ARTISANAL BREAD AND PASTRIES WORTH EVERY CARB
We take our bread seriously. Artisans bake loaves out of garages, chefs use heirloom flour and bakers build their own stone hearth ovens. At Noble Bread, a single loaf of semolina takes 36 hours to make using organic levain starter and GMO-free flour. The result? A golden crust surrounding a soft and chewy center. Proof Artisan Bread’s approach is simple—long fermentation, natural leavening and just four ingredients. Order the sourdough, a slightly sweet and nutty delight. German immigrants opened Karl’s Quality Bakery decades ago. It’s since become a beloved staple where you’ll find Euro-style pastries, everything from strudel and Linzer tarts to challah and kronuts.
Noble Bread Phoenix, noblebread.com
Proof Artisan Bread Mesa, proofbread.com
Karl’s Quality Bakery Phoenix, karlsqualitybakery.com
YEAR-ROUND EVENTS CELEBRATE PHOENIX’S LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY
In February, Laveen hosts the AGRA Rodeo, the Arizona Gay Rodeo Association’s signature event. It’s a weekend of roping, riding, games, food and live entertainment at Corona Ranch and Rodeo Grounds.
March’s Pride Run Phoenix—a 5K, 10K and half-marathon—launched in 1999 with just 20 racers. Today’s family-friendly event draws 1,500 runners and has spawned sister races in Las Vegas and Washington, D.C.
The Phoenix Pride Festival in April attracts more than 40,000 attendees from the LGBTQ+ and allied communities for a two-day celebration of camaraderie that also raises funds for the Phoenix Pride Community Foundation. Don’t miss the free Pride Parade.
You’ll see groundbreaking works from LGBTQ+ filmmakers at September’s Desperado LGBT Film Festival. Going strong for more than a decade, the event screens all films at Paradise Valley Community College’s Center for the Performing Arts.
In November, check out the Rainbows Festival, a bustling street fair in downtown Phoenix with 150 vendors, two stages of live entertainment and free admission.
AGRA Rodeo Laveen, agra-phx.com
Pride Run Phoenix Phoenix, priderunseries.com/events/phoenix
Phoenix Pride Festival Phoenix, phoenixpride.org/events/pride-festival
Desperado LGBT Film Festival Phoenix, desperadofilmfestival.com
Rainbows Festival Downtown Phoenix, phoenixpride.org/events/rainbows-festival
BROWSE THE WARES OF PHOENIX MAKERS AND ARTISTS
At Made Art Boutique, pick up colorful ceramic mugs by Crooked Tree and funky jewelry by Sarah Madeline. Nearly everything at the shop—stationery, tees, home décor—is handmade by local and national artisans. Phoenix General offers on-trend clothes, home goods and gifts that are ethically made and sustainably sourced. For quintessential Arizona items, there’s Sibley’s West. The store lines its shelves with Arizona-made foods, desert-themed art, shirts by State 48 and much more.
Made Art Boutique Downtown Phoenix, madephx.com
Phoenix General Phoenix, phxgeneral.com
Sibley’s West Chandler, sibleyswest.com
THESE (TOTALLY FREE!) THINGS TO DO KEEP YOUR VACATION BUDGET IN CHECK
The metro area’s museums offer ways to experience world-class culture without paying a dime. At the Phoenix Art Museum, enjoy free admission on Wednesdays, 3–9 p.m.; first Fridays, 6–10 p.m.; and second Sundays, 12–5 p.m. The second Tuesday of every month, the Desert Botanical Garden doesn’t charge admission to view its world-renowned collection of exotic desert plants. Peruse exhibits by some of the best contemporary artists working today by visiting Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, no charge on Thursdays and the second Saturday of every month. And the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum is always free.
If your kids love sweets, head to Cerreta Candy Company. Established in 1930, Cerreta makes chocolates, toffee, barks, truffles and more. You can see how it’s done on free guided tours of the factory, complete with yummy samples. The 30-minute tours run Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Kids also enjoy free admission to the Children’s Museum of Phoenix on the first Friday of the month, 5–9 p.m. (Parents get in free, too.)
When it’s time to let your little ones run off vacation energy, hit up the popular splash pads at Greater Phoenix’s outdoor shopping centers. For no charge, your children can jump, play, dance and otherwise keep their cool in our sunny city—all while you recline on a shaded bench, latte in hand. A few splash pads to check out include those at Desert Ridge Marketplace, Tempe Marketplace and Scottsdale Quarter.
Phoenix Art Museum Downtown Phoenix, phxart.org
Desert Botanical Garden Phoenix, dbg.org
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art Scottsdale, smoca.org
Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum Mesa, mesaartscenter.com
Cerreta Candy Company Glendale, cerreta.com
Children’s Museum of Phoenix Downtown Phoenix, childrensmuseumofphoenix.org
Desert Ridge Marketplace Phoenix, shopdesertridge.com
Tempe Marketplace Tempe, tempemarketplace.com
Scottsdale Quarter Scottsdale, scottsdalequarter.com
HISTORIC BUILDINGS FIND NEW LIFE
Thanks to one of the best adaptive reuse programs in the country, local businesses have been restoring iconic landmarks as hip new spots. When you visit the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, you’ll notice the building looks like an old school. That’s because in a former life it was the Monroe School, which opened in 1913 as the largest elementary school west of the Mississippi. Today you can sip martinis at the uber-cool Hanny’s, but in 1947 it was the “go-to” department store for stylish men’s fashions. Indie and rock bands perform to sold-out crowds at The Van Buren concert venue. But in the 1930s and 40s, the Phoenix Motor Company operated the space. It’s now on the National Register of Historic Places.
Hanny’s Downtown Phoenix, hannys.net
The Van Buren Downtown Phoenix, thevanburenphx.com