31. Symphony Hall
City: Phoenix, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (800) 776-9080 (box office)
Address: 75 N. 2nd St.
Description: The home of the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra and the Arizona Opera also hosts touring performers and Broadway shows. The hall, which has the largest proscenium stage downtown, is known for its good acoustics, plush interior, and stunning chandeliers. It seats 2,600 on the main floor and in the balcony.
32. Shemer Art Center & Museum
City: Phoenix, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (602) 262-4727
Address: 5005 E. Camelback Rd.
Description: The small museum makes its home in the first house built in Arcadia, a stately neighborhood at the base of Camelback Mountain. It has been expanded and renovated over the years but maintains an “old Phoenix” character. Inside you’ll find contemporary works by local artists. Bold steel sculptures and a citrus orchard enliven the center’s grounds. In addition to a variety of art classes for all ages, the museum sponsors an Artists’ Cafe series where local artists can keep abreast of trends and issues. Admission is free for most shows.
33. Hidden In The Hills Studio Tour
City: Phoenix, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (480) 575-6624
Insider Pick:
Description: Once a year over two weekends in November, the artists who live and work in the hills around Cave Creek open their studios for a public tour. The tour is presented by the Sonoran Arts League and represents more than 100 artists. The event offers a chance to see sculptures, paintings, glasswork, and pottery, some by nationally known artists. It’s also an ideal way to see the artists at work in their personal workshops. Maps to the studios are available from area retailers or the Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce by calling the number listed. Also, a downloadable map is available on the website.
34. Magic Bird Arts & Crafts Festivals
City: Phoenix, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (480) 488-2014
Description: The festivals hosted in the Valley’s cooler months usually feature dozens of booths, imported wares, food, music, and family entertainment. Locations include major parks and spring training baseball complexes, such as Salt River Fields and Surprise Stadium. Admission and parking are free.
35. Scottsdale Artwalk
City: Phoenix, AZ
Category: Shopping
Description: On Thursday evening several streets in downtown Scottsdale are typically loaded with pedestrians hopping from gallery to gallery. Head for Marshall Way, 5th Avenue, 1st Avenue, Main Street, and Craftsman Court for a free art-gazing experience. The ArtWalk is presented by the Scottsdale Gallery Association. The 75-plus members open their doors year-round for free entertainment, refreshments, and artist demonstrations.
36. Thunderbird Artists Fine Art & Wine Festivals
City: Phoenix, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (480) 837-5637
Description: Those interested in buying paintings or sculptures, especially in the Southwestern genre, should check out the juried fine art and fine crafts festivals organized by Thunderbird Artists. The group, which represents about 150 US artists, often exhibits work in conjunction with various festivals according to theme. The Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival, held on various weekends from November to March, turns the streets of Carefree into one big art gallery. Other festivals are held in Scottsdale and Fountain Hills. The free shows usually run during the day on weekends in the cooler months.
37. Arizona Artists Guild
City: Phoenix, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (602) 944-9713
Address: 18411 N. 7th Ave.
Description: The nonprofit Arizona Artists Guild provides a nurturing environment for artists. It meets the third Tues of each month, Sept to Apr, at 7 p.m. Meetings include talks and demonstrations by nationally known artists, which non-members can attend. Members with an interest in a specific medium, such as sculpting, get together regularly. Other activities include juried exhibitions, critique groups, and a fund-raiser.
38. Arizona Commission On The Arts
City: Phoenix, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (602) 771-6501
Address: 417 W. Roosevelt St.
Description: The Arizona Commission on the Arts is a state-funded agency. It has sponsored such projects as “Voices: Community Stories Past and Present,” which strives to collect and preserve oral history and also various performing arts exchanges. The commission also runs the creative azarts417 blog on its website, which gives viewers news and insight into the Valley arts scene.
39. Phoenix Office Of Arts & Culture
City: Phoenix, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (602) 262-4637
Address: 200 W. Washington St., 10th Floor
Description: The city arts commission’s mandate has been to enhance the arts in Phoenix and raise the public’s awareness and involvement in preserving, expanding, and enjoying the arts. The commission also directs a public art program—outdoor sculptures, murals, and other works—and fosters arts education in the schools. Many of the city’s cultural activities are funded by matching grants from the commission. Its website is a helpful resource for city events.
City: Phoenix, AZ
Category: Shopping
Address: 400 E. Van Buren St.
City: Phoenix, AZ
Category: Shopping
Address: 2502 E. Camelback Rd.
42. Camelback Colonnade
City: Phoenix, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (602) 274-7642
Address: 1919 E. Camelback Rd.
Description: The Colonnade, one of Phoenix’s older shopping centers, has undergone a variety of makeovers through the years to compete with malls in suburban growth areas. It’s been transformed into a pleasant, not-too-sprawling mixture of large retail stores in an open-air setting just west of Biltmore Fashion Park. Two of its most unique shops include Last Chance Bargain Shoes & Apparel for smoking deals and Sport Time for sporting goods. You’ll also find an Old Navy clothing store; Best Buy appliances, music, and computers; Bed, Bath & Beyond; and Marshall’s. If you are hungry, join the locals at the popular Miracle Mile Deli for New York-style bagels and stacked sandwiches. The Colonnade also includes a Phoenix public library branch.
43. Cofco Chinese Cultural Center
City: Phoenix, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (602) 273-7268
Address: 668 N. 44th St.
Description: This intimate shopping, restaurant, and office complex offers a unique cultural experience where East Asia design meets Western sensibilities. The bold red exterior, green roof tiles, hand-carved pagodas, statues, and an acre of traditional Chinese gardens offer a tranquil refuge. The most interesting store is the Super L Ranch Market, which offers traditional Asian foods and hard-to-find items, from roast ducks to live clams. Oriental Factory Direct has clothing, books, jade, feng shui products, silk clothes, and other gift items direct from Hong Kong. Some of the shops sell imported herbs and authentic I Ching coins.
City: Phoenix, AZ
Category: Shopping
Address: 21001 N. Tatum Blvd.
45. Desert Sky Mall
City: Phoenix, AZ
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (623) 849-6661
Address: 7611 E. Thomas Rd.
Description: In the early 1990s the old Westridge Mall that serves west Phoenix was revamped into fancier digs—including 2 new courts and huge skylights—lending it a clean, airy ambience that fits its mission as a community mall. Nearby is Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion, a popular outdoor concert venue. The mall’s department stores include Dillard’s, Sears, and Burlington Coat Factory.