Thank you to Lisa Sette and her staff at the Lisa Sette Gallery  and our friends at Local First for hosting the July Get Your PHX. I was impressed with the number of people who attended, despite the 1,000 degree temperature outside.

Thank you, also, to the very generous George Hancock of the Phoenix Ale Brewery for supplying the beer.  P.A.B. will begin to issue its line of brews in cans, starting in September. 

This August, Get Your PHX invites you, the local, to check out another great new local spot called, The Local. So meta, right?

Chef Chris McKinley, previously at Atlas Bistro, and Adam Hargett, former general manager at Merc Bar, opened their joint venture just a few months ago at the corner of 3rd St. and Roosevelt. 

Opening in the heart of the Roosevelt Row Arts District was a great choice by Hargett and McKinley because it is the perfect venue for their balance of classy and casual dining. Guests can enjoy a great view with retractable glass doors lining the front of The Local, and when pulled open, provide passersby with an aromatic invitation of savory delights. 

McKinley’s menu can be described as ‘contemporary American’, which basically translates to timeless favorites done better. Dishes like Crispy Pig Ear Pad Thai, Marquez Stuffed Quail, and Roman Style Gnocchi are among the flavorful combinations you’ll find here. 

“It’s targeted toward the foodies,” McKinley said. “We want people to feel comfortable. People can have a cocktail wearing shorts and T-shirt and still eat bone marrow and head cheese.” 

Along with a rotating menu, filled with delicious and eclectic flavors, food and cocktail lovers can expect locally sourced ingredients in many of the amazing dishes and drinks. After all, it is The Local. 

Join us for an exciting evening with our new neighbors at The Local. As always, please reserve your spot below.

Reserve your free ticket here.

See the Facebook Page here.

Location: The Local
Address: 1011 N 3rd St., Phoenix AZ 85004 (Map It)
Date: 21 August, 2014
Time: 5:30 – 7:30

Thank you to Jenna Rousseau at Central Wine Bar and our friends at Local First for hosting the June Get Your PHX. We packed out Central Wine and a good time was had by all.

This month, Get Your PHX visits the Lisa Sette Gallery at its new location in Midtown Phoenix.

This month’s event is sponsored by our good friends at Phoenix Ale Brewery –brewers of the popular summer treat Watermelon Ale. P.A.B. will begin it issue its line of brews in cans, starting in September. 

We are very excited for Lisa and her crew whose new home is the ever awesome and architecturally pleasing Al Beadle structure located on East Catalina Drive. RSVP using the ‘Tickets’ link here.

The dwelling is quite unique and features a “sleek, low-slung, semi-subterranean” appeal, mirroring the adjacent design building, (also an Al Beadle creation), owned by Lisa’s husband Peter.

Sette and Wesley James, of StarkJames, collaborated on minor updates to the original structure, including a fabric scrim wrapping the building. 

James reflects, “Shading the exterior is a response that we feel is appropriate for our environment… It allows us to set the stage for what will be a beautiful transformation when the fabric is lit from the exterior for evening exhibition openings.”

Sette is exhilarated to be a part of the flourishing Phoenix scene, adding, “After 28 years, we are doing what we do best – leading/forging new territory. We are gravitating to an up-and-coming energy in Midtown Phoenix, and have just found the right architectural gem to house the gallery.”

She is also thrilled to see how Midtown will shape in the coming years and comments, “all of the infill projects will make the difference and those that are attracted to infill projects tend to be creative.” We couldn’t agree more!

Beadle’s parti pris blends effortlessly and perfectly with the contemporary local and international art in the Lisa Sette Gallery. This month’s exhibition is appropriately titled, “Hello Midtown!” and opened to the public on June 14th. 

We welcome with open arms the Lisa Sette Gallery and look forward to spending July 24th with you! 

 What: Get Your PHX: Fun, social monthly meet ups at new spots around downtown.
Where: Lisa Sette Gallery: 201 E. Catalina Dr., Phoenix, AZ 85012 (Map It)
When: July 24^th, from 5:30p.m. – 7:30p.m.
Specials: FREE Raffle, drink special, & complimentary snacks
RSVP HERE: July GYP: Lisa Sette Gallery

Summers in the desert seem endless, don’t they? With the relentless sun, spiking temperatures and distant dreams of winter, it’s easy to think that there’s no escape, but you’re wrong. (Gasp!)

