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Downtown Focus www.DowntownMesa.com
March/April 2009
Volume 17, Number 4 A publication of Downtown
Mesa Association promoting
Mesa
Downtown Unique Style
the artful downtown
square mile
®
Square Mile a of FREE
EvErything Art The Symphony of the Southwest provides
entertaining and thought-provoking cham-
ber and orchestral experiences to public
Downtown MEsA
and private audiences at Mesa Arts Center
in and other venues throughout the region.
Photo courtesy Symphony of the Southwest.
▲
With a world-class arts center, award-
winning museums, a number of private
galleries, large permanent sculpture collection,
ongoing art and cultural festival and much
more, downtown Mesa is beginning to make
its mark as a hub of the arts. It’s already the
place to watch a play, hear a symphony, see a
concert, learn a craft, take music lessons and
view all types of fine visual art, and downtown’s
future looks even more…well…artistic!
Please see page 16 to learn about
downtown’s growing arts scene and the many ▲ The Guild Gallery at 101
businesses, organizations and public facilities features paintings, photography,
sculpture and more by members
that contribute to it. of the East Valley Art Guild.
Continued on Page 16
it’s whAt’s
insiDE thAt
Counts
AnD you CAn Count on
FinDing uniquE BuilDing
intEriors in Downtown MEsA
If it’s what’s inside that counts, then down-
town Mesa really is a "Square Mile of Unique
Style." Venture inside downtown businesses,
churches and public facilities and you’ll see
mammoths, large trees, giant musical instru-
ments, a city made of art, characters from
fairytales and other wonders. Please see page 24
for a photographic tour of some of downtown’s
most interesting building interiors.
Continued on Page 24
▲
Dining under the ol' oak tree at Pier de Orleans (see page 24).
Page 2 March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
Focus on The FuTure:
whAt’s lEt's MAkE A CoMMunity rEsolution to BEttEr Downtown
insiDE As a community, we need to resolve to start working togeth-
er to build on the strengths which already exist. Be it the Cubs,
nEw BusinEssEs the Mesa Arts Center, the coming light rail, the wonderful
pages 3-4 By Scott Smith shops, museums and restaurants located up and down Main
City of Mesa Mayor Street, we must work together to not only attract more visitors,
Downtown nEws (480) 644-2388 but to keep the ones who already come.
pages 5-8 Those coming for a show at MAC should want to stay for
mayor.smith@mesaaz.gov
dinner. Baseball fanatics visiting Hohokam Stadium for a Cubs
Downtown EvEnts game should want to turn left out of the parking lot after the
pages 9-15 game, and not right. Families visiting one of our wonderful
museums should want to stroll along Main Street looking for
EvErything Art the perfect gift for a special occasion.
in Downtown MEsA Why do I think these are all possible? Because here in
(CovEr story ContinuED) Downtown Mesa we have a unique urban setting which is
pages 16-23 incredibly conducive to these types of economic activities.
Downtown is the core, the heart of our City. Its design is made
it's whAt's insiDE for high traffic and high volume. We have world-class entertain-
thAt Counts ment venues and some of the region’s best places to grab a
(cover story continued) quick bite or sit down for a wonderful meal. With the coming
It’s a brand new year. Now is the time when people make
pages 24-28 light rail extension, we will have the infrastructure to accom-
New Year’s resolutions to better their lives or themselves. With
modate visitors from all over the Valley.
the economic challenges we now face, it is the perfect time for
Downtown’s thE PlACE! the City of Mesa and its residents to seriously consider where
My vision for downtown is not only to keep the visitors we
Directory of "Walk-in" Businesses already have. I want families to come not because they have a
we want to lead our community.
for shopping, Dining & More set agenda for the day, but because they know they will find a
Albert Einstein once said, “We can’t solve problems by using
center insert great place to shop, eat and be entertained or educated. We
the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”
have it all going on in Downtown Mesa, and we need to resolve
When it comes to bringing out the best of our City’s downtown,
to work together to make sure everyone knows that this is a
we must look for innovative ways to attract businesses and bod-
great destination point for people of all ages.
ies to the area. We need to make a resolution to change the
I know there are challenges we must overcome to turn our
way we think about how we do business.
wonderful downtown into a regional destination for tourists
For the City’s part, I believe we need to stop viewing the
from all places, local and far. But I also know that we have a
city’s land in downtown as potential real estate transactions.
strong foundation, one which I truly believe stands above all the
Instead, it should be viewed as economic opportunities not only
rest. It’s a new year, so we must make a resolution together to
for the City, but also for the existing businesses located in the
start building on our strengths in order to reap the benefits
downtown area. Our resolution will be to look for the right
Downtown Mesa truly deserves.
people, with the right vision, at the right time.
Downtown FoCus: voluME 17, nuMBEr 4 Downtown Mesa Association (DMA) Ex Officio Members
Board of Directors Virginia Mitten Berg Susan Cook
The Downtown Focus is a publication of Downtown Crystal Russell, Chair Howard Erenberg Roger Foote
Mesa Association (DMA) and is designed to keep the Freddy Curry, Vice Chair Kyle Jones Jeff Naylor
public informed on the progress of programs, events and Craig Prouty, Past Chair Debbie Poulsen-McRae
activities, and issues affecting downtown. Alisa Petterson-Dangelo, Finance Chair
The Downtown Focus is published every two or three
months (depending on the season) with an average print Tom Verploegen: President/Board Secretary
circulation of 14,000 to offices, business centers, com- Jeff Blaugrund Dan Brock Sharon Winter: Vice President/Treasurer
Brian Bunker Samuel Bueler
mercial property owners, customers and residents of Dave Collins Tawnya Christensen
downtown and Mesa. It is also online at www. Philip French Kathy Hay Staff
DowntownMesa.com. Kirk Hofmann Jason Hogue Mary Beth Bracken Administrative Assistant
DMA is a nonprofit organization that promotes the Rodney Holmes Jeff Howard Darrell Collins Clean Sweep Ambassador
economic and business development of downtown Mesa, Bill Jaffa Chris Johnson Randy King Clean Sweep Ambassador
the city’ original square mile. The corporation provides Neil Lannuier Kyle Lenhart Will Mills Clean Sweep Ambassador
Harry Luge David Ly Lyn Lynch Field Operations Coord.
extensive business development, promotion, cleanliness, Jerry Prokopec Clean Sweep Ambassador
and parking services. Teresa Peña Magdalena Schwartz
Brandt Seegmiller Anita Stapleton Dave Wilson Communications Coord.
Contact DMA for advertising information. We welcome
Deanna Villanueva-Saucedo
ideas, suggestions, and participation of individuals and orga-
nizations involved in the downtown Mesa community. Views
expressed within are not necessarily those of DMA. Downtown Mesa Association
www.DowntownMesa.com 58 West Main Street, Mesa AZ 85201, Ph: (480) 890-2613, Fax: (480) 890-2702
Page 3: New Businesses March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
hABAnos torrEs CigAr FACtory Brings CuBAn trADitions Downtown
Centuries of traditional Cuban cigar making found its
way to downtown Mesa when Habanos Torres Cigar
Factory moved to 48 S. Robson St., #101. Right: Timothy
Owner Timothy Torres blends his own tobacco and Torres savors the
rolls his own cigars, an art he learned in Cuba from aroma of a fresh-
his father and grandfather, who learned it from their rolled cigar made
fathers and grandfathers. Customers can choose from with the finest
tobacco.
30 or 40 types of cigars in Timothy’s humidor (humid-
Far right: Timothy
ity controlled case) or have him make a fresh “Puro” prepares 30-year-
on the spot using a traditional chaveta (roller’s knife), old tobacco for
wooden mold and press. rolling in the
Habanos Torres Cigar Factory also provides a traditional
comfortable, lounge-like atmosphere where custom- Cuban way.
ers – including many “regulars” from around the
Valley – can relax, socialize and have a smoke.
Timothy compares enjoying a cigar at his place to
wine tasting with friends. substitute for time.”
“There are many drinkers out there, but few people People planning special events can order quantities of
really appreciate a fine wine. Similarly, there are cigars from Timothy with a custom blend. He can also
many smokers out there, but few of them appreciate design, print and die cut personalized cigar labels with
a fine cigar. I only deal with fine smokers,” he said. any text or photo. He’ll even attend an event in person
Timothy buys only the best tobacco, mainly from and entertain guests by hand-rolling cigars for them.
Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Before moving to downtown Mesa, Habanos
And just as Orson Welles will sell no wine before its Torres Cigar Factory was at Southern Avenue and
time, none of Timothy’s tobacco gets rolled until it’s Extension Road. Timothy has operated the cigar fac-
old. Cigar manufacturers typically age their tobacco tory for five years but the self-proclaimed “electronics
two or three years, he said. The pre-rolled cigars at geek” makes a living as an electronic engineer for
Habanos Torres Cigar Factory are made with tobacco Ikon Office Solutions.
eight years or older, and the ones Timothy rolls on “The cigar factory is not a business, it’s a passion.
demand are made with 30-year-old tobacco. It just makes me happy to do this,” he said.
“One of the toughest qualities to achieve with If you also have a passion for cigars, stop by
tobacco is smoothness. To get that, it has to be prop- Habanos Torres Cigar Factory. Current hours of
erly fermented and cured, and that takes years. You operation are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to
can do other things to add flavor and create a nice 7 p.m. For more information call (480) 833-0087
draw, but if you want a cigar that’s smooth, there’s no or visit www.HabanosTorres.com.
Don’t Just CruisE MAin strEEt, CruisE into JoE’s hotroD shoP
Over the past year or so, Downtown Mesa has become a destina-
tion for organized car cruising with large crowds turning out for events
like Memories On Main Street and Hotrods, Hotdogs and
Homeruns.
Now, with the opening of Joe’s Hotrod Shop at 48 S. Robson
St., #103, downtown has also become a better place than ever to
have hotrods, street rods and muscle cars serviced, repaired and cus-
tomized.
Owner Joe Dahl puts his 42 years of experience to good use work-
ing on engines, transmissions, chassis, electrical systems and just
about everything else except paint and interiors.
“I can do everything from a simple tune-up to a frame-off,” he said,
meaning he can do a complete restoration by taking the frame off a
vehicle, stripping it down to nothing, then building it back up again.
Joe said his latest specialty is putting state-of-the-art fuel-injected
engines and transmissions into older cars. He also specializes in fabri-
cation. “People are used to buying parts from magazines or online,
but if it’s not available I can build it,” he said.
Joe’s clean, spacious shop is filled with sleek American cars from
past decades. He only works on domestic vehicles, but what year they
were made isn’t much of an issue. “The oldest car I ever worked on
was a 1916 Model T, and the latest was a 2006 pickup.”
So don’t just cruise Main Street, cruise into Joe’s Hotrod Shop, just
one block south of Main on Robson Street. For more information call
Joe Dahl in his shop with an immaculate ’68 Camaro. Joe at (480) 215-7474.
Page 4: New Businesses March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
signsXtrA ProviDEs quAlity, CustoMEr sErviCE AnD sPEED
SignsXtra recently began providing signs with tion – much faster.”
