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.

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

Have a Charity you love. Visit My Charity Refferal Page to find out how you can help your favorite local charity.

Irrigation in place as we moved dirt last Saturday.

Over the course of a weekend a once vacant lot on the corner of 6^th and Garfield became fertile ground for beauty and science. As we mentioned in our post last week, this past weekend volunteers, organizers, and even a couple politicians gathered for the planting of Valley of the Sunflowers.

Not too long ago, Sean Sweat, an Intel employee, met with some friends and discussed the potential for this lot. Luckily, he was talking to the right people. Kenny Barrett and Cindy Dach, of the Roosevelt Row CDC, and Braden Kay of the ASU Global Institute for Sustainability are good friends to have when you’ve got big ideas.

RRCDC is a non-profit downtown which promotes the interests of the downtown community by supporting public events and fostering urban renewal. Kay introduced the project to Bioscience High School, which also overlooks the lot. Bioscience High is currently building a biodiesel car, and was conveniently looking for a source of oil.

With help from the Roosevelt CDC and two start-up grants from Intel, They were able to propose his plans for a temporary sunflower field to the City. The hope of this and many other revitalization efforts is not only too beautiful but bring business downtown.

Of course the City was hesitant at first, but because VOS already had the plans and the money, it didn’t take long for the city to get on board. Because the project was temporary and funded, the city leased the lot to Valley of the

Sunflowers for free, putting it on the fast track to realization.

It was the “temporary” use of the lot made this project possible. The lot is currently allocated to the Arizona Cancer Center, which plans to start construction in the next two years. Until construction begins the two acre lot will be put to good use by VOS. They are planning two grow cycles, keeping stick notes and directions, so this project can be recreated again.

So how can you help? Well they’re still looking for an oil press and a tractor, if you’ve got one lying around. If not you can donate time through the RRCDC website or head to their kick starter page and donate to the cause.

As those of us with steak sauce stained shirts and full bellies already know, the fourth annual Arizona Restaurant week is in full swing. This year, over 200 restaurants are offering prix-fixe menus to hungry patrons looking for a deal.

All the restaurants are offering three course meals for $20, $30 or $40 person, excluding drinks, tax and tip. There are even some places offering two for $30.

Photo Courtesy of the Arizona Restaurant Week

As some of you may recall, when restaurant week started in 2008 there were less than 100 valley restaurants involved. But at $29 a meal, patrons rolled in by the hundreds. By 2009, the celebration had spread all the way to Tucson and this year they are state wide with four restaurants in Flagstaff.

Of course, you don’t have to pack up the whole family to enjoy a fantastic meal. Some of the finest dining restaurant week has to offer is from Phoenix food institutions.

Durant’s, which opened in 1955, is a swanky, old-school, red leather booth, seafood and steak house that serves a classic menu and great drinks. As jack Durant said himself “Good friends, Good Steaks, and the Best Booze, are the necessities of life,” If you agree, Durant’s is the place for you this restaurant week.

Pie at Stockyards - Picture Courtesy of AZCentral

If you’re a meat and potatoes kind of person, Stockyards is “Arizona’s Original Steak house.”   Stockyards started as a favorite meeting place for local cattlemen, bankers and politicians. If your looking for the taste of history, Stockyard joined the historical registrar in 2004 and will be helping Arizona celebrate its centennial this February. Or just skip the history and try one of their six restaurant week desserts.

Avanti, open in 1974, is classic Italian at its best. The romantic, zebra striped restaurant is still owned by the two original partners from Sorrento, Italy and is known for its impeccable food and unbelievable service.

If you’re looking to soak in Arizona in all its glory, you have to hit up El Chorro. Originally opened in 1937, El Chorro Lodge sits at the base of the Mummy Mountains offering classic Arizonan inspired cuisine. Many will agree with me when I say the best part of El Chorro’s restaurant week menu has to be their Gooey Caramel Cake which has been tempting patrons for years.

Courtesy of El Chorro Restaurant

Of course there are our favorites. Christopher’s and Crush is a new comer, with only three years on the block, but their hip atmosphere keeps patrons coming back for more. For you locavores, St Francis is offering fresh, rustic cuisine from local farms and even better kids eat FREE.  Ticoz Resto-Bar offers Latin-Arizonan Fusion cuisine, not to mention to die for tacos, for those of us looking to spice up our life.

Dining in Phoenix can be a wonderful adventure. With only 9 Days to work through the complete Restaurant Week menu, you can expect to see everyone out for a great meal at these Arizona standbys.

http://arizonarestaurantweek.com/participating-restaurants/

For those of you who are not already privy to recent ongoings around Margaret T. Hance Park, I hope the following serves as a useful primer.

The Margaret T. Park sits like a leafy green roof over the 101 tunnel between Culver and Portland. This was the final place in America where I-10 was joined, completing the ribbon of highway connecting the Atlantic Oceanside of Florida to the Pacific beaches of California.

The 32.5 acre park, which is adjacent to the Willow, Roosevelt and Evans Churchill neighborhoods, is gearing up for a major repurposing.

