The link was reliked, commented on, retweeted, and dugg. But, one particular tweet caught my eye:

@tdhurst has a reputation for being a little contrary from time to time, but (maybe) he had a point this time — Phoenix grew, but was it in a good or sustainable way? I’ve been thinking about that question all weekend, and this is what I’ve come up with: Making Phoenix grow wasn’t Mr. Fairbanks’ job.

Most cities west of the Mississippi have a council/manager form of city government, where the council is made up of elected officials and the manager is appointed by council. Under this system, when a policy is put forth by a majority vote of council, it becomes the job of the manager to budget for, plan for, and execute said policy. And, because the manager reports the council (not the voters), he or she is responsible for carrying out those policies regardless of whether or not the manager believes it is a good use of time or effort. Needless to say, there are times where this can be frustrating for city managers (which means it shouldn’t come as a surprise to you that there is an informal monthly meeting of city managers from across the Valley of the Sun called the 4-3 Club).

So, what’s the recipe for a successful manager? Do you remember that Supreme Court case in 1964 when Justice Potter Stewart uttered the now-famous “I know it when I see it” phrase referring to pornography? Well, there is a unspoken rule among managers that the opposite is true of their profession. Said differently, one knows a good city manager when they don’t see them. Fairbanks had four decades of experience with the city of Phoenix, yet I can guarantee that eight out of 10 people have no idea who he is. He ran an organization with nearly 15,000 employees, but stayed out of headlines. The average lifespan for a job as city manager is five years; Fairbanks held the job for 20. Point is, the less you hear about your city manager, the better.

Take, for instance, Scottsdale. There has been quite a hullabaloo over in America’s Most Livable City. Manager John Little was fired last week, and now he’s hiring an attorney to fight the body that cut him loose. The circumstances would take a little more space than I’m allowed to explain, so I’ll whittle it down: They don’t get along. And, don’t forget that Fairbanks’ replacement comes with a little baggage of his own — something that caused Council Mike Johnson enough hesitation to vote against David Cavazos’ appointment.

So, I guess my answer to Tyler comes in two parts:

1. Yes, Frank Fairbanks was extremely talented. This summer, Phoenix was named an All-American City, which only added to the portfolio of awards for outstanding management under Fairbanks’ leadership.
2. Phoenix grew, but yes, maybe not in the best way. But, it is important to know that it wasn’t Fairbanks’ job to make the decision on the direction of the city, but rather to carry out the decisions made by council. If you or any resident of Phoenix are interested in the sustainable development of Phoenix for the future, get involved in city of Phoenix politics. A great way to start is to call your City Councilman and set up a meeting. Remember, you are their employer.

The sad reality is that local politics are still on the bottom rung of the “paid-attention-to-politically” ladder, but shouldn’t be. Healthcare reform has been grabbing all the headlines lately, but won’t enter into actuality for at least two years even if it passes. In contrast, Phoenix City Council will be voting before the end of the year on measures to encourage adaptive reuse that will have an immediate affect on us Downtown devotees by luring cool businesses, bars and other hot spots into the core of our city.

So, let’s allow our city manager to manage, and hold our elected leadership accountable for the future of Phoenix.

Catrina, Si and the rest of the staff thank you for reading.

The Bearded Truth | Leadership vs. Management

It’s a beautiful time of year, and the Phoenix Convention Center will delight out-of-state visitors. DPJ extends its own form of hospitality by providing a little Conventional Wisdom, some insight into what can be found/viewed/sipped/snacked on while visiting Downtown Phoenix.

In town
November 10-14 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo

Let DPJ be the first to welcome you to the neighborhood! Looking over your itinerary, we can’t help but notice you’re going to have some free time to explore the heart of our fair city.

Weather report
Average high: 82°
Average low: 58º

Breaks/lunch
Arcadia Farms is a short walk or quick ride on the METRO light rail. Housed in two of Phoenix’s foremost cultural establishments, the Phoenix Art Museum and Arizona Science Center, respectively, these cafés have been striving to inspire the people of Central Phoenix to enjoy cuisine from local, organically grown, pesticide-free and hormone-free ingredients. Your patronage will help cultivate our sustainability by supporting local farmers and the restaurants that promote them.

