Late night eating in The Valley? Surely you jest! For a city with over a million people, Phoenix is still bushleague, but after living there for years, here's the best that I can come up with.

My Florist stays open late and provides great piano music until 12 or 1 if I'm not mistaken. Sandwiches, salads, soups and a bar. The atmosphere is good to.

Cheesecake Factory on weekends stays open and serves until around 11.

Don't forget the Arizona Casino. They probably stay open all night and while the dining is on the order of hamburgs,l sandwiches, etc., at least it's nourishment. Watch out for the smoke; it can be overwhelming.

And while I'm posting. . . although we live in Scottsdale, we frequently get together with people who winter in Tucson. Does anyone know of decent restaurants located more or less equally between the two cities that we both could drive to?

At 7th Ave. & McDowell (short cab ride from the Hyatt) there's a restaurant called My Florist which is rather different. The entrees are restricted to soups, sandwiches and salads along with a bar. Therefore, the prices will definitely fall easily within the parameters you set up. What makes this restaurant special, however, is the really cool decore and the music from one of the Valley's most talented pianists. Even if you don't get there for dinner, I recommend hitting it for breakfast or lunch.

I know this is way early, but I have a problem. We have two guests coming to Scottsdale for New Year's Eve (2007) who like to get dressed up and dine elegantly. Does anyone know of places that might fill the bill in Scottsdale or Phoenix? Raucous/hats and horns are NOT going to cut it.

Newton has a farmer's market every Tuesday at Cold Spring Park on Beacon Street, west of Walnut. There's another market some time later in the week. You can find ourt by calling newton City Hall.