Local Color
Living in Downtown- now that is “green”!
February 21st, 2010 categories: Downtown Phoenix, Historic Neighborhoods, Local Color, Phoenix real estate
Lets take Roosevelt Historic District… It seems that “everything” is within a walking distance in this neighborhood.
Walk Score website gives the area 80 points (when I used Portland Place address) – and 88 (when I used Artisan Village) out of 100 points, making the place “very walkable” and this is without transit data provided, though Lightrail stations are nearby. Amazing!
Though we may need to drive to work if we don’t work in Downtown, or to take kids to school – lets see how our average weekend may look like?
Within a walking distance we have, for example:
- Peace and tranquility at a cost of $3.00 ( Japanese Friendship Garden on 3rd Ave and Portland)
- Best coffee in town roasted on the spot ( Lola cafe on Roosevelt and 3rd Ave.)
- One of the most beautiful libraries in the world (Central Ave. South Of McDowell)
- Fantastic pizza at Cibo – on 5th ave and Fillmore
- Modern Asian and open air bar with live music – Nine 05 – 3rd street and Roosevelt
- Downtown Public Market and Royal Coffee Bar- food grown, made locally.
- Sushi on Mckinley
- Historic Post office
- British pub
- Best bread in town – Roosevelt and 6th st – at Tammie Coe
- Few yoga places
- Symphony
- Science center
- Children museum
- Arizona Puppet Theater
- Orpheum Theater
- Herberger Theater
- Lightrail
- Arizona Center mall
A popular weekend destination – Home Depot- is not on my list – but we rather would drive there anyway.
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Urban Bike
February 23rd, 2009 categories: Architecture, City Cycling, Local Color
Over at Phoenix Market Trends we’ve been knocking away post left and right. Purposeful to our motive for REC was exploration of Phoenix, especially urban Phoenix: the central core: Downtown and Midtown Phoenix.
Urban Bike is the series through which this is being accomplished. Some recent posts in the URBAN Bike series include:
Urban Bike: an adventure though some midcentury modern neighborhoods in Phoenix.
Urban Bike: on the Phoenix light rail.
Urban Bike: Willo Neighborhood Home Tour.
Urban Bike: Artisan Break Run.
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Phoenix Buy Local Week: Did We?
December 23rd, 2008 categories: Local Color, Responsible Living
December 8th to the 14th 2008 was Buy Local week. We made an effort to buy as much locally as possible. I took notes and went upon the normal week. The results are probably not representative of other weeks since all I did this week, by the looks of it is eat. None the less I paid attention and made conscious choices about which locals would get my money.
What and where I purchased.
- >Coffee each day at local coffee shops like Hava Java, Lux Cafe…+
- >Bread at MJ Bread on Roosevelt and 7th St.
- >Chocolate at Catham’s Chocolates which is closing soon due to a lack of chocolate eaters.
- >Two Tacos at a local place on Camelback and 3rd St. but the name slipped my mind. They were good though with organic ingredients: a real value.
Besides food I did buy a book but it was not local store – they did not have it and I wanted it now.
- >Ordered real estate signs from a local printer. bp-graphics
- >Got a bike repair at a local bike shop: Slippery Pig Bike Shop
- >Purchases a gift of art supplies at Arizona Art Supply
- >Had an awesome time with really good music on Thursday at Bomberos Wine Bar in Sunnyslope.
- >Purchased produce grown in AZ on Wednesday at the farmers market at 24th & Camelback.
I did buy some grips for my bike which were $49.95 but I later saw them at REI for $28.00. Not a bit deal but it’s quite a difference and this is one hurdle with buying at locally owned independent stores but just the same things are often less expensive in independent stores plus for somethings it just makes sense to buy locally especially things that will need to be serviced or just if you care about the community, its growth and health.
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It’s Farmer’s Market Season in Phoenix
November 9th, 2008 categories: Local Color, Responsible Living
The season for farmers markets is here: fall is in the air.
Many of the farmers markets are closed during the summer and rightfully so. What’s the pleasure of going through some fresh lettuce while your head is burning from the sun.
So just as with almost another activity in Greater Phoenix the living season is starting now.
There are quite a few farmers markets throughout the Phoenix valley and there are several new farmers markets coming in Glendale, Surprise and Buckeye.
See the additional links below.
Downtown Phoenix Public Market 
Food and more
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Ode to the Phoenix Monsoon
August 27th, 2008 categories: Local Color
The beauty, serenity and grandeur of the Phoenix monsoon almost makes the humidity and heat, a miserable combination, worth it.