Dinner
Phoenix dinner options span across many regions and continents, and locally grown dinner options are on the rise in Downtown Phoenix, with even more options if you hop on the METRO light rail.

NINE|05, located at 4th and Garfield streets, offers what it refers to as “earth conscious” and ingredient-driven food of the modern Asian persuasion, a winning combination in our eyes. The outdoor seating option is ideal for the current patio-perfect weather; enjoy some crepes and kimchi in this casual atmosphere.

For those staying further uptown, the Mexico City-style Gallo Blanco Café & Bar will not disappoint. Nestled inside of Phoenix’s favorite boutique hotel, The Clarendon, this café is proud of it is locally sourced ingredients, and uses its website to promote the causes it cares about. With reasonable prices and portions, the Phoenix regulars here are more like addicts. Come for the tacos and stay for the rooftop sunset.

Local culture
There will be two chances during your conference for all to participate in the Downtown Phoenix Public Market, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The market is located adjacent to the new Urban Grocery and Wine Bar on the southeast corner of Central Avenue and McKinley Street. Shop for fresh produce and community arts and crafts and listen to music. Don’t forget to stop into Royal at the Market for its signature Velvet Latte with white chocolate and a double shot of espresso. Spend some Downtown time meeting the locals who take sustainability to heart and come out to exchange ideas and goods twice per week, whether rain, shine or blistering heat. Visit on Wednesday 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Nightlife
After a long week of saving the planet, Roosevelt Row would like locals and convention-goers alike to come together and celebrate with the Green Streets Festival. A grand finale to the convention, the festival is a free community event that will feature eco-friendly products, local arts, crafts, food, bands and more. Also taking place will be the Downtown Phoenix Pub Crawl and beer garden, featuring seasonal brews. The festivities commence Friday evening and continue well into Saturday with a neighborhood tree planting, Second Saturday Sidewalk Sale, an art-exclusive vendor block party and live music for all to enjoy.

Getting around
RailLife.com’s quick METRO light rail tip: Light rail has increased hours on Friday and Saturday nights (technically Saturday and Sunday mornings), running until 2 a.m.

Check out RailLife.com for more light rail information.

Catrina, Si and the rest of the staff thank you for reading.

Conventional Wisdom | GreenBuild Expo

This Saturday, November 14, Arizona Citizens for the Arts is highlighting these venues and installations by challenging teams of two or more people to “ride the rails” in search of Phoenix art treasures along the light rail line. The PHX ART Treasures coincides with Phoenix’s Green Week celebrations. It will take place on November 14 from 1-6 p.m.

“This unique event is intended to showcases the amazing array of arts and cultural opportunities in and around Phoenix METRO light rail,” says Brenda Sperduti, Executive Director of Arizona Citizens for the Arts, which will benefit from the proceeds of the event.

Arizona Citizens for the Arts is the nonprofit charitable arm of Arizona Action for the Arts. Its goal is to increases discussion and awareness of the importance and impact of the arts in achieving quality of life, educational excellence and economic health for all Arizonans and Arizona enterprises. It also presents the Governor’s Arts Awards annually with the Arizona Commission on the Arts and the Office of the Governor.

Registration for the event will start at 1 p.m. at the Wells Fargo History Museum, 100 W. Washington in Downtown Phoenix (map). The “hunt” itself gets underway at 1:45. Participating teams will head out on a treasure/scavenger hunt to earn points toward cash prizes by deciphering trivia questions, finding clues and demonstrating artistic and creative talents along the light rail route. Teams begin returning to the starting location at 4:30 p.m. Scores will be tallied at 5 p.m., and announced at 6 p.m. The top three teams will win cash prizes of $300 for first place, $200 for second and $100 for third.

