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Axios Phoenix
Arizona Olympians: How our athletes have placed in Paris
Our locally connected Olympians are already tearing it up in Paris.The big picture: Arizona sent a large athlete delegation to this year's summer games, and the Olympians have already won two medals and qualified to compete for many more.🛹 Mesa skateboarder Jagger Eaton won silver in the street event Monday, finishing 0.1 points behind the gold medal winner, Yuto Horigome of Japan.⛹🏾♀️ The USA women's basketball team — featuring Phoenix Mercury trio Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner and Kahleah Copper — beat Japan 102-76 on Monday. They play Belgium on Thursday.⛹🏾♂️ The USA men's basketball team beat Serbia, 110-84 Sunday. Phoenix...
Here's everything you need to know if you want to vote in Arizona's 2024 primary election
If you haven't voted already, there are still plenty of opportunities to cast your ballot.The big picture: Maricopa County will have 222 vote centers open Tuesday for in-person voting and early ballot drop-offs.The county uses vote centers rather than precinct-based polling places, so you can cast your ballot anywhere in Maricopa County, regardless of where you live.Vote centers are open from 6am to 7pm, and as long as you're in line before closing time, you'll be allowed to vote.You need to show a valid ID if you're voting in person.1 big warning: If you haven't mailed your early ballot,...
Tesota: New central Phoenix restaurant with a killer happy hour menu
Tesota, a new uptown Phoenix restaurant serving "global comfort food," opened earlier this summer with a killer happy hour deal that makes its menu taste even better.The big picture: Tesota, from the group behind Gallo Blanco and Otro Cafe, took over the space previously occupied by Southern Rail, at Camelback Road and Third Avenue.It's a scratch kitchen that aims to provide global cuisine with local ingredients.The intrigue: The focal point of the restaurant's happy hour menu, available daily from 2pm to 6pm, is its $36 pizza, wine and salad combo, which includes a bottle of house red or white wine,...
How once sleepy downtown Mesa became an "overnight sensation"
Downtown Mesa, with its ample breweries, award-winning restaurants and artsy vibe, is one of the trendiest gathering places in the Valley. Reality check: You don't have to look far into the past to know it hasn't always been that way.The big picture: Mesa is the Valley's largest suburb. With more than 512,000 people, it's larger than Atlanta and Kansas City.Yes, but: For decades, its downtown faded into oblivion as residents moved into newer neighborhoods and shops and restaurants followed.Flashback: When I moved to downtown Mesa eight years ago, one of my friends called it "the armpit of the Valley" and...
Mesa election guide: 5 candidates running for mayor
Mesa's future will be in new hands come next year.The big picture: Mayor John Giles is termed out and five candidates are gunning for the open seat.Here's who's running:Carey Davis is a retired CPA and corporate controller and the former mayor of San Bernardino, California. He moved to Mesa to be close to his children and grandchildren in 2019.Mark Freeman has served on the city council since 2017. He's a corn farmer and retired paramedic with the Mesa Fire Department.Scott Neely is a small business owner who unsuccessfully sought the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2022.Scott Smith served as Mesa mayor from 2008 to 2014, before resigning to run for governor. He lost the race and then served as Valley Metro CEO from 2016 to 2022.Ryan Winkle runs a nonprofit that works with businesses and neighborhoods in low-to-moderate income census tracts to enable upward mobility. He previously served on the city council but was removed from office for violating the city's code of ethics following a 2017 DUI arrest.What to watch: If no candidate gets more than 50% of votes, the top two vote-getters will face off in November.