This month, Get Your PHX is staying cool with Jenna Rousseau at her new spot, Central Wine Bar. Nestled in the cozy corner of shared property along with modern Asian concept restaurant, Clever Koi and Model Citizen, the new micro salon by Leidan Mitchell, Rousseau’s new digs is an oasis of great wine and happy memories.

Jenna’s roots run five generations deep here in Phoenix, which makes her proud to call Arizona ‘home’. After attending college in California, she opted to stay and learn the wine culture of Sonoma and San Francisco, working and cultivating her passion.

She then brought that knowledge back reflecting, “I was lucky to go to college in California and then live in Sonoma…but I’m glad to be home and hopefully brought a little bit of San Francisco to Phoenix by opening Central Wine.”

Rousseau strives to bring something new and delicious and says, “It’s not a requirement to know a lot about wine … just the fact that you enjoy it are curious about finding new things to try.”

The goal is to create a destination for the community, a place to come and relax, unwind, and enjoy. “We aren’t wine snobs,” Rousseau adds, “but we do strive for deliciousness and creativity in our menu and hope that we just keep people coming back.” Don’t you worry, we will!

Any political junky out there may find it interesting to know, (political views aside), that the space was formerly used as John McCain’s election office. 

Get Your PHX will be soaking up the wine scene on June 19^th and invite you to come check out Central Wine Bar and Model Citizen next door. Snacks and drink specials will be provided.

As always, please RSVP below.

FREE EVENT

What: Get Your PHX: Fun, social monthly meet ups at new spots around downtown.
Where: Central Wine Bar: 4236 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85012 (Map It)
When: June 19^th, from 5:30p.m. – 7:30p.m.
Specials: FREE Raffle, drink special, & complimentary snacks
RSVP HERE: June GYP: Central Wine Bar

This month Get Your PHX is checking out Phoenix Theatre’s newly renovated space on McDowell and Central Ave. Join us for exclusive access to the VIP lounge with our very own private bar and expansive view of the sculpture garden below. 

In addition, Phoenix Theatre is also giving Get Your PHX an exclusive $10 discount on tickets to see either Les Miserables or Avenue Q performing that same night, Thursday, May 22nd. Tickets are selling fast, so be sure to take advantage of this offer before it’s sold out!

The discount can be redeemed when purchasing tickets online at http://www.phoenixtheatre.com/ with the promo code: GETYOURPHX, or by calling the Box Office 602.254.2151 (Open Monday – Friday 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.)

TO BE CLEAR: The Get Your PHX event is free. If you would like to take advantage of this special offer for the productions, please purchase your tickets either online or over the phone.

Recent expansions have transformed the theater into a multistory venue with a soaring glass atrium, Black Box Theater, additional rehearsal spaces, and deluxe full bar and lounge areas. 

The new Hormel Black Box Theater is entirely unique because both the stage and the seating are flexible enabling each director and creative team to adjust how they want the audience to view their show. 

If you guessed that Hormel was the canned ham company, you are right! They generously donated funding to construct the new Black Box Theater, featuring Avenue Q.

Over its 93 seasons, the theater has featured numerous fantastic shows and even jumpstarted the career of one very notable director… Steven Spielberg!

Growing up in Scottsdale, Steven Spielberg was an unknown trying to break into the industry and looking for his big shot. Phoenix Theatre recognized great things were in store for the young Spielberg and agreed to screen his very first film. Obviously they are great at spotting talent! 

Spielberg has never forgotten his roots and has made numerous trips to visit the Phoenix Theatre every since. Most recently he stopped in to visit after renovations were completed a few months ago.

We’re very thankful and thrilled to have this one-of-a-kind experience with Phoenix Theatre to share with our friends and neighbors. Don’t forget to RSVP below!

