Misticcafe

Many people travel each year and go home for the holidays. If you have pets, you have a decision to make: do you put Fido or Felix in a kennel or find someone to watch him?

The alternative is to travel with your pets. This can be tricky because some pets travel better than others. But, it may be worth it if you do not have anyone to watch your pet. and avoid costly kennels.

Air Travel

If you plan to travel by air, take your pet to the veterinarian. Some airlines will ask to see a certificate that verifies your pet is healthy. The airline may ask for proof of rabies and distemper vaccinations.

You may want to ask your veterinarian if your pet needs tranquilizers. Some veterinarians will suggest giving your pet Benadryl or nothing at all. If you choose to give your pet a tranquilizer, give them one a few days before you leave. This way you will be able to see how your pet reacts to the medicine.

Make sure you have an airline regulated pet carrier. The size of the carrier will vary from airline to airline. Find a PetSmart Store near you and purchase a carrier that is acceptable by the airlines.

You may want to feed your pet an hour before your flight. Make sure your pet goes to the bathroom before you leave. You do not want any accidents while you’re in the air!

Consider bringing some food and or small animal water feeder with you. Your pet may or may not be hungry or thirsty on your flight, but it’s best to be prepared. Many pets are too nervous to eat or drink and most will sleep for the duration of the flight.

Car or RV Travel

For those who travel via a car or RV, make sure your pet is in it’s carrier and buckled in just like you! After all, you do not want your pet to be “rolling around” as you drive, especially on a winding road.

Every 90 minutes or so, stop at a rest stop to feed your pet. It’s good for you and your pet to stretch your legs and go to the bathroom. If you’re traveling with a cat, make sure you have enough litter for your trip. Carry bags with you so you can put the litter or “doggie doo” in it. Remember to clean up after your pet.

If you plan to stay at a hotel or hotel and resort, make sure they accepts pets! You do not want to show up at your hotel and find out that Fido is not welcomed. Before you book your hotel, ask if they accept pets.

If you must travel with a pet, make sure they will be comfortable. Of course, the best option is to leave them at home. If you cannot do this, take every precaution to ensure that both of you will have a smooth and seamless travel experience.

Traveling with pets does not have to be difficult. It’s kind of like traveling with kids! You still need to bring food, water, treats, and their favorite toys. Happy traveling to you and your pets!

Many women have days where they feel fat. At one point in time, all of us have had way too much to eat for one reason or another. After you gorge yourself, the next day you feel fat and do not want to look in the mirror. Feeling fat days are much worse than a bad hair day because you can grab a hat and cover up your hair!

As you look in your long mirror, you see that your stomach looks like a “muffin top.” You then make your way to the bathroom; all the while your thighs reacquaint themselves. Your face is puffy and you notice a few more wrinkles on your face. All you really want to do is go back to bed.

The key to “feeling fat” days is to thank God that you can still move. You may have ate an entire cheese pizza the night before, but you can work it off the next day. Make sure you drink plenty of water as well. Staying hydrated is good for you, and it will make you feel full!

Combat Fat Days

1. Wear different colors. Avoid wearing bland colors like beige. Grab that red or deep yellow blouse. Also, make sure you have a blouse or shirt that has ruffles; any body can wear ruffles. They are very feminine and will lift your attitude.
2. Workout the next day. A good workout will help to combat your feeling fat. Sweat like you have never sweated before in your life!
3. Do your hair and makeup. Put makeup on and blow dry your hair. Style your hair with a curling or flat iron. When you look in the mirror, you’ll like what you see.
4. Have a good attitude. Put things in perspective; you’re still alive and breathing. Take responsibility for your actions. No one told you to gorge yourself on ice cream. If you use food for comfort, stop right now! This is no way to deal with your emotions. Get to the root of your emotions instead of “stuffing your emotions with food.” Workout or hire a life coach to find out why you use food to deal with your emotions.
5. Wear a belt. If you wear a belt, you will see your waist. You will see that your waist did not leave you.

