Category Archives: Uptown Vitality
Phoenix debates land use near light-rail stations
The City of Phoenix is holding a forum to get citizen input on land use planning near light rail stations. For the Camelback/Central Ave light rail station, the forum is being held at the Days Inn at 502 W Camelback Rd on Thursday at 6:30pm.
State law requires cities, towns, and counties to update their general plan every 10 years and this is the first revision of Phoenix’s general plan after the development of METRO light rail.
Phoenix is amending the city’s general plan for land-use planning near light-rail stations and is asking residents for input.
A public meeting to discuss the station at Central Avenue and Camelback Road is at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Days Inn, 502 W. Camelback Road.
The general plan is a blueprint that outlines land-use and policy guidelines on how the city should grow and redevelop for decades into the future.
State law requires cities, towns and counties to update the plan every 10 years but legislation the state passed last year extended the deadline to 2015 to give budget-constricted local governments short on planning staff more time to update their general plans.
Attendees will discuss a general range of appropriate building heights for future real-estate redevelopment.
By having stakeholders identify what they want to preserve, promote and will accept in advance, the general plan can better guide future real-estate development.
The meetings are not about property ownership, existing zoning or uses, city officials have said.
Properties along the light-rail route are in a transit-overlay district, which means less space is dedicated for parking due to the proximity to the train.
Read more here.
If you go, the nearest light rail station is 7th Ave/Camelback Road (Melrose District). For more information, call 602.256.5648.
Reminder: The 2011 Melrose on 7th Ave Street Fair is Saturday
Join the fun this Saturday, March 5, 2011 from 11am until 5pm…
The 2011 m7 Street Fair is March 5th in Uptown Phoenix
[Source: m7 street fair]
Eleven years ago a group of Seventh Avenue Merchants decided to join together to improve their neighborhood. Plagued with crime and blight the Melrose District was struggling to stay alive. Armed with the mission to facilitate safety, community, revitalization and beautification, these pioneering business owners, through the help of the City of Phoenix’s Fight Back Program, partnered with the School of Architecture at Arizona State University to develop a master plan to revitalize the Melrose Curve.
Relying solely on funds generated by grants and the blessings of the surrounding neighborhoods, the Melrose District slowly began to rebuild itself. One year after the Seventh Avenue Merchants Association incorporated, they held a “street fair” to commemorate the building of the first lighted canopies on Seventh Avenue.
Originally consisting of a few six foot tables, a few dozen classic cars and a few hundred people the m7 Street Fair has grown to over 140 booths, food, rides and crafts for the kids, live music, over 200 classic cars, and almost 18,000 visitors. In ten years this award winning event has become one of the most anticipated events of the year! And this year is no different.
Come join the the fun on Saturday, March 5, 2011 from 11am until 5pm…
More information: http://m7streetfair.com/
Uptown Phoenix’s Pane Bianco Opens for Dinner Service
[Source: The New Times Chow Bella]
Pane Bianco, the Italian sandwich take-out shop owned by James Beard Award-winning pizzaiolo Chris Bianco, now serves a full dinner menu from 4 to 8 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
“We wanted to expand the experience at Pane, with iconic dishes from my childhood,” Bianco says.
The restaurant quietly started dishing up dinner last week, offering such rustic fare as Schreiner’s sausage with Anson Mills polenta, ricotta and spinach-filled crespelle (crepes) with tomato sauce, pasta e fagioli with controne beans, vegetables roasted in the wood-fired oven, fresh focaccia, soups, and salads. Snacks include Creminelli sopressata, pecorino, and mixed olives.
“It’s going to change all the time,” says Bianco. “We’re going to use it like an experimental kitchen.”
How does Bianco do it, along with running his successful pizzeria? He’s got extra help now, in the form of chef Claudio Urciuoli, who left Prado last November to join the Bianco team.
Service is still counter-only at Pane Bianco, and seating is on the front patio.
Evening Menu
Formaggio and Soppressata (Serves 2)
13′
- Pecorino ol Fosso- 90 day cave aged sheep milk cheese
- Creminelli Soppressata -(Utah)
- Tomato Jam with cinnamon
- Castlevetrano, Nicoise and Picholine Olives marinated in citrus, wild fennel and spicy chile
- California Almonds from Miller Farms
Market Salad P/A
Controne Bean and Escarole Soup 6′
Crespelle filled with Gioia Ricotta, Spinach,
In ‘Lucera’ Tomato Sauce
12′
Pasta e Fagioli di Controne with Pennette ‘Senatore Cappelli’
8′
Schreiners Sausage
Anson Mills Polenta, Garbanzo Beans
10′
ALL BEVERAGES 2′
Details
Tues.-Sat. 4-8
4404 N. Central Ave. Phoenix AZ 85012
(602) 234-2100
Short Leash Dog Cart Visits Uptown Phoenix Tomorrow
[Source: Wynter Holden, Chow Bella]
Courtesy of Short Leash Dogs
We’ll keep repeating over and over again how great it would be if someone opened a dedicated food truck court in one of the myriad of useless land plots around CenPho (Hint, hint, developers!). In the meantime, tracking food trucks around town is a bit of a detective game. One of our faves, Short Leash Hot Dogs, pops up regularly at Farmers’ Markets and in downtown Tempe. But it’s difficult to know where to find them on a Saturday evening when you’re craving a spicy jalapeno-cheese dog.
