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.

I'm so glad Tempe Blooms returned for another year. The people behind it have created such a…read moreunique, fun event to bring locals and tourists to downtown Tempe and blend them with beautiful floral art, music, and local businesses. There are a couple of parking garages/lots in DT that give you a discounted rate during the event- we paid $10 for the 201 Ash garage, off the light rail. How it works - you meander around DT and look at, experience all the beautiful floral artworks. Downtown Tempe has a couple of stations with staff peppered about DT that provide a map of where things are located. You can go about at your own pace or route. Be aware that people can be a little vicious with trying to get "the shot" #ForTheGram. There are a couple of specific areas with small businesses posted up. We were hoping to make a bouquet at the fresh flower market but by the time we arrived - the line was super long and looked like flowers were picked over. So if that's your priority, go early. We were there no more than 2 hours and had a great afternoon taking in all the sights and sounds (there's live music peppered around too) of Downtown Tempe.

This was a nice event and the weather was perfect! It was a…read morelittle too spread out, but I understand that they want to showcase different businesses. The vendors were well chosen and had some really cool stuff. We did not go to the food area, but nothing beats food trucks!

We visited the Scottsdale Waterfront to see the annual Canal Convergence. Admission is free and it…read morewas teaming with people. There is an immersive light show at hourly times. The show is played to music. There are also several other light displays throughout the canal. It is a site to behold. The show will continue through November 16. Free lot parking in the Scottsdale Waterfront parking lot or street parking as well.

We had a good time, it wasn't a super busy Sunday night affair which was nice. However tents for…read moreactivities made for long lines that blocked sidewalks making it more challenging to move around the crowds. The show was fun as always!

Ok, I'm going to give this place 5 stars because, technically, it is a cool place that not a lot of…read morepeople know about. It's actually a hydroelectric plant along the Arizona Canal. As we approached the building (you can't go in it), the smell hit us and I thought, oh no, I've made a huge mistake. I think I was just there on a bad day or something, because I didn't see many reviews mention the smell at all. What smell? Raw sewage, very sulphur- and trash-like. I mean, it STUNK. It was strongest at the top overlook, right next to the building. As we went down the staircase to the lower level, the smell began to dissipate and eventually, to my nose, disappeared altogether. On the lower level, we saw the waterfalls. You can walk under/behind two of them and there are "seats" made of stone blocks in front of the third. The water was flowing pretty hard the day we visited, so the seats and all the pavement was wet and there was a slight mist coming off the middle one. The overall place is like a mixture of industrial and environmental architechture. There are metal-looking columns holding up the upper deck, yet the waterfalls look like they were copied from Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, and there are large stones/rocks embedded into the walls everywhere. It sits on the edge of a small park with a decent sized lot and there are hiking paths. We only came for the falls, so I can't speak to the hike, but the area looked fairly nice. I'd like to see it at night as it looks pretty cool in pictures I've seen. If you're looking for something a little different to do or show your visitors from out of town, this is a neat place to go. Hopefully, the smell is a one off, but even if not, hold your breath and go down the stairs..... 13/2026

I heard about this place recently and was in the area and decided to check it out. It basically…read more mini-hydroelectric plant on the canal system and the origin of the canal system is traced back to the Hohokam Indians that lived in the valley about 1500 years ago. The water falls are a cool secondary benefit of the water works plant at Arizona Falls. There is a nice park and biking trail that we look forward to exploring on our next visit. Highly recommended for a unique opportunity to enjoy waterfalls in the valley of the sun and learn about how the innovative Hohokam Indians.

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.

Fantastic museum! Many interesting exhibits and helpful staff. Couldn't believe this museum was…read morefree. One of the best parts of my trip! Some of the kids' art was incredible. It's great to see such talent showcased.

I loved my visit! I love that it was FREE! I didn't notice any donation box or anything but I…read morewould've left something if I saw one.. I had a great experience. I love that they change exhibits every so often. I really enjoyed learning about Chandler. But was most meaningful to me during my visit was the 4th Grade Project Exhibit. "Judy Gelles mission to foster empathy and curiosity". She had been working on this project since 2008 and asked 4th graders all around the world 3 questions. Who do you live with, who do you live with and what do you worry about? Heartfelt. You never stop to think how much worries young people. Some worried about death, being shot, getting their only shoes dirty, etc. shows how much factors at home and impact them. It was deep to see and read!! Worth a visit I will return to see what the next exhibit might be!

