Districts
Your Downtown Beer | Beer to Go – Gone?
Posted on 5/16/12 by Rob Fullmer » No Comments
Ambition and Closure. Liquor 24hrs?
It’s the little things sometimes.
I may be one of the few people to notice the mural on the side of the Phoenix Public Market well before the announcement that the indoor market would be closing. The mural depicts a market at the center of a community in the process of rebuilding itself. The market bears a liquor sign with an impossibly ambitious 24 hour sign (currently not legal in AZ or most anyplace for that matter).
Phoenix Public Market’s Urban Grocery never was a liquor store, but it did have the best selection of local beer and wine in all of downtown. The market featured about 2 dozen Arizona produced bottles and cans of beer as well as a few regional craft beers.
The outdoor market will live on. Some have pointed out that it was never a full-service grocer. Others have noted that there are other local gathering places that fulfill the market’s third place qualities.
There may be far more important reasons to note the market’s passing. Your Downtown Beer seeks to work on the practical: “Where does one go to buy packaged quality beer in Downtown Phoenix now that the Phoenix Public Market’s Grocery is closed?”
Downtown Phoenix has good beer available. We’ve established that. If you think about the many dozens of restaurants and beer bars with tapped beers (Copper Blues has over 60 alone) and you add in the extensive bottle list at the Lost Leaf (over 150) you’re looking at hundreds of beer choices, but it’s not as simple as that. All of those places have on-premise licenses — you have to drink it there, you can’t take it with you. When it comes to “beer to go” I can’t resist but make the analogy, “Beer, beer everywhere, but not a drop to take.”
Remembering that Chloe’s Corner took over the Oakville Grocery space and assumed the beer and wine store license, I headed over to Cityscape to see what might be available. To my dismay, Chloe’s was closed for a private event and I was literally shooed away. I couldn’t even press my nose to the glass windows to see what might be available. Rest assured, Chloe. I will be back.
The Lone Arrogant Bastard
Undeterred I popped into CVS and saw several 24 oz cans that are normally seen in slim brown paper bags. A lone Arrogant Bastard bottle mocked me as if it had consumed all of the other beers that might have been in the cooler. Stone Arrogant Bastard is a great beer, but we can do better. We want our locals too.
With many things downtown, you have to know where to go and you may have to widen your search perimeter. Thomas Market Liquor on Thomas and 3rd Avenue fits all of my downtown beer requirements. It has a knowledgeable staff. There are several cooler doors full of regional craft beers as well as fine imports. There is even an entire door filled with beers brewed in Arizona. The beer geek in me noted that the code on an empty shelf indicated there once was bottles Deschutes Dissident. Thomas Market Liquor is just a shade over two miles from the Phoenix Public Market — a short light rail trip or a 15-minute bicycle ride.
Thomas Market Liquor's local beer selection
I settled on a Dogfish Head Theobroma. It’s an ale based upon an ancient Meso-American beer recipe containing cocoa, honey, chilies and annatto. The chiles and spice are a perfect complement a savory pork dish or a dessert with chocolate.
Fortunately, we may be on the verge of a breakthrough when it comes to packaged beer. The Arizona State legislature made a change to Title 4 of the Arizona Revised Statutes that will go into effect in August. The change allows beer bars to fill growlers of beer for off-premise sale. A growler is a 64 ounce glass jug that is filled from the tap. It used to be that only a brewery could fill a growler for sales, “to go.” This law change will allow any beer bar or liquor store with tapped beer to sell them.
There will certainly be a period where businesses work out whether they want to have access to the, “to go” market, so don’t expect a deluge of options right from the get-go. A business has to devote resources and inventory to growlers. Filling a growler without beer loss is not very easy either. One hopes that of the hundreds of beer taps downtown, a few will devote some to off premise sales this summer.
Where do you shop for beer downtown?
Visit: Thomas Market Liquors, 345 W Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ 85013 (602) 274-4780
Sports in the City Event Promotes Health and Community
Posted on 5/16/12 by Kate Kunkel » No Comments
Karen Frye at Gold's Gym
Let the women come out and play!
To celebrate National Women’s Health Week, an event at CityScape on Friday will encourage women to try new exercises, learn how to create nutritious meals and just hang out with their girlfriends.
Sports in the City, the first ever fitness event presented by Girlfriends Talk Sports and Gold’s Gym, will feature everything from Zumba to weightlifting. According to Karen Frye, an NBA mom who produces and hosts Girlfriends Talk Sports, Sports in the City will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to teach women about getting fit and allow them to “find the athletes within themselves.”
“Being fit and sports go hand in hand,” Frye said. “We wanted to provide people with this opportunity to try new things and mix up their exercise routines.”
Frye added that women who attend will get the chance to try out “chick boxing,” yoga classes, and dance classes taught by the Arizona Cardinals Cheerleaders and the Phoenix Mercury Hip Hop Squad. They will also get a lesson on baseball by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“This is the first time Phoenix has had an event like this,” Frye said. “It’s about education, instruction, and showing people how to get into the game.”
