You are not going to want to miss this month’s Get Your PHX event. I know many of you have been watching the FOUND:RE, downtown’s newly-opened boutique lifestyle hotel, being built over the last couple years, right along side the second phase of Portland on the Park.

The old hotel stood for years in disrepair and developer Tim Sprague has put together a concept that is perfect for the urban art core that we’ve been working toward for decades in Phoenix. Found:re makes art its core mission, from original art in every room to the way the beds, lights and room dividers are constructed.

Almost everything you see is locally-sourced and locally made. We are not going to publish pictures here of the rooms because you have to see these yourself to believe it.

We will get a tour of the rooms, a suite, the conference facilities, the new restaurant Match, the the pool-side lounge. Each of these features original art that is curated by Mike Oleskow, in constant rotation. You won’t see chintzy paintings of the ocean, still hanging around from the 1960s, passing as artwork. You will see original art from local artists, some of whom also work in the hotel. In fact, most of the art that you see on the walls is also for sale; either in original form or as prints that you can see hung in the guest rooms.

The hotel’s restaurant, MATCH Cuisine & Cocktails, offers Executive Chef Akos Szabos’ take on shareable plates with an international twist, and a creative, thoughtful bar program.

I had a chance to eat at Match during a soft opening a few weeks ago. The food was amazing and beautifully presented. We were told during our tour that Match is going to start hosting Sunday brunches, which I’m particularly excited about since I’ll be able to walk there from my home.

So, this month, you are going to get a very exclusive tour (yes, we are capping attendance at this event at 100 participants) of the hotel, the rooms and the facilities. You will hear from Tim Sprague personally about his vision and the road he traveled to make this a reality. You will get to meet the art curator, Mike Oleskow and you will get to taste samples of the restaurants new menu.

You can’t just drop in on this one. We need you to sign up through our Google spreadsheet because attendance is limited on this one!

Please sign up at this free ticket link.

What: Get Your PHX at the The FOUND:RE
When: November 17th at 5:30 to about 7:30
Where: 1100 N Central in Phoenix
Facebook Invite Page

A couple months ago, we covered how to clean your microwave oven (in the green way) in time for your new showing so that prospective buyers won’t run screaming when they see the tiny civilization that has grown inside.

This month: how to clean your oven naturally and efficiently before the turkey takes over and makes you start all over again.

Well, I guess you could wait until after Thanksgiving, but this is so easy, you might not want to.

Our friend at Going GreenHouse cleaning service, April Prothero, tells us not to hit the self clean button on your oven right before Turkey Day.

That’s a bad idea, she says, and here’s why: self-clean cycles can be hard on your oven especially if it’s an older one. This may cause your oven to completely burn out and break down before your houseguests even have a chance to taste some of your perfectly cooked turkey—leaving you in panic.

But before you reach for the extremely harsh chemical storm of spray oven cleaners, check out her recipe for a natural and efficient oven cleaner to get your oven spic-and-span for the big holiday–with a little elbow grease of course.

All you need are a few items that are probably sitting around your house already:

• baking soda
• water
• white vinegar (for later)
• rubber gloves
• damp dish cloth
• spatula
• spray bottle

1. After removing the oven racks and anything else inside, mix up your cleaning paste. In a small bowl, mix ½ cup of baking soda with a few table spoons of water. Adjust the ratio of both as needed until you have a spreadable paste (usually about 3 tablespoons of water).
2. Spread this paste all over the interior of your oven, paying special attention to the greasier areas. Do not coat the heating elements. Let this sit for at least 12 hours, or overnight.
3. After 12 hours, take your damp cloth and wipe out as much of the dried on paste as possible. Use a spatula to help scrape off excess paste.
4. Put a little vinegar in a spray bottle and spray everywhere you see leftover baking soda residue. This will cause it to foam. Use your damp cloth to wipe away the rest of the foamy mixture its created. Add more vinegar and water as needed to clean it away.
5. Lastly, replace your oven racks and BAM! Clean, shiny oven!

This method may require a little sweat and elbow grease, but at least your nose hairs are still intact and you’re not struggling to breathe through harsh chemicals. Your oven will be perfectly prepared so you can put your guests into a turkey induced tryptophan coma!

And if you’re not in the mood to sweat, remember, you can always call April and the Going Greenhouse gang to schedule a special cleaning to include your oven.

I’m proud that my city is working on new ways to recycle and support up-start businesses at the same time.

Here is their RFP announcement, which calls for innovators who may be able to start new businesses around our waste stream. This is the kind of leadership we need to get serious about waste.

Go Phoenix!