Xtra quality, Xtra customer service and Xtra fast turn- SignsXtra also makes a point of returning cus-
around from its new office at 12 N. Center St. tomers’ phone calls, keeping them up-to-date,
SignsXtra designs, fabricates and installs custom giving prompt quotes and doing whatever else it
building signs and freestanding monument signs. The takes to keep them happy. “With other sign com-
company uses the latest in signage and computer panies, it’s not unusual for customers to wait two
technologies to make indoor and outdoor business ID to four weeks for a quote. We give quotes in two This freestanding
signs, neon signs, LED signs, building directory signs, to four days,” Jared said, adding that customers ground sign and
entrance monuments, freestanding ground signs, will find their prices very competitive. illuminated building
illuminated signs, architectural signs, sign plaques After a job gets going, SignsXtra will submit sign are examples
and more. the proper materials for a sign permit to the of quality work pro-
But again, all of these fall under the specific catego- appropriate municipal office. “This service is vided by SignsXtra.
ries of building signs and freestanding monument complimentary, as a little thank you to our cus-
signs, which sets SignsXtra apart from most other sign tomers for choosing SignsXtra. Besides, we have
companies. “Other sign companies do a little of every- dealt with every city in the Valley. We know the
thing,” said owner Jared Payne. “I’ve found that when permitting process well, so why put the customer
you do a little bit of everything, everything gets done through it?”
with a little bit of quality. So we specialize only in Quality, customer service and speed are sure
building signs and monument signs. That way we can signs of a good sign company. For more informa-
not only provide higher quality, we can run signs tion on SignsXtra call (602) 283-3791 or visit
through the entire process – from design to installa- www.SignsXtra.com.
Myskins:
lingEriE MADE so wEll you CAn’t EvEn sEE it
Lingerie is like the cosmetic foundation beneath a MySkins sells only its own brand of bras and
woman’s blush and eyeliner. If it’s applied well, you underwear, each available in three styles. What sets
don’t even see it. the company apart from other lingerie makers is
MySkins, which recently opened at 29 W. Main that everything comes in 20 different skin tones.
St. and is online at www.myskins.com, makes “Traditionally, women could choose between three
lingerie that serves as an all-but-invisible “founda- basic lingerie colors: Caucasian, African-American and
tion” beneath a woman’s clothing, so people see her Hispanic. If it didn’t closely match the woman’s skin
gown, jeans or T-shirt, not her bra and underwear. tone, the lingerie would show through the clothing.
With MySkins lingerie available in a much wider
range of skin tones, we’re able to minimize that
sort of color transfer,” said Jon Richards who
owns MySkins with his wife Marla.
While developing its product line, MySkins
surveyed nearly 700 women on ASU’s cam-
pus, matching each woman’s skin tone to a
color card. The company actually discovered
37 distinct skin tones but eventually nar-
rowed it down to 20 that cover 95 percent of
the population.
MySkins lingerie is also molded, not sewn,
so it’s literally seamless. That means bra and
panty lines don’t show through clothing.
“With lingerie that’s both seamless and
matched to a woman’s skin tone, others see
their clothing, not their underwear. Ultimately
it’s about women dressing well and feeling
good about themselves throughout the entire
day,” Jon said.
MySkins does most of its business online.
Before making a purchase, customers receive
color cards by mail for determining their own
skin tone. Walk-in customers can also buy
lingerie at 29 W. Main St. and get assistance
with matching their skin tone to lingerie.
For more information, visit www.myskins.
com or stop by the new store. MySkins can
also be reached at (480) 464-0200.
Page 5: Downtown News March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
DiAMonD’s sPorts grillE: A PlACE For All sEAsons
The sports bar/restaurant at 161 N. Centennial and I want to bring them back.”
Way remains a haven for Chicago Cubs fans, but the To ensure locals enjoy Diamond’s Sports Grille
new owner has made improvements aimed at enticing year-round, Jamie is bringing back many classic menu
more local customers to enjoy great food and fun items that were popular even before the Sluggo’s era
year-round. from 1998 to 2008. Items like the Friday Night Fish
Jamie Strain recently purchased Sluggo’s Sports Fry, Spinach Dips, Seafood Entrée, Chicken Alfredo
Grill, changed the name to Diamond’s Sports and Mozzarella Steaks were hits in the late 1980s and
Grille and spruced up the place with new paint, new early 90s when the business was called Harry &
flooring, new plasma TVs and more. One thing he left Steve’s Chicago Grill, after its original owners
intact, however, are the interior murals of Chicago announcer Harry Caray and Major League pitcher
Cubs baseball players. Steve Stone. “We’re returning the food to the quality
“We realize this is a Cubs bar in March, and it will people remember from those days,” Jamie said.
remain that way,” he said. Jamie is also keeping most of the existing staff
During Cactus League Spring Training the bar/ including employees customers know by name like Epi
restaurant will continue to provide its own busses for Luna who has been a server for 30 years. Fermin
shuttling customers to and from HoHoKam Stadium Villagran who was the cook for 24 years left for a The owner of Diamonds Sports Grille brings a fresh
for Cubs games. As always, there will be food and short time but recently returned to work for Jamie. face to the bar/restaurant although customers will rec-
drink specials on Cubs game days, and the outside Sports fans or anyone seeking a great place for ognize most of the staff from the business formerly
seating area will be expanded. lunch or dinner can stop by Diamond’s Sports Grille called Sluggo’s. From left: Epi Luna who has served
While baseball may be on customers’ minds in – any time of year – from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. every day food there for 30 years, bartender Emy Garcia, owner
March, locals can enjoy Diamond’s Sports Grille well of the week, except Sunday evenings when it some- Jamie Strain, and Fermin Villagran who has been the
times closes earlier. For more information call (480) cook for 24 years.
beyond Spring Training. “This is not just a Cubs bar
for Cubs season. I’m here the whole year, 24/7. This 844-3888. Also watch for their new website at
place used to be filled all the time with people from www.DiamondsSportsGrille.com.
Brown & Brown Chevrolet and other local businesses
uniquE ‘loFts At thE DrEw’ now
oFFEring wEEkly, nightly stAys
Chicago Cubs fans, corporate travelers and other visitors to Mesa who want
to experience upscale urban living in the heart of downtown will enjoy staying
at Lofts at the Drew, 39 W. Main St.
In March, about a half-dozen of the building’s nine executive loft suites will
become available for daily and weekly stays. Located above retail stores in a
neocolonial 1920s building, these immaculate studio and one-bedroom lofts
feature full kitchens, 10-foot ceilings and original maple floors. Each loft is indi-
vidually furnished and decorated, and some reflect the building’s historic charac-
ter with exposed red brick.
Other amenities include daily maid service and wireless Internet access, and
all guests appreciate the common laundry facility and business center with com-
puter and fax machine. Great downtown shopping and dining is right outside the
building’s front door, the beautiful Mesa Arts Center is just a half-block away,
and Chicago Cubs spring training is only 1.5 miles north.
For more information on The Lofts at the Drew, call (480) 969-1454 or visit
www.drewlofts.com. Guests who mention this Downtown Focus article will get
half-off the price of their first night’s stay.
The Sonoma
Suite exudes the
feeling of the
California wine
country. Other
suites are equal-
ly beautiful but
furnished differ-
ently to create a
variety of attrac-
tive looks such
as a New York
loft or a home
in the country.
Page 6: Downtown News March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
MurAlt’s JEwElErs oFFEring FAMous sunkEn trEAsurE Downtown MEsA
In 1622, the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de
Atocha sank near Key West, Florida during a hur-
AssoCiAtion CElEBrAtEs
ricane. In 1985, treasure hunter Mel Fisher made
headlines around the world when he discovered 25th AnnivErsAry with
the ship along with 40 tons of gold and silver,
including more than 100,000 silver coins known
as "Pieces of Eight.” In 2009, a handful of those
APril 23 oPEn housE
Downtown Mesa Association (DMA) will cele-
Spanish silver coins found their way into Muralt’s brate 25 years of service by hosting an Open House
Custom Jewelers, 130 W. Main St. in downtown for downtown stakeholders on April 23 from 4 to 7
Mesa. The store also has coins from the Atocha’s p.m. at the DMA office at 58 W. Main St.
sister galleon, the Santa Margarita, which also Business owners, property owners, former DMA
sank near Florida in 1622. These coins are not board members, City of Mesa officials and staff, and
only centuries old, they are truly unique, having other stakeholders within the downtown square mile
been minted specifically for the ships that car- (bounded by Country Club Drive, Mesa Drive, University
ried them and the Spanish monarch at the time. Drive and Broadway Road) are invited to informally
You can see the coins at Muralt’s Custom learn more about DMA, the services it has provided for
Jewelers along with many other treasures creat- a quarter century, and what the private, non-profit
ed by owner Matt Muralt who makes rings, corporation is doing today. Open House attendees will
bracelets, pendants and such out of gold, silver also enjoy mingling with other downtown stakeholders
and platinum. Muralt’s Custom Jewelers is open at this casual yet informative event.
Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 Those wishing to attend DMA’s Open House are
p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The asked to please RSVP by April 16 by calling DMA at
shop can also be reached at (480) 969-4653. (480) 890-2613 or emailing to MaryBeth@
DowntownMesa.com.
We’ll see you there!
lAw oFFiCEs oF MArk A. winsor, PlC BECoMEs
winsor & MArCo, PlC
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The law firm at 1 N. Macdonald St., Suite 507, inside the One
Macdonald Center building announced that the Law Offices of
Mark A. Winsor, PLC has changed its name to Winsor & Marco,
251 N. Morris St. · Mesa, AZ 85201 PLC. Daniel J. Marco recently joined as partner in the capacity of
Located in downtown Mesa since 2000, Sr. Partner of Administration. He brings many years of experience
just off University Dr. & Country Club Dr. in personal injury, criminal defense, product liability and civil
litigation to the firm. The law firm is already known for its bank-
(480) 649-3665 · tessharm@yahoo.com ruptcy law expertise and its large immigration practice. For more
Call to schedule your confidential appointment information call (480) 505-7044 or visit www.WinsorLaw.com.
Page 7: Downtown News March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
PEtE's Fish & ChiPs thAnks CustoMErs For 62 yEArs oF suCCEss
Pete's Fish & Chips, which has a downtown
Mesa location at 22 S. Mesa Dr., is celebrating 62
years of serving "the fastest fish in the Valley" and will
thank its customers by giving many of them prizes.
On Monday, March 23, Pete's Fish & Chips will offer
44 ounce sodas for just 62 cents. Also, throughout the
day random receipts will be marked for free give-aways
such as T-shirts, hats, beanies, sports bottles, sodas, and
coupons for free burgers and fish and chips. Additionally,
customers can fill out an entry form to win a family-of-
four pass to Golfland Sunsplash, a $20 Pete’s gift cer-
tificate and Pete’s T-shirts for the family.
siXty-two yEArs oF history
In the 1940s, the late Pete Grant traveled quite a bit.
While attending the British Open in England he got a
taste of fish and chips, which greatly impressed him.
During WWII, while serving as a PT Boat captain in the
Philippines, he got something less impressive – malaria. THEN NOW
Pete’s doctor recommended he move to a dry cli- An employee stands in front of the Employee Jennifer Court stands in front of the Pete’s Fish & Chips that
first Pete’s Fish & Chips location, opened in 1953 in downtown Mesa and is still serving great food at
mate, like Egypt or Arizona. “Hell, I can’t speak which opened in 1947 in a portable great prices.
Egyptian, so I looked up Arizona on the map,” Pete wooden building in Phoenix.
told the Mesa Tribune decades ago.