FREE EVENT + Special Optional Discount
What: May Get Your PHX: Phoenix Theatre
When: May 22nd, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Where: Phoenix Theatre: 100 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85004

Thank you to all the folks at the Groove on Grand, and, of course, our partners at Local First Arizona for a HUGE event last month.

This month Get Your PHX is heading to the Pressroom off Madison and 5^th this month. Built in the 1920’s, this historic red brick building has now transformed into a premier event venue with 1000+person indoor capacity, ample outdoor area and a recently added full bar.

Have you noticed recently how many great music venues are popping up downtown? We’ve come a long way, baby!

Also performing  exclusively for Get Your PHX attendees is Scandalesque, an exciting burlesque style show created by Julianna Curtis (Lady Fontayne) and Christy Zandlo (Pyrrha), two professional dancers and choreographers. Scandalesque features live music, dance theater, comedy, and circus arts into their must-see shows.

It says a lot about the arts and creative class in Phoenix that this group has not only survived, but thrived.

We are excited and curious to see how owners Jason Charles and Narender Raju have upgraded the 14,000 square foot space, which once housed the most modern printing press in Arizona.

Adaptive reuse has been gaining some serious popularity since the City of Phoenix began the push back in 2008. This space, specifically, is a reflection of how we can retain the remarkable originality of great historic architecture downtown.

You can learn more and see updates on Facebook, but please reserve your spot for Get Your PHX here: Pressroom RSVP

*This is a free event.

When: April 17^th, 5:30p.m. – 7:30p.m.

Where: 441 W. Madison, Phoenix, AZ 85003 (Map It)

Specials: Free raffle ticket; $5 drink special, courtesy of the Pressroom

For our 4th Anniversary, we are celebrating the type of businesses that inspired us in the first place: small, locally owned by people putting it all on the line.

We love that!

We’ve all seen the many businesses going in at 7th Ave and McDowell. Unfortunately, so many of them are not locally owned and thus don’t contribute as much to our local economy.

This month, we celebrate these six businesses*, all on the Northeast corner of 7th Ave and McDowell aka, “The My Florist Plaza.”:

Boutique Solie – This is not a new introduction to many women downtown. Owner Beth Soliere is delivering something that many women downtown have been seeking for a long time: a unique fashion boutique. (I’m lobbying her to start a haberdashery so the guys can get in on the action.)
Community Florist – Shelli Walker is braving it in a very tough industry. But you begin to see the helpful coincidence that she is located next to a bridal salon, a beauty salon, a boutique.
Olivastro Oils – Specialty olive oils and aged balsamics are really coming in to their own in Arizona now and owners Aubrie and Shane West are right on top of it. It makes sense, as we have over 60 wineries in the state now. Its time to expand our repertoire of food pairings! You will get a chance to taste test some of these creations.
NYPD Pizza – NYPD Pizza has 11 locations around the valley and most folks don’t even know its a locally-owned restaurant. People swear by this pizza and we want to highlight that you have choices when you are craving that late night pizza. Why send your money out of state to those big multi-glomerates when you can get your pizza right here?
Salon D’ Shayn – Owner D’Lisa Shayn is getting gobs of attention for her award winning salon. This is a business that is definitely trending up. I’m not sure exactly what they do in there, but all my female friends love it and could probably tell you more.
Strut Bridal Salon – Like our other friends this month, Strut is offering Phoenicians choices. Owner Ann Campeau is taking a big risk on an intersection dominated by franchises. She remained open and survived all throughout the renovations and we want to acknowledge that strength.

Between now and January 24th watch for special offers, updates and announcements and then please join us to experience and say thanks to all the business owners who have taken such a personal risk to bring us things that we like, right in our neighborhood.

Date
Time
Location

*We would have included Vovo Mena on the Southeast corner, but we feared the excessive street crossing.

Thanks again to our host AND sponsor in February, Core Crossfit –in their new location at 9th St. and McKinley. Kim Flores and her team have created something truly unique in the neighborhood. It will drive revitalization and community health. I can’t encourage you enough to drop by and give them a try. You don’t have to be a beefcake to do Crossfit. This is a method of work that will help you build your core strength, which is crucial to over-all fitness, regardless of your age or current fitness level. 

