Christine O.
Phoenix, AZ
Five-star rating
06.04.10

I first learned about Downtown Phoenix Dental when Dr. Berschler promoted his grand opening on Yelp with an open house posted in the Events section. I was highly impressed by his good (and not overly promotional) use of the Yelp resources. (Note to other business owners: You don’t have to aggressively solicit positive reviews or have your friends write fake ones to get the positive attention of the Yelp community.)

I recently started working Downtown, so when it came time for my June dentist appointment, I decided to contact Dr. Ben for an appointment. (I had also had a few negative experiences at Center Care Dental and was already looking for a new provider.)

I was more than happy with my first appointment. The clean, modern office was just a few blocks away from my office, so I was able to walk. The front desk staffer was really nice, but my hygienist, Heather, was truly a gem. Super nice and approachable, she was also very knowledgeable about all things teeth. Best of all, she delivered her advice and suggestions without being judgmental or rude. She also was very skilled at doing a deep cleaning while still being gentle (I have very sensitive gums). The digital X-rays were also a huge plus.

Dr. Berschler was also great in the brief time I spent with him. I liked his down-to-earth attitude and lack of pretension. I will definitely return here for my future cleanings.

Downtown Phoenix Dental is located at 111 W. Monroe St., Ste. 131 in the Downtown District (light rail at Central Station) — 602.626.7952

The DPJ Yelper of the Week offers honest insight on a Downtown business to help you explore your core. DPJ hopes that by partnering with Yelp to spread the good word about well-loved Downtown spots, you’ll spread your patronage and support local business.

Yelp is a social networking and local search engine that provides the reviews of places and things that matter to you. Simply log in, pick a place and queue up your inner critic. You can write a beaming review of your favorite gelato spot, or a scathing portrayal of that rental car facility you had to use after that curb came out of nowhere. Yelp’s reviews are at once honest, uncensored, wildly hilarious and true. Heck, the site must be doing something right — it had 26 million viewers just last month!

Catrina, Si and the rest of the staff thank you for reading.

DPJ Yelper of the Week: Christine O. on Downtown Phoenix Dental

With a name like The Constellation Branch, it’s hard to guess what kind of sound the listener should expect.

The Phoenix-based band has just finished recording and making its new EP, Mirage, which is set to release September 17. Yet compared to its previous full-length, The Dream Life, The Real Life, The Empty Glass…, the band has gone in unexpected directions. For example, Downtown folk songstress Country Marie Andrews is screaming at the top of her lungs on the EP’s finale.

“It’s not a concept like the first album was,” vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist Jordan Cruz says of Mirage. “It’s really diverse. The first song is instrumental and ambient, but then it leads to dancier stuff.”

Cruz likens the theme and lyrics of this album to a mirage.

“Something in your life that you believed was something for so long, but then realize it’s nothing like what you had planned it to be,” Cruz reveals.

Although The Constellation Branch — Cruz, Bryce Hill (guitar, keyboard), Aaron Motley (bass) and Stephen O’Sicky (drums) — is just now getting its name out, the band has been around the Valley for quite some time. They debuted in 2006 with only Cruz and Hill, and Motley and O’Sicky came on a year later. The result is a sound that is a dark indie experimental combination along the lines of math rock like At the Drive-In, yet the keyboard adds softness to the mix.

Over the years, The Constellation Branch has played at places like the Modified Arts, The Trunk Space, The Rhythm Room and Yucca Tap Room, but they’ve had their fair share on the road as well. They have traveled all over the West Coast and played at South By Southwest, but never got the opportunity to play a highly sought-after showcase at the festival.

“The people we did meet were all fantastic, and we did gain new fans and made some really great contacts,” Hill says of SXSW. “But in the end, I am not sure we would play again unless we were playing an official showcase.”

As with many other bands, The Constellation Branch hit a speed bump on the way home.

“We were pulled over for speeding,” Hill recalls. “Apparently it’s a crime to drive 65 at night in Texas.”

The police ended up searching the van and came back empty-handed, except for O’Sicky.

