localrevibe magazine | Issue 8 | April 2014 by localrevibe

issue 8 apr 2014

cinder box living in 600 square feet or less

architectural designers hunter floyd & damon wake

by kimberly gunning

rubyride

rubyride your way to work & play

the lab pop-up gallery

local artist hub

the pressroom

rejuvenating downtown

my phx story quinn whissen

bears, designer chairs & vintage flair modern manor

custom oatmeal company is all muscle & heart myoatmeal.com

new businesses at cityscape

the pizza studio & vâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s barber shop

new meaning to dessert snoh ice shavery

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Creative & photo Director

Media Partners

Chris Kontakis

Fixed Heart Films Kronos Creative

media manager Tina Van Booven

Contributing Writers

For Editorial and Advertising opportunities, please email info@localrevibe.com

Kimberly Gunning Morgan Tanabe Nicole Royse Ashley Brand Alexa Chrisbacher Katie Snyder

Localrevibe Media Network, LLC. 7000 N. 16th Street Suite 120 pmb215 Phoenix, Arizona 85020 Phone 480 336 2507 info@localrevibe.com www.localrevibe.com www.localrevibemedia.com 14__02_15__NewTimes_8-5x11.pdf

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Photo by: RMillan Photography 4

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06 rubyride

RubyRide Your Way To Work & Play

10 modern manor

Bears, Chairs & Vintage Flair - Oh My!

12 The Lab pop-up gallery

The Local Artist Hub

COVER STORY

cinder box ‘Familiar Modern’ Living in 600 Square Feet or Less

20 Event Photos

Photos From Devoured Food + Wine Classic

22 the pressroom Rejuvenating Downtown

24 my phx story

Quinn Whissen | This Could Be Phx

26 myoatmeal.com

Tempe’s Custom Oatmeal Company is all Muscle and Heart

28 devoured food + wine classic Phoenix Earns It’s Title as an Emerging Gastro Hotspot

30 snoh ice shavery Giving New Meaning to Dessert

32 discovery triangle

Mobile Produce Market to Underserved Neighborhoods

34 new businesses joining cityscape The Pizza Studio & V’s Barbershop

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business

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RubyRide Your Way to Work and Play “Tap, tap, tap and you’re home.” By Kimberly Gunning | Photos by Chris Kontakis

RubyRide, a Phoenix start-up, is aiming to be the Valley’s first and only car replacement service. With a tap from Dorothy’s ruby red slippers—or on a client’s smart phone app—a RubyRide driver is there in minutes to take clients where they need to go. The company officially launched this January, with a small fleet of cars shuttling clients around the downtown area. Different from the traditional taxi service and Uber, RubyRide is a membership car service catering to pre-scheduled, reoccurring and on-call trips. “It’s much like having your own car without having to have a car sitting in your driveway,” RubyRide Founder Jeff Ericson explains. The average person uses their car only three percent of the time, Ericson says. “The rest of the time it follows them around like an anchor.” Because of Phoenix’s spacious layout, Ericson recognizes that the city wouldn’t function without cars. By clients choosing to travel with RubyRide, each RubyRide hybrid car in full service takes nine others off of the road.

need them to be, he explained. This notion prompted him to begin researching mass transit—light rails, subways and bus systems—in Phoenix and in other major cities around the country. Ericson found that these systems work in high-density cities, but for those of low-density, like Phoenix and the majority of the U.S., “It’s not a very smart system,” he says. These mass transit systems come down to policy and income, rather than functionality and engagement. RubyRide was born after several years of researching numbers, talking with people and wrestling with the question of how to get people around more efficiently. As with every start-up, the risk of failure is present, but Ericson’s passion for the project won out. “I don’t want to be on my death bed and say I never tried,” he stated. RubyRide’s clients range from nurses going to and from their 12-hour shifts, pilots who don’t want to worry about leaving their car at the airport, every-

Ericson founded RubyRide after years of a career in architecture. “I got into architecture because I’m really passionate about cities,” he explains. “I’ve always been interested by the dynamics of cities and how cities function.” Despite a successful career, Ericson says he did not feel as engaged in the city as he wished to be. Examining how cities function throughout his career, Ericson stated, “The biggest issue we face is not the buildings themselves but how we move around the city.” Parking is especially problematic. Despite having five parking spaces per car throughout the Valley, they are never where you

