Vox

A Blogging Good Time

Well, it was a hot time in Tempe, but the beverages were chilled - and so was the conversation. I am thinking that outside was not a good choice for July.....

Movies, music...food, drink...campaigns, candidates...Phoenix in the old days, Phoenix now-a-days...light rail, copyrights, guns, etc. We covered it all.

Lori has a breakdown of the attendees and a handful of pictures.

Mat was the only new blogger addition, glad to have him. OK, my sister was new to the gathering, also, but I already know her pretty well ;-) Lori also brought a friend, who, with John McJ's wife, helped to increase the female, non-blogger contingent.

We have met in Tempe the last couple of times in order to entice the Exurban gang. They have agreed to make the trek next time around, and I think it is time to move back to the west side.

So, here are my thoughts (Keeping travel in mind, both restaurants are just off the 101):

We all seem to enjoy the Yard House which boasts no only a great beer selection, but also some choice martinis and fabulous food. Unfortunately, they have no Happy Hour to take advantage of on Saturday or Sunday. We also run the risk of running into some event traffic at one or more of the venues if I don't do my homework.

I recently saw that, just north of the Yard House, we have BJ's Brewhouse. I have no idea if this place is any good. They seem to have quite a beer list, a full selection of mixed drinks, and a yummy sounding menu. I think it is far enough from the stadiums to limit any sort of event issues. They don't list the days/hours for their Happy Hour specials. I may have to visit for a test run ;-) Lori should enjoy these choices.

I was thinking that late September or early October would be fun - is that too soon for you all? Do you think, if we meet almost in his backyard, that El Gringo will come?

And There Was Much Rejoicing

A good time was had by all - I hope. I'll post more later, but for now you can amuse yourselves with these pics.

(Can't believe Lori already got those up - she works fast)

Come One, Come All

It is almost time for the Arizona bloggers to converge on Tempe!

OK, a few of us bloggers...less of a convergence, more of a happy hour (or 4).

July 26th, 3:00 - 7:ish
Four Peaks Brewery
1340 East 8th Street, Tempe, AZ

So far, we have RSVPs from:
Exurban League: Jon, Kevin & Steve (they started it, they better be coming)
Zonitics: Anonymous Mike
Voice of Liberty: John (maybe Krista, too?)
Macker's World: Macker himself (check out his picture so you can find us if you don't already know who to look for)
Desert Martini: Lori (hopefully)
Lion & Lambs: another maybe
Little Green Footballs: at least one, I believe....any confirmation or addition?

Anyone else? Drop a comment in the box so we know who to watch for.

AZ Bloggers Unite!

Or at least get together and chat....

We are getting close to our next east side blogger gathering on the east side.

July 26th, 3:00 - 7:ish
Four Peaks Brewery
1340 East 8th Street, Tempe, AZ
Bloggers of all stripes, along with their readers and friends.

The beer is tasty, the food is scrumptious, the parking is.....well.....its....did I mention the beer?
******************************
It appears that we are expecting Voice of Liberty, Zonitics, Macker's World, a couple of Green Footballs, and at least 75% of Exurban League.

Hot Time In Blogtown

OK, I am making the call, going to skip right over my "30* and flirty" birthday and go the next week:

July 26th, 3 - 7....?
Four Peaks in Tempe
All Arizona bloggers, blog readers and blog friends are welcome.

Drop a comment in the box by way of RSVP so we know who to look for.

* actual mileage may vary, gifts are still welcome

Blogger Gathering - Reset

OK, let's try this again.

Seems that the 12th won't work due to some previous commitments (darn Conservatives and their family values)

Any suggestions for a get-together date are appreciated.

If we do it the following Saturday, you have to be warned that it is my birthday. I might pout if I didn't get presents (I also don't know if D has made plans for us to do something, but he is pretty romantical)

We can also do it earlier, whatever works to get the highest turnout. What are your thoughts?

Oops - Blogger Gathering

Apparently my calendar interpretation skills are lacking. I blame the public schools.

Since July 11th is a Friday, and most people have to work, how about we make that get together on July 12th instead.

Does that work for everyone?

I Can Take A Hint

Especially when the hint is dropped by Exurban League.

Since they brought it up, it looks like the East Valley again - can't complain too much, great food and beverages to be had at Four Peaks.

It appears July 11th is the favored date (probably around happy hour, 3:00?) - anyone else care to join us?

P.S. Woods', any chance you'll be in town?