Thanks to the Parks and Recreation Department of Phoenix and the park’s vision steering committee, Margaret T. Hance Park may be getting a major facelift very soon.  A thirteen member committee along with several ASU architecture and landscaping students are creating a master plan to be proposed in December for future, long term changes to the park while still preserving its historical integrity.

The park is already home to the Irish Cultural Center, Japanese Friendship Gardens, and the Jewish Heritage Center as well as many events, like next month’s Oktoberfest. The committee, whose meetings are open to the public, plans to propose new structures and additions which can benefit and increase park programming, such as an amphitheater for concerts and shows or basketball courts for local teams.

The project is just one of many around the community help to better downtown neighborhoods for the good of the public and its real-estate. Cindy Dach, a six month veteran of the committee, is a former New Yorker and knows how important parks can be to a community, especially downtown.  For Cindy, “parks are vital,” especially to those downtown who “may never otherwise see a tree.”

Cindy is also a board member for the Roosevelt Row Community Development Corporation, which promotes revival of downtown Phoenix by endorsing the arts and creative renewal of vacant downtown spaces. This weekend the Roosevelt Row CDC will be hosting a public seed planting for their Valley of the Sunflowers project on Saturday.

We are lucky to have people like Cindy and downtown advocate Sean Sweat involved in these projects.

Revitalization projects all over central phoenix are working toward the same goal: happier, healthier neighborhoods, engaged communities, and a flourishing downtown.

There you go, reason 1,487 why I dig CenPho and think you should, too.

Have a great weekend!

—————-

By the way, below is a rendering of one of the plans that was suggested in the 1960s to move traffic through Phoenix BEFORE historic neighborhood leaders got involved and fought for what became Margaret T. Hance Park. Do you get the feeling that we dodged a bullet?

The City of Phoenix is now offering a $15,000 loan towards closing costs and down payment to purchase a newly renovated “Move-in Ready” homes through their Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

The Neighborhood Stabilization Program is an effort in response to the number of vacant foreclosures in Phoenix neighborhoods. Housing programs are popping up all over the Southwest in hopes of turning foreclosures into affordable, refurbished homes and enhancing neighborhood curb appeal.

NSP is offering an extensive catalog of renovated properties in established neighborhoods as well as providing guidance through the entire process.

To qualify, home buyers must meet these requirements:

1. Applicants must meet the income guidelines for household Family size. For Example, A family of 4 must have an income at or below $78,600 annually to receive the loan.
2. Candidate should be able to qualify for a 15 or 30 year fixed mortgage
3. Though you don’t have to be a first time home owner, you can’t currently be on title on any residential property.
4. Applicants must be able to contribute one half of the home’s required cash down payment for a min. $1,000. For example, a $100,000 home would require a $1750 down payment.
5. All loan hopefuls have to take a two hour one-on-one credit counseling and an 8 hour home buyer education class

A word of caution: I have helped buyers through this program. Half of the time it went smoothly and relatively quickly. The other half of the time it took longer and everybody was pulling their hair out. Now, to be fair, that was mostly because the listing agent’s contractors were not doing the basic things that the city inspectors asked of them.

Further, that was in 2010. Now NSP has homes that are already renovated. So, this is a whole new world from when the program just got started.

Regardless, families state-wide are in a great position to be homeowners in great phoenix neighborhoods. My friend Jeannie Bolger, of Nova Home Loans let me know all about this program and, as a mentioned a few weeks ago, she is experienced in these loans and could be a huge help in the process.

You can visit www.phoenix.gov/nsphome to view the Move In Ready list of available homes or give me a call today at 602-456-9388.

There is nothing better than sitting in a hammock under a huge tree with a drink in hand. But none of that would be possible without people like the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation department and their programs like the upcoming one on Saturday.

I am excited to tell you about the Tree Care Workshop. With multiple workshops throughout the year, the last one for 2011 is this upcoming Saturday at University Park.

In a blog post I wrote a few years back, the City General Plan suggested that every new parking lot should have “at least 51% shade coverage at maturity of tree.” I don’t know about you, but at every parking lot I visit in the Valley seems to lack any miniscule amount of shade.

Granted, the City General Plan is exactly that: a plan. But I believe programs like the one coming up is a step up that can help everyone and benefit not only those who plant the tree, but everyone in general.

Trees have an incredible impact on the environment and according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the “net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to ten room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day.”

Not only that, but the American Public Power Association said that “landscaping can reduce air conditioning costs by up to 50 percent, by shading the windows and walls of a home.”

This is amazing! Just think of how much energy we can save just by planting a tree in our yard.

Why wouldn’t you want to plant more trees around your home and even your neighborhood? They benefit the environment by providing such an invaluable necessity with oxygen and clean air.

So why should you attend this free class? Well, it is taught by an award-winning arborist that will give you the tools to design and care for a beautiful landscape. In fact, according to the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers, a mature tree can often have an appraised value of between $1,000 and $10,000.

Sign up for the workshop today! Visit www.phoenix.gov/parks or call 602-261-8793 and use the registration code 72640. We hope to see you there!