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day nine-to-fivers, seniors running errands during the daytime and 20-somethings who, “are just not into the car culture,” Ericson says. They have also opened up their services to high school students, and drivers are able to send a text message alert to let parents know when their child has been dropped off at school. Using RubyRide provides clients the freedom to travel around the city without needing to stress over where to park or how to get there, and Ericson says many customers are enabled to try new places they might not have otherwise. “They get to be part of the city better,” he explains. Expansion is coming quickly for the RubyRide team, as more areas of the Valley are being added to the map. “At the end of the year, our goal is to have the entire center city covered,” Ericson says. This will likely put 130 to 140 RubyRide Ford Fusion Hybrids out on the roads. Currently, new clients receive one free week to try out RubyRide’s services. After that, membership is a month-to-month, all-inclusive base rate of $250. For those wishing to travel outside of the service area, a custom rate may be determined. Ericson says the hope is that, “At the end of the day, it will actually be easier to get into a RubyRide car than it will be to drive your own car.”

Website

www.rubyride.co

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business

bears, designer chairs & vintage flair - oh my! By Alexa Chrisbacher | Photos by Chris Kontakis

Modern Manor is bringing mid-century modern furniture and decor to antique lovers across the Valley. Ryan Durkin and his wife opened the shop in Phoenix about four years ago after discovering their knack for finding furnishings. “We decided we didn’t want to go to Ikea and buy cheap crap that everybody else has,” Durkin said. “We thought, let’s go to Sun City and go to estate sales and see if we can’t come up with some vintage, unique stuff.” The couple realized they could make some money on their new hobby. After a stint of

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selling online and some time in an antique mall, they opened the doors of Modern Manor.

“It’s not about the money really, it’s about the fun and finding treasures— the treasure hunt.” “My wife has always been into design, we’re both pretty eclectic and artsy when it comes to our aesthetic taste,” Durkin said. “It’s not about the money really, it’s about the fun and finding treasures—the treasure hunt.”

Durkin hunts for inventory everywhere, from Craigslist to auctions, garage sales and estate sales. Now that word has spread about their shop, sometimes people bring the treasure to him. Every piece under the roof is hand-picked by Durkin, who has an eye for designer pieces from the 1940s to the 1970s. But inspiration can strike anywhere, and in the case of Bears From Chairs, it came when he found out they were having a baby. “The day we found out we were pregnant with our son ... we found an Eames lounge on Craigslist,” Durkin said.

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The chair needed to be reupholstered, but instead of throwing out the original leather the couple had it sewn into a teddy bear for their son. That first bear grew into a collection of hand-sewn bears named after the designer pieces they were cut from. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Being a collector-dork, the fact that the bear was made out of original Eames leather was really cool to me,â&#x20AC;? Durkin said. Address

modern manor 716 W Hazelwood St, Phoenix, AZ 85013 www.modernmanorstore.com

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l o ca l a r ts

the lab pop-up gallery By Alexa Chrisbacher | Photos by Chris Kontakis

The Lab Pop-Up Gallery proves there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to the Phoenix art scene. The open-space workshop and venue was founded by Monica Robles and Ruben Gonzales as a hub for local artists to meet, show their work and get their name out. It’s a venue within a venue, nestled inside the 11th Monk3y Industries space on Grand Avenue.

featured at The Lab. The workshop gives them a place to generate excitement about their work without the expense and red tape of a gallery.

“It showcases a different artist every month,” Robles said. “I want the artist to take this for themselves and do what they envision their art show to be. I just kind of help them out in the background.”

From painting and photography to metal work and collage, Robles has done it all. In addition to the four years she’s spent running The Lab and working with local talent, she also works full time as a graphic designer.

Robles handles all the promotion and marketing for the new, up-and-coming artists

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“I’ve met so many artists that I never would have met through [The Lab],” Robles said. It’s kind of neat doing that process because I’m an artist, too. And I feel like I’m still progressing.”

