Over the years, I have visited the ASU Downtown Phoenix Campus and Civic Space Park on a regular…read morebasis. While there have been different people, different roles, and even different buildings, one consistency has been the "Her Secret is Patience" sculpture in the park. In fact, almost 13 years ago, I even did a photo shoot under the sculpture. The sculpture is in the Civic Space Park, where there is a nice, grassy area, some tables, and chairs right next to the US Post Office and ASU Student Center. I have seen groups of students and even community members holding events in the park either in front of the Student Center entrance at the tables and chairs (gatherings by students or staff), on the grassy lawn area (community members playing soccer, frisbee, or having a picnic), or even on the south side of the walkway (though the lighting wasn't very good in the evening in that area). "Her Secret Is Patience" is a public art sculpture commission designed by artist Janet Echelman for the City of Phoenix. The sculpture consists of painted, galvanized steel, polyester twine netting, and colored lights. It is 145 feet tall and suspended as an aerial sculpture. It is monumental yet soft, fixed in place but constantly in motion. It dances gently in the air, choreographed by the flux of desert winds. During the day, the sculpture hovers high above heads, treetops, and buildings. The sculpture creates what the artist calls "shadow drawings," which she says are inspired by Phoenix's cloud shadows that captivated her from the first site visit. At night, the illumination changes color gradually through the seasons. The goal in selecting the colors is to provide residents some small climate relief through color, adding cool hues in summer, and warm tones in winter. The lighting design also changes what portion of the sculpture is illuminated, leaving parts obscured in mystery, much like the phases of the moon. I've heard students and staff at ASU discussing how the artist was supposedly inspired by monsoon cloud formations and the shadows they cast, in addition to forms found in desert flora. Now that I work only a short walk away from the sculpture, I see it almost every day at work!

This is one of the most eye-catching pieces of public art that I have had the pleasure of seeing…read more It is located in the Civic Space Park and is the work of artist Janet Echelman who made the piece in 2009. Echelman got the name of the piece from a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson. It is constructed of painted, galvanized steel, polyester twine netting, and an assortment of ground mounted colored lights that give the nets its color. The piece is not cheap though and costed $2.5 million. The massive piece starts at 38 feet off the ground and extends to 100 feet in the air. To give it more perspective, the piece's largest ring is about 100 feet wide. The piece is intended to resemble a cumulus clouds. However, I see a tornado or jelly fish when I looked at it. It was given the title of Best Public Art by the Phoenix New Times. The wonderful mix of blue, orange and purple just draws you in like a moth to a flame. It is cool to visit during the day, but is amazing at night. The color of the piece changes constantly with the seasons throughout the year. The piece is not without its critics. Many people question the cost of the piece and whether that money could have been used elsewhere. Additionally, the piece's nets and lighting has to be replaced every five years, which makes this piece a gift that keeps on costing. It is unknown how much this periodic maintenance costs the city. This piece has metered street parking located within a reasonable walking distance, as well as commercial parking lots. There is also a train stop right in front of the piece, if you are plan on taking public transportation to get there. I really like this piece. It is a marvel, but I too am a critic of the price tag and reassuring maintenance fee. This piece can rally become the face of the city and one of its iconic images. It is very picturesque and Instagramable. Anyway, as with most public art that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 10 minutes. So, you may want to consider making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. You can start with Civic Space park, where the piece is located.

