The goal of Get Your PHX is to show up, en masse, to support those who pioneer new restaurants, stores, bars and event spaces. We want to provide them a boost as they put their sweat, tears and wealth on the line to make life great downtown. Plus, we want to provide a chance for you to meet others like you, who want to get the most out of Phoenix.

Thanks again to Virginia Senior and her crew at Urban Beans.  There were over 60 people at our June event, all enjoying wines and nibbles in a refined wine pairing experience. Special thanks to Lisa Reinhardt of The Wei of Chocolate who provided her exquisite creations for the tasting. I'm still working my wei through an assortment of chocolates.

Get it, "wei!" You, know, like, wei. Oh, I crack me up! No? Alright, never mind.

Back to the business at hand: more epicurean luxuries in July!  

I was so intrigued by the idea of our wine pairing last month, that I decided that it was in order to try something really special: a professional tour through the world of Greco/Italian cuisine, with Andy Pappas, of La Piccola Cucina as your personal guide.

If you've never met Andy, you know this guy's the real deal. Andy is a former New Yorker (he owned another La Piccola Cucina in Manhattan). He and his wife, Debbie, have literally travelled the world picking up recipes for you to try and they deliver the real deal when it comes to southern European cuisine. The only thing that is missing is the haute cuisine snobbery.  

I was at LPC a couple months ago with a client, celebrating a home purchase, when Andy and I got in to a conversation about how to eat and the logic behind courses. Why are there a certain number of courses? Why antipasta before the meal? Do you know? Don't ask me! 

Andy, of course, knows.

Enter "The Gallantry of the Table." That was the name of a book written in the 15th century that laid out in great detail the logic behind eating. 

Did you know, for instance, that if you eat meat before your first course, you run the risk of "festering" the meet in your stomach, resulting in certain unmentionable social fax pas? Not a pretty picture, I know. But epicureans 500 years ago laid out in clear detail what you need to do to get the most out of a refined dining experience.

Andy is our guide for one night. You will learn more about food at the next Get Your PHX than you've learned in the last 10 years combined.

Andy is going to present a mini, 5-course meal with wine; during which you will come to learn about the theories and practice behind greco/roman cuisine. He will help you experience the why's and how's of this ancient cooking tradition.

Now, La Piccola Cucina is not a big place and this is a very exclusive engagement. We are going to have to limit this event to the first 30 participants. (However, who knows, if we get enough interest, we might be able to do this in two engagements. Stay tuned.)

This event is going to cost $15 per person and will include the instructional 5-course meal and Andy's choice of fine wine. In order to reserve your space, you need to call La Piccola Cucina directly at 602-358-7415 by July 20th. You can pay over the phone or at the door. Please also RSVP to me or on the fan page so I have an accurate count.

What's the opposite of a canary in a coal mine?

I'm looking for that phrase that means indicator of good things to come.

Oh, I know: property appraiser.

At least for now, that is.

See why some houses are finally appraising above asking price.

Admit it, you've missed my usual fun-lovin'and humorous market analysis over the last month. "What will I do with my time without Ken's market analysis now that Modern Family is on summer break?", you say.

My apologies. It's been a nutty month. Between closing properties, showing new ones and the Independent Redistricting Commission, I've been running around like a blue-arsed fly (ask your Australian friends).

But, Cynthia Lujan from Old Republic Title Company delivers with a really handy June month-in-review.

Our panel of judges met this week, poured over the contest entries and decided that they wanted to give contestants two more weeks to submit, or re-submit maps.

The new contest deadline will be midnight on July 15th.

Please see this blog post for instructions on how to submit your entry.

Also, please remember that there are two $500 first prizes for best congressional maps and two $500 first prizes for best legislative maps. There are also two $300 prizes for best student maps.