issue 9 may 2014
the
local the local joins the downtown phoenix scene
chris mckinley & adam hargett by kimberly gunning
keep it cut
keeping it simple
my phx story
josselyn berry
phoenix street food coalition brad & kat moore
the local yeti mobile juice bar
practical art
giving art a home
crown restoration
old-fashioned restoration
free ego
home street style
inside
central wine bar www.localrevibe.com | @localrevibe
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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 Janessa Hilliard Localrevibe Media Network, LLC. 7000 N. 16th Street Suite 120 PMB 215 Phoenix, Arizona 85020 Phone 480 336 2507 info@localrevibe.com www.localrevibe.com www.localrevibemedia.com
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Photo by: Chris Kontakis 4
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06 free ego Home Street Style
08 practical art Giving Local Art a Home
12 crown restoration Old-Fashioned Restoration
14 stinkweeds Kimber Lanning
16 keep it cut Keeping it Simple
20 central wine bar Inside Central Wine Bar
22 my phx story Josselyn Berry
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COVER STORY
the local The Local Joins the Downtown Scene
30 phoenix street food coalition Brad & Kat Moore
32 the local yeti Mobile Juice Bar
34 the growhouse Growhouse on Roosevelt Row
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fa s h i o n
homemade street style
by free ego
“your clothing, that’s what everyone sees until someone really knows you.”
By Alexa Chrisbacher | Photos by Chris Kontakis
There’s an artist in the heart of the Historic District serving up a scoop of galactic sherbet this summer. Free Ego is a handprinted clothing line that was born and bred in downtown Phoenix. It’s the brainchild of artist Brian Cresson, who said it all happened by accident. “I’ve always been really into the way I look and I think that’s a huge part of someone, you know -- your face, your attitude, your hairstyle,” Cresson said. “Your clothing, that’s what everyone sees until someone really knows you.” Cresson spent his childhood cutting, glu-
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ing and making things. He knew what he wanted to look like from the very beginning, when he would sneak clothes in his backpack and change at the bus stop before school. After moving into what he calls his live-workspace-studio-gallery, Cresson decided to pursue his interest in art. His experiments in mixed-media painting led to stenciling, screen printing and repurposing vintage. “I was feeling really free and it was my first summer downtown,” Cresson said. “I started cutting all the sleeves off my t-shirts and cutting my jeans into shorts and stuff, kind
of feeling this cool like ‘street wear’ kind of vibe.” Two years later, Cresson’s homemade street style became Free Ego. The line is in a local shop, online and even on the catwalk. After his first big show, Cresson says he’s still learning, changing and growing the brand. He’s staying true to his roots of creating unique, hand-sewn pieces. “You’ll see me in the [shop] with lots of buckets, like dipping things in bleach and hopefully I don’t die from the fumes.,” Cresson said. “But I feel like I can just totally let loose and do what I want to do right now.” The next Free Ego line boasts edgy, in-
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side-out pieces in pastel and hand-dipped tie-dye. There’s aggressive washing, fun sayings and a whole bunch of new ideas. How would Cresson sum up his new direction? “Just imagine a galactic sherbet kind of ‘cool’ thing happening,” he said. Website
www.freeyourego.com
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art
giving local art a home at practical art By Janessa Hilliard | Photos by Chris Kontakis
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The gallery hides off the treaded art path, due north of Roosevelt Row and Grand Avenue in downtown Phoenix. Practical Art showcases Arizona-based artists—from visual arts like photography and painting to material artists like soap makers and metal workers. April marked six years for the space. Lawyer Jane Reddin founded the store in 2008, with the goal of bringing handmade goods to the community. “She had wandered the state and noticed that if you went to Jerome or Tucson, there were lots of spaces like this that just sold the work of multiple artists [who] did functional, craft kind of goods,” says Co-owner Lisa Olson. “Phoenix was lacking that.” Olson began working with Reddin in July 2008. Co-owner Kara Roschi had been a part of the project since its inception. The two were such an important part of the vision that when Reddin passed way three years ago, she left the store to them. The number of artists has grown from eight to 120. Most hail from metro Phoenix, Roschi says, but Practical Art has also given what she calls “urban representation” to artists statewide. “A lot of the artists were tired of doing festivals and paying entrance fees and schlepping their work all around,” Roschi says. “They were like, ‘We just want to be in the studio and make the work. That’s where we’re passionate. I’m not interested in the business aspect of it.’” In addition to giving these artists a place to profit from their work, Practical Art gives back. On the fourth Friday of each month, the gallery and community come together for a pie social, raising money for charity at $5 a piece or $10 for all you can eat. “It’s been a really good example that if you give people an outlet to support something, they will truly take advantage of it,” Olson says.
