs placed on a portion of the chain-link fence that surrounds Ground Zero. They are photographs that were taken the day of the attacks and are now part of a temporary memorial. Gannel was stunned by the size of Ground Zero; she feels television simply doesn’t do it justice.

I was there about a week after the attacks happened and was incredibly shocked and heartbroken when I saw the massive devastation up close. Nothing can prepare you for something like that and it was, without a doubt, an experience that forever changed my life. I have been back to NYC several times since then but on this particular trip it was very difficult to see that five years later, Ground Zero remains this giant hole in the center of Lower Manhattan (I believe the site is about 16 acres in size). How can it be that five years after the attacks the thousands of families still don’t have a place to go where they can mourn their loved ones? Although there are many makeshift memorials, some of the victims’ families I spoke with told me it’s not the same. Hopefully those involved in the planning for what will be the new World Trade Center and the Freedom Tower will soon put their differences aside so the construction can finally begin. What did my nieces take away from this experience? That we should never, ever forget what happened on 9/11/01.

The girls and I did get to see many other parts of New York during our visit. After all, there is no place like the Big Apple! It’s a city I’ve visited countless times and one that I fall deeper in love with during every single visit! It’s the people, the food, the energy! Who says New Yorkers are mean? There is no doubt that every single time I visit New York, I always have a reason to return. ALWAYS! This time is no exception!

All my love,
Con MUCHO amor,

Claudia Rivero

3TV Anchors & Reporters

There’s nothing like a home-cooked meal from Mom’s kitchen. These days, I’ve been lucky enough to have several meals a week made by mom! Last month, my parents moved to the greater Phoenix area from California. They decided to retire here. I haven’t lived in the same city as Mom and Dad in about 12 years! Now they live just five miles from me and my husband. Some may think five miles is a bit close, but it’s perfect for us.

You have to understand, I’m Filipino and Filipino families are usually very close, very big. (Many people wonder about my nationality… yes, I’m from the Philippines). Having moved several times over the past decade for work, it’s great to be close to family again. Best of all, my husband is Italian, so he also understands what it’s like to be part of a big, close-knit family.. where everyone is loud and nosey. So he gets along great with my parents. Infact, he spent all Sunday at their house watching football! After so many years away from “home,” its fantastic that I can now call the Valley home and have my parents here too.

3TV Anchors & Reporters, Tess Rafols

Being a reporter is one of the coolest jobs a young woman can have. I get paid to ask nosey questions and seek the truth, not to mention access to interesting people and places deemed ‘off limits’ to folks without a journalist credential. But what inspires me most, is talking to regular Joe’s and hearing their life stories, successes and struggles.

Heck, just this week I fell head over heels in puppy love with a golden retriever named Christi… and her adorable pups! Moms listen up, here’s why. Christi had an emergency Cesarean Section and delivered 2 babies, then to every one’s surprise, 3 days later gave birth again, to 2 more pups… naturally! The vet apparently missed the little fur balls, despite an ultra sound. Needless to say, Christi’s owners got a full refund. Oh, did I mention these puppies will be raised and trained as service dogs for folks with disabilities? Pretty Incredible!

Watch the story

Arizona

It’s a perfect weekend to get outside!

I had a fun day on the job today. I visited Cactus Shadows High School for their game day. The kids were really excited and pumped up for the big game against Cortez High.

As your trusty weather forecaster, I can guarantee the weather this weekend will be absolutely beautiful. It’ll be a perfect weekend to get outside. I plan to cycle this weekend from Central Phoenix out to Cave Creek (near Satisfied Frogs) and back again.

Until next time,
Brad Perry

3TV Anchors & Reporters

My wife, Cathy, and her friend, Heidi, finally “cashed in” one of their Christmas presents and did a ride-along with Phoenix police.

Not surprisingly, it turned out to be one of the best nights of the year for both of them. (Check out the picture. Cathy is the one on the left.)They saw it all — domestic violence calls, a drugged-out man barricaded inside his house, meth addicts on stolen bikes. You name it, they saw it.

