I’ll Miss You Phoenix!
Already longing for My favorite spots around town
After living in Downtown Phoenix for 8 years, I’m starting a new chapter in my life as I move to San Francisco to continue higher education. As I look on to what my new life will look like in a new city, I can’t help but think about my local Phoenix staples. I lived most of this time without a car but have been lucky enough to live within walking or light rail distance from these places.
For my last little hurrah, I’ve decided to spend some time at the spaces I’ve frequented over the past few years and share some reasons and memories of why I enjoy these places.
Stinkweeds Records
For a local and independent record store, Stinkweeds Records keeps it real and local. The store employees are always excited to help you find a new artist or put you on to some of their favorite albums. My favorite part of going is seeing all the local Arizona music on display. I’ve always found record stores to be a magical place where you can discover new sounds and uncover new artist obsessions, and Stinkweeds continues to foster the love for music in Phoenix.
Events such as listening parties or album release parties are also a great way to meet people and give you something to look forward to.
Fàme has been my go-to food spot for years. As a lover of eggs and places that sell breakfast all day, this is my usual recommendation when people are looking for plans. Especially, if you had a late night out and looking for something to cure your headache.
My usual order is:
Horchata Latte
Parisian Omelet OR Veggie Scramble (both pictured here)
This restaurant has heard me and my friends talk about various topics: analyzing text messages from different crushes, gossiping about people we knew from high school or college, exploring the many ways democracy could progress, and even figuring out plans to quit jobs or find new opportunities to better suit us.
If walls could talk, Fàme would have a lot to say about me that’s for sure.
Kahvi Coffee
When this place opened up the previously named Monorchid, I will admit I was a bit skeptical. But after time, Kahvi became the spot I would frequent when I was working on essays in undergrad, the place I would decompress after my first morning interviews when I graduated, and where I would bring work home on the weekends. With free Wifi, great food, and a sweetened Matcha latte I love, I’ve spent hours in Kahvi’s great atmosphere. And a perk for me, it is only a few blocks away from the light rail and a 15 minute walk from my apartment.
Club Rambutan has had a few meetings here, and even our most recent team photo shoot was taken here!
Groundwrk
Last year, I had a little health scare as I realized my mild scoliosis was definitely affecting my body. After doing physical therapy for a few months, I decided to look for workout studios across the valley that I could try- I am not someone who can go to the gym on their own and be productive. For a few months, I tried different studios but only one stuck out to me as a place I could be comfortable in and that was Groundwrk.
They offer Lift (HIIT workouts) and Ride (spin classes) at their studio all throughout the day with special themes or target work out areas. I found it to be especially fun as the studio is LGBTQ+ owned and operated, which means you already know the music is going to be full of bangers.
I’ve spent pretty much every week here now for over a year and I’m a little nervous about finding a new place that makes me comfortable to be sweaty around a lot of people.
Heard Museum
I spent the past three years working for the Heard Museum in various capacities and have made lifelong friends out of my colleagues and artists I have met during my time there. Working there made me learn more about Indigenous arts and crafts, while also meeting amazing changemakers and outspoken artists.
Every year, the Heard Museum hosts the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market which has become the time of year I look forward to the most. I don’t anticipate being able to fly out every March on my law school budget so I’ll truly miss getting to visit and support over 600 Native artists.
Palabras Bookstore
Looking for a local place to find banned, queer, and revolutionary books? Palabras is the spot to not only look for new reads, but to also experience book clubs, attend workshops, and listen to visiting authors.
Throughout the past few years, this spot has also been the place I’ve met up with friends and organizers to meet in a safe space to talk freely about our views about the world.
Burton Barr Library
Going to the library has always been a calming activity for me. Growing up, the Surprise library was where I spent my summers and weekends so when I moved to Phoenix, making this local library my third space was inevitable.
In undergrad, I would do my studying here when I wanted to get away from campus and when I was studying for the LSAT, this became my place to seek quiet. With study breaks, I found myself looking over the featured book shelves and reading excerpts of books to add to my neverending list of books to read.
In a time where libraries are under threat of being dissolved and defunded, my appreciation for an accessible area for free reads, free air conditioning in 100+ temperature, and free events has grown exponentially.
Central Records
Central Records is a cute little cafe and bar filled with records and books. It’s no secret I love attending events, and this venue hosts a lot of them. From benefit events for Palestine, mahjong nights and chess club, and weekly DJ sets, it’s a cozy place to see and support friends in their art.
For a while I was leading the monthly mahjong night events and working with their staff was super fun and easy to do.
Gracie’s Tax Bar
It’s no secret Gracie’s is my local watering hole. Growing from a small little dive bar my friends and I used to frequent a couple years ago just for their cheese curds and tater tots to what has now become an insanely packed venue with themed nights, karaoke fundraisers, prize awarding game nights, flea markets, and of course, Phoenix-based live music and DJ sets.
Doesn’t matter what night you’re going during the week- something fun awaits. I’ve made many friends, heard a lot of stories, and genuinely found new connections just by waiting in line for the bathroom or sitting on the patio sharing a light. It may be crazy to call a dive bar a special place to call home but with a scene so uniquely Phoenix, I find Gracie’s to be irreplaceable.