Website
5070 N CENTRAL AVE PHOENIX, AZ 85012 WWW.PRACTICAL-ART.COM
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We’re all about bringing art into your everyday. Taking simple goods and making them beautiful. That’s why our candles are made by hand and are meant to become a permanent piece of art in your home, even after the flame is long gone. Just wipe out any excess wax and reuse the container however you fancy.
100% Soy Wax | Handmade in Phoenix, AZ | standardwax.com www.localrevibe.com | @localrevibe
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business
old-fashioned restoration
A family passion for the vintage Volkswagen By Morgan Tanabe | Photos by Chris Kontakis
Kevin Stramandinoli may be the biggest Volkswagen enthusiast that has ever lived. After exploring his interest in culinary arts, Stramandinoli traded in the kitchen and an apron for a garage and some tools. For the past 21 years he has been bringing new life to the old-school classics. He set up shop in the heart of downtown Phoenix to take his love for vintage Beetles 12
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and buses a step further. “It started out at my house and then it moved from one place to another… and I’ve been here for fifteen years now,” he explains. Stramandinoli says his passion for restoring the dated rides is credited to his father. “He always worked on cars—the muscle car, the ‘36 Plymouth—I was the kid out
there with the wrenches while my brother watched T.V.” While most families pass down their outdated heirlooms, the Stramandinoli’s did things differently. Their enthusiasm for VW’s is now embedded in their bloodline—his family is not just memorialized through history, but known for their old-fashioned German cars.
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“When I grew up, my grandfather had a ’66 bug,” Stramandinoli says. “When I turned 16-years-old, I fixed up a VW of my own and, from there, every friend who owned one and had a problem would come to me for help.” Revamping the old models can take up to a year for a mega-dedicated enthusiast, Stramandinoli says. Restoring the cars back to their original look is the goal, and even a quick fix can easily cost a couple thousand dollars. Stramandinoli sees the car from more of an artistic perspective, however, not just a means to get from ‘point A’ to ‘point B.’ Today, his garage is a clubhouse of sorts— member exclusive to Volkswagen lovers. Restoring specialty trimmed seats and bubble taillights are a daily occurrence for the “mad-scientist” of the VW world, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Instagram
@crownrestoration
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local busi ness
stinkweeds By Ashley Brand | Photos by Chris Kontakis
Kimber Lanning was nineteen when she opened Stinkweeds music store. She said the motivation behind the decision was simple, “I wanted to open a record store and so I did.” That determination and appreciation for the hard-working music artists of the world is the foundation that Stinkweeds was built on and speaks to its longevity in the community. Working out of Central Avenue and Camelback Road in Phoenix, Stinkweeds is constantly growing and connecting with the community. A stage built in 1996 has supplied the location with impressive and exciting live, in-store music performances. “What we have here is a really solid following of people who are fanatically rabid about music,” Lanning says. “Our store has always really focused on real music lovers and people who understand the toil of being a musician…they want to have the vinyl in their hand. They want to read the lyrics and look at the artwork that the musician selected.” In addition to selling CD’s, music magazines and vinyl, Stinkweeds also buys records. “Vinyl is just booming right now,” Lanning said. To fill the need and desire Arizonans have for vinyl, she explained how integral the special order program is to make purchasing vinyl simple and reliable. Lanning said, “Particularly in Arizona, if you want to order vinyl you better not order it online because your mailman is going to drop it on your front porch in June and it’s going to be toast by the time you get home. So, we order it in here and hold it where it’s nice and cool until you can come and pick it up.” Next time you’re looking to purchase unique vinyl or even experience a live performance in the Valley, check out www.stinkweeds.com for new releases and upcoming events.
