Our friends at GoingGreenHouse Cleaning are here with advice for spring green cleaning tip for May 2017. We use these folks for our listings, our homes and we suggest them to friends. That’s why we suggest them to you.

Spring has sprung and it’s time to blossom! Let’s start by taking care of those April showers. You don’t need to have a green thumb to be able to use these tips and tricks on how to keep those showers clean and “green”.

The Royal Throne:

Have no fear, you don’t need to use bleach or other toxic chemicals to get your toilet spotless and sparkling. The trick here is letting your homemade or other natural solution do the work for you. For an easy homemade toilet bowl cleaner, simply combine a half a cup of vinegar and a spoonful of baking soda. Pour the mixture in your toilet and let sit for 30 minutes before scrubbing clean. Do this once a week and your toilet will stay clean and stain-free! Need a little something extra for those tough toilet bowl rings? Consider using a pumice stone and voila the job is done.

Shower and Tub:

Water stain and soap scum can be difficult to remove, especially on delicate surfaces where you are hesitant to use abrasive methods. All you need is some natural dish soap and baking soda. Combine this solution into a paste and apply to your surface. Use a sponge for overall cleaning and a toothbrush for those hard-to-get grout lines. You will be amazed by the results that you get with this simple, non-toxic solution.

Mold:

As your surfaces age and water penetrates your surfaces, you may find that mold begins to show its nasty face. This can be disheartening and frustrating, but did you know that vinegar is a natural mold killer? Simply spray vinegar onto your moldy surface and let dry. Once dry, spray again and wipe clean. Vinegar’s mild acidity will loosen and kill bacteria. For maintenance, simply spray your shower down on a regular basis with a mixture of vinegar and water. The key here is to be consistent. It is easier to prevent mold than to get rid of it. Also, did you know that you can throw your plastic shower curtain into the wash and hang to dry in order to prevent hard water build-up?

Drains:

Last, but not least, drains can often get clogged with hair and residue. Maintain your drains and avoid using harmful chemicals by cleaning your drain on a regular basis. You can use the same vinegar and baking soda solution from above in order to clear and maintain your drains. Pour approximately 3/4 cup of baking soda down your drain, followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar. Immediately cover your drain with a rag and let sit for 30 minutes. Once you have done this, you can pour boiling water down your drain to help clear out the gunk. Maintaining your drains can be simple and prevent those expensive plumber visits down the road.

These are just a few tips and tricks to keeping your showers clean and free of harsh, toxic chemicals. You don’t need to spend a lot of time scrubbing or a lot of money on expensive cleaning products. Keeping a few simple ingredients on-hand can help set you up for success and keep the dirt and grime away.

Here’s to keeping it green!

The May Get Your PHX at The Hive will celebrate a multi-tenant space, its newest residents and the incredible work of Rigo Flores. Join us for raffle, small bites and meet the owners!

Since 2009, The Hive on 16th Street has been inviting businesses and artists to participate, connect, and flourish.

At the May Get Your PHX we will see a new coffee shop buzz, meditation/buddha art studio, a zine distro, art gallery, and a resale boutique keep everyone moving. Not to mention hosting community events, but that’s how Julia Fournier likes it.

Says Fournier, “Since 2009, we have shown more than 100 artists in over 60 shows. We focus mostly on local artists, usually emerging or transitioning creatives… In May, we’re showing the work of Rigo Flores.”

Flores’ work speaks to the patriotism, violence, corruption, and current atrocities that have occurred in Mexico. #YaMeCanse2 features blurred paintings, intentionally creating an ambiguous interpretation. Drawings are made clear, portraying the Mexican salute to the flag, “however in juxtaposition to the paintings, one’s feelings of patriotism are confused.”

In a space like The Hive, the merge of community and business creates a unique cluster identity where anyone is welcome – and contributing to the community is a must.

Meet Zine Distro, Wasted Ink Distro. Owners are Charissa and Marna, (and a whole lot of interns). A small Zine library and store, Zine Distro is a home base for any AZ Zinesters looking for a DIY, creative space. Workshops, readings, concerts, and craft fairs fill the event calendar each month.

And meet Shana Bell, owner of TaSen, Buddha and Meditation Art. She began her business not as a way to profit, but as a way to give back to the community after experiencing a life changing healing event in Thailand. Meditations are twice a week.

Cherisse and Kristy run Silent Flight, a coffee shop inside The Hive. They’re celebrating two months of business!

Lastly, The Bees Knees, Julia Fournier’s business. Specializing in second hand fashion and hand selected pieces. “My idea was to shop with an eye for design lead clothing, and to shop carefully so that I could keep prices low. The clothing and household items are here because I think they are special in some way.”

