Well, yes we’re well on our way to 100 years old, and as Arizonans we need to admire the past while we look towards the future.

Over the last 50 years, Phoenix has grown exponentially bringing on many economic, environmental, and social challenges. To cope with our growth, we need to constantly be looking for ways to innovate, maximizing resources and minimizing waste, while making the city more livable. Lower Grand Avenue is brimming with potential and possibilities

The City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation department along with several other government groups and community organizations, including the Grand Avenue Merchants Association, has been chosen by the  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Greening America’s Capital program are  to develop a revitalization concept for Lower Grand Avenue. And you’re invited!

A local consultant group, Plan-et has been hired and will hold a three day design workshop with the community to help re-imagine I-10 overpass to Van Buren Street/7th Avenue. Lyssa Hall, Landscape Architect for the Parks and Recreation Department, said that the “architectural assets of grand ave” make the area a perfect spot to incorporate “realistic revitalization goals, working with whats already there, so people can enjoy Grand Ave.”

The 3 day workshop will include strong community involvement to find short and long term reachable goals for the area.

Lyssa expects between 50-70 members of the community to join them for the event, but she wants you ALL there in hopes of inviting political and partnership interest.  The event is February 28th, 29th, March 1st so mark your calenders and look out for more info from the city of Phoenix.

Kick off Meeting: 6 – 8 p.m. on Feb. 28
Public Open Houses: 6 – 8 p.m. on Feb. 29
Open Studio: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Feb 28 through March 1

In celebration of our great state, groups across Arizona are working to commemorate 100 years of growth. One of those fine groups is the  The City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture who is opening The Gallery @ City Hall. The gallery will premier “Desert View: A Centennial of Art in Phoenix,” featuring paintings, prints, and photographs that highlight the landscape-inspired visions of artists working in the West.

In collaboration with the Phoenix Community Alliance, this new space will be “devoted to rotating exhibitions drawn from the city’s historic collection of 1,000 artworks, and be supported exclusively with private contributions.”

Phoenix’s Art scene has been the heart of the cities economic growth for years. Supporting the community is a vital part of our future. If you want to be one of those supporter, you can a send check made out to Phoenix Community Alliance at 234 N. Central Avenue, Suite M1100, Phoenix, AZ 8500 or visit the website and make a PayPal donation.

The Gallery will be opening  Mid-February. A meeting will be held downtown at the end of this week to finalize their official opening dates, so check with them  or watch our facebook Page for more information.

Its that time of year again, when Christmas decorations come out of dusty boxes and you can really tell who’s in the holiday spirit. We separate the meek from the jolly. Downtown leader Jim McPherson is organizing an effort to decorate Central Ave where the City can’t due to budget restrictions.

This weekend marks the 25th  APS Fiesta of Light Electric Light Parade here in Phoenix. In lieu of a lovely post-Thanksgiving snowfall, this long standing tradition announces the true beginning of the Christmas season downtown.

The parade start its march at 7pm this Saturday on Central Avenue at Montebello heading south, or you can catch the official judging tonight starting at 5. Does anyone know the official criteria for float judging? Is it based on lumens?

In addition to lighting up the night, APS will once again collect canned goods along the parade route for donation to St. Mary’s Food Bank. And of course Santa will be there, taking suggestions from good little girls and boys and keeping everything jolly.

Events like these are what make the downtown Phoenix community great. According to Jim McPherson, “Celebrating milestones and occasions helps to build community. Many residents, neighborhoods, arts and cultural institutions, businesses, and city officials are all working to foster that sense of community as more and more people move downtown and tourists visit our city.” Jim is just one of a group of people working to decorate Central Avenue for the season to help promote patronage and general Christmas cheer. Over time, Central Avenue became the primary place to hold such major parades and holiday events. According to Jim, the Central Avenue decorations that have gone up this year were first installed in 2002. But the holiday’s don’t just end with lights. CityScape has installed an ice rink and Christmas tree downtown for everyone to enjoy.

Not only is it a time for visitors to see our developing downtown, but the community comes together to celebrate a wonderful holiday season around their favorite local businesses.

It’s here. The second annual Phoestivus event. The image, below tells you everything you need.

We are doubling the size and doubling the fun.

Please spread the word.

October is a great month to live in Phoenix. Not only is the weather beautiful, excluding this week of course, but there are great things going on all month long in every corner of town.

October 15^th

• Oktoberfest is upon us. Pull on your Lederhosen or Dirndls and head down to Margaret T. Hance Park. Of course there’s more than just beer and sing-a-longs. There will be mouthwatering sausages, authentic strudel, and German products to boot. You can find out more about tickets and times on their website.
• The Makers Faire is a One day DIY festival celebrating all things art, food, science, music and more. The festival will be held downtown between 3^rd and 5^th on Roosevelt Row from 11am to 7pm. http://www.makerfairephoenix.com/
• Tour de Fat is an annual bike ride held at various time of year across the country.  Tomorrow at 10 am is the official Tour de Fat parade where bike and Fat tire beer enthusiasts will mount wild bikes and ride Tempe beach park followed by a beer pour from 11-4 all in the name of fun and local cycling nonprofits.  