When you have a day where you feel fat, start thinking about what you can do about it. You can get moving to take off the pound you gained. You can be grateful that you can workout to lose the one pound. It’s all about perspective. Also, since you know how you feel on a “fat day,” you’ll think twice about eating that ice cream sundae!

It’s a sad day for The United States of America when the government bails out Wall Street, and they use the money to pay corporate executives bonuses!

It was very generous of the folks from “Main Street.” After all, it is the holiday season, and it’s better to give than receive.

According to an article posted on Yahoo! news:

“Crisscrossing the country in corporate jets may no longer fly in Detroit after car executives got a dressing down from Congress. But on Wall Street, the coveted executive perk has hardly been grounded.

Six financial firms that received billions in bailout dollars still own and operate fleets of jets to carry executives to company events and sometimes personal trips, according to an Associated Press review.”

It’s reassuring to read that the billions in bailout have not disrupted the flight patterns of these corporate executives. Thank goodness oil and gas prices have declined. More importantly, they received their Christmas bonuses before the BIG holiday. Whew, they dodged a bullet. Imagine the look on their wives, girlfriends, or life partners face if they only received a 1-carat diamond ring!

Yet, our troops who are serving this country around the world must buy their own socks. You read that correctly; our men and women must purchase their own socks. This is no joke people. You would think that a government that is able to give Wall Street billions in dollars would be able to provide socks for its own military personnel.

This information was brought to light thanks to the Southwest Institute of the Healing Arts. They have a program called Heart and Sole which is collecting socks for our men and women in the military. The goal is to collect 10,000 pairs of socks.

My family has a strong military background. In fact, I found out I have a cousin in the Pentagon. No one knew this. Of course, this is my dad’s side of the family so that makes sense. In our family it was “keep things to yourself and do not speak to anyone outside of the family about family business.” It sounds more Godfatherish than military.

My dad and his brothers served in the Army and their uncles served in World War II. Like so many women, my grandmother did her part and went to work while our boys were overseas. She also saved tin foil and lard in addition to recycling plastic and glass.

It’s a shame that our government cannot provide something as basic as socks to our men and women in the military. As my father would say, “where are your priorities?”

I know I can sleep better at night knowing that all of the executives on Wall Street and two of the BIG 3 automakers were bailed out with billions of taxpayers’ dollars. At least I will not have to worry about this going into the New Year.

We in America have our values in perfect order: Wall Street and executives first, military second, and Main Street last. It’s good to know that all of the corporate executives will have a “banner” holiday season. I myself feel fabulous knowing that my tax dollars were able to provide Wall Street executives with bonuses and holidays in the Hamptons. Have a great 2008 holiday season!

Did you gain some weight throughout the year? Do you overindulge over the holiday season each year? If you’re like many people, you give yourself permission to eat whatever you want over the holiday season. From Grandma’s chocolate chip cookies to Aunt Aggie’s Sweet Potato Pie, you probably inhaled it all!

Right about now, your body is probably begging you to lose the holiday and pre-holiday weight gain. Now, you’re on the scale and do not like the number starring back at you. Relax, take a deep breath, and make the decision today to lose the weight. Those 30 lbs. will be gone in no time.

Weight loss does not have to be scary or overwhelm you. You gained the weight one pound at a time, so take it off one pound at a time. Remember, crash diets do not work. You’ll see results in the short run, but in the long run you’ll gain the weight back and more!

