Archive for 'Lo-cal'
I flunked my bicycle safety course
Posted on 23. Feb, 2010 by Tony Arranaga.
Over the weekend, I took a bicycle safety course at the Tempe Transportation Center. As you can see from the picture above, I failed miserably. In my defense, I missed the first two hours of the class because of the rain. Still, I flunked. Tom with Tempe Bicycle Action Group taught the course and is [...]
Continue Reading
I heart Downtown Phoenix
Posted on 12. Feb, 2010 by Tony Arranaga.
Cupid strikes in Downtown Phoenix, but in a very friendly love-your-neighbor sort of way. People who live in and work in the heart of the city may notice random acts of kindness in the heart of the city today – it’s all part of an effort to show the love here in Phoenix. While many [...]
Continue Reading
Movie night in Downtown Phoenix
Posted on 07. Feb, 2010 by Tony Arranaga.
Those of you who know me know I rarely go see movies, so when I do it’s a big deal. Well, last night I went all out. Not only did I go to the movies, but I went to see Avatar in 3D. (I know, big doins!) I’ve never seen a movie in 3D before [...]
Continue Reading
Who would deface this face?
Posted on 04. Feb, 2010 by Tony Arranaga.
Or at least that’s the theory behind this new artwork at Downtown Phoenix Asian fusion restaurant NINE 05 (Roosevelt light-rail station). Chef Jay tells me the restaurant, like many businesses in the urban core, is seeing a rash of graffiti vandals. In fact, so much that the restaurant couldn’t keep up with painting over the all [...]
Continue Reading
Car-free in Phoenix
Posted on 03. Feb, 2010 by Tony Arranaga.
In honor of ValleyMetro’s Try 1 in 5 month, I’m showcasing the face of the carfree in Phoenix. These days, living car-free is a conscious choice. Whether you want to help clean the air, reduce congestion on the roads, or you want to get better acquainted with your city. Urban professionals around Downtown Phoenix want [...]
Continue Reading
Downtown Phoenix pedicabs
Posted on 14. Jan, 2010 by Tony Arranaga.
The other night after hanging out at the Phoenix Public Market wine bar, I tried out our pedicab service in downtown Phoenix for the first time. What a cool and green way to experience the heart of Phoenix! Since this was my first time, I had no idea how to hail one. I mean, I [...]
Continue Reading
Rider appreciation day on METRO rail
Posted on 19. Dec, 2009 by Tony Arranaga.
Even though the official anniversary date is still a week away, METRO celebrated one year of mass transit in Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa. How did METRO help passengers celebrate the occasion? The transit agency and several local businesses along the 20 mile starter line got together and offered up prizes, discounts and other freebies for [...]
Continue Reading
Gift ideas for the transit geek
Posted on 17. Dec, 2009 by Tony Arranaga.
Whether you’re stuck on what to buy your carfree friend or you want to encourage others to drive less, I’ve come up with a list of reasonably priced gift ideas that will enable people to make the transition from four wheels to two. More and more people are becoming familiar with the benefits of exploring [...]
Continue Reading
METRO celebrates first year success in Phoenix
Posted on 09. Dec, 2009 by Tony Arranaga.
METRO lightrail will celebrate one year of service on December 27th, however transit managers in Phoenix are planning an official event on December 19th, according to a release.
Why a week earlier? I just got off the phone with METRO spokesperson Hillary Foose who says she wanted to avoid having a celebration a) on a Sunday [...]
Continue Reading
Thanks Dad for keeping me dry
Posted on 07. Dec, 2009 by Tony Arranaga.
I’m loving the weather in Phoenix over the last few days. Cold was on tap for most of the weekend, however today there was the addition of a steady drizzle which kept the streets along the lightrail pretty wet. I’m so ready for this change after spending my first summer living carfree in the intense [...]
Continue Reading
CenPho cycle chic
Posted on 16. Nov, 2009 by Tony Arranaga.
Function in sportswear helps people excel during recreational activities. Swimmers wear speedos to reduce the amount of drag in excess material on a pair of trunks. Football players wear a cleated sole for traction on the gridiron. Then there are bicyclists who wear helmets to protect their heads and in some cases a special shoe [...]
Continue Reading
You don’t need to own a car to have fun in Phoenix
Posted on 06. Nov, 2009 by Tony Arranaga.
I had two goals Thursday night. Goal number one: get to the Celebrity Chef Tour at the Phoenician Resort without spending alot of money on a Zipcar. Goal number two: take a picture with headlining Celebrity Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.
I realize these two goals together may seem odd, so here’s the backstory…
You may have seen in [...]
Continue Reading
In with the old
Posted on 29. Oct, 2009 by Tony Arranaga.
Restaurants all along the lightrail in Phoenix are looking at ways to green their business. You may have read my post on DowntownPhoenix.com about restaurants installing bike racks to meet the growing commuting trend here in the Valley. During my research, I found out that business owners are finding low cost ways to create a [...]
Continue Reading
That’s how he rolls
Posted on 26. Oct, 2009 by Tony Arranaga.
The skateboard deck I helped volunteered my friend Kyle to design for a charity auction is now complete! I’m so excited about this, and also so grateful to have a friend like Kyle.
Yesterday, I posted an audio slideshow of his work and since then I’ve been thinking about the time and effort he put into [...]
Continue Reading
Preserving history in Downtown Phoenix
Posted on 17. Oct, 2009 by Tony Arranaga.
Downtown Phoenix reminds me of a puzzle. Over the last several weeks, and in various parts of the city, I’ve noticed a new piece being added to the bigger picture of a vibrant urban core. I told you about the Phoenix Public Market opening soon, and earlier tonight there was a dedication of the A.E. [...]