This alley is very busy, as far as art goes, and has a lot going on. It is almost overwhelming…read more Murals runs the full length of the alley and is very vibrant and colorful. It spans between 1st and 2nd Streets and Adams and Washington Streets. A large portion of the alley pays tribute to Latino icons. This was a herculean effort led by the Arizona Latino Arts and Cultural Center (ALAC), with help from the Downtown Phoenix Partnership, Phoenix Convention Center, and Latinos Now. When they say that it takes a village, that it an understatement when it comes to this area. The alley features work from many local artist including Jose Andres Giron, Roman P. Reyes, Carlos Rivas, Ramon Aguirre, Edgar Fernandez, Elizabeth Toledo, Alfred Bilducia, Noreen Ayonayon, Tavo Barrios, Angel Diaz, Karlito Espinosa, Ivan Garcia, Luis Munoz, Edgar Munoz, Raul Rodriquez, Rey Lugo and Catyana Falsetti. This alley really grabs you and draws you in. The mural is on the backside of a parking garage and faces the back of some local business and has a good view of their dumpsters. Some notable images that I saw in the alley were the Virgin Mary, a rose, a portrait of U.S. Army Private First Class Silvestre Santana Herrera, who was presented the Medal of Honor during World War II, there arew a bunch of flowers, R2D2, Lalo Guerrero, American guitarist, singer and farm labor activist, a phoenix, a horse head, Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals, in Uniform and Carlos Santana, That is just a fraction of the images of art in the alley. It is something that you just have to see. You will notice the different styles of murals that make up the collection and also different skill levels of the artist. Most of the work is pretty good, but some of them are notable better than others. There is metered street parking and commercial parking garages within a reasonable walking distance from the alley if you want to park, get out and take a closer look. This is definitely not a destination stop, so I would highly recommend combining this with other stops or making this part of a larger itinerary.

Whenever I visit the ASU Downtown Campus, I always find myself walking through the Civic Space…read morePark. This is a park with a lot of potential as there is a nice grassy area, some tables and chairs next to the US Post Office and ASU Student Center, a beautiful sculpture, and other places to hold an event and escape from the heat. At the same time, the Civic Space Park in recent years has been overrun with the homeless who find their own spaces on the east side of the park and sometimes elsewhere in the park. This has led to some safety concerns from ASU students and their families as many students have to walk across the park to get from the Sun Devil Fitness Complex or the Fusion on First upper-division residence hall across to the rest of the ASU Downtown Campus. There have also been a number of altercations over the last few years between multiple homeless and occasionally between a homeless person and a student. I have seen groups of students and even community members holding events in the park either in front of the Student Center entrance at the tables and chairs (gatherings by students or staff), on the grassy lawn area (community members playing soccer, frisbee, or having a picnic), or even on the south side of the walkway (though the lighting wasn't very good in the evening in that area). Again, it may be a challenge if some of the homeless community members try to engage at these events with the students, staff, and/or community members. Another challenge we learned is that it isn't the role of ASU Police or Phoenix Police to monitor the park. Rather there are park rangers who are responsible for doing so, which adds some complications as the rest of the ASU campus is supported by ASU Police and on occasion, by Phoenix Police. If you look at other reviews of Civic Space Park, it is difficult to find one that doesn't highlight the famous sculpture known as "Her Secret is Patience." In fact, I recall doing a photo shoot about 12 years ago under the sculpture at Civic Space Park. This sculpture is a public art sculpture commission that was designed for the city of Phoenix. The sculpture consists of painted, galvanized steel, polyester twine netting, and colored lights. Again, the space has a lot of potential though due to safety reasons, there is some work to be done to really prepare this park to meet its full potential.

Nice park to just hang out at. Lots of grassy area for kids or animals to run through…read more We just sat there for a while soaking up the sun and people watching. At night the tornado looking thing lights up.

I grew up in an old victorian house and thought it would be fun to bring my dad here for a tour…read morewhen he was in town visiting. We ended up being the only ones on the tour which was nice. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and funny. The entire house has been restored to represent how the original owners would have it set up as closely as possible. The inside details are gorgeous and intricate. Our tour ended up being more like 45 minutes because it was just us and we didn't ask questions. It was a great way to spend a little bit of time before our next activity.

Was in the area from out of town and I wanted to see this beautiful house in person. I wasn't able…read moreto go inside but the outside is so pretty Love all the details. It's truly breathtaking

I loved my experience here at the Japanese Friendship Garden! For starters, this area is peculiar…read morefrom the rest of Phoenix, making it stand out from the other attractions enlisted here. It creates a beautiful environment that not many can experience outside of Arizona, and it is highly recommended to visit for anyone that is seeking a quiet, peaceful, calm, and beautiful setting with jaw dropping scenery. I went with one of my close friends and we both enjoyed the experience we shared. There were benches around to sit and admire the views, along with bridges to get a closer look at the koi fish and ducks. However, the best part was how many ducklings there were following their mamas. I had never seen anything like it, and it was truly an experience to remember.