Taking It Off for Good

1. Know how much weight you want to lose. When you set a weight loss goal, be realistic. Not everyone will be “super model” thin. Find your target weight and go for it!
2. Move for about 30 minutes per day. Do you like to dance? Are you a walker? No matter what you do, just exercise. Walking is a low-impact exercise that can help you to shed some pounds. Incorporate 3 to 5 lb. weights into your daily routine and build up from there. Take baby steps and start moving today!
3. Keep a food journal. Do you know how many calories you eat per day? Do you know what you eat every day? Many experts believe a food journal will shed some light on what you eat each day. Most people go through their day fast and furious and do not even think or even taste what they eat. Slow down, taste your food, and write down what you eat every day. You’ll probably be surprised or mortified!
4. Portion control. Use a small plate instead of a large one. The United States of America is known for “super-sizing” its foods. Cutting back on your portions is a great way to shed those extra pounds. You will notice a difference.
5. Cut out fast food. Subway is a great alternative to fast foods. It’s fresh and you can have it your way.
6. Curb the urge to dine out seven days a week. Not only will you save a ton of money, but you’ll see results from cutting back on eating out. Sometimes it cannot be avoided, but make an attempt to eat out less. If you must eat out, make smart choices. Look for the words “broiled and grilled,” skip the sauces, and ask for items such as salad dressing on the side. Better yet, skip the salad dressing.

   Also, do not be afraid to ask for substitutions or to have something prepared a different way.

7. Hold the desert. Ok, this will be difficult for most people. Cutting out desert will help you reach your weight loss goals. Have something once in awhile or look for a substitute. The other alternative is to have your desert once in awhile. If this is too tempting for you then just cut out desert. Replace it with fresh fruit or make it yourself using lower calorie or reduced fat ingredients.

   Note: a label with the words “reduced fat, lower in fat, no fat, or no sugar, does not mean it’s better than ingredients that are higher in fat. Chances are the manufacturers replaced the “fat” with something else that is not good for you. This is why reading labels is important.

8. Be wary of those 100 calorie snack packs. Did you read the label of ingredients? If you did not, it’s all right because I did ! Most of them contain high fructose syrup which is not good for you. These snacks have some ingredients that you’ve probably never heard of or cannot pronounce. For more information, check out the Mayo Clinic. They have a wealth of information that can prolong your life.
9. Weigh yourself once a month. Do not weigh yourself every day because you’ll drive yourself nuts! When losing weight, you’ll probably hit a plateau which is normal. If you weigh yourself each day and do not lose a pound or two, you may become discouraged or obsessed. Weighing yourself once a month is fine and will keep you on track.

Follow these tips to get your body back into shape. Not only will you look good, but you’ll feel good. Some believe our body is a temple and should be treated like one. This means keep it clean and free of “garbage.” You would not desecrate a temple, would you?

If you would like to live a healthy and happy life, change your lifestyle. Get plenty of rest, mind your thoughts, curb your alcohol intake, quit smoking (try it), and live life to the fullest. Try these tips for 30 days and see what happens. You may not recognize yourself when you look in the mirror!

When the New Year is around the corner, many people write a New Year’s Resolution list. Of course, the top two resolutions are to lose weight and quit smoking. Most resolutions last less than a month!

Wouldn’t it be nice to create the life you desire in the New Year? You can have, be, or do what you want; you just have to make the decision to go for it! However, you must work from the inside out before your “outer world” starts to look like how you desire it to be!

If your life is not the way you would like, change it. You do have the power to change your life. Many of us get caught up in “drama rama” of our life. This includes work, family, friends, and the community. In retrospect, we unknowingly create the dramas in our life. Some people may not believe this, but it’s true.

Most of us do not like to take responsibility for what happens in our life. We cannot believe that we would cause the strife that occurs each day in our life. Yes, it’s a “tough pill” to swallow. The faster you accept that you create undesirable situations, the better off you’ll be.

