Brandon R. Cherozzi’s Post

No. 1 in our hearts and No. 9 for the best city to live in... we'll take it. 🙌🏻 Now that Austin is back in the top ten for the best places to live in the country based on our quality of life, value, desirability, and job market, we're hoping to see quite a few new faces around town (and more homes being snagged). If that's the case, you know where to find us - denpg.com. #findyourden #austinrealestate #austinlifestyle #austinhomesforsale #austinnews #austintexas #austinhomes #austinites #sellingaustin

Richmond, Virginia, has several appealing qualities that make it an attractive place to live for different individuals. Here are some reasons why you might consider living in Richmond: Rich History and Culture: Richmond played a significant role in American history, being the capital of the Confederacy during the Civil War. The city has preserved many historical sites, museums, and landmarks that provide a rich cultural experience. Affordable Cost of Living: Compared to other cities on the East Coast, Richmond generally has a more affordable cost of living. Housing, in particular, is often more reasonably priced, making it an attractive option for those looking to save on living expenses. Outdoor Recreation: The city offers various parks, trails, and outdoor spaces. The James River runs through Richmond, providing opportunities for kayaking, hiking, and other outdoor activities. Belle Isle and the Virginia Capital Trail are popular spots for recreation. Diverse Neighborhoods: Richmond is known for its diverse neighborhoods, each with its own unique character. Whether you prefer historic districts, urban living, or a more suburban feel, there's likely a neighborhood that suits your preferences. Arts and Entertainment Scene: Richmond has a vibrant arts and music scene. The city hosts numerous events, festivals, and live performances throughout the year. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is also a notable cultural institution. Educational Opportunities: Richmond is home to several colleges and universities, including Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). This provides residents with educational and cultural resources. Craft Beer and Culinary Scene: The city has a growing reputation for its craft beer scene and diverse culinary offerings. There are numerous restaurants, breweries, and food festivals that cater to a variety of tastes. Community Engagement: Richmond is known for its sense of community and civic engagement. Residents often participate in local events, community initiatives, and volunteer opportunities. Proximity to Other Cities: Richmond's central location in Virginia makes it relatively close to other major cities on the East Coast. Washington, D.C., and Virginia Beach are both within a few hours' drive. Southern Hospitality: Richmond is often praised for its friendly and welcoming atmosphere. The Southern hospitality is evident in the warm interactions and sense of community. What are you waiting for?! We have properties available for you whether you're in town for a shorter visit or while you search for the perfect place to call home!

Denver Arts & Venues and City of Denver showed me incredible hospitality a few years back with some tickets to a show (The National!) and a sweet ride/tour in a Tie Dye bus to and from a great restaurant / bar (Illegal Petes - more on that!) so when they post various reports I give it a read and send a little love to their team. They all do amazing work. Red Rocks is an iconic venue, bucket list for most, 10,000 people in a sprawling venue carved into the top of a mountain. Their ushers resembled crossfit superstars. Denver Arts & Venues released an economic impact report on its most famous venue and no shock the economic output is unreal ($717 Million across multiple sectors) what is interesting though is where the venue reinvests in inititatives that reflect its community and into the community. That restaurant I mentioned in the first sentence - has a 'starving artist program' any band or musician rolling through town - for a simple instagram follow+photos they'll give your van & trailer a safe spot to park and feed you for the night. Red Rocks itself reinvests into itself in creative ways as well. A venue that regularly sells out jam bands, Americana artists and others that may not sell well in other markets reinvests in ways that reflect its audience & community. One quick example is in their own sorting and recycling depot. They spent $5.3 Million into their own facility to divert 85% of garbage from landfills and upcycle various products. For perspective on a local level Centre In The Square spent $4.3 Million on washroom renovations. Here's a link to the summary and full report for those interested in that kind of thing! https://lnkd.in/gRf8SdGx

Why are so many of our public and shared spaces so bad and why does this seem to be the norm rather than the exception? It's a question I've dwelled on. After 15+ years of producing hundreds of activations, thousands of hours of care, and many dozens of advisory projects through The Musicant Group, I found that it was not design, it was not the amount of money, it was not the number of events that led to a successful place. No, the key indicator was: A successful place and project was a function of the incentives and locus of responsibility of the entities that held authority within those places. My full reflection and a call for a new approach to placemaking can be found at the Practice of Place substack: https://lnkd.in/g-H6T6CN

Looking for the best things to do in NYC? Here are the best recommendations for the week of April 22 – 26!