The city of Phoenix is famous for some amazing things, but many of them pass or are forgotten over the years. There is one small local landmark that is still holding its place on Grand Avenue near 19^th Avenue.

I’m talking about the famous Mel’s Diner that is home to some of the most delicious grits this side of the Mississippi, and possibly east as well.

This small diner has been a staple in the area for years and was actually home to a show called “Alice” that ran from the late 70s until the early 80s.

Although the show only runs on late night TV, it is still a tribute to a great area that is starting to make a comeback along the Grand Avenue corridor.

This “comeback” has been in the works for years, but even with the slow economy, it is still slowly growing and there has been a resurgence that other parts of town are not seeing.

One example of this resurgence is the once famous Oasis Hotel which is in the process of transforming into an artist-friendly apartment complex. This is exactly what is needed to bring a community together and create a great place to live: build from the ground up instead of from the top.

I am excited to see where the Grand Avenue corridor is currently headed and cannot wait to see what it looks like in a few years. The CenPho area has really become a hotbed for artists and living, so it will be great to see what becomes of the neighboring areas.

Of course, if you’ve read previous blog posts, you know that I think we need to have a trolly on Grand Ave.

But, I want to know. What would you like to see on Grand Ave?

You’ve heard me ramble on about how great it is to live in Central Phoenix. It’s the truth! CenPho is the place to live and offers residents so much that other cities just don’t offer.

But, check this out. Here’s another reason you should consider moving in to CenPho if you are not already here: a long commute may increase your chances of divorce by 40%. Really.

One recent study in particular conducted by the Umea University in Sweden showed that there was a large increase in the risk of divorce with an increased commute.

OK. I’m being a little facetious. But there is probably some truth here. The two hours you are NOT travelling to and from work you could spend with your main squeeze at the Phoenix Art Museum, or one of the upteen thousand new restaurants downtown.

One thing the study does not mention is the importance of the aesthetic on our lives. Even though Phoenix has torn town waaay too much of its architectural heritage, what’s left still gives people something that the burbs can’t –a sense of space and identity.

A sense of history really brings out the artistic side of people with architecture and individuality when it comes to homes and businesses.

The various cultures and demographics of everyone living in CenPho make it so unique and lively that there is something for everyone. I’m constantly reminded of Richard Florida’s book The Rise of the Creative Class.  Its kinda old news now. Remember when he came to Phoenix in about 2003 to speak and we filled up the Orpheum? Much of what he said has held true, despite the economic downtown

1) If you build an organic (versus top-down) community, the creative class will come.

2) Areas with dense urban centers and creative outlets survive economic downturn better than other areas.

This is true of Phoenix. We saw it ten years ago and we see it today.

I’m just sayin’.

I’ve had first time home buyer clients who are frustrated by how much distressed property there is in the market. They can’t afford a renovated home, but they can’t afford to fix up the property on their own.

Well, there is an answer.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers homebuyers the opportunity to secure a loan known as a 203(k) loan. This loan is administered through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and gives homebuyers the necessary funds to rehabilitate a home.

Many times, a bank will be hesitant and may reject lending money when the home is not habitable. This is where the 203(k) loan comes into play and can help homebuyers obtain the necessary funds to not only buy the home but to purchase the necessary upgrades to make it habitable.

This loan is an incredible opportunity and is coming into play more now than ever since the housing market took a dive. With many people facing foreclosure, they stripped their house of everything that wasn’t, or was, bolted down leaving the house a complete disaster. This loan gives homebuyers the chance to come in and fix up the house.

This does two things: 1) increases the value of the home and surrounding area and 2) boosts the economy of the community by having another family living and buying in the area.

My friend Jeannie Bolger, of Nova Home Loans is well versed in helping you get these “fixer-upper” loans. Jeannie has been trained to help guide clients through the entire process.

But as with any mortgage, there are some criteria both the homebuyer and the home must meet:

1)      The homebuyer must meet FHA financing guidelines which means a FICO score of 640 or more and a debt to income ratio of 31/43 (see FHA for more info)

2)      The home must be the primary residence

3)      For the home to qualify, it must be existing for more than one year

4)      The work must be completed by a Licensed General Contractor – sorry do-it-yourselfers

5)      Work starts after you close on the home and must be completed within 6 months

There are also two types of 203(k)s that homeowners can choose from depending on the extent of the work required:

1)      Streamline 203(k) – this includes uncomplicated repairs and improvements to home up to $35,000 and no more than 2 subcontractors needed for entire project

2)      Standard 203K – this is for major repairs and improvements along with structural improvements to property exceeding $35,000 – up to 6 months PITI (principle, interest, taxes and insurance) can be included in mortgage if property cannot be occupied during construction. A Licensed General Contractor is needed if layered work is involved

These 203(k) loans are a great way to get our housing market back up and running. With a wide selection of homes in the Central Phoenix area, there is something for everyone.

And don’t forget, the Realtor, Lender, HUD Consultant and Contractor will hold your hand throughout the WHOLE process.

If you would like more information on the 203(k) loan, or just on homes in CenPho, give me a call today at 602-456-9388.