Pete arrived in Phoenix on Christmas Day, 1946 "When he made a $12 profit for one day, he knew he $2.30. No, that price is not from 1947, it’s the price
with a pregnant wife and $900 to his name. He had was on to something," said Pete’s daughter, Kathy Adams. today. A five-piece fish and chips costs only $7.80.
lined up a job as a high school shop teacher, but his The business was so successful, in fact, that Pete Of course, the restaurant’s tasty Icelandic cod fillets
taste for teaching was outweighed by his memory of opened eight additional locations, including the open- come with Pete’s special sauce. The recipe for the
English fish and chips. So he changed his plans and ing in 1953 of the restaurant in downtown Mesa. His spicy red concoction is a closely guarded secret. All we
used all of his cash to buy used restaurant equipment formula for success revolved around three simple con- know is that it’s made fresh daily, and it’s so good
and a bit of food including some frozen cod fillets. In cepts – price, quality and service. customers buy it in separate containers to take home.
March 1947, Pete’s Fish & Chips opened in a small Prices at Pete’s Fish & Chips are indeed remark- “People even call us from California and want us to
portable wood building on Van Buren Street. able. A one-piece order of fish and chips costs only Fed-Ex them some sauce,” Kathy said.
Want ketchup? Pete’s doesn’t serve it. Too bland.
Everything on the menu tastes better with the special
NETWORK
sauce including the shrimp, scallops, oysters, crabettes,
chicken tenders, burritos, corn dogs and hot dogs.
Customers also love the sauce on burgers, including
the third-pound Monsterburger named after Pete's
daughters, whom he called his "little monsters."
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE CENTER In 1987, Pete Grant was tragically killed in his
apartment by a robber. His restaurant’s formula for
success, however, has been kept alive by Pete’s
daughters Kathy Adams, Pat Foster, Ginnie Grant and
For All Mesa Residents Barbara Sanders who continue to provide high quality,
low prices and great service.
20% OFF WITH THIS AD
Stop by this long-established family-owned restau-
rant and discover why so many people are, as they
say, "addicted to Pete's Fish and Chips". While you're
there, say "Happy 62nd" to the friendly people who
serve you. If you're lucky, you may even win a prize!
For more information on Pete's Fish & Chips, call (480)
Catering to Downtown Mesa 964-7242 or visit www.Petesfishandchips.com.
Full Automotive Repair
Full Maintenance • Free Brake Check
Free Alignment • Check Fleet Accounts
104 E. Main St. • (480) 649-0839 · High-Speed Internet
Monday thru Saturday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
www.NetworkAutomotive.com
Page 8: Downtown News March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
Downtown CoMMErCiAl ProPErtiEs toDAy’s lEsson: whErE to FinD
oFFEr EXCiting oPPortunitiEs AFForDABlE, FrEsh-BrEwED
Even with today’s economy, downtown the information in the Downtown Mesa
Mesa can be a profitable place to work,
invest and do business. One reason for this
Commercial Property Availability Report.
This free report is posted at www. CoFFEE in thE Morning
is downtown has such a diversity of com- DowntownMesa.com and is also available
mercial properties for sale and lease in a directly from DMA at:
wide range of prices. Whether you’re seek-
ing a small affordable space, a large high- Downtown Mesa Association
end space or anything in between, down- 58 West Main Street
town’s the place to find it. Mesa, AZ 85201
There are more than 70 commercial (480) 890-2613
properties for sale and/or lease through-
out downtown Mesa, which comprise a Additionally, if you communicate your
small part of the total 1,475 commercial future space needs to DMA now, we may
parcels within the square-mile district. be able to match you with a vacancy cre-
These include office spaces and buildings, ated by a future relocation. DMA regularly
retail and commercial spaces and build- helps prospective owners and tenants as
ings, and industrial properties that range far out as one year. Feel free to contact
from a few hundred square feet to more Tom Verploegen, DMA President, at (480)
than 40,000 square feet. 890-2613 or Tomvdtmesa@aol.com.
Whatever your budget or business plan, Below are just a few samples of com-
one of these spaces may be just right for mercial properties for sale or lease. Many
you. DMA tracks them all and publishes others are available.
At Mesa Public Schools, ABC stands for Always Brewing Coffee.
Well not always, but Mesa Public Schools (MPS) does brew
coffee every day that school is in session. They serve it to the public
from 6:30 to 9 a.m. at their coffee bar in the lobby of the Mesa Bank
Building, 63 E. Main St.
A fresh-brewed 12-ounce cup of regular, decaf, hazelnut or French
vanilla coffee costs only $1.25. The bar is self-serve so you can add
just the right amount of milk, half-and-half, sugar, cinnamon, flavored
syrup, chocolate, caramel or pumpkin pie spice. You can also grab
whichever muffin, bagel, crescent or breakfast bar looks tastiest.
Sales benefit MPS’ Food and Nutrition Department.
The coffee bar, which opened in September, is an extension of
MPS’ cafeteria on the 8th floor of the Mesa Bank Building, which is
also open to the public. A number of MPS offices, including the office
of the superintendent, are also in the building.
Public parking spaces on Main and Sirrine Streets allow customers
to pull right up to the Mesa Bank Building so they can quickly and
easily buy their morning cup of coffee.
For more information on Mesa Public Schools visit www.mpsaz.org.
Four office suites are available at 12 N. Center St. They range from
about 100 to 130 square feet, with lease rates from $299 to $390 per
60 Anniversary
month. Amenities include 24/7 building access, receptionist/office man-
ager, conference room usage, T1 High Speed Internet Line, Nortel Phone
Line, and janitorial service.
th
This 60% Off All Diamonds, Pearls
2,752-square-
foot commercial
property at 52
Gemstones and 14k Gold
S. Mesa Dr. is
for lease. The
free-standing
building has a
drive-thru area,
large storefront Tues. - Fri.
windows, light-
9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 54 W. Main St., Downtown Mesa
ed sign and
Saturday
12-foot ceilings.
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (480) 964-5822
Page 9: Downtown Events March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
MACFEst Artist sPotlight
thE CuBs By Denise Currier
Every Saturday MACFest, Mesa Arts and Culture
ArE BACk in town! Festival, is a community-owned “Made by Me” quality arts
and crafts festival featuring artist exhibition spaces on
Main and Center Streets in downtown Mesa. This shop-
ping opportunity is free to the public, and at each week’s
event a MACFest Blue Ribbon Winner is presented.
“Exhibitors create and sell wonderful handmade art
and each has a story to tell. I am enticed to ask the
winners a few questions. This is an example interview
from one of these fine artists,” said MACFest Volunteer
Committee Member, Denise A. Currier.
For this issue of the Downtown Focus paper,
Denise profiled Sienna Morris. The artist and her
husband moved to Phoenix after two-and-a-half years
in Southern China. Sienna uses pen and pencil in her
"Perpetual Motion" series and is also a painter and a
designer.
When did you start your art work or creative
process?
I started this series about five months ago during a Artist Sienna Morris. Photo by Denise Currier
Chicago Cubs fans can enjoy 19 Cactus League very difficult time. I've been painting and drawing
home spring training games at HoHoKam Park, for as long as I remember. My families are all artists Sienna’s statement about her artwork:
located just a baseball’s throw from downtown in one form or another, so I was supported from We're constantly moving in one of four directions.
Mesa at 1235 N. Center St. The 2009 game early on to pursue. Even if we choose to do nothing at all, we are still
schedule is as follows. All games begin at 1:05 moving through time. Every frame, there is a new
p.m. unless indicated otherwise. Do you have an actual art studio within your "you", fully formed in the present , built on our past
home and/or location in which you create? and hoping for the future, but only existing now.
· Wed., Feb. 25: vs. Los Angeles Dodgers I don't! I had a great home studio when I was living
· Thurs., Feb. 26: vs. Milwaukee Brewers in China, and everything was either tile or stone in Following are other recent “MACFest Blue Ribbon
· Sat. Feb. 28: vs. Chicago White Sox the house, so I could splash paint around without 2008- 2009 season weekly winners. Come see their
· Mon., March 2: vs. Arizona having to worry about it. Now that I'm back in the creative arts and crafts at MACFest!” Juston Daniels,
Diamondbacks world of carpet and wood, I have to be careful Glass; Ken Poppe, Wood Creations; JoAnne and
· Tues., March 3: vs. Oakland A’s again. Fortunately, I'm mostly working in pencil Barry Reifman, Jewelry By Jo; Viola Burke, Who
· Fri., March 6: vs. Los Angeles Dodgers and pen now. are you Creations; George Wimsatt, Leather by
· Sun., March 8: vs. Texas Rangers George; Tom Janca, Photographer and Potter;
· Mon., March 9: vs. Kansas City Royals What is it that makes you aspire to create your Kevin Horace Quannie, Sand Painter and Mono
· Thurs., March 12: World Baseball Classic art work? Printer; Brian Billings, Abstract Art; Dick Rambo,
· Fri., March 13: vs. Seattle Mariners The focus of this series, Perpetual Motion, is time Ceramics.
· Sat. March 14: vs. L.A. Angels of and the idea of living in the moment, being that
Anaheim there's really nothing else. That's not easy for me. MACFest is being held every Saturday from 10
· Weds., March 18: vs. San Francisco I'm constantly in the future, planning or worrying a.m. to 4 p.m. through May. For more information
Giants about it, or in the past, regretting or daydreaming visit MACFestMesa.com.
· Fri., March 20: vs. San Diego Padres about it. Maybe I'm trying
· Sun., March 22: vs. Seattle Mariners to impart wisdom, but I'm
· Tues., March 24: vs. Colorado Rockies trying to get it through my
· Fri., March 27: vs. Chicago White Sox head too.
· Sun., March 29: vs. Cleveland Indians
· Tues., March 31: vs. L.A. Angels of What is your greatest
Anaheim art accomplishment?
· Thurs., April 2: vs. Cleveland Indians This series, hands down.
Hotel packages are available with premium It's the first important
seats at Cubs games. Participating hotels include, thing I've done as an art-
among others, the Best Western Mezona Inn, ist. This is the first time I
250 W. Main St. For details call (480) 834-9233 feel that my work is speak-
or visit www.MezonaInn.com. ing for others and not just
myself and my personal Come see our working studio and display area in one
For a free Cubs hotel package brochure, stop by
the Mesa Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, 120 N. battles. of the original blacksmith shops in Downtown Mesa.
Center St., or call (480) 827-4700 or 1(800)
283-MESA, or visit www.VisitMesa.com. 48 S. Robson, Suite 102 Hours by Appointment
Tickets can be ordered at (800) 905-3315, Mesa, Arizona 602-617-0997
www.tickets.com, www.ticketmaster.com or
at the Hohokam Stadium box office. www.twistedsistersdesigns.net
Page 10: Downtown Events March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
ZiMBABwEAn stonE sCulPturEs, rECyClED Art
Downtown MErChAnts PrEsEnt
sEConD FriDAy CStone sculptures and recycledriZonA MusEuM For youth
ontinuE At A
art are
among the many things to enjoy in March
and April at the Arizona Museum for
Youth, 35 N. Robson St.
stonE sCulPturEs
Through March 29, museum visitors
can enjoy the internationally renowned
stone sculptures of one of Zimbabwe’s
national treasures, Dominic Benhura.
From depictions of a charging elephant
and menacing king cobra to adoring fami-
lies and children at play, these sculptures
enthrall visitors with glimpses of Benhura’s
homeland while eloquently bridging cul-
tural and geographical divides.
Along with the sculptures, hands-on art A stone elephant by Dominic Benhura
activities help the local community connect
with the fantastic people, animals and artis-
tic world of Benhura, the love of his family and the useless junk into artistic expressions of hope for a
natural resources of Zimbabwe. sustainable future.
Full CirClE: rECyClED into Art The Arizona Museum for Youth is open Tuesday
Full Circle: Recycled into Art has been extended through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday
Second Friday attendees got into the swing of things through May. This exhibition features activities and from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is $5.50 for everyone
on Feb. 13 when the theme was "Sock Hop On Main." workshops that allow children to transform seemingly over the age of one and free for members and those
Special activities included free swing dance lessons in under one. For more information, visit www.arizona-
front of OneOhOne Gallery, 101 W. Main St. museumforyouth.com or call (480) 644-2467.
