This will be a wonderful aesthetic improvement. I can’t wait to see the Butte–for the first time in my life–without all of the junk on top of it:
‘A Mountain’ towers moving to downtown high-rise
by William Hermann – Jul. 31, 2008 12:27 PM
The Arizona Republic
The communication towers that have topped “A Mountain” for more than 60 years soon will be moved to Tempe’s tallest building. [Centerpoint Condominiums]
Now even the wealthy are starting to feel the pain…
Rosenberg Says `Well-Heeled’ Join the Pain: Chart of the Day
By Thomas R. Keene
July 30 (Bloomberg) — The U.S. economic slowdown has shaken the confidence of even the most affluent Americans as losses spread from housing to financial assets, according to economists at Merrill Lynch & Co.
Update: Splash Playground to Open Friday
Tempe Beach Park’s Splash Playground has cleared testing and will reopen Friday morning.
Story here.
Tough Times for F&B
I have heard this morning that Grilled Expedition on Mill Avenue has closed for business. Rumors have swirled downtown about other pending restaurant and retail closures–some just narrowly averted by last-minute negotiations with landlords. At the national level there was this news:
http://cbs2chicago.com/local/bennigans.restaurant.shutdown.2.782428.html
Bennigan’s Restaurants Shut Down Nationwide Independent Franchise Locations Remain Open CHICAGO (CBS) ? Customers showing up for lunch at Bennigan’s restaurants in Chicago and across the country found quite a surprise Tuesday morning, when all the corporate-owned locations had signs on display reading “closed for business.” [B]ennigan’s Grill and Tavern closed all of its corporate-owned locations [about half the entire chain] nationwide after filing for bankruptcy. Independent franchises remain open for business as usual. [C]hapter 7 bankruptcy means the company is being liquidated, as opposed to Chapter 11 bankruptcy, in which a company tries to reorganize and remain in business.
Memories of Jazz
It was good, while it lasted.
“YouTube: Added: November 03, 2007 (Less info)
The Jeff Libman Trio This video was taken during Jeff’s CD release party for his new album, Not Even The Rain. The event was at Monti’s La Casa Vieja restaurant in Tempe, AZ on 10.29.07.”
News piece on the the renovation of the historic Hayden Flour Mill in Tempe, Arizona
From YouTube…good shots of the Hayden Mill, as well as a nice shot of the “Leonard Monti Trail” sign.
News piece on the the renovation of the historic Hayden Flour Mill in Tempe, ArizonaCategory: News & Politics
Tempe High School, 1982….
And how do YOU feel about war in the Falkland Islands?
Here is a sampling of student opinion from my old school. The second student reporter is Steven Goitia, brother of my managing partner, Eddie.
Yeah…Better Off Dead, Breakfast Club, Can`t Buy Me Love all come to mind. I love being a grownup, man.
and some other amusing vintage THS video on YouTube:
THS “Mountain Climbing Team”
This is no surprise to me or my F&B peers:
Scottsdale tourism dips, but officials hopeful
by Peter Corbett – Jul. 23, 2008 10:21 AM
The Arizona RepublicSCOTTSDALE – A downturn in Scottsdale tourism during its peak season has hoteliers bracing for a deeper travel slump brought on by soaring gas prices and airline fares.
Be sure to go to the article and read the multiple snarky comments.
Alright…Who Peed in the Pool!?!
Creature From the Black Lagoon
The children’s water play area at Tempe Beach Park is still closed for cleaning, owing to the presence of a dangerous microbe–most likely from a leaky diaper. (Or maybe it was global warming…yeah, that’s it.) I’ll post again when I know it has reopened.
Tribune: Tempe cleans up bacteria-tainted splash park
Damn! First you started drinking at home…now you are cooking for yourselves. What’s a restaurateur to do if this goes on? It’s been all downhill ever since you consumers learned to rub sticks together and make fire…
Interest in home cooking is currently growing in response to rising food and gas prices and an insatiable demand for premium foods at an affordable price. [...] A study conducted in May of 2008 by the Food Marketing Institute indicates that approximately 71% of Americans are cooking more at home.
From Restaurants & Institutions:
http://www.rimag.com/articleXML/LN824075380.html?nid=3458&rid=789908471
And as if that isn’t hurting dinner business enough, there’s this:
Bagging lunch; the inflation effect; Poor economy alters workers’ lunch habits
[...]
Snider is part of a growing tide of midday restaurant regulars who are changing their habits to save cash. In fact, online bag retailer eBags.com says sales of lunch bags and coolers increase 39 percent in June over the year before.
