McKinley ClubCeline and Kevin Rille put the “co” in co-working — their space is comfortable, collegial, and most of all, it’s about community. These two didn’t just buy a building, throw up walls, and start collecting rent. Instead, they treat this club like family — and that’s what it feels like in all the best ways. […]
Tree of LifeDuring a year dominated by the pandemic and divisive political rhetoric, Tree of Life stood out. Created by Tucson artist Daniel Martin Diaz, the piece — a trio of cut-steel sculptures anchored by an 11-foot-tall red tile mural with tree imagery blending organic and scientific forms — served as a monument to healing, growth, and […]
Wasted Ink Zine DistroCharissa Lucille is a true literary badass. As creator and operator of Wasted Ink Zine Distro, they (Charissa’s preferred pronoun) celebrate the most indie form of publishing: the humble zine, a DIY approach to publishing open to anyone with pen, paper, and access to a copy machine. Wasted Ink sells zines online and in its […]
Origami Ramen BarEarly in the pandemic, Osaka native Yusuke Kuroda was laid off from his job at the reputed American Japanese chain Nobu. He resettled in Arizona, where he opened Origami Ramen Bar in Ahwatukee, putting his learnings from Nobu and cooking in Japan into long-simmered bowls of noodle soup. For rich miso ramen, the simmering of […]
West Wind Glendale 9 Drive-InThe last permanent drive-in movie theater in Arizona was offering outdoor cinema long before other drive-in movie locations started popping up around the Valley during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 1979, guests have watched thousands of new movies under the glow of Glendale 9’s outdoor screens and enjoyed the old-school concessions stand, which is shaped like […]
KaizenHoused in a wing of the Galvanize co-working space downtown, Kaizen doesn’t look like a sushi restaurant. And yet, it’s handily the best sushi restaurant to have plugged in its rice cooker since the pandemic began. Chef Gustavo Munoz prepares traditional Japanese sushi (maki, sashimi, etc.) but also raw-fish dishes that straddle Japan and the […]
Rene AndradeBy some measures, Rene Andrade isn’t a new chef. He has cooked at big-name restaurants up and down the Valley. Recently, he oversaw the kitchens at Ghost Ranch and the now-closed Tempe Public Market Café. Now, after a mid-pandemic move, Andrade has become an executive chef with a restaurant his way channeling his past and […]
Xico Inc.More than three dozen creatives are part of the artist community at Xico, which showcases Latino and Indigenous artists. Xico excelled this year in finding new avenues to get artists’ work in front of eyeballs despite the challenges of the pandemic. Xico created a series of videos featuring studio visits, which gave people a rare […]
Runner's DenWe know people who run marathons, and we know people who struggled through their first Couch to 5K program. They all go to Runner’s Den for what they need. The unpretentious shop in uptown Phoenix has been serving generations of Valley joggers for more than 40 years, and whether your terrain of choice is trail, […]
The Pemberton PHXWhat do you want? The Pemberton probably has it. This Roosevelt Row entertainment hub, which debuted during the pandemic inside and on the grounds of a renovated 1920 mansion, features a rotating cast of tenants selling everything from craft cocktails served out of a camper (Baby Boy) to vegan pistachio almond ice cream (Melt) to […]
UnderTowEven now, even in its unlikely digs sharing a building with The Grey Hen and Century Grand, UnderTow immerses you so deeply into its imaginative vision that, looking out a “porthole,” you can almost feel the “ship” riding the waves. Why is this the best reboot? Because it preserved one of our best bars through […]