Unique shopping, great dining, live entertainment,
fun activities and classic car cruises continue during
Grandma’s Kitchen
Second Friday, the merchant-coordinated event held
the second Friday of every month from 6 to 10 p.m.
on and around West Main Street in downtown Mesa.
Every Second Friday has a different theme. Here’s
what you can look forward to in the coming months:
March 13: Spring Training on Main
Baseball theme during Chicago
Cubs Spring Training!
Breakfast & Lunch
Homemade Quiche, Cobblers & Soups
April 10: Spring Fling on Main
Seasonal fun!
Many downtown businesses stay open late for
Second Friday to offer great shopping and dining,
Yogurt & Soft-Serve Ice Cream
and a number of them host activities including live
music and classic car cruises. Mesa Arts Center Party Trays Available
and the Arizona Museum of Natural History are for All Occasions!
also regular participants with their own special
activities. Additionally, vendors selling arts and
crafts line the sidewalks of West Main Street. Breakfast Served All Day!
For the most updated information on Second
Friday, check www.DowntownMesa.com. Artists Kid Friendly!
and others wishing to have their own 10 x 10 foot
vendor space can also download an application
from www.DowntownMesa.com.
19 N. Robson St.
As mentioned, Second Friday is coordinated by Downtown Mesa, just north of Main Street
downtown merchants. For more information con-
tact Suzanne Woodford, owner, OneOhOne (480) 969-7219
Gallery, 101 W. Main St., (602) 690-6071, the- MONDAY THRU SATURDAY
zanw@aol.com. or contact Anita Stapleton, owner,
Jersey Girl Café, 218 W. Main St., (480) 924-7887,
7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
jerseygirlcafe@gmail.com.
Page 11: Downtown Events March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
EXPlorE MArs At AZ MusEuM oF nAturAl history tAkE A grEAt wAlk Downtown
Experience the red planet in the Mars! exhibition at Rover and quarter-scale model of a Mars Lander. A Any tiME oF yEAr to sEE
the Arizona Museum of Natural History, 53 N. dune machine demonstrates how dunes are created
Macdonald St. While you’re there, you can also on Mars, a dust devil generator shows the form and MEsA’s PErMAnEnt
catch the ongoing exhibition PSI: Poop Scene characteristics of Martian dust devils, and a special
Investigation. scale lets people see what they would weigh on the sCulPturE CollECtion
smaller-than-Earth planet. Visitors can also ponder the
MArs! possibility of life on Mars, learn about Martian myths,
Recent explorations of Mars by satellite, landers and explore a Martian volcano as big as Arizona, and
rovers have greatly increased knowledge of the planet. much more.
The Mars! exhibition is based on spectacular new dis- The Mars! exhibition continues through summer.
coveries and the technology that made them possible.
Museum visitors can see a full-size model of a Mars Psi: PooP sCEnE invEstigAtion
The exhibition PSI: Poop Scene Investigation
offers several unusual but fascinating displays.
The poopetrators in this exhibition are modern and
extinct animals. Every museum visitor can become a
PSI (Poop Scene Investigator) to see “who dung it.”
Investigators use a research lab with different speci-
mens to determine who did the “odoriferous deed.” A
number of additional displays are as interesting as they
are informative. Scrap Book Boy by Tom Bollinger of Tempe
PSI: Poop Scene Investigation continues through May.
With 36 diverse pieces, Mesa’s Permanent
Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 Sculpture Collection provides an oppor-
a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and tunity to take a great “art walk” down-
Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. The museum is closed Mondays town any time of year. The collection has
and holidays. Admission is: $9 for adults, $5 for chil- grown to include historical figures, charm-
dren 3-12, $8 for seniors 65 and older, $7 for stu- ing children, whimsical characters, ele-
dents 13 and older with ID, and free for children 2 gant wildlife and intriguing abstractions.
and younger. For general museum information, call Most of the sculptures are displayed out-
(480) 644-2230 or visit www.azmnh.org. doors on and around Main Street between
Mesa Drive and Country Club Drive. The
public can take free self-guided walking
tours any day or night at any time. For
more information visit www.
DowntownMesa.com or call Downtown
Mesa Association at (480) 890-2613.
(also see page 18).
sPring hAs sPrung At thE
MEsA CoMMunity
FArMEr’s MArkEt
Spring is in the air, and there’s no better time to
buy fresh produce. And there’s no better place to find
Mars rover it than the Mesa Community Farmer's Market, which
continues every Friday from 9 a.m. to 1
p.m. This outdoor event is held in front of
Security Guards & Patrol Service the Mesa Convention Center, on Center
"Serving Arizona for over 73 years" Street just south of University Drive.
The Farmer's Market features fresh
· Residential · Office produce from local growers, plus a variety
of handmade arts and crafts such as jew-
· Industrial Buildings elry, wooden toys and wall hangings.
· Construction · Special For more information visit www.
Sites Events ArizonaFarmersMarkets.com or call
· Schools Patricia McNaught Foster at (480)
· Bonded & 603-6306.
· Hospitals Insured
(480) 964-8009
30-A S. Macdonald
· Shopping · DPS
Mesa, Az 85210 Centers Licensed
Fax: (480) 964-4960 · Banks Job Opportunity
Page 12: Downtown Events March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
PErForMAnCEs At MEsA Arts CEntEr MEsA Arts CEntEr
From improv troupes and Afro-Cuban groups to Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Irish tunes and guys with bassoons (like in symphonies),
a wide range of performances are coming to the four
Theater League
March 17-18, multiple show times sErving FrEE ‘out to
state-of-the-art theaters at Mesa Arts Center, 1 E.
Main St. Following are just some highlights for
March and April. For more details, including ticket
March Off The Cuff
Stageworks
lunCh’ ConCErts
information and the latest additions to the performance Friday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E.
schedule, visit www.MesaArtsCenter.com or call Main St., is offering free Out to
the box office at (480) 644-6500. Classical Music's Greatest Hits Continued Lunch outdoor concerts on
Symphony of the Southwest Thursdays from 12:30 to 1:30
Arabian Nights Saturday, March 21 at 8 p.m. p.m. in the Wells Fargo Garden
The Phoenix Symphony on the Shadow Walk.
Sunday, March 1 at 2 p.m. Footloose: The Musical Chairs and lawn seating are
Mesa Encore Theatre available; however, guests are
Juan de Marcos and the Afro-Cuban All-Stars March 27 to April 5, multiple show times encouraged to bring stadium cushions and blan-
Tuesday, March 3 at 8 p.m. kets. Brown bags and picnic baskets are welcome
Angelique Kidjo and nearby restaurants offer take-out service. All
Tartuffe Friday, March 27 at 8 p.m. Out to Lunch concerts are FREE and open to the
Southwest Shakespeare Company public.
March 5-21, multiple show times The Merchant of Venice This series began in February. The remaining
Southwest Shakespeare Company schedule for March is as follows:
Sir James Galway and Christopher O'Riley April 2-18, multiple show times
Friday, March 6 at 8 p.m. · March 5: Desert City Six plays Dixieland
The Emperor's New Clothes and more
Spring Performance and Art Show Stageworks · March 12: Liam Mackey and Tim Sadow
Arizona Chinese Arts Academy April 17 to May 3, multiple show times play traditional and original Irish tunes
Saturday, March 7 at 6:30 p.m. · March 19: Back Porch Bandits play
Three Mo' Tenors bluegrass
Dangerous Encounters Saturday, April 18 at 8 p.m.
National Geographic Live For more information call (480) 644-6500 or
Wednesday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m. Metropolitan Youth Symphony Concert III visit www.MesaArtsCenter.com.
Tuesday, April 21 at 7 p.m.
The 5 Browns
Friday, March 13 at 8 p.m.
The Irish Rovers
Saturday, March 14 at 8 p.m.
inDEPEnDEnt FilM ‘EvEry
DAy DAnCErs’ to show At
onEohonE gAllEry
OneOhOne Gallery, 101 W. Main St., will host a view-
ing of the independent film “Divertissement: Every Day Dancers
Stories” by Ed Lippman on March 21 at 8 p.m.
This documentary follows five amateur ballet dancers ranging Gift
in age from 40 to 61 as they prepare for then take part in a
grueling, adults-only ballet intensive in 2005. Similar to what Cards
aspiring dancers would experience as part of a pre-professional Available
ballet program, these adults who began ballet at an age when
most professional dancers are retiring overcome significant
obstacles to pursue their dreams. How they confront emotional,
social and physical obstacles and how their lives change
becomes a statement that anyone in mid-life or confronting a
life change can understand.
Mr. Lippman will attend the screening and answer questions
afterward.
Admission to “Divertissement: Every Day Dancers Stories”
will be $7, with $1 off for those with student I.D. For more
information visit www.EveryDayDancers.com or contact
Suzanne Woodford at (602) 318-5689 or Steve Weiss at steve@
nofestivalrequired.com.
Page 13: Downtown Events March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
EXhiBitions At MEsA ContEMPorAry Arts 3 For FrEE!
Visitors can enjoy a number of intriguing exhibi- iMPrints: A survEy oF CErAMiCs
tions in March and April at Mesa Contemporary Arts,
FACulty AnD guEst Artists Downtown Arts AnD CulturAl
the five-gallery complex at Mesa Arts Center, 1 E.
Main St. Imprints showcases art by current and former fac- FACilitiEs ArE FrEE thE First sunDAy
ulty, resident artists and guest artists who contributed oF EvEry Month
30th AnnuAl ContEMPorAry CrAFts to the exceptional ceramics tradition at Mesa Arts
Center over the last 20 years. Downtown Mesa’s three major arts and cultural
See the finest in contemporary crafts from 39 art-
Imprints continues through April 19. facilities are FREE to the general public on the first
ists around the country who work in ceramics, fibers,
Sunday of each month from noon to 5 p.m.
basketry, metals, wood, glass, jewelry, papermaking
and book arts. AnDrogyny: through September. This “3 for Free” program
includes admission and special engagements at:
Contemporary Crafts continues through March 15. nEw work By sErgEi isuPov
Born and raised in Russia, Isupov’s eastern • Mesa Contemporary Arts
BEnEAth thE skin: European upbringing provides him with a unique pro- at Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St.
Artwork insPirED By tAttoos spective of the world that translates in his ceramics, (see article at left)
Beneath the Skin: Artwork Inspired by Tattoos drawings and prints, including 20 large-scale heads
features national contemporary visual artists whose with hidden, dream-like vignettes at their bottoms. • Arizona Museum of Natural History
works are inspired by the art and culture of tattoos – Androgyny runs from April 10 to Aug. 2. 53 N. Macdonald St.
from revealing portraits of tattoo artists to tattoo (see article on page 11)
embroidered-dolls. Mesa Contemporary Arts hours
Beneath the Skin has been extended until March are: Tuesday and Wednesday from • Arizona Museum for Youth
22. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday 35 N. Robson St.
through Saturday from 10 a.m. to (see article on page 10)
8 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to
systEMiC AutonoMy: JEssE ArMstrong 5 p.m. Admission is $3.50, and The “3 for Free” program is made possible by
In his mixed media ceramic sculptures, Jesse children 7 and under are free. generous funding from Target.
Armstrong contrasts elements found in both natural Admission is free on Thursdays.
and urban environments in order to exploit their For more information, call (480)
diverse but increasingly interrelated content.