7 Ways to Create Your Life

1. Get rid of the guilt. Guilt can eat you alive! Doing things out of guilt will not get you far. Take time for yourself and make sure you do things for others because you want to do so.
2. Focus on your desires instead of what you do not want. Many people focus on what they don’t want, and they receive what they don’t want. Start focusing on what you do want. Is it better health? To lose 30 lbs or quit smoking? Visualization or “daydreaming” about the outcome can help you to obtain your desires. Remember to “feel” what it would like to be 30 lbs. lighter or financially free.
3. Your emotions lead the way. You cannot just think about what you want and do nothing about it. You must feel what it would be like to have your desire. There is no “genie of the universe” that will grant you three wishes! You must take the proper action to create the life you desire.
4. Clean up your karma. People have different viewpoints of karma. Many people believe they have some sort of magic power to get back at someone who has wronged them. Others believe that it’s the “negative energy” that you put out into the universe that comes back to you in one form or another. Clean up your karma by apologizing to people or writing them a letter. You do not have to send the letter, but writing it will help “clear the air.”
5. Journal. This is a great way to pinpoint exactly what it is that you want from your life. Some people like to journal because it’s therapeutic.
6. Get outside. Nature can help you gain clarity. Sitting quietly in nature is a great way for you to get clear about what it is you desire for your life.
7. Let go and surrender. Focus on your desires and let them go. Being obsessed with having money will only push it away from you. It’s kind of a paradox. If you desire to be a successful designer with financial freedom, then visualize yourself having many clients who pay you on time and let it go. Take the proper steps to reach your desire, but do not obsess about it.

   Also, learn to let go of the past. The past only exists in your head. You cannot go back and undo your childhood or other experiences. Releasing those that may have hurt you (especially if they are deceased) will greatly benefit you.

These seven ways can help you create the life you desire. Make the decision to begin today to think and feel about what it is you want for your life. You must be as specific as possible. Once you write down what you desire, meditate on it. You may have to let some people go, which can be painful. When we grow from a “spiritual” basis and are moved into new territory, sometimes the people that we knew will not be part of our new life. Mourn the loss and move forward as best as you can. Now go and create the life you want!

Bonus!

Forgiveness. Forgiving people who have wronged you will set you free. You do not forgive the action but the attachment to those people and what they did to you. Set yourself free today and forgive others. Bless them and send them on their way. Life is too short to be hanging onto grudges or dwelling on or in the past!

Here’s a scam that was sent to my email address. It’s amazing that the email got to me because it’s not my email address. Needless to say, I answered the ad because I thought it could be legit. Good thing my “gut instinct” was to delete my contact information from my resume.

The post was offered to me and they wanted more contact information. This is when the rat showed himself.

From: Bary (removed last name; it was probably a fake last name)
Subject: *****Accounting / Payroll Assistant Position Available*****
To: ernestonava77@yahoo.com
Date: Saturday, December 13, 2008, 3:02 PM

I am looking for a part time accounting assistant to assist the controller and accounting manager. These hours varies/day,but less that 3 hours a day. Assisting financing supervisor in areas of payment processing and A/R. Apply payments to customer by transfer through money tree service, balance all monies and prepare documents,other duties assigned as needed. Must be detailed oriented. Must have the ability to work independently and be a team player. Self sufficient, effective time management and organizational skills required. Accounts Payable and payroll experience preferred but not necessary. The pay is $800/week -Monday through Friday. To apply for this position, please contact at: barylake@gmail.com with your resume and state if the weekly pay is acceptable by you.

BARY.(Deaf)
STOCK BROKAGE FINANCE.
name@gmail.com

Clue number one that this was a scam was the email address was not mine. The second clue was the sentence about “transfer through money tree service.” The third clue was the company did not show up in Google. The fourth clue was the misspelling of brokerage (BROKAGE). Finally, a reply came into my email telling me that that post was mine. Bary wanted me to submit my address, city, state, and zip; his secretary is supposed to call me. The email was immediately sent to trash and deleted.

When you put your resume on Monster.com, Yahoo! Hot Jobs, Craigslist, or any other job board, you’re susceptible to scams like this one. It was a very good scam. The ad seems legitimate and the pay is great. Too bad it is a fake employment advertisement. Plus, Bary let’s you know that he’s deaf. If you’re a woman, Bary’s deafness may “tug” at your heart strings.” Not that a man will not be compassionate about Bary’s hearing problem, but a woman may be more sympathetic because she’s a nurturer. Then again, maybe Bary is deaf.

