Blog Archives
Community Cinema at Civic Space Park in downtown Phoenix on October 9th!
Downtown Phoenix’s Civic Space Park is re-launching Community Cinema on the second Saturdays of every month!
On October 9th, the Civic Space Park will be collaborating with the local organizations to present Community Cinema. The park, at Central and Van Buren, will hold a free screening of the new film Reel Injun: On the Trail of the Hollywood Indian at 5:30 p.m. This premiere will mark the re-launch of Community Cinema in the park, taking place every Second Saturday of the month.
Following the film, viewers are invited to a Coffee Talk inside Fair Trade Café to discuss topics and ideas explored in the movie. On the Fair Trade patio, music will be provided by Ethan 103. With all band members reigning from Native backgrounds, this musical group breaks the traditional mold by providing a modern punk rock sound.
Details
Who: Civic Space Park Collaboration
Where: Civic Space Park – 424 N. Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85004
When: Saturday, October 9, 2010 5:30p.m.-7:30p.m.
Jackalope Ranch’s Student Guide to Downtown Phoenix
Here is the latest installment in Claire Lawton’s series of great guides to downtown Phoenix!
[Source: Claire Lawton, Jackalope Ranch, Phoenix New Times]
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The first week is never about what actually goes on during class. It’s about figuring out what your schedule means by “the Brickyard,” checking out potential lag-time hangouts and figuring out which path will save you three more minutes.
Here’s a peek at our guide to ASU’s Downtown Campus …
Claire Lawton
On the Map:
- New vending machines, sweet couches and every news show you could ever want to see are up and running in the Cronkite Building’s First Amendment Forum (they also host pretty cool speakers every Monday).
- Cheap/Free/Easy Date Night: Take a look at a ton of local art that’s featured on the second floor of the UCENT building and check out the view of the city from the eighth floor.
- For caffeine and munchies, skip the Starbucks down the street and check out Fair Trade Cafe across Central Avenue, Royal Coffee Bar at the Downtown Phoenix Public Market on Pierce Street (Jackalope sighting!), Conspire on Fifth Street, or Cartel Coffee on First and Washington Streets.
| Off the Map: |
- The Heard Museum is free for students on Sunday, August 15 (just show your Sun Card). Heard also hosts free admission events every third Friday.
- Check out the Phoenix Public Library for refuge from the sun, a quiet afternoon, or a ride up and down the elevator (seriously).
- Third Friday Concerts are back on at the Civic Space Park (under the large, flying blue object) at 424 N. Central Ave. from 7 to 9 p.m. (totally free). This space is also popular for bikini-clad sunbathers, who consequently create a popular activity for those on the fifth and sixth floors of every building that surrounds it.
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Read the full post here.
Downtown Voices Coalition reviews its past, looks to the future
On Saturday, January 16, over 75 individuals interested and involved in downtown Phoenix participated in the Downtown Voices Coalition “Moving Forward” strategic planning session at the historic A.E. England Building. The information and ideas garnered from the group will help Downtown Voices update its August 2004 report, “Downtown Voices: Creating a Sustainable Downtown,” and prioritize issues and projects for the future. The information will also be useful for others (individually or organizationally) to review and use in their own efforts to improve downtown Phoenix. Stay tuned for details. At any time, you’re welcome to communicate your questions, comments, concerns, and ideas via e-mail, or by attending Downtown Voices’ monthly meetings.
The Downtown Voices Steering Committee sincerely thanks the following individuals and organizations for sponsoring this event.
- Arizona Preservation Foundation
- Arizona State University
- Butler Housing/Roosevelt Commons
- Candid Landscapes
- City of Phoenix
- Downtown Phoenix Journal
- Fair Trade Coffee
- Fresh Gourmet to Go
- Get Consensus, LLC
- Habitat Metro
- Impact Printing
- Kooky Krafts Shop
- Local First Arizona
- John Saccoman
- Matthew Tomb
Thanks also to Suad Mahmuljin for taking photos of the day’s activities.
Preserving history in downtown Phoenix
Downtown Phoenix's Civic Space Park (Photo: Tony Arranaga)
[Source: Tony Arranaga, Light Rail Blogger] — Downtown Phoenix reminds me of a puzzle. Over the last several weeks, and in various parts of the city, I’ve noticed a new piece being added to the bigger picture of a vibrant urban core. I told you about the Phoenix Public Market opening soon, and earlier tonight there was a dedication of the A.E. England Building at the Civic Space Park. Si Robins gave us a preview of the festivities in the Downtown Phoenix Journal. The building has an interesting past as Seth Anderson, an Arizona native, points out in his blog:
The building was built in 1926 in the Spanish Renaissance Revival style and was used as a Hudson and Essex auto dealership. The large windows displayed the cars and it became Phoenix’s first “auto row.” In the 1930s the building was sold to the Electrical Equipment Company. They sold radios, batteries, and refrigerators up until the 1950s. It changed hands numerous times and fell into disrepair and abuse until 2005 when it was purchased by the City of Phoenix to be integrated into the new Civic Space Park.
Tonight was the first chance the public had to see the inside of the England building – which has Central Station as its neighbor on the south and ASU’s Cronkite building to the east. I pass the old brick landmark during my carfree travels on the lightrail, but this is the first time I’ve seen the inside.
The city of Phoenix did a great job restoring the building and making it functional for public use. A window encased mezzanine wraps around a huge conference hall at the center of the building. Outside the building there’s the Civic Space Park stage and grass area and of course the public art display “Her Secret is Patience.” Did I mention the England has a basement which contains the second location for local coffee house Fair Trade Cafe? I unlocked my bike to go home and noticed all the people enjoying the weather at the park. Phoenix has a centerpiece and I love it! [Note: Read more of Tony’s light rail blog entries here.]
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.
Fair Trade Cafe opens up second downtown Phoenix spot, Aug. 21
[Source: Downtown Phoenix Journal] — On Friday, August 21, Fair Trade Café will open its second location in downtown Phoenix, and the video above gives you a sneak peak on last minute construction work. Their grand opening coincides with the public open house of the restored 1926 A.E. England Motor Car Company building at the Downtown Phoenix Civic Space Park. All are welcome to attend the festivities, hosted by the City of Phoenix Historic Preservation Office, from 6 to 9 p.m. Highlights include live music, building tours, vintage cars, and (of course) coffee and other menu items.
The building’s restoration and overall park development were funded, in part, by the 2006 City of Phoenix Bond Program, overwhelmingly approved by Phoenix voters.
Independents Week Coffee Marathon with the Mayor, July 3
Show your support for local independent businesses on the morning of Thursday, July 3 with Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and Local First Arizona Executive Director Kimber Lanning. Say hello, share your opinion, and have a cuppa joe at one of these fine establishments:
- 8 a.m. ~ Lux Coffee Bar at 4401 N. Central
- 8:30 a.m. ~ Copper Star Coffee at 4220 N. 7th Ave.
- 9 a.m. ~ Fair Trade Coffee at 1020 N. 1st Ave.
- 9:30 a.m. ~ Matt’s Big Breakfast at 801 N. 1st St.
For more information about Independents Week, including your 20% off Golden Ticket coupon, contact Local First Arizona at 602-956-0909 or visit their website.