“I’m really shy and it’s helped me. When I

talk about other artists, it’s helped me be able to talk to people about my own art too,” Robles said. The Lab Pop-Up Gallery is going to keep supporting the creative community in Phoenix, but Robles said she’s interested in moving it around to other locations in town. The minds behind the gallery like to try new things and keep mixing it up. This past month, they hosted their first fashion show and brand launch, which showcased Free Ego by local designer Brian Cresson.

Website

www.thelab137.com

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want the artist to take this for themselves and do what they envision their art show to be.â&#x20AC;?

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l i v i ng

‘familiar modern’ living in 600 square feet or less By Kimberly Gunning | Photos by RMillan Photography & Chris Kontakis

That house you call your home… Can you move it? Can you add or subtract rooms based on your living needs? Is it sustainable and economical… and less than 600 square feet in size?

inspired micro-dwellings, and offered a variety of sustainable living and building demonstrations and lectures.

An international trend in building and design called the tiny house movement is attracting interest by builders, designers, students, hobbyists, vagabonds and homeowners, among others.

Architectural Designers Hunter Floyd and Damon Wake participated in MicroDwell 2014 with their desert-inspired home, Cinder Box. The two designers met while working for Corgan Associates. After witnessing MicroDwell 2012 and attending an orientation, Floyd and Wake, inspired by McCue, decided to begin their first project.

The tiny house movement (also called the ‘small house movement’) advocates for living simply. These self-contained, portable and sustainable micro-dwellings are not only sleek and stylish, but encourage owners to live more efficiently, while remaining unburdened financially and leaving behind a smaller carbon footprint. Local MicroDwell Movement In 2010, a variety of Valley residents came together to share a similar interest in micro-dwellings. Initiated and cultivated by Patrick McCue—a local firefighter, welder and green-building activist—MicroDwell 2012, was a builder-hosted showcase of these Valley-made designs. The second showcase, MicroDwell 2014, just wrapped up this past March at The Shemer Art Center in Phoenix. This year’s exhibits included 14 home-and-officewww.localrevibe.com | @localrevibe

Cinder Box

Floyd explained that they were both, “used to drawing it (architecture projects), detailing it, and letting someone else get their hands dirty.” The learning curve proved to be a challenging yet fun experience throughout the building process of their 200-square-foot dwelling. Seen as a work of art, each micro-dwelling is unique in its building materials, construction, interior layout and esthetic appeal. Proving that it is far more than just a mobile-home concept, Floyd and Wake created Cinder Box around a “desert duality” theme. Much like a cactus, they explained, the outer materials of the micro-dwelling protect from the elements and take on a dark-charred, burnt-wood effect, using Japanese shou-sugi-ban-style charred wood siding, while the interior april 2014 | Localrevibe Magazine

maintains a bright and soft, habitable living space. Floyd and Wake raised money for Cinder Box through Crowdhoster (now called CrowdtiltOpen), and kept supporters up to date with their progress via Facebook. The project was completed in time for MicroDwell 2014, and Cinder Box is now on the market looking for a homeowner, much like many of the other participating micro-dwellings. Just the Beginning of Small Living The tiny house movement is a topic of conversation around the world, and builders are beginning to capitalize on meeting the needs of homeowners and communities. Likewise, Floyd and Wake explain, the movement takes the DIY project to the next level for those who want to build their own micro-dwelling—encouraging people to look at what they can live in and what they can do by themselves.

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“The model of everyone should be a homeowner to a brick and mortar house doesn’t always work in today’s job market,” Floyd explained. Following the recession, many homeowners found themselves tied down by an anchor—their home—and unable to easily move to a new location for a job. Micro-dwellings allow owners to relocate their home in the direction of their life, with no building permit necessary and only an electric certificate required from the city. The small homes also allow for added expansion as life changes require it, including adding on an extra room, office, mother-in-law suite or guesthouse. “The great thing is, you can get it, you can own it and you can move it,” Wake says.

Website

www.cinderboxdwelling.com

Thinking small not only addresses relocation needs, financial stability and environmentally friendly living, the micro-dwell discussion is active towards impacting greater social issues including post-natural-disaster housing and as a possible solution to ending homelessness.

