If the saying is right, it’s certainly not the geeks who shall inherit the Earth.

The East Valley Tribune’s popular Nerdvana blog was honored by the Arizona Press Club as the best Metro Features Blog Saturday, with Nerdvana founder and lead bogger Jayson Peters winning first place in that category.

As the year comes to a close, it’s worth nothing that 2011 was a tough one for many fan-favorite businesses in Arizona, and the East Valley in particular.

"The Wedding of River Song" was a rollercoaster ride through alternate (or simultaneous) time, and a climactic end to Doctor Who's sixth season.

Batman relaunch artist Greg Capullo will be a guest at the Amazing Arizona Comic Con, Jan. 6-8 at the Mesa Convention Center.

Quoth the raven:

A message from Nerdvana's founder, Jayson Peters.

McDonald's may not want anyone crusading against dirty play equipment in its Arizona stores -- they banned a Chandler woman who teaches at ASU from several local restaurants after she garnered national attention for her videos and research on filthy conditions. But they're not letting that get in the way of rolling out their new, healthier Happy Meal at Arizona restaurants on Friday.

U.S. Egg recently opened a fourth Valley location in Chandler. The family owned and operated restaurant concept is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and already had locations in Tempe, Scottsdale and Phoenix.

A Mesa eyesore is coming back to life. The vacant retail center on the northeast corner of University Drive and Greenfield Road once housed a Fry’s grocery, but the 100,000-square-foot site has been vacant and quiet for years. Come Nov. 4, the corner will be home to a new 38,000-square-foot Goodwill thrift store.

AT&T says the activation of two new cell sites in Mesa will lead to faster mobile downloads in the areas around the intersection of Adobe and Mountain roads and the intersection of Revere and Eighth Street.

For more than 25 years T.C. Eggington’s has been synonymous with breakfast and brunch in Mesa. Now the second generation of the family behind its success is hoping to do the same for morning and afternoon dining in Tempe.

First Convenience Bank has opened two new locations in the East Valley. Wednesday saw grand opening celebrations for in-store Wal-Mart branches at 1175 s. Arizona Ave. in Chandler and 1955 S. Stapley Drive in Mesa. The full-service bank has more than 235 locations and more than 360 ATMs in Texas and Arizona, and is planning at least four more Valley locations.

An upscale casual pub and grill will open in early November at Tempe Marketplace. The Thirsty Lion will occupy the space formerly held by Maria Maria and feature wood-paneled walls, a patio and 13 plasma televisions. It’s the first Arizona location; there are two already in Oregon. Their menu includes burgers, artisan pizzas and fresh salads and sandwiches as well as 52 local craft import and domestic beers on draft.

Need a crash course in all things HOA? Gilbert Town Hall will host an HOA workshop on budgets, financial statements and reserves 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 12 at 50 E. Civic Center Dr. in conference room 300. Gilbert residents get in free, but nonresidents must pay $10. There will also be an East Valley HOA summit 6 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 25 at Maricopa County’s Southeast Regional Library, 775 N. Greenfield Road, Gilbert, and an HOA academy on CC&Rs 6 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at Gilbert Town Hall — free to residents, $10 for nonresidents. Information: (480) 420-8521.

RedSeven is closing its computer repair shop in downtown Mesa, consolidating it with a Tempe location that is moving to bigger premises.

With so many vacancy signs dotting the East Valley’s retail landscape, it’s easy to assume there is no news — or that no news is good news.

The new operator of Arizona's Krispy Kreme franchise says he needs more employees at the state's sole remaining location in Mesa as the store prepares for a renovation.

The new operator of Arizona’s decimated Krispy Kreme franchise is looking at opening doughnut stores again in the Valley.

East Valley doughnut lovers will have to drive to east Mesa to get their Krispy Kreme fix: The Chandler store at 4200 S. Arizona Avenue was closed on Monday. By Wednesday it had been stripped bare.

East Valley doughnut lovers will have to drive to east Mesa to get their Krispy Kreme fix: The Chandler store at 4200 S. Arizona Avenue was closed on Monday. By Wednesday it had been stripped bare.

Jayson Peters’ popular Nerdvana blog was named the best features blog in Arizona, and the East Valley Tribune advertising department placed second in the general excellence category during a pair of journalism awards programs in the state last weekend.

A Tempe Fire Department dive team will search Tempe Town Lake on Thursday morning for a 24-year-old man who has not been seen since Jan. 16.