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday...

Once again, some local bloggers have come up with an excuse to sample beer and eat too much bar food. Not that we really need an excuse ;-)

We will be meeting at Four Peaks in Tempe tomorrow, Sunday the 23rd, 3:00(ish)

Earlier mention lists our confirmed attendees - come on out and join the fun.

Happy Blog-iday

Looks like Four Peaks it is. Thomas, Anonymous Mike, ExurbanKevin, ExurbanJon, & me. Anyone else?

December 23rd...what time works for you?

UPDATE: 3:00(ish) it is.

UPDATE: Add John McJunkin, as well.
Macker, too.

Bloggers & Beer

At our last blogger gathering - which was very small - we decided to try for a Christmas get together - Sunday, December 23rd. I thought it would be good to try something on the east side, perhaps that will even persuade the Exurban crew to come out.

In keeping with our usual choice of venue, we are looking to meet at a brew pub. I know of Four Peaks and...is Yucca Tap Room a brew pub or just a bar? Would it work? Do you have any thoughts/suggestions?

Stale Post

At the latest AZ blogger get together, we all mentioned the number of drafts we write, and save...and never publish. We also decided to each publish one of those "stale" posts for all the world to see. Here is mine, originally begun on 12/26/2005 and titled "Movies, Old & New".

Unfortunately, I can't finish my thoughts on SAJU's King Kong post, since it seems to be unavailable in the Zonitics archives - I don't remember what else I wanted to address (I covered a lot in my original review). I am also not sure what some of my points were in reaction to...and they don't hold up so well without the counterpoint.....

Since it has been almost two years, I don't recall what I wanted to say about the other movies, either. I do remember thinking that Fun With Dick & Jane included unnecessary swipes at the Bush administration (completely out of place in what was billed as a light, 'fun' comedy), and I don't think I found it overly entertaining. I will have to watch The Patriot & Rocky again before I can review them fairly.

So, here it is - what there is of it - in all it's stale glory.
**********************************************

Just a few bit to keep up, I wanted to answer Special Agent Johnny Utah in his King Kong complaints (mostly because I had more to say and he gave me a jumping off point), and then I saw three more movies I want to chat about, as well, the new: Fun With Dick & Jane, and the old: The Patriot and Rocky (I had never seen either of those, can you believe it?)

King Kong: I don't really know that the 'story' was worth telling, but it was certainly worth retelling. What made this movie possible, and desirable, is that it is a remake of a classic film that has been in our collective consciousness for 70 years. When it was originally made in 1933, it pushed the boundaries of the special effects genre (and decency) while making us care about a giant gorilla - no easy feat. I believe the only relationship you need to care about is between Ann & the ape, the rest is just filler for the most part (Well, Carl and his greed play a big part, too).

The comparison to Jerry Macguire is completely out there - I don't get the connection? I can't directly relate to the stories in The Patriot or Rocky, either, but I'm not going to dismiss them because of it. Different genres, different aims, different results.

I actually thought the dinosaurs here looked better than those in Jurassic Park, though I did have some issues with the effects. My complaint was with the backgrounds, specifically the mountain ledge that falls away during that chase. There were anatomical errors with these dinos, but that was intentional as an homage to the errors in the original.

I am willing to suspend my disbelief regarding Ann's potential injuries, and justify her resilience based on her profession. As a vaudeville performer who specializes in physical comedy, she has practiced falling, so flinging herself on the rocks would be no different than flinging herself on the stage. The rides in Kong's grasp and on his shoulder seem much more brutal, but not fatally so.

AZ Blogger (and friends) Gathering

Looks like there are going to be a few bloggers able to make it this Saturday.

Sonora Brewhouse
322 E Camelback Road, Phoenix
3ish - ??

Hope you can make it.

AZ Blogger Gathering

Now that the weather is cooling down (a bit), the beer bear is coming down to Phoenix for a visit. Of course, that means an excuse to get the local bloggers together for food and drinks....

How about Saturday the 24th? Sonora Brewhouse? Afternoon-ish?

What do you think?

Don't Forget The Blogorama

Where: Yard House
9401 West Westgate Boulevard, Glendale, AZ 85305
When: March 24th at 4 pm

Be there or ... well, I don't know.

But it would be more fun if you showed up.

'Nother Blogorama

Thomas is putting together a blogorama, this time in the West valley.

