The first few blocks of downtown’s diagonal Grand Avenue, which begins at the intersection of 7th Ave and Van Buren Street, are in the midst of an arts district rebrand and currently boasts multi-colored sidewalks and trees covered in afghans to prove its bona fides. Among the galleries, restaurants, and local watering holes is LGBTQ-owned Pueblo Nursery, the coolest and queerest little plant shop in the Valley of the Sun and a perfect finale to my gay weekend hop. Pueblo is a beautiful oasis full of neatly arranged botanicals, garden tools, housewares, and a Zen-like outdoor area where I could sit all day sipping a cappuccino from the onsite coffee cart and scribbling in my journal. I just love it here.
The day is really starting to warm up nicely, but it’s time for me to head back to LA. Grand Avenue once stretched all the way to Los Angeles. It now turns into Hwy 60 which merges with I-10 near the California border. I want to drive the whole thing right now shouting out the windows about how much fun Phoenix is. Instead, I just head to Sky Harbor Airport via Papago Park and board a plane for Burbank. But it’s all good; the world will discover soon enough how great queer Phoenix is, and I’ll be there to say those four little words I mutter so often after one of my trips: “I told you so.”
Phoenix Resources
HOTELS
Found:RE Phoenix Hotel, stylish downtown hotel close to nightlife. 1100 N Central Ave. Tel: 602-875-8000. FoundreHotels.com
Hotel Valley Ho, legendary boutique hotel with mid-century vibes. 6850 E Main St, Scottsdale. Tel: 480-376-2600. HotelValleyHo.com
Rise Uptown Hotel, hip hotel with chic guestrooms, a swim club and rooftop bar. 400 Camelback Rd. Tel: 480-536-8900. RiseUptownHotel.com
Tony’s House, clothing optional, men only retro resort in a quiet, central neighborhood. 2949 W Myrtle Ave. TonyCabralre.com
BARS
The Anvil, neighborhood queer bar popular with a leather fetish crowd. 2424 E Thomas Rd. Tel: 602-334-1462.
Cham Pang Lanes, Asian-themed restaurant, bar, and bowling alley rolled into one. 903 N 2nd St. Tel: 602-922-2235. ChamPangLanes.com
Charlie’s Phoenix, popular country western bar and nightclub. 727 W Camelback Rd. Tel: 602-265-0224. CharliesPhoenix.com
Cruisin’ 7th, gay dive bar popular with locals and trans folk. 3702 N 7th St. Tel: 602-212-9888. Cruisin7th.com
Platform 18, swank cocktail bar housed inside a turn-of-the-century rail car. 3626 E Indian School Rd. Tel: 602-739-1388. CenturyGrandPHX.com
Sazerac, downtown cocktail bar with a lively outdoor patio. 821 N 2nd St. Tel: 602-334-1626. SazeracPhoenix.com
Stacy’s at Melrose, mixed queer bar with a dance floor and large outdoor patio. 4343 N 7th Ave. Tel: 602-264-1700. StacysAtMelrose.com
UnderTow, Tiki bar themed to look like the hull of a ship. 3626 E Indian School Rd. Tel: 602-739-1388. DrinkUndertow.com
RESTAURANTS
Barrio Café, neighborhood Mexican eatery helmed by an out lesbian chef. 2814 N 16th St. Tel: 602-636-0240. BarrioCafe.com
Belly Kitchen and Bar, hip, pan-Asian eatery serving an eclectic, small plates menu. 4971 N 7th Ave. Tel: 602-296-44542. BellyPHX.com
Diego Pops, trendy Mexican restaurant serving margarita sno-cones. 4338 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale. Tel: 480-970-1007.
DiegoPops.com
Fez, gay-owned restaurant serving Mediterranean fare in retro digs. 105 W Portland st. Tel: 602-287.8700. FezOnCentral.com
LIX, Uptown Ice Cream LGBTQ-owned ice cream shop featuring artisanal flavors. 3343 N 7th Ave. Tel: 602-908-3630.
Palma, hip eatery serving eclectic bites in a lush setting. 903 N 2nd St. Tel: 602-580-0000. PalmaPHX.com
Phoenix Coqui, casual Puerto Rican restaurant owned by an out couple. 4041 N 15th Ave. Tel: 602-768-7894. PhoenixCoqui.com
Window Coffee Bar, gay-owned walkup café with plenty of outdoor seating. 2222 N 16th St. Tel: 480-307-4405. WindowCoffeeBar.com
SHOPS
Chadwick’s Urban Market, gay-owned neighborhood grocery store and deli. 3703 N 69th St. Tel: 602-884-7977. ChadwicksUrbanMarket.com
Off Chute Too, LGBTQ clothing store featuring a vast array of underwear, harnesses, queer books, and adult toys. 4111 7th Ave. Tel: 602-274-1429. OffChuteToo.com
Phoenix General, LGBTQ-owned gift shop with two locations. 214 E Roosevelt St. & 5538 N. 7th St. Tel: 623-248-8686. PHXGeneral.com
Pueblo Nursery, LGBTQ-owned nursery featuring an outdoor area and coffee cart. 1025 Grand Ave. Tel: 602-695-0834. Pueblo.Life
ATTRACTIONS
Desert Botanical Garden, sprawling botanical garden famous for its desert foliage. 1201 N Galvin Pkwy. Tel: 480-941-1225. DBG.org
Oak Street Murals, side street filled with murals that change regularly. 1420-1400 E Oak St.
Papago Park, the largest park in Phoenix featuring hiking trails, wildlife, and urban attractions. 625 N Galvin Pkwy. Tel: 602-495-5458.
Taliesen West, architectural icon and the winter home of Frank Lloyd Wright. 12621 N Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd, Scottsdale. Tel: 480-860-2700. FrankLloydWright.org
Wonderspaces Arizona, fully immersive art museum located in a mall. 7014 E Camelback Rd at Fashion Square, Scottsdale. Tel: 480-718-2156. arizona.wonderspaces.com