Sports in the City will also offer services to measure body mass index and blood pressure. People who attend can even learn how to make healthy meals during a seminar put on by the Arrogant Butcher.
“Really, the main goal is to have fun,” Frye said. “It’s a Friday, so we don’t want this to be like a job. Come down, hang out, and we’ll reintroduce you to the culture and community in downtown Phoenix.”
Dillan Boyd, the group dining manager for The Arrogant Butcher, said that a major goal of this event involves creating unity among the downtown Phoenix community.
“We know that it’s important to meet the downtown community and continue to integrate ourselves into it,” Boyd said. “We really believe that what makes success is meeting people and getting involved in the community.”
Boyd added that she wants to use this event to show people the healthy options available at the Arrogant Butcher.
“We wanted people to know that they don’t have to choose steak when they come into a restaurant,” Boyd said. “Through this event, we want to educate them and show that we do have vegetarian options, gluten-free options, and several ways to make healthy meal choices.”
Learn more about these nutritious meals and join in the fitness fun by participating in this free event, which is “just one of many to come,” according to Frye.
“This city is building its community, but we need people to come down more often,” Frye added. “It’s events like this that will get the people out here.”
If you go
Event: Sports in the City
Location: CityScape
Date: Friday, May 18
Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cost: FREE
Sponsors: Gold’s Gym The Arrogant Butcher, Par Exsalonce Salon & Spa, CityScape, Downtown Phoenix Partnership
Information: Facebook.com/GirlfriendsTalkSports
From the Wire | Warehouse Clearance Sale To Benefit Artlink
Posted on 5/15/12 by DPJ Staff » No Comments
Some news items don’t need translation. That’s why DPJ launched the From the Wire series, so we could serve the destinations here by posting information and announcements – in their own words.
Have anything to donate? Art, furniture, appliances, etc. are welcome. Drop items off on Friday afternoon, May 18th from Noon – 5pm at the parking lot in the rear of the After Hours Building.
Artlink, creator of the wildly popular First Friday’s in downtown Phoenix and Art Detour, one of the longest-running arts events in Arizona, will be the benefactor of a warehouse clearance sale.
The sale will be held on Saturday, May 19th, from 7AM to 12 NOON in the parking lot of the After Hours Building, at 116 W. McDowell Road. The After Hours Building is in the heart of downtown Phoenix, 1 block west of the Phoenix Art Museum and the Central/McDowell Light Rail Stop.
Merchandise comes from a variety of manufacturers and most are never-used overstocks and samples. Items in the sale include gift-wrap, stationery goods, pet products, scrap-booking supplies, t-shirts, greeting cards, holiday decor plus art, furniture, appliances and more. Many prices are discounted nearly 90% from normal retail, with many items marked at just 25 cents.
According to Mike Oleskow, President of Artlink and organizer of the sale, “This is a great opportunity for people to get incredible deals and support the Phoenix Arts community. Proceeds help keep services like the First Friday shuttles running each month. While free for First Friday participants who love using it to explore art and to get around Downtown, the shuttles are Artlink’s biggest expense each month.”
Artlink Phoenix is one of the oldest, all volunteer run, 501-C-3 arts organizations in downtown Phoenix. Its mission is to maintain and enhance regular events, including the monthly First Fridays art walk, the annual Art Detour self-guided tour, an annual Juried Exhibition and an art-related fundraiser.
For more information on Artlink, please visit artlinkphoenix.com.
From the Wire | Designers Wanted for ‘Some Like it Haute’ Fashion Show
Posted on 5/14/12 by DPJ Staff » No Comments
Some news items don’t need translation. That’s why DPJ launched the From the Wire series, so we could serve the destinations here by posting information and announcements – in their own words.
SOME LIKE IT HAUTE!
6th Avenue Gallery issues summer challenge to Arizona fashion designers
Where’s the fashion inspiration when the mercury hits 110+ degrees (in the shade)? Only designers in Arizona’s desert heat can relate to our intense summers, and we want to showcase in Arizona’s hot design talent! 6th Avenue Gallery invites you and other local designers to inspire Arizonans to think beyond flip flops and tank tops with our upcoming “Some Like it Haute” summer show and sale.
We’re issuing a 110-degree challenge to you and other designers to conceptualize, design and create a hot and haute summer look that will be featured in the “Some Like it Haute” show that will debut on First Friday in June, and continue through July.
This is your opportunity to show and sell your wearable summer designs, while also enlightening audiences about the fashion design process. It’s our gallery’s opportunity to showcase and support local designers in the fashion industry.
The gallery reserves a 25% commission on any sales that are procured as a result of the show, so please keep this in mind when pricing your submission. We will be able to process orders for your fashions that evening, and through the duration of the show in June and July.