Wowww, I have heard about this garden for sometime but finally I made it happen to visit…read more As soon as you stepped in-- you already find yourself in the right place; calm, peaceful, beautiful and simple. The garden is well maintained and organized, quiet place for give yourself quiet time and meditation. The garden is not that big place to walk around, but it's definitely worth it if you feel like need to escape and looking for nature therapy--this is the one! Give yourself more time to sit back and enjoy the greenery. The staff is super friendly and welcoming! I will definitely come back again soon.

This is some pretty neat street art to find in the middle of Phoenix. You can actually see some of…read morethe murals from the street when driving by. Very colorful and a retro vibe. A great place to take pictures. 5/5 stars.

The artist who created these murals has amazing talent! She did them several years ago and…read morerefreshed them a few years later. It really speaks to her talent though that even the taggers who seem to mark every wall in the area pretty much leave these alone for the most part. It's really nice to see such amazing art in the middle of downtown Phoenix. If you're a David Bowie fan this is certainly worth checking out.

With public art, the effort -- if not the outcome -- is almost always appreciated. But in this…read morecase, they really hit a home run! George Rhoads is one of my favorite artists. And "Based on Balls" is one of my favorite sculptures. This is an audiokinetic sculpture. Like much of his work (which can be found in public buildings, science museums, hospitals and airports around the world -- from Rishon LeZion to LAX), "Based on Balls" is a complex sequence of tracks and contraptions. In the middle, a conveyor belt continuously brings balls to the top and gently releases them onto the track. What happens next is easy to enjoy but hard to describe. It's not enough to say that the balls simply roll down the tracks. As they go, they push pinwheels, change direction, and trigger mallets to hit everything from wood-blocks to gongs. The result is an awe-inspiring symphony of sound and stimulation. Listen, I'm trying to describe this thing and I'm failing miserably. Why not just take a look at the thing yourself?! I put a couple videos of "Based on Balls" on youtube to help you do just that. Take a look, review it, visit it, and -- most of all -- voice your support. Governments and businesses will only provide us with things like this if they know that they're appreciated. Click on the following links for videos of "Based on Balls", one by me and one by fellow-yelper Matt R: http://youtube.com/watch?v=40qWtKwEOI8 http://youtube.com/watch?v=-SE-Jld6uKA Enjoy!

Was on a layover and decided to checkout some local activities…read more Parking was on the challenging side because it is also next to a theatre and a performance was scheduled. We visited on a Wednesday after 3pm...it's pay what you can and they're open til 8pm so that also added to parking congestion. No pressure to pay/donate but they did let us know the normal price. We opted to pay $5 vs. the regular $28 per person. I primarily wanted to visit the Yayoi Kusama room but loved the butterfly installation and the tiny rooms as well. They have a nice variety of art work overall. There were some areas that were closed off due to a private event, so didn't get to visit all exhibits and they also have some additional pay areas too. Highly recommend and would definitely visit again!

PRICE SLIGHTLY STEEP Not my favorite art museum I've ever…read morebeen to as it lacks big well known pieces. I felt the adult price of $28 was too high, especially as a couple -- that's almost $60 for a day out of looking at some pictures. They do offer a AAA $3 discount, which we took advantage of. KUMSAMA FIREFLIES INFINITY MIRROR ROOM My favorite part was the Kusama Fireflies Infinity Mirror Room, where you wander into a room of darkness surrounded by mesmerizing twinkling lights and mirrors. I wasn't aware that this was there, so it was a pleasant surprise. LAYOUT I felt the museum has a slightly confusing, disjointed layout. GIFT SHOP There's a quality gift shop selling typical art museum items like jewelry, scarves, mugs, etc. LOCKERS There are complimentary lockers for backpacks/purses and water. WEB SITE Before our trip, I used their web site and found it confusing to find out the price of tickets and as to whether they were actually open on certain days. See my photos attached. Helpful?