Other things happening this weekend. How about the Arizona State Fair, the Arizona taco festival, or the  The TASTE Chandler Culinary Festival. It might seem like a very foodie weekend, but what wrong with that?

Oct 20^th is our next Get Your PHX Event from 5:30pm – 8:30pm at the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center. Come by and have a beer while you learn about their efforts in habitat restoration and education.

Oct 22^nd

• For those of you who want to feel a little more artists and a little less bloated,there is the  The Humanities Festival. The Humanities festival is a day of cultural, educational, and artistic activities from internationally known groups, authors and artists. The festival runs from 10am to 6pm at the new Civic Space Park Downtown next Saturday.
• The Grand Avenue  Festival is a celebration of Phoenix’s drive to revitalize and renew its downtown.  Come Celebrate Downtown’s vibrant culture, art, history and adaptive re-use of the Lower Grand Avenue arts and small business district and adjoining neighborhoods The 3rd Grand Avenue Festival will be October 22nd from 3 – 11 pm.
• The Food Truck Festival is rolling into town thanks in part to the Roosevelt Row CDC and Phoenix Street food Coalition. A ticket gets you inside to sample from each of the food trucks at your leisure. More than two dozen food trucks and carts are expected to be on hand for the event, providing hungry patrons an opportunity to taste the latest food trend popping up all over the nation.

What else is coming up that weekend, Chandler’s Day of Play, The Arab American Festival, The TBAG Zombie Bike Ride, and more!

And that’s just the next two weeks! With all the events going on this month, there’s something for everyone. Get out there and be a part of Phoenix’s growing community.

You know that Phoenix continues to “grow up” when it develops a healthy sketch comedy community. Enter stage left: First Friday Night Live.

Amongst the hustle of the First Friday art walk lies the Firehouse, a gallery which plays host to provocative exhibits, musicians, and local fire dancers all month long. After the First Friday vendors pack up and the art walk teens return home before curfew, the firehouse continues to burn the midnight oil. This Friday, the cast and crew of First Friday Night Live will kick off their second season of sidesplitting sketch and stand up on the stage behind The Firehouse.

The cast of seventeen local actors and comedians along with a group of dedicated writers collaborate all month long creating, writing, and practicing original scenes. In addition to the six nightly sketches, the hour and a half performance will include stand up from the cast, musical guests, as well as the firehouse’s signature fire dancers.  In total, the cast and crew are more than 60 dedicated members strong.

Michael23, a local artist and show founder is looking forward to the second season and the knowledge that comes with it. The first season ran September to March, with two “uncomfortably cold nights,” in January and February that changed the course of this season. To avoid the cold Arizona nights, FFNL has decide to split the season, staging shows October to December and then March to June with two FFNL events in between.

The show is put up every month on a “shoestring budget,” says Michael, “We hope to break even at the end of this season.” Tickets are available pre-sale for five dollars online or the Firehouse Gallery and Lawn Gnome Publishing Bookstore on first Friday. Tickets at the door are seven. You can even buy season tickets for forty dollars on their website which comes with a free t-shirt to boot. The show also streams live online, for those who need there FFNL fix in bed.

If you’re interested in finding out more about FFNL or joining the production you can find information on their site.

First Friday Night Live’s first show of the season premieres at 11pm this Friday at the Firehouse.

Those of you who have been to the arts market in the Roosevelt Arts District may not know that it’s yet another brain child of the Roosevelt Row CDC. The A.R.T.S. Market serves small businesses and art vendors at First and third Fridays year round. Vendors looking to participate can secure a location for $50 for both First and Third Friday, or $80 for just First Friday.

Courtesy of Roosevelt Row

Does that seem a bit backwards? First Friday is prime property for vendors and artists looking to get their name out. But, with every artsy teen strolling the street in their winter tank tops, some adults may shy away from the crowd. Third Friday, though quieter then the hustle of First Friday Crowd, attracts a more serious adult, art crowd. Roosevelt Row, in all their wisdom, struck up this deal for vendors who show a commitment to participate in an A.R.T.S. market as well as to the growth of the district.

Vendors have to meet basic guidelines, which are outlined on the Roosevelt Row cite, and aren’t judged on aesthetics. And the deals don’t stop there. On November 12, Roosevelt Row will be hosting a pie social to benefit the Bioscience High School. After the pie social there will be an art walk where booths are only $25 for the night. On the nights that pie isn’t available Food vendors can grab a spot too by contacting the food trucks coalition who are acting as art walk partners.

Next first Friday is October 8th. We’ll see you there!

If you build it (out), they will come.