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New RFP

The City of Phoenix has issued the Transforming Trash into Resources II Request for Proposals (RFP).  We’re looking for trash innovators who can transform carpeting, latex paint and urban wood into new products or reuse them for a new purpose.  The RFP is posted at www.phoenix.gov/solicitations/846.  All questions about this active RFP must be submitted in writing to Robyn.Skramstad@phoenix.gov 

Recent RFPs

Since our last update email, the City has made progress on the following RFPs:

• Community Outreach and Awareness Services RFP – the City has contracted with Recyclebank, LLC to assist the City in educating residents about our solid waste programs, including recycling and green organics, through Recyclebank’s rewards program.
• Palm Fronds Diversion RFP – the City is in contract negotiations with Palm Silage Arizona, LLC, which will transform palm fronds into livestock feed.
• Compost Facility and Temporary Mulching Area Operator/Manager RFP – the City is in contract negotiations with We Care Organics LLC, which will manage the City’s compost facility.

Upcoming RFPs

The City anticipates issuing the following RFPs:

• Textile Diversion Services RFP
• Materials Exchange Program RFP
• Anaerobic Digester RFP (feasibility study underway)
• Landfill Gas RFP (feasibility study underway)
• Boxes and Packing Materials Diversion RFP
• Recycled Plastics (#1 – #2) Diversion RFP
• Recycled Paper Diversion RFP
• Recycled Plastics (#3 – #7) Diversion to Liquid Fuel RFP

This article is a little old on the subject, but it gives you some good background.

I don’t know if you heard, but the Basha’s at the SW corner of 7th Ave and Osborn may be going away.

For years I’ve felt that the historic supermarket could be so much more. I support local and even I have found it difficult to shop there. The selection is small because the square footage is too.

But, according to this letter to neighbors, developers Trammel Crow are proposing mixed-use in-fill. From the looks of it, it does not include a renovated Basha’s. That’s sad. I think that Basha’s has a place in Arizona history and its future downtown.

But the company has been struggling in recent years and perhaps this is what they have to do.

Anyhoo, they are hosting an open house on November 2nd from 5:30 to 6:30 at Phoenix College, OSW Building Room 105.  This will be a big change to the landscape in this area. So, have a look if you are interested. See the letter linked above for more contact info and details.

Do you have an event that you’d like us to announce in our newsletter under the community news section? We are always looking for interesting news. Shoot us an email at ken@getyourphx.com and let us know.

From time to time, we get the chance to tour something really special. Something that very few people get to see. Such is the case with the October Get Your PHX. On October 20th we will be at the ASU Collaboratory at the Westward Ho.

But if that were not enough, we have an extra special treat. We will follow that guided tour with a visit to the much-anticipated SoSoBa noodle shop on Roosevelt and 2nd Ave.

First, the first part of our tour.

We all know the iconic former resort at Central and McKinley. For several decades the Westward Ho was THE premium resort in Phoenix, and was the site of visits from former presidents, stars of stage and screen, and countless tourists.

For so many years its been off limits –a closed-up like Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory in our city core.

That’s because its been a home for about 300 low income elderly residents for decades and the staff have been been particularly guarded of their privacy.

As a result, the many space and rooms on the ground floor have been off limits to the general public.

But now that is changing, with a unique collaboration with ASU and Cathedral Development Group, the company that holds the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) contract to house its residents. There is about 15,000 square feet of clinic, office space and event space at the bottom of the Westward Ho, situated such as not to disturb the tenants.

We will get a tour from Michael Shafer, director of the ASU Center for Applied Behavioral Health Policy in the College of Public Service and Community Solutions. The new clinic and space will give tenants access to health care which staff hopes will improve their quality of life, allow ASU students hands-on experience and reduce the large number of 911 calls that have plagued the building.

This property uplift was collaboration costing ASU and Cathedral about $16 million, including plumbing, appliance and energy efficiency upgrades in each unit.

Then, after we’ve toured the Collaboratory, we will mosey up to SoSoBa, on Roosevelt, where owner Tyler Christensen will have some specials and menu samples for us.

If you’ve never heard of SoSoBa, you are going to be glad you join us this month. I’m a fan of the one in Flagstaff and I’m excited to have one down the street from my home here in Phoenix.

Of the inspiration for SoSoBa, Christensen says this is, “not the standard ‘traditional’ ramen shop. This is a full-service restaurant serving uniquely inspired noodle dishes, craft cocktails, beer, wine, and sake.”

“There is no such thing as traditional ramen. There is, however, regional styles of Ramen depending on where and by whom it is made.  Each ‘prefecture‘ in Japan has their own unique and delicious style of Ramen.  Even within a prefecture, there are vendor-specific interpretations of regional Ramen dishes.”

So, this gives Christensen license to innovate and explore new things.

