A little intro to set the proper grim tone for today’s news roundup…
“That’s great, it starts with an earthquake, birds and snakes, an aeroplane -

It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine…fine… ”

          REM – It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

* * *
Dr. Peter Venkman: This city is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions.
Mayor: What do you mean, “biblical”?
Dr Ray Stantz: What he means is Old Testament, Mr. Mayor, real wrath of God type stuff.
Dr. Peter Venkman: Exactly.
Dr Ray Stantz: Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling!
Dr. Egon Spengler: Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes…
Winston Zeddemore: The dead rising from the grave!
Dr. Peter Venkman: Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together… mass hysteria!

* * *
Life on the fringes of U.S. suburbia becomes untenable with rising gas costs

The above article actually suggests that centrally-located areas like Tempe could benefit from a new influx of families wishing to get back in cloer to employment and entertainment oppotunities.

One of Tempe Town Lake’s dams leaking air
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/119327
Mike Branom, Tribune
One of the rubber dams forming Tempe Town Lake is leaking air and the company that made it says it won’t make it again. Even more, as of yet there is no set cost for a replacement, but that’s somewhat moot because the city doesn’t have the money for a replacement anyway.

On the other hand, the Tribune today also had a blurb in the Business and Money section stating that SunCor has announced that Fidelity National Title Insurance Company and MetLife will both be moving into Hayden Ferry Lakeside Tower II, adjacent to Monti’s downtown,  between June and December taking up about 45,000 square feet collectively. Those towers and tenants would not exist without the Town Lake (who would want a view of sand, rocks and rusted-out abandoned cars?), and City would not get the millions in lease sales tax revenues that will flow into Tempe’s coffers over the next several decades without them.  The Lake is vital to Tempe, and worth maintaining.

Valley home prices in double-digit decline
http://www.tribunehomefinder.com/story/119263
Misty Williams, Tribune
The Valley’s swelling number of foreclosures spurred a first-ever double-digit drop in average home prices in the past year – signifying the worst housing market on record for many cities.

They love to regulate and tax my industry…well any industry. And they are eager to take over the Nation’s entire health care system and “fix” it, but they can’t make a buck in the food and beverage industry, so they are going to privatize it (at the Senate):

Money-losing Senate restaurants to go private (AP)
 [T]he Senate, following the lead taken by the House more than 20 years ago, moves to privatize the restaurants, coffee shops and cafeterias located in the Capitol and Senate office buildings. [...] By comparison, wrote Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who as chairman of the Senate Rules Committee has spearheaded the privatization drive, the Senate restaurants last year cost taxpayers $1.3 million with food quality and service that is “noticeably sub par.”.

You MUST read the whole article…it’s almost unbearably ironic.

This column over at the Chicago Tribune brings to mind the many efforts across the country and from time to time in Arizona to require nutritional labelling on restaurant menus. I have much to say about the many problematic consequences of this well-intentioned but erroneous concept; it is actually tough to decide where to begin. I strongly recommend that you read the column, and in addition, ponder these thoughts:

1. People dine out for a pleasurable experience and entertainment, not just for convenience and caloric maintenance. They want to sin when they eat at a nice restaurant, and having a hair-shirt wearing vicar from the nanny state whisper the evils of their menu choices into their ears as they ponder the menu ruins the experience. This is still a society in which we are free to choose acts that may have negative consequences. The State does not own your body (and if you are tempted to flirt with that concept, don’t forget that it came to a very bad end in the eugenics programs of Germany’s National Socialists).

2. These laws are often enacted by dividing chain restaurants from independents, as it is politically risky to impose a new cost on local businesses. It is in fact true that the expense of a nutritional analysis is a disproportionate burden on a single-location independent versus a chain. Let’s suppose a steakhouse chain has 1000 locations with the same menu, and that the nutritional analysis of their menu costs $1000 dollars. That analysis really only costs  each unit of the chain $1 dollar to implement, spread over all of the locations with the identical menu. But the local independent operator will have to make back all $1000 before he can make $1 of profit. (And if his cost structure is like many locals, 10 to 20 percent profit margin, that might require tens of thousands of dollars in sales. Do you really believe that the exemption of local restaurants would last very long once chains are conquered? Arizona’s smoking law certainly doesn’t exempt small operators, nor should it. So, don’t be fooled by the political trick of divide and conquer.

