Blog Archives
Local Bands Promote Transit in Phoenix
New Year, New Habit, New Song!
What better way to start off the new year that with a new commitment to use transit!
Valley Metro is starting the year off right as they launch the third song “Just One Pass” today! Residents across the Valley will get a chance to view the new instructional video and feel more confident and comfortable in making the decision to use transit. With gas prices starting to rise, there is no better time to make a “new year’s resolution” to use transit more frequently this year.
The first two songs have proven to be wildly successful and have developed quite a following!
To watch the all the videos, got to www.valleymetro.org/notes.
The Phoenix Annual Parade of the Arts Returns to Downtown on Saturday
[Source: Phoenix Annual Parade of the Arts]
Be a part of the Phoenix’s only come as you wish you were, everyone welcomed, all-ages, pedestrian powered parade!!
March with us! Dance with us! Sing and celebrate Phoenix with us! Make a float! Don a costume! Bring your high school marching band. The Phoenix Annual Parade of the Arts is free and open to everyone! Come have fun with us!
Join the Office of the Mayor Phil Gordon, the Downtown Phoenix Partnership, and PAPA, LLC as The Phoenix Annual Parade of the Arts celebrates it 5th season on November 13, 2010. Come celebrate the advent of fall with this signature, award wining event. This year, PAPA festivities take on the theme “Let it Grow, Let it Grow, Let it Grow,” both a ‘shout out’ to the environmental consciousness of Downtown Phoenix and a nod to the recent expansion of the city’s infrastructure.
Let it Grow! Let it Grow! Let it Grow!
Lead this year by Bad Cactus Brass Band and Tucson’s Flam Chen performance troupe, PAPA inspires members of the community to march together in unique costumes and man powered floats that represent themselves, their family, their organization or their business. The night will close with a High energy performance by the valley’s own Dejentrification.
One of the parade coordinators, Dr. Rev Stephen Strange explains “The parade gets bigger every year. We just want to say thank you to everyone who comes out to allow PAPA to continue to grow. People talk about how the parade gives them a sense of pride in downtown Phoenix. We want everyone to be as creative as possible in showing ownership for this city.“
Headquartered at Fifth Street, between Roosevelt and Garfield Streets (parking is best just north of Roosevelt), PAPA kicks off with pre-procession events by professional artists and creative activities for kids and adults alike. New this year is the Roosevelt Row sponsored Pie Social, providing sweets and fun just prior to the procession.
At sundown, the community based, open to the public, free pedestrian and bike arts procession will begin, making a loop through the streets of Downtown Phoenix. To compete for awards in the costume, bike, group, “cute” and float contests. So bring the kids, some noise makers, pets on a leash and your neighbor who sews those fabulous dresses to enjoy a day of live music, dance, theatre, fine arts and a view of Downtown Phoenix from outside your car.
The Phoenix Annual Parade of the Arts celebrates the arts and culture that are a vital part of a metropolitan downtown. PAPA unites the arts with the greater community by providing an open to the public, mobile expression of downtown Phoenix life. The free, family friendly event is presented by Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, The Downtown Phoenix Partnership and the Production Agency for Participatory Arts, LLC. PAPA is a New Times Best of Phoenix winner.
Details:
Time: Saturday, November 13 · 4:00pm – 10:00pm
Location: 5th Street between Roosevelt and Garfield with procession through downtown Phoenix
Certified Local Fall Festival this Saturday, Nov. 13th
Free food • Live music • Fun for kids • Unique shopping • Live Music
Now in its 6th year, the Certified Local Fall Festival celebrates Arizona’s locally owned businesses with a bang this November!
This family-friendly street festival drew over 5,000 attendees last year with over 60 members participating. We hope you’ll count yourself as one of the attendees for this year’s festival!
Entertainment is provided by some of Arizona’s best musicians and bands. Many booths will also have fun activities!
Local breweries and vineyards provide drinks in the Beer & Wine Garden; many local vendors will also be offering non-alcoholic drinks
A raffle and silent auction raise funds for Local First and the first 500 attendees receive gift bags!
A bouncing castle will keep the young ones entertained while kids of all ages can scale the rock climbing wall.
Details
Where? Duck and Decanter 1651 E Camelback, Phoenix 85016 (map)
When: Saturday, Nov. 13th, 10 am – 4 pm
Contact: (602) 274-5429 • duckanddecanter.com
More Info: http://www.localfirstaz.com/fall-festival/ or Facebook Page
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
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.
It’s Tiki Time in Mid Town Phoenix
[Via: ABC 15]
Surf rock, tropical libations, and tiki treasures….oooo Mai! Yes, Mai Tais and Hawaiian shirts sway together once again this weekend for the Zogs Tiki Lounge Party 4 at The Rhythm Room in Phoenix.
