Going boobs out: Breast feeding in public

Not so long ago, I was shopping at Scottsdale Fashion Square, when I saw a woman walking down the aisle with her boob out and her baby suckling.

She was not sitting. She was not covered. She was breast feeding while walking down the middle of the mall — and I have to surmise based on her open carriage, she was proud to do so.

She walked right toward me barely wearing a tank top — one side was pulled down to reveal a size-y breast. As I approached her and her exposed mammary, I window shopped, I looked at my feet — I tried to look anywhere but at her chest.

Now I’ve made the choice to breast feed…and I don’t want to be that woman.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m pro-nursing. If you’re a gal whose comfortable going au natural at Banana Republic, more power to you. But if I can get the job done without the general public seeing my bosom — that’s the option I prefer.

I also don’t want to be holed up in my house for 6 months.

Here are some places I’ve been told have facilities for breast feeding:

• Paradise Valley Mall has family restrooms near JC Penney
• I hear there is an area in Nordstrom where you can sit and take care of business
• Babies R Us – makes sense

Does anyone know of any other places around town that are nursing-friendly?

Spa Week: April 11 – 17

Wilson has had an insatiable appetite — followed by some disconcerting crying jags. I’ve been spending much time on the couch with a baby latched to my boob, watching old Law & Order SVUs rather than doing anything worth writing about.

If anyone is ready for Spa Week, it’s me.

For those not in the know, spas participating in the week-long event have selected treatments available for $50.

Some of the spas participating: all 3 Dolce Salon & Spas are offering a 45 minute massage, facial or pedicure. Joya Spa at the Montelucia (one of my favorite local spas) has a  45 facial, makeup-application or personal training session available this week. Revive Spa has 50 minutes massages, facials and pedicures.

To find participating spas, visit the Spa Week website and fill out the information (name and email) for a list of local spas and their deals.

LGO Indie Shop Fest

Usually you have to wait for the weekend for a cool craft fair.

Celebrate hump day by having a spicy tuna roll or Cubano sandwich at La Grande Orange, then heading to LGO Indie Shop Fest which is featuring more than 30 local artists, crafters, and designers in LGO’s Arcadia Room (formerly Radio Milano).

Arcadia Room
3950 E. Campbell (across from La Grande Orange)
Phoenix, AZ
10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Phoenix things to do: April 1 – 3

There’s nothing good going on this weekend.
Stay home. Rent a movie. There’s nothing to see here.

APRIL FOOLS!

There’s so much going on this weekend. Here are a few things I’d like to do.

FRIDAY

Grand Opening @ Cycle
Pop-restaurants have been trendy in big cities around the country — Phoenix finally gets one of its own. This new downtown spot will feature a rotating line of local chefs — this weekend kicks off with Hey Joe Filipino street food (see menu). Visit soon, the whole idea of the pop-up is it goes away.

Cycle
At the Lexington Hotel
1100 N. Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85004
6 – 10 p.m.

***

Vintage shopping @ Blueberry Deluxe
Start working on your spring wardrobe with 50% off the selection of vintage clothing. Free booze will make all your selections look even better.

Blueberry Deluxe
Phoenix, AZ
7 – 10 p.m.

Growing Potted Tomatoes and Other Edibles @ Rio Salado Audubon Center
Learn how to grow your own tomatoes in a 2 square-foot space. The class will cover what varieties to choose, what kind of containers work best — and other tips for successful groaning.

Rio Salado Audubon Center
3131 South Central Avenue
2 – 3:30 p.m.
$15 suggested donation

***

My Nana’s Salsa Challenge @ Tempe Beach Park
Visit this day-long festival for a sampling of the city’s best salsa from over 80 competitors.

Tempe Beach Park
80 W. Rio Salado Parkway
Tempe, AZ
11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
$8 before the event, $10 at the door

***

Phoenix Film Festival @ Harkins Scottsdale 101
Check out the schedule of full-length features and shorts at this annual film fest.

Harkins Scottsdale 101
7000 E. Mayo
Phoenix, AZ 85054

SUNDAY

Danny Boyle’s Frankenstein @ Phoenix Art Museum
Oscar winning filmmaker of Slumdog Millionaire and Trainspotting directs a stage production of Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein.

Phoenix Art Museum
1625 N. Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85004
2 – 4:15 p.m.
$18

***
Craft with Martha Stewart @ HSN
Martha Stewart’s line of craft and scrapbooking supplies are now available at HSN.

HSN

***

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2 new (to me) eco stores in the Valley

When AKA Green closed last year, I thought my ship for getting local environmentally-friendly products had sailed. But in a search for zero VOC paint for my baby room, I found that there isn’t just one — but TWO stores in town dedicated to eco-home decor. (You can also get no VOC paint by Olympic for cheaper at Lowe’s).