“The most memorable quote would have to be when the cop was searching Steve and he found his drum key in his pocket,” Hill says. “The officer pulled it out and said, “What’s this? Some sort of cocaine separating device?”

Police must find some interesting paraphernalia in Texas…

Back in Arizona, the band has signed a digital distribution deal with Downtown-based River Jones Music. They’ll stay busy in September, playing at Holga’s on First Friday at around 9:30 p.m., before embarking on a brief California tour to promote Mirage. They’ll be back in Arizona in time for their EP release show with Small Leaks Sink Ships at the Sail Inn in Tempe on September 17.

Want to check out The Constellation Branch on First Friday? Holga’s is located at 821 N. 3rd St. in Evans Churchill (light rail at Roosevelt Station).

Catrina, Si and the rest of the staff thank you for reading.

Make the Scene | The Constellation Branch

Market Updates

This week’s CSM cardholder special is $5 off all bottles of Dos Cabezas wines. Dos Cabezas makes some of Arizona’s most unique and complex wines from grapes grown in Sonoita.

T-Day special: $1 off recycled wine glasses with the Phoenix Public Market logo. Refresh Glass repurposes wine bottles into slick 12-ounce glasses. Eco-friendly, great for local business, and yes, pretty swanky as well.

First Friday: Acoustic Desert will perform in the Urban Grocery & Wine Bar from 7 to 11 p.m.

A note about eggs: Chile Acres, Dave the Eggman, One Windmill Farm, Golo Family Organic Farm and Arizona Homegrown Solutions have fresh, cage-free eggs each week at their booth outdoors — you know the farmer, and they know their chickens! The Urban Grocery offers fresh, cage-free eggs from Conchita’s Farm in Central Phoenix, as well as Hickman’s cage-free eggs from happy chickens in Central Valley, CA.

Wednesday @ the Market

Let the pouring begin! Dos Cabezas will be sampling their Red, El Norte and Aguileon wines in the Urban Grocery & Wine Bar from 5 to 7 p.m. The outdoor market features Wei of Chocolate, Bread Basket Bakery, Dr. Hummus, the Tamale Store, Short Leash Hot Dogs and the market’s farm stalls: Arizona Homegrown Solutions’ Community Exchange Table, Horny Toad Farm, One Windmill Farm, Hungry Baer Troyer Poultry and Hartill Enterprise’s Beefalo meat.

Saturday @ the Market

Stop by early for Somali Bantu Farms’ okra, squash and melons, as well as Addey Farm’s melons grown on the nearby Gila River Indian Reservation. Maya’s Farm is providing the sweet pears — we’re getting into the juicy season! — and Gigi’s Original Cobbler Factory will have plenty of luscious cobbler.

Vote now for Phoenix Public Market!

Arizona Homegrown Solutions has been selected as one of 41 finalists across the country for a chance to win $20,000 through a grant from Tom’s of Maine. The fund will install four water-harvesting cisterns at area nonprofits, including the Phoenix Public Market. It will also provide green job training for under served populations and free water-harvesting classes for the public.

You have until September 10 to vote, so vote now! Scroll down to Arizona Homegrown Solutions, Phoenix, Arizona. Every vote counts!

Have you had a chance to try Short Leash Hot Dogs, Torched Goodness, Truckin’ Good Food or any other food trucks parked around the market? With your help, these guys could be feeding people all across the country courtesy of Food Network. Vote daily through September 10 for your favorite food truck to compete on The Great Food Truck Race.

If You Go: Phoenix Public Market and Urban Grocery & Wine Bar

Urban Grocery and Wine Bar: Tuesday to Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 8 to 8.
Open-Air Market: Every Wednesday 4 to 8 p.m., every Saturday 8 a.m. to noon.
Location: 721 N. Central Ave. (market) / 14 E. Pierce St. (grocery) (NE corner of Central and Pierce, three blocks south of Roosevelt and the Roosevelt light rail stop!)
Free parking —  MasterCard, VISA, AZ FMNP, WIC Cash Value Vouchers, and food stamps accepted (cash is also welcome!) Sun Cards are welcome, too!