Quite a night for two friends who plan their Saturday nights around the show “Cops.” In fact, they described their night as being just like an episode of “Cops.”

There are two big impressions they came away with. One, there are a bunch of very dedicated and young police officers patrolling the streets. They both feel a little safer now. The second and bigger impression is what a scourge meth has become in our Valley. It ruins people’s lives, it ruins families, it’s very much responsible for crime in the Valley and it was constantly the common denominator on all the calls my wife and her friend went on.

The bottom line, it seems, is that fighting the meth problem is very much a key to fighting crime in a city that has grown up very fast.

Arizona

So I’m driving in to work, chatting with Tony Haffer from the National Weather Service in Phoenix about whether they’re going to “call” the monsoon over. We’ve had this conversation about twenty times, it seems, over the years and it’s always the same. “You guys going to call the monsoon today?” I asked.

“Nah, probably not,” Tony replied.

“But you and I know it’s over,” I said.

“Yeah, but you know,” he answered. “There’s the whole dewpoint thing and everyone wants us to follow that.”

“Even though the flow pattern has changed,” I added, referring to the fact that we’re now under the influence of the westerly winds in the upper atmosphere, a definite end to the monsoon’s southerly flow pattern. After a few minutes of conversation, Tony came up with an idea.

“Whaddaya say we get all the weather people together next year and agree to stop calling the monsoon “the monsoon?” Tony suggested.

“I’d vote for that,” I replied, laughing along with him. “Let’s just call it what it is….”

“The summer thunderstorm season,” he said, finishing my thought.

“I think it’s a monster we’re never going to get rid of,” I added. “Don’t you think the term should be used in more of a supportive role for our summer thunderstorms, rather than the end-all, end-all.”

“Agree!” Tony confirmed with glee.

“Let’s put it on the ballot,” I added. “Everything else is.”

“Yeah, I like that,” he said. “Proposition 600: Banning the use of the term “monsoon” in Arizona.”

“There’s grassroots support,” I said.

“I’ll have to look into that,” Tony said laughing.

Monsoon 2006 is coming to an end. And Tony and I know that there’s absolutely no chance there won’t be a Monsoon 2007. But perhaps a few more folks won’t mind when we call it, on occasion, our summer thunderstorm season.

3TV Anchors & Reporters, Royal Norman

When I say beach, I’m talking about the dunes just over the California border. I prefer going to Glamis, which is located about 50 miles south of I-10 near Blythe.
“Duning” is my new favorite hobby. On holiday weekends expect to see between 300-400 thousand people. I’m not kidding, it is a playground for the crazy, thrillseekers who have big bucks to spend on sand cars, rhino’s, motorhomes and anything else they need to do it in the sand. I plan on going every other weekend, time and gas money permitting! I’m headed to Orange County this weekend for the biggest Sand Car Show in the west. To all my duning friends out there, I’ll see you at Oldsmobile Hill!

3TV Anchors & Reporters, Arizona, Scott Pasmore

I’m happy to say that another Jerry Lewis Telethon is behind us, and I’ve been able to catch up on my rest. But I’m happiest knowing that we raised a record $1,360,000 and a whole bunch of Valley kids and adults are going to get the services they need.

Tara, April and I get a lot of credit for being the faces of the local telethon (Check out the picture of us with State MDA Ambassador Sierra Lewis.), but let me tell you, it’s the parents and families that do the real work, do the real hustling and get people out to events to help raise the money.

It continues to amaze me that we have corporate executives making tens of millions of dollars more than they can ever spend, yet we also have families getting buried under credit card debt because their son or daughter needs a new wheelchair, wheelchairs that cost upward of $24,000 depending on the needs of the person.

I get angry when I hear homebuilders whining about the housing market. But at least several of them took home $20 million bonuses last year so their kids will never have to work. Jerry’s kids would love to be able to go to work and a lot of the adults would love to go back to work, but they can’t. They’re trapped in their wheelchairs and the disease is slowly sapping the energy from their hands and too often their hearts.

We all know the world is not fair, but I’m happy to say that on Labor Day a whole bunch of people made it a little better place.

Arizona