The downtown scene is an eclectic mix of cultures and communities that we’ve grown to know and love. For one important downtown organization, which helps homeless LGBTQ youth get back on their feet, there has been a quiet change in leadership.

1in10 has officially brought Linda Elliot in as the new executive director in July. Linda, a successful business woman, is well known for her work in the Human Rights Campaign. She is an influential person in AZ politics. She, and her partner, Carolyn Lane, a Maricopa Country Constable, are an inspiring couple.

In truth, 1in10 has been around since the early nineties. You may have known them as VOIT and Horizons, both of which specialized in LGBTQ youth. In 2002, these two fantastic organizations joined forces to create 1n10, which supports LGBTQ youth in Arizona as well as nationally through “positive self-acceptance through life enhancing programs.”

One of those programs is the OUTdoors camp which is one of the largest LGBTQ summer programs in the world.

(Does anybody else see the irony of one of the largest summer LGBTQ camps in the world being located in AZ? We should be proud.)

OUTdoors, which 1in10 describes as a youth leadership camp, is like many other summer camps, full of zip lining, horseback riding, and crafts, but works on developing leadership skills, collaboration and communication with campers to help better their community.

Two months into her new position, Linda has been a busy lady pursuing grants and new programs. In addition to the OUTdoors, 1n10 provides weekly group events in the Valley, and hopes to expand with a new leadership and training programs and guest speakers to inspire youth and create a “fun, safe, social space”.  She “hit the ground running,” according to Stacey Jay Cavaliere, Program Coordinator for this weekend’s Sources of Strength Celebration.

The event will be held this First Friday at the Downtown Civic Space Park. 1n10 is raising money to launch a new suicide prevention campaign by showcasing their musical talents, which includes the 1n10 hip hop squad, and youth art, displayed at the Fair Trade Cafe. Their hope is to get people and businesses all over the Valley to attend and show their support.

1n10 continues to reach out to the community for partners to help us in their efforts. If you’re interested in learning more information please visit www.1n10.org

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214 W. Roosevelt

These guys have had a hard time of it, I’m afraid. They’ve only been open since mid-April. They don’t have a liquor license yet. They’ve been handing out free sangria to compensate, and I’ve still heard some complaints.

A group of seven of us went last week; very excited to try it out. I felt like I wanted to like it more than I really did. There were so many things that they did right, but such crucial things that they missed.

We sat out on the sidewalk with beautiful trees overhead and a very soothing atmosphere, despite the traffic on Roosevelt.  The pizza oven was down, so we couldn’t try that most important staple food. The prosciutto panini, on the other hand, had a beautifully layered and textured taste.

Owner and chef Leonard Jay came out at the end to apologize for the oven being down. I wished him the best, but I couldn’t help sense that his less-than strong start was going to get the better of him. Still, it’s refreshing when restaurant owners take responsibility and attend to their customers.

To be fair, it was still considered a soft opening until May 1st. I hope they get the wrinkles out because I saw such great promise.

The Good: Great presentation, beautiful flavors.

The Bad: Still a little disorganized. Don’t give up yet.

The Ugly:  “Could I get a little sangria in my water, please?”

215 E. McKinley St.

I’ve been watching this spot and hearing about this opening for almost a year. The idea of walking to sushi from my house was so incredibly urbane and hip, it almost made even me a little queasy.

After all that, I gotta say, “eh.”

Maybe I need to go again. The server did not know what was on the menu or how some things were prepared. I felt like the prices were much higher than they should be. Perhaps I was unfairly comparing it to the good old Ichiban at Thomas and Central, where the prices are more reasonable and the owner, Seth, actually comes to visit you at your table and (gasp!) smiles at his customers.

The Good: Generous portions of Nigiri

The Bad: The servers are a little slow and do not know all of the dishes. Leave lots of time.

2245 N. 12th St.

It was so surreal to eat in this warm, comfy place that used to be a nondescript building across from a shady convenience store in the Coronado neighborhood. It was as if they took somebody’s living room from circa 1977, sat us all down and fed us little nibbles of never-before-combined recipes. You certainly would not have seen these combinations in the heyday of leisure suits and Joe Namath.

I had the Medjool dates stuffed with Schreiner’s chorizo. It came with a pear dipping sauce that was light and unique. It went really well with the petite syrah.

Now, there are eight words I’d never imagined I would ever string together.

The Good: Just a really nice atmosphere and decor. They have come up with a very inventive and complementary taste palette.

The Bad: I feel like they should rethink the gorgonzola grits, covered in butter. I think even Jiffy Lube offers a lighter blend for your car.

The Ugly:  Meals and two drinks for the three of us ran $90. That kinda hurt.