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photos from

devoured food + wine classic

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d o w n to w n

Rejuvenating downtown 1920’s building becomes new event venue By Katie Snyder | Photos by Chris Kontakis

Jason Charles, owner of Latest Craze Productions insists he wasn’t looking to open an events venue when he and partner Narender Raju, owner of RSVP Special Events, stumbled upon a historic 1920s building in downtown Phoenix’s Warehouse District. But their imaginations got the best of them when they found out it was available. “We saw an opportunity here to be part of downtown,” says Charles. “It’s already a great place, but we wanted to bring more culture and give people a reason to come to the downtown Phoenix area.” And they have. With lots of work and the help of local architects and craftsmen, what was once a grocery store and old printing press is now an events venue known as The Pressroom. The new venue, located at 441 West Madison Street, opened its doors in February in the heart of downtown Phoenix. The two business owners are excited to start the business, and the chance to revive a 1920s building has been a thrilling part of the journey. “Downtown Phoenix has beautiful spaces, and we really wanted to preserve the authenticity of the historic building,” says

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Charles. “We couldn’t be more excited to be stewards of this place.” Charles and Raju were working together on large weddings and multicultural events when they first learned that the property was available.

and Comerica Theater, to name a few. But both Charles and Raju can confidently say that there is nothing in the area like The Pressroom. “We are truly unique,” says Charles. “In addition to the abundance of nostalgia, The Pressroom has an abundance of something

“We saw an opportunity here to be part of downtown” “I take care of the décor and Jason did the production of the events,” says Raju. “But we were ready for something bigger.” With the opportunity to use such a unique building with so much character in this fashion, the two decided they had to act, and act quick at that. After securing the location, everyone has been buzzing about the new venture. “There is no mid-sized events venue in downtown Phoenix, so it’s a really good niche in this area,” says Charles. Other popular music venues in the area include Crescent Ballroom, Monarch Theater

else that other event venues do not: space.” With over 14,000-square-feet of entertainment space, The Pressroom is set to accommodate up to 1000 people and features outdoor area. “We’ve obtained a liquor license, repainted the venue and brought in sound and audio equipment,” says Charles. “The venue, which also features outdoor space, is set to hold private parties, weddings, concerts and corporate or cultural events.” Working with owners Charles and Raju is big-time music promoter Danny Zelisko, who has been tasked with getting the best performers on stage and music lovers in the

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door. “Zelisko is the best in the business; he’s been around and knows what he’s doing,” says Charles. “We believe his knowledge, reputation and expertise in the industry will help increase business at The Pressroom.” While music is the primary focus at the new downtown venue, Charles and Raju are both looking forward to bringing a unique kind of experience to patrons, no matter what the event. “Instead of competing, we want to add to what is already here in the downtown area,” says Charles. “The goal is to join other venues in bringing the warehouse district to life.” So far, it has. The Pressroom has already booked artists such as Sara Robinson and the Midnight Special, the legendary Paul Gurvitz, and Scandalesque. “This is only the beginning,” says Charles. “With the team we have, The Pressroom will very soon serve as the backdrop for many well-known artists and new names in the music industry.” Address

441 W. Madison St. Phoenix, AZ 85003

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co mm u n i ty My PHX Story is a series of blogs for This Could Be PHX from members of the community who love living here. Each blog is about someone who lives in Central or Downtown Phoenix, how they found themselves here, why they decide to stay, and what the city means to them. By telling these stories, This Could Be PHX hopes to change the narrative of Downtown Phoenix by sharing true stories of the people that bring life to our urban core.

my phx story

quinn whissen I read in a book once that every city has its own word. A word that describes the spirit of the city and the people living in it. LA is “Succeed,” New York is “Achieve,” and Rome is “Sex.” I think that all of these are pretty perfect words for those cities, so it got me thinking: What is Phoenix’s word? And if a city’s word can be different for every person living in it, what is my own personal word in Phoenix? You see, I grew up in Phoenix and wouldn’t have been able to tell you its word 10 years ago. In fact, I don’t think it really had one other than maybe “Sprawl.” I couldn’t wait to get out of here when it came time to go to college. I had my sights set on Los Angeles (word for me: “Opportunity”), dreaming of being an actress. I enjoyed a couple of great years immersed in theatre, but when it came down to it, I loved being on stage but I did not love the business of acting. I ended up working for a promotional event agency, where I literally was thrown into every aspect of running a business. You name it, I did it. And I did it so much, I literally worked myself right into the hospital out of exhaustion. Let me tell you...when you have a fever for a week and your whole family has to come out to take care of you, you start to realize your priorities might not be in the best place. So I left. Back to Phoenix I came, feeling disheartened for my failure to