Employment scams are prevalent. Each day on the news we hear about someone who was scammed out of money. Don’t let this happen to you!

Tips to Avoid Employment Scams

1. Google the name of the company. Search for the company on Google and see what you can find.
2. Conduct a search using the company name and contact name. Look for the company name and contact person.
3. Look for multiple spelling errors. This happens in most ads. Most of the time, the people who write “scam ads” cannot spell or construct a complete sentence.
4. Words that are not used in employment ads. Unless you’re applying for a job in another country, look for words (like “post” in the above email) that seem out of character for your country of origin.
5. Does the company request money. This is one of the biggest scams. Yes, a company needs start-up money, but they should already have the money from their investors. Do not send money to these people!
6. Email address ending in gmail.com, yahoo.com, hotmail.com or some other popular free email. A person from an organization will not use these email addresses. These emails are legit for most of us, however; if you work for a company, they’ll provide you with an email address ending in the company’s name (example: rebecca@scamfreeorganization.com).
7. Scan for keywords such as great pay, flexibility, and easy work. Look for these keywords. And — if it’s too good to be true, it probably is!

The next time you receive an email like the one mentioned in this post, think twice before answering. Protect yourself from false hope, time, and money. You must be vigilant, especially when the economy is going through changes. There are many people crawling the internet looking for their next target!

Today, we live in a world filled with many religions. Many people believe their religion is the best, but truthfully they’re based on the same principals; the stories have different players and scenarios.

Two commonalities are the belief in a higher power (God) and angels. If you examine religions such as Hinduism, Catholicism, and many others, they mention angels in one form or another. But, how do we know if angels and God exist? Does it come down to that 5-letter word, faith?

Some of us pray day after day for things such as employment. I myself have been praying for over one year that I would find steady work in addition to my part-time (thank God) writing work. I even went to the desert (AZ)to find my salvation. Did I find it? Perhaps I did in one form or another. Perhaps my time is up in the desert which is why jobs are not being brought to me.

I’ve read so many books from Napoleon Hill to Charles Haanel to Sandra Anne Taylor to you name the author. Dr. Dyer is famous for the “change your thoughts, change your life” speech. Well, I’ve changed my thoughts to change my life so why am I still experiencing issue with my career and money?

Many people tout themselves as Law of Attraction gurus. It’s a growing business. They say that God is in all of us. If that’s true, shouldn’t we be able to change our circumstances straight-away? Shouldn’t we be able to experience joy and success if we’ve done the work that they told us to do? How long does it take? Are supposed to be joyful no matter our circumstances? The latter can take a lot of mental concentration and practice!

Sometimes we get so caught up in making our dreams come true. Is it worth it? For example, I’ve been on a mission to find writing, coaching, and or teaching opportunities. My highest education is a Masters degree, and I’m questioning whether or not the money was worth it. I also have two accounting degrees and a graphic design certification. I’m not a slacker and give more than 100 percent. Maybe that’s the problem, I give too much. Perhaps it’s time for me to sit back and start receiving.

A few weeks ago I came down with a cold, and I firmly believe that I made myself sick. I’m starting to feel much, much better. I believe I exhausted myself by trying to make a new life for myself in Arizona. I look for employment seven days a week! I probably sent out over 500 resumes since August 2007. Now I’m asking myself if it was worth it. Did I learn a lot about myself while being in Arizona? Yes. Have I “changed my thoughts?” Yes. Has it changed my life? Maybe in the long run, but in the short run I still have bills to pay. I do my best to “focus my attention” on my bills being paid on time with money left over in my checking account. Please do not ask me what the balance of my checking account is right now.

