There’s always a risk when you tinker with a recipe. Sometimes adding more butter makes things greasy, sometimes substituting yogurt for buttermilk really does ruin the pancakes, but if you don’t shake things up every now and then you’d never create applejack pancakes. And really, that’s what it’s all about.
This year we started our Downtown Phoenix Dining Guide recipe from scratch, adding in more editorial, listing dozens more restaurants, featuring new photography and a redesigned map and – on the presentation front – an artist-created cover.
But, maybe most importantly – and stretching this metaphor as far as possible – we opened up the kitchen and invited the Downtown community in to create with us. Here’s what they came up with:
— A local artist, Christina Mesiti, painted a romanticized image of Downtown dining. Titled, “Outside, please,” it speaks to the idea of dining with the city, as a part of the city.
— Five freelance writers, all with strong ties to Downtown, created pieces spanning topics from vegetarian and vegan dining to sweet treats.
— Bryan Mok, a passionate Downtowner, came up with a redesigned map that highlights Downtown’s urban-ness.
— An up-and-coming photographer, Jess Nichols, hit the streets of Downtown, camera in hand, to capture the city’s vibrancy.
— And, we asked anyone who would listen to vote for their favorite restaurants in our online survey – the results run along the bottom of the editorial pages.
But enough talking. Here’s how to get the guide:
–You can download a copy by clicking here.
— You can request a print copy here.
— Or, visit the Ambassadors Info Center (1st Ave. and Adams St.) and ask for one.
I hope you enjoy it.
I welcome any feedback at aconsie@downtownphx.org.