Recycled Rubbish Fashion
Grand Avenue has long been known for its edgy arts spaces, innovative adaptive reuse of old commercial buildings, and a funky, whimsical sensibility unlike any other neighborhood in downtown Phoenix. The Grand Avenue Festival provides a great opportunity to experience the old, the new, the wacky and the wonderful elements of this unique corner of our great city. For the uninitiated it may seem a bit daunting: Where to start? What to do? Will I know where I’m going?
DPJ has put together some tips to guide you to the best Grand Avenue Festival experience for the whole family. The festival and all events are free. There are basically two different experiences to be had at the festival – the daytime and the nighttime versions.
Grand Avenue Merchants Association President, Tim Sprague is excited about the free, guided tours of vintage commercial buildings that are integral to the history of the area. “Grand Avenue is home to some of the great buildings that served the growing Phoenix community during the early and mid-twentieth century,” said Sprague. “This tour will give you an inside look at how vintage buildings can be transformed for contemporary use.”
The tours, which begin at 8:00 am (and leave hourly at 8:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., and 11:00 a.m.) at the Milum Textile Services building at 333 N. 7th Avenue, are led by knowledgeable local history experts, visit three separate spaces and last about 2 hours. Visitors are encouraged to wear a hat and comfortable walking shoes.
From 12 noon to 5:00 p.m. you can visit the Coffee, Cookies and Crafts Fair in the Bragg’s Pie Factory parking lot (1301 NW Grand Ave. – near the corner of Grand and McKinley). The fair will feature more than 40 booths of local artists and crafters selling their wares; an info booth with event brochures; free coffee and cookies in a relaxed sitting area; and some food trucks on hand for heartier appetites.
Don’t miss the Hanging Gardens, Woven Fences and Trashy Sculpture Show – a Festival mainstay. Pick up a map at any of the information booths and embark on your own treasure hunt to find these urban gardens along Grand Avenue and vicinity.
Mods & Rockers
Beatrice Moore, secretary of the Grand Avenue Merchants Association and owner of Kooky Krafts wants to make sure to get the word out about the line-up of live music at the event. “We’re excited to have over thirty local, indie bands, including Peachcake, playing at three main stages and various venues all along Grand Avenue,” said Moore.
Starting in the late afternoon, Grand starts to show off its quirkier side, beginning at 4:00 p.m. with the Modern Era Renaissance Fashion Show at Soul Invictus Gallery and Performance Space at 1022 NW Grand Ave. The show includes live music and features a sampling of the latest jewelry and accessories from Grand Avenue jewelry designers from 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
At 6:00 p.m., join in the Grand Trashy Hat Promenade. This quirky traveling fashion show begins at Kooky Krafts Shop, 1500 NW Grand Ave. at 6:00 p.m. All ages are, including kids, are invited to participate and model their creations along the street, returning to Kooky Krafts for the final judging, where cash prizes will be awarded
At 7:00 p.m., Days of Future Past: the Recycled Rubbish Fashion Show takes place at {9} The Gallery at 1229 NW Grand Ave. GAMA Board Member and co-owner of Recycled Rascals, Milissa Koehler says, “We’ll be showcasing fashion ranging from the practical to the theatrical. This is a ‘don’t miss’ event designed to celebrate unique approaches to recycled couture.”
Trashy Hat Promenade
After Hours events continue from 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 pm. Music and performances continue at venues all along Grand Ave., and the parking lot behind Bragg’s Pie Factory will be converted from the crafts fair to an outdoor movie theater.
Info Tables
- On the north end of the route at the Oasis on Grand, 1501 NW Grand Avenue
- At Bragg’s Pie Factory, 1301 NW Grand Avenue
- At Funk Lab, 1007 NW Grand Avenue
All Festival information will be available at the these locations, along with free water. Pedi-cabs will be stationed at both the Oasis on Grand and Funk Lab. You can also download a festival program.
Parking
Grand Avenue has a lot of free on street parking available all day from the intersection of Grand/Roosevelt/15th Avenue, and extending south along both sides of the street. There are also free parking lots at Oasis on Grand (1501 NW Grand), behind the La Melgosa building (1023 NW Grand), and at the Grandevelt complex (1500 NW Grand).
Transportation
Visitors are encouraged to ride their bikes if they live close by. All participating spaces are within walking distance of one another. Free pedi-cabs will also be located at the Oasis on Grand (1501 NW Grand) and at the Funk Lab (1007 NW Grand).
Photography courtesy of Grand Avenue Merchants Association
If you go
Event: Grand Avenue Festival
Date: Saturday, October 20
Time: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (with activities pre- and post-event)
Admission: FREE
Information: grandavephoenix.com/grand-avenue-festival Facebook
Band Line-up:
Location: The Groove at 1028 Grand/MC Kevin Patterson
1:00p – 2:30p Boris Bon Bon – DJ
2:30p – 4:00p Djentrification – DJ, World Beat/Turntablism
4:00p – 6:00p Poets/Performance: Deborah Berman, Rich-ard Bledsoe, Bill Campana, Jack Evans, Neil Gearns, Judy Green-Davis, Joe Montano III, Shawnte Orion, Heather Smith-Gearns
6:00p – 7:00p The Caligans, 90’s Acoustic
7:00p – 8:00p The Regretting Man, A whirlwind of emotion
8:00p – 9:00p Where Are All the Buffalo, Folk music
9:00p – 10:00p Bill Walton, Classic rock, blue grass
Location: Bragg’s Pie Factory at 1301 Grand
12:00p – 1:00p World Class Thugs, Americana mish mash
1:00p – 2:00p Biologia, Galactic disco funk
2:00p – 3:00p Simon Wong, Ambient folk music
3:00p – 4:00p There There, Nugaze, trip-hop, indie rock
4:00p – 5:00p Betsy Ganz, Alt country with/a little cabaret
5:00p – 6:00p Man-Cat, Twisted regurgitated pop music
6:00p – 7:00p Snail Quail, Indie fun punk
7:00p – 8:00p Orchestra Exile, Ambient improvisation
8:00p – 9:00p Liam and the Ladies, 2tone ska
9:00p – 10:00p Treasure Mammal, Furries & skin tight suits
Location: Oasis on Grand at 1501 Grand /MC Andrew Benson
(Lot South of Building)
12:00p – 12:45p Waxman, Soul & Funk
12:45p – 1:30p DJ Chow Fun, Funk & Latin
1:30p – 2:15p DJentrification, World beat/Turntablism
2:15p – 3:00p DJ Sean Watson, House & Pop
3:00p – 3:30p James Mulhern & Danny Godbold, Acoustic
3:45p – 4:25p Mikel Lander & Meredith Moore Duo, Blues
4:55p – 5:35p Some Magical Animals, Dishwasher pop
5:55p – 6:35p TBA
6:55p – 7:35p Tobie Milford, Indie folk with a classical bent
8:00p – 8:50p Peachcake, Electronically charged pop music
9:15p – 10:00p Man-Cat, Twisted regurgitated pop music
Deux Ex Machina at 1023 Grand Ave 2:00p The Dry Surfinis
Location: The Trunk Space 1506 Grand Ave
8:00p until Close Kevin Greenspon, Christian Filardo, James Fella, Treasure Mammal, and more!
Other spaces that have music scheduled during the day:
{9} The Gallery at 1229 Grand Ave
The Bikini Lounge at 1502 Grand Ave
Galllery Marsigilia-Art in Jewelry at 1018 Grand Ave
Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery at 1012 Grand Ave
Rusty Spoke at 1023 Grand Ave
