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April 25, 2012

Pedal Craft and the Business Case for Bicycle Infrastructure in Phoenix

by: Feliciano Vera

Tweet Today’s post is by contributing writer Feliciano Vera: “Look, I may not have ridden my bike here, but at least I’m ready to,” I tell Joe Perez, as I point to my calf, unashamed. “I’m thinking it’s time to break out the clippers,” Joe replies. An army of bike enthusiasts surrounded us at Kitchen Sink Studios. Did somebody forget to tell the hundreds assembled at the inaugural Pedal Craft that today was only the third Friday of April – too early for the monthly Critical Mass ride? Were they here for the beer? Art? They were out because of…

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…

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 12, 2012

Bow Ties and Boutique Business in Phoenix

by: Feliciano Vera

Tweet Today’s post is by a new contributing writer to Blooming Rock, Feliciano Vera, an entrepreneur in real estate and finance. Jim McPherson does not know how to tie a bow tie. Lingering over the antiqued wood display table at Mercantile, he brushes aside that fact and ushers us closer, in an almost conspiratorial manner. “Look,” flipping over one of the many bow ties. “This tie was originally made from another that was sold at the Broadway. And that one over there was a tie from Goldwaters.” Clutching a purple and white checked sample, my eye is drawn to another…

February 28, 2012

Thanks from James Rojas

by: James Rojas

Tweet Below is a letter of thanks from James Rojas, who traveled here from LA to speak at the Latino Urban Form lecture last week. I thought his insights and perspective of our city were absolutely delightful so I decided to share his letter with you as a post on this blog. Thanks for your hospitality exploring Phoenix! I have only been to Phoenix a few times but the more I visit it the more in like the city. The casual positive vide reminds of my childhood LA. Phoenix is a great place because everyone cares about the place. In…

October 25, 2011

Placemaking in a Sustainable Urban Core Lecture

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet Tomorrow is the Placemaking in a Sustainable Urban Core lecture, the first in a fall/spring series called Sustainable Communities Lecture Series organized by Women Design Arizona and Blooming Rock. The purpose of the lecture series is to bring key sustainability issues in Phoenix, such as urban real estate development, the canals, Latino Urbanism and urban farming to the attention of the general public. The idea behind the lecture series is to raise awareness, to educate and to empower the people of Phoenix about these critical issues in order to help make our city a better place. Through the Sustainable…

April 13, 2011

Meanwhile at the Lexington Hotel: Cycle and Poolside Gallery

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet There’s something remarkable happening at the Lexington Hotel, a place that has sat rather unremarkably on our landscape for quite some time now. Recently, Habitat Metro got control of it and has big plans to revitalize it into a boutique hotel with a focus on the arts community. The Lexington hotel is located at an important crux point of our city. It is between the Roosevelt neighborhood and the midtown museum area that includes the Phoenix Art Museum, Burton Barr and Margaret Hance Park. If done well, it has the potential to act as a connector, catalyst and activator…