Daily Archives: August 31, 2009
Does Arizona have an image problem?
Outside the Phoenix Convention Center, where the U.S. President was speaking on Aug. 17, "Chris" sports a semi-automatic rifle and pistol.
[Source: Scott Wong, Arizona Republic] — Just as local and state tourism officials tried to shed Phoenix’s unbecoming title as the “kidnapping capital of America,” another national moniker has emerged: gun-crazy. A man carrying a pistol and semi-automatic rifle outside the Phoenix hall where President Barack Obama spoke this month ignited a media firestorm, reinforcing the stereotype of the Grand Canyon State as a gun-loving vestige of the Wild West.
The firearms display, later revealed to be a publicity stunt, was legal under an Arizona law that allows most citizens to openly carry guns in public without a permit. But the spotlight cast by cable-news pundits, newspaper editorials and blogs — including censure from a world-renowned travel writer — raised questions about whether Arizona’s lax gun laws make it safe to travel and do business in the state. “We’re an urban city, and there are individuals trying to hold on to the old ways of the Wild West,” said Phoenix Councilman Michael Nowakowski, himself a gun owner. “We’re going to lose a lot of conventions because of one knucklehead.”
Before the gun stunt, tales of Mexican drug cartels abducting rival smugglers and immigrants and holding them for ransom in Valley homes had already painted Phoenix as a city under siege. [Note: Read the full article at Does Arizona have an image problem?]
More (food, coffee, wine) coming to Downtown Phoenix Public Market Urban Grocery
[Source: Jonathan McNamara, Phoenix New Times] — The folks behind the the Downtown Phoenix Public Market Urban Grocery & Wine Bar set their sights pretty high, and they plan on being more than a grocery store. It will be a permanent home to the farmers market (721 N. Central Avenue), as well as a coffee shop, wine bar, and community kitchen.
Royal Coffee Bar will open an outpost at the new market. The building has a separate side entrance for the coffee bar, which will keep separate hours from the rest of the market (7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday). There’s a spot laid out for seating and relaxing, in case folks don’t want to get their coffee and run. Expect cool, reclaimed material here like wooden floors from an old Arizona farmhouse, and Edison-era light bulbs. [Note: Read the full article at More (food, coffee, wine) coming to Downtown Phoenix Public Market Urban Grocery.]
What is Radio Phoenix?
Nick Gortari answers that question during his interview with Phoenix Local Music about Radio Phoenix and his role as the station’s Local Music Director. The interview takes place from the DJ booth at Radio Phoenix. Local band Neba plays in the background.
Fair Trade Cafe opens at downtown Phoenix Civic Space Park
A.E. England Building, site of new Fair Trade Cafe (Photo source: Jane's Walk Phoenix)
[Source: City of Phoenix] — The historic A.E. England Building in downtown Phoenix’s Civic Space Park is celebrating the grand opening of its anchor tenant, Fair Trade Café. Civic Space Park, nestled into 2.77 acres at 424 N. Central Ave., offers residents, workers, ASU students, and downtown visitors a park with unique urban design, sustainable construction, adaptive reuse, and operational features, and a landmark public sculpture by artist Janet Echelman.
Fair Trade Café is located on the ground floor of the historic A.E. England building, named after the 1926 business formerly housed there. Fair Trade will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. In addition to its storefront retail and food options, the building has space available for meetings, presentations, small banquets, art events, and classes. For more information about the park and space availability, click here.
Phoenix theater troupe performs on light rail
In this know99 Television segment, Motion Theatre Company performs on Valley Metro’s light rail trains. For more information about know99, click here.