🎸 How does South by Southwest Festival make Austin the live music capital of the world?   For nine days in March, the South by Southwest Festival (SXSW) draws over 300,000 visitors, 1,500+ artists and 3,000 speakers from the music, film and tech industries to Austin, Texas.   First started as a local music event in 1987, the annual festival and conference has since welcomed Prince, Lady Gaga, Taika Waititi and Barack and Michelle Obama. In 2022, Sydney hosted SXSW’s first outpost festival.   SXSW’s popularity is key to the city’s economic success. The Austin Tourism Commission describes the live music scene as 'the single biggest contributor to desirability, liveability and growth for the City of Austin', contributing roughly USD $2 billion to the local economy before the pandemic. It has helped attract tech industry giants like Tesla, Google and Apple to relocate or open new offices in Austin.    However, this rapid growth is putting a strain on city infrastructure and gentrification threatens to displace the 100,000+ creatives living in Austin. That’s why the Austin Economic Development Corporation is working to protect the city’s creative workforce and cherished music spaces.     Through our flagship Leadership Exchange Programme supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the City of Austin has collaborated with London and Sydney to share strategies for growing affordable creative space. This has helped Austin to create a new Cultural Trust which supports the acquisition and preservation of music and arts spaces.    Read more about our Leadership Exchange with Austin: https://lnkd.in/g63_HcrS #WCCF_LeadershipExchange #Austin #SXSW Image: Blakchyl performs at SXSBreaks at Revival Coffee in East Austin on March 13, 2024. Photography by Julius Shieh.

Looking for the best things to do in NYC? Here are the best recommendations for the week of April 1 – 5!

When policy experts are knowledgeable, creative *and* value arts and culture … it can look something like this: pairing new entertainment zone legislation with existing community benefit districts infrastructure to make outdoor events substantially easier to start up and grow! 👏👏

The #BreakingNews today on Governor Gavin Newsom signing consumption lounges into reality, (Assembly Bill 1775 has passed!), will have far reaching effects on our #industry for years to come. Those positive repercussions will #echo across legal Cannabis in California, and could #influence the Cannabis industry nationally outside of California. The article below talks about one group, Urbana who have long embraced the concept of #Cannabislounges. Thanks largely to the #restaurant backgrounds of Urbana's CEO Marty Higgins and co-founder Steve Sukman, Urbana have always believed in this #future for Cannabis. From the beginning, they envisioned a future where #Cannabisconsumption would be #integrated into California's hospitality scene, creating #welcoming, #community-driven spaces. Their belief in this #model allowed Urbana to establish itself as a pioneer in the industry, offering consumption lounges well before they became widespread. By anticipating the growing #demand for social, regulated Cannabis use, Higgins and Sukman positioned Urbana as a leader in creating environments that blend Cannabis with art, music, #culture, and #community. Their forward-thinking approach continues to shape Urbana's expansion, including the upcoming #Oakland location, which will further integrate the lounge experience into the #heart of Uptown. With today's new news of the #passing of AB 1775, their longstanding vision of Cannabis hospitality is set to become a defining feature of California’s #Cannabis

How do you draw people outside in snow and -20 degree weather? Just ask Fort St. John, a northern Canadian city of 21,000 people. Each year, the City hosts its annual High on Ice festival, with ice sculpture carving, live music, ice slides, outdoor firepits, and even a homemade snowshoe race. High on Ice is just one way that the City of Fort St. John is getting residents outdoors, active, and connected year-round. The festival is part of the small city's big efforts to create a sense of place and support its lively artistic and cultural communities. This #placemaking is about more than just creating joyful spaces: Winter light installations and activities help reduce social isolation, draw people to the community, and make it easier for them to establish roots there. Most placemaking success stories show sunny plazas, green parks, or summer festivals. But life doesn’t stop in the winter. Winter cities get creative to turn a harsher climate to their advantage, using lights, snow, and ice to show the magic of winter places ❄ ✨ Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/gQ6meYeb What are your favourite winter placemaking examples? Let us know in the comments! #happycities #happycity #wintercities #winterplacemaking #powerofplacemaking #socialconnection #placesforpeople