Downtown Phoenix
Misty’s World of Vintage
Posted on 12/18/12 by Kathleen Etzel » No Comments
Misty Navon Guerriero brings a wide range of designer and non-designer pieces to her downtown Phoenix vintage store at 818 N. Central Avenue, Vintage by Misty.
“The type of store I have, I don’t really feel like there is one out there,” Guerriero said. “So I felt like I had a great business concept and everybody would respond to it well, and they have.”
Since 2010, Guerriero has been the owner and curator of the vintage retail store, Vintage by Misty. She has built up a successful business on Central Avenue in downtown Phoenix, and online. She sells hand-picked clothing and accessories from the 60s to late 80s, with prices ranging from $40 to $400.
She wanted to cater to the local neighborhood surrounding her including Arizona State University’s downtown Phoenix campus, which is another reason Guerriero likes to keep a wide range of prices in her store.
“I never like to put a demographic on a business because I feel like if you do it right you can have something for anyone that walks in your door,” Guerriero said.
When Vintage by Misty opened in 2010, the economy was recovering from the recession and downtown Phoenix was on its way to new development. Although she had originally been working in Scottsdale, Guerriero chose to locate in downtown Phoenix to bring a small business with a new unique concept to the area.
“A lot of people and restaurants are coming to downtown because you can get amazing buildings and spaces at a great price,” Guerriero said.
Since Phoenix is a seasonal state, in the off summer months Guerriero has kept a profit by pushing her retail online. She joined Etsy, an online store for handmade and vintage items, and has been successful selling to people all over the world. Her in-store retail is still more profitable because people want to see and try on vintage, Guerriero said.
As an entrepreneur, she handles all aspects of the business. From being the face of Vintage by Misty, to doing the accounting, networking and marketing she has taken on multiple jobs within her store to form a brand.
“With a vintage store too you are really the only person that is marketing you,” Guerriero said. “You can’t compare a vintage store to Nordstrom; I mean it’s two completely different businesses. You have all those lines that Nordstrom carries promoting themselves and then you have Nordstrom on top of that promoting it.”
But the atmosphere in Vintage by Misty cannot be compared to any department store. The store is decorated with fun colors and décor of different cultures and eras. Racks of beautiful designers like Chanel, Gucci and Dior hang throughout the store. The moment you step into Vintage by Misty you leave downtown Phoenix and walk into a new bohemian, chic world.
“It’s the little things that make a huge difference, because everybody needs a break,” Guerriero said. “This world is so crazy. We’re all stressed out and I think this is what makes Vintage by Misty so fun. You come into this whole different world and you just play and you feel pretty.”
As far as expanding Vintage by Misty, Guerriero doesn’t have any plans as of now. She does private trunk shows known as “pop-ups” and will continue to brand herself online and in the Phoenix area.
“There’s no limit if you know how to market yourself,” Guerriero said.
Bike Chic | Brian Kern
Posted on 12/12/12 by Nathan Simpson » No Comments
DPJ’s Bike Chic series by Nathan Simpson. You may see him around town scouting locals who not only ride their bikes but look dapper doing it.
Name: Brian Kern
Age: 30
Occupation: Student/Research analyst
His Neighborhood: Garfield
Where Spotted: Jobot Coffee
What do you like about Downtown? The people. There are a lot of artistic people and people trying to do something different.
Where do you like to explore? I stick mostly to the 5th Street and Roosevelt area, but I love riding around Downtown when no one is out so I don’t have to worry about cars.
Why did you go car free? There is a lot of unnecessary stress in car ownership. I have spent less than $100 total in bike maintenance since I sold my car 9 months ago.
What is your typical biking ensemble? I don’t have anything I regularly wear for biking. It’s just whatever I am wearing that day. I do own cycling shoes but I rarely wear them.
What he’s wearing:
Watch: Seiko diver’s
Hat: Portman Pacific wool 8 panel
Jeans: Unbranded Denim from Buffalo Exchange
Jacket: Levi slim fit trucker jacket from the Levi Outlet
Boots: Wolverine 1000 Mile
His biking essentials:
Late 80s Bottecchia
Lots of water
Thorn proof tires
Wire | City Council Approves First Step in Developing ASU Center of Law
Posted on 12/12/12 by DPJ Staff » Comments Off
DPJ’s Wire series delivers news and information straight from the source without translation.
The Phoenix City Council last week approved city staff to begin negotiations and enter into contracts to facilitate Arizona State University’s development of the Arizona Center for Law and Society on city-controlled property in downtown Phoenix.
ASU proposes to develop the Arizona Center for Law and Society on approximately three-quarters of a block of city property bounded by Polk, Taylor, First and Second streets.
Conceptual rendering of the future Arizona Center of Law and Society. A design team has yet to be selected for the project, and construction is scheduled to begin in Spring 2014. The center is scheduled to open in Spring 2016. Image courtesy of ASU.
“Thank you to ASU, President Crow, my fellow council members and the Arizona Board of Regents for working so diligently in making this innovative move to our growing downtown Phoenix urban core,” said Mayor Greg Stanton. “This is more than just a move – it’s a major part of our city’s and region’s future and a place where ideas from some of the best law students in the country will contribute to our justice system and make Phoenix and Arizona a better place to live for generations to come.”
In addition to the hundreds of ongoing professional jobs created in Phoenix by this investment, approximately 1,000 construction-related jobs and $1 million in construction sales tax will be generated.
“Locating the College of Law in downtown Phoenix is a perfect match that will enhance the vibrant university campuses, create jobs and provide real-world educational benefits and opportunities for the law students,” said Vice Mayor Michael Johnson, chairman of the City Council’s Downtown, Aviation, Economy and Education Subcommittee.
The approximately $100 to $120 million, six-story facility will include the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law in approximately 250,000 to 300,000 square feet, as well as continuing legal education facilities, community legal services, public retail amenities and approximately 200 to 250 parking spaces.
“This is an investment that makes sense for ASU College of Law, its students and the city of Phoenix,” said Councilman Bill Gates. “The move will position one of our nation’s top public law schools within walking distance of local, state and federal courts, our state’s top law firms and business headquarters.”
“We are deeply grateful for the support we have received from Mayor Stanton and members of the City Council for our relocation to downtown Phoenix,” said Douglas Sylvester, dean of the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. “We are excited about the opportunity to be situated in what has become the legal, government and corporate center of not only Phoenix, but of Arizona as a whole, and for the opportunity to further embed ourselves in the downtown community.”
Construction of the project is scheduled to begin in Spring 2014, completion of construction in late 2015. The center is scheduled to open in Spring 2016.
Call for Artists | Limits
Posted on 12/03/12 by DPJ Staff » No Comments
Call for Artists: Limits
Deadline: January 1, 2013
Notification by: January 15, 2013
Contact: limitexhibit@gmail.com
Location: Bragg’s Pie Factory, Phoenix, AZ
Date: April 2013
Seeking artists who impose restrictions on themselves or others or who choose to continually test and push boundaries conceptually and physically in their work. Like the first polar explorers, ultra-marathoners or Guinness record-breakers, individuals who choose to question boundaries or limitations open themselves up to a risk that many aren’t willing to take, especially now in a culture that is becoming more regulated and monitored due to a heightened sense of fear.
NO limits.
This exhibit will highlight artists who share an adventurous attitude but who, more specifically, feel compelled to test their own limits, the limits of the system they function within or who intentionally impose restrictions on themselves or their participants. Of particular interest are artists using performance, interventions or works that inherently test systems like using the architecture of the internet against itself or functioning on the brink of what is socially acceptable or legal.
This exhibit will be housed in an art space but include relics or documentation of site-specific works created throughout the city and other locations as well as instructional pieces and other ways to engage the audience within the space. Artist does not need to be on-site for the exhibit if their work is instructional, video or has relatively simple set-up. Possible entries/proposals could include but are not limited to: video, projection, intervention, performance, web-based, ephemeral, instructional.
Exhibit will run for one month at the historic Braggs Pie Factory in the Grand Avenue district of Phoenix, AZ. Call to artists is open to any U.S. artist.
Submit for consideration:
- 5-10 images in jpeg format (keep each image under 500K)
- Resume (2 pages max)
- Statement or Proposal
Email to: limitexhibit@gmail.com
Direct questions to Jen Urso at the above email address.
About the curator:
Jen Urso is a multi-disciplinary artist who has curated group and solo exhibits at locations such as the Icehouse, eye lounge and First Backyard. She has exhibited her own work in Arizona, New York, Oregon, Colorado, Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro and published her book the things in between in conjunction with a solo exhibit at Modified Arts in 2011. Jen has been a proponent of the Phoenix arts community for years and looks forward to involving and exhibiting artists from around the country. (She also is a DPJ contributor.)
Call for Artists | Art Detour 25
Posted on 11/30/12 by DPJ Staff » No Comments
DPJ’s Wire series delivers news and information straight from the source without translation.
Artlink Phoenix seeks an original artwork or artworks for Art Detour 25. The work will be used in a designed format as the basis for the Art Detour 25 poster, postcard and other marketing materials.
This artwork should:
- Create excitement and interest for the community
- Potentially (but not necessarily) honor and commemorate the history of Art Detour.
- Celebrate the artistic community in the downtown Phoenix area.
- Inspire people to remember the past, and to appreciate the cultural legacy that belongs to them and to future generations
The artwork (s) must be a flat work in any medium – but will be represented digitally in all paper and electronic collateral. The original piece will be displayed during Art Detour 25 at the A.E. England gallery. The size of original piece does not matter – it will be represented as a poster, postcard and online in various sizes.
Art Detour 24 art by Jenny Ignaszewski.
The artist may be asked to work with designers to help format the poster, etc. The original artwork will remain the property of the artist.
Eligibility: Any artist currently living and working in Arizona.
Deadline for submissions: December 15, 2012
Digital representations must reach the Artlink board via email or flash drive. The work will be chosen and the announcement made on December 31, 2012.
The Artlink board reserves the right to change the project timeline.
How to Apply
Artists interested in this project must prepare and submit the following:
- A digital representation of the piece. No larger than 1 MB. This should be a JPG, TIFF. PDF or PNG file. Submission files will not be returned.
- A note with current contact info.
- A maximum of three works.
- Titles, dates of completion, materials used in the original work, any other background information deemed necessary.
Please submit all materials to: nancy@artlinkphoenix.com