This is a nice vibrant mural that is the work of Hugo Medina and Darrin Armijo-Wardle. It was…read morepainted in May 2017 and measures 70 feet high and 50 feet wide. You will find the mural on the side of the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel overlooking a narrow alleyway. The colorful mural has a two-fold meaning. The Adams hotel, which is the predecessor of the Renaissance, burned down in 1910. You can see the image of the Adams hotel in the mural You will also see the image of a woman. That woman is rumored to be Malinda "Malindy" Curtis, (hence the mural's title). Curtis was a local favorite reportedly the madam of a nearby brothel and lived quite a colorful life (hence the mural's colors). I like the color usage in the mural the rainbow hair and accent is awesome. The detail of the hotel is also very good. I really like it. The image of Curtis looks very powerful and determined. I am not sure how I fell about the artwork though. There is metered street parking and commercial parking garages within a reasonable walking distance if you want to get out and take a closer look.. Anyway, as with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

I have worked at the Arizona State University Downtown Phoenix Campus off and on over the years,…read moreand over this past year, I have gotten involved with Downtown Phoenix Inc. (DPI) by attending their monthly stakeholder meetings and attending events that either they have put on for the community or other community events that they have supported and/or marketed. In fact, ASU has hosted wellness events, student welcome events, and career fairs, and it is always great to see DPI engaged in our events, too. DPI is a community-building organization that delivers enhanced municipal services to the Downtown business core, marketing and event production to Greater Downtown, and manages the work plans for Phoenix Community Alliance and the Downtown Phoenix Community Development Corporation. DPI and its affiliate organizations are committed to making Phoenix a vibrant urban destination and one of the nation's great cities. In fact their mission is "to facilitate collaboration, cultivate connections, and contribute to both the growth and vitality of our community. To generate progress on issues, work toward sustainable growth and build a stronger, more inclusive city core that generates positive perceptions, memorable experiences and a sense of pride in Downtown." Their vision is to "deliver a vibrant and healthy Downtown that makes the experience of our community enriching and engaging to residents, visitors and businesses, and helps strengthen the reputation and heart of our city in a sustainable way." DPI also staffs the DTPHX Ambassador program with the mission " to make a person's experience in Downtown Phoenix safe, enjoyable, and memorable." They are around 365 days a year and wear orange shirts that say "ASK ME" on the back. Complimentary hospitality services provided in the Downtown Core include walking escorts, car battery jumps, umbrella escorts, restaurant information, personalized tours, and entertainment info. Visit the DPI website (https://dtphx.org) and sign up to become an Insider to receive updates from the people who know DTPHX best. Also on the website, learn about upcoming events, things to do, information about living in Phoenix, information about doing business in Phoenix, and general information about DPI. There is also news and media about Phoenix on the website. Some of the traditional events include the Wellness Fair, Urban Wine Walk, StoryWalk, Lotería, DTPHX Hallows' Eve, PJs in the Park, and Winter Wanderland just to name a few. I look forward to continuing my relationship with DPI and seeing what else is on the horizon in Downtown Phoenix.

The downtown area can be quite hectic at times, especially when there are events, concerts, or…read moregames going on. Expect to pay for parking unless it's the weekend, and definitely pay close attention to the signage--there are a lot of one-way streets, no-parking zones, and no turns on red. During major events, parking garages can charge up to $40. Some people do opt out to use rideshare services and or the train as well to avoid all of the traffic and expensive parking especially on days when they have events and or concerts and or people do get dropped off and catch a ride share. The area is home to the basketball and baseball stadiums, along with plenty of restaurants, shops, and entertainment options. You can easily use Google or Yelp to search for places that fit what you're looking for, as there's a wide variety to choose from. Many spots are within walking distance, and strolling around at night is especially enjoyable--it's beautiful with all the lights, music, and lively atmosphere.