For Valentine’s weekend, the Short Leash dogmobile is rolling over to Medlock Plaza at Central and Camelback Rd. — home to Smeeks and Stinkweeds. Short Leash owners Brad and Kat Moore will be set up in the parking lot from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, February 12 and next Saturday the 19th.
The mobile dog stand’s menu includes 3 types of Schreiner’s weiners, brats, veggie dogs and “corn-pups” made with jalapeno and cheese stuffed hot dogs. Each can be customized with your choice of toppings, or you can partake in a pre-designed special like the Igby with cole slaw, blue cheese and BBQ sauce. After downing a dog, pop on over to boutique candy shop, Smeeks, for some Moon Pies or handmade sea salt caramels. Hungry yet?
Electric Light Parade returns to Uptown Phoenix for 24th straight year
[Source: City of Phoenix Press Release]
Dozens of entries with hundreds of thousands of lights will brighten the streets of central Phoenix Dec. 4 when the Fiesta of Light Electric Light Parade returns for the 24th straight year. Entries for the 2010 parade will be interpreting the theme “Through the Eyes of a Child.” The parade gets under way at 7 p.m. on Central Avenue at Montebello (just south of Bethany Home Road). The parade then heads south on Central to Camelback, where it will turn east to 7th Street, where it will turn south and end at Indian School Road.
Parade lovers also can come out to view the official parade judging from 5 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 3 the main staging area at North Phoenix Baptist Church. During judging, all motorized entries are lit up for official review. Students from Arizona State University will be on hand with kids’ activities. Kids also can get a visit with Santa. Visitors to the judging can enter the staging area at the church at the parking lot entrance on Montebello Road just east of Central Avenue.
Visitors to the 2010 parade are again encouraged to bring one canned food item along. APS volunteers will be collecting canned goods along the parade route just prior to the event’s start for donation to St. Mary’s Food Bank. Visitors also can leave their canned food donation in collection boxes on the parade route, one at Central Avenue and Camelback and the other at 7th
Get Crafty in Central Phoenix
[Source: Scoopfactory]
Calling All Crafters
Wanna be one of 35 local artist selling handmade goods at Frances Vintage’s ‘Crafeteria’? Details ahead
If you’ve never been to the Central Phoenix boutique, Frances, and the neighboring candy store, Smeeks, you’re missing out on two of the Valley’s most charming, stylish spaces. No seriously, we dare you to walk inside Smeeks’ candy-colored space—brimming with old school sweets and retro delights such as ‘Twinkie the Kid‘ lunch pails—and not squeal like a school kid. And now Frances is inviting local crafters to join the fun as it hosts its fifth annual “Crafeteria” on December 3.
Voted “Best Indie Craft Fair” by the Phx New Times, this annual holiday open house will feature 35 of the Valley’s most talented independent artists. Working with paper goods, knitted items, sewn fabrics and more, the only requirement is that everything is 100 percent handmade, no exceptions. There will also be live music sponsored by the indie record shop, Stinkweeds, and handmade treats at the Smeeks “Sweets Alley.”
Most important, this Crafeteria is open to all local artists, with the 35 spots to be filled by a panel of judges. There’s no fee to enter, but all applicants must submit photos, a description and a bio, as well as agree to donate at least one item for a prize giveaway. Click here to get all the deets, and good luck. Meanwhile, to learn more about Frances and Smeeks, as well as see a full slideshow, click here to read a Q&A with owner, Georganne Bryant.
Crafty on Central: 10 W. Camelback Rd., 602-279-5463
Melrose’s Modern Manor Hosts Mad Men Party
Courtesy of Modern Manor
Time to break out the suits and pearls: Modern Manor (home of mid-century and modern decor in Phoenix’s Melrose District) is hosting a Mad Men party. You’re invited—provided you have an appetite for vintage.
Modern Manor promises cocktails, appetizers, photo booths and prizes, in addition to a larger show of the store’s unique line, including furniture by Charles and Ray Eames, Paul McCobb and Milo Baughman.
Co-owners Ryan and Kylie Durkin and Jeremy Briddell—all three have given us tours of their personal spaces—and if their homes say anything about their store, then friends, we’re in for a treat … or at least a cocktail.
The Durkin/Briddell team will open the huge, garage-style doors on October 23 from 7 to 11 p.m. Modern, 1960s attire is not required, but encouraged — can you imagine how much better you’ll look atop that that Eames chair watching Mad Men episodes on the large screen?
Modern Mannor is located at 716 West Hazelwood Street in Phoenix.(If you get lost, just look for the Ms). More info can be found on the Modern Manor website.
