When plans for Windsor Square were announced in 1929, the up-and-coming central Phoenix neighborhood was touted for its proximity to Brophy Prep and the Arizona Biltmore, both of which were newly established. The price for a lot? A mind-boggling $1,100. Now, the 26-home historic district features an array of architectural charmers built over many decades, as building was halted for the 1929 market crash, the Great Depression, and again during World War II. But the variety makes Windsor's curving streets all the more appealing, as well as more recently added nearby attractions like Medlock Plaza shopping and a collection of Upward Projects restaurants. Much like the area that surrounds the idyllic neighborhood, its prices have changed. Expect to see three-bedroom, two-bath ranches sell for around $500,000.

Oh, Sunnyslope, you are an enigma. Between your midcentury marvels and the many places to buy meth, Phoenix natives have long since struggled over what to make of you. Fortunately, there are those who were willing to stick by you in your less-than-sunny days and, while we're hesitant to say it, we think it's working. From being featured in home tours to having your streets filled with your own homegrown art walk, we, along with the rest of this town, are slowly coming to terms with the idea that Sunnyslope has changed for the better. Don't get us wrong, you're still weird — but we like it.

Think about what makes a good neighborhood. Beautiful, interesting homes? Restaurants and shops? Plenty of things to do in the surrounding area? Good schools? A friendly community? Well, the Coronado Historic District in midtown Phoenix meets each one of these requirements and then some. Weather permitting, residents can ride their bikes to Phoenix favorites like the Main Ingredient or Tuck Shop for a bite. Fitness buffs can get their sweat on at Sutra Midtown or get in touch with their spiritual sides at the Sikh Ashram. Besides the lovely 1920s bungalows and charming 1940s ranch homes, families are drawn to this less-than-two-square-mile neighborhood by the schools nestled within, and young professionals love the proximity to downtown and the vibrant artistic presence. Plus, the community welcomes you into this historic 'hood from the day you move in with a neighborhood newsletter delivered to your front step and smiling neighbors waving as they stroll by.

For years, the building at 333 East Portland Street sat neglected. In its former life, it had been Beth Hebrew Congregation, the first Orthodox synagogue in Phoenix; a Mexican evangelical church; and the performance space of the Black Theatre Troupe. Even as condo projects and hip eateries went up around it, 333 went overlooked by most — but not by artist and real-estate developer Michael Levine. In March 2015, after years of trying to save the building from destruction, he bought it and set out to restore it. Built in 1955 by Valley architect Max Kaufman, Beth Hebrew is a treasure of local Modernist architecture, with some fascinating Hebrew and Egyptian design details thrown in for good measure. While the restoration is still a work in progress, the building has played host to Jewish religious services and community events, and Levine has big plans for the future, including film screenings, art exhibitions, and private celebrations. We're glad to see the lights on and the spirit back in the place. L'chaim!

Whether you're a midcentury building or a midcentury human, facelifts are rarely ever a complete success. Which is why we were pleasantly surprised when local developers Vintage Partners did away with the stucco surrounding Uptown Plaza and replaced it with a more honest interpretation of the shopping center's 1955 roots: exposed brick, atomic fonts, neon signs, and some much-improved shade structures. Now the neighborhood shopping center at Central Avenue and Camelback Road has become the hotspot for local boutiques like Manor and Muse as well as trendy restaurants like Shake Shack, Flower Child, and Lou Malnati's Pizzeria. Restoration never looked so right.

Contrary to the advice of old-timey books on home decor, it takes more than matching shag rugs and toilet-tank cozies to perfectly appoint a bathroom. Phoenix artist Bill Dambrova gets it, as evidenced by the bathroom inside his Goat Heart Studio at the historic Bragg's Pie Factory. It's basically an eclectic, multimedia art installation accented with a roll of white toilet paper, where eye candy sometimes includes language earlier generations dubbed potty mouth. Vintage ephemera lining bathroom walls from floor to ceiling capture moments from the city's past, or quirkier parts of the artist's personality that take subtler form in his paintings filled with biology-infused abstractions. The Goat Heart Studio bathroom is a mischievous microcosm of the artist's mind, and practically a mini-museum hidden in plain sight within the artist's equally engaging art space.

Downtown Phoenix's warehouse district is finally getting the new life it deserves, thanks to a number of business owners who know a good deal when they see one. Located between Jefferson and Grant streets and Seventh Street and Seventh Avenue, the warehouse district offers up a central location, plenty of space, and, with a little remodeling, an industrial charm that would make any startup company swoon. The area, which is already home to event venues and creative agencies, is quickly being snatched up by other companies looking to take advantage of Phoenix's urban upswing, including tech companies WebPT and Galvanize. Forget skyscrapers and stucco commercial buildings — the warehouse district is the new destination for doing business.

Works well with others? That might be an understatement for Jenny Poon. The creator of the branding and design boutique eeko, which incidentally was instrumental in the launch of Phoenix's premier bike-share program, Grid Bikes, has become a much-talked-about entrepreneur in Phoenix over the last several years, thanks to her co-founded project CO+HOOTS. Now with locations in downtown and midtown, the thriving co-working space has given local startups a chance to grow their business as well as donate their services to make the community better thanks to the company's nonprofit branch, CO+HOOTS Foundation. Whether she's pioneering for the success of her fellow entrepreneurs or speaking out on the lack of diversity among Phoenix business owners, one thing can be said for certain about Jenny Poon: She's never satisfied just helping herself.

Earlier this year, Phoenix Comicon shattered previous attendance records. And while there were plenty of reasons to go nerd out with likeminded people — big-name special guests, thought-provoking panels, an overwhelmingly packed exhibitors' hall — there was one particular reason that we braved the heat and staked out the Phoenix Convention Center: Phoenix Comicon offers the best people-watching the city has to offer. And we're not just talking about ogling the impressive costumes of Deadpool, Harley Quinn, and Rey from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, even though that could be reason enough. Even the non-cosplayer attendees are fascinating, and inspire enough questions to keep us entertained for hours. Why are you here? What could possibly be inside of that mystery box you're clutching so tightly? And where are you planning to put all of those Pop! Vinyl figures? We may never know the answers, but while we're watching this subculture in action, we'll never stop asking.

Yeah, there are quite a few places where you can have a beer with your movie. But do those big chain theaters have Prince movie marathons, Four Peaks on draft, lectures from seasoned screenwriters on why Jaws is still legit, and regular local film showcases spotlighting aspiring Scorseses among us? Um, nope. But downtown indie standby FilmBar sure does. Add to the list indie films and documentaries you won't find anywhere else, DJ nights, art shows, and snacks from the Tamale Store, and you get the picture. The flagstone-adorned little building is ideal for movie nights when you're in the mood to linger at the bar post-screening and compare notes with fellow moviegoers.