Downtown Mesa guide: 6 restaurants, bars and attractions to try
I recently moved away from Mesa, and I'm already missing the delightfully quirky buzz of downtown and the inviting restaurants in the Asian District.The big picture: Here's how I'd spend the perfect day in my former city:☕ Coffee: Stop by Jarrod's Coffee, Tea & Gallery, which just moved off Main Street to a darling bungalow at University Drive and Macdonald. It has plenty of cozy corners for enjoying your drink of choice.📚 Morning activity: Browse the 5,000 square feet of treasures at Book Gallery, an overflowing bookstore with rare finds.🥪 Lunch: Grab a bite at my favorite sandwich shop, Worth Takeaway. I almost always choose the Buffalo Chicken, which is delicious on a roll or as a salad.🖼️ Afternoon activity: Wander the halls of the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, an underrated (and free!) gallery.🍛 Dinner: Head to H Mart in the Asian District, where you'll find more than a half-dozen food stalls like Maisen Katsu (Japanese) and Da Pan Danny's Kitchen (Korean).🍻 Late night fun: Chart a pub crawl through downtown Mesa's burgeoning bar scene. Try a unique sipper at Cider Corps, a locally brewed ale at Phantom Fox Beer Co. and a fancy cocktail at Espiritu.
Mesa's Mekong Plaza expansion expected to open in late 2024
The much-anticipated Mekong Plaza expansion is expected to open by the end of the year, its developer tells Axios Phoenix.Why it matters: The plaza was the catalyst for what has become Mesa's Asian District, the state's largest collection of Asian restaurants, grocery stores and shops.The big picture: The 32,000-square-foot addition to Mekong Plaza will bring even more options, including Haidilao, China's largest hot pot chain.Zoom in: Drew Burtoni, Mekong Real Estate Investment Group development manager, told Axios that Haidilao typically seeks high-end areas and malls for its chain, which shows how far Mesa's Asian District has come.Flashback: Mekong Plaza opened in a shuttered Target in 2008.Burtoni said his father-in-law has operated grocery stores in California for decades and heard there was a demand for Asian goods in the Valley. He chose Mesa because of its easy freeway access.There are now more than 70 Asian businesses within a 2-mile radius of Mekong Plaza.
Olympics guide: How to watch and support Arizona athletes
Friday's opening ceremony marks the official start of the Paris Olympics and Team USA has plenty of locally connected talent to root for.By the numbers: Among the 10,500 athletes competing this year:Seven are from metro PhoenixFive play for one of Phoenix's pro teams38 attended ASU, UofA or NAUWho to watch:🛹 Jagger Eaton: The Mesa native is a five-time X Games medalist who took home the bronze in the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games.He's competing in street skateboarding on Saturday.🤸🏼♀️ Jade Carey: The Phoenix gymnast won the gold medal for her floor routine in 2021 and will join Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles,...
Why some Phoenix offices sit empty and others can't keep up with demand
Data: Moody's; Chart: Alice Feng/AxiosThere's a tale of two office markets unfolding in the Valley: Nearly a quarter of our office space sits vacant, and yet we don't have enough high-end buildings to meet employer demand.The big picture: The pandemic seems to have permanently changed the way many Americans work, and companies don't need as much space as they once did.Yes, but: The businesses that have returned to in-person work often want luxury headquarter-like buildings with amenities that make leaving the house worthwhile.Just in the past few months, PulteGroup Inc. and WillScot Mobile Mini announced they would relocate their Phoenix...
Six Democrats seeking chance to wrest Schweikert's seat from the GOP
Six Democrats are vying for the chance to challenge a longtime Republican incumbent and flip what might be Arizona's most competitive congressional district from red to blue.The big picture: Democrats view Arizona's 1st Congressional District, based in Scottsdale and northeast Phoenix, as a top pickup opportunity.The district is represented by Republican Rep. David Schweikert.Schweikert has served in the House since 2010, winning re-election two years ago by about 3,200 votes.These are the six candidates seeking the Democratic nomination in CD1:Andrei Cherny is former assistant Arizona attorney general and state Democratic Party chair, and he previously served as CEO of Aspiration,...
