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DeTour de Grand to Highlight Art Detour 27 Activities along Historic Grand Avenue, March 8
Inaugural Daylong Event Features Bike Tour, Art Walk, and Block Party
The inaugural DeTour de Grand will take place on Sunday, March 8, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Historic Grand Avenue in downtown Phoenix. Organized by the Grand Avenue Members Association (GAMA) in conjunction with Artlink’s Art Detour 27, the daylong bike tour, art walk, and block party will feature the best in local bikes, beer, and bands.
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“The aim of DeTour de Grand is to highlight ‘local Phoenix’ along one of our city’s most iconic and authentic streets, Grand Avenue,” said Kirby Hoyt, event co-organizer and principal of Edge Industries, a landscape urbanism firm headquartered on Grand.
DeTour de Grand activities include:
- Bike Tour. The event begins at 10 a.m. with a one-hour bike tour that starts and ends at the intersection of Grand Avenue and 9th Ave. and follows Artlink’s Art Detour 27 trolley route. Prizes for the most creative – and grand! – rider outfits will be presented at the end of the ride. Valley Metro will provide complimentary bike valet parking.
- Art Walk. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., participants can wander though dozens of galleries, studios, shops, and restaurants along Grand Avenue between Van Buren and Roosevelt.
- Block Party. Also from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., partygoers can enjoy local bands, street performers, vendors, food trucks, and a beer garden. The Main Stage and Beer Garden will be located at 915 NW Grand Ave. A percentage of the event proceeds will benefit local charities.
According to Laurie Carmody, GAMA member and event co-organizer, “For years Grand Avenue has been a gathering place for musicians and music lovers. In 2011 the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery moved to Grand Avenue due in part to its music tradition and eclectic character. Inspirations in creating DeTour de Grand are the amazing students, who come from all over the globe to learn how to make and repair guitars at this world-renowned school.”
DeTour de Grand sponsors to date include: Phoenix Brewing Company, Arizona Multibank Corp., Arizona Preservation Foundation, Artlink Inc., Butler Housing Corp., Carnagan LLC, Dunlap-McGee Management Co., Edge Industries, Grand Avenue Pizza Company, Habitat Metro, KS State Bank, Local First Arizona, Oasis on Grand Apartments, State Representative Debbie McCune Davis, and The Carmody Company. The poster and design materials for DeTour de Grand were designed by Design RePublic, a studio off Grand Avenue, and local artist Jake Early. Signed screen-printed posters will be available for sale at the event.
Participants are encouraged to post their photographs of the event on social media using the hashtag #detourdegrand #grandavephx #dtphx