Address
12 W Camelback Rd Phoenix, AZ 85013
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“We like the environmental sustainability component; we also think it’s socially responsible to be involved in your community”
l o ca l busin ess
keeping it simple at
keep it cut By Kimberly Gunning | Photos by Chris Kontakis
Walk through the double-garage-door entrance into Keep It Cut’s open-air, industrial space, filled with gray concrete and re-use interior elements, popping orange accents, modern design and soft hip hop tunes. Check in on the iPad and take a seat on one of the recycled-use furniture pieces until your stylist calls you over for your second… or third haircut of the month. Don’t worry—Your monthly membership at Keep It Cut already covered the cost back at haircut number one. Based on the thinking that people would get haircuts more often if they didn’t have to pay for them, Keep It Cut went from an idea on paper by two local entrepreneurs to a reality last September. Joshua Thorsvik and Jacob Meltzer, owners of a Liberty Tax franchise in Peoria, began researching ideas for their next business. Interested in the way companies like Netflix and Dollar Shave Club operate, they wanted to find another market where the membership business model could be implemented. “Really, for it to work, you have to have something that you want more of but you don’t necessarily want to pay more to have,” Thorsvik explained. Keep It Cut caters primarily to men, offering a way to stay clean cut and shaven throughout the month. Members can choose from four options, beginning at a monthly charge of $23. Non-member drop-ins are also accepted.
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“We decided to kind of keep it to a simple line of services—the haircuts, the hair washes, and the beard and mustache grooming—and you can just tap those together in whatever combination you want for a different membership,” Meltzer says. “For us, it’s really exciting every time somebody signs up for a membership.” The 1,600-square-foot space off of East Indian School Road and North 28th Street was a lucky find, the two entrepreneurs explained. Meltzer said, “We drove all over the Valley from one side to the other…every single major intersection, just looking for shopping complexes that would have a spot that would work.” Recognizing that certain areas of the Valley are more receptive and open to supporting local businesses, Thorsvik added, “We just kind of lucked out that we ended up being in Arcadia.” Meltzer and Thorsvik would like to open several more Keep It Cut locations around the Valley, so that members can drop in to whichever location is most convenient. The start of a revolution in the Valley’s barbershop market, the two entrepreneurs value socially conscious initiatives as priority in their business model. Sustainably and Socially Conscious “Being environmentally friendly is something that’s been important to us from day one, even
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when we started our tax business…so we took that same concept here,” Meltzer says. “We told our designer and construction crew, ‘If you can, work with what we have here.’” The lifted ceilings were already in place. Old school, rectangular air ducts were left intact and painted orange, and recycled pallet-board finishes and low-volatility paint were used throughout the space. “We like the environmental sustainability component; we also think it’s socially responsible to be involved in your community,” Meltzer says. “We’re always looking for opportunities to reach out and help with fundraisers.” Since opening, Keep It Cut has participated with several Valley fundraisers, including shaving heads for St. Balrick’s at Thirsty Lion Pub & Grill in their mission to Conquer Childhood Cancers; Brokers for Kids, offering haircuts to brokers with 100 percent of the proceeds going towards Boys Hope Girls Hope; and at the one-n-ten fundraiser brunch for LGBT youth, providing haircuts to members and supporters. Meltzer and Thorsvik also participate in Kiva, a micro-loan company that assists entrepreneurs in developing countries. “It’s not just a one-time donation; it’s something that continues to grow,” Meltzer explains. “As we continue to do fundraisers for that, it builds our pool of money that we can continue to loan over and over again to these different entrepreneurs around the world and help them hopefully get out of poverty.” “To make money is one thing, but you want to do so in a way that’s responsible,” Meltzer says. “That’s something that’s been really important to us.”
