April 23, 2012

METRO, where’s my pay-as-you-go already?

by: Ryan Glass

Tweet Today’s post is by contributing writer Ryan Glass: A case for pay-as-you-go Light Rail: If I’m honest, the idea for this post started with me having a bit of a rant a few days ago, and realizing that while my recent inconveniences were not earth-shattering by any means, they certainly highlighted one of the areas where Metro Light Rail is lacking. The simple truth that I have to either purchase a physical pass for public transit every time I take it, or make a financial gamble and pre-pay for fixed-term passes that I’m not likely to utilize 100% seems…

April 18, 2012

Surviving Sprawl with Pop-up Placemaking in Phoenix

by: Christina Noble

Tweet Today’s post is by guest writer Christina Noble. Christina is an architect and owner of Contour Architecture, a local architecture and design firm. She is a fifth-generation Arizona native who feels passionately about making a difference in her local community – through the projects she completes as well as through active engagement with various community groups. She has worked on numerous high-profile projects in her career including collegiate, mixed-use, government, and private development projects. Christina frequently writes about design and architecture and serves as the Senior Director of Forward, a national design journal for the American Institute of Architects, and…

April 16, 2012

Jane Jacobs Walk Returns to Phoenix with Four Events, May 5th & 6th

by: David Crummey

Tweet Today’s post is by David Crummey. David Crummey is a Mesa resident with a strong passion for walkable urbanism, public transportation, local businesses and economic development. He studied Urban & Environmental Planning at Arizona State University as a graduate student. Currently, David works at a small charter school near Mesa’s downtown, making sure teachers get paid, kids get fed, grants get filed, computers turn on, data gets sorted and interpreted, and pencils get ordered. He hosted the 2011 Jane Jacobs Walk in downtown Mesa, as well as helped found Lo-Fi Forums, a monthly, quieter, more interactive TED-style salon at…

April 11, 2012

Migration Celebration

by: Crista Alvey

Tweet Today’s post is by Crista Alvey. Crista is a marketing intern for the City of Phoenix through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Urban Conservation Treaty for Migratory Birds. She is working to increase awareness of the need to protect migratory birds in urban settings through traditional and social media. Did you know that Rufous hummingbirds migrate enormous distances every year, following the cycles of the flowers and insects they depend upon for food? These little hummers fly from as far south as Central America to as far north as Canada and Alaska. On their way, they may pause…

April 09, 2012

The Crescent Ballroom: A Minor Musical Fairytale set in the PHX

by: Feliciano Vera

Tweet Today’s post is by contributing writer Feliciano Vera: The timbero ferociously punched out a backbeat with an intensity I had not seen since watching Tito Puente at the Regattabar. While Tito was famously expressive, mugging and goofing around just for grins, tonight was pure business, and what little attention was paid to the beat was by the dancers. Competing pairs of hipster girls swayed in front of either end of the stage, while a crowd of academics straight out of a Nineties-era Benetton ad anchored the center with their ballroom moves. Standing a full head above me, just beyond…

April 05, 2012

Pedal Craft PHX – Where Art Meets Bicycles

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet April is Bike Month here in the Valley of the Sun and there are some wonderful events happening to celebrate bicycles and the people who ride them. One of the most visually appealing and fun parts of Bike Month will be Pedal Craft PHX, an event that was founded by Sustainability Manager Jonce Walker and Graphic Designer Jon Ashcroft. Pedal Craft PHX will take place on Friday, April 20, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Kitchen Sink Studios Gallery, 828 North Third Street. Admission is free. One unique part of the exhibit will be the showcasing of inventive bike…

March 29, 2012

Infinite Space, the Architecture of John Lautner

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet John Lautner was a big man who practiced architecture in big gestures. He could not draw very well, or very pricisely I should say, so he drew with a thick pencil in large, sweeping gestures. He then left it up to his staff to figure out the details. He is best known, among midcenturymodernophiles (a term I just made up), for the Chemosphere House, and next perhaps the Elrod House in Palm Springs. But after having watched the movie Infinite Space, the Architecture of John Lautner, I have a feeling that he would not be satisfied in knowing that…

March 27, 2012

What you Might not have Known about Frank Lloyd Wright

by: Jennifer Gunther

Tweet Today’s post is by contributing writer Jennifer Gunther. *Don’t miss the panel discussion tomorrow, March 28, as part of Modern Phoenix week, at the Phoenix Art Museum called Perspectives on Frank Lloyd Wright with panelists Grady Gammage, Emily Talen, Vernon Swaback, David Davis and Eric Anderson.* About one month remains for Phoenix Art Museum visitors to admire and explore the work of American architecture legend Frank Lloyd Wright. “Frank Lloyd Wright: Organic Architecture for the 21st Century” will be on view until April 29. The name Frank Lloyd Wright appears everywhere in Phoenix. The name of the Wisconsin-native designer…

March 26, 2012

Phoenix: Growth vs. Efficiency? Or a random contemplation of a single cup of coffee.

by: Feliciano Vera

Tweet Today’s post is by contributing writer Feliciano Vera: As I cross the threshold into the office, Laurie Carmody immediately notices the Starbucks cup in my hand. Shooting imaginary laser beams at me, she asks incredulously “What are you doing with that? Why didn’t you get coffee somewhere else? Someplace local?” “My sister gave me a Starbucks card for Christmas. I had to use it.” I admit, sheepishly. But my decision was also based on the location of this particular Starbucks – a five minute walk to and from Laurie’s office. I didn’t have time to go anywhere else before…

March 21, 2012

Take Metro Out to the Ball Game

by: Ryan Glass

Tweet Today’s post is by contributing writer Ryan Glass: Spring is here, catch it while it lasts. Seriously, if I was able to maintain my focus, I’d be outside right now, feverishly typing this post on my phone, just to enjoy the 8.42 days of really great spring weather we get. Actually, if I was really slick, I’d be writing this on my way to one of my favorite spring activities, Cactus League Baseball. (Confession, I am really slick. Hooray for productive train rides). Normally I am not a fan of event-based transportation, of the teeming masses that only take…