Registration is $30 per person (children in grades K-8 are FREE) and $20 for students (student IDs required for 9th grade and up). Register two or more people online by November 10 and each will receive a $5 discount. In addition to the chance to win a cash prize, each registrant will receive:

• a METRO all-day ride pass ($3.50 value)
• free all-day parking in the Wells Fargo garage ($12 value)
• event t-shirt ($10 value)
• food, beverages and musical entertainment by local reggae/punk/surf band RAC from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Wells Fargo History Museum
• a swag bag with great stuff from sponsors and art venues

This is a great event for families, school groups, corporate team building, service groups and friends. It will help you discover the core of your city and explore the many arts and culture treasures it has to offer.

For more information or to register, visit phxarttreasures.org or call (602) 253-6535. You can also stay up to date on Arizona Citizens for the Arts on Facebook and Twitter.

Sponsors for the event include Wells Fargo, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and METRO.

Catrina, Si and the rest of the staff thank you for reading.

Treasure Hunt on the Metro — November 14

Andrew Jackson Jihad at Civic Space Park

Andrew Jackson Jihad — “When in AZ” 11/07 from Downtown Phoenix Journal on Vimeo.

Western Medicine at Stinkweeds

Western Medicine at Stinkweeds 11/08 from Downtown Phoenix Journal on Vimeo.

Mi Monster at Stinkweeds

Mi Monster at Stinkweeds 11/08 from Downtown Phoenix Journal on Vimeo.

Vanessa Atalanta at Stinkweeds

Vanessa Atalanta at Stinkweeds 11/08 from Downtown Phoenix Journal on Vimeo.

Boys and Frogs

Boys and Frogs at Stinkweeds 11/08 from Downtown Phoenix Journal on Vimeo.

Catrina, Si and the rest of the staff thank you for reading.

Music from the Weekend: ‘When in AZ’ and CenPhoTV Benefit

Locally owned Red Hot Robot, Frances and Smeeks sit neatly in a row surrounding Stinkweeds. Each store radiates friendly intimacy.

Red Hot Robot is what owner Jason Kiningham describes as, “The definitive designer toy store in town that carries collectibles and gifts, including designer toys, art, books clothes and gifts.”

Red Hot Robot: Ugly or adorable?

Don’t know what the designer toy movement is? Drop by and Kiningham will explain it with the passionate finesse of a true collector. Before even beginning our interview, Kiningham explicitly explains each of the various lines of toys.

“Designer toys in general [are] a combination of a bunch of different movements like pop cultural, comic books, anime and lowbrow art and music, film and TV, and brings it together. It is very unique and dynamic and has caught the eye of a lot of different people,” Kiningham says.

Featured at stores like Urban Outfitters, designer toys include the popular lines of Dunnys, uniform bunny molds that various artist paint and design unique to their style, and Uglydolls, a line of plush dolls that are so ugly they’re adorable.

“One of Obama’s girls went to school with an Uglydoll in her backpack at the beginning of the year,” says Kiningham. “Those things are making the movement more widely known.”

Items in the store range from $8 blind boxes, where you never know what you’ll get, through collector’s items priced around $100. Kiningham describes his target market as “consumers.”

“The No. 1 consumer is the passionate toy and art collector, and No. 2 is the gift buyer or the casual buyer. I have a lot of items for non-collectors. I cater to whatever consumers are interested in.”

He admits the change in the economy has eliminated a lot of his regulars. Now, Kiningham is careful to only buy what he knows he can sell.

Red Hot Robot’s name fits. After making a list of words he liked, including robot, Kiningham “literally woke up in the middle of the night and Red Hot Robot just stuck.”

“Robot,” according to Kiningham, already carried the cache of designer toys. Kid Robot is the most predominant designer toy maker, and only two other things sport the same name: an East Coast DJ and a 1950s comic series. “It is a perfect fit,” says Kiningham.

Frances: Something for every woman

The stores at Central and Camelback all seem to be a perfect fit, like a tiny jigsaw juxtaposed with a Boston Market, lawyers’ offices and the light rail stop across the street. Each has an exposed wood-beam ceiling and is warm and welcoming.