Address
2824 E INDIAN SCHOOL RD PHOENIX, AZ 85016 WWW.KEEPITCUT.COM
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drink
Inside Central Wine Bar
Phoenix vino spot offers a new place to perch By Katie Snyder | Photos by Chris Kontakis
Jenna Rousseau has the cure for what ails you. Disappointed by the choices of post-dinner drink spots in the central Phoenix area, the Arizona native has recently opened her own urban-chic hangout for vino lovers. “It’s been a dream to open up a wine spot where I grew up,” Rousseau says. “We’re happy to be able to give people a place to enjoy post-dinner sips and relax.” Opened in early February, Central Wine Bar is the newest addition to the Historic Central Corridor, located at 4236 North Central Avenue in Phoenix. “Wine bars are popping up all over in other cities like San Francisco and Portland,” Rousseau says, “but there isn’t anything quite like this here in Phoenix.” The bar boasts an extensive wine menu featuring red and whites from Oregon, California, Arizona and even Italy. Guests can choose to enjoy their favorite red or white by the glass or by the bottle.
“I stay away from mass-produced wines, and instead focus on providing a variety of vino options from both the United States and overseas,” says Rousseau. “It’s a never-ending education, and we want to help everyone experience the flavors of the world and find a wine they truly enjoy.” As for the food, Rousseau is keeping things simple, serving up light appetizers and various meat and cheese boards for guests to purchase. “We currently don’t have a kitchen,” says Rousseau. “So, we’ve reached out and partnered with local grocer, AJ’s Fine Foods, to provide our food menu.” Central Wine is open Tuesday through Thursday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m. They are closed Sunday and Monday. Address
4236 N CENTRAL AVE PHOENIX, AZ 85012 www.centralwinephx.com
In addition to the extensive wine menu, Rousseau says each week the bar will feature rotating wines and beers on tap.
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“We’re happy to be able to give people a place to enjoy post-dinner sips and relax.”
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my phx story
Josselyn Berry Finding your place is no easy task. It doesn’t happen suddenly. Instead it’s a process you’re hardly aware of until one day you know where you’re supposed to be. I was 8 years old when my parents broke the news that we were moving from our California town of Lompoc to a place called Phoenix, Arizona. “It’s in the desert, but your grandmother is there,” my mother said while my father mentioned cheaper property taxes and land values. No concept of what a desert town looked like, I imagined it would be like the movie Aladdin— complete with roaming camels, tents and dust storms. I was mistaken, but unfortunately right about the dust storms. I cried, called my best friend and she came over the morning we left. We gave each other our favorite stuffed animal as my mother snapped a photo of us. I saw it a few years ago. Our eyes were bleary and smiles gaped, waiting for adult teeth to grow. While our new house in the desert was being built, my family moved into a small apartment in Phoenix. My sisters and I missed our spacious Califor-
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nia backyard. We missed the cul-desac we learned to ride bikes in and the sound of our mom whistling us home when streetlights came on. Now our backyard was sharp gravel and astroturf. I was undecided on the whole state. To get acquainted with our southwestern lifestyle my mother took us horseback riding in the desert. We were unaware of how hot the day would be. Side note: The California sun is sweet, gentle and forgiving. Sometimes fickle on cloudy days, but returns smiling and warm. The Arizona sun is nothing like her. Mounted on horses, we went on a long ride that quickly grew dull. Halfway through, wooziness set in. I whined to my mother, who only told me to suck it up. Trying to fight nausea I focused on the horse ahead of me. Waking up twenty minutes later I was on a scratchy couch in the manager’s trailer. An icepack leaking down my face and my mother’s guilty eyes looking down.