Catrina, Si and the rest of the staff thank you for reading.

Fresh @ the Market | Vote for Your Favorite Food Truck

My adventure was initially a quest to branch out from my normal beverage consumption and partake in boba – which would have been a big step for your favorite Southern gent. Unfortunately, Rainbow was out of boba, but the dreamy concoctions and fresh sweets they are famous for were still well within reach.

After weeping softly in their orange booth over boba, my spirits were lifted at the realization that, perched behind the rounded glass next to some ramen and Ring Pops, sat a treasure trove of donut goodness. My heart leapt at the thought of the delicacies that I could select. With a raging thirst, I ordered the strawberry smoothie from the photograph on the wall.

On deck, impatiently waiting, was my hunger. My taste buds have never known of the words “restraint” or “overindulgence.” Therefore, no donut counter can be passed without at least a regular glazed being ordered. My willpower was useless in this place anyway, and I gladly salivated over the prospect of a trademark glazed donut in my possession.

With a smile, I was handed my freshly made treats. I was barely seated before I was mowing down each of my prizes. The donut was extremely dense, cushion-soft and sweet. It was a dinner all its own.

As for the sweet smoothie, it stood out as one of the best I have had the pleasure of sippin’. Needless to say, with a bevy of sweet strawberry and milky flavors, I was in smoothie heaven.

I’m fairly confident that a choir sang during this indulgent snack. So, Rainbow Donuts is worthy of your attention. It just might leave your taste buds in a harmonious mood.

Rainbow Donuts is located at 1347 E. McDowell Rd. in Coronado — 602.256.7404

Catrina, Si and the rest of the staff thank you for reading.

Sips and Grub | Glazed Donut and Strawberry Smoothie at Rainbow Donuts

Jenny Ignaszewski's "Red Bird in the City"

Not far from the bustle of Roosevelt Row is one of the original Downtown arts spaces, the Alwun House. Tucked away on 12th and Roosevelt streets, the historic home opens the fall season this First Friday, September 3, with an art-jazz performance of Aebi-Coulson Jazz + The Beautiful Show on its garden stage. Linda Cushma flirts on the edge of interactive dance and runway fashion in this performance art show. Inside, artist Jenny Ignaszewski’s solo exhibit of paintings and portraits will “reflect a whimsical and charismatic outsider aesthetic.” Not to be missed!

Alwun House is located at 1204 E. Roosevelt St. in Garfield. The First Friday opening party is $3. Light refreshments will be provided.

Arizona Theatre Company 2010-11 season tickets on sale next week

The renovations on the Herberger Theater Center are nearly complete, and a full lineup of performances extending through spring 2011 are set to go on sale next Tuesday, September 7. This season’s performances include “Backwards in High Heels: The Ginger Musical” (October), “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” (November), “Romeo and Juliet” (November), “Woody Guthrie’s American Song” (December-January), “Ten Chimneys” (February-March), “Lost in Yonkers” (March-April) and “The Mystery of Irma Yep” (May). Tickets start at $30 depending on performance and seat location.

The Herberger Theater Center is located at 222 E. Monroe St. in the Downtown District — light rail station at 3rd St and Washington/Jefferson. For full ticket and show information, see the Arizona Theatre Company’s website.

Catrina, Si and the rest of the staff thank you for reading.

Downtown Beat | Upcoming Performances Take Center Stage

Here are 10 of the less heralded activities that are occurring in Downtown Phoenix on an almost daily basis.

1. Live music

Check the DPJ calendar for up-to-date listings on nightly music at Carly’s Bistro, the Dressing Room, the Lost Leaf, Modified Arts, Revolver Records, Roosevelt Tavern and the Turf.

2. Movie Monday at Revolver Records

No-admission movie screenings with special deals every Monday at 8 p.m.

3. Improv comedy

The Torch Theatre is one of Phoenix’s best-kept secrets. Shows vary through the week, but make sure to check out the Saturday night Cage Matches!

4. Phoenix Public Market

Every Wednesday and Saturday, the lot at McKinley Street and Central Avenue becomes our local farmers market.