This March, Get Your PHX is headed to Groove on Grand to celebrate the re-birth of Grand Ave. It’s a beautiful patio spot with music and a cold brew. 

Groove on Grand is a shared property with an art gallery facing Grand Avenue and behind it outside is an eclectic array of small cabins lining the back wall. The small shops are home to Red House Pub, Kustumz Hairshop, Grand Ol’ Optics, Muse Gallery Boutique, ib2 Chocolate, and even a coffee roaster. 

Some of you probably remember that these small cabins now occupied by businesses once served as German POW housing for soldiers during WWII.  Built in 1888, Grand Avenue was vital in connecting commuters to the West and even helped establish much of the West Valley as we know it today.

Post recession, we are seeing the artists starting to return and efforts to revitalize the area in a more sustainable way encouraged the formation of the Grand Avenue Merchants Association, or GAMA.

Owners Laurie and Tom Carmody fell in love with the look and feel of Phoenix early on and at some time or another have owned many recognizable locations in Downtown Phoenix. These include what are now Modified Arts Gallery, Made Art Boutique, Shine Coffee, Carly’s Bistro, Eye Lounge, Oasis on Grand, as well as currently owning Groove on Grand. They envision Grand Avenue growing as an integral piece to the arts district in Downtown Phoenix. 

Laurie and Tom wanted to activate the space by adding food and drinks and brought in Red House Pub, which opened its doors in October offering local brewery favorites and wine that continue to fill the patio every Tuesday through Saturday. 

There are plans to construct a useable kitchen in the main building facing Grand Avenue. Until then food trucks are welcome to park and feed the crowds. 

Join Get Your PHX + Local First Arizona March 20^th for a laid back hang-out with food, drinks and a great patio. Street parking is available along 11^th Ave. and along Grand Avenue, but we encourage everyone to take advantage of the new bike lanes too! 

Please RSVP here: March at Groove on Grand. There is sign up form posted so we can get a head count to provide enough food and drinks for everyone. And while we love having your support on Facebook, if you cannot make it, please leave that spot open for someone else. 

You can still find the event on Facebook. But, we’ve learned that you can’t trust the RSVP numbers on there.  

Here is the photo album for Groove on Grand, too.

Thanks again to Josh Parry of Side Bar for hosting our 5th Anniversary last month. We had a great time and a lot of great memories.

This month’s Get Your PHX will celebrate Core Crossfit in its new location because it represents the growth of a downtown business as well as adaptive re-use of a historic structure.

You may have heard that Core Crossfit is changing locations –but there’s no way they’re planning on leaving the Phoenix they call home. 

In the beginning, as owner Kim Flores and her team conducted exercises outdoors, huffing and puffing around the Garfield District, they began gaining popularity among youngsters in the area. 

When one young fan asked about the possibility of working out at the gym, Kim was inspired to create Kids@Core, a free fitness program for the Garfield neighborhood youth. 

Since then Core Crossfit has developed deep roots and feels connected to the neighborhood and Downtown PHX community. So when the time came to find a location with more space, they knew they weren’t going very far. 

Core Crossfit is moving from 7th St. to the historic church off of 9th St. and McKinley, just around the corner. In its former location will be Mother Bunch Brewing, owned and operated by Julie Meeker and her husband.

The church itself is a beautiful piece of history –established in 1928 as the First Missionary Church. Property owner, Richard Melikian, plays an active role in preserving historic Downtown Phoenix buildings like the McKinley church and has supported the idea of relocating the Crossfit Gym and Kids@Core to the spot since its inception. 

Renovations have been made to the interior of the church and along with the main gym, there’s plenty of new space for wellness professionals, physical therapists, nutrition experts, and even a yoga studio. The kitchen will remain intact to serve as an area for nutrition classes and to prepare healthy snacks for their Kids@Core members.

Check out the before and after photos on our Facebook album!

Come see the new digs Thursday, February 20th from 5:30p.m. – 7:30p.m. at their new location on the corner of 9th St. and McKinley.

Special thanks goes to our sponsor and host, Core Crossfit! 

