The Voice - Student Newspaper

First Friday breathes life into Phoenix

By Kavitha Sundralingam
Freelance Reporter, The VOICE

Downtown Phoenix is just like any other major city. From traditional skyscrapers, busy streets, exquisite restaurants, numerous coffee hotspots, to the hustle and bustle of everyday city life.

However, in a traditional monthly celebration, we learn that Phoenix is much more than the stereotyped metropolitan city.

The fun begins when the skies darken, streets close and locals bring out their inner-city culture.

First Fridays consists of a marketplace- a fusion of art, music, and bohemian culture.

The streets are packed on Roosevelt and 7th as people enter the art galleries, examining the portraits while having discussions on the significance behind the art pieces.

One of the boutiques displayed paintings of various jukeboxes, neon-colored beach chairs, and the Greek Islands. The gallery is named "Well Hung" and the owner, Kimberlee, proudly displayed a collection of what seemed to be ordinary necklaces.

The necklaces looked gold-plated with fish, flowers and shoes as the common pendants.

"These pendants are actually bullet cases," Kimberlee said. "The artist had an idea of turning trash into treasures."

There is always interesting things to find around here, she said.

Kimberlee has been part of the First Friday culture for a year and she greatly enjoys it.

"No one realizes how much fun it is until they come and celebrate with us!" she said.

And Kimberlee is absolutely right.

Once you walk through the series of sophisticated art galleries, you come across streets with various booths selling knickknacks of every kind. There are booths that sell birthstones, handcrafted candles, outrageous caption T-shirts, caricatures, snow cones, and other interesting collectibles.

The open concept nightclub gets the attention from afar. Latest hits are spun by live DJs and people dance and have a good time.

On the other end of the street, people break dance to the beat of drums.

The houses on the streets look like your traditional neighborhood, but on First Friday nights, doors are open to the public for art viewing.

There is a tree house on the corner of the street where a live DJ spins Indie rock and French Bohemian music.

There are belly dancers with impressive performances including balancing swords on their heads.

With a variety of art, culture and performances, First Friday is an interesting event to spend with family and friends.

The art displays are unique, the shops are interesting, the performances are entertaining, and the people are there to have a good time.

Exploring downtown is always an adventure!