Frances, one storefront over from Red Hot Robot, is an eclectic boutique owned by Georganne Bryant. Bryant seems to be an every-person’s woman. She greets her customers like old friends and she carries friendly conversation with a pair of teenage girls excited with their purchase.

The store, which opened in May 2006, has a folk feel to it. Mismatched, antique, wooden armoires display jewelry and clothes. Feathers, tree branches and antlers create a unique decorative appeal. A chalkboard behind the registers adds a crafty touch.
Gifts, clothes and vintage items are in every nook of the space. Bryant finds her vintage pieces at estate sales and markets. Frances carries about 40% local pieces.

The interior designing is done by Bryant, herself. “Everything about it is in my head,” she says.

The shop is a direct reflection of Bryant’s personality and style. She doesn’t sell anything she doesn’t personally like. A stay-at-home mom raised in Tucson, Bryant was encouraged by her daughter to open the boutique. “She felt like I had a sense of style,” she remarks.

As for the name, Frances, “It was my grandmother’s name. When I was trying to figure out what to name it, I wanted something that was meaningful, so that stuck with me,” Bryant says.

The store appeals to every woman. “I have high school girls who love it, and women my age like it. Even 70-year-old women. It’s all ages,” says Bryant.

The same goes for Bryant’s other store, Smeeks, which opened in July. Located on the other side of Red Hot Robot, Smeeks is an old-fashioned, good-times candy store. “A lot of the neighborhood kids will walk with their parents to the store,” Bryant says.

Painted light blue and red, the shop smells strongly of sweet peppermint. A cute candy house sits on a ledge next to the shop’s name in lights. The store houses a photo booth, and its photos decorate a wall.

Smeeks: The photo booth is a hit, to say the least

Smeeks features classic candies, sodas and childhood novelties. Smeeks recently started carrying its own line of candies, featuring pieces like chocolate-covered cinnamon bears and gummy army men. Bryant describes it as the “finishing touch.”

Smeeks is Bryant’s nickname. “My father still calls me Smeeks. I’m not sure where he came up with the name,” says Bryant.

Bryant loves the community feel of Phoenix. She feels as though the business owners are the ambassadors for the city. “I feel like the business owners will really help you out. People will recommend my store and I’ll recommend theirs.”

Red Hot Robot (602.256.8560), Smeeks (602.279.0538) and Frances (602.279.5467) are located at 14, 14 and 10 W. Camelback, respectively — light rail station at Central/Camelback.

Red Hot Robot

from Alex Flamini on Vimeo.

from Alex Flamini on Vimeo.

from Alex Flamini on Vimeo.

Smeeks

from Alex Flamini on Vimeo.

from Alex Flamini on Vimeo.

from Alex Flamini on Vimeo.

Frances

from Alex Flamini on Vimeo.

from Alex Flamini on Vimeo.

Catrina, Si and the rest of the staff thank you for reading.

Get Your Boutique On: Central and Camelback

Peper, who has since ditched the desert to set up his studio in Denver, returns to Perihelion Arts this First Friday to display a set of 20 of his newest works. The theme? Take your pick: Peper lists surrealism, literature, anthropomorphic and totemic cultural creations and the “balance of the beautiful and the grotesque” among his many influences. And, yes, Tarot is in there, too. It’s something you’d both smile and shudder at. It’s like a scary acid trip.

Where religion meets spirituality meets the devil meets animal sacrifice, you can place Peper’s work. The idea, buried somewhere in that description, is to blend the beautiful with the hideous. We think he succeeds with flying colors (just check out the picture if you have your doubts).

Peper, who works in series of paintings (he also sketches in ink as well), has had successful shows in Florida, New York and his home turf of Colorado since his last visit to the Valley.

Perihelion Arts is located at 610 E. Roosevelt St. — light rail station at Central/Roosevelt. (602) 334.6299

Catrina, Si and the rest of the staff thank you for reading.