May Get Your PHX at the Hive
When: May 18th at 5:30pm.
Where: 2222 N. 16th St, Phoenix 85006
More Information and RSVP at This link!

Our friends at Don’t be a Chump, Check for a Lump are taking a run at “Non-Profit of the Year” in Foothills Magazine.

This is one of those things where you can vote by checking in at the Foothills websites. So surf on over and give them a vote!

Check for a Lump is one of the groups that we’ve supported over the years through our Charity Referral Network.

If you send us a referral for a home sale or purchase, and that transaction closes, we will make a donation to the charity of your choice. We will post on our blog and on Facebook that your referral was instrumental in making that donation happen.

Just this month, we made a contribution to Check for a Lump, as well as the Osborn Education Foundation, as a result of referrals from caring individuals.

You are cordially invited to attend a community forum to express your views and hear those of other Phoenix residents on the future of the Arizona State Fairgrounds, including its historic buildings. This community forum, hosted by Arizona state representative Ken Clark, Phoenix Historic Neighborhoods president G.G. George, Phoenix Historic Preservation Commission chair Bill Scheel, and Arizona Preservation Foundation president Jim McPherson, will be held at the Encanto Park Club House, 2605 N. 15th Avenue, on Wednesday, April 5, 2017 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

Final Four recycling

I’m watching for news of how the City of Phoenix did in trying to meet their Zero Waste Goal, but congrats to the city for trying during the Final Four championships. Learn more here.

“The city of Phoenix, in partnership with the NCAA and the Phoenix Final Four Local Organizing Committee, has set a goal to reach a zero waste diversion rate during the four days’ worth of activities at the Fan Fest at the Phoenix Convention Center and the Music Festival at Margaret T. Hance Park. To achieve this, Phoenix Public Works will be working very closely with the event’s waste management contractors, who will provide three types of containers for Fan Fest and concert-goers to use as they sort their waste into recycling, composting and trash.”

I wish them the best. I remember as a teenager in Germany, where I was stationed with my family, that they recycled almost everything. There were three types of bins at the average gas station. They were that good at their zero waste goal, and that was in the 1980s!

Typically, in America, if you put out three types of bins with instructions, you get a lot of trash mixing and vocal complaints about “why we have to do this, anyway,” along with some ill-informed statement about how it all goes in to a landfill and its all a scam.

Not true, by the way. The city has a robust recycling program. I know, I’ve toured the facilities and its all there. They sell the materials on the open market.

Be that as it may, kudos to the City of Phoenix for continuing the long, long education process.

Now, let’s find a way to get recycling in to commercial businesses and then we are really moving the ball forward on a zero waste goal.

Michael Reyes is a fighter, thus “Pinche the Warrior.” After a bout with a potentially cancerous medical issue, (which after surgery left him without a food truck), Reyes is now rising up again. Pinche Taco truck will be partnering with Bar Smith and serving the community just like before.

Many of us remember spending long nights on the Paz Cantina patio, laughing with friends, eating those damn delicious tacos. Then after development, we’d flock to fill the picnic tables outside his food truck.

Michael is a warrior, and his weapon isn’t an arrow, nor an axe, it’s not even a hammer. Michael’s weapon of choice is food. This is the one constant that any Anthropologist will tell you “connects every human together”, food is culture’s glue. By wielding his weapon, he continues to bring us all together.

Like any warrior, Reyes’ battle ground may change, but his passion and purpose never falter. From his food truck, Reyes and his team served over 30,000 tacos and burritos to the homeless. Now, his step one in the plan is to bring a brand-new food truck, Pinche Tacos, to the streets that will serve the customers at Bar Smith, and spend off times serving at rallies and First Fridays. As he puts it, “This truck will be on the streets when it’s scheduled to and when it has a purpose.” With the city and downtown-devotees help, Michael hopes to open a new brick-and-mortar in December.

“This is my Phoenix,” Reyes said. “We all have more passion than we do money. But we’re dedicated to this, to this street. This is our home, our world. Between ‘the sevens.’ That’s what we fight for. That’s why we cry, and that’s why we fight, and that’s why we hurt.”

As Michael has always put it, “I will be back, delivering burritos to my people.”

Join us in celebrating Michael Reyes, Pinche Truck and the passion and purpose again in Downtown Phoenix. Celebration at Bar Smith, see event details below.

When: Thursday, April 20^th from 5:30PM – 7:30PM
Where: Outside of Bar Smith: 130 Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Note: Free raffle ticket for all those that attend!
RSVP: Click here
Check out the Facebook invite here.

The March Get Your PHX with “F.U.N” story telling is a first for us, and we are pretty excited to bring it to you.

But, first, let’s get this out of the way. “F.U.N” is an acronym that we can’t really spell out on a G-rated website. It stands for f***-Up Nights. (Go ask your parents to explain.)

