Photo credite: Daniel Greene on Flickr

Calling all green thumbs and tree-huggers! Join us for a morning of environmental action as we plant trees and revitalize one of Phoenix’s best-known parks. Please wear clothing you don’t mind getting dirty and closed-toed shoes. Remember to bring a water bottle and sunscreen!

The minimum age for this project is 8 with an accompanying adult. Volunteers ages 16 and 17 who wish to participate without an accompanying adult must bring a signed Youth Volunteer Waiver. Please download the waiver from the “Youth Volunteer” link on the website’s menu.

By signing up for projects and not attending, you may be depriving someone else of the opportunity to participate and the project of much-needed support.

Please note that in an effort to accommodate volunteers who sign up for projects by choice, HandsOn does not accept court ordered volunteers and will not sign off on any court-related documents.

You must register to participate.

Details:

Saturday, September 11, 2010
7:00AM – 10:00AM
Location: Phoenix, AZ 85015
The full project address and directions will be sent to you by e-mail after you sign up.
Accommodations for volunteers with disabilities:You will have the opportunity to request accommodations after you sign up for this project.

As downtown Phoenix attempts to rebrand itself as a big-time city, restaurants are looking for creative ways to stand out from the growing crowd of hip places to eat. Many are turning to their restrooms to accomplish their rise to the top of trendy lists.

Photo by Diana Martinez, SPM

Hanny’s

Hanny’s became a popping nighttime spot in the heart of downtown restaurant last year with its lavish bar and Mediterranean offerings. Its restrooms are hidden behind a row of booths on the second floor mezzanine and down a narrow, mirrored hallway.

If someone didn’t point you in the right direction, you’d never guess that a series of unmarked, handle-free white doors lead to private restrooms. With soap dispensed from generic ketchup bottles and eco-friendly flushing measures, Hanny’s restrooms are worth a visit.

If you go: 40 N. 1st St. 602-252-2285, hannys.net.

Delux Burger

In between baskets of Delux’s signature sweet potato fries, don’t forget to check out the restroom at this urban bar and burger joint. The dark hallway leading to the restrooms is lined by a wall of Delux-brand toilet paper, and the communal sink area is lit by small candles. The sophisticated atmosphere makes a visit to the restrooms a worthwhile trip during dinner.

If you go: 3146 E. Camelback Road. 602-522-2288,‎ deluxburger.com.

Local Breeze Patio Café

Located in an inviting old house formerly home to the restaurant Palatte, Local Breeze brings neighborhood charm onto the otherwise mundane downtown Phoenix streets with brunch-time pizzas and salads. Its small, one-person restroom sports a collage of knick-knacks on the walls and stickers on the ceiling, but the toilet is sectioned off by crumpled pieces of rusted iron that look borrowed from the front gates of an industrial factory. Swing open the metal door and take a peek.

If you go: 606 N. Fourth Ave. 602-368-3613, localbreeze.com.

Gallo Blanco Café & Bar

Kick off your visit to Gallo Blanco with a trip to the restroom, but beware the lipstick; Gallo Blanco urinals resemble the pursed mouth of Scarlett Johansson.

Located in the bustling Clarendon Hotel, Gallo Blanco serves Mexican cuisine better than most, and its atmosphere is funky and upbeat. Likewise, the restroom urinals are wonk, providing an open mouth lined by blood red, luscious lips that would make even Angelina Jolie jealous. Pucker up!

If you go: 401 W. Clarendon Ave. 602-327-0880, galloblancocafe.com.

This post was written by SPM guest author, Dustin Volz. Contact the reporter at dustin.volz@asu.edu.

Photo Credit: Tom Tingle/The Arizona Republic

When searching for schools for their two children, Daniel Lord of Phoenix says he and his wife, Seema, looked to downtown Phoenix.

He says they needed the convenient location – one near their offices and downtown home – but wanted to see how their children would do in a new learning environment.

They chose University Public School Phoenix, which has about 450 students.

“We thought the connection with ASU and their way of teaching really aligned with what our needs were,” said Lord, whose children Sakina, 7, and Drohan, 5, are enrolled at the school at Fillmore and Seventh streets.

The school is part of the Phoenix Elementary School District but is an Arizona State University charter. The designation ensures the school still receives public funding but also gives ASU more freedom to apply new research in education to the classroom, school officials say.