1) Central Slope
This eco design market specialize in eco-friendly decor, local art made from recycled materials, some cleaning/decor products and have recently added mid-century modern furniture to their inventory. What you can find there: paint, giant wind chimes made from old beer kegs, arty goods and gifts.

8801 N. Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85020
(Just south of Dunlap)

2) Eco Clean
Located in small office complex, this unassuming store is filled with materials to clean and decorate your home with the environment in mind. A small room in back is filled with non-toxic cleaning products. The showroom has loads of samples of mattresses, comforters, pillows and bedspreads made from sustainable materials. Find floor tiles created from recycled materials, and several lines of no VOC paint. Eco-friendliness doesn’t come cheap. Two gallons of paint ran about $100. An eco-pillow top is over $500. But can you really put a price on saving the world?

2828 N. 36th St.
Phoenix, AZ 85008
(Across 36th Street from Home Depot)

New Phoenix vintage: Vintage by Misty

Downtown Phoenix is quickly becoming the go-to neighborhood for vintage shopping: Butter Toast, Mercantile, Grow-op and now brand-newcomer, Vintage by Misty are all located within a mile of Central and Roosevelt.

Vintage by Misty opened last week on Central Ave., just doors down from Mercantile. The owner, namesake Misty, who formerly sold her vintage finds within Estilo Boutique in Scottsdale, has filled the space with an eclectic and arty mix of clothing, jewelry, and some housewares she’s picked up from Europe and Israel.

“Every piece has a story,” she explained as I perused dresses, tops, and kimono jackets in colorful fabrics.

She has an amazing selection of unique jewelry, which she says, isn’t all on display yet.

Be warned, this brand of vintage isn’t for bargain hunters. Most dresses I looked at were in the one hundred dollar range, but a few climbed to over $200. Same goes for the statement jewelry.

Coming soon: a (free) coffee/pastry bar in the back of the store for customers to drink and snack while perusing.

Vintage by Misty
818 N. Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85004
10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday, Sunday by appointment
(602) 707-6235

Guide to Phoenix vintage shops >>

Phoenix things to do: March 25-27

Do you like Barbecue? Well then this is your weekend, with not just one — but TWO barbecue festivals going on — plus loads of other events.

FRIDAY

Short Leash Hotdogs & longer hours @ Frances Vintage
Do some pre-weekend shopping and get a little food truck dinner tonight at Frances.

Frances Vintage

10 W. Camelback Rd.

Phoenix, AZ 85013

6 – 8 p.m.

***

Movies at the Park @ Biltmore
Pick up one of the To-Go Dining Deals and sit in the Biltmore lawn for 1982′s Tootsie with Dustin Hoffman and Jessica Lange.

Biltmore Fashion Park
24th Street/Camelback
7 p.m.

SATURDAY

The Urban Farm Tour
Looking to start growing but don’t know where to start? Check out a local urban farm and their veggie gardens, chickens and more.

6750 N 13th Place
Phoenix, AZ 85014
8:30, 10:30 and 12:30
$8 donation requested

The Great American Barbecue & Beer Festival @ Chandler Park
Bring a blanket and your family for kids activities, eating contests and, of course, lots and lots of barbecue.

Dr. AJ Chandler Park in downtown Chandler
12 – 8 p.m.
$10 general admission

***

Arizona Barbecue Festival @ Scottsdale Waterfront
Sample BBQ from over 40 professional teams from around the country and up to 30 premium whiskies for an additional $10.

Scottsdale Waterfront
7025 E. Via Soleri Blvd.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
$10 for general admission

***

Earth Hour
At 8:30 p.m. — turn off your lights to show your support for the environment.

Two Year Anniversary Party @ Sutra Midtown
Music, sangria, prizes and loads of discounts on memberships and classes at the two-year anniversary of this 7th Street yoga studio.

Sutra Midtown Yoga
2317 N. 7th Street
Phoenix, AZ

5 lunches for $5 and under

Lunch is my favorite meal of the day. I love little more than meeting friends for a midday meal — however such practices can get spendy day in and day out. Here are 5 spots around town where you can get lunch for $5 or less.

1.) Banh Mi Thit Nuong sandwich and an iced tea @ Da Vang, $3.25
Made with barbecued pork, carrot, cucumber, jalapeño peppers and fresh cilantro on a loaf of French baguette, the sandwich combines sweet and spicy into one delicious, fresh-tasting sandwich. Add in an ice tea for a dollar and you’re still well under the price of a typical deli-lunch.

Da Vang
4538 N. 19th Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85015
602-242-3575

2.) Hot dog & a drink @ Costco, $1.50
Usually, you have to be a member of Costco to even enter the warehouse. But in a strange design quirk at Spectrum (formerly Christown) Mall, the snack center is right out in the open, which means anyone, even Joe (or Jane) Non-member, can partake in the inexpensive goodness: a giant hot dog and a fountain drink.