“F.U.N.” Phoenix, made its debut October 13 (The International Day For Failure). It is part of a global movement where stories of failed business and projects are told, questioned and celebrated. “F.U.N.” began in Mexico City in September 2012, and now as many as 200 cities in 70 countries participate in sharing the failure.

It has become an event where entrepreneurs, soon-to-be “f***-upreneurs” and others gather to listen to three or four stories about failure. It is something between a party and a casual business conference. The purpose of the event is to break free from the stigmas surrounding failure and to see it as a positive step everyone must overcome on the road to success. Especially since the majority of professionals don’t create the project of the year in their first attempt. Moreover, we can learn more from stories of failure than from stories of success.

We ask you to sign up for this even for a free “ticket” via this link, so we can have a reliable RSVP list. Watch for updates on our Facebook event page.

Where: Trunk Space. 1124 n 3rd st, Phoenix, Arizona 85004
When: March 23rd starting at 5:30.

News from the City of Phoenix:

General Contact:
Ed Lebow
Phone Number:
602-495-0197

Spring is almost upon us and for a lot of folks that means time to organize and freshen up their home after a long winter. Now, before you start breaking out all your cleaning supplies, let me give you several reasons why switching to green cleaning products is the way to go this spring!

1. Healthy Home – Chemicals will no longer absorb into the skin or be breathed in. No longer breathing in harsh chemical cocktails from your typical household cleaners can reduce the risk of asthma, which is one of the most common chronic illnesses.
2. Pure Environment – Using greener methods to clean, reduces the pollutants released into the environment. This means less contaminated water and air. Most green cleaning solutions are made from recyclable packaging which also reduces waste.
3. Safe Products – Typical household cleaners pose the risk of chemical burns to skin and eyes. Green cleaning products are non corrosive and have stricter standards regarding toxicity, combustibility, and skin absorption.
4. Better Air Quality – Strong chemical cocktails come with a strong chemical odors. Green products usually include soft, pleasant smells, often from natural essential oils.
5. Less Expensive – Most green cleaning methods can be made right at home from ingredients you already have in your pantry. Why go out and buy expensive products when you have what you need at home?
6. Knowledge of Ingredients – Government regulations do not require ingredients be listed on cleaning products. When you’re making your own green cleaners at home, you know exactly what you’re using.

These are just a few of the many reasons people are switching to green cleaners. Not only is it better for the environment, but for your and your family’s health! So, before you start checking things off your spring cleaning checklist this season, consider cleaning GREEN!

I should also ad that it’s kinda fun to make your own products to clean around the house. I never even thought about it, but it kinda is!

We love and use our friends at Going Green House for their good work and their tips. We use them for our clients, too!

The February Get Your PHX at the Dressing Room as been a long time coming. monOrchid owner, Wayne Rainey, has been dreaming of turning this structure in to a micro restaurant for years. After lots of hard work and a few set-backs, he’s finally done it.

Of course, it would not be what it is without the people behind the restaurant itself. You will have a chance to meet Kyu Otsunomiya and Troy Watkins, the brains behind the venture. The two have been friends for 20 years and have worked some of the top restaurants and hotels in the world. They will tell us how they used Kickstarter to launch the Dressing room, and their vision for the future.

The Dressing Room is designed to serve “Global Street Food” from a Micro Restaurant that also has a respectable craft cocktail list, wine & beer. The will be a full service, fast causal restaurant.  

They have also activated the back alley to include a 40 seat patio, designed around a full grown Native Mesquite Tree and a converted construction dumpster, which had been turned into a full fledged prep kitchen.

So, there you go: adaptive reuse.

They will be open Mon – Thurs:11am to 11pm; Fri – Sat: 11am – Midnight & Sun – 11am to 10pm. They will also have a happy hour every day (Half-off all specialty drinks, beer & wine from 11am to 6pm).

So, there you go: day drinking on Sundays!

The dressing room has a storied history, in case you don’t know. Decades ago there was a bar where the apartment building is now next door. You may have known that building at Greenhaus boutique. That bar had an original piece of art on the wall by Ettore DeGrazia, which was destroyed when the developer put up the apartments. (tisk, tisk).

Anyway, when that building was a bar, local drag artists would put on shows for adoring crowds. Because the bar was so small, the performers had to go to the little structure across the dark alley to get ready to go on, then scoot back in time for their next performance. It was their dressing room.

The current owners have kept the name in honor of the performers. At a time when downtown Phoenix was a little dangerous and in an era when performing in drag could put you in real danger (even more than today), these artists really put themselves out there for their craft.

When: February 16th at 5:30 pm
Where: 220 East Roosevelt.
Sign up at this link to reserve your spot.