I had the day off today, so I decided to head down to the MOA and check for fall sales. Nothing really going on yet; I picked up a pair of black fishnet tights at Nordstrom and started on my way back home.
Except then Vince called and said he was starting to come down with a cold. So, naturally, I stopped at Azia to pick up a bowl of Spanker Soup for him. I was greeted with the standard barrage of insults from the bartenders and innocuous come-ons from the gay waiters. Owner Thom Pham eventually found me and I got my usual hug and kiss (on the mouth, which always weirds out Janelle), in addition to a big, excited, "DID YOU SEE ME IN THE PAPER?!"
I did not. But I found it just now in the Strib: Azia's Thom is Phamtastic.
Why yes, he is. The article briefly outlines his new projects:
- Mix and Manhattan Martini Bar, in the old Molly Quinn's building on East Lake (big pale yellow box, can't miss it)
- Temple, in the old Tiburón space downtown (I've been promised a job as a mermaid in the giant fishtank)
The article also tells a more personal story about Thom, his upbringing, and what he does on a day-to-day basis. It hints at what a sweet guy he is, and how he's also kind of dorky, both of which are completely true.
What it doesn't mention is one other thing he's working on, which is maybe privileged information, but he didn't tell me to keep it secret: Thom is looking at a space in NYC, in hopes of opening another Azia.
Go, baby, go.
This just in: STrib headline writers need to be taken out and shot.
Posted by: Bexley | September 20, 2006 at 10:01 PM
Tom, while a dashing and deservingly successful restauranteur, is not my type. His barely legal flirtatious sisters that work @ Than Do are much more my speed.
Posted by: geoff | September 20, 2006 at 10:32 PM
The old Molly Quinn's has now been spray painted white. Kinda looks like a church. So, the Mahattan Bar is going in there? I agree with the comment on the Star Trombone's headline writers.
Posted by: Matthew H | September 21, 2006 at 07:52 AM
Hey! I'm sick, too!
Posted by: Marchelle | September 21, 2006 at 10:21 PM
Is that guy Thom Pham big and strong? He was in the news... apparently wrestled some guy to the ground and held him there until police showed up.
Posted by: Laden | July 10, 2007 at 09:46 PM
Thom is a total loser! He is totally broke and about to lose both Azia and his "bread and butter" Than-Do. The guy bounces payroll checks all day long, owes everyone and their mother countless amounts of cash for loans and has the IRS hot on his tail. Azia will shut it doors within months. By the way he got jumped in the alley by a bunch of thugs he owed money to. Not everything is as it seems. Author, my advice would be to get a check up from the doctor because Thom is a really dirty guy. PS- He is really, really gay
Posted by: Cocoa Chanel | April 05, 2010 at 09:20 PM