Systemic Autonomy continues through April 12.
644-6500 or visit www.
MesaArtsCenter.com. MEsA ConvEntion
Tattoo art by Don Ed Hardy▲ CEntEr CAlEnDAr
oF EvEnts
A diverse range of events are coming to the Mesa
Convention Center, 263 N. Center St. The facil-
ity includes Mesa Centennial Conference Center,
Centennial Hall, Mesa Amphitheatre and other areas.
w Following are just some highlights of major events
for the general public in the coming months. There
w are many more events for specific groups, and the
w
. calendar is continually being updated. For the most
updated and comprehensive information, visit www.
D MesaConventionCenter.com , www.
O MesaAmphitheatre.com or any websites listed with
W the following events.
N
March 7-8: Rubber Stamp Show
T Information: www.MesaConventionCenter.com
O
W March 12-14: Arizona Quilters Guild 2009 Show
N Information: www.AzQuiltersGuild.org
M
E April 3: Fall Out Boys
S Information: www.MesaAmphitheatre.com
A
. April 17-18: Arizona Scrapbook Association
Information: www.MesaConventionCenter.com
c
o April 26-28: Arizona Apparel Show
m Information: www.MesaConventionCenter.com
May 1-3: 9th Annual AZ Tattoo Expo
Information: www.AzTattooExpo.com
Page 14: Calendar of Events
March 2009 March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
Mesa's Permanent
6 7
3 4
Out to Lunch 5
Free Concert
Sculpture Collection The Desert City Six
plays Dixieland
March 5
Downtown • Year rounD • 30 Plus sculPtures
12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
(see pages 16 and 18)
Wells Fargo Garden
at Mesa Arts Center
(see page 12)
MAC MACFest
Mesa Arts &
8 9 10 11 12 13 Culture Fesival
Out to Lunch Every Saturday from
Chicago Cubs Full Circle: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Free Concert
Spring Training Recycled Into Art Liam Mackey & Tim March 13 West Main Street
(see pages 9 and 18)
Sadow play Irish tunes
19 Cactus
League games
Kids can transform
junk into artistic March 12
Second Friday
Throughout March expressions of hope 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. This month’s theme:
(last game April 2) Thru May Wells Fargo Garden “Spring Training
at HoHoKam Park (see page 10) at Mesa Arts Center on Main”
(see page 9 for (see page 12) (see page 10)
AMY
complete schedule) MAC
16 17 18 20 Every Day 21
15 Out to Lunch19
Mesa Arts Center Theaters Free Concert Dancers
March 1: Arabian Nights Independent
Back Porch Bandits
March 3: Juan de Marcos and the documentary film
play bluegrass about five amateur
Afro-Cuban All-Stars March 19 ballet dancers,
March 5-21: Tartuffe 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. all 40-plus in age
March 6: Sir James Galway and Wells Fargo Garden March 21 at 8 p.m.
Christopher O'Riley at Mesa Arts Center OneOhOne Gallery,
March 7: Arizona Chinese Arts (see page 12) 101 W. Main St.
Academy MAC (see page 12)
March 11: Dangerous Encounters
22 March 13: The 523 Browns 24 25 Mesa Contemporary Arts 28
March 14: The Irish Rovers Thru March 15
Mars! March 17-18: Joseph and The Amazing 30th Annual Contemporary Crafts
Exhibition based Technicolor Dreamcoat Thru March 22
on spectaular March 20: Off The Cuff Beneath the Skin: Artwork Inspired by Tattoos
new discoveries March 21: Classical Music's Greatest
about the Hits Continued Thru April 12
red planet March 27: Footloose - The Musical Systemic Automomy: Jesse Armstrong
Thru Summer March 27: Angelique Kidjo Thru April 19
(see page 11) (see page 12) Imprints: A Survey of Ceramics Faculty and Guest Artists
AMNH MAC (see page 13) MCA
29 30 31 31
Zimbabwean Mesa
Stone Community
Sculptures Farmers Market
Enjoy the Fresh produce from local
PSI: Poop Scene Investigation internationally growers, plus arts and crafts
Unusual but fascinating displays of the renowned artwork Every Friday from 9 a.m. to noon
science behind animal “number two” of Dominic Benhura on North Center Street, just south
Thru May Thru March 29 of University Drive, in front of the
(see page 11) (see page 10) Mesa Convention Center
AMNH AMY (see page 11)
AMNH Arizona Museum of Natural History 53 North Macdonald Street (480) 644-2230
AMP Mesa Amphitheatre University Drive & Center Street Box Office (480) 644-2560
AMY Arizona Museum for Youth 35 North Robson Street (480) 644-2467
LIB Mesa Public Library 64 East First Street (480) 644-2207
Page 15: Calendar of Events
April 2009 March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
2 3 4
Mesa's Permanent Full Circle:
Sculpture Collection Recycled Into Art
Kids can transform
junk into artistic
Downtown • Year rounD • 30 Plus sculPtures
(see pages 16 and 18) expressions of hope
Thru May
(see page 10)
AMY MACFest
6 Mesa Arts &
5 7 9 10 Culture Fesival
Every Saturday from
Mars! 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Exhibition based April 10 West Main Street
(see pages 9 and 18)
on spectaular
new discoveries
Second Friday
This month’s theme:
about the
“Spring Fling
red planet
on Main”
Thru Summer
(see page 10)
(see page 11)
AMNH
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Mesa Arts Center Theaters
April 2-18: The Merchant of Venice
April 17: The Emperor's New Clothes
April 18: Three Mo' Tenors
April 21: Metropolitan Youth Symphony Concert III
(see page 12)
MAC
19 20 21 22
Mesa Contemporary Arts
Thru April 12
Systemic Automomy:
Jesse Armstrong
Thru April 19
Imprints: A Survey of Ceramics
Faculty and Guest Artists
April 10 to Aug. 2
26
Androgyny: 27 28 29 30
Mesa
New Work by Sergei Isupov
Community
(see page 13)
Farmers Market
MCA Fresh produce from local
PSI: Poop Scene Investigation growers, plus arts and crafts
Unusual but fascinating displays of the Every Friday from 9 a.m. to noon
science behind animal “number two” on North Center Street, just south
Thru May of University Drive, in front of the
(see page 11) Mesa Convention Center
AMNH (see page 11)
MAC Mesa Arts Center 1 East Main Street (480) 644-6500
MCA Mesa Contemporary Arts 1 East Main Street (480) 644-6500
MCV Mesa Convention Center 263 North Center Street (480) 644-2178
MMC Mesa Multigenerational Center 247 North Macdonald Street (480) 962-5612
Page 16: Everything Art March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
EvErything Art ADorn stylE loungE
160 w. MAin st.
(480) 491-7773
in Downtown MEsA www.ADornstylEloungE.CoM
Among its many other offerings, Adorn Style
Lounge has original artwork.
Continued From Page 1
This includes acrylics and gouaches by Mesa Art
League member Sharon Sieben. “To learn a secret
Like many downtowns across America, downtown that is hidden in plain sight, to discover something
Mesa has struggled in recent years to develop a dis- new that has always been there; these revelations are
tinct identity. Ask 10 people what downtown is or what I try to capture in my sketches and paintings,”
should be and you’ll probably get 10 different answers. Sieben said.
However, one thing is for sure – downtown is making Adorn Style Lounge also offers full salon services,
great progress in its quest to find itself. hair care products, lotions, soaps, jewelry, clothing
“Mesa has started a very exciting journey of re- and more.
branding itself. It is not based on some slick marketing
plan, or on snobbish ambitions, or on keeping up with
the Jones'. It is based on a grassroots aspiration for
AntiquE PlAZA
something better. The ultimate vision is directly linked 114 AnD 120 w. MAin st.
to the honest ambition this community is willing to (480) 833-4844
pursue. I am seeing encouraging and exciting signs of Other than the fact that it’s all antique or collectible,
a community that wants to dream again, and a com- the artwork at the Antique Plaza defies categorization.
munity that does not want to focus on the "impossi- You’ll find everything from 19th century original oil
ble,” but on the possible. Downtown Mesa will be a paintings, to mid-century Native American watercol-
mirror of these dreams,” said Johann Zietsman. ors, to prints by Patrick Nagel who created art deco
It is fitting that this quote comes from the Director illustrations of women before he died of a heart attack
of the City of Mesa Arts & Culture Department, for in 1984 right after attending a fundraiser for the
whatever dream downtown achieves, the arts will cer- American Heart Association.
tainly be a key part of it. Just as shops, restaurants and All-in-all, Antique Plaza probably has hundreds of
offices are critical to a vibrant downtown, so are galler- artworks. It’s an eclectic, often curious collection
ies, performing groups and arts educators needed to that’s fun to look at as you stroll the enormous store
create a unique, diverse and flourishing city center. admiring the abundance of jewelry, furniture, glass,
Fortunately, downtown’s arts scene is already off to appliances, toys and other antiques and collectibles.
a great start. In fact, a couple of brand new private
galleries have opened downtown in the past six AriZonA Arts CollECtivE
months or so. “We are very excited to be in downtown
Mesa, especially right across from Mesa Arts Center,” EAst vAllEy gAllEry
said Margaret “Midge” White who recently opened 12 w. MAin st.
the Arizona Arts Collective East Valley Gallery, 12 W. (480) 844-7520
Main St. “We believe there is a great potential to revi- The Arizona Arts Collective East Valley Gallery
talize downtown Mesa through the arts. We are seeing features an intriguing collection of paintings, draw-
more people in our gallery, especially on Saturdays ings, jewelry, mixed media and poetry by a half-dozen
during MACFest.” artists with exceptional talent.
Ron Floyd, co-founder and president of the East All of the artists have Downs syndrome, cerebral
Valley Art Guild, echoed the same sentiments in palsy, multiple sclerosis or other cognitive or physical The Arizona Museum for Youth is showing the interna-
October when his organization opened The Guild disabilities. By showing and selling their work, the gal- tionally renowned stone sculptures of Dominic Benhura
Gallery at 101, located at 101 W. Main St. “We feel lery helps them market and sell their art, put them on of Zimbabwe (see next page).
downtown is at a tipping point, on the verge of a path toward self-sufficien-
becoming a great arts district. We also feel the City of cy, and boost their self-con-
Mesa and the local businesses are buying into the fidence. Complete line of polishes,
program. The merchants coordinate Second Friday, The Arizona Arts laCes and aCCessories
and the whole community is involved with MACFest. Collective East Valley Gallery
You can see a creative culture emerging.” rotates shows periodically
C.J. Rider, president of Mesa Art League, is also and is seeking more artists.
optimistic. "It's so good to see arts activity emerging in The gallery takes a 20 per-
downtown Mesa! Dreams are coming true, as can be cent commission on sales –
witnessed by simply walking down Main Street and about half of what most
seeing all of the new art spaces." other galleries retain.
Again, downtown’s arts scene is already off to a great 28 SOUTH MACDONALD
start. If you’d like to experience what’s happening now, Continued on Next Page
MESA, ARIZONA 85210
here’s your guide to everything art in downtown Mesa. DOWNTOWN MESA
visuAl Artsinformation listed for each
Please use the contact
PHONE: (480) 969-0275
HOURS: 9 - 5:30 Tues. Fri. owner
business and facility for days and hours of operation 9 - 1 Sat. fabian de la rosa
as well as any applicable prices or admission fees.
Page 17: Everything Art March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
Continued From Previous Page Zimbabwe (see the photo on the opposite page, and Art On Main’s website at www.logsart.com offers
the article on page 10) over 30,000 pieces of reproduction artwork, most of
Also see "Art Supplies, Services & Classes" which are available in eight different formats, to both
AriZonA MusEuM For youth
retail clients and qualified resellers.
