From the Wire
Wire | Valley Youth Theatre Hosts Water Mural Series
Posted on 4/25/13 by DPJ Staff » No Comments
DPJ’s Wire series delivers news and information straight from the source without translation.
#Water Writes, a global public arts initiative spearheaded by the Estria Foundation, has enlisted community artists to paint the tenth of 12 water-themed murals on the south- facing wall of Valley Youth Theatre, located on the corner of Fillmore and First Street in Downtown Phoenix.
Each of the locations selected for #WaterWrites murals—California, Honolulu, Palestine, Philippines, El Salvador, Colombia, South Africa, British Columbia and Phoenix— are facing critical water issues. The Downtown Phoenix mural, “Water Is Life,” will incorporate imagery designed to inspire and educate—on the way in which water is delivered into Phoenix, the impacts of wasteful water policies, and sustainable energy alternatives.
Local community organizations, Black Mesa Water Coalition, Tonatierra, PUENTE, and the Phoenix Revitalization Corporation have worked together with a team of community artists, including Jeff Slim, Angel Diaz, and Averian Chee to create the mural image. Painting will begin on Sunday, April 28 at 2 p.m. and the finished wall will be unveiled during First Friday on May 3 at 4 p.m.
“To get a mural of this caliber, with such a great story, is a big win for Downtown,” said Downtown Phoenix Partnership Vice President Terry Madeksza. “To have community artists using Valley Youth Theatre as their canvas makes the effort all the more special.”
Everyone is invited to attend the mural’s kickoff “paint party” on site at Valley Youth Theatre at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 28. The paint party will feature complimentary food and refreshments by Squash Blossom, live music, and an opportunity for attendees to paint a portion of the wall.
To help support, or get more information on the #WaterWrites Mural series visit www.estria.org or visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAeYOrZbJtA to watch videos of the completed mural projects.
About The Downtown Phoenix Partnership
The Downtown Phoenix Partnership is a nonprofit organization made up of property owners located in Arizona’s Urban Heart, between Fillmore to south of Jackson Streets and Third Avenue to Seventh Street. The Partnership provides enhanced municipal services within this area including the management and marketing of Downtown Phoenix. For more information, visit DowntownPhoenix.com. The Partnership can be reached at (602) 254-8696.
About Black Mesa Water Coalition
Black Mesa Water Coalition is dedicated to preserving and protecting Mother Earth and the integrity of Indigenous Peoples’ cultures, with the vision of building sustainable and healthy communities. BMWC strives to empower young people while building sustainable communities. www.blackmesawatercoalition.org
About The Estria Foundation
Founded in 2010 by graffiti legend Estria Miyashiro, the Estria Foundation creates art in public spaces locally and globally with artists, educators, and activists in an effort to raise awareness and inspire action in the movement to resolve human and environmental issues. For more information visit www.estria.org
Wire | CO-OPhx Hosts Spring Clothing Swap
Posted on 4/19/13 by DPJ Staff » No Comments
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CO-OPhx Hosts Spring Clothing Swap to Renew Wardrobes and Spirit in Phoenix Community
Five Swaps, 500 Swappers and 2000 pounds of donated items
Spring is the perfect time for renewal and CO-OPhx is hosting their fifth clothing swap and clothing drive to renew guests’ wardrobes and spirit in the community.
For over a year now, Kelsey Wong and Karla Rasmusson, co-founders of CO-OPhx, one of the largest networking organizations in the Valley, have been spreading the love for secondhand style and giving back to their community by hosting clothing swap and clothing drive events in Phoenix. The events that benefit local charities like Big Brothers Big Sisters, Fresh Start Women’s Foundation, Sojourner Center and Clothing Cycle.
With four swaps under their belt, 500 swappers and over 2000 lbs of items donated, Wong and Rasmusson have planned one of the largest “Spring Swaps”. On Sunday, April 21, from 11am to 4 p.m., the front yards of GROWOp, Annie Boomer Vintage and Cellar Door Vintage will be filled with the once-loved clothes of participants for others to swap and take home. Not only will gently used clothes be swapped, but also heartwarming stories of the clothes’ journeys between the attendees.
“It’s really rewarding to see Phoenix coming together. Locals are really craving new ways to connect and be a part of something. Our events are different than your typical guest and entertainer, they are interactive. Every attendee gets to engage,” stated Kelsey Wong, Executive Director, CO-OPhx.