He has reserved the entire outdoor patio for us, which is a special treat in the perfect October Phoenix weather.

I can’t wait!

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When: Oct 20th at 5:30.
Where: ASU Collaboratory.
Central and Fillmore.
More: We will move to Sosoba at about 6:30 for treats, etc.
Please note that you will probably want to park on the street or paid lot on the east side of Central.
Please get your free ticket here.

Emerging Leaders and DeSoto Central Market bring you this year’s 7 Chef Series event, “Rock Out!” Enjoy 80’s rock-inspired menu items prepared by more than fifteen of the Valley’s top chefs and mixologists, and rock out to live music and entertainment all night!

Proceeds from the 7 Chef Series Rock Out! benefit Phoenix Children’s Hospital and the Condition Critical campaign to build a new Emergency Department and Level 1 Trauma Center.

Rock Out! takes place on Saturday, October 15th from 7pm-10pm at DeSoto Central Market, with an “Encore” After Party to follow. Tickets include all you can eat food and cocktail tastings, two drink tickets, music from DJ Mr. Phoenix, a live 80’s cover band and one raffle ticket for a chance to win some incredible prizes- including your very own Fender electric guitar!

So, basically, I’m gonna have to go run about 10 miles and swim another 3 to off-set the calories I’m gonna inhale at this event.

But what a great time to start enjoying the beautiful Phoenix evening weather.

And, of course, the question is: if you could name a dish after a 90s rock song, what would it be? Frankly, I’m stumped. I can’t think of what combination of foods would warrant being named after “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears.

The Local First Fall Festival is taking applications for vendors now.

We like to drop by every year. The Local First Fall Festival has food, gifts, services and a beer garden.

You had me at beer garden.

It happens this year on November 5th and they are expanding. In previous years, they located in the little strip of land at Portland and Central. This year, they are taking over Margaret T. Hance Park.

So, I think that means they will expand their footprint a bit. It will be nice to have a little more space between the vendors so I can stop at more without worrying that I’m in anybody’s way.

From what we hear, the organizers are now taking applications for vendors. Check in with the Local First Festival here.

Applications for Phoestivus Vendors are now being accepted. It seems like every year the slots are gone in a week or so, then somebody comes to us in late November wondering why they can’t be a vendor.

Yep. Its a popular event, so please share this with your friends who’ve always wanted to sell their locally-made goods at Phoestivus.

Phoestivus at the Phoenix Public Market will be returning once again for two fun evenings of holiday cheer on Thursday, December 8 and 15, 2016 from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

Shop local at Phoestivus this Holiday Season when selecting holiday gifts or preparing holiday meals! Attendees will have the opportunity to shop over 130 local vendors, showcasing a unique variety of locally grown, produced and prepared foods as well as hand-crafted gift items, jewelry and holiday decorations made by local artisans.

Interested in being a vendor? APPLY HERE

Applicants will be notified by October 15th.

Until then, please be patient to hear back from us.

The event is hosted by Get Your PHX and the Phoenix Public Market, a program of Community Food Connections. This is an all ages event. As always we offer free parking just north of our market. Bike on over or hop on the light rail, accessible via the Roosevelt light rail stop.  Find us on facebook or instagram to stay up to date on who is coming to Phoestivus!

There is a new coffee shop on Central, which aims to be a little more, er, well, grand than the average java house, Grand Central Coffee Company.

With decor reminiscent of an old Victorian train station —when times were slower, more polite and refined— Grand Central Coffee Company is owner Steven Rogers’ answer to the present day impersonal dystopia created by the Internet.

Rogers has designed, built, and operated clubs and restaurants in several countries during his 40 year career.  He worked with many of the vanguards of New York City culture during the 70s and 80s before his arrival in Phoenix. Locally, he is responsible for a dozen establishments, most notably the Works and Amsterdam.

Because Grand Central Coffee Company used to be a number of bars (remember when Amsterdam was the only hopping place downtown at night?), the staff has a huge pallet to work from. The staff, Jeffrey Lazos-Ferns, Juli Myers and Chef Marissa Delgado are constantly experimenting with liquors, brews, bitters, coffee beans, teas, and food.

Rogers’ goal is to create a space that is accessible to the community for many uses.  Grand Central Coffee Company is a coffee shop, bistro, bar, and market surrounded by spaces both open and intimate, including extensive patio areas. This is a space to meet with friends, have an impromptu business meeting, or just hang out.

The station was always open, moments away from a light rail stop. It is a place to start or place to end up. In the spirit of the grand dame of train stations, Grand Central, this could be a place for those going nowhere just to be somewhere.

At this coming Get Your PHX, meet the staff, hear about his vision, taste some samples and have a cool drink in the waning days of summer.