6th Avenue Gallery is located in downtown Phoenix in a building that also houses two powerhouse public relations agencies, so be assured that this show will be well publicized. For more information, visit our website 6th Avenue Gallery.
See below for guidelines on participating!
Local designers rise to a 110-degree fashion challenge
A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE FOR PARTICIPATING FASHION DESIGNERS IN ARIZONA:
• Contact BJC Public Relations by email (6thAvenueGallery@bjc.com) or phone (602) 277-9530, x-231 to let us know that you want to participate. If you have a resume and photo, please send both in an email. Otherwise we will contact you to get information for inclusion in our marketing and promotional outreach for the show.
• Determine the summer look you will be showcasing, and if possible, capture your creative process along the way. Our show will feature notes, sketches, material samples, photos, and anything else that documents your work from the concept to completion. We request that your design(s) be unique to this show.
• Complete the “Designer Information Form” (request this form when contacting the gallery).
• Deliver your “Some Like it Haute” submission and “Designer Information Form” to:
BJC Public Relations
650 N. 6th Avenue (6th Ave. and McKinley, south of Roosevelt)
Phoenix, Arizona 85003
(602) 277-9530, x231
• TIP #1: if you ship via FedEx – select the 3-day option – it’s cheaper and often arrives in a day. Email or call BJC Public Relations with the TRACKING number of your shipment. Our email is: info@bjc.com
• Submissions are due Friday, May 25.
• Last but not least, please clear your calendar for Friday, June 1 for the First Friday debut of this show. We would like for all participating designers to be here when we debut and celebrate this unique summer art show.
From the Wire | Community Invited to Help Turn Brown Lots Green
Posted on 5/11/12 by DPJ Staff » No Comments
Some news items don’t need translation. That’s why DPJ launched the From the Wire series, so we could serve the destinations here by posting information and announcements – in their own words.
“Turning Brown Lots Green”
Roosevelt Row Annual Fundraiser
Join a huge group of local artists, activists, gardeners, elected officials, and committed residents for one of downtown’s biggest annual parties!
Even better, join the party to support one of downtown Phoenix’s most dynamic organizations — Roosevelt Row, CDC, and its burgeoning A.R.T.S. (Adaptive Reuse of Temporary Space) Program.
The program turns empty dirt lots into amazing places like the Valley of the Sunflowers, the A.R.T.S. Market held on First and Third Fridays, the annual Pie Social, and Food Truck Festivals. With your help we will be able to activate additional vacant land in 2012!
Buying a $30 ticket entitles you to two of Bliss/ReBar’s delicious drinks and a smorgasbord of appetizers. Buying a $100 ticket will send you home after the event with a signed, limited edition lithograph by acclaimed local artist James Angel (right). An amazing raffle and silent auction will help cap off the night.
If you go
Event: Turning Brown Lots Green!
Date: Monday, May 21, 2012
Time: 5:30 – 8:30pm
Location: Bliss/ReBAR, 901 N. 4th Street, Phoenix AZ 85004
Tickets: Buy tickets online $30, $100 (includes lithograph) All tickets include two drinks and complimentary appetizers.
Contact: 602.772.0083
All proceeds will support the A.R.T.S. (Adaptive Reuse of Temporary Space) Programs. Programs include: A.R.T.S. Gardens, Market, Sculpture and Film.
Honorary Host Committee
Mayor Greg Stanton • Vice-Mayor Michael Johnson • Councilman Tom Simplot • Senator Steve Gallardo • Senator Robert Meza • Senator David Lujan • Senator Leah Landrum Taylor • Representative Anna Tovar • Representative Martin Quezada • Representative Chad Campbell • Representative Debbie McCune-Davis • Representative Lela Alston • Representative Katie Hobbs • Representative Catherine Miranda • Representative Ruben Gallego
Host Committee
James Angel • Rhonda Bannard • Kenny Barrett • Rhonda Boyle • Eileen Brill-Wagner • Amy Buchan • Dorina Bustamanta • Hillary Butler • Cassidy Campana • Laura Capello • Kendra Cea • Alaina Chabrier • Charles J. Coughlin • Cindy Dach • Jennifer Delgado • Greg Ensell • Greg Esser • Rusty Foley • Francesca Godi • Shannon Goodman • Murphy Hebert • Amy Heisler • Nancy Hill • Jasmine Jarrett • Patty Johnson • Don Keuth • Aaron Kimberlin • Andrew Knochel • Kim Larkin • Carla Logan Wade • Kali Miller • Frank McCune • Jim McPherson • Joe Murphy • Benah Parker • Vermon Pierre • Chris Pruitt • Alison Rainey • Lawrence Robinson • Shannon and Chip Scutari • Marshall Shore • Alisa Lyons Sloan • Eric Sloan • Nicole Underwood • Toby Urvater • Amber Williams •
• Eileen Yazzie • Daniel Zawisha •
Brought to you by
COX, APS and Highground Public Affairs Consultants