There were two really interesting historical perspective articles this week from the Arizona Republic. One article is about how our spread outward was driven by a constant “boosterism” by all who came here. The other article is about what early city leaders hoped for our city.

There was always a tension between building up and building out. It seems that building out won, for now.

The desire to live miles from the city in suburban living can take a toll on residents, I mean come on, there is only so much drive-time radio you can stand during your daily 2 hours in traffic to get to your job.

Instead, residents and home buyers are rediscovering the city and want to move to where historic meets modern (that’s central Phoenix for those who haven’t caught on).

With so many historic homes in the central Phoenix area at such great prices, buyers are scooping up amazing deals in incredible neighborhoods that are full of life and history. In other words, Phoenicians are looking for new life in an old home.

Data indicates that the CenPho zip codes have dropped less in home value and are returning to normal more quickly than other parts of the valley.

Since the population of the Valley of the Sun has increased at a mind-boggling pace (24% since 2000), the only way to keep up was with tract housing that had less character, and we all know how important character is in a home.

But what central Phoenix is experiencing is exciting – new restaurants and nightlife hot spots are popping up. Residents are taking notice and it is only a matter of time before central Phoenix becomes the place to be!

Ever heard of John Henry Peirce, or just John Peirce?

Ever been in the FQ Story historic neighborhood and noticed the patinad copper chimney caps or window dressings that appear on houses now and again?

These are works designed specifically for the homes in this neighborhood, inspired by Spanish artist Antoni Gaudí.

The artist, you’ve probably never heard of. But he represents one of the many reasons that I love CenPho: whether you love Gaudi-influenced art, or not. You won’t find this anywhere else in Phoenix, maybe all of Arizona.

The window frame under the gable is a Peirce.

I don’t particularly go out of my way for Gaudi works. Although I’m a fan of Brian Froud‘s work with Jim Henson, whom I think borrows a little from Gaudí.

Regardless of my taste, these pieces are an incredibly unique contribution to downtown Phoenix. We have John Peirce and his son Clifton Peirce to thank for it.

Clifton was actually the one formally schooled in the arts. But after returning from Spain in the 1980s and retelling of his visit to Gaudí’s master works, his father was hooked. Together they returned to Barcelona 5 times over the next decade. According to Clifton, “My father had every book there ever was on Gaudí.

Peirce, the senior became an artist at the age of 56 and kept it up until his death in 2011.

Casa Batlló

But together, they tried to bring a little Gaudí home with them. They went in to the business of making tiles that fit together in to elaborate Gaudí-esque ceilings. Gaudí put these ceilings together, like this one at the Casa Batlló, using woven straw and plaster.

The Peirce version, as seen in the photo below, is done with more modern materials, but is basically the same principle.

You can probably guess that these were a product that appealed to a very, very niche market. So, the business sputtered.

Calming ceiling waves in the living room.

What came next was what you can see now on the houses of neighbors, and especially on the Peirce residence.

See below for a whole stream of pictures from my visit to the home today. I was saddened to learn that the family is having an estate sale tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday from 6am to 2pm at 914 West Willetta. The future of the home is unknown, but I certainly hope that we can find a way to preserve this little treasure, which I am guessing few would appreciate until long after the owners are gone.

John Peirce left us a message through his art; a little whisper that you can hear only in FQ Story, if you stop to listen. He and Clifton respected what was unique about this historic neighborhood and added to it in a subtle and unique way.

For that, I thank Mr. Peirce and Mr. Peirce.

I can only hope that 60 years from now historic property buffs will say that FQ Story is known for its John Henry Peirce influence.

The underside of the artists outdoor work space.

More of the outdoor work space.

Mr. Peirce made a special urn for his wife, who passed years ago.

A piece between the Peirce home and the neighbor’s house.

Tea lights or tree lights?

Who DOESN’T want a dragon on the front of their house!

Join your host committee for the annual Solstice Eve  to support our friends on Roosevelt Row in Downtown Phoenix.

Friday, May 21, 2010
5:00-5:30pm —  Hosts’ Reception
5:30pm til it’s over – Solstice Party!!
PTE Offices at 1017 N. Central Ave
Light Rail stop at Roosevelt

Tickets for this special event are $50 each and include food from Athenian Express, Four Peaks beer,  fabulous Arizona wines, and an evening of fun.
This year we will have an incredible selection of artwork AND one-of-a-kind experiences in a silent auction.

Roosevelt Row Community Development Corporation started in 2001 as an informal affiliation of galleries and art spaces along East Roosevelt Street.  A more formal corporation was established in 2005 to further the unique character and assets of the area, to advocate for the continuing role of the arts in the revitalization of downtown Phoenix, and to foster a dense, diverse and walkable urban environment.

This fundraiser allows them to build programs like Phoesitval’s on First Fridays, gRow House, Roosevelt Row Community Garden, Mural Match / Eyes on the Streets – a program matching artists and building owners, and Community Phoestivals.

Tickets are limited and your donation is tax deductible.