3. And if you like paying $5.00 per gallon for gas and the spiralling cost of groceries, then you will really enjoy the additional cost of this legislation. Of course, you won’t see it directly–but it will cause an unnecessesary increase in cost at a time when most consumers can least afford it. Reprinting all of those menus gets really expensive–and wastes paper.

4. Finally, this type of law limits your choices. Once a restaurateur, or chain, has paid for all of that nutritional analysis, how often will they wish to introduce new items? If they have to reprint menus with new information every time they change an ingredient, how frequently will they do it. Again, this type of legislation favors chains, because they can spread the cost of changes over more business units. So if you wish to walmart-ize the dining business, go right ahead.

So slap that government hand out of your pocket, and resist the collectivist, fascist impulse to control your life with leviathan-state legislation that improves nobody’s health while adding expense to your budget.

“On Thursday morning, June 19, the Mayor, Councilmembers, Transportation
Commission, METRO CEO, and various community partners (including ASU’s
President Crow and Virgil Renzulli) will be making a commemorative ride on
the METRO from the Ops/Maintenance center on Washington, across Tempe Town
Lake, and into the 3rd and Mill station.”

All together now…foam at the mouth, gnash teeth…

Light rail impacts Valley real-estate market

Transit officials estimate that since 2004, developers have spent close to $6 billion on public and private projects on and around the future light-rail line. Critics, however, say the transit system has put a burden on taxpayers and construction of the line has shut down businesses.

There are some interesting thinkers and writers out there, looking at demographic trends and preferences that happen to hit close to home for denizens of Downtown Tempe.

Here are a couple I intend to watch more closely:
Christopher Leinberger (Book: The Option of Urbanism: Investing In a New American Dream — I will order it and post my opinion soon.)

…the American Dream is shifting to include cities as well as suburbs and how the financial and real estate communities need to respond to build communities that are more environmentally, socially, and financially sustainable. http://optionofurbanism.com/

The other thinker is Joel Kotkin.  (Author of The City: A Global History).

In the case of neither man do I suggest slavish, unquestioning approval. But somewhere in the clash of their ideas lies some truth.

And another JAMN Jazz update — Note that there is a change to their TCA (Tempe Center for the Arts) performance lineup:
Winner of the Downtown Tempe Community’s
Mill Avenue District Esteemed Excellence Award for 2008

Hi, JAMN Fans:
Our JAMN Jazz @ Tempe Center for the Arts series has a schedule change. Wycliffe Gordon will NOT be performing on August 22 and has been replaced by another outstanding New York trombone virtuoso, Conrad Herwig. Gordon’s departure from our series is unfortunate, but unavoidable. The good news is that if we were going to replace Gordon with any other trombonist on earth, Conrad would be the man.  With several Grammy nominations to his credit, and 18 albums as leader, Conrad is one of the most sought after trombonists in the world. His most recent CD, the Latin Side of Wayne Shorter on the Half Note label, was released last month at the Blue Note in New York to rave reviews.
In constant demand as a sideman, Herwig has been a featured member in the Joe Henderson Sextet, Tom Harrells Septet and Big Band, and the Joe Lovano Nonet (featured as a soloist on Lovanos Grammy Award winning 52nd St Themes). Conrad also performs and records with Eddie Palmieris La Perfecta II and Afro-Caribbean Jazz Octet, Paquito DRiveras Havana-New York Connection, the Mingus Big Band (often serving as musical director, and arranger on the 2007 Grammy nominated Live at the Tokyo Blue Note), and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band (Jon Faddis, musical director) among many others. For more information on Conrad Herwig’s extraordinary career, go to http://www.conradherwig.com/.
Those who have purchased tickets for Wycliffe Gordon have the option of a receiving a refund, or keeping their assigned seats for Conrad Herwig. Simply call the TCA box office at 480.350.2822 if you want a refund. Also, with five shows left in the TCA series we are offering a “Three-Pack” of discounted tickets to any three shows of your choice. Again, call the box office and they will be happy to give you the details.
Our next TCA concert on Friday, June 27 will feature Dennis Rowland on the same stage with Margo Reed. If advance ticket sales are any indication, this is show will be sold out to the rafters. And the wonderful thing about the TCA studio is that there’s not a bad seat in the house. Go to www.tempe.gov/TCA/ to order tickets for all our JAMN Jazz @ TCA shows.
Once again, JAMN Jazz will take a summer break from our weekly shows at Monti’s Back Door beginning in July. Here’s our lineup for the rest of June. This will be the last newsletter you will receive until early July. Have a great summer!