Where: Yard House
9401 West Westgate Boulevard, Glendale, AZ 85305
When: March 24th at 6pm 4 pm now, though we will most likely still be around at 6...

Christmas Bloggerama

re: Last night's get together.

I am such a light weight

After Christmas Cheer

Just a reminder to everyone who will be in the area tomorrow, December 27th, that we are having an impromtu bloggerama.

Same place as last time:

Sonora Brewhouse
322 E Camelback Road, Phoenix
3ish - 6ish

Hope you can make it.

Impromptu Blogorama

I received an email from the Bear suggesting an impromptu gathering over the Holidays while he is in town. Sounds like a great idea to me.

How about Dec 27th? Same place?

Sonora Brewhouse
322 E Camelback Road, Phoenix

Blogtoberfest Postmortem

Thanks to all who showed up to our little gathering in Phoenix!

Prizes got out to Some Soldiers Mom, who not only came from Prescott, but who brought along the soldiers father & uncle, as well. Be sure to check out the books, The Blog of War & Operation Homecoming.

The distance traveled prize, though, definitely goes to Scott at Speed of Thought, who made the trek from Tucson - and brought the coolest toy (as Macker points out, 9 operating systems!)

Macker, however, had the coolest camera (he captured some of us) - and he wins for looking the most like his blog picture :-)

The early bird prize goes to Mike, who thankfully showed up in time to keep me from feeling like a total dork, sitting there guarding all those tables, all alone. Some of you may remember that Mike designed a Wordpress plug-in for my other blog, a cool little widget to make my life easier.

Our blog couple showed up, Karen from The View From My Chair and Norm of RCA77A. Yes, she is every bit a nice as you would expect from her blog, and he is just as wonderful as she has described him.

Jim from Rotisserie Baseball was there - Jim, I intend to read your blog so it is time to start posting some more.

Greg from Espresso Pundit stopped by, but I didn't get a chance to chat with him at all - I meant to tell him that he does great work, keep it up.

From Zonitics we had Anonymous Mike and the (unfortunately) retired Special Agent Johnny Utah. The party animals who apparently closed the place down....

Overall, I think the event was a success, though I could only consider it a coup if we had gotten the Zonitics trifecta and attracted "Edward Boyd" to table. This would have required the considerable Special Agent-y skills possessed only by SAJU. I have long considered "Edward" the Arizona Blogfather and he was one of the first whose writing I read on a daily basis - and whose posts I always looked forward to (yeah, he used to post quite regularly)

Michelle did a lot to help me spread the word, and it was so great to see her there, as well. Thanks - I owe you. The surprise attendee was my beau, who stopped by after his golf game (coincidentally, right after we were discussing golf) and took me to dinner after the shindig broke up (remember, I am very spoiled)

I appreciate the kudos from you guys, but I provided nothing more than the repository of information - you all helped spread the word and came out ready to have a good time making new friends. I am so glad to have met all of you and now have faces to put to the words. To those of you who couldn't make it, you were missed. I hope we can get you out next time! Granny J has suggested a summer get away to Prescott for a future gathering, which sounds like a grand idea to me.

I discovered a lot of great blogs in the days leading up to Blogtoberfest - and Granny J just sent me a list of a lot more. There is quite a bit of talent and passion out there - I am glad to have the opportunity to indulge in it.

Blogtoberfest 5

It's just a day away - barely over 24 hours.

Looks to be a pretty good turn out, especially if our "maybes" can make it.

Look for me on the patio. With any luck I will have been able to secure us a decent block of space.

The details:

• October 7th, 3 p.m. till 6 p.m. or ??
  
• Sonora Brewhouse
  
• 322 E Camelback Road, Phoenix
  

WickId

I lost your email address when my hard drive crashed, but I want to make sure you know that you are invited to the Blogtoberfest, also.

You have certainly been a regular here :-D

Blogtoberfest 4

Name tags:

Yes or No?

Blogtoberfest 3

It has come to my attention that there are those who see this as being a gathering of Right Wing Fanatics (I think Michelle would laugh at being classified as Right Wing. No not insulted or angered, amused)

So far, those who have responded tend to be those who read my blog, they are likely to agree with me on some issues - though by no means on all. I have asked others to post the info on their blogs to widen the scope of potential attendees. I have asked that other bloggers spread the word to their friends. I had hoped it would be a bunch of people who live in a great state and make a hobby of posting trivial bits of their life online getting together for drinks and munchies.

