These piñatas are for viewing not for whacking. Let’s just get that out of the way first.

Otherwise, attention artists, non-artist, children, adults, people who love candy, and community members at large! The annual Mutant Piñata Show is back and I encourage all of you to enter your best piñata for the ultimate grand prize of having your work displayed to the local Phoenix community to view. The Bragg’s Pie Factory is hosting the ever so popular annul Mutant Piñata Show for the 5^th year now.

This exhibit is to display the creativity that lies within Phoenix; the exhibit will be comprised of whimsical and wacky piñatas created by locals. If your work is sold, you will receive 70% of the purchase price. Come down to the Bragg’s Pie Factory the first and third Friday of March and April to see this vivid spectacle for yourself, the best part is there is absolutely no entry cost so the more the merrier. Last year there were over 100 entries and the Bragg’s Pie Factory is hoping to exceed that number this year.

All entries must be in by March 1^st, 2012 so start getting in touch with your inner piñata artist and spreading the word to your friends and family.

Another year of great downtown growth and CenPho Memories will all come together in grand celebrations this weekend.

So if you’re hopping downtown for the evening there are great events going on all night.

You know, a great standard is The Clarendon Hotel. The rooftop is always a great place to ring in the new year. I may be there. Not certain yet.

CityScape’s skate rink is still open! It’s only $10 from 3pm- 1am for unlimited skating and portion of the night’s proceeds benefit Phoenix Parks Foundation. There of course will be a midnight fireworks show and complimentary champagne toast for the 21+ crowd.

Of course, there’s always the fiesta Bowl Block Party, where several thousand of you find yourselves ever year. Tickets to the block party are $20.00 and can be purchased at the entrance gates to the Fiesta Bowl Block Party.

George & Dragon, that wily British pub in Midtown (4240 N. Central Ave.), will be doubling up their new years; celebrating the New Year once at 5 p.m. (12am in the UK)  and then again at midnight here in AZ! It’s a free party, and a bloody good time.

If you’re trying to keep it classy, The Paisley Violin on Grand will be serving a delicious four-course dinner and smooth Jazz the entire evening.

And the best part is, you don’t need to be behind the wheel for any of it. The Light Rail will be offering a safe way to get to and from all your favorite New Years destinations. So ring in the New Year right and stay safe this weekend!

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.