5. Over-the-Hump Day, open mic

Local wordsmiths and folk musicians perform every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Conspire at 5th and Garfield streets.

6. The Downtown Phoenix fitness walk/jog

Get some exercise by walking or jogging around Downtown Phoenix. Start and end points are the Phoenix Public Market every Saturday at 7 a.m.

7. Community Yoga Project

Bring your own yoga mat, towel or blanket every Saturday at 10 a.m. at Civic Space Park.

8. GROWHOUSE Garden Days

Volunteer in the garden at Garfield and 6th streets every Sunday from 8 to 10 a.m.

9. Fair Trade Café Sunday brunch

The Fair Trade menu features challah baked French toast with choice of yummy toppings, rosemary country potatoes, baked egg casserole with veggies or green chilies and biscuits and gravy. Every Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

10. Sunday Service

Every Sunday at SideBar, DJs spin until 2 a.m., accompanying Downtown’s best drink discounts.

We are certainly missing a lot of other events that occur on a weekly basis. If you would like to add anything to the list, please add a comment!

This post was inspirited by the Roosevelt Row newsletter. To be kept up to date on what is going on in and around Roosevelt Row, click here to sign up for their newsletter. For a whole smattering of Downtown Phoenix events, see DPJ’s calendar page.

Catrina, Si and the rest of the staff thank you for reading.

Downtown Phoenix Vitality: Weekly Events

Lucky Strike combines cocktails and upscale pub grub with lounge seating and glitzy bowling. It is open until 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday if you’d like to roll a game this weekend. Designer District sells an array of casual and contemporary designer fashion, helping individuals create a sense of fashion as opposed to buying individual “styles.”

Curious about what else is coming to CityScape? Below is a recent rendering of the project. Five Guys Burgers and Fries is set to open next on September 7, followed shortly thereafter by West of SoHo, Vitamin T and others.

Catrina, Si and the rest of the staff thank you for reading.

Lucky Strike, Designer District Open at CityScape; More Soon

The vacancy was brief, and in the ideal doldrums of the Phoenix summertime. Bliss and reBar, a restaurant and bar concept sharing the same lot, opens today, offering a shift toward cheaper price points and a more neighborhood feel.

When the weather cools down, Bliss will seamlessly meld indoor with outdoor.

The Bliss/reBar approach

Co-owners Mark Howard, Jackson Kelly and Kevin Kelly had been looking for a place Downtown for nearly two years, and were pleasantly surprised when the buildings on 4th and Garfield streets unexpectedly became available this past spring. Right away, they knew their collective ideas could work in the location.

“We feel that the concepts [in this space] before were very challenging for Downtown Phoenix,” Howard says. “They were for more of a north Scottsdale crowd. This is Downtown, and it needs something more comfortable, affordable and accessible. That’s what we aimed to create.”

An open kitchen adds to the welcoming feel inside Bliss.

The cuisine fits the above description well. Comfort classics like nachos (adorned with heaps of juicy braised beef) and mac ‘n’ cheese (packed with chicken and bacon) are given a unique spin. Executive Chef John Cook, who is playing double duty at Bliss and at Fez, another of Howard’s restaurants, liked the challenge of recreating American staples with a Bliss twist.

“He is incredibly talented with food,” Howard beams. “He took our ideas and started crafting a menu that really fit this space and this neighborhood — it needs to be affordable and friendly. We call it ‘home on a plate.’”

More than just a Downtown watering hole

The luxury of creating a standalone bar that meshes perfectly with the restaurant excited Howard, Kelly and Kelly. They have crafted a menu of affordable wines by the glass and bottle and select beers that fit the space. The specialty drinks have the same pizazz as those at Fez or Ticoz, while the “naked drinks,” potent, tasty, guilt-free concoctions, give drinkers more healthful choices.

“We wanted a space that had a great restaurant and a great bar,” Howard admits. “Fez has those together, and it works really well there, but in this instance, we wanted to have a bar that could stand on its own.”

reBar (foreground) combines casual and chic in its indoor-outdoor space.

reBar’s hours are situated around Bliss’ serving schedule, so they’ll be open for lunch and weekend brunch. Bliss and reBar even defy the Downtown norm of silent Sundays and/or Mondays. Both are open seven days a week until midnight or later, including last-call pours on Fridays and Saturdays.