Many people say that “the universe or God likes it when you have an attitude of gratitude.” Is this true? I started a gratitude journal, and I truly am grateful for what I have, but is it really helping me? I was taught to be grateful when I was child. I know things can be worse, but that still does not change the situation I am in today. So, where are God and the angels in all of this? Did they hear and listen to my prayers? Truthfully, I have no idea if my prayers were answered because I am in the now. I learned that from Eckhart Tolle; he teaches to practice being in the present moment. I’m very good at that, now.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have proof that God and angels exist? For those of us who thought they had it figured out, we could use a divine sign. At this moment, I have no idea what I believe in anymore. I’m really not sure if God and angels exist. If they do exist, could you send them my way? I have many questions that could use some answers.

The holidays can be a very stressful time for many people. Spending time with family and friends is supposed to be fun not cause pain and agony! Let’s face it nobody’s perfect and this includes you. Instead, make the decision to be thankful for the family you have because some people have none at all.

Many people “buy into” the holiday season. Each year we are bombarded with advertisements of what we should buy for our loved ones. Here’s a tip, you have a choice. You could choose not to give “traditional gifts.” You could make a donation to your mom’s favorite charity in her name. You could plant a tree in someone’s name. There’s no need to go out and buy the latest electronic equipment.

Another tip for gift giving is to concentrate on “small children.” If you have nieces and nephew, buy gifts for them. Children love Christmas and let them experience the magic of it.

10 Holiday Tips

1. Shop early
2. Keep your gift wrapping supplies in one place
3. Buy for children only
4. Make donations to charities in the names of your family and friends
5. Keep decorating to a minimum
6. Stick to your workout routine
7. Get plenty of rest
8. Do not get involved in family drama
9. Accept people as they are; you cannot change them
10. Accept invitations that you know you’ll attend

If you have high expectations for the holidays, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. Trying to make things perfect will only make them worse. Before you know it, you’ll be so stressed out that you’ll be in no mood to celebrate the holidays. No one is perfect so just go with the flow and do the best you can.

Do not get involved in the family drama. If your aunts, uncles, and cousins do not get along, chances are they will not be getting along this year. It’s not your job to fix people. And — may be a miracle will occur and your relatives will get along. If not, who cares because it’s their issue and not yours!

The holidays are supposed to be a joyful time, but people make them into a big ordeal. Be grateful for things such as time off from work and your good health. Enjoy the time you spend with family and friends as much as you can. If you live out of state, you could be grateful that you’ll be getting on a plane and leaving the drama-rama in another state or country!

Fat Loss 4 Idiots!

Many people love to eat and when the holidays approach, they feel it’s a free pass to eat whatever they want. Before they know it, the 30 pounds they took off during the year are back. Guilt and resentment settles in, and they comfort themselves with food and then gain another 10 pounds!

Most women gain weight in target zones such as hips, butt, and thighs! Men usually gain weight around their stomach aka “the spare tire,” which is not healthy.

To avoid weight gain during the holiday season, start by eating smart. According to Texas A&M International University in Laredo, “we eat an extra 619 calories per day from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day.” That’s a lot of calories to pack onto your body each year!

Everyone wants to enjoy the holiday season. You do not want to deprive yourself of anything because you risk “binging” on foods. Before you know it, you’re ballooning up like Violet from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory!

10 Ways to Prevent Holiday Weight Gain

1. Do not deprive yourself. If you deprive yourself of foods you like, chances are you’ll “binge” and eat everything in sight! Indulge here and there, but do not go overboard.
2. Workout longer. Add extra minutes to your workouts. This will help you to prevent holiday weight gain.
3. Eat soup such as Minestrone or another alternative. Fill up on soup before your entrée arrives. You’ll feel fuller and will be less likely to eat your entire entrée.
4. Carry a snack such as a protein bar or low-fat string cheese. If you’re on the go, carry a protein bar or low-fat string cheese with you. After all, you’ll need fuel to finish your holiday shopping.
5. Sniff Peppermint? There’s something about peppermint that will deter you to eat less. Give it a try and see what it can do for you. If your sinuses are “clogged,” this may help to clear them as well:)
6. Portion Control. Take small portions of food and do not go back for seconds!
7. Use a small plate. A smaller plate will not be able to hold a lot of food. Small plates are good to use all year-round. If you use larger plates on a daily basis, consider purchasing small plates. You can go to a discount store and by them for one dollar!
8. Get plenty of rest. Being sleep deprived is not good for you. Get the daily recommended about of sleep, usually 6-8 hours of sleep each night.
9. Sit down and eat your food; chew slowly. When you sit down to eat, it can help you to consume less calories during the holidays. Remember to chew your food thoroughly and slowly; put your fork down once in awhile. This will help you to notice when your body sends you a signal that it’s full.
10. Spice it up! Use spices such as pepper and garlic to spice up your foods. This can help you to eat less.