June 16 — The Alice Tatum Quartet
Alice Tatum has been a fixture in the Phoenix music scene for 30 years. To see and hear her with some of the Valley’s best musicians was unforgettable. As a performer, Alice has played along side such greats as; Michael McDonald, Tom Scott, The Righteous Brothers, Bonnie Raitt, Alice Cooper and Nancy Wilson.  She has also worked with producer giant Don Costa as well as entertainers Flip Wilson, Paul Anka and the late Merv Griffin.  As a recording artist her discography is expansive.  She has national commercials, TV, and film as well as her own three CD Projects. Alice has made her home in Scottsdale and has committed not only her talents but her personal time to many valley charities such as the Arthritis Foundation, Arizona Foundation for Women, Make a Wish Foundation and others. Alice will be at the Back Door with keyboardist Steve Gold; bassist Mike King and drummer Todd Chuba.

June 23 — Charles Lewis Quintet
No jazz talent in Arizona commands more respect than Charles Lewis, a jazz pianist extraordinaire who has entertained jazz audiences in the Valley since the ’60s. His unique piano style reflects the sophistication of Duke Ellington and the humor and rhythm of Horace Silver. Charles and his quintet have been recipients of many grants to perform throughout Arizona and the United States. He has served on the Musical Advisory Panel for the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the Arizona Commission on the arts. One of the Valley’s great jazz treasures and a member of the Arizona Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame. This is his third appearance at the Back Door and we’re honored to have him back.

June 30 — The Nancy Gee Trio
Everyone knows and loves Nancy. She has packed the house for us three times and gave inspiring performances each time.  Nancy has been singing for jazz crowds in Phoenix for nearly 25 years. Known as one of the Valley’s Four Divas of Jazz, Nancy has been voted Female Vocalist of the Year by the Arizona Jazz Society, Jazz in AZ and the Phoenix Federation of Musicians. She produced and marketed her first recording, Velvet, in 1990 and CDs Nancy In The Key of Gee in 1996, followed by Dedications in 2003. The combination of her soulful, velvety voice, sparkling personality and an ability to capture and move audiences is why she remains one of the Valley’s top headliner jazz vocalists.  Nancy will be with John Shea on keyboards; David Grale on bass and drummer Adam Clark.
As always, thanks to all who support our JAMN Jazz Series at Monti’s Back Door.. KJZZ,  Monti’s La Casa Vieja, Downtown Tempe Community, Jazz in AZ, the Arizona Republic, the Tempe Town News and EV Tribune.
Shows are every Monday from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Remember, doors open at 5 p.m. (not before). Cover is $7, and dinner and drinks are available on our special Supper Club menu.  Monti’s Back Door is in the rear of  Monti’s La Casa Vieja, 100 S. Mill Ave., Tempe. For further information on dates, call 480.345.2392.

