Not so long ago, metro Phoenix felt like one big blank slate all gray cinderblock and white concrete. That’s changed.Today, the city is covered in murals. And that raises a question for The Show's culture critic Robrt Pela about the temporary nature of outdoor artwork: What should stay, and what can go?I spent a lot of last Sunday driving around downtown Phoenix, looking at
Rather than get mired in the melancholy of being trapped at home, Smith decided to look back with gratitude. “Looking at my ticket stubs was like looking through a photo album,” said Smith, who figures he’d attended six to eight live events per month. “I can remember who I went with, how I obtained the tickets, weird or funny things that happened on the way to the show. I thought, ‘If I never go to another ball game, look at what I got to do. I’ve seen Muddy Waters, Marvin Gaye, Frank Sinatra, B.B. King.’ With the blog, I can remember meeting Willie Mays, and I’ll be thinking, ‘Was he kind to me or was he a jerk?’”
David Wachs was giving a tour of Handwrytten, his robotic writing company in midtown Phoenix.
“Every note this robot is writing is different,” he explained. “Our client is sending notes to Carmen, John, Susan each one is personalized.”
The robot, which closely resembled a small desktop laser-printer, clutched a gold metallic pen in one tiny arm, bobbing and jabbing at a thank-you note to someone named Triana.
Wachs reached over and touched the robot, which beeped and went still. A Handwrytten employee hurried over. “I don’t know what I did,” Wachs said. “I shouldn’t have touched it. Sorry.”