A good friend I've worked with for years is leaving for a new gig, so a few of us are finding reasons to hit happy hour with her just about everyday until she leaves Jan 3rd. Yesterday our reason was we just didn't want to work anymore :) We hit The Yard, a close destination from our office. If you haven't been it's a great spot for an after work gathering with corn hole, ping pong tables, plenty of TVs to catch a game, etc. There is a "seasonal" themed room in the back we had reservations for at the last minute. Super cool and it even snows in there! I stuck with water, but the group loved their drinks and the service was great. We also snacked on the Pretzel Bites of course. On a scale of 1 - 10, The Yard is fun....not always the best as the parking is dreadful, but still, it's a good option.

We checked out the pop-up Bar Blitzen, a holiday bar inside The Yard. This temporary gem is super cool, very chill vibe with an incredible holiday playlist. The decorations are also incredible, no detail missed. The food is a limited selection of the Yard menu, always good. These holiday cocktails though are absolutely incredible, they did a great job making unique seasonal drinks. The whiskey and donuts is served with fresh donut holes. Our server was also on point and they were quick behind the bar.

So, my party didn't utilize the Yards amenities as far as games go. We just occipied a corner of the bar and it was awesome. The place is nice enough, but what really stuck out was the bartenders. Absolutely awesome and accomodating. This was all we needed before walking across the bridge to the Marquee for a God-awful show. But the Yard will be where I will spend my time pre show next time. We didn't eat anything spectacular, nor did we drink anything spectacular. We just wanted to hang out, and for that.. the Yard did well.

The BBQ was very juicy and flavorful. The sides were okay, we also had some of the baked goods that were brought in from a local bakery that were great. Very simple inside, reminds me of a true southern bbq restaurant. It's all self service after ordering and clean up. Nice little spot.

A local friend selected this place for dinner the evening we arrived in the area. It is located a few blocks from the ASU campus adjacent to some train / light rail tracks. Parking appeared to be valet only, unless you parked further away yourself. The building feels like a converted warehouse, but has a nice indoor dining area. This was mobbed when we arrived (around 6 p.m. on a Wednesday). They also had a large patio, but it was completely covered by a high roof and was mostly walled in also. There were large open spaces to let in a breeze and it was outfitted with plenty of fans and misters. This is where we sat. It had been over 115 degrees F earlier in the afternoon, so it was still warm here in spite of the cooling countermeasures. It was not uncomfortable, though. I guess that's just part of life in Arizona... The menu was not extensive, but everyone was able to find something they liked. Our group had the vegan curry, which was good, as well as salmon and salads. The place bills itself as a gastropub. I thought it had a bit of a younger / hipster vibe. The patio had game tables and a corn hole area. Most people here were in their 20s, or maybe 30s. It seemed like where fit people in their late 20s came on a first date.