Roosevelt Row is for Creatives l A Guide

Roosevelt Row is a fountain of inspiration! From the quirky bars, to retro vibes in thrift stores to the colorful murals, and to the artists, musicians, and writers who all come out to celebrate this innovative hotspot, it’s home to many of us creatives. As a writer, Roosevelt Row is my second home, and if you haven’t been yet, I’ll show you why you need to go. I’ve created this awesome Roosevelt Row guide in collaboration with the #AZFreeToBe campaign sponsored by GPEC. 

New Bars in Downtown Phoenix | Luckys & Hi Score Club

There’s always new bars popping up in Downtown Phoenix. One of the newest bars on the block is Luckys. Luckys is a 1970s themed bar, complete with a skee ball machine, vintage-inspired art, craft cocktails, and an Airstream trailer. The owner, Julian Wright, also owns Pedal Haus, and along with Nick Nitz, Luckys’ operations manager, the duo are just two awesome dudes bringing chill, throwback vibes to Downtown Phoenix. The bar hosts cool events like The Gemini Birthday Party, complete with Galaxy Cocktails and astronaut decor. The food is whipped up by rotating food vendors, and the dishes are refreshing. Have you ever tasted chicken masala with tater tots? Not yet? Exactly!

Right around the corner is Hi Score Club, an anime themed bar that just opened recently as well. From the creators of Cobra Arcade Bar, this unique spot is for anime lovers alike. There’s anime everywhere, from the TV’s behind the bar, to the artwork displayed on the dj booths. Order the Sakura lychee cocktail or Bebop, bourbon, lemon, orgeat, vermouth, and Peychaud’s bitters.

“Mural Alley” on 1½ Street

There’s a multitude of murals in Downtown Phoenix, but I like to wander Downtown Phoenix’s unofficial “Mural Alley” on 1½ Street for ultimate inspiration. One of my favorites is the depiction of arctic creatures by Isaac Caruso, which chronicles Caruso’s time in the Arctic. “I made a mural combining imagery of the Arctic and the Desert, to illustrate that we are one connected planet,” he says about the mural.

The collaborative murals are the works by 12 local artists, located behind The Churchill. The 12 local artists include: Isaac Caruso, Gabriel "Leter" Pecina, Nyla Lee, Volar, Tato Caraveo, Lucinda Y Hinojos, Josh "BASK" Brizuela, Thomas “Breeze” Marcus, Lalo Cota, Jane Goat, JJ Horner, and Jesse Perry.

First Friday’s | Local Vendors, Artists, and Musicians

My favorite time to escape to Roosevelt Row is during First Fridays. All the local vendors, artists, musicians, and performers come out on First Fridays, and people watching is entertaining and invigorating. I watched a woman get hypnotized, and she actually fainted! I also saw street performers dancing to beats, and a guitarist playing guitar behind his head! You can see anyone and anything on First Fridays. I like to also meet with local vendors. I met Jacqueline Trevino, founder of Wonders With Skin, and she sells soaps, candles, and other home goods. 

Women Owned Businesses | Greenwood Brewery

“There are a lot of women-owned businesses in Downtown Phoenix, and I love that we now get to also say there’s a woman-owned brewing company in Downtown Phoenix,” says Megan Greenwood, owner and founder of Greenwood Brewing.

As one of the first women AZ brewers, Megan Greenwood has gone through great lengths to develop flavors and a space with a woman’s touch. Greenwood Brewing is all inclusive, so don’t misunderstand, but as a woman, when I taste a Greenwood brew, I understand the layers of flavors that go into making my type of beer. 

Herstory Pale Ale

Retro Vibes | Cobra Arcade Bar & Antique Sugar

Cobra Arcade Bar is a throwback in itself, with coin-operated games. I love playing Pac Man, The Simpsons, and Mortal Kombat - all games reminiscent of my childhood days in the ‘90s. Order the Inky’s Drinky and Whiskey Business to keep up with the playful arcade-theme. 

Next door to Cobra Arcade Bar is Antique Sugar, a vintage thrift store. Antique Sugar has all types of eras, from the 1920’s all the way up to the 1990’s. I love to imagine fashion from a bygone era, especially because so much of fashion is recyclable, and you can reuse and reimagine old pieces into new outfits.

Conclusion

Looking for inspiration? Search no further than Roosevelt Row. Roosevelt Row allows me to be my best self, do my best writing, and allows me to be #AZFreeToBe creative.