“If it’s a busy night on a Wednesday after the restaurant closes [at midnight], we’ll keep the bar open until 2 a.m.,” Howard confirms.

Becoming part of the neighborhood

The turnaround was incredibly quick. Howard says the Bliss building and kitchen were basically ready to go upon move-in. They spent two months touching up and finishing the reBar building as well as making some changes to the layout of the patio area.

Proper usage of space has always been a reconfigured challenge at these buildings (we are, after all, dealing with turn-of-the-century bungalows, not warehouses). Yet Bliss will comfortably seat 110 for dinner in the main restaurant and patio spaces, while reBar has a surprising amount of seating indoors, plus the iconic patio bar that overlooks the city skyline.

A hit at Fate and Nine|05, the outdoor bar tradition will continue at reBar.

Parking in this Evans Churchill neighborhood can be difficult during peak times, and since the two buildings butt up to an alley, there is no surface lot for customers. At Nine|05 and Fate, customers parked on the street, sometimes going round and round in circles trying to avoid metered spots. Bliss and reBar are eliminating the head spinning all together, leasing a few different lots off of Roosevelt Street to gravel over for parking, which will be available shortly.

For now, Bliss and reBar will draw you in with Ketel One Luscious Lemonades and Mama’s Pot Roast Dinner, but stop by this opening weekend for a look and “Bliss Boxes,” $5 late-night, self-serve pub snacks that perfectly cap off a busy week.

If You Go: Bliss and reBar

901 N. 4th St in Evans Churchill — light rail at Roosevelt Station

RadiatePHX, a monthly gathering in Downtown Phoenix put on by DPJ publisher Urban Affair, will be at reBar on Tuesday, August 31. RSVP here or on Facebook here.

Catrina, Si and the rest of the staff thank you for reading.

A Blissful New Downtown Spot

Daniel Walker, Jason Davis, Zachary Dilday and Ben Hayson make up Archeology, but only two of them have an actual love for archeology.

“Sometimes, we just go onto the desert and hike around,” Walker says. “We drag the other guys along and they say they like it, but I can tell that they don’t.”

During an archaeology dig, Walker and Davis met and began talking. Shortly after, the two were playing in a band together. In 2009, they began writing and playing a lot, but by the end of the year, the band felt like they needed some change.

“The music we were playing then… felt really forced,” Walker remembers.

Walker and Davis, both brought up in Evangelical backgrounds, soon spun off and started Archeology.

“I was raised in church,” Walker says. “My dad was the pastor from when I could remember. In my early 20s, I just kinda sat back and reconsidered about what I was taught.”

For all the questions they never got answers to, they wrote it out in lyrics. That’s where Memorial, their first full-length album, was born and was released earlier this year. And that’s how Archeology was quickly mistaken for a Christian band.

“We got a lot of e-mails from this album saying, ‘I don’t know if I could write on this Christian band.’ and I was like, ‘Whoa, we’re not a Christian band,’” Walker recalls.

In April, they did a quick West Coast tour, and now they’re embarking on their first national tour supporting Memorial.

The tour has been quite a journey for the band. They left Portland thinking a van with no air conditioning would be OK until they hit that blistering summertime heat.

“As soon as we hit Vegas and got over to the Midwest, it was like hell,” Walker says. “We’ve gotten use to the heat really quickly. I think we’ll be tougher for it.”

The band has mostly been accepted with open arms on their tour, except for a stop in Charlotte, NC. The band pulled into a campground at around 4 a.m., exhausted and a little tipsy, just wanting a couple hours of sleep. (Mind you, the park closed at 10 p.m., but they thought it’d be OK and smart to rest for a while.)

An hour later, Hayson was woken by an officer. The band was detained and surrounded by a park ranger and two more police officers.

“They told us to go to the church parking lot to sleep,” Walker says.