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make things work and without a clue as to what I was going to do next. Phoenix became my safe space to recuperate and figure out what exactly I wanted to do in my life...rise from the ashes so to say. I never meant to stay here though since I had my eyes set on San Francisco, hoping to recreate a walkable life that I had experienced during my time studying in London. But the more I stayed in Phoenix and explored the new areas around the light rail, the more I came to love it. I loved the fact that no one seemed to be trying to be anything they weren’t (unlike in LA), and the Downtown community was so welcoming. I was able to start my own business by lending my pen to a stranger in a coffee shop and got hired for graphic design. I even met my brilliant boyfriend the same way - except this time he lent me his pen and hired me for a date. Maybe Phoenix wasn’t so bad after all? What Phoenix--specifically Downtown Phoenix-gave me was the chance to create a life I wanted to live. Downtown Phoenix (and the people I have met along the way) encourages authenticity. You’re not a little fish in a big pond here, because that’s not how the culture is. You’re a big fish swimming with other big fishes who want to show you the rest of the pond and how cool the pond can become with your help.

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In less metaphorical terms, people really do want to make this an awesome city and will provide endless encouragement if you have the passion and energy to do something yourself. I started an urban awareness and community engagement group called This Could Be PHX with my aforementioned partner-in-crime, and we continue to be amazed by the endless amount of support and momentum that Downtown Phoenix is gaining. So, what is Phoenix’s word to me? The only one I feel sums up my experience here is “Climb.” I don’t mean the type of climbing I’ve experienced elsewhere climbing up the ladder, climbing over other people, climbing to blindly reach a goal. The kind of climb I’m talking about is like hiking Camelback Mountain. It’s not easy, in fact it’s a big challenge. Climbing the mountain is not even about reaching the top, because

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there are amazing views from anywhere you are. But you keep on climbing, enjoying the people you’re hiking with, and working together to reach a place you’d like to one day be. That’s why “Climb” is my Phoenix word. Because Phoenix showed me that I can make change happen, both for myself and my city along with some help from my friends. Maybe we’re all delusional in our optimism, but we’re all on the climb together, working towards what we hope to see for our city’s future. For now at least, we’ll enjoy the view from right where we are and envision where we could one day be.

Website

www.thiscouldbephx.com april 2014 | Localrevibe Magazine

local made

Tempeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Custom Oatmeal Company is All Muscle and Heart By Kimberly Gunning Photos by Chris Kontakis

Straight out of a dream, Tempe-based MyOatmeal.com celebrated its official grand opening in March. The custom, made-to-order oatmeal company has an entrepreneurial spirit, muscle and heart behind its 22 billion blends. An amateur bodybuilder and entrepreneur by nature, Anthony Collova has had his hands in a variety of businesses. Much of his career focus up until 2010 remained in car audio, but a need to do something different prompted him to sell his primary company, Second Skin Audio. Oatmeal Beginnings Longing to combine his passions of health and fitness with something in the food industry, Collova awoke from a dream where he had been mixing and packaging batches of custom oatmeal. The dream stuck with him and, after conversations with his fiancĂŠ Kathy Brewer, MyOatmeal.com became a work in progress. It took two to three months to find a space for MyOatmeal.com to be based out of, Collova explained, and another couple to build it. After that came standardizing the process and the technically advanced website. MyOatmeal.com has been taking online orders for the past year, marketing through Facebook to the bodybuilding audience,