Take a step back in time when The Ventures, Blue Hawaii, and colorful rum cocktails filled America with Polynesian posh. The Valley will once again experience this island adventure with the powerful yet calming motions from The Hawai’i and Pacific Islander Club Dancers and surf rock twang fu provided by the reverb sounds of local fez wearing menehunes Surfside IV, rockabilly/surf sounds of California natives The Hula Girls, and the instrumental sounds of Valley faves The Blue Moons will be cranking out shore melodies.
Live DJs, the sweet sounds of live tiki carving, swell island BBQ, and local low brow art will be on display to purchase. Tiki art and crafts byTom Copper and Nicholas White will also be showcased.
It has been a long hot summer and it is time kick off your shoes, sip on an umbrella cocktail and soak up some cool waves of tropical bliss without leaving the desert.
Details:
Sunday, September 26, 2010 from 6:00 PM – close
The Rhythm Room
1019 E Indian School Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85014
Admission: $8
Here is some video coverage of last years event:
Open Tables lets aspiring DJ’s spin their stuff in downtown Phoenix
[Source: State Press Magazine]
Revolver Records video by Andy Jeffreys and Becca Bever.
Step inside and be comforted by the smell of incense and sawdust. Don’t be intimidated by the seemingly endless crates of vinyl, books and CDs. Have a gander or make a day of it, because somewhere in the stacks of music, there is something for you. Look past the posters and haphazardly strung-up lights, and give in to Revolver Records.
In a world where artists are rushed to churn out new albums and songs are bought one at a time on iTunes, the downtown Phoenix record store is giving aspiring DJs a welcoming environment to hone their craft.
Every other Thursday, two Technics 1200 turntables and a sign-up list sit on the counter by the front door. A spin on the classic open mic night, Open Tables lets amateurs and professionals alike spin 20-minute sets of whatever their hearts desire.
Revolver Records supplies you with the turntables, a mixer, headphones and an audience. All you have to bring is your collection of vinyl.
Cameron Rosewicz, an employee at Revolver who first came up with the idea, says he enjoys Open Tables because he hears a variety of music and gets to meet new people.
“The best [part of Open Tables] is that everyone is really supportive,” Rosewicz says.
Revolver Records has been open since September 2007, but Open Tables began the first Thursday of July.
“It started out slow but has been building up,” Rosewicz says. “Regulars have started popping up as well as new people too.”
Kyle Nipp, a 37-year-old from Indianapolis, spun at Open Tables for the third time Aug. 26. Sporting an Iron Maiden T-shirt, he spins a mixture of Innerzone Orchestra and My Bloody Valentine.
“I’ve always fantasized about being a DJ,” says Nipp, a metalhead at heart. “[Here] I can be with people who share the love of vinyl.”
T.J. Jordan opened Revolver Records in 2007 with his business partner, Steve Zimmerman.
“We have really good DJs that come in and show the youngsters how to mix, drop the needle at the right part and stuff like that. It seems basic but [is important],” Jordan says.
What’s Jordan’s advice for people hesitant to take a crack at DJing? “Just do it.”
“Bring your records,” he says.
“Don’t be afraid of what kind of music it is or if you think it might suck. Be open to other people because that’s how you learn — by watching other people, what they do right or what they do wrong.”
Despite being a small business, Revolver Records has been doing well on Roosevelt Row, maintaining a consistent customer base and bringing in new music lovers.
In early September, the store celebrated its third anniversary with store-wide sales and perks for customers with reward cards. Live music by Hot Birds and the Chili Sauce kicked off the festivities.
Revolver’s motto is “keeping music spinning,” and it is easy to see T.J. Jordan loves his job. He almost called the anniversary weekend “Holy Shit We’ve Been in Business for Three Years.”
“We love records. We love music. I want to be the last record store standing. Whatever I do, the first thing in my mind is to keep us in business as long as possible,” Jordan says.
Revolver Records used to be on Seventh Avenue, but moved to its new location to be closer to the First Fridays art walk. Jordan says they wanted to start off small and build from the ground up. Today they offer low prices and friendly service without the stereotypical music-snob attitude.
“Our goal is to have as much product for the customer as possible and take ourselves out of it. For instance, if [the employee] likes punk music, but [the customer] wants to buy a Barry Manilow CD, they can go right ahead and do so,” Jordan says.
He is a fan of the world-music albums his store sells. “Funky rock from the 70s from Brazil is awesome,” he says. “DJs love that kind of stuff.”
Revolver Records makes a point to not purchase a lot of new music and does their best to keep their loyal following of customers. With open tables, live music and a broad spectrum of merchandise, they are bringing new people to what some might call an outdated industry.
“The art of record making is lost in this digital world,” says Jordan, a music lover who digs his heels into the ground and refuses to let Amazon and iTunes tell him to modernize.
Contact the reporter at apanguia@asu.edu.
If you go:
Open Tables at Revolver Records.
918 N. Second St., Phoenix. (map)
Every other Thursday night. (The next Open Tables is tomorrow Sept. 23rd.)
602-795-4980, revolveraz.com.
Downtown Phoenix Vitality: Weekly Events
[Source: Yuri Artibise, Downtown Phoenix Journal]
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.
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