Very fun and interactive art pieces! Make sure to pull up the descriptions on your phone for an…read moreeven better experience. Some fun pieces, some unique, and some inspirational artwork as well.

Bestie was in town and she had this genius idea to visit Wonderspaces Arizona. She's been to the…read moreSan Diego one twice and loved it, so I was excited to see what it's all about. This place is beyond cool! There are different rooms to experience, and each one is truly unique. I think I speak for us both when I say the one with the string lights was the most entertaining visually. The light show lasted about 15 minutes total from beginning to end. When you first walk in through the mall entrance, you'll end up at the bar area. Alex was so nice and very engaging. She answered our questions and whatever you order at the bar, you can bring it with you so don't feel confined to the bar area as you finish your drink! I got the School Rules (mocktail) and bestie got the Mango Colada. They were so good, I finished mine pretty quickly! One of the other exhibits that I enJOYed was the coin flipping one. Whoever thought of all this is amazing to say the least! The face display made out of different sized balls on strings was so cool to see, especially when you walked up to it and to the side of it. We don't have membership, but the older gentleman sitting near the bar informed us that if you pay the $99 fee, you can come as many times as you like and you'll get 20% off any merchandise. He was really informative and we appreciated that he wasn't trying to push it on us. I believe you can also bring a guest for a discounted fee. Some of the exhibits were not as entertaining as others, and I do wish there was more to see, but they do switch it up every couple of months so that would definitely be worth the membership. Don't forget to get your selfies in front of the huge mirror near the bar! I highly recommend coming here if you have out of town guests, or if you've just never been. The bonus is that it's located inside the Fashion Square Mall in Scottsdale (same floor as the food court under the escalators), so you can have something to eat or walk around before or after Wonderspaces! It would be a cute date idea, too. I just may buy into the membership because the best part about it is that it does NOT automatically renew. So, if you don't like it, you won't have to worry about your account being charged. Good idea! Check out Wonderspaces Arizona and have so much fun!

WOW! the hawaiian/poly culture in Arizona is on fire! -thank you to the AMAZING performers who…read moreshared their talents & the hosts who introduced each performance!!! -food plates priced right w/enough food for two to share. -drinks pricey at $15 for a 32oz.

From a foodie perspective, this is one of my favorite cultural festivals in AZ! The aloha festival…read moreputs on such a fun festival with SO MANY yummy food vendors We went on a Saturday and the lines were very long but the food was actually delicious and worth the price! Some of the things we ordered were malasadas, short ribs and garlic shrimp, macadamia nut waffle with coconut chicken, and pulled pork Mac and cheese! There were a ton more food options but some of the lines were just too long to wait in. I would suggest getting their earlier to have more time to visit the booths! There was also plenty of dancers and Polynesian entertainment on the main stage. Overall, I'm sad this is only once a year but glad I got to go this year!

The garden is always such a nice place to experience nature, get inspired for gardening and outdoor…read moredesign, and get a little walk in. They do such a nice job with all of it! They also hold events all through the year. I definitely recommend a membership if you're close-ish. I come often and it's definitely worth it and supports a great organization. If you see volunteers at any of the tables throughout the garden, take a moment to stop! They have interesting information and its fun to learn new things from them. The short guided tour is also worth doing.

My best friend and I visited Desert Botanical Garden after a lovely dinner in the area. She…read morementioned that she had tickets left over from a visit earlier in the day that granted admittance later in the evening/after dark. I had never been to Desert Botanical Garden despite living in the area for nearly five years, so I was quick to agree to tag along! We visited on an evening that was also dog night, so in addition to seeing the beautiful botanicals, we got to see lots of happy pups. Though my dog was not with us, I appreciated how they had lots of doggy bags, water bowls, and water stations at the ready for the dog owners. The exhibit was beautiful, seeing the lights intertwined with the plants and the cacti. This was truly breathtaking. I will definitely add Desert Botanical Garden to my list of places to take friends and family who visit me out west.