4 things to do in Phoenix this weekend
The weekend is calling your name. Answer with some fun plans.🚌 3rd Annual Adult Field TripHead to the Children's Museum on Friday for an evening of cocktails, cafeteria food and raffle prizes. This event benefits the Million Dollar Teacher Project.Tickets from $125🎭 Nick Cartell: A Thousand SpotlightsScottsdale-born Broadway star Nick Cartell will be at ASU Kerr on Friday to share stories of his time performing in shows like "Les Misérables" and "Jesus Christ Superstar."$10 general admission🐊 Croc WalkTake a twilight walk to see crocs and gators Saturday night at the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary.$35 for adults, $25 for children🍻 Barre in the Beer GardenTake a yoga mat to Greenwood Brewing on Sunday night for a dance-inspired workout class.$15, which includes a 5 oz. post-workout pour
How a Kamala Harris nomination could shift Arizona electoral math
Political strategists and pollsters are scrambling to determine whether Vice President Kamala Harris' potential nomination will win over Arizona swing voters who had soured on President Biden.The big picture: Within hours of Harris announcing her presidential bid, she became an internet sensation, broke grassroots fundraising records and won the support of virtually every major Democratic Party member.Harris appears to be invigorating voters who had checked out of the race, but it's uncertain whether she'll win over Arizona's moderate and independent voters who helped usher Biden to victory in 2020.Why it matters: Arizona is expected to be one of just six...
“Disorienting”: Basketball greats talk women’s sport surge at WNBA All-Star weekend
Phoenix played host to the WNBA All-Star Game over the weekend at a time that's both exciting and a bit disorienting for female athletes.The big picture: Women's sports, and basketball especially, have finally reached a large and engaged audience, but with it has come uninformed opinions and a lack of appreciation for the great players who came before today's stars, said some of basketball's biggest names, who were joined by soccer legend Megan Rapinoe over the weekend.What they're saying: "I am so excited for what's happening in women's basketball, this is everything all of us that have been involved in...
"Topgolf of Pickleball' slated to open Tempe location this winter
The "Topgolf of Pickleball" is slated to open in south Tempe later this year, just a few miles from the recently shuttered Picklemall.The big picture: The Electric Pickle — a bar, restaurant and pickleball combo — broke ground more than a year ago, and construction is well underway near IKEA and Main Event at Warner and I-10.Zoom in: The Electric Pickle will have indoor and outdoor dining areas, two bars, a pro shop and nine pickleball courts, the Phoenix Business Journal reported.The concept is partially backed by Eureka! Restaurant Group, which opened its first Arizona restaurant in Tempe's Novus Place earlier this year.What they're saying: "We want to create a fun, high-energy food and beverage experience with this giant entertainment concept," Eureka! founder Paul Frederick told the Business Journal.What we're watching: Electric Pickle's Instagram says it will open this winter, but the opening date has been delayed in the past.When it was first announced in 2021, the developers told the Arizona Republic they were aiming to open in 2022 or 2023, and the signage at the construction site still says "Spring 2024."
Sen. Mark Kelly rumored as possible Harris running mate
With President Biden ending his re-election bid, Arizona U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly is among the names circulating as a possible running mate with Vice President Kamala Harris, who Biden and other powerful Democrats quickly endorsed.Why it matters: Kelly could bring a lot of advantages to a national ticket with Harris, including representing a swing state, a sympathetic personal story with his wife, former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, and cred as a combat veteran and former astronaut.The big picture: Speculation in various media reports was swirling around Kelly and a handful of other prominent Democrats, even before Biden made his decision...
Pro-crytpo group spending nearly $1.4m for Ansari as she and Terán face off in CD3
Outside money is pouring into the contentious Democratic primary for the 3rd Congressional District as the race enters its home stretch.Why it matters: The south and west Phoenix-based district is overwhelmingly Democratic, so the primary winner will almost definitely win the general election.Only two people have represented the district since 1991, and it's possible that whoever wins this year's election could hold the seat for many years.The big picture: Phoenix City Council member Yassamin Ansari and Raquel Terán, a former state lawmaker and Arizona Democratic Party chair, are vying for the open seat.Valley pediatrician Duane Wooten is also seeking the...
Phoenix company rents backyard pools you don't have to clean
Do you want the luxury of a backyard pool without the maintenance and installation expense? Two Phoenix dads say they have a solution for you.The big picture: Now Pools is a subscription service that installs and maintains an above-ground pool in your backyard during the summer months, and removes it when the weather cools off.Zoom in: Friends Matt Young and Ross Novotny developed the concept in 2020 after realizing they needed a summer outdoor activity for their kids, but didn't want to dedicate half of their yards to a pool they'd only use a few months out of the year...
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