“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
Valley of the Sunflowers Photo Update
I wrote about the Valley of the Sunflower for the Downtown Phoenix Journal. The project has been going strong and seeing active members of the community each Saturday morning out making this vision a reality is inspiring. Lots of progress has been made over the past few weeks and I’m doing my darnedest to photo blog the progress.
I took these photos a few weeks ago on day one of the project. Read more
Evans Chruchill Inaugural Tour in Downtown Phoenix
Last Saturday a million events were going on in Phoenix. Since I don’t have superpowers (yet) I was unable to attend everything. I made sure to check out the inaugural Evans Churchill Interesting Interiors Tour because I knew I would be able to get into the Westward Ho, one of the only buildings in downtown I had never been in.
The Evans Churchill neighborhood is one of the oldest in Arizona, some of the sidewalks were poured in 1909, 3 years before Arizona was even a state. The area is named for the original two subdivisions that make up the neighborhood. The Churchill Addition stretches from Van Buren north to Roosevelt Street and is bound by Central Ave to 7th Street. It was primarily a middle class subdivision with Craftsman bungalow lining the residential streets. Many of those houses have been demolished. The Evans Addition came later and was a much wealthier neighborhood with larger home lots where the doctors and lawyers of Phoenix lived. Most of this neighborhood was destroyed to build the I-10 and Margaret T. Hance Deck Park in the late 1980s. What little is left over between the blighted lots is historically important to Phoenix and as is typical in Phoenix, little known or appreciated. Read more
Happy Halloween! This weekend in Phoenix…
This week there are two great events downtown. Unfortunately they are on the same day.
This Friday at The Rock on 7th Avenue and McDowell, Pandemonium presents the Halloween Spooktacular. And guess what, I’m in it! The show begins at 10 pm and opens with numbers from All About Evil, Scary: The Musical, other Halloween favorites like Monster Mash, some spooky Halloween videos, then we move into Rocky Horror Live. I’m Rocky Horror and I get to wear nothing but tiny gold shorts and I sing and dance in the Floor Show with Dr. Frank, Columbia, Brad and Janet. It’s my Phoenix stage debut so don’t miss it! (Fair warning: this is not a show for the easily offended.) There will also be a costume contest at the end, followed by a screening of the film All About Evil. Read more
Occupy Phoenix in Photos
I happily attended the Occupy Phoenix afternoon protest at Old City Hall. Lest anyone accuse me of being a one-sided closed-minded liberal, I will remind everyone that I also attended the first Phoenix Tea Party rally held at the Capitol Building in 2009. Read more
Elephants on Parade in Roosevelt
Last night I walked over to 5th and Roosevelt Streets to help (i.e. watch) as local artist Dave Bjorn unleashed 6 elephants in the heart of Roosevelt Row. Fear not, the elephants are about 3-feet tall, made of papier-mâché, and painted by local artists. Read more
Visions of Roosevelt
This week I am moving (finally) to downtown Phoenix into the historic Roosevelt Neighborhood. (You can find a map of Roosevelt on this list of historic neighborhoods from the City of Phoenix website.)
On YouTube I found this video that shows the vacant land, public and privately owned, in the Roosevelt Neighborhood. It shows what could be done to improve the pedestrian experience through small budget installations.
From the description on their YouTube page:
“Allowing land to sit vacant for years until developers finally obtain funding for big projects deteriorates surrounding neighborhoods and provides no economic or creative boons for the city.”
I couldn’t agree more. That’s why I’m moving there to continue to advocate and fight to rebuild an authentic urban environment in the capital city of Arizona.
This video shows a view traveling east on Roosevelt Street from Central Avenue towards 7th Street.
VIDEO: Me speaking at Arizona Storytellers
In July I participated in the Arizona Storytellers. I told a 5 minute story about my fight to save the Sahara Inn downtown and why I love Phoenix history. Read more
Life Under Deadlines- and I like it.
I’ve been writing for the Downtown Phoenix Journal’s print edition since it debuted in November 2010. During the past year I’ve submitted stories for the website on an irregular schedule, but that’s about to change. I will be writing a weekly post on the DPJ website.
When I was asked to do this, my first thought was, “Awesome!! I’m just like Carrie Bradshaw!” Except I don’t really like her, so maybe being like her isn’t a good thing. (Honestly, when she breaks Aiden’s heart for the SECOND time… Lord help me.)
Anywho, point being is I’m writing weekly stories for the DPJ now.
The new post is here about Desert ArtLAB and reclaiming blighted urban space through native ecology.
