A+6 November 1 - 14, 2008
Neighbors
www.SanTanSun.com
Paytons Place scores big time
by Joan Westlake cheese or fresh fruit. A full range of sandwiches and
As soon as you walk in the door at Paytons Place wraps ($7 to $10) and pastas like Alfredo or chipotle
on the southwest corner of Val Vista and Queen Creek chicken ($10) round out the basic menu. The entrees
roads, it is apparent the game here is pro all the way. are truly trophy winners. The cheddar crusted chicken
Owner Ken La Civita began in the business back when is lightly coated for rich flavor ($12), the whiskey pork
he lied about his age so he could work as a busboy at a tenderloin is caramelized in Jack Daniels ($17) and
local Phoenix restaurant. Many successful restaurants the country fried steak ($12) with fixings will have you
of his own later, this sports bar is very special because two-stepping in no time.
the La Civitas live in the neighborhood. Open less Even the kids’ menu ($4 or $5) is special with grilled
than a year, the place is already celebration central PB&J along with quesadillas and other wee folk-
for Perry, Basha and Chandler high schools and friendly fare. The young and young-at-heart won’t
other local teams. The place was hopping during the want to pass up Paytons’ famous Pizzookie – a huge
Chandler Youth playoffs because all the players and cookie covered with ice cream, chocolate and caramel
cheerleaders ate for free when they dined with an ($6).
adult. Reservations are accepted; you might want to make
“We host a lot of parties here,” says La Civita. “We them soon if you plan on joining the Thanksgiving
Sundays are very popular starting with weekend
just held Hamilton High School’s first 10-year reunion Day turkey and football crowd.
breakfasts served with helpings of football from 9 a.m.
here; it was really cool. Call and book your event. Great food aside, make no mistake, this is a sports
The restaurant is open 11 a.m. Monday through Friday
There’s no extra charge for the room. You can order bar. Paytons Place is named for La Civita’s eldest son
and until 2 a.m. nightly. Happy hour, Monday through
off the menu or we can set up a reasonably priced who was named after Walter Payton. His youngest son
Friday from 2 to 7 p.m., features drink and appetizer
buffet.” Sayers was named after NFL legend Gale.
specials. Paytons Place is at 4902 S. Val Vista, Suite
The food scores big wins, and is a league above “I wanted to name my daughter Ditka but my wife
#112 in Gilbert; call 480-855-5242.
typical bar fare in every way. wouldn’t let me,” La Civita jokes about daughter
Executive Chef Santos points out that you’ll find no Kendall. “The kids help out here but my baby Payton
coolers full of frozen wings or other lesser-restaurants’ has left me to play football for Cal Lutheran.”
Quik Bite
staples. Everything is fresh here, from the marinated The sports-focused televisions are also bigger and
Paytons Place
wings to grilled salmon and tender steaks. better with banks of them throughout the restaurant.
Lunch, dinner, fun and music
Enjoy ample appetizers like the hand-cut fries with The spaciousness of the restaurant is amplified by a
SW corner of Val Vista and Queen Creek
chili and cheese ($6) and cut-to-order chicken fingers loft bar with pool table, sprawling regular bar area, 480-855-5242 VAL VISTA
($7) or splurge on the popular crab cakes ($14). Soups front and side dining areas. La Civita says it isn’t large
($6) are homemade and the dinner salads ($6 to $9) are compared to some of the places he’s owned.
QUEEN CREEK
big and fresh with field greens, not a slab of iceberg. “I wanted this to be smaller because I like to know
The big burgers average $9 including fries and a my customers,” he explains. “And we built everything
salad, or for an extra buck, go healthy with cottage in here from cutting concrete to the table tops.”
Take a Hike, Take a Stand
A Chandler resident is encouraging people to problems. It’s now being used in hundreds of pledges for the fundraising contest include free
pursue a “healthy body” rather than the impossible classrooms across the country. one-on-one personal training, Pilates sessions, and
“perfect body.” By combining a love of the outdoors and fitness more.
Mimi Ellis, a former registered dietitian turned with the commitment to have this curriculum used There will also be a two-hour free presentation
physician assistant who has been working in in all Arizona schools, and eventually the nation, about the HBI curriculum given by Kater from 2
women’s health for almost eight years, is spear- the first fundraising hike was held in April 2007 to 4 p.m. at the Burton Barr branch of the Phoenix
heading a community project called Take a Hike, at Piestewa Peak, where around 30 participants Public Library on North Central Avenue in Phoenix,
Take a Stand. A fundraising effort and hike starts at raised more than $2,000 in pledges. Later the same suitable for educators, administrators, parents of
9 a.m. Sat. Nov. 1 at South Mountain Park. year, the first known Arizona school district was school-aged children, and anyone else who wants
“While participating in Landmark Education’s enrolled in using the curriculum, and Take a Hike. to learn more about the curriculum and how to
Self Expression and Leadership Program, I began Take a Stand, Inc. became a certified nonprofit get it in their schools. Space is limited to 75, so
to explore how I could make a difference in the organization, with five women on the board of reservations are recommended, and can be made
world by ending the increasingly rampant suffering directors, including two from Chandler. by calling 602-684-4682.
and disempowerment that so many women –and Staffed entirely by volunteers, Ellis says the Registration fee for the hike is $35, which must
increasingly men – experience in the constant organization is up and running, and is actively be prepaid online at www.takeahiketakeastand.
pursuit of an impossible ideal, ‘the perfect body.’” engaged in bringing the curriculum and necessary org. To learn more about the Healthy Body Image
That’s when she came across the Healthy Body training to more schools. Curriculum, go to
www.bodyimagehealth.org.
Image (HBI) curriculum, which she says was created In addition to a workout, hike participants will
for fourth- through sixth-grade girls and boys by a get a free T-shirt, snacks and breakfast items and
psychotherapist with more than 25 years experience a chance to hear Kathy Kater, LICSW, author of
in treating body image, weight, health and fitness the HBI curriculum. Prizes for those who collect
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