I don't think we are going to end up talking politics all night, more likely the menu, the weather, our families, our jobs.

Please - come one, come all. There is no litmus test to attend.

Blogtoberfest 2

I guess I should realistically give this shindig an end time, just to be tidy.

Anonymous Mike says Sonora Brewhouse's Happy Hour "has a great happy hour from 3:00 to 6:00 with excellent 1/2 price appetizers and a darn good beer selection with seasonals and a cask beer available." Since the Happy Hour is 3:00 - 6:00 , and we are starting at 3:00, 6:00 seems like a reasonable time. Hopefully, we will be having so much fun we won't even notice the time :-) I also hope we will stick around longer for our blogger friends who can't make the early start time.

You can view the menu online if you want to check out the eats.

Thanks to everyone who has been spreading the word on their blogs (or via their radio show, thanks Macker!) It looks like we are going to have a respectable turn out, but I still say the more the merrier. There are a lot of us blogging here in The Grand Canyon State - let's show up in force.

Blogtoberfest

All Arizona bloggers are invited to come join us for Blogtoberfest:

• October 7th, 3 p.m. till ??
  
• Sonora Brewhouse
  
• 322 E Camelback Road, Phoenix
  

If you know any of the bloggers we have not yet heard from, make sure they know about the festivities.

I plan to get there between 2 & 2:30 to start scoping out the place, if anyone would care to join me and help with that, I would appreciate it. It might be easier if you already know what I look like, but you can just start asking random redheads eventually you will get to me :-)

that should be a different redhead every time you load this post. Get it, she's random.....

 
I sent pings to these guys, the others don't accept pings that way.
www.brokenfall.net/blog
www.alittlegroup.com
ohmygodyall.com
www.artsyfartsy3d.com
www.tinyvital.com/blog/
www.coyoteblog.com
www.arizonawatch.com
www.ihaveacrazywife.com
www.nopunditintended.com
www.downtownchickchat.com
www.espressopundit.com
rwshell.wordpress.com
heightschurch.com/Altitude
www.girl-inchoate.com
logsniffer.livejournal.com
desertlightjournal.blog-city.com
blog.afaz.net
thehousingbubbleblog.com
www.iammikeb.com
www.capriciousthoughts.com

AZ Bloggers - 6

I stopped by Sonora Brewhouse (home of the $10 burger) today to check out the facilities.

I had hoped to give them a heads up to the potential extra workload, and ensure that they would be able to accommodate us. I was informed that any large groups are required to be on one check, and that an 18% gratuity is automatically added. I wasn't able to make her understand that this wasn't a "party" but simply a group of friends meeting at their bar. She said that, if we didn't push the tables together to accommodate everyone, that each table would have it's own check - but that they don't split checks. If none of us knew each other, and just met there and decided to have conversations, they wouldn't/couldn't do it. Why is it different if we know each other? </rant>

I figure if we show up around three, we can just carve out our own section - without being a "group". Can someone who is more familiar with the place second that opinion? Or perhaps make the case to the establishment, if you are that much of a regular?

BTW: This is one of my pet peeves when it comes to business - making it easy for the business, rather than convenient for the patrons.

Is it really that much more difficult to do 10 checks instead of keeping 10 people's orders on one check? Nope, but it is considerably more difficult for the customers.

It is also not reasonable to assign yourself a tip that is in no way based on performance, and it is completely in opposition to the expressed purpose of tipping. (I have also found that the servers end up with lower tips this way, as several people, on several checks rounding up their tips and feeling bad about being a large group, generally way over tip - at around 30%)

I believe a business should take into account their customers needs and preferences. Restaurants, and the tendency they all have to implement policies like this, drive me nuts. (guess that was a bit more ranting...sorry)

AZ Bloggers - 5

I contacted Granny J from Walking Prescott to invite her down, and she gave me a list of more Northern Arizona bloggers, "Plus a couple of PHX blogs ... plus one from Yuma"

I haven't made my way through them all, yet, so I am just posting the whole list for now. Take a few minutes to check 'em out....