35 n. roBson st. Also see "Art Supplies, Services and Classes”
(480) 644-2467 AriZonA MusEuM oF nAturAl history
www.AriZonAMusEuMForyouth.CoM 53 n. MACDonAlD st.
The Arizona Museum for Youth features art exhibi- (480) 644-2230 CrEAtivE hEAling works
tions and hands-on activities that introduce basic art www.AZMnh.org 258 w. sEConD st.,
elements to children between birth and 12 years old The Arizona Highways Magazine Gallery at the (602) 791-6136
and their families. Arizona Museum of Natural History showcases dozens www.CrEAtivEhEAlingworks.CoM
In Artville, the museum’s miniature city made of of large, colorful images by some of the state’s leading This gallery and self-healing studio combines artwork
art, children under 5 have fun while gaining aware- landscape photographers. It’s a great place to behold with a variety of healing modalities to create a place of
ness of color, line, shape and texture (see photo on the beauty of Arizona, from the Grand Canyon and discovery, growth, transformation and balance.
back cover). The museum also has a great gift shop Monument Valley to the Chiricahua Mts. and San As an artist, owner Joan Marie McWhirter works in
and offers many classes and workshops. Francisco Peaks. oil, pastel and acrylics, although her favorite works are
Current exhibitions include the internationally Of course, the Arizona Museum of collages that combine sculpture, objects and text.
renowned stone sculptures of Dominic Benhura of Natural History is even better known as Creative Healing Works also has a beautiful selec-
the state’s premier museum of cultural and tion of crystals, pendulums, spheres and wands.
natural history. Visitors can enjoy dino- As a facilitator of self-healing, Joan Marie assists
saur exhibits, a Native People’s Gallery, her clients with Hypnotherapy, Reiki, Energetic DNA
Spanish Mission, real territorial jail, History Healing and EFT.
Courtyard where visitors pan for gold, the
Walk Through Time covering everything FAith hArvEst ChristiAn BookstorE
from the origins of the universe to the first
105 w. MAin st.
animals to fly, and more. Also see page
11 for information on the museum’s cur- (480) 962-0682
rent Mars! exhibition. www.FAithhArvEstChurCh.nEt
Mark Hillis is not only Pastor of Faith Harvest
Christian Church, he is a graduate of the Ringling
Art on MAin School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Fla. and a for-
48 w. MAin st. mer art teacher. Today, you can see many of his pas-
(480) 649-7400 tels and oil paintings at Faith Harvest Christian
www.logsArt.CoM Bookstore. And people don’t just admire his still lifes,
The storefront gallery at Art On Main landscapes and such, they buy them. “I sold 10 paint-
RV SERVICE
features quality reproduction art. You’ll ings before Christmas,” Mark said, adding that his
find everything from classic movie post- current display of about a half-dozen artworks will
ers to artwork by the world’s foremost continue to grow.
painters and photographers.
"We Service All Makes & Models" Continued on Next Page
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CALL (480) 461-0023 FOR DETAILS The four state-of-the-art theaters at Mesa Arts Center host a wide range of performances. Juan de
Marcos and the Afro-Cuban All-Stars will play in the Ikeda Theater on March 3.
Page 18: Everything Art March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
EvErything Art phy, sculpture, woodcarvings, tile mosaics, fiber art
and much more. It’s all original work, and all of the
artists are on hand to answer questions – or just talk
in Downtown MEsA art! Collectively, the large number of participating art-
ists and their displays make for a fun, colorful event
the whole family will enjoy.
Continued From Previous Page The event’s website at www.MACFestMesa.com
has more information for downtown visitors, artists
wishing to participate, and volunteers who would like
thE guilD gAllEry At 101 to help out with this fun weekly event.
101 w. MAin st.
(480) 206-5895
MEsA Art lEAguE
www.EAstvAllEyArtguilD.CoM
vArious Downtown vEnus
The Guild Gallery at 101 is a venue of the East
www.MEsAArtlEAguE.CoM
Valley Art Guild, one of Arizona’s premier arts orga-
Mesa Art League has been promoting the arts in
nizations with over 200 juried members and as many
Mesa since 1936. In addition to showing its members’
affiliate artists.
art at a variety of shows and special events such as ‘Purple Eagle Majesty’ by Jenny White is part of the
The gallery has rotating shows featuring its mem- fine collection at the Arizona Arts Collective East
MACFest and 2nd Friday, the league has two fine art
bers’ paintings, photography, sculpture and more. Valley Gallery (information on page 16).
galleries within the square mile of downtown Mesa (oth-
The eclectic, professional-quality displays can be seen
ers are located beyond downtown). The following ven-
on regular business days. However, some of the most
ues at the Mesa Multigenerational Center and Center exhibitions for March and April.
popular times to visit are during 2nd Fridays and
Against Family Violence feature displays of paintings,
MACFest because the gallery’s location at the south-
drawings, photography and other media that rotate • Beneath the Skin: Artwork Inspired by Tattoos
west corner of Main and Macdonald Streets is often a
every two or three months. All artwork is for sale. Through March 22
hub of activity during these events, with other groups
providing live music and special happenings. • Imprints: A Survey of Ceramics Faculty and
ZIA Fine Arts Guest Artists
The East Valley Art Guild is representative of all arts at Mesa Multigenerational Center
and provides a forum for members to network, col- Through April 19
247 N. Macdonald St., (480) 962-5612 • 30th Annual Contemporary Crafts
laborate, polish creative skills and showcase the rich www.EVSeniorServices.org
artistic life of the East Valley through exhibits, work- Through March 15
shops and educational endeavors. Center Against Family Violence • Systemic Autonomy: Jesse Armstrong
225 E. First St., Ste. 102, (480) 644-4075 Through April 12
www.mesaaz.gov • Androgyny: New Work by Sergei Isupov
MACFEst April 10 to Aug. 2
wEst Downtown MAin strEEt
www.MACFEstMEsA.CoM
MEsA ContEMPorAry Arts For more information on these exhibitions please
MACFest, the community-owned “made by me” At MEsA Arts CEntEr, onE E. MAin st. see page 13 or visit the Mesa Arts Center’s website.
arts and cultural festival, continues every Saturday (480) 644-6560
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the sidewalks of West Main www.MEsAArtsCEntEr.CoM
Street in downtown Mesa. Mesa Contemporary Arts features curated and jur-
MEsA’s PErMAnEnt sCulPturE CollECtion
ied exhibitions and installations by emerging and PriMArily on AnD ArounD Downtown MAin strEEt
Artists from across the Valley offer paintings,
internationally recognized artists. Following are the www.DowntownMEsA.CoM
ceramics, fused and blown glass, jewelry, photogra-
With 36 diverse pieces, Mesa’s Permanent Sculpture
Collection provides an opportunity to take a great “art
walk” any time of year in downtown Mesa. From
Humpty Dumpty, polar bears and children at play to
a bell people can actually ring and prominent locals
who constructed many buildings in Mesa, there’s
All types of artists turn out something for everyone in Mesa’s Permanent Sculpture
on Main Street every Collection.
Saturday to sell their origi- Most of the sculptures are displayed outdoors on
nal creations at MACFest. and around Main Street between Mesa Drive and
Country Club Drive. The public can take free self-
guided walking tours any day or night at any time.
A printed guide to Mesa’s Permanent Sculpture
Collection is available at various downtown locations
including major public facilities (museums, library,
etc.), and from Downtown Mesa Association (DMA)
by emailing to Dave@DowntownMesa.com or stop-
ping by DMA’s office at 58 W. Main St. The guide is
also downloadable from www.DowntownMesa.com.
Additionally, the website has a regular webpage with
photos and information on all 36 pieces in Mesa’s
Permanent Sculpture Collection.
Continued on Next Page
Page 19: Everything Art March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
Continued From Previous Page • Kathleen Doherty of Carefree who creates thE PiCniC CoMPAny
sculpted, fused and carved glassworks. (480) 649-3537
• David Vogt of Scottsdale whose glassworks
MEsA PuBliC sChools’ CrEAtivE AnD include flowers, beads and paperweights.
www.PiCniC-CoMPAny.CoM
The Picnic Company Gourmet Café is currently
PErForMing Arts rEsourCE CEntEr • Newt Grover of Scottsdale whose glass creations showcasing about 20 original artworks by Janice
155 n. CEntEr st. include everything from vases and bowls to Genevois. In addition to painting on canvas, the
(480) 308-7350 sculpture and chandeliers. Arizona native paints on antique windows and doors
www.MPsAZ.org • Lyn Creighton of Ventura, Calif., whose bronze to create works with “a childlike innocence and naïve
The big hallway that runs the length of Mesa Public sculptures celebrate femininity. sort of charm that is hard to resist.”
Schools’ (MPS) Creative and Performing Arts Resource • Tom Baldwin, Navajo master silversmith. The artwork is for sale, as are the delicious sand-
Center is filled with artwork by elementary students. • Dave Wilson of Phoenix who takes a highly wiches, soups, salads and more that make the Picnic
The sculptures, drawings, paintings and such come interpretive approach to nature and landscape Company a popular place to dine.
together to a form fun, colorful display. The artwork photography.
is among the best student pieces chosen annually for
art shows that travel to each of the elementary onEohonE gAllEry quEEn's PiZZEriA
schools, and to the downtown Resource Center. 101 w. MAin st. 125 w. MAin st.
In addition to student works, the hallway at the (602) 690-6071 (480) 964-1609
Resource Center features artwork by MPS staff. www.onEohonE101.CoM Queen Pizzeria raises breakfast and lunch to an
Commercial art and artifacts from cultures around OneOhOne Gallery offers "A Space for the Arts, a artform, so it’s fitting that the restaurant decorates its
the world are on display as well, as part of a larger Place for You!" The gallery features a different show walls with fine visual art. Stop by for pizza, a sand-
collection at the Resource Center available to MPS each month, with the opening of each show during wich, bagel or other fare and you’ll also be treated to
teachers for checkout. 2nd Friday (for details on 2nd Friday see page 10). vibrant contemporary works by local artists.
OneOhOne Gallery also holds classes, lectures and In March, the pizzeria will continue showcasing the
MurAlt’s CustoM JEwElErs events on a daily basis. On March 21, the gallery will colorful urban art of Queen Creek resident Melody
(480) 969-4653 host the independent documentary film “Divertissement: Smith whose collection includes large format acrylics,
Every Day Dancers Stories” by Ed Lippman (see page watercolors and uniquely crafted shadow box pieces.
130 w. MAin st.
Muralt’s Custom Jewelers is best known for the 12 for details). Something exciting is always happening
gold, silver and platinum jewelry made by owner Matt at OneOhOne Gallery, so check their website Continued on Next Page
Muralt. However, Matt has also been adding original periodically!
works by a variety of artists, enabling his jewelry store
to double as a gallery. These artists include:
• John Kimball Westbrook of Mesa who sculpts
Native American “visions in stone.”
Electrical Repair
SAME DAY SERVICE IN MOST CASES
CLASSIC CARS WELCOME
on most
One Year, 12,000 Mile Warranty parts & labor
(480) 835-0036 - No Appointment Necessary
66 W. Broadway Rd., Mesa, AZ 85210 The Big Pink Chair, currently located on the sidewalk in front of 218 W. Main St., remains one of
the most popular sculptures on downtown Main Street. It is on loan from Erenberg Brothers and
Open: Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat. by appointment
mixed in with more than 30 pieces belonging to Mesa’s Permanent Sculpture Collection.
