Our Interview on “Horizon”
Last night I appeared with my co-authors on PBS for an interview about our book.
From their website: Read more 
New Post on DPJ “State of Sustainability”
Downtown Voices Coalition hosted the “State of Sustainability in Downtown Phoenix” on Tuesday night and I was there to cover the event.
Is Phoenix really the “least sustainable city in the world” as author Andrew Ross’ new book declares?
I recapped the event and the story is posted on the Downtown Phoenix Journal.
Phoenix Phoestivus 2011 in Photos
The Phoestivus was a blast! Crowds of people swarmed through the little market on both days this year, enjoying music, food, drinks, and local produce and art. The reaction to my new book has been overwhelmingly positive and I’m happy that I can finally share it with the world. Many early copies were sold just in time for Christmas.
The official release is January 2, 2012 and the official release party is on January 7th from 5-8 p.m. at my most beloved downtown Phoenix location- Hanny’s. Read more
Progress on Valley of the Sunflowers Continues
On Sunday volunteers from the Valley of the Sunflowers (VOS) met for a community potluck in the center of the once dirt lot that is now bursting with green stalks and yellow leaves of the sunflowers, some over 6′ tall. Within the flowers, life has returned to the lot in the form of insects like bees and ladybugs.
As Martha Stewart would say, “It’s a good thing.” Read more
desert ArtLAB Contiues in Garfield
Desert artLAB, an initiative that explores the connections between ecology, culture and community continued the project LAND Knowledge on Saturday in Garfield.
LAND Knowledge, brings together artists, activists, researchers and residents of Phoenix to plant cacti in vacant public spaces and document their efforts through photographs or videos. On Saturday, over 80 people showed up to dig holes and plant cacti at Parque Liberdat. I wrote about the event this past Saturday for the Downtown Phoenix Journal here. Read more
(En)Hance Park
Last year I blogged about Hance Park in Downtown Phoenix and how the park was in a “visioning phase” and I quoted one of my favorite lines from Jane Jacobs regarding parks:
You can neither lie to a neighborhood park, nor reason with it. ‘Artist’s conceptions’ and persuasive renderings can put pictures of life into proposed neighborhood parks or park malls, and verbal rationalizations can conjure up users who ought to appreciate them, but in real life only diverse surroundings have the practical power of inducing a natural, continuing flow of life and use.
She’s right. She was always right. Read more
Healthy Communities Need Third Places
I have a second post on Downtown Phoenix Journal this week. I’m on fire! (Actually I’d like to post there a lot more, and I hope I can soon.)
I took the train south down Central Avenue last night then walked from Chase Field through the Warehouse District to the Levine Machine (A marvelous, award winning historic warehouse that is truly a gem). The boys from Mulch Coffee were there serving up single brewed cups of coffee and hot cider to the attendees who were bundled up in their winter finest. If you’re not from Phoenix, you may not understand how cold it gets here. If there was moisture in the air, it would snow. Actually it did snow this week in north Phoenix.
Anywho, the TEDxScottsdaleSalon was well attended and some great insights and stories were shared by the presenters.
You can read my recap of the event here.
What are Third Places?
My new post is up on Downtown Phoenix Journal about the TEDxSalon event this Wednesday night. The event is at the Levine Machine building from 6-9 pm. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Read more
“Seth and The City” in this month’s ION Arizona
A few weeks ago I was contacted by ION Arizona, one of the Valley’s LGBT magazines, and asked if I would like to be interviewed for a story about my book. I said absolutely… under one condition: any photo of me would have to be airbrushed within an inch of my life. They agreed and kept their promise. And now the December 2011 issue is out with a delightful story about me and the new book. Thank you ION Arizona! Read more
The Phoenix Phoestivus is Back!
Last year’s Phoestivus was such a success that it is back this year for two days in December. Come be part of this new tradition on December 14 and December 21 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Downtown Phoenix Public Market.
The Phoestivus features all Local vendors, locally grown or produced food, drinks & unique gifts.
I’m happy to announce that signed copies of my new book Downtown Phoenix will be available for purchase at the Phoestivus! Read more
4th Annual Christkindlmarkt in Downtown Phoenix
Just when I think I know everything that is going on in Downtown Phoenix, I am delighted to learn that I don’t! I didn’t even know we had a German Christmas Market in downtown Phoenix but apparently it is in its 4th year. Hooray for fun events! Christkindlmarkt is this Saturday, December 3, from 10 a.m.-8 p.m at Heritage Square.
The Christkindlmarkt – a celebration held throughout Germany and Central Europe since the Middle Ages – brings cherished German and European traditions to downtown Phoenix with holiday entertainment, German, Austrian and Swiss cuisine, vendors and local artisans selling merchandise like children’s toys and Christmas ornaments, plus activities and entertainment. Admission is free. Read more
A CityScape Christmas, Part 2
Last year I wrote about the embarrassing Christmas tree that the good folks from RED Development and CityScape thought they could get away with. Public opinion was not positive about this tree. For your viewing pleasure here is last year’s tree that CityScape said would be like “Rockefeller Center.” Read more
New Post on Downtown Phoenix Journal Plus Book News
I was at the Herberger Theater last night to hear outgoing Mayor Phil Gordon offer insights and advice to Mayor-elect Greg Stanton. Mayor-elect Stanton then shared his vision for Phoenix and talked about how to turn his campaign promises into realities.
The story is posted on the Downtown Phoenix Journal website. Read more
CityScape Fails Again
They just don’t get it.
The masterminds behind CityScape are polishing the final festering turd of this project, the soon to open Palomar Hotel. To see it in person is to gag, could it be anymore mediocre? Read more
Downtown Phoenix Whiskey Bar- A Vision
When I think about the southwest, I think about cowboys. Then I think about whiskey, because in my mind cowboys were two thing: sexy and whiskey drinkers. At least that’s what every Hollywood movie about the West has ever told me, and why would a Hollywood movie lie to me?!
The point is, Phoenix does not currently have a whiskey bar, a place dedicated solely to that dark, delicious, oaky, seductive liquor that I drink like water. Read more