“We just moved here,” she apologized to the manager, “From California!” “The heat’s not for everyone,” he chuckled. It was the isolation that was more suffocating than the heat. My sister coped by sneaking out while I stayed in my room listening to music and reading. When college came I moved, but only to a different isolation—My grandmother’s quiet suburban home. Drive to school, drive to work, drive home. Repeat. Things started changing when I decided to attend the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism in Downtown Phoenix. The campus was infinitely more attractive than the sprawling chaos of Tempe. Downtown was just right. In the shadow of skyscrapers it was small enough that I saw the same people each day, but it still had a big city feel. It was love at first sight with Downtown Phoenix. It was the one place where I felt connected. I started writing for the Downtown campus newspaper and found a coffee shop-Lola Coffee. I started
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Photo by Sean Deckert
knowing people’s names and they knew mine. I even met my boyfriend, whom I now live with in Downtown Phoenix, on the light rail. He asked to sit next to me—so polite, and then bought me a drink at Carly’s Bistro. Our home in the Woodland District is small and cozy. On the weekends, neighbors clean their yard or go on bike rides. In the evenings, couples walk their dogs or sit by fire pits in the front yard. At night, my boyfriend and I sit on our porch and share drinks with the Downtown skyline lit up in the distance. People who don’t live in Downtown love to criticize it. Condemning the lack of “things to do” or how there are too many homeless people. Nothing is further from the truth. Downtown Phoenix doesn’t open itself up immediately. This city makes you work for it. But once you take the time to know it, you’ll be amazed at what you find. I found that I love going to Phoenix Public Market or Lola Coffee and seeing people I know. I love meeting my friend who lives a block away and biking to a yoga class in Civic Park. After living in the desert where it took an hour to get anywhere, Downtown Phoenix is a revelation. I love nothing better than spending a weekend biking everywhere and not getting in a car once. The people I’ve met are spectacular. They defend Downtown Phoenix ferociously because they’re making it better. I’ve met fantastic friends. They’re a motley group of artists or architects, writers, photographers, business owners and professors. Every Sunday we gather for home-cooked food and drinks by the backyard fire. It’s a group of people I never imagined finding, but I’m grateful I did. I remember one morning before dawn my boyfriend woke up to take photos from our roof of the moon for an upcoming gallery show. I joined him and watched the moon set behind the State Capitol and the sunrise over downtown. The sun gave the buildings a copper glow and I sighed thinking, this is my city, this is my home. When I was sixteen I asked myself, where will I be when I’m 25? Maybe I’d be living in New York and working at a magazine; sophisticated and smart. Now that I am 25 I’d like to think I’m at least smart and sophisticated, but instead of working at a magazine, I work as a communications coordinator for a political nonprofit. It’s not as glamorous, but at the end of the day I’m doing what I want— Making this world better and my community better. The greatest part is now, 17 years after I moved from my childhood home, I’ve found the community I want—Downtown Phoenix.
Website
www.thiscouldbephx.com www.localrevibe.com | @localrevibe
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fe at ured
The Local Joins the Downtown Phoenix Restaurant Scene By Kimberly Gunning | Photos by Chris Kontakis
By Kimberly Gunning | Photos by Chris Kontakis
“It started with a phone call one night,” Owner Adam Hargett says about opening The Local.
the price point affordable with dishes ranging between $10 and $30.
Former manager of MercBar, Hargett worked his way up in the restaurant business, beginning as a bar back. Along the way, he met Executive Chef Chris McKinley. McKinley originally moved to Phoenix from Los Angeles to work at The Phoenician, later finding a home at Noca, and most recently as the executive chef at Atlas Bistro. The pair joined forces late last year to create a concept that fits perfectly into downtown Phoenix’s cultural vibe.
Hargett adds, “We both love being creative and trying new things, and we hate to get pigeon-holed and stuck with a menu that stays that way for six/ eight months at a time.”
The Local officially opened its doors in April, on the northeast corner of Third and Roosevelt streets, in the center of the downtown Phoenix art scene. Serving contemporary modern American cuisine, McKinley says the fare is a melting pot of the best America has to offer—specifically the best Arizona has to offer. “The way I like to cook is fresh ingredients—local providers and the freshest as possible,” he explains. Visiting farmer’s markets and buying from local farms such as The Farm at South Mountain, McClendon’s Select organic farm and Duncan’s Trading Co., McKinley says The Local takes advantage of the freedom to use whatever ingredients he finds. Bringing in the standard of quality McKinley is accustomed to from previous establishments, the lunch and dinner spot aims to keep
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This creativity extends to Hargett’s beverage list. Hargett and McKinley agree that they want The Local to be a “power hitter” of great food and great cocktails. “We don’t want to be a restaurant that serves drinks or a bar that serves food,” McKinley states. The cocktail-focused beverage list is planned to rotate with the food menu, focusing on classics, small-batch libations and locally produced spirits. “There’s a new kind of influx of local spirits that we definitely want to feature for the cocktails,” Hargett says. “I want this to be a place where you can come and get something you’ve probably never had before.” Hargett is working with local purveyors to be one of the first locations to bring in new products on the market. A compliment to the art district, The Local’s modern interior décor will feature artwork from local artists. Just like the food and drinks, the art will rotate in and out, creating even more reason for guests to return time and time again for a brand new experience.
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Supporting the local art scene, local farmers and distilleries is just as important to Hargett and McKinley as it is to the downtown Phoenix community. “That’s such a huge part of the culture downtown right now,” Hargett says, “We wanted the name to hold true.” When searching for a location to open The Local, despite having a following in Scottsdale and the Arcadia neighborhood, “Downtown was really a no brainer,” Hargett explains. McKinley adds, “It’s on the upcoming and I just love the people here; I love the culture; I love the art district and the music, and it just kind of fit our personalities.” In the growing downtown atmosphere, Hargett and McKinley say the general attitude has been “the more the merrier,” from local businesses and restaurants. Cheers to that! The Local is open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and dinner from 5 p.m. to midnight, with late-night hours Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Sunday brunch 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Address
1011 N 3RD STREET PHOENIX, AZ 85004 WWW.IAMTHELOCAL.COM
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co m m u n i ty
Phoenix street food coalition By Morgan Tanabe | Photos by Chris Kontakis
Phoenix is becoming the culinary mecca of foodie culture. Not only are chefs earning national recognition in various eateries, but mobile kitchens are scoring some street-cred as well. Engines are just getting started in the Valley’s food truck scene. Truck-spawned establishments are serving up eclectic menus throughout Maricopa County. From dynamite Pho, to non-traditional po’boys and mouthwatering grilled cheese, the Valley of the Sun is a force to be reckoned with. While critics believed the meals-on-wheels approach was a dining fad, gourmet eats at reasonable prices proved the opinion wrong. Mobile-eatery pioneers Brad and Kat Moore didn’t waste time with offering their unique version of street grub. It was then that the husband-and-wife team envisioned the next step for mobile kitchen owners. Once Short Leash Hot Dogs launched, “We started doing the farmers markets and realized we were sharing space with these other guys. Kat suggested starting a food truck association,” Moore says.
community together, and shed light on how street food can help cities and local businesses prosper. Today, there are 72 businesses in the group. The association has bylaws and guidelines for people to become a member. Candidates must submit their menu and a list of vendors they use in order to apply. “You have to do something that is artisan in nature; at least 30 percent needs to be used from a local bakery, meat shop, farm…we also wanted to support other small, local businesses,” Moore explains. “The cuisine can be anything as long as it falls in those parameters.” Last year the coalition shared 400 job leads and connected members with well-known, name companies and events. We are a support system for people,” Moore says. “It’s a cool organization, and I’m really proud of what we build. It is a great resource for not only current member, but aspiring food truck operators.” Website
www.phxstreetfood.org
From there, it evolved. In 2010, the Phoenix Street Food Coalition was born. Their goal is simple: to bring food vendors, local business and the
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fo o d / d i n i n g
The Local Yeti mobile juice bar By Ashley Brand | Photos by Chris Kontakis
It is not often that the nicknames one receives in high school end up the inspiration for entrepreneurial endeavors. In the case of Brandon Bennett, also known as ‘The Yeti,’ his nickname given to him by friends in Globe, Ariz. followed him back to Scottsdale. Once there, his love of healthy eating and exercise helped him form his mobile juice bar, The Local Yeti. After a career in the United State Navy and doing some soul searching, Bennett found, as he says, “the naturopathic, holistic scene.” He continues to say, “If you want to heal something you can use food…you know, the simple, clean, healthy way.” When the current job market could not satisfy his passions, he looked into opening a brick and mortar juice bar but could not afwww.localrevibe.com | @localrevibe
ford the overhead. Then Bennett explained, “I decided about eight months ago I wanted to do a mobile juice bar. I loved to go to the gym and eat healthy so I figure, why not go after your passion?” The Yeti’s philosophy is simple: “If food is eighty to ninety-percent of one’s health, there’s a good chance that people are getting cancer and all these horrible things from poor diets and processed foods.” By offering healthier juice and snack options in a mobile setting, Brandon hopes to bring those ideals to the Arizona public.
or peanut butter, banana, dates, chia seeds, and milk or coconut water. The menu currently features 14 smoothie and juice options as well as a build-your-own selection. Bennett plans on adding organic-juice popsicles in the near future. With the Arizona heat setting in, a refreshing juice treat may be all it takes to add a boost to your day.
Website
WWW.THELOCALYETI.COM
Cold-pressed to preserve nutrients, the juices and smoothies come in flavor concoctions such as the Citrasaurus made from orange, lemon, tangerine, and carrot; and the Haboob smoothie made from sunflower may 2014 | Localrevibe Magazine
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co m m u n i ty
growhouse on roosevelt row By Ashley Brand | Photos by Chris Kontakis
Roosevelt Growhouse lives by the motto: ‘Where Urban Farming meets cooperative retail.’ Inspired by art, gardening and a quarter-acre lot on Roosevelt Row, Co-founders Kenny Barrett and Kelly Placke dedicated themselves to urban farming in November 2008. First, Barrett asked himself, “What could we create in this space?” The result was a repurposed house, affectionately called the ‘grow-op co-op,’ where artists, retailers and community-minded folks can gather and grow. This unique garden in downtown Phoenix is 75-percent communal garden, which yields 250 pounds of produce each season, and 25-percent community plots, where local Arizonans can experiment with their green thumbs. When the growing season draws to a close, the fresh produce is sold to local 34
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restaurants and cafés, like Carly’s Bistro and A Side of Heart, also located downtown. This process could not be completed without help from the community, and Growhouse certainly nurtures that aspect. Volunteers of all ages are welcome on Garden Day, which takes place every Sunday from 10 a.m. until noon. Growhouse also sponsors high school seniors, known as ‘greenterns,’ who work during the school year in the retail area and gardens. “We’re trying to demonstrate sustainability,” Barrett explains, and they are doing just that by giving back to Arizona in many ways.
Barrett even revealed the concept of a thrift store bus tour. The tour will take place in a classic Emerson school bus and will feature a historical tour of the downtown area, gourmet picnic lunch and thrift-store shopping for the best vintage goods. On your next visit to Roosevelt Row, stop by Growhouse to experience the forefront in urban farming and sustainable practices here in the Valley. Website
www.thegrowhouse.blogspot.com
Barrett is in the planning stages for a few upcoming events. Growhouse has been known to host seasonal garden parties, and they hope to host the spring edition soon. www.localrevibe.com | @localrevibe
www.localrevibe.com | @localrevibe
may 2014 | Localrevibe Magazine
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may 2014 | Localrevibe Magazine
www.localrevibe.com | @localrevibe