Weekend Guide
Kilt lifters and flying timber? Pack some sunscreen, fair lads and lasses, because we’re British Isles-bound
If the closest you’ve ever come to Scotland is watching Fat Bastard wrestle with Austin Powers, you won’t want to miss the 46th annual Arizona Scottish Highland Games and Celtic Gathering. Held this weekend at Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix, this outdoor festival will feature plenty of bagpipe playing, Highland Fling dancing and single malt sipping. And for better or worse, it might be your only chance all year to experience the famed Scottish delicacy, haggis, or sheep’s stomach stuffed with sheep’s heart, liver and lungs. We’d say don’t knock it ’till you try it, but we’re too terrified to try it. That said, we’ll be here to knock back Kilt Lifter beers and watch some seriously burly, be-kilted athletes tossing cabers, or giant tree trunks. (300 E. Indian School Rd., 602-431-0095)
Can’t make it to the Highland Games? Savor a taste of the UK at these traditional British pubs. A Valley institution since 1995, The George & Dragon is a true British ale house, i.e. dark, dank and filled to the rafters with soccer memorabilia. Skip the strip mall spinoff at 48th St. and Broadway, and hit the original on Central Ave. to enjoy bang-up bangers and mash and plenty of frothy draught ales. (4240 N. Central Ave., 602-241-0018) Over in south Scottsdale, The British Open is a charmingly-cozy pub serving up hearty UK fare and live soccer matches on multiple TVs. Last but not least, the meat pie specialists at Cornish Pastry Company in Tempe were recently named one of the Valley’s best bargain’s. (960 W. University Dr., 480-894-6261)
