I kinda like that the site is making people use their first name/last initial and that most folks are using actual pictures of themselves. The slightly decreased anonymity seems to be creating a somewhat more pleasant environment of civility.

EDIT: VV Haha yah I don't know. I think I'm Will N7, there certainly weren't 6 other Will N's before me. Could I be the 7th overall person to register and you the 45th?

I agree. I just wonder how the number is determined. I though maybe it was a comment about my age as in "David be 45." That's not too far from the truth since I just turned 47.

I think the lumping in of Phoenix and Scottsdale together comes from two things: a serious identity crisis for Phoenix proper and Scottsdale being known more as a targeted resort/shopping destination in those circles and Phoenix area-establishments trying to steal that cachet. So it's worse than elevating Scottsdale to twin-city status with Phoenix, it's more like elevating Phoenix to twin-city status with Scottsdale.

I was actually talking to somebody in SF who had recently stayed in Phoenix and he could have sworn the Biltmore was in Scottsdale because it was that close to Fashion Square.

My Plan PHX meeting- tonight!
 

Hey boys and girls.....well I guess its just boys around here....

there's a "My Plan PHX" meeting tonight! In fact, there's 2. Won't you please attend? I think it would be well worth your time.

Here's the info:
What: PlanPHX with Mayor Stanton & Councilman Simplot
When: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 26
Where: Valley Garden Center - 1809 North 15th Avenue


What: PlanPHX with Councilman Valenzuela & Councilman Gates
When: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 26
Where: Royal Palm Middle School - 8520 N. 19th Avenue

I'll be at the one at the Valley Garden Center, because hey- the Mayor will be there! So if you want a chance to potential meet the Mayor and one of our most pro urban Councilmen (Simplot), I'd recommend coming out.

Sometimes they have cookies and such at these things...so yah. Come on out. If you do, say hi to me.

Please continue to let us know of upcoming events, if possible! Would have loved to have attended with some advanced notice (not intended to be a dig at you- certainly not your responsibility to inform us).

Were you the one who Tweeted the mayor about moving HQ's downtown? If so, I hope you had the chance to follow up and/or grill him on the topic!

I was. I didnt mention that to him tonight, as I took his answer as satisfactory I guess. Its hard to know what to bring up to the Mayor. I have a zillion ideas for this City, so trying to choose what to focus on when you have him for a second is a tough call.

Regarding upcoming MyPlanPHX events, local awesome dude Jim McPherson made this Google Map. So you can see when there's one near you that is convenient:

https://www.google.com/maps/ms?msid=...59098,1.326599

And here's just a list of the events:
http://phoenix.gov/webcms/groups/int...ent/085739.pdf

http://www.newgeography.com/content/...mmuting-using-latest-census-data

It's interesting to see Phoenix actually be listed in the 10 top for bicycle usage.

Every city out there seems to be vying to be the bike friendliest city in the world. Yet bicycling has yet to make much of an impact on commuting. Only 7 out of 51 large metros even post 1% mode share for cycling:

Row Geography 2011




1. Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
23,941 (2.3%)

2. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
38,419 (1.9%)

3. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
16,013 (1.9%)

4. Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville, CA
15,804 (1.8%)

5. Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
8,847 (1.0%)

6. New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA
5,307 (1.0%)

7.Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ
18,007 (1.0%)

8. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
15,949 (0.9%)

9. Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO
12,052 (0.9%)

10. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, C

50,080 (0.9%)

I've never understood why "bicycle commuting" is always looked at as sort of the be all and end all metric about where is a good place to bike or not. It reminds me of pre "Moneyball" baseball statistics, its just a lazy way to quantify information.

What about how often people bike to the park, or to dinner, or to a friends house? I do those things more often than I bike commute to work (though I do that too). While ones commute is general the longest trip you take each day, its usually not the only one. If we can get people thinking about taking bikes to dinner, to go shopping, to a friends, to the football game, etc. that will be a huge leap.

Who's that handsome fellow on Channel 12 trying to save the David Wright House?

http://www.azcentral.com/video/1876363392001

Nice job, Hoover. Glad to see local TV news has taken a break from their usual obsession with weather, crime, & traffic to cover this issue. I guess one upside of quitting your bad job is a little time for worthwhile community activities like this one. Thanks for being out there.

Rode 12 miles on my new bicycle yesterday morning, than ran and hiked last night.

:)

--don

Yup, I figured I could email out resumes while sitting in my car just as easily as while sitting at home watching Judge Judy.

Here's the local CBS story/video:

http://t.co/rx5wFH0a

Here's the national CBS video which was on todays morning programming:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_1...lition-threat/

if you ever start a strava account to track your bike rides/hikes, etc. follow me on there and I'll return the favor.

Good job raising awareness. It's sickening that someone is so dead set on tearing down such an architecturally significant building. If this were Chicago there would be riots in the streets if someone wanted to tear down the Robie House to build some McMansions.

This is today:
http://grandavephoenix.com/grand-avenue-festival/

I'll be helping guide the 8am tour of some historic buildings, there are also tours at 10 and 12. There's a free film screening and free events all day, come on down and see how Grand Ave is coming along :-)

Interesting. Too bad you aren't guiding the 10 am tour as well, I can make that one.

Yesterday I saw a bunch of boxed palo verdes in the stone lot at the Roosevelt, Grand, and 15th intersection. Were those for the festival?

I don't know! I had to work the rest of the day, so I did the 8am tour until 10am and then had to be off. So I wasn't really hip to the rest of the goings on.

Frank Lloyd Wright house in Phoenix has mystery buyer lined up
 

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/n...n-phoenix.html

Excellent news!

Hoover, what is the status of the O.S. Stapley Hardware building? If you gave tours of it, there must be some new developments regarding its sale or restoration. Any news?