First Friday: Jesse Peper at Perihelion Arts

Next week’s games
11/06/09 SUNS @ Celtics — 5:30 p.m., my45
11/08/09 SUNS @ Wizards — 11 a.m., my45
11/09/09 SUNS @ Sixers — 5 p.m., my45
11/11/09 SUNS vs Hornets — 8:30 p.m., ESPN

It’s disappointing to be writing this after the way the Suns performed against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night, but all in all, as a Suns fan, I can’t complain about being 4-1 at this point in the season. There are a lot of positives to look at early in the season, and I’m going to touch base on three of them.

1. Rebounding. Coming into the season, the biggest concern most Suns fans had was what the Suns were going to do on the boards. They were smashed on the boards in the preseason. It’s like they weren’t even trying out there. In the last four practices before the season started, coach Alvin Gentry really drilled into the guys about their lack of effort on the boards and it seems to have paid off, at least so far. Through the first five games of the season, Phoenix has out rebounded their opponents three times. Before the season started, I didn’t know if the Suns would out rebound the opposition three times throughout the entire season — they were that bad. In the two games the Suns have lost the battle on the boards, they’ve only lost by a combined seven rebounds. Seven rebounds?! Are you kidding me?! If the Suns can be within seven rebounds every game, I’d be ecstatic, let alone seven rebounds over two games. I believe if the Suns can keep it that close on the boards on a nightly basis, they’ll win far more than they’ll lose.
2. The bench. The Suns have a reliable bench now. I don’t even remember the last time we had one of those. In years past, it’s been five starters and Leandro Barbosa for the most part. This year though, it’s different. We still have LB, who was playing solidly until an untimely wrist injury, but in addition to the Blur, we have Jared Dudley and Lou Amundson, who are all hustle. These two are a huge part of why our rebounding has been impressive thus far. Amundson and Dudley bring it every night. They do the little things that don’t show up in the box score, but every team needs. They play excellent defense and keep their players off the glass. But, the bench doesn’t end there, as Goran Dragic as been a huge surprise (although I’ve been supporting him since day one!). Dragic looks much more comfortable on the floor this year. He’s been playing under control and has confidence in his jumper. He’s putting up seven points with three assists against one turnover, while shooting over 50% from the floor and continuing to play impressive D. If Dragic can play like this all year, Steve Nash will have plenty of rest for the stretch run (and, hopefully, the playoffs).
3. Channing Frye. This was a tough choice. I couldn’t decide between Nash, Grant Hill and Frye as the third most impressive player to jump out at me in this early season, but I decided to go with Frye since he’s been the biggest plus (Nash and Hill have been outstanding, but we’ve come to expect that from them, year in and year out). Frye, the former St. Mary’s High star, is having quite the homecoming. His offensive skill set and Gentry’s system have been the perfect fit for one another. His shooting touch has been simply unbelievable, as he made more three pointers in his first three games this season (13), than he’d ever made in an entire season before, and he’s on pace to knock down 246 super shots for the year. He’s also been much more than just a jump shooter this year, showing he can put the ball on the floor and drive to the basket — something new to his game. Plus, there’s the spacing he provides for Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire to do their thing. I know it’s early to make awards predictions, but I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t win the Most Improved Player award this year.

So, there you have it — the three things that have really stood out to me through the first week of the NBA season. If the Suns can continue to shine in those areas and show more improvements on defense, we’re in for a very exciting year. Now to just get through this pesky road trip…

Catrina, Si and the rest of the staff thank you for reading.

Suns Spot | 4-1, Not too Shabby

Photo courtesy of RailLife.com

By now most of us have heard the disheartening news that CenPhoTV’s equipment was stolen a few weeks back. In the aftermath, it’s been inspiring to hear stories of generosity — offers of used equipment to keep the show up and running and benefit events at SuTRA Midtown Yoga. Now Stinkweeds, Uptown’s favorite indie record store, is pitching in its support with a benefit concert, with help from River Jones Music and SilverPlatter.

On Sunday, November 8, a $3 donation (proceeds going to CenPhoTV… duh) will get you a chill spot in Stinkweeds’ lovely little courtyard to see some pretty killer bands.