http://freelanceforyou.blogspot.com/
http://myotherblog39.blogspot.com/
http://somesoldiersmom.blogspot.com/
http://logsniffer.livejournal.com/
http://lawlyeslog.blogspot.com/
http://blog.afaz.net/
http://oddballobservations.blogspot.com/
http://www.iammikeb.com
http://mondaynightbookclub.blogspot.com/
http://madweather.blogspot.com/
http://talesfromechocanyon.blogspot.com/
http://thehousingbubbleblog.com/
http://flagstaffdailyphoto.blogspot.com/
http://www.girl-inchoate.com/
http://heightschurch.com/Altitude/
http://sublurbia9.blogspot.com/
http://hikergirl.blogspot.com/
http://web.mac.com/coyoteradio/iWeb/Site/Blogs.html
http://lazyartistslounge.blogspot.com/
http://www.thetearsofthings.net/
http://desertlightjournal.blog-city.com/
http://rwshell.wordpress.com/

AZ Bloggers - 4

Looks like Sonora Brewhouse gets the nod.

October 7th

See previous post for list of attendees.

See this category for the latest updates.

Still need a name.....

UPDATE: Maybe Blog-tober Fest... it is in a brewpub, after all.

AZ Bloggers - 3

First off, this gathering needs a clever name - anyone?

Second, looks like October 7th it is. Mark your calendars. I was thinking mid-afternoon so out of towners who want to avoid an overnight stay can stay for a few hours and still get on the road before midnight. Also, less likely to be crowded at the restaurant so service might be less of a hassle with the group.

Third, we need to decide on a venue. The following three seem to be the most conducive to our event, and all three are smoke free/nearly smoke free. Spaghetti Factory and Sonora Brewhouse assure me that they have no issues that would cause problems for an electric wheelchair, however I suspect they would say that just to get business in the door. I have been to Spaghetti Factory and I know they have ramps, but I can't remember if they have the tables smashed close together or anything like that. I will run past there in the next day or two and check it out. Could someone who is close to/familiar with the Sonora Brewhouse give it a quick gander for accessibility? I would appreciate it.

Duck & Decanter has a nice outdoor patio which should be fine, but I don't know about getting through the store and/or into the restroom. I can run by there, too.

Bloggers and readers that I am currently counting on:

• Thomas - Bear Droppings
  
• Digital Karen
  
• Anonymous Mike - Zonitics
  
• Michelle - all over commenter
  
• Special Agent Johnny Utah - Zonitics - retired
  
• Macker - Macker's World (thanks for the radio shout out!)
  
• Garrett O'Hara - Arizona Growler (maybe)
  
• Norm - RCA77A
  
• 3T - Stumbling Through Life With Grace
  
• BillyBudd - American Dinosaur (definitely maybe)
  
• Michael - michael-deibler.com
  
• Granny J - Walking Prescott (tentative maybe)
  
• Pat - Brainster
  
• Laura - Rings of Benzene (maybe, if we party long enough ;-) )

Other Arizona Blogs on my list that I have not heard from:

Then there are all the ones in the AZ Bloggers webring

AZ Bloggers - 2

It looks like we are looking at October 7th to get together, speak up if we need to reconsider the date.

Suggestions for venue so far are:

• George & Dragon - Central & Indian School
• Sonoran Brewing Company - 10426 E Jomax, Scottsdale
• Sonora Brewhouse - 3rd St & Camelback
• Spaghetti Company - Central & McDowell

• Duck and Decanter at 18th St. and Camelback
• Sam's Cafe at Arizona Center

To the four or five of you who actually read this blog, please tell the other AZ bloggers you know about this. I would love to have a bigger turnout than my readership alone will get me.

Oh yeah, and you out of staters are welcome, too - come on over.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Macker gave us a shout out on his radio show tonight, over at Wide Awakes Radio Thanks Macker, it was fun listening to your views instead of just reading them. I have to give you the big thumbs up, too, for pronouncing my last name correctly...you wouldn't believe how that has been butchered most of my life (there was a decade there that I had a married name that got butchered)

AZ Bloggers Getting Together

Last year I suggested a gathering of Arizona bloggers. I thought it would be fun to meet the people behind some of my favorite sites. Unfortunately, I got very little response to the idea - until I canceled it. I mentioned it in passing again a few weeks ago, and a couple of people seem game - including the recently retired Special Agent Utah.

Last year, despite my rather hermit like tendencies, I had intended to have the party at my house. This year, that idea sounds less appealing. So, my suggestion at this point is that we meet at some casual restaurant near central Phoenix, or perhaps at one of the various parks in the city. Unless there is someone who is willing to volunteer their home for the invasion....?

I am thinking of late September/early October. I would happily take the lead and Michelle has offered her help, as well. Who would be interested?