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and most recently to endurance athletes. With no true advertising initiatives in place, the company currently averages an impressive 50-75 bags of oatmeal ordered each day. The facility is simplistic. All oatmeal batches are measured by hand, shaken together and packaged without any automated equipment—no assembly lines needed. “I’m not too interested in mass producing,” Collova explains. Because all the oatmeal is mixed and packaged fresh the day it is shipped, selling bulk to retail locations would compromise the standard of freshness. Oatmeal Mix When ordering from MyOatmeal.com, customers can choose from three sizes— one pound, two-and-a-half pounds or four pounds. The customization begins with your choice of five types of oatmeal. All non-GMO and sourced from Oregon, the selection includes: five-grain, rolled oats and flax seed; organic, gluten-free, rolled oats; quick-rolled, instant oats; steel-cut, whole oats; Signature Smash Blend; and gluten-free, quick oats. Next, purchased from an ice-cream-flavor distributor, there are over 40 optional and natural flavors customers can add to the mix, including apple pie, cherry cobbler, chocolate hazelnut, graham cracker

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crust and key lime pie. Choose from over two-dozen dried fruits and nuts, including apples, blueberries, cherries, chipped coconut, strawberries and mangos, sliced almonds, chia seeds and sunflower seeds. Finally, add your choice of optional sweetener, including Monk Fruit—a plant-based, calorie-free option. With each ingredient added, the nutritional facts and order price adjusts to reflect your custom oatmeal creation. Name your order, determine how often you would like it shipped to your house, and complete the purchase!

“we want to contribute; we want to give back” The amount of daily orders has kept Brewer (Mrs. My Oatmeal) in the kitchen full-time in order to meet shipping deadlines. Collova and Brewer recently hired their first part-time employee in order to help get Brewer out of the kitchen and able to focus on the company’s much-anticipated plans for community outreach.

Last summer, MyOatmeal.com took their oatmeal to Prescott two weekends in a row to serve those working at the community aid center following the deaths of the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots in the Yarnell Hill Fire. The idea to build a relief vehicle for natural disaster response is one Collova and Brewer are passionate about and hoping to be able to develop once the company sees additional growth. “We want to find a way to become directly connected,” Brewer says, and adds that they would like to “use it [MyOatmeal.com] as a vehicle for community outreach.” The floodgates open when they begin talking about ways to become involved in the local community, and Valley residents will likely see MyOatmeal.com in attendance at festivals and events over the coming months. Collova and Brewer have great expectations for MyOatmeal.com, and no lack of muscle or heart to propel their local start-up forward into Phoenix’s growing entrepreneurial city.

Oatmeal Spirit Collova and Brewer are passionate about becoming involved in the local community and with nonprofit organizations around the Valley. “We want to contribute; we want to give back,” Collova explains.

Website

www.myoatmeal.com

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e v e n ts

Phoenix earns its title as an emerging gastro hotspot, bringing national fame and economic boost to local culinary community Photos by Chris Kontakis

Every year, Phoenix foodies eagerly await the most anticipated culinary event in Arizona, the Devoured Food + Wine Classic. This year was no different. In its fifth year at the Phoenix Art Museum in the city’s downtown, Devoured satisfied more than just sophisticated palates. Newly released economic figures show Phoenix’s top food and wine festival to have an annual financial impact of $743,435, owing to influx from ticket sales, food purchases, sponsorship, marketing and travel expenses. “Devoured is a true representation of the talented chefs and restaurants that exist here in Phoenix, as well as a forum to highlight the impact that promoting local talent has on our local economy,” stated Kimber Lanning, founder of Devoured and Local First Arizona, a coalition of Arizona-based businesses. While once considered a culinary des-

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ert, Phoenix is now far removed from associations with strip-mall chain restaurants and unimaginative fare. Today’s chef-driven restaurants feature talent from around the globe, with Michelin star credentials and pedigrees of the sort one would expect to find in foodie hotspots such as Chicago, San Francisco and Aspen. This years highlights included: 300 exclusive tickets were sold per day that allowed VIP attendees into the festival an hour before general admission begins. VIP ticket-holders received a more personal experience with the chefs as well as the opportunity to beat the crowds. VIP ticket-holders received access to a VIP lounge, where they will be treated to exclusive wine tastings, meetings with chefs and cooking demonstrations.