Snake! Snake! Snakes!, Western Medicine, Mi Monster, Vanessa Atalanta and Boys and Frogs will all be donating their Sunday afternoon for this worthy cause.

If you’ve been meaning to get out and buy a record, do so on Sunday. Bring your crisp $1 and $2 bills, or 12 quarters, and help the CenPhoTV folks procure a brand spankin’ new HD camcorder… those things aren’t cheap, you know.

Stinkweeds is located at 12 W. Camelback Rd. — light rail station at Central/Camelback. Show starts at 4 p.m.

Catrina, Si and the rest of the staff thank you for reading.

Help CenPhoTV, Hear Some Sweet Melodies

It all starts off just like a scary movie. I stroll up to the building with the blacked-out windows and the door is wide open. It is just like a portal into a land of isolation, not telling of what lies behind it’s own darkness. To say the clientele was sparse this evening would be an understatement (granted, it was a Monday night). Aside from the cheery bartender (more on her in a second), there sat only one patron watching the World Series.

So, I plop myself down at the bar, which stinks of things my imagination is horrified to picture. Peering out from behind her lonely game of eight ball, the bartender growls her pleasantries. “What do you want?” Immediately, I feel like one of the boys from The Goonies. That is the reason this scenario seems so familiar. The ever-cheerful barkeep exudes the Fratelli mother in every way.

After realizing that I am still standing there, mouth agape, I collect myself and order the first thing that comes to mind: a pitcher of Pabst Blue Ribbon. Sure, you may scoff at the notion, but in this blogger’s humble opinion, Pabst is the best beer for your buck.

So, I start to acclimate myself to the surroundings. I realized that I am surrounded by creative minds, or at the very least, deranged sociopaths. The walls seem to leak black. There are hints of an attempt at a Hawaiian theme — sticks in pattern above the bar, tiki masks, a topless luau dancer painting, etc. Also parading in this locale are curious elements — handwritten “Cash Only” signs, a mid-’90s arcade bowling game, a scarecrow, a strangely new Internet jukebox and the smallest above-bar screens I have ever encountered.

Needless to say, this was an experience. I laid my cash on the dingy bar and crept back out. I can only imagine that at one time this might have been a nicer, cleaner bar. Well, maybe that is taking things a little too far.

The Bikini Lounge is located at 1502 W. Grand Ave. (602) 252.0472. It offers pitchers of PBR nightly.

Catrina, Si and the rest of the staff thank you for reading.

Sips and Grub | Pitcher of PBR at the Bikini Lounge

Andrea K.
Tempe, AZ
Five-star rating
05.31.09

I was a little confused at what this place actually was at first when I walked in. I went there to see my friend’s friends band play last night. I got that part. But was it part art gallery, part coffee shop, part music venue, part let’s confuse me a little more? It was a little strange to see a band perform there and no alcohol was served. Thank G-d for the Bikini Lounge next door.

Whatever this place was, it was pretty cool! The people that seemed to frequent the place seemed very nice and the chick that was working was super cool. I actually could say that the acoustics in that place rocked… both bands that played sounded crystal clear and didn’t blow my eardrums out.

Only real minus was the parking. But who cares… it was one of the coolest places that I went to in Phoenix.

The Trunk Space is located at 1506 W. Grand Ave. (602) 256.6006

The DPJ Yelper of the Week offers honest insight on a Downtown business to help you explore your core. DPJ hopes that by partnering with Yelp to spread the good word about well-loved Downtown spots, you’ll spread your patronage and support local business.

Yelp is a social networking and local search engine that provides the reviews of places and things that matter to you. Simply log in, pick a place and queue up your inner critic. You can write a beaming review of your favorite gelato spot, or a scathing portrayal of that rental car facility you had to use after that curb came out of nowhere. Yelp’s reviews are at once honest, uncensored, wildly hilarious and true. Heck, the site must be doing something right — it had 25 million viewers just last month!

Catrina, Si and the rest of the staff thank you for reading.

DPJ Yelper of the Week: Andrea K. on the Trunk Space