“Our affiliation with ASU came about because of (ASU) President Michael Crow’s interest in the university having tangible involvement and results in K-12 education,” said Barnaby Wasson, the school’s technology director. “But we follow the same guidelines” as other Arizona schools.

University Public School Phoenix is the second charter that ASU has opened in recent years. The first was established near ASU’s Polytechnic campus in Mesa.

The downtown school has become a destination campus that is competitive for enrollment. ASU employees, as well as downtown office workers, are among the 19 families on the waiting list for their children to register.

“We represent a cross-section of the downtown community, people who reside and work here,” Wasson said.

Principal Celeste Enochs said the school educates children in kindergarten to eighth grades but will add Grades 9-12 over the next few years, so children can spend their entire elementary and secondary career at one campus.

Kindergarten students are taught separately to ensure they have the social skills, as well as the basic counting and beginning writing skills to move up to first grade.

From then on, students are taught in clusters. First-graders are in the same room as second-graders, third-graders are with fourth-graders, fifth- and sixth-graders share a classroom, and seventh- and eighth-graders are together.

This means students have the same teacher for two years in a row, so that teachers become familiar with their abilities and needs.

In addition, every child has a plan tailored to their needs and academic goals. It outlines the skills that children need to develop, as well as their strengths to help them to continue to excel.

Children learn to work on projects and problem-solving together. Wasson said they become so accustomed to working in teams that they are surprised when they must work individually to complete Arizona’s Instrument to Measure Standards test.

And though several Valley districts require physical education a few times a week, the ASU school requires daily physical education for all grades.

Since it is run by a university, school officials are focused on preparing children for college. This means they want more parental involvement.

Recently, the school started to offer the American Dream Academy. The 10-week program encourages parents to become more involved in their children’s education.

Enochs said such programs encourage students to think about college even when they are as young as kindergarteners and encourages their parents to support them.

Parents learn ways to support their children and help them with schoolwork, motivate their children to learn and become familiar with the state standards for reading, writing and math.

Parents who finish the course receive a certificate and “their child is guaranteed a place at Arizona State University” for college, Enochs said.

​

Photo credit: Niki D'Andrea, Phoenix New Times

The Hotel San Carlos in downtown Phoenix has a long and storied history. In operation since 1928, the hotel hosted numerous Hollywood stars in its heyday, including Mae West, Marilyn Monroe, Ingrid Bergman, and Gary Cooper.

In 1993, the owners of the Hotel San Carlos, the Melikian family, installed the “Star Walk” along the sidewalks of Central Avenue and Monroe Street, to commemorate the legendary actors who stayed at the hotel and to celebrate its 65th anniversary.

There are about a dozen gold stars in all, inscribed with notable names and signatures.

Marilyn Monroe has a star here (she stayed at the hotel while filming the movie Bus Stop), along with Mae West, who stayed at the Hotel San Carlos while performing I’m No Angel at the nearby Orpheum Theatre in 1929. Also enshrined in the sidewalk stars are Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, who reportedly spent many romantic nights at the hotel.

The stars themselves are gold, and shine in the relentless Phoenix sun. Monroe’s star gets shade from a nearby tree, but many of the other stars — like those for Jean Harlow, Spencer Tracy, and Gene Autry — give off a glare during the day.

The Star Walk is a must-see for classic movie buffs, but those who also aspire to see the specters of old Hollywood stars should also check out the Hotel San Carlos’ regular “ghost tours.”

The Hotel San Carlos is located at 202 N. Central Avenue. For more information, visit www.hotelsancarlos.com or call 602-253-6668.

Tomorrow is First Friday once again, and while the Phoestival street fair remains on hiatus, there is still a lot going on around downtown Phoenix:

After Hours Gallery

You all remember the Haiti Earthquake disaster and the resulting devastation. Photographer Rodney Rascona was there on the scene and he’s brought back some amazing images — both heart breaking and inspirational.

The show is called THE PINK DOOR PHOTOGRAPHS. You’ll be moved by these personal and uplifting images that capture the incredible spirit of the Haiti people.

These are contrasted in the same show with EVELYN’S STORY — a visual portrait of a surviving mother and her children, on the streets, in one 24-hour period.

PLUS, this amazing series of photos was selected a winner of the 2010 International Photographer Awards in the Deeper Perspectives category. Only 3 out of 15,000 submissions earned this recognition — and when you see the show, you’ll see why.

Kitchen Sink Studios

The crew from Kitchen Sink Studioswill be featuring the work of local artist Kathy Taylor in their gallery space. And to help you keep cool, they’ll be selling old time sodas from the Soda Pop Shop for a small donation to our gallery. The fun starts at 6:30 p.m. KSS is located just a block south of Roosevelt on Third Street.

Coe House

The cool cats at Coe House be hanging out all night with tunes by DJ MoLo and Bryan Mok & Chanelle Richardson (aka The Epileptic Photographers). Artwork by Jon Ashcroft and photos by Jason Garcia will be hanging on the walls. They’ll have a few things to sip, but feel free to bring your own to throw in the fridge or cooler. Stop by Cibo or Local Breeze just up the block for some good grub before heading over!

Curious how to get to Coe House (365 N 4th Ave)? If you’re light railing, it’s 4 blocks west of the Van Buren station. Driving? Parking is available along 4th Avenue (some spots are metered until 8 pm).

26 Blocks at A.E. England

For the month of September the traveling exhibition 26 Blocks will be exhibited at the Artlink A. E. England Gallery. 26 Blocks is an art project that celebrates downtown Phoenix.

26 of metropolitan Phoenix’s most talented writers were paired with 26 of the City’s most celebrated photographers. Each pair collaborated to create their interpretation of one of 26 randomly selected city blocks in the downtown Phoenix area.

At a time when Arizona and Phoenix are in the national spotlight and our City is often portrayed as a hostile community facing boycotts from other cities and states, 26 Blocks promotes Phoenix in a highly positive way that encourages everyone to look at our incredible home from very different perspectives.

SuTRA Midtown Yoga – District Gallery

“Sometimes We Cock Our Heads to The Side So They Think We Have Secrets to Tell” is a series inspired by words never said. It focuses on the dreams, desires, and feelings that we let go of in order to maintain a well-crafted persona and the transparency of secrets for those who take the time to look.

Morgan McNally is a mixed media artist based out of Phoenix, Arizona. A former design student currently pursuing a BA in Museum Studies with a minor in painting, she has held residence at holgas and The Firehouse artist cooperatives, and is currently living and working out of her Garfield District studio.

Enjoy a LIVE ACOUSTIC SET by Grace Bolyard.

SuTRA Midtown Yoga – District Gallery is located at 2317 N. 7th Street

The Red Dress Tour (Caminando de Rojo)

Local performance artists Kara Roschi and Ernesto Moncada present The Red Dress Tours (Caminando de Rojo): a series of free artist-led tours taking place in downtown Phoenix arts districts over three consecutive First Fridays beginning in September.

September’s tour will focus on the Roosevelt District, staring from the The Firehouse Gallery at 1015 N 1st St.

These bilingual tours aim to promote the idea of a walkable and connected downtown while introducing participants to their local arts community. And remember, wear something red!

More details here.

Downtown Phoenix is giving surbanites yet another reason to visit the city’s ever-expanding core, and no, we’re not talking about the opening of Nobuo at Heritage Square.

The Vault Gallery at ASU’s Downtown Phoenix Campus is launching their third exhibition, A Closer Look, a seven artist expo that begins Sept. 3.

Source: Desert Living Today

Featuring up and coming as well as established female artists from around the Valley, the four-month long Vault Gallery showcases multiple photographs, oil and acrylic paintings, and intimate drawings that contain meanings only a closer look can reveal. Given the building’s past as an outpost for the now defunct First National Bank of Arizona, the fortress-like structure invites visitors into its tight quarters with original vault doors and entryways.

Candace Eisenfeld, a Tempe artist who is showcasing her work at the gallery, says,

“The multiple images within my work comment upon simultaneous observations of reality within a historical perspective and the ambiguities that divide them…I don’t believe in universal truths, only perceptions of reality.”

The gallery runs from Sept. 3 to Dec. 18.

Lower level of University Center, 411 N. Central Ave.

Arizona Homegrown Solutions has been selected as one of 41 finalists across the country for a chance to win $20,000 through a grant from Tom’s of Maine. The fund will install four water-harvesting cisterns at area nonprofits, including the Downtown Phoenix Public Market. It will also provide green job training for under served populations and free water-harvesting classes for the public.

You have until September 10 to vote, so vote now! Scroll down to Arizona Homegrown Solutions, Phoenix, Arizona. Every vote counts!

The true mark of a vibrant urban core isn’t the popularity of special events like ball games, conventions or even First Fridays. Rather, it is the events that fill the gaps in between these. It is the creation of a 24/7 culture where things are going on every day (and night) of the week. While I wouldn’t say that we have quire arrived there, we are a lot closer that it may appear.

Here are 10 of the less heralded activities that are occurring in Downtown Phoenix on an almost daily basis.

1. Live Music

Check the DPJ calendar for up-to-date listings on nightly music at Carly’s Bistro, the Dressing Room, the Lost Leaf,Modified Arts, Revolver Records, Roosevelt Tavern and the Turf.

2. Movie Monday at Revolver Records

No-admission movie screenings with special deals every Monday at 8 p.m.

3. Improv Comedy

The Torch Theatre is one of Phoenix’s best-kept secrets. Shows vary through the week, but make sure to check out the Saturday night Cage Matches!

4. Phoenix Public Market

Every Wednesday and Saturday, the lot at McKinley Street and Central Avenue becomes our local farmers market.

5. Over-the-Hump Day, open mic

Local wordsmiths and folk musicians perform every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Conspire at 5th and Garfield streets.

6. The Downtown Phoenix Fitness Walk/Jog

Get some exercise by walking or jogging around Downtown Phoenix. Start and end points are the Phoenix Public Market every Saturday at 7 a.m.

7. Community Yoga Project

Bring your own yoga mat, towel or blanket every Saturday at 10 a.m. at Civic Space Park.

8. GROWHOUSE Garden Days

Volunteer in the garden at Garfield and 6th streets every Sunday from 8 to 10 a.m.

9. Fair Trade Café Sunday brunch

The Fair Trade menu features challah baked French toast with choice of yummy toppings, rosemary country potatoes, baked egg casserole with veggies or green chilies and biscuits and gravy. Every Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

10. Sunday Service

Every Sunday at SideBar, DJs spin until 2 a.m., accompanying Downtown’s best drink discounts.

We are certainly missing a lot of other events that occur on a weekly basis. If you would like to add anything to the list, please add a comment!

This post was inspirited by the Roosevelt Row newsletter. To be kept up to date on what is going on in and around Roosevelt Row, click here to sign up for their newsletter. For a whole smattering of Downtown Phoenix events, see DPJ’s calendar page.

Be sure to check out the comments section of the original post for more great suggestions

[Source: Kelly Green, New Times Chow Bella]

​Downtown Phoenix has come a long way in a short period of time. Anyone who’s been around longer than an ASU freshman can tell you that. But the dining scene for students still leaves a bit to be desired. Here are our tips for feeding yourself, these first few weeks of school.

Source: Kelly Green, Phoenix New Times

1. Become a Coupon Clipper Printer

Little known fact: downtownphoenix.com has tons of special deals and coupons on local restaurants and businesses, just select the option from the “What to do” tab and print away.

2. Be Picky About Your On-Campus Eating

There are two restaurants in the bottom of the Cronkite School at 555 N. Central Avenue: Subway and El Portal. Subway is good for a few meals, then all of the sudden one day you walk in and never want to smell that bread again. And El Portal has earned quite a reputation locally for its health inspections, which you might want to check out here.​

Our pick for an on campus meal?

ASU’s Taylor Place (120 East Taylor Street) offers lunch and dinner to everyone, not just students or dorm residents. A little more than $8 will get you an hour of bottomless food and drinks at the buffet-style cafeteria, which has offers a pizza station, salad and fruit bars, pastries, and made-to-order sandwiches. Sit outside on the patio for less of a rowdy high school cafeteria experience, unless of course, that is your thing.

The places you should be going and our coffee picks, after the jump.

3. Schedule Your Classes Around the Wednesday Farmers’ Market

Saturday mornings are booming at Downtown Phoenix Public Market‘s open-air market (14 E. Pierce Street, phoenixpublicmarket.com). But for a smaller, more low-key experience, check out the one held on Wednesday nights from 4 – 8 p.m. Get your caffeine fix from Royal at the Market and then peruse the stalls outside for a delicious between-class snack; They feature all locally-made products including Doctor Hummus‘ pita chips and dips, hand-crafted goodness from Wei of Chocolate, baked delights from Bread Basket Bakery, and fresh fruits and veggies from various farms. It is a great place to grab a quick bite or do a little grocery shopping, and you can’t help but feel good about supporting local businesses.

4. Microwave Away

Next time you go through a money-saving/brown-bagging phase, it might be useful to note the microwaves on the first floor of the University Center building (411 N. Central Avenue), down the hallway from the vending machines.

