Downtown links and comments

Here are a few things happening in downtown Phoenix:

* The Roosevelt Harvest Festival is today. This event, in its second year, is worth a look. It's free and it's a fun way to check out all the shops and restaurants in the area without the elbow-to-elbow hassle of First Fridays. There's even a beer garden sponsored by Lost Leaf. I went last year and enjoyed the event. My only wish for this year: hopefully the aggressive guys hawking the Obama t-shirts (their Arizona HQ is at Sixth Street) will back off a little today.

* I love the sense of humor at the light rail signs at each of the train stops around town. The small video screens show some animated flames, and then flash the words "But it's a dry heat." I wonder if this type of thing will continue once the systems's actually up and running.

* Speaking of light rail, workers at a prominent local law firm organized a light rail death pool where contestants could wager on the date and time on which the first person is killed in a light rail accident. Sick. At least the firm's top guy shut the pool down and condemned the idea.

* Finally, it's encouraging even in a down market that Sens, an Asian restaurant on First Street, will hold its grand opening this week. I doubt there's anywhere in the Phoenix area that has as many non-chain restaurant options as downtown.