This time around it’s not just the clothing exchange swappers are excited about. “We’ve learned a lot from our past events, we’ve streamlined and cut out the excess. The swap itself is the main event, but now there are separate men and women’s swaps. At past swaps, the women outweighed the men. We’re trying to balance the scales, plus it’s not really fair to the guys,” said Karla Rasmusson, Co-founder, CO-OPhx.
CO-OPhx isn’t stopping at the swap, there are four style tutorials from local boutique owners including Amir from Amir La Voute, Ashley Eaton from Merry May Shoppe, Joshua Hahn from GROWop and Adrian Leisong of Superstition Vintage. Swappers will learn a little bit of everything from how to tie a bowtie to how to shop vintage. If that wasn’t enough, swappers will also get to test out their craftiness with do-it-yourself upcycling booths and of course vintage shopping at the three host stores.
“We love what the clothing swap team is doing to bring fresh faces to the area and show locals that not only is downtown Phoenix community a cool place to be, but that there is a budding vintage district and treasures to be found,” states Joshua Hahn, Owner, GROWop boutique.
After the day of community and fashion, whatever items are not swapped will be donated to ClothingCycle, a non-profit that recycles or reuses 100 percent of items regardless of condition.
“Clothing Cycle is excited to participate in the Spring Clothing Swap because all items donated will be reused or recycled. Every organization we partner with gets paid for every pound collected and 100% of the items will be kept out of landfills,” says Laurie Quartermain, Operations Director, Clothing Cycle.
“Phoenix is all about rebirth and revitalization. We are doing that for clothes and for people’s spirits. That feeling of renewed confidence is priceless,” stated Wong.
Tickets are $10 online, $15 at the door. To register for tickets, swappers can visit swapphx.splashthat.com.
About CO-OPhx:
Founded by Kelsey Wong and Karla Rasmusson in February 2012, CO-OPhx is an organization of inspired individuals with a mission is to foster meaningful connections and build community in Phoenix through fashion, art and food events.
Wire | First Annual ‘Grow Phoenix Festival’
Posted on 4/19/13 by DPJ Staff » No Comments
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Top Valley Chefs Headline First Annual “Grow Phoenix Festival”
Arizona Science Center and Chipotle team up to host free food and science event
WHAT: Arizona Science Center is celebrating the culmination of the Chew on This! film and lecture series with the first annual Grow Phoenix Festival. In addition to educational and interactive activities hosted by Arizona Science Center, the event will feature informative demonstrations by members of the Phoenix culinary community, with a focus on food sustainability in the Valley. A variety of food trucks will join the festival, with a popular local band providing entertainment.
Cooking demonstrations will happen every hour on the half hour (starting at 10:30 a.m.), and will include the following:
- Chef Jon Clancy from M Catering
- Chef Joshua Herbert from Posh Improvisational Cuisine
- Chef Nathan Hirsh from Whole Foods
- Chef Eddie Matney from Eddie’s House
- Chefs Sammy & Zach Sleman from North Italian Farmhouse
Festival-goers who need refreshment will be able to choose from an array of food trucks, which will be onsite between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. They’ll include Island Logo, Burgers Amore!, The Chef Genie, Kona Ice, frufrupops and Paletas Betty. Local band Peppermint James will provide musical entertainment between noon and 2 p.m. (whenever there is not a chef demonstration on stage).
Scientists from Arizona Science Center will be on hand with fun activities for the whole family, including T-shirt design stations, solar manicures, eco-weave projects, a “Calculate Your Food Mile” challenge and much more.
The event is free and sponsored in part by Chipotle Mexican Grill, Whole Foods and M Catering by Michael’s.
WHEN: Saturday, April 20; 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
COST: Free
WHERE: Heritage & Science Park (in front of Arizona Science Center), 600 East Washington St.
WHY: Arizona Science Center and Chipotle both share a commitment to the local community and raising awareness of important food-related issues. Chipotle has a track record for changing the way people think and eat fast food through its Food With Integrity vision, including through its own ingredient sourcing, seeking out the most sustainable sources for everything from beans to lettuce and meats. Specifically, Chipotle will serve more than 10 million pounds of locally grown produce this year. Additionally, Chipotle serves naturally raised meat – from animals that are raised in a humane way and never given antibiotics or added hormones – as well as dairy from pasture-raised cattle. Chipotle and Arizona Science Center both wanted to provide a learning platform for all ages, and the Chew on This! film and lecture series provides the perfect, fun way for families to start thinking differently about food, where it comes from, how it was raised and how it will affect the environment around them.