5. Skip Starbucks for Royal at the Market or Fair Trade​

Royal at the Market is Phoenix Public Market’s impeccably-designed coffee shop, located just inside the market behind the wine bar. The friendly barista whips up a mean chai tea latte that is perfect for sipping on the way back to class or when wandering through the market’s aisles.

You can’t miss the signs at Civic Space Park (across the street from ASU’s University Center) pointing you downstairs to Fair Trade Café (424 N. Central Avenue), where all their coffee is – you guessed it – fair trade and organic. They also have an assortment of pastries and baked goods, and if you mention you are a student they’ll give you 10 percent off. What an even better reason to get away from the usual zoo that is Starbucks: Grab your do-gooding cup of coffee and have a seat outside on their tranquil patio (complete with zen water feature) or, on a particularly good day, head back upstairs to lounge underneath a tree on one of the park’s lawns.

6. Get Your Butt Off Campus​

But you won’t have to go far. Here’s a list of some of our faves.

• Carly’s Bistro (128 E. Roosevelt Street, carlysbistro.com), With a striking wall of graffiti art greeting you from the parking lot, Carly’s serves up equally impressive fare, including “Around the World” grilled sandwiches and refreshing salads. Follow them on Twitter to stay up to date on events and great drink specials.
• Athenian Express (814 N. Central Avenue, athenianexpressaz.com) Great for a quick, cheap meal. Their menu is extensive, and includes subs, burgers, and vegetarian options outside of the usual Greek dishes.
• Thai Elephant (20 W. Adams Street, thaielephant.qwestoffice.net) This Tempe staple provides a little spice to the downtown scene. The Drunken Noodles and Tom Kha soup are favorites.
• The Breadfruit (108 E. Pierce Street, thebreadfruit.com) A pricier but well-worth-it option, The Breadfruit offers a sophisticated island atmosphere – think authentic Jamaican jams floating through a small but cozy dining room as you sip your Red Stripe. Couple this with an even cooler menu that showcases local, fresh ingredients and employees that seem to be mixing up a revolution that is very anti-fast food. Make sure you have enough time to slow down and enjoy your lunch, Jamaican-style.
• Crave Sandwich Café (541 E. Van Buren Street) This small, no-frills sandwich shop is tucked inside ASU’s Mercado and provides a solid offering of sandwiches and salads, including some vegetarian options. There’s no indoor seating, so grab your sandwich to go (brown-bag style) and head over to the nearby Arizona Center for some lunch-hour people watching.
• Big Daddy’s Dogs (Corner of 2nd and Taylor Streets) For something quick and cheap, hit up this hot dog cart that has been taking up real estate on the same corner for the past two years. The cart specializes in Chicago-style dogs, where you can pile yours high with a couple different types of mustard, sauerkraut, peppers, pickles, and a vibrantly green sweet Chicago relish. Add chips and a drink for a whopping $4.25, and sounds like a lunch made in (hot dog) heaven.
• Finally, and hopefully eventually, Pita Jungle (1001 N. 3rd Avenue,pitajungle.com), whose signs that fill the corner’s empty space taunt us even though their website promises an October opening.

Photo credit: azcentral.com

Some Phoenix residents believe city officials just won approval to pave paradise and put up a parking lot.

City officials last week at a hearing with a zoning officer won a permit to turn the Second and Taylor streets site of the old Ramada Inn into a parking lot.

Business leaders and residents with the Downtown Voices Coalition want to save the pink-stuccoed property that they believe has historic value. Last week, about a half-dozen coalition members argued unsuccessfully for rejection of the temporary use permit application.

Marilyn Monroe stayed in the hotel, once known as the Sahara Motor Inn, during the filming of “Bus Stop,” which was shown in theaters in 1956.

Opponents can appeal the zoning officer’s decision to the seven-member Board of Adjustment.

However, city officials have said the plans for the old inn are a done deal.

Phoenix officials intend to turn the site over to Arizona State University for a law college building as soon as the university has the funding it needs for construction.

That could take a few years; ASU is waiting for the state to recover from its budget crisis – or a very generous donor.

The five-year permit gives ASU some time to drum up funding. The parking lot would be used for overflow parking by the nearby, city-owned Sheraton Inn at Third and Van Buren streets.

*     *     *

You can read the DVC’s position on this demolition and parking lot here and here.