The officers were puzzled on why the band would sleep at a campground when there was a perfectly good parking lot down the road. Because nothing screams comfortable like asphalt. Other than that, the tour has gone well for Archeology.

“We’ve been stranded a few times,” Walker says. “The van has been picky on when it wants to go. We are a good 5,000 miles over for an oil change.”

The band likes playing in and visiting Arizona. Walker loves going out and exploring what our desert landscape has to offer.

“It’s the Indiana Jones in me from my childhood,” he says.

Catrina, Si and the rest of the staff thank you for reading.

Make the Scene | Archeology

Market Updates

The deadlines for the market’s current CSM discount offer and for the contest to double your card’s value (up to $500!) are August 31. The market needs your photos! Don’t miss this opportunity!

All you need to do is post a photo of your CSM card on Facebook or Twitter along with something you’ve purchased at the market. If you have a recipe using that ingredient, we’d love to hear it. Then, on September 1, the market will draw names from the submissions and one very lucky CSM card holder will have the value of their card doubled!

This week’s CSM cardholder special is $3 off six-packs of Prescott Brewing Company Amber Ale, aka “Liquid Amber.” This was one of the first craft beers offered in cans, and it’s made in good ole Arizona!

T-Day special: 50% off “Juice Guy” Mario’s agua fresca. Just $1 and housemade! This is Downtown’s most buzzed-about refreshing summer treat!

A note about eggs: Chile Acres, Dave the Eggman, One Windmill Farm, Golo Family Organic Farm and Arizona Homegrown Solutions have fresh, cage-free eggs each week at their booth outdoors — you know the farmer, and they know their chickens! The Urban Grocery offers fresh, cage-free eggs from Conchita’s Farm in Central Phoenix, as well as Hickman’s cage-free eggs from happy chickens in Central Valley, CA.

Wednesday @ the Market

Callaghan Vineyards is pouring samples from Elgin, AZ, in the Urban Grocery. Outside, you’ll find Arizona Homegrown Solutions’ community exchange table, Horny Toad Farm, One Windmill Farm, Troyer Poultry, Hartill Enterprise’s Beefalo meat, the Phoenix Permaculture Guild and Short Leash Hot Dogs. Eggplant, okra, beans, squash, cucumbers, melons, fresh-cut herbs and flowers, greens, peppers and potatoes, plus the season’s first gala apples are available in the farm stalls.

Saturday @ the Market

Live music by Acoustic Desert will fill the air at Saturday morning’s market. Need fresh produce? The market welcomes the Somali Bantu Farm, with okra, squash and melons, while Seacat Gardens is back with heirloom tomatoes, wild arugula, okra and yellow watermelon. Also expect a smattering of baked goods, cheese, honey, jams, pickles and other goodies!

Vote now for Phoenix Public Market!

Arizona Homegrown Solutions has been selected as one of 41 finalists across the country for a chance to win $20,000 through a grant from Tom’s of Maine. The fund will install four water-harvesting cisterns at area nonprofits, including the Phoenix Public Market. It will also provide green job training for under served populations and free water-harvesting classes for the public.

You have until September 10 to vote, so vote now! Scroll down to Arizona Homegrown Solutions, Phoenix, Arizona. Every vote counts!

Love the Phoenix Public Market? Of course you do! Show them how much by voting for them as your favorite market. You have until the end of the month.

If You Go: Phoenix Public Market and Urban Grocery & Wine Bar

Urban Grocery and Wine Bar: Tuesday to Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 8 to 8.
Open-Air Market: Every Wednesday 4 to 8 p.m., every Saturday 8 a.m. to noon.
Location: 721 N. Central Ave. (market) / 14 E. Pierce St. (grocery) (NE corner of Central and Pierce, three blocks south of Roosevelt and the Roosevelt light rail stop!)
Free parking —  MasterCard, VISA, AZ FMNP, WIC Cash Value Vouchers, and food stamps accepted (cash is also welcome!) Sun Cards are welcome, too!

Catrina, Si and the rest of the staff thank you for reading.

Fresh @ the Market | Agua Fresca on Sale on Thursday