I'm inviting downtown residents and anyone interested in downtown Phoenix to join me at a Community Coffee this Saturday, May 10, 2008, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Palette, 606 North Fourth Avenue (the corner of Fourth Ave. and Fillmore). This is the first in a series of Saturday morning meetings I'll be hosting quarterly at different locations throughout the downtown area. They are meant to give us all a chance to meet informally to talk about timely topics plus any topic on your mind related to downtown Phoenix. Plus, they are meant to give us a chance to drink coffee! This Saturday, Phil Richards, Chair of the Phoenix Parks and Preserves Board and Initiative campaign, will join me. He’ll provide information about the Initiative, also known as Proposition A, which is on the May 20, 2008 ballot. However, the majority of the hour will be devoted to Q & A. You’re welcome to buy your own breakfast from Palette (check them out at www.downtownbrunch.com) – but the coffee is on me!No RSVPs are required. Hope to see you there!

May 5 - 9. Every day Daily Grind at the Phelps Dodge Tower, 1 N. Central Ave. is hosting a different local artist who is selling their unique items just in time for Mother's Day! Jewelry, pottery, hand-blown glass, candles, clothes & more. Stop by every day to see what is new.

For more information call 602 252 2737.      

Not referring to what we did last Saturday, but "the" last Saturday of the month.  Stop by the Drip Coffee Lounge at 8 PM on Saturday, the 26th and chill with some local musicians.  This month's performers include Host Doug Bale, musicians Mike Montoya (guitarist/vocalist of Fatigo) and Rocky Yazzie (guitarist/vocalist of Skinwalkers), as well as poet Shawnte Orion.

Admission is an underwhelming $3.

The Drip is located at 2325 N 7th St on the edge of the Coronado Historic District.

Call 602 363 2900 or visit www.dripcoffeelounge.com or www.dougbale.com

read more about the event at azcentral.com

I picked up this pamphlet, http://localfirstaz.com/downloads/small-wonders.pdf while having a tasty Belgium ale at Roosevelt's last weekend. It's a nifty fold-up with map included that features many of Central Phoenix's cool small businesses and events. www.localfirstaz.com is "a coalition of local business owners who are joining forces to create unique, strong communities that set Arizona apart from anytown, USA. We also aim to educate about the benefits of shopping locally." I signed up for their newsletter today.
-Mark

Organizers of the Coronado Historic Neighborhood Home Tour, taking place this coming Sunday, March 30th, have added a new twist to this year's Tour, involving the businesses on 7th St in the Historic District.  Read the very interesting details below. 

On Sunday March 30th, businesses located on 7th Street from Virginia to Palm are going to be open to serve people coming into the Coronado Neighborhood for its annual tour of historic homes. In preparation for the event the merchants have scheduled wine tastings, music, food and drink specials for Home Tour attendees, family entertainment, and even locally grown produce stands. A special twist is that neighborhood volunteers, resident artists, and local students will "paint" the sidewalk on the east side of Seventh Street with chalk on Saturday March 29th, the day before the event, adding art to the list of attractions. Sunday on Seventh will go into the night, culminating with band performances on its main stage at Camelback Contractors from 4 to 8 pm.

Home Tour info online

Didn't think so!  Well, to enlighten you, the CCC is short for chat,chew & chocolate.  Actually, there are chapters of this group all around the Valley.  An informal network of ladies who apparently chat together & eat chocolate.  Anyway, the Phoenix Chapter is holding their April gathering at one of our favorite downtown Phoenix Coffee spots, the Drip Coffee Lounge.  They have a special speaker lined up and everything.

Linda Griffith, owner of The Organized Option, a Professional Organizer & Speaker based in Phoenix, AZ. Linda has helped dozens of residential and home-based business owners achieve a clutter-free, efficient work area and regain their lost energy. A national speaker, Linda's presentations blend practical how-to organizing tips with motivation and humor. She is also a regular columnist on organizing topics for The Country Register. Linda can be reached at (480) 755-3991, or through her website, www.organizedoption.com, where you can sign up for her free monthly e-newsletter.

When: Monday, April 14

Time: 6:30pm - 9:30 pm

Where: Drip Coffee Lounge

2345 N 7th Street, PHX, 85006

Tickets are $25 or bring a friend-2 for $47.00 (when purchased in advance at www.phoenixccc.com)

Cost includes event, food, speaker & of course the chocolate fountain

The Link @ Sheraton will offer a unique and convenient online experience that will enable guests to surf the Internet, email loved ones, review local favorite attractions and even print up boarding passes. Customized features include free Wi-Fi and broadband Internet-enabled lounge installations in Sheraton hotel lobbies. The Link@Sheraton experienced with Microsoft was born out of guests' needs to have a sense of community and belonging while on the road.  In keeping with Sheraton's core values of warm, comforting, connections, the Link@Sheraton provides a place within Sheraton where guests can keep up with what's important to them, where they can work, relax, fit in and feel part of a community. 

The Link Café, which will be conveniently located next to the Link@Sheraton, will open early every day offering freshly brewed Starbucks® coffee, breakfast pastries, fresh fruit and sandwich selections. It's the perfect spot to relax over a cup of coffee, or grab one to go.

If you want to have a great time Saturday night, you might want to stop by the Drip Coffee Lounge at 2325 N 7th St in the Coronado Historic District and check out my friend Doug Bale's acoustical guitar music.  He can really rock out.

Doug Bale w Mike Montoya and special guests, The Flappy Bats!

Saturday, February 23rd, doors open at 8:30 PM.  $3 gets you in the door.

www.dougbale.com

www.dripcoffeelounge.com

Whether you are a local resident or a Super Bowl Visitor, come down to the south side of Downtown Phoenix this Friday night and check out the Art.  We have a very brief itinerary lined up for you to maximize your time and your appetite. 

1. Start your tour at the Royal Coffee Bar at the corner of 2nd Ave & Jackson, grab some great brew, check out their Exhibit "Painted Articles of Such Styles".  The RCB is open from 7 to 11 PM.

2. Head on over to 3rd St & Grant, just a few blocks south of the Warehouse District.  At 215 E Grant, you will get to experience the Bentley Projects Gallery, a converted historic laundry building with world class art.  The Bentley is open from 6 to 9 PM.

3. Step across 3rd st to The Coup de Grace Gallery at 707 S 3rd St, to see the work of local artist Chris Hardy and others plus "live music".  Coup de Grace is open from 6 to 10 PM.

Call 602 373 3725 if you get lost or need additional information.

The Royal Coffee Bar, a hip, modern vibe kinda Coffee House in a very urban setting has extended their hours and are now open from 7 AM to 7PM, Monday through Friday and I think 8 AM until 2 PM on Saturday when they serve Crepes.  For lunch, the RCB is now serving Lisa G's gourmet sandwiches.

The RCB is often open for "First Fridays" with local art on display.

RCB is located at 209 W Jackson, right on the Corner of 2nd Ave & Jackson, in the Warehouse District of Downtown Phoenix.

Royal Coffee Bar website