Best Regards,
Stu Siefer, Roy Hoyt and Woody Wilson
Jazz Musicians’ Network

From the Usual Suspects:

JAMN Jazz @ Monti’s Back Door takes summer hiatus
Date: Thu, 12 Jun 2008 2:11:33
From: Eddie Goitia JAMN Jazz @ Monti’s Back Door takes summer hiatus Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:03:59 -0700

For Immediate release
June 11, 2008
 
Contact: Woody Wilson, 480.345.2392 or
                 Stu Siefer, 480.215.4979
 
JAMN Jazz @ Monti’s Back Door Goes Dark in July and August
  
      After a year of staging Monday night jazz performances at Monti’s Back Door in Tempe, the producers at Jazz Musicians’ Network
 
(JAMN Jazz) are going to take a break during July and August, according to JAMN marketing director, Woody Wilson.
    
         “It has been a great year for us, and we have loved working with the people at Monti’s La Casa Vieja, but we need to take a
 
breather from our Monday night supper club gig,” said Wilson. “Doing a weekly show has been a lot of fun, but it’s also very time consuming.
 
And, with our  monthly  JAMN Jazz @ Tempe Center for the Arts concerts going full steam, we need to devote some time to booking and
 
brainstorming for next year’s season.”  
 
          At the end of June, JAMN Jazz @ Monti’s Back Door will have produced 50 live weekly jazz shows. What started out as an experiment
 
to discover whether live jazz could flourish on Mill Avenue, turned into a full-fledged production company that both booked, marketed and
 
produced several dozen shows over the course of the year, and in the process, expanded the concept to the new Tempe Center for
 
the Arts on Tempe Town Lake.
 
         “It’s not like we we’re the great jazz impresarios of Tempe,” said JAMN Jazz co-founder, Stu Siefer. “but what we learned was there is
 
definitely a market for live jazz on Mill Avenue, or we would not have lasted as long as we did. We also discovered there is an enthusiastic 
audience for quality jazz throughout the Valley, and if you book smart and give jazz fans a ticket they can afford, the appetite for live jazz will
 
grow. All you have to do is get the word out. “
 
         The final 5:30 to 8 p.m. shows before the summer break at Monti’s Back Door will be Alice Tatum on June 16; the Charles Lewis Quintet
 
on June 23 and the Nancy Gee Trio on June 30. JAMN Jazz hopes to return to Monti’s Back Door in the Fall. 
 
                                                                                                                                    

I get food and beverage industry news from several sources. I found these items enlightening about the current environment, and they are consistent with our experience in the local market:

RESTAURANTS CAUGHT IN VISE;

As costs have risen, customers have become more budget-conscious. The mantra:
Emphasize value and service.
JOE GUY COLLIER; Staff — The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 10,
2008 Tuesday Main Edition

Restaurants, though, have to be careful about how they deal
with cost increases, [...]They must walk a fine line between offsetting
costs and keeping customers satisfied, he said.
[...]  With the economy stalling, restaurants are being pinched on both ends.
Expenses are rising as food and energy costs go up. Increases
in the minimum wage also are hitting restaurants.
[...] At the same time, revenue growth is slowing as consumers
become more budget-conscious, selecting cheaper dining
options or eating at home instead. [...] Full-service restaurants started taking a hit in the third
quarter of last year, said Ron Paul, president and CEO of
Technomic. [...] Fast-casual and fast-food restaurants joined the slowdown in
the first quarter of this year, Paul said. To keep customers dining out, restaurants are offering more
value meals and combos, smaller portions at lower prices and
adjusting menus with lower-cost items, he said.

And, this:

“Lunch Is Out of Here”  Comments (3) June 9, 2008
In response to: “Lunch Is Out of Here” Rex commented:
Your Chris Sullivan article hit a nerve as it approached the “trade down”
principle that he was describing saying that people would “experience swap”
the concept trading a cut rate lunch for a more lucrative dinner visit. My business has increased about 20% in the past few weeks and since I’m not doing anything differently I started asking customers why. Turns out they are coming to us for a nicer than normal lunch and cutting out dinner visits to other places. More folks than you might think are asking the spouse to “day dates”. I wonder if this is an overall industry trend and one that other people might position themselves to capture or retain in this market where some of the big money is shifting down a notch.

The photos above are best interpreted with reference to this link and this previous post.