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New eco-friendly measures were in place which reduced festival waste. Reusable plates are to be incorporated for chefs and guests. Increased festival space enabled a larger number of patrons to enjoy the attractions. The culinary scene in Phoenix has advanced recently owing to a foodie movement that has embraced the culture of farm-to-table, community supported agriculture and sustainability. With everything from sunflower-based bio fuels grown by high-schoolers to subscription-based Chow Locally produce boxes, Phoenix’s food revolution is well underway and already accruing praise from local chefs. “The farmers’ markets have taken hold, which is great for local farmers, restaurants and the public,” explains Justin

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Beckett of acclaimed restaurant Beckett’s Table. “I also think that, in general, we are supporting and rooting for the little guy and/or the independent restaurants. I think that Phoenix is trying really hard to be a food town.” “The success of Devoured is a reflection of these efforts and highlights the positive changes in the culinary community that are the work of talented, energetic individuals, including chefs and restaurateurs, whose goal it is to transform the national image of Phoenix into a dining destination,” Lanning stated. Food festivals have proven to be a worthy investment for local economies, as recent studies show. These festivals are steadily growing in popularity in cities across the nation, from large towns, like Charleston, NC, to smaller communities, such as Fayetteville, Ark. In 2012, the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience drew 11,000

visitors, 82 percent of which were out-oftowners who spent upwards of $492 a day on their festival experience. Phoenix organizers are hopeful that Devoured will see a similar trajectory, as it becomes a fixture in the national gastro festival scene. “As Devoured grows in popularity, it will continue to put Phoenix on the map as a culinary destination. This, in turn, will increase investment in local restaurants year round--from locals and tourists,” said Lanning. The title sponsor this year was Alliance Bank. The Devoured Food + Wine Classic 2015 preparations are already underway.

Website

www.devouredphoenix.com april 2014 | Localrevibe Magazine

l o ca l h o ts p o ts

Snoh Ice Shavery Gives New Meaning To Dessert By Morgan Tanabe | Photos by Chris Kontakis

Nestled in Central Phoenix is a shop that gives new meaning to frozen desserts. While ice cream, gelato and frozen yogurt are all the rage, Snoh Ice Shavery offers a lighter, more refreshing alternative with a unique line-up of delicious and exotic Asian flavors. Like ice cream, Snoh treats maintain the creamy texture of the favorite frozen delight. Customers can create their own concoctions pilling the desserts high with the traditional toppings like strawberries, mangos, and Oreos. Snoh creates their signature liquid glazes in flavors like chocolate, caramel and black sesame to drizzle over the dessert adding an additional punch of flavor. Fanatics interested in a more exotic toppings may layer on almond pudding, boba or sweet red beans. The shaved ice eatery is a revelation to the Valley offering delectable frozen snow that is anything but ho-hum.

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For the more ambitious customer hoping to experience traditional snow, customers can try flavors like Thai tea, green tea or taro sprinkled with Lychee fruit and Mochi Balls. The journey of the unique shavery originated on a small island in South China. While Americans identify the fluffy treat as shaved ice, it is known to locals as BaoBing. While the dessertâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s popularity has already swept through Los Angeles, Snoh is a leader of its kind in the Valley. Just like the shaved ice itself, the shop is no usual ice cream parlor. The stylish storefront offers a modern feel. With wood floors and spacious booths and tables, the shop offers customers a quaint experience in a contemporary setting. Address

914 E Camelback Road Phoenix, AZ 85014

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april 2014 | Localrevibe Magazine

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Discovery Triangle to Launch Initiative to Bring Fruits, Vegetables to Underserved Areas on Retrofitted City Bus Photos by Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation

The Discovery Triangle Development Corporation is launching a fresh food initiative that will bring a mobile produce market to underserved neighborhoods located in the Discovery Triangle. The “Fresh Express by Discovery Triangle” will sell fresh, affordable and high-quality fruits and vegetables out of a donated, retrofitted Valley Metro bus. A launch event was held on February 25 at the Brunson-Lee Elementary School in Phoenix. Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell jumped off the bus with bags of apples for the kids. The mayors and community partners spoke at the event. The bus, stocked with fresh produce, was available for tours.

service,” said Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell. “This is a great – and truly fresh – idea to make our community even stronger and healthier.”

lot program on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Routes will include schools, senior centers, parks, churches and other gathering places throughout the Discovery Triangle region.

