When I first moved to Phoenix, I heard a lot about ‘First Friday.’ A quick Google search told me it’s an art walk with some galleries and museums open to the public for free. Visitphoenix.com calls it “the ultimate way to experience this city’s culture, arts, flavor, and overall vibe.”
I was intrigued. D.C. also has a First Friday Art Walk, but it’s not the kind of thing you’d hear about from multiple Uber drivers upon your arrival. Likely, most of D.C.’s Uber drivers don’t even know it happens because it is decidedly not a big deal in our nation’s capital like it is here.
In Phoenix, First Friday is an art walk that occurs on the first Friday of every month from 6 to 10 p.m., mostly in the Roosevelt Row and Historic Grand Avenue art districts. It’s one of the largest self-guided art walks in the nation. More information, including a list of participating galleries and museums, can be found at Visitphoenix.com.
I decided to check it out this past weekend and I was pleased with what I found. I will definitely go again…though I’ll likely wait until the weather is a little better.
Upon entry, which was free, I was greeted by the melodic tones of George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” on a street performer’s saxophone. My ears would continue to be delighted by the live DJ a few blocks away and the live music at Lacuna Botanical Mixology, but not quite as delighted by some of the sidewalk karaoke (Sublime’s “Santeria” is a hard song to pull off).
The pleasure went beyond sound. The smells of the mouth-watering and diverse culinary offerings were thrilling. Wherever I am, I’m usually there for the food and this was no different. I went hungry, planning to eat at least three different items. I succeeded in finding five delicious dishes: a Jamaican patty from a Jamaican family stand, corn pudding from a soul food stand, vegan jambalaya and cajun chips from Maya’s Cajun Kitchen, and a quesabirria from La Leonada Munchies.
Even with those five items, I barely scratched the surface of the event’s food offerings. There were tacos, wings, nutrition shakes, falafel, jerk chicken, aguas frescas, African cuisine, Caribbean cuisine, iced coffees, baked goods, fresh lemonade, fry bread, and even CBD pickles. This is not an exhaustive list; there were many booths I never made it to.
On such a hot night it was nice to be able to stop into a couple of the many bars and restaurants near Roosevelt to cool off with a libation and some air conditioning. My friends and I visited Pedal Haus, a fun bicycle-themed bar, and Killer Whale, a speakeasy with creative cocktails. I had the ‘Call Waiting,’ which was juicy, rum-forward, and came with a mint chocolate that was like a bougie Andes mint.
The evening offered far more than food, drinks, and music. There was a table with a sign asking “What is the meaning of life?” where passersby could stop and discuss the ultimate existential question. There was also a tarot card reader who told my friend that she’s on the right path.
You may have noticed that I haven’t mentioned any art from the art walk. And that’s because I didn’t actually see any. While I’m sure I could have found some, I was so thrilled with the food, sounds, and people watching that I never sought it out. The event is so large, you can easily spend an entire evening there without covering much ground.
I look forward to going again and experiencing Phoenix’s art scene (and, obviously, trying more of the food!). And who knows, maybe I’ll hop in the sidewalk karaoke line.
