text: I remember when I used to sit with proprietor David L at Biltmore CP not CPK you freak and listen to him get passionate about this modular bakery concept thing where he could use the best ingredients and still make it inexpensively Willo Bread was bornnnI also remember when I was little going to My Florist for FLOWERS Over the years the strip mall saw many tenants come and go and seemingly at just the right moment David picked up one of the suites and began his bakery project After its extreme success with local AJs and fine restaurants around town he expanded to the old flower shop converting it to a restaurant its loft overhead and the adjoining suite for the grocerynnPerhaps it was my third visit that was the one I shall not forget I am a pianist and have played professionally here and there over the years After hearing just one selection by SAVANT Nicole I was so discouraged I resolved never to play again I hate her not really for being so good Try going up to talk to her and you will see what I mean She is clearly multitasking on or different threads one of which is to talk with you I have seen her on the phone while playing with one hand reaching out to the nearby table while playing with one hand totally looking the opposite direction for minutes at a time and more Total SavantnnShe easily has the entire repertory of all music in her head but for her it is not the music itself but the concepts of the music from which she plays She can play the entire soundtrack from Nintendos Super Mario Bros It is uncanny Ask her to play a classical piece and only because you know the exact note order phrases and timings do you realize that she is pretty close but not exact Who cares She could play against Mozart in dueling pianos and he would end up on the floor gasping in and out of a paper bagnnAt some point David bought her a concert Steinway well deservednnOther than the place where name played during her lifetime My Florist will have no other mark on the history of Phoenix To those of us still alive wishing we could add our own marks on history our screaming and YELLING about the poor service useless bartenders and ridiculous menu will be but whispers against her virtuosity But let me make my attemptnnSeeing my favorite bottle of gin on the shelf I ordered my martini Sapphire martini straight up stirred with a twist What came back was a brown thing that looked like chocolate milk Oh I thought you ordered an espresso martini Tell me does Sapphire sound like espresso to you My answer is only to someone who has NO CLUE about what a real martini is Do me a favor and do not insult the reputation of Bombay Sapphire please instead display and serve GordonsnnAfter a recent performance of the Arizona Broadway Theater we joined the cast as they gathered for a late dinner and drinks After the of us ate and drank we spent the next minutes no joke figuring out the bill because they could not split the check not even in half forGET it do not you forget CASH in small denominations if you are going with a groupnnIf from the limited menu you think you can picture the four tubs of ingredients and sauces in the kitchen mixed in all the possible ways on the menu it is because you can the Dole European Lettuces variety salad mix is the same on every single plate the same olives and olive oil or orange and apple wedges garnish every dish and the same bread yes it can be good if you buy it first thing in the morning is sliced and toasted to make you think it is not as old and hard as it actually isnnNot to say that the bread is not good Just know that when bread is made this way without all the nasty chemicals and preservatives and then is exposed to AIR it gets hard Eat it within a few hours of being baked My advice is to go to the grocery first thing when it opens and try to get one of the willowich sandwiches available daily scrumptious ham cheese basil and add vinaigrette before they go You will have to beat me so get up early