The Discovery Triangle, which facilitates redevelopment in Phoenix and Tempe, developed the initiative after examining the lack of accessible grocery stores in the area, considered a “food desert,” and seeing a need to enhance the health of residents. Providing a mobile option is key since many of the residents in the area depend on public transportation.

Chase Bank, the founding sponsor, provided seed and operations funding to help launch Fresh Express. “Many people in the Discovery Triangle are dependent on public transportation to get to a grocery store. Now residents will have more options with the Fresh Express bringing affordable fruits and vegetables to convenient, walkable locations,” said Paul Groves, who heads the JPMorgan Private Bank in Arizona.

“The Fresh Express is another example of Phoenix finding innovative ways to address problems and improve the quality of life of residents,” said Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton.

“As civic entrepreneurs, the Discovery Triangle brings partners together to solve issues impacting the region. We believe increasing the accessibility of affordable, healthy food and health education will boost the region’s economic development opportunities,” said Don Keuth, president of the Discovery Triangle Development Corporation.

“Tempe children and families in need in this area will be well served by the new

Fresh Express by Discovery Triangle will begin selling produce in March with a pi-

april 2014 | Localrevibe Magazine

The bus also will offer on-board community health resources including nutrition education and health screenings. Produce will be sold at affordable prices. All forms of payment will be accepted including SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).

Website

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new businesses joining cityscape this spring Photos by Chris Kontakis

april 2014 | Localrevibe Magazine

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More businesses are heading to Downtown Phoenix with The Pizza Studio and V’s Barbershop opening their doors at CityScape Phoenix this spring. As the first location in Arizona, The Pizza Studio will open a 2,500 square-footrestaurant on March 11 next to Urban Outfitters that will seat 48 inside and 12 on an outdoor patio overlooking Patriots Square. The Pizza Studio is a fast-casual dining experience that allows customers to create their own individual pizzas from a variety of crusts including gluten free, premium meats, cheeses, fresh-cut and roasted vegetables, spices and signature sauces starting from $5.99. Chopped salads are also available from $2.99. Joining four stores in California, one at Mall of America in Minnesota and a handful coming soon, Phoenix will be the sixth location for the franchise brand. “RED Development has done a phenomenal job of bringing Downtown Phoenix to life with CityScape. When looking for our first Arizona location, we saw CityScape as a great opportunity to be part of the revival

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of Downtown,” said John Lutz, operating partner of The Pizza Studio at CityScape. “Who doesn’t love pizza? It’s something you can enjoy on your way to a concert, grab during lunch at work or bring the family before a ball game. From true pizza lovers to health-conscious eaters, we have something for everyone and are committed to serving the freshest ingredients.” Also new to CityScape is V’s Barbershop that will open a 1,183-square-foot, fivechair shop in mid-April and will hire eight full-time employees. This will be the ninth location in the Valley for the Arizona-based franchise and 19th nationwide. It will be the first V’s to obtain a liquor license and will serve craft beer for only $2 and wine for only $4 to customers when they come in for any service. At V’s Barbershop, a haircut is a ritual, a nostalgic experience harkening back to a simpler day when men gathered at the corner barbershop to discuss everything from business, to sports, to current events. Services include haircuts, hot lather shaves, facials and face massages, beard and mous-

tache trims and shoe shines. The CityScape location is offering an ongoing 20 percent discount to police, firefighters and ASU students. “We wanted to create a destination barbershop for men where they can have a unique experience and look forward to going to the barbershop,” said Rob Cammarata, owner of V’s Barbershop at CityScape. “We’ll have TVs lining the wall, a bar with craft beer and wine and a relaxing environment where guys can chill and get away. CityScape is one of the coolest things to happen to Downtown Phoenix. I’ve been here for 30 years and I only used to go Downtown for games. With CityScape, we finally have something to pull people in and keep them engaged.”

Website

www.cityscapephoenix.com

april 2014 | Localrevibe Magazine