INFO: More information about the event and Arizona Science Center is available by visiting azscience.org or by calling (602) 716-2000.
Wire | Seventh Urban Wine Walk on Saturday
Posted on 4/18/13 by DPJ Staff » No Comments
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SEVENTH URBAN WINE WALK IS SATURDAY, APRIL 20
Spring in Downtown Phoenix means two things: 1) The Diamondbacks begin their pursuit of an NL West championship and 2) The return of Urban Wine Walk, Downtown’s seasonal celebration of the grape.
Wine enthusiasts from all over the Valley—with palates ranging from rookie to refined—will pour into the streets April 20 from 1-6 p.m. to sample wine and snacks from 18 restaurants located in close proximity to METRO Light Rail as Urban Wine Walk makes its seventh appearance in Downtown Phoenix and the Central Corridor
Whether you’re passionate about food and wine or just looking for a good time, Wine Walk encourages urban adventurists to safely park-and-ride while soaking up some sunshine and our vibrant central city scene. With $4 all-day light rail pass in hand, Wine Walkers can pick a starting point and let their stomachs lead them from restaurant to restaurant to taste a wide variety of wines. Urban Wine Walk restaurants are strategically clustered to allow Walkers to maximize their experiences at each stop along light rail.
Wine Walk revelers. Photo provided by Downtown Phoenix Partnership.
Participating restaurants will pour three featured wines from 1 to 6 p.m. but Wine Walkers will need to get to Tom’s Tavern & 1929 Grill early to get a gift. Commemorative Urban Wine Walk glasses will be handed out to the first 300 folks who purchase a wine sample at Tom’s, beginning at 1 p.m.
Participation is FREE and wine samples cost between $2 and $3.
In addition to Tom’s Tavern, featured Urban Wine Walk restaurants include 1130 The Restaurant, Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails, Bonjour Vietnam, Brick Pizzeria, Cheuvront, District American Kitchen, FEZ, Hula’s Modern Tiki, ICON, Kincaid’s, LUSTRE, Networks, Province, The Rose & Crown, Steve’s Greenhouse Grill, The Arrogant Butcher, The Duce and The Strand Urban Italian.
Urban Wine Walk is proudly sponsored by the Downtown Phoenix Partnership and Tom’s Tavern & 1929 Grill.
For all things Urban Wine Walk, including maps and menus, visit downtownphoenix.com/winewalk
Wire | Roosevelt Row Hosts ‘Equinox’ Fundraiser
Posted on 3/20/13 by DPJ Staff » No Comments
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What began as a simple house party along Roosevelt Row has grown into an annual fundraiser that brings over 200 people together to celebrate life in the Downtown Phoenix Arts District. This year, Roosevelt Row Community Development Corporation will host its annual fundraiser at the start of spring – under the banner of the Equinox.
The funds raised through ticket sales and a raffle will help keep the Adaptive Re-use of Temporary Space (A.R.T.S.) Growhouse Community Garden active and vibrant. Growhouse grows fresh produce for the market and local restaurants, and works with students at Bioscience High School to create hands on learning experiences such as producing honey, growing food, and creating sunflower seed based bio fuel.
The event will be held at Cibo Urban Pizzeria, 603 North 5th Avenue on March 28, beginning at 5:30 pm.
General admission tickets are $35 and include two drinks and complimentary appetizers.
As a special addition to the event, a $100 VIP ticket will be offered. The $100 ticket includes entry to Equinox as well as VIP admission to the to the Feast on the Street event on April 13. VIP guests will have access to a lounge with food, drinks, comfortable facilities, and a balcony overlookign the event.
Tickets are available online at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/344451
Roosevelt Row Community Development Corporation (CDC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit community development corporation established to further the unique cultural character and creative assets of the Roosevelt Row Arts District, to advocate for the continuing presence and role of the arts and small business in the revitalization of the district, and to foster a dense, diverse and walkable urban community.
Information about Feast on the Street can be found at http://www.feastonthestreet.org/
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- Honey from the Growhouse bees
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- Volunteer day at the garden
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- Bioscience students lend a hand
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- Bioscience student beekeepers
If You Go
What: Roosevelt Row Equinox Fundraiser
Where: Cibo, 603 N. 5th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85003
When: Thursday, March 28, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/344451
Tickets are $35 and include two drinks and complimentary appetizers.
100 ticket includes Equinox AND one VIP ticket to Feast on the Street on Saturday, April 13.