Costco
1646 W. Montebello
Phoenix AZ 85015-2557

3.) 3 tacos @ Two Hippies Beach House, $5
Tortilla (bread substitute) is wrapped around a variety of tasty fillings. Choose 1 kind — or sample a variety:  green beef, cactus, fish. For a little extra, get one of their giant flavored lemonades.

Two Hippies Beach House
501 E. Camelback Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85012
4.) Sub sandwich @ Jimmy John’s,  $4.50
Get an 8-inch sub sandwich in options like B.L.T., roast beef, or a traditional Italian sub made with fresh-baked bread.

Jimmy Johns
Locations around the Valley

5.) Half sandwich and side @ Boston Market, $4.99
For those looking for a home-style sandwich with more waist-friendly portion-sizes, Boston Market now offers a half of a sandwich with a side for $4.99.

Boston Market
Locations around the Valley

***

Any other suggestions for a cheap lunch? We’re listening.

Summer Spaaah Series returns!

I love the AZ Spa Girls.

Their mission is to make everything spa more accessible for peeps like you and me…and this summer they are doing it again.

For the 6th(!) year in a row, they are putting on the Summer Spaaah Series at 5 local spas — and one Sedona spa.

Here’s how it goes — each event is $125 (except the Sedona spa, which is $295) and includes cocktails, tastings, a gift bag FULL of great discounts and products (valued at over $200), mini spa services AND a donation to Fresh Start Women’s Foundation.

Here’s the schedule:

May 6, 2011: Agave, The Arizona Spa at Westin Kierland Resort, Scottsdale
June 3, 2011: Spa Avania at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch
June 17, 2011: Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa at Wigwam Golf Resort, Litchfield Park
July 8, 2011: Revive Spa at JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort, Phoenix
July 30-July 31, 2011: Mii amo, a destination spa at Enchantment Resort, Sedona
August 12, 2011: Willow Stream Spa at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort

Tickets are on sale NOW! So make your reservations — space is limited.

Phoenix things to do: March 11-13

It’s potentially my last weekend as a non-parent, thank goodness there are a lot of events going on this weekend to make it good. Now it’s choosing one (or more).

FRIDAY

Carmelpalooza @ Smeeks
Several local chefs like Eugenia Theodosopoulos (of Essence Bakery), Tammie Coe (Tammie Coe Bakery) and Charlie Blonkenfeld (of now defunct Chaka Chaka) are making caramels for you to enjoy and judge. Arrive early for this tooth-sticking extravaganza — last year the line wrapped around the parking lot.

Smeeks
14 W. Camelback Rd.
Phoenix, AZ
7 p.m.

SATURDAY

Real Gardens for Real People Garden Tour
View the home gardens of certified Master Gardeners.

Throughout the West Valley
9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
$20

2 garden classes @ The Urban Farm
Join in 2 garden classes: Jump Start Your Spring Garden and How to Build and Instant Garden (a hands-on class). Learn how to build a new 5 x 10 garden from the ground up right next to this one.

26254 N 43rd Place
Phoenix, AZ, 85050
9 – 11 a.m. – Jump Start Your Spring Garden
11 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Build an Instant Garden
$15 donation

***

Devoured @ Phoenix Art Museum
Sample dishes from some of the most celebrated chefs and restaurants like LGO, St. Francis, Kai, Green, Hana and a host of others in town.

Phoenix Art Museum
Saturday & Sunday
One-day pass is $49 in advance, $59 at the door
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

***

Howard the Duck @ Madcap Theaters
I have never seen the 1986 cult classic — Howard the Duck. But I hear there are duck boobs.

Madcap Theaters
www.madcaptheaters.com/
730 South Mill Avenue
Tempe, AZ 85281
8 p.m.
$8

***

Obscura @ Rips Ales & Cocktails
It’s the second annual Love is a Battlefield dance-off at Obscura this weekend. If you’re not into shaking it like Pat Benatar, dance to Britpop, indie, new wave with  DJs Roya & Funkfinger (my husband). All this and $2 house pints, $3 wells, $5 calls all night. Go! Dance!
Rips Ales & Cocktails
3045 N. 16th St.
Phoenix, AZ 85016
9 p.m. – 2 a.m.
$5

Arizona Aloha Festival @ Tempe Town Lake
Gotta love a good cultural festival. Artwork, shopping and a slew of Hawaiian-inspired eats (curry stew, mango/banana smoothies, LauLau plates, etc.)

Tempe Town Lake
80 W. Rio Salado Parkway
Tempe, AZ 85281
Saturday and Sunday
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

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