Indeed, the sunsets, sunrises and the huge thunder clouds that often surround the valley are spectacular, especially during a sunrise. The best way to view these clouds is either in the open desert or on a small hill.
Hiking in the Phoenix Mountains and seeing the glowing warm sky and the shimmering lights of the city makes for one inspiring and grounding moment.
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Phoenix Real Estate Photo Sunday.
June 28th, 2008 categories: Local Color, Photography
No mater the size of the accomplishment , a publicly printed photo one made is a nice thing to see.
(Hoozdo #5)
This time Joanna had a photo she took of the Phoenix Symphony Building in Downtown Phoenix printed in Hoozdo. It’s the one on the right in the photo above.
Read more about the current issue of Hoozdo.
“If Phoenix is just about the hottest spot in the U.S. right now, does that make hoozdo the hottest small-format magazine in the country? We think so.
As the sidewalks melt under your shoes and you start sympathizing with those fast-food patties being carbonized under the grill, Hoozdo 5 is here to drop ice-cubes down your neck.
In this issue Sean Bonnette tells you why you should not move to Portland even if your mom is, Larry Jankens gets weirded-out by Pancake Bunnies, Sal Paradise hikes the Chris-town Mall, Steve Patton considers Phoenix when it rains and we generally mention Lux Coffee every chance we get for absolutely no reason.
Hoozdo 5 comes perfectly formed, so no need for trinkets in this issue, but look out for our ultra-limited edition tee shirts, arriving by covered wagon across the prairie any day now!”
You can pick it up in many of the fine establisments in Downtown and Midtown Phoenix.
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Second Day of Summer or Is It.
June 22nd, 2008 categories: Edits, Local Color
Today (yesterday was the 1st day actually but I started to write yesterday) is the official start of the summer season but is sure started earlier for many people, school kids amongst them, for whom summer is the the end of school. Often it’s the warmer temperatures that signal the summer. This is how I remember the starts of summer when I lived in the higher latitudes; warm weather equals summer. But of course this was a long time and go.
I have been in Arizona for over 20 years and summer here starts when the temperatures go above 85. which is basically the bulk of the year. Then there are just greater and lesser summers. If you think about when were in the midst of the summer here its like the winters in many other places. Extreme weather, lack of mobility due to atmospheric condition, it’s bloody blazing hot when it’s 115 like it was yesterday and will be many more times this year.
It’s the kind of heat that hurts so it’s extreme and dangerous. Even the water in the pools is starting to get too warm for comfort. A splash in the pool should be a relief. Each year I try to prepare for the summer but its always difficult just as harsh winters are elsewhere. So when you see a photo of a young couple having a picnic under a lush green tree on a flower covered meadow, to represent summer days, this does not apply to Phoenix. Here is a list of things you can do during the Phoenix summer heat.
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Phoenix Photo Fashion Sunday
June 15th, 2008 categories: Local Color, Photography, Responsible Living
This has nothing to do with real estate, but I guess it may have something to do with the rising art scene in downtown and midtown Phoenix. Seeing so many creative people and the multitude of galleries stirred up the creativity in me, which had been forcefully muted once the rat race began.
I really enjoy photography. One thing I noticed years ago is that I enjoy the process of photogrphy more so then the results. Good result are a satisfying by product of the process and I kinda like the results of the fashion photo above.
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Old Rural House in Downtown Phoenix
June 7th, 2008 categories: Architecture, City Cycling, Local Color
If you didn’t see that office building in the back it would be hard to place this house. In fact its still hard to place it. It could be anywhere, but its not. Its and old home which looks to be built out of adobe; something from the 19th century or early 20th century.
It’s not any specific style, it does not fit anywhere in the historic styles found in Phoenix; it’s unlike any I’v seen here. Adobe built with hints of scandinavian design and southwestern elements. Located in Downtown Phoenix of all places surrounded by offices and maybe one handlful of houses in the area.
I can see this place as small tavern, a local type restaurant, I see lots of potential and reason to keep it right where it is and in this condition more or less; with only the mechnicals, the presevation and cleanliness improved. This could be a magnificent place, its already beautiful. Do you know anything about it? Let me know if you do.
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What some will do to save a few bucks and water.
May 28th, 2008 categories: Local Color
This is a person who is going to be turning a water wasting work creating large grass yard into a lush desert landscape.
Take a look at how two of the first trees got transported to their destination. Looks dangerous but it was a short one mile drive through some small street. The only thing dangerous was that a bird might have gotten confused.
(Photo by Artur Ciesielski of PhoenixMarketTrends)
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