Best Neighborhood to Take a Walk – Eighteenth century English architecture influences many homes in the Encanto-Palmcroft neighborhood

Best Place to be Overheard
The lobbyists’ parking lot
According to the Capitol Police, the parking lot to the northeast of Wesley Bolin Plaza and Memorial Park is the unofficial lobbyists’ parking lot. Many lobbyists begin their days at the Capitol by parking their vehicles here.
Rumor has it, according to poll respondents, that juicy information and tidbits are available here for the astute listener. Keep your ears open.
Best Place to Impress a Client
Kincaid’s
2 S. Third St.
Phoenix AZ 85004
(602) 340-0000
kincaids.com
Kincaid’s is a fish, chop and steak house that aims to bring fine, yet casual dining to the downtown area.
Manager Jane Davidson says the restaurant deserves to win, adding that the signature cocktails like the Pomegranate Mojito, Lemon Drop, Kincaid’s Cosmopolitan, Scratch Margarita and Pisco Sour combined with the restaurant’s enjoyable atmosphere is “extremely” impressive to customers.
“Many lawyers and executives have business lunches at Kincaid’s,” Ms. Davidson says. “Our restaurant is complete with marble topped tables, huge elegant paintings and large pieces of artwork scattered throughout the restaurant.”
She says that their “exceptional” service and daily catch of fresh fish add to their success as a restaurant.
Best Neighborhood to Take a Walk
Encanto-Palmcroft
Encanto-Palmcroft, first established in 1925, showcases some of Phoenix’s first fine homes built in traditional styles and featuring true Southwest influences.
Its winding streets and proximity to the 200-acre Encanto Park represent an approach to suburban planning that had its roots in 18th century England. The neighborhood is roughly bounded by Seventh and 15th avenues and McDowell Road and Encanto Boulevard.
Don Mertes, a Realtor for Realty Executives, works exclusively in the downtown area, including the Encanto-Palmcroft neighborhood. He said this area is wonderful and he can see why the rest of the Capitol community voted for it.
“This neighborhood is beautiful and it’s an incredible place to live, work and play,” Mr. Mertes says. “It’s an open community so people from all over Arizona can visit it and walk along the streets with the people who live there. This makes the neighborhood even more appealing.”
Best Place to Hear A Local Band
The Rhythm Room
1019 E. Indian School Road., Phoenix AZ 85014
(602) 265-4842
rhythmroom.com
Founded 15 years ago, the Rhythm Room hosts a variety of local and national blues, R&B and roots rock acts. Black and white photos of such greats line the walls of the small venue.
The club is the brainchild of Bob Corritore, a Chicago native who brought his love of blues to the Valley of the Sun more than 25 years ago. Mr. Corritore is a harmonica player and sometime record producer who also hosts “Those Low-Down Blues” on KJZZ-FM every Sunday night.
One blogger has described the Rhythm Room as having “no real separation between the stage and the audience,” and he meant it in complimentary fashion.
Best Capitol Lawn Event
ASU Day
Jeff Grant, director for programs and advocacy at The Sun Devil Advocate, says ASU Day is a team effort between ASU alumni and staff mainly focused on increasing communication.
The free event, hosted by The Sun Devil Advocate, is broken into three areas including a BBQ lunch for legislators, an exhibitor walk and an advocacy session. The public is welcome.
“We recruit alumni members to meet with legislators and discuss issues that are important to ASU,” Mr. Grant says. “We also share what is going on at ASU and how money is spent so that legislators know that tax dollars are being spent well.”
Mr. Grant says that the exhibitor walk is the best part of the event. Representatives from more than 30 colleges set up tables and tell their stories to the public, staff and legislators.
Mr. Grant thinks it’s great that ASU Day was voted best Capitol lawn event. “We have a good team effort and we put on a successful event,” Mr. Grant says. “Legislators and the public enjoy hearing about ASU.”
The next ASU Day is Feb. 19, 2007, marking the event’s 24th year.
Best Political Fundraiser
Any of Rep. Robert Meza’s
Rep. Robert Meza, D-14, is apparently thought to be the “party king” in Arizona’s House of Representatives.
Mr. Meza, whose background is in fundraising and marketing, says he brings a cross section of non-profit organizations, wealthy activists, and neighbors from the community to his events.
“Everyone can win at my fundraising events,” Mr. Meza says. “People can network and learn from each other. A lobbyist could be talking to a representative from a non-profit organization and soon they learn from each other and win, win, win.”
While he is excited about winning in this category, he isn’t surprised.
“I hate to sound like this but I do good fundraisers,” he says. “There’s always good food and good energy in the room, and I create the environment. I pick a place that’s unusual and artistic and make it interesting.”
Some of the clients Mr. Meza has done fundraisers for include Parenting Arizona, an organization specializing in preventing domestic violence, the YMCA, The Coalition to End Homelessness and De Colores.
Best Walking Trail to the Capitol
Wesley Bolin Plaza
Wesley Bolin Plaza, 1700 W. Washington St. in Phoenix, is a tribute to lost veterans of conflicts including world wars, the Korean Conflict, Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm.
The park stretches through two square blocks and is adjacent to the east of the state Capitol Museum. It prominently features monuments of those lost at war, lost at Pearl Harbor, the anchor from the USS Arizona and statues of contributors to the state such as Franklin D. Roosevelt for his work with the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Aside from being a tourist attraction, the park is also used for festivals and political gatherings.
Best Cocktail Party
Grand Canyon State Electric
Cooperative Association/Arizona Municipal Power Users Association
at Bud Brown’s Barn
Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative Association/ Arizona Municipal Power Users Association has hosted its legislative roundup event at Western-themed Bud Brown’s Barn for 31 years.
Jim Donahue, director of communications and member services, says the annual event is a Western dinner and dance. He thinks the reason the event won over others is because of who is on the guest list.
“We traditionally invite legislators and staffers to our event, and very few organizations invite staffers,” Mr. Donahue says. “Our event is low key and on the day of the event we go to the Capitol and use our grassroots efforts.”
He and others talk to legislators about issues that are important to their company during the event.
Because Bud Brown’s Barn has closed its doors, the next event will take place at Rustler’s Rooste on Jan. 30. Mr. Donahue said the event will maintain a Western theme to keep the tradition alive.