These are some tips to help you avoid gaining weight this holiday season. You could apply these tips no matter if it’s the holiday season or not. Go ahead and incorporate these tips into your weight loss program now! Your body will thank you for it!

Anyone who visits Phoenix, AZ will want to check out Old Town Scottsdale which is in, of course, Scottsdale, AZ. Old Town has many specialty shops, restaurants, museums, and art galleries. It has year round street festivals such as the annual Parada del Sol. Check out Old Town Scottsdale to what you can unearth on your next trip to Arizona.

A Night in Old Town

Saddle Ranch Chop House in Old Town Scottsdale opened in January 2008. They like to celebrate the holidays at Saddle Ranch. People are known to gather together for events such as Santarchy (not anti-Santa; just good fun). Everyone dresses in various Santa or holiday costumes (Harry Hanukkah) and make their way to Saddle Ranch, which is the first stop of the night. After they’ve finished at Saddle Ranch, it’s time to move onto the next bar/club.

Saddle Ranch is known for it’s infamous mechanical bull. It has been featured on shows such as Sex and the City, Desperate Housewives, American Idol, Six Feet Under, and many more. The first Saddle Ranch opened on the Sunset Strip and has become well known nationwide. You do not have to travel to L.A. to enjoy Saddle Ranch because there may be one opening near you!

Kyoto Japanese Restaurant is known for it’s Saki Bombers! The sushi is five star and the atmosphere is laid back. It’s best to make reservations on the weekends. Kyoto is great for young and old, families, singles, dates, and anyone who likes to have a great time without the pressure.

Giligan’s is a dive bar in Old Town. If you like trendy bars, you may want to forgo Giligan’s. However, if you like to have fun and want a unique bar experience, check out Giligan’s. The foods not bad either and it’s served late! The walls and ceilings are covered. Seriously, it looks like a couple of magazines, albums, and other stuff was blown up and landed on walls and ceilings! Again, this is not a typical trendy Scottsdale bar. This is the place where you go to have some real fun and let loose!

Martini Ranch is overrated. They claim to have “catapulted local acts into national names, from Coldplay to Avril Lavigne, Martini Ranch set the stage for local musicians to be discovered.” Really, Martini Ranch was responsible for the success Cold Play is experiencing. Talent and marketability had something to do with Cold Play’s success.

The staff at Martini Ranch is not the greatest. Trying to get into Martini Ranch is a big ordeal, even for a bunch of Santas. So much for the holiday spirit and spreading good cheer!

For a split second you may ask yourself “am I in Arizona or L.A., Manhattan, or London?” The guys at the door must think they are in L.A. They’ll take your id, check it for a few minutes, and then hold onto it for some reason. You get it back when they decide to let you into the bar. This is a great way to lose business. Then again perhaps the Martini Ranch has not been effected by the economic situation of the United States of America. Good for them, business is booming and no one is losing their job.

By the way, the bartenders are rude and will not serve water to those who ask for it. People are overcharged for “foo-foo” drinks and then cannot get a simple glass of water. This is ironic since the state of Arizona is hard core when it comes to DUIs and drunk driving in general.

If you still would like to check out Martini Ranch, visit their website and then decide it you will check it out.

These are just some of the establishments you will find in Old Town Scottsdale. During the day, enjoy the galleries and shop until you drop. When night falls, head out into town and discover what Old Town Scottsdale has to offer you.