Please RSVP here on Facebook –otherwise we might run out of food and drinks!

February, 2014 Get Your PHX
Core Crossfit
5:30 to about 7:30 or so.
9th Ave and McKinley. (Map It)

Thank you again to all of the people who made the 2013 Phoestivus Market great. Our sponsors, volunteers and planning committee were amazing, as usual. We raised over $7,000 for Community Food Connections. We are guessing that we had about 2,000 visitors the first night and somewhere over 3,000 the second night. I’m so proud of the work that this group does to promote community, create local shopping alternatives and support local business. On to next year!

I’m also very proud to announce the Get Your PHX 5th Anniversary Party. We started back in January of 2009 as an idea to just get people out to celebrate what we have in CenPho.

Take yourself back to January, 2009. Lehman Brothers had tanked, along with the economy, a few months before. Home prices dropped faster than Mile Cyrus’ clothes. People might have been inclined to hide at home and ride out the storm than come out and support locally-owned businesses.

I wanted to celebrate those people who put their time and savings on the line to create something new in Phoenix –a city that so many others around the country dismiss. I wanted to remind folks that these new businesses don’t stay unless we get out and patronize them.

Our first event started small –about 30 people. Since then, every month for 5 years (sixty, unbroken months), we have hosted an event. Some times we had 200 people. A couple times we had 10. But we were consistent.

From Get Your PHX came the Phoestivus Market. Over the years, we’ve split our time between new restaurants, bars, public spaces and just really cool things you should see. We’ve always tried to get their right when they open so you can be part of the energy. I think we’ve done okay.

Here’s the Big List of where we’ve been since January 2009, chronologically:

Side Bar, Hanny’s, The Brockway House, The Clarendon, monOrchid, R&R Surplus, Paisley Town, After Hours Creative, NINE05, Phoenix Public Market, Hula’s Modern Tiki, Phoenix Metro Retro, AmenZone, Luhrs Tower, Braggs Pie Factory, Noble Beast, Practical Art, UofA College of Medicine, Co+Hoots, MacAlpines, Bliss/Rebar, The Duce, Ultra Fit Clinic, Phoestivus Market #1, The Hive, Rum Bar at Breadfruit, Modified Arts, UFO & BoomBoom LaRue, Indie Arthouse, Urban Beans, La Picolla Cucina, Rice Paper, Padre’s, The Audubon Center, Indian School Dog Park, Phoestivus Market #2, Oasis on Grand, Picnic at Wesley Bolin Park, Por Vida Gallery, Treehouse Bakery, Haven Boutique, Songbird, 180 Degree Automotive, Phoenix Brewery, Angels Trumpet and Film Bar, Camelback Packers Hostel, Thanksgiving at Hob Nobs, Phoestivus Market #3, My Florist Shops, Tertio, Last Exit Live, 9 Gallery, Scratch French Pastry, Public Market Café, Short Leash, Pomo Pizzaria, The Vig Fillmore, Hance Dog Park, Thanksgiving in the Community Gardens, Phoestivus Market #4

Kinda impressive when I group them up like that, huh?

And here we are at the 5th Anniversary. This month in 2009 Josh Parry had just opened SideBar. He must have been biting his nails watching the news. Josh and his crew have survived on a tough corner all this time. They are an establishment now. We want to celebrate Josh and everything that he represents in all of the businesses that have tried (and failed) in downtown.

We are proud to have known all of them and honored to have spent the time with you all.

So, join us on January 23rd for a good old fashioned party. There will be drink specials (see below), Get Your PHX Free Raffle Items and mercifully brief speeches.

See you there!

As usual, please RSVP on Facebook.

January, 2013 Get Your PHX
5th Anniversary
SideBar
5:30 to about 7:30 or so.
1514 N 7th Ave,
Phoenix, AZ 85007 (Map It)

SPECIALS FOR THE NIGHT:

$4.25 well drinks, $1 off Beers, $2 off Wine, $8 off bottles, $1.50 off flatbread pizzas and $2 off appetizer dips. And, for the first time ever $1.50 off specialty cocktails.