The Rokerij is named one of the best bars in America by Esquire
Says the mag in the new issue, with its slightly unorthodox use of the comma intact:
Step through the large wood door and down the stone steps. It’s calm and cool down here, like being in a cellar. There is a glowing fireplace, bottles of wine stacked up on the walls, a long, polished wood bar that stretches the width of the room. The bartenders are well dressed, they ask just enough questions, not too many.
Esquire’s also odd in that you can’t find the snippet online. On its web site it mentions two places in southern Arizona: The Hotel Congress and, rather fancifully, some place in Arivaca, which is close to the Mexican border in south west part of the state.
Last year, if we remember correctly, the only Arizona bar listed in the magazine proper was the Buffet in Tucson.
Comments
Tom Prezelski Monday, June 07, 2010:
Mr. Wyman,
While I realize that folks in Phoenix have a rather limited and parochial sense of Arizona's geography, I think it was a tad patronizing to be so dismissive of Arivaca. Arivaca happens to be one of the oldest communities in the State, and has been important in Arizona's history. It also has a fairly active arts and cultural community. Think of Arivaca as being a little like Cave Creek, only much smaller, less obnoxiously affluent, and far more genuine in terms of authentic Old West culture.
As for La Gitana, I suggest that you venture south of Baseline Road some time to check it out before so dismissively passing judgement. The building is made of an exotic substance called adobe, something that used to be common in Phoenix in less sophisticated times. I am sure you will find it charming to see how us ignorant hayseeds in the hinterlands manage to get along despite not living in the Phoenix conurbation. You may be surprised that we have flush toilets now.
Perhaps you are a little jealous that, despite its size, Phoenix merits relatively little mention in the article. Maybe you guys will get your due when Esquire publishes its list of the most undistinguished strip malls or best bars for Ed Hardy wearing dooshbags.