I had a great post written, went to save draft and BAM, gone! Oh Google I love your Googly ways, but talk about a kick in the gut. Here goes a second attempt.This past Saturday we attempted to attend what a delightful, free, liberal newspaper advertised as the "Grand Avenue Festival". Sounds great right? The website advertised a lovely mix of art, unique clothing stores, galleries and food/drinks. This event was exactly what I've been trying to find, a free, outdoor event celebrating some of Phoenix's culture.
HA! Talk about disappointment. We arrived on Saturday around 11 AM to an empty 4 lane street with nothing but a few parked cars and shady looking closed storefronts. Way to festival it up Phoenix! Not a flyer, not a banner, not one vendor or open door in sight, nothing. We drove down the street and continued onto our weekend errands. I was quite disappointed but my loving husband pointed out that festivities may start later in the day because, while viewing the ever so festive website he had noticed the free band performances started mid to late afternoon.
Ok, we gave it a second chance. Silly naivete. We drove back to what we were hoping would be a festival in progress only to drive down the same desolate street. We parked and started walking towards festival flyers we saw in storefronts. Mind you these are the same storefronts that appear closed, have covered windows and are unnamed outside. I wasn't about to stick my head into a random door with no clue what would have been waiting on the other side. We walked back to the car and headed home.
HA! Talk about disappointment. We arrived on Saturday around 11 AM to an empty 4 lane street with nothing but a few parked cars and shady looking closed storefronts. Way to festival it up Phoenix! Not a flyer, not a banner, not one vendor or open door in sight, nothing. We drove down the street and continued onto our weekend errands. I was quite disappointed but my loving husband pointed out that festivities may start later in the day because, while viewing the ever so festive website he had noticed the free band performances started mid to late afternoon.
Ok, we gave it a second chance. Silly naivete. We drove back to what we were hoping would be a festival in progress only to drive down the same desolate street. We parked and started walking towards festival flyers we saw in storefronts. Mind you these are the same storefronts that appear closed, have covered windows and are unnamed outside. I wasn't about to stick my head into a random door with no clue what would have been waiting on the other side. We walked back to the car and headed home.
Phoenix may not know how to throw a decent street festival, but what it lacks in social outdoor events it makes up for with awesome graffiti and mural art. Below is one of my favorite graffiti style paintings and it just so happens to be located on Grand Avenue. Thanks to this artwork I wouldn't call the whole Grand Avenue Festival a wash, but it toes a might fine line.
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