Page 20: Everything Art March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
EvErything Art MusiC & thEAtEr listed for each
Please use the contact information
business and facility for days and hours of operation
in Downtown MEsA as well as any applicable prices or admission fees.
Continued From Previous Page 5 stAr D J CEntEr
210 w. MAin st.
sEConD FriDAy (480) 962-4700
wEst Downtown MAin strEEt Professional and amateur DJ's will find everything
www.DowntownMEsA.CoM
they need at 5 Star D J Center including mixers, head-
In addition to great shopping, dining and entertain- phones, speakers, CD players and turntables. Musicians
ment, Second Friday includes sidewalk vendors selling appreciate the amps, speaker stands, microphones,
arts and crafts. These include members of Mesa Art equalizers and more.
League, members of the East Valley Art Guild, and
many other artists. BJJ EvEnts & EntErtAinMEnt
Second Friday is coordinated by downtown Mesa 30 w. First st., stE. D.
merchants and held the second Friday of every month (480) 649-7146
from 6-10 p.m. on and around West Downtown Main Among other things, these professionals provide
Street. For the most updated information visit www. lessons in piano, violin, viola and cello. Instruction is
DowntownMesa.com. Also see the article on page 10. comprehensive and emphasizes a classical repertoire.
thE storE At MEsA Arts CEntEr Flying BlAnkEt rECorDing
onE E. MAin st. 304 n. roBson st.
(480) 644-6515 (480) 390-0863
www.MEsAArtsCEntEr.CoM www.FlyingBlAnkEt.CoM
The Store at Mesa Arts Center offers original glass- Flying Blanket Recording specializes in all-analog
works, ceramics, jewelry and more by local artists, recording and mixing. Its fully-equipped studios fea-
national artists and Mesa Arts Center students and resi- ture some of the best vintage gear available plus a Twisted Sisters’ Designs offers stylish one-of-a-kind jewelry.
dents. The variety of colorful, one-of-a-kind creations large collection of guitars, amps, drums and other Debra McKee (shown above working with beads), Rita Offutt
make the store as interesting to visit as any gallery. instruments. Out-of-town artists appreciate the loung- and Mary Heldenbrand use their own designs and make
The Store at Mesa Arts Center also has books, es, kitchen and other facilities. most of their own materials (information on page 22).
CDs, greeting cards, art supplies, fun children's items,
and artistic novelties guaranteed to generate smiles. Continued on Next Page
SERVICE
All purchases are free of sales tax, and proceeds
directly benefit Mesa Arts Center programs.
CENTER
Complete Car Care & Maintenance
133 S. Country Club Dr., Mesa
(480) 844-2552
Emissions · Brakes · Exhaust · Alignment
Fuel System Service · A/C · Chassis Dyno
Fluid Exchange & Flush Equipment
Fleet Service
$20 OFF ANY SERVICE
With This Ad
Mesa Public Schools’ (MPS) Creative and Performing Arts Resource Center is filled with artwork by
elementary students, artwork by MPS staff, and commercial art and artifacts from cultures around the
world (information on page 19).
Page 21: Everything Art March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
Continued From Previous Page
groovE hEADs EntErtAinMEnt
117 n. wilBur st.
(602) 402-6306
www.groovEhEADs.CoM
Groove Heads will come to any social or corporate
event and use green screen technology to superim-
pose attendees’ heads onto professional dancers’ bod-
ies to create music videos with the original artist’s
music. Never mind if attendees can’t sing, dance or
play instruments, their videos are sure to make your
event a hit!
Groove Heads also provides event photography
and full audio and video production services.
linton-MilAno MusiC – PiAnos
45 w. MAin st.
(480) 833-7238
www.lintonMilAno.CoM/PiAno.htM
Arizona's oldest family music store is the place to
save hundreds, even thousands of dollars on like-new
pianos. Layaway is available, and Linton-Milano offers
a 10-year warranty on parts and labor. Rent or rent-
to-own, or bring in your own piano for cash or con-
signment.
Also see Milano Music and Linton-Milano Music
at the bottom-right of this page.
Art Studios at Mesa Arts Center offers all types of classes in visual and performing arts. Above, students take a Master
Class with the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. Photo courtesy Mesa Arts Center
M-troniks EnginEEring
41 w. MAin st. MEsA Arts CEntEr MEtroPolitAn youth syMPhony
(480) 461-3194 onE E. MAin st. 223 n. Morris st.
www.Mtroniks.CoM (480) 644-6500 (480) 456-9501
M-Troniks Engineering has been providing profes- www.MEsAArtsCEntEr.CoM www.AZMys.org
sional audio parts, sales and service since 1976. With four state-of-the-art theaters and variety of Metropolitan Youth Symphony (MYS) educates
M-Troniks can repair any musical instrument as well outdoor entertainment areas, Mesa Arts Center is instrumental musicians through the 9th grade in
as recording equipment, lighting equipment, amps, bursting with performing arts events. Enjoy the orchestral performance. MYS performs three times a
keyboards, PA and sound reinforcement, effects pro- Performing Live series and Stageworks productions, year in the world-class Ikeda Theater at Mesa Arts
cessors, microphones, and compressors. M-Troniks as well as performances by Mesa Affiliate organiza- Center.
works with everything from older analog equipment to tions and Visiting Companies. Upcoming performances include Metropolitan
state-of-the-art digital equipment. Performances in March and April include every- Youth Symphony Concert III on April 21 at 7 p.m.
thing from Footloose: The Musical and The Merchant For details see the MYS website or visit www.
MEsA AMPhithEAtrE of Venice to the The Irish Rovers and Classical MesaArtsCenter.com.
Music’s Greatest Hits by the Symphony of the
263 n. CEntEr st. Southwest. See page 12 for a more complete perfor-
(480) 644-2178 mance schedule or visit Mesa Arts Center’s website.
MilAno MusiC CEntEr
www.MEsAAMPhithEAtrE.CoM AnD
Also see the Mesa Contemporary Arts listing
With its tiered lawn big enough for great acts yet under "Visual Arts" and the Art Studios listing linton-MilAno MusiC
intimate enough for everyone to have a great view of under "Art Supplies, Services & Classes" 38 w. MAin st.
the stage, the City of Mesa's outdoor Mesa
(480) 833-7873
Amphitheatre is a premier venue for rock concerts
and other performances. In fact, Phoenix Magazine MEsA violin stuDios www.MilAnoMusiC.CoM
named the Mesa Amp “Best Concert Venue” in its 213 n. Morris st. Milano Music Center has the largest display of full-
August 2007 issue. (480) 833-5599 line musical instruments and accessories in the
Upcoming concerts include the Fall Out Boys on www.MEsAviolinstuDios.CoM
Southwest. Guitars, keyboards, drums, strings, brass…
Friday, April 3 at 5:30 p.m. See the Mesa Located in the historic Pomeroy House, Mesa they have it all! Milano Music Center repairs instru-
Amphitheatre’s website for details on this and other Violin Studios provides expert tutoring for violin and ments too.
performances in March, April and beyond. viola. Instructors Patricia Cosand, William Magers and For those wishing to take lessons, Linton-Milano
Cathy Worcester are highly accomplished and collec- Music is Arizona's largest in-store music studio. They
tively have played with the St. Louis Symphony, have the state’s largest selection of sheet music as
Arizona Opera, Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, Mesa well.
Shopping, dining, events and more Symphony Orchestra and other groups. Continued on Next Page
www.DowntownMesa.com
Page 22: Everything Art March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
EvErything Art syMPhony
56 s. CEntEr st.
(480) 827-2143
oF thE southwEst thE storE At MEsA
See “Visual Arts”
Arts CEntEr
in Downtown MEsA www.syMPhonyoFthEsouthwEst.org
The Symphony of the Southwest (formerly Mesa
twistED sistErs’ DEsigns
48 s. roBson st.
Symphony Orchestra) is a regional orchestra that pro- (602) 617-0997
Continued From Previous Page
vides entertaining and thought-provoking chamber and www.twistEDsistErsDEsigns.nEt
orchestral experiences to public and private audiences Debra McKee, Rita Offutt and Mary Heldenbrand
sAltMinE stuDio oAsis in many venues. Community support and educational design their own bracelets, rings, earrings, pendants,
48 s. MACDonAlD st. outreach programs also make the Symphony of the chains and chokers, and they make most of their own
(480) 892-6585 Southwest an integral part of Valley cultural life. materials including silver and lampwork beads. Of
www.thEsAltMinE.CoM
Upcoming performances in downtown Mesa include course, they also twist wire, which led to the name
In addition to being the favorite studio of many local Classical Music's Greatest Hits Continued on Saturday, Twisted Sisters’ Designs. Additionally, they offer
musicians, the Saltmine is a popular recording hide- March 21 at 8 p.m. at Mesa Arts Center. See the bowls, dishes and such out of fused glass. It’s all fun,
away for prominent visiting artists and producers. In symphony’s website for details on this and other per- it’s all stylish, and you won’t find anything like it any-
fact, the Saltmine has attracted the likes of Sheryl formances around the Valley. where else! (see photo on page 20).
Crow, Trisha Yearwood, Cyni Lauper, Megadeth and
Tommy Shaw of Styx. The facility has four studios for
tracking, mixing and overdub/production/editing,
plus an outdoor live recording stage. CustoM hAnDMADE Art suPPliEs,
southwEst shAkEsPEArE CoMPAny JEwElry sErviCEs & ClAssEs
51 E. MAin st. Please use the contact information listed for each Please use the contact information listed for each
(480) 641-7039 business and facility for days and hours of opera- business and facility for days and hours of opera-
www.swshAkEsPEArE.org tion as well as any applicable prices or fees. tion as well as any applicable prices or class fees.
The Southwest Shakespeare Company entertains,
educates, inspires and elevates the general public and Art stuDios
educational communities of Arizona by performing
AriZonA MusEuM For youth
At MEsA Arts CEntEr 35 n. roBson st.
classical theatre. See “Art Services, Supplies and Classes”
Upcoming performances in downtown Mesa include (480) 644-2467
Tartuffe, a play by Moliere, on March 5-21. The www.AriZonAMusEuMForyouth.CoM
Southwest Shakespeare Company will also perform DiCkson’s JEwElErs The Arizona Museum for Youth recognizes that
The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare on 54 w. MAin st. creative, interactive play is key to neurological growth
April 2-18. Both performances will be at Mesa Arts (480) 964-5822 and development. Through a variety of classes and
Center. For details see the Southwest Shakespeare Longtime employee and watchmaker Ron Saldivar workshops, the museum seeks to instill a lifelong pas-
Company’s website or visit www.MesaArtsCenter.com. can custom make jewelry for anyone. Have him design sion for art and learning into all of its visitors including
a piece for you, or bring in your own drawing of a ring, children, teens and adults.
bracelet or pendant. Either way, Ron will do all the Just a few examples of classes and workshops in
casting, stonecutting and setting needed to turn your March and April include “Sculpt & Create,” “The
vision into reality. Of course, Dickson's also has a large Color of Music: Painting to Music,” “Soap Carving:
Left: Second Friday selection of fine pre-made jewelry and watches. African Images,” and “Mix it Up! Mixed-Media
attendees on West Collage.” See the museum’s website for details on
Main Street (informa- these and many other classes and workshops.
tion on page 20). gunnEll's JEwElry Also see “Visual Art.”
113 w. MAin st.
(480) 964-5252
In addition to all the beautiful rings, necklaces, pen- Art on MAin
dants and watches on display in the store, Gunnell’s 48 w. MAin st.
Jewelry can create custom jewelry. One of their (480) 649-7400
experts at casting, cutting and setting will design a Art On Main offers custom digital printing, printing
piece of jewelry just for you or take your own design to canvas, and gicleés. They can scan your photo-
and make it happen. graphs and slides as well as touch-up and restore
work. Additionally, they do custom framing with con-
ventional frames and beautifully affordable alternatives
MurAlt’s CustoM JEwElErs such as ArtPlaks made by mounting artwork to hard-
(480) 969-4653 board.
130 w. MAin st. Also see "Visual Art”
Every piece of jewelry at Muralt’s Custom Jewelers is
an original work of art because every piece is handmade Continued on Next Page
by the owner. Matt Muralt works in gold, platinum and
silver, and he incorporates all precious and semi-pre-
cious gemstones in his pieces. He can design a piece of
jewelry from scratch or modify an existing design.
Directly above: Second Friday attracts a variety of artists A variety of sculptors, glass artists and others also Shopping, dining, events and more
and vendors to Main Street sidewalks. Shown here is Holly display their artwork at Muralt’s Custom Jewelers.
Fisher buying an item from Mike Putman of Jack & Cat Also see “Visual Arts” www.DowntownMesa.com
Curio. Mike also teaches classes at nearby Mystic Paper.
Page 23: Everything Art March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
Continued From Previous Page
FilM, viDEo
Art stuDios
At MEsA Art CEntEr, onE E. MAin st.
PhotogrAPhy
& the contact information for each business for days
Use
(480) 644-6520 and hours of operation and any applicable prices.
www.MEsAArtsCEntEr.CoM
The 14 Art Studios at Mesa Arts Center offer
classes for children and adults that provide a wide 5 By 8 ProDuCtions
range of educational experiences and encourage the 101 w. MAin st.
development of creativity. Subjects include ceramics, www.5By8.CoM
painting, jewelry making, glass, sculpture, photogra- 5 by 8 Productions is a collaborative that creates
phy, acting, dance, drama and many other visual and unique and artistic films. Every aspect of production
performing arts taught by experienced, enthusiastic from script writing to camera work to editing is shared
and professional instructors. See Mesa Arts Center’s amongst the creative team of Trevor Allan, Heather
website for the class schedule. Hand, Rylan Brandon, Suzanne Zandra, Michael Ray,
Ben Forbes and Cassandra Haggard.
BlissFul living stuDio Art stuDios
166 w. MAin st., #104
At MEsA Arts CEntEr
(480) 733-5558
See “Art Supplies, Services and Classes”
www.BlissFullivingstuDio.CoM
As an extension of the popular retail store Domestic
Bliss, the Blissful Living Studio offers classes on every- Big BrAin PiCturEs
thing from embroidery and wire wrap bracelets to 101 w. MAin st., suitEs 4 & 5
embellished candles and decorative pillows. Crafts, (480) 458-7785
however, are just part of the story, as Blissful Living vwww.BigBrAinPiCturEs.CoM
Studio has all types of classes, workshops, parties and Award-winning independent filmmakers Dominic
other events aimed at enriching the lives of women Ross, Joseph Drake and Gary Vaage handle all aspects
and their loved ones. of production from writing, casting and scoring to
directing, shooting and editing. Big Brain Pictures has
completed, among other things, several feature films.
BrAnDt PhotogrAPhy
See “Film, Video & Photography” Michael Neugent Photography specializes in weddings,
BrAnDt PhotogrAPhy capturing candid moments so they may live forever in
156 s. MEsA Dr., #101 the memories of the bride and groom.
thE FiBEr FACtory (480) 834-1400
216 w. MAin st.
www.BrAnDtPhoto.nEt
(480) 969-4346 Whether on location or in its state-of-the-art studio, scapes, mainly on location. Their specialty, however,
www.FiBErFACtory.CoM is weddings where they take a largely photojournalis-
Brandt Photography works with babies, children, high
The Southwest's most complete yarn shop provides school seniors, couples, families and others. Brandt tic approach, capturing many candid moments so
yarn from a long list of companies, plus looms, spin- also specializes in weddings and commercial photog- they may live forever in the memories of the bride
ning wheels, knitting and crochet needles, books, raphy as well as photo restoration/preservation. and groom.
videos, patterns, tatting supplies, reed for basketry,
and more.
The Fiber Factory also holds beginning, intermedi- groovE hEADs EntErtAinMEnt
ate and advanced classes on knitting, crocheting, spin-
ning, weaving, etc. Call or see their website for the
See “Music & Theater”
othEr Downtown
kiMBErly JArMAn PhotogrAPhy
class schedule.
166 w. MAin, # 204
(480) 203-1090
Art
BThere are about 450with businesses in the
usinEssEs
additional
MystiC PAPEr www.kiMBErlyJArMAn.CoM square mile of downtown Mesa. Many of them,
123 w. MAin st. Kimberly Jarman takes a journalistic approach to including a variety of shops and restaurants, are not
(480) 834-0286 wedding photography to produce creative images that galleries or art stores per se but have some type of art
www.MystiCPAPEr.CoM move and come to life, with less posing and more for decorating homes and businesses among their
This scrapbooking and paper arts store has a huge lifestyle. Kim also photographs babies, children, fami- other offerings. Other downtown businesses provide
selection of 12 x 12 paper including the largest selec- lies, high school seniors and others. services, such as printing and tape duplication, that
tion of Basic Gray and 7 Gypsies paper in the Valley. may benefit some artists.
You'll also find rub-ons, ribbons, fibers, stamps, but- MEsA ContEMPorAry Arts About 150 retail and walk-in type businesses are
tons, embellishments, tools, book kits, etc. At MEsA Arts CEntEr listed in the Downtown's The Place! insert in the
Mystic Paper also offers many fun classes and See “Visual Arts” center of this paper. For a list of all downtown busi-
crops. Call or see their website for the class sched- nesses of every type along with links to their websites
ule. (if available) visit www.DowntownMesa.com.
MiChAEl nEugEnt PhotogrAPhy Of course, the best way to experience downtown is
40 n. MACDonAlD st., #4 in person, so come take a stroll in Mesa’s Square
onEohonE gAllEry (602) 930-2833
See “Visual Arts” Mile of Unique Style and discover everything it has
www.MichaelNeugentPhotography.com to offer, including everything art!
Michael Neugent Photography does everything
from portraits to commercial photography to art land-
Page 24: It's What's Inside That Counts March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
it's whAt's PiEr DE orlEAns
Visitors to Pier de Orleans, 61 E. University Dr., can dine under the
ol’ oak tree (see larger photo on page 1). The full-size faux oak com-
insiDE thAt
bines with other décor to create the perfect ambiance for enjoying
New Orleans style seafood, steaks, Cajun dishes, chicken, made-
from-scratch soups, and oysters on the half-shell. Pier de Orleans
also has a cocktail lounge with a full bar. Always in touch with New
Counts Please see the larger version
Orleans culture, “the Pier” will celebrate Mardi Gras on Feb. 24
with entertainment by Mandrini the Magician. For more informa-
tion call (480) 844-7437 or visit www.PierDeOrleans.com.
Continued From Page 1 of this photo on the cover
tunnElBrAvo
A design and advertising firm as creative as
TunnelBravo couldn’t possibly have an ordinary Full Body
Massage Therapy
office. Like the promotional pieces they create for
IBM, Microsoft, Hyundai and other clients, their
office at 166 W. Main St., Ste. 205 is distinctive,
makes a connection with people and revolves
around a single idea – in this case an eye-catching
circular structure in the center of the room with For Your Copay! Insurance Provider
comfortable seating and shelves holding industry
awards. TunnelBravo owners Stewart West and ▲ Dr. Hafkey (center) and his massage
John Johnson create ads, logos, brochures, web- In pain? Pay your copay for a treatment, and therapists Nicole (right) and Vanessa
(left).
sites, displays and more. For more information call also receive a full-body 1-hour massage with
(480) 649-1400 or visit www.TunnelBravo.com.
Photo courtesy TunnelBravo qualifying insurance. The session includes a professional massage
of your choice, a heated table, lotion, and one of our excellent
Continued on Next Page
licensed therapists, Nicole or Vanessa.
Massage by appointment only
Across the
street (south)
from the
Mesa Arts
(480) 668-8780
Center Hafkey Chiropractic, LLC
· Specializing in CD/DVD Duplication
· Home Movies, Slides, and Pictures to Video/DVD Dr. Michael Hafkey, R.N., B.S.N., D.C.
· Serving the Valley Since 1977 47 E. 1st Ave., Mesa, AZ 85210-1446
14 N. Robson St., Mesa, AZ 85201 www.MesaChiro.com
(480) 969-2956 Massage Therapy · Physiotherapy · Registered Nurse · Affordable Care · Auto & Work Injuries
Email: kingtapesnprinting@yahoo.com Fax: 644-7707
Page 25: It's What's Inside That Counts March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
Continued From Previous Page
AriZonA MusEuM
oF nAturAl history
An American Mastadon (foreground) and
Columbian Mammoth greet visitors to the
Arizona Museum of Natural History, 53
N. Macdonald St. And that’s just what
lurks in the lobby. Venture further into
the musuem and you can experience
Dinosaur Hall featuring some of the
largest dinosaurs that ever lived and
Dinosaur Mountain where mechanical
dinosaurs roar as they sway to and fro.
Other highlights include a Native People’s
Gallery, Spanish Mission, real territorial
jail built in 1884, History Courtyard
where visitors pan for gold, and the Walk
Through Time covering everything from
the origins of the universe to the first
animals to fly. For more information call
(480) 644-2230 or visit www.AzMNH.org.
Also see page 11 for information on the
‘Mars!’ exhibition at the Arizona Museum
of Natural History.
thE CEllAr PuB
Beneath Sun Devil Liquors, 235 N.
Country Club Dr., is a real wine
cellar that also serves as a classy
little bar. After 5 p.m., loyal patrons
gather in The Cellar Pub for intimate
conversation with good friends, and
winemakers and brewmasters visit
regularly with samples of their fine
products for tasting. Shown above
is just a small part of The Cellar
Pub with a mural in the background.
For more information call (480)
834-5050.
Continued on Next Page
Page 26: It's What's Inside That Counts March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
it's whAt's insiDE
thAt Counts
Continued From Previous Page
First unitED MEthoDist ChurCh
Downtown Mesa may have the largest music
store in the Southwest, a business that sells
pianos and an arts center that attracts sym-
phonies from around the world, but the
award for largest musical instrument down-
town goes to First United Methodist Church,
15 E. First Ave. In fact, the giant instrument
in the church’s sanctuary is the largest track-
er organ (with mechanical key action) in
Arizona. The sanctuary also has a number of
stained glass windows that help create a
heavenly interior space. For general informa-
tion on First United Methodist Church call
(480) 969-5577 or visit www.fumcmesa.org.
MEsA Arts CEntEr
Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., has more breathtaking interior spaces than we could show in one article. Just a couple of areas that
caught our eye were the large architectural “eye” called an oculus above the Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater (above left), and the
beautiful Virginia G. Piper Repertory Theater . These are two of the four theaters at Mesa Arts Center that collectively provide venues
for local, regional, national and international performances (see page 12 for the performance schedule). The largest arts center in
Arizona is also home to the five visual arts galleries that comprise Mesa Contemporary Arts, the 14 Arts Studios where classes in
visual and performing arts are held, and much more. For more information visit www.MesaArtsCenter.com.
Images courtesy Mesa Arts Center.
Continued on Next Page
Page 27: It's What's Inside That Counts March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
Continued From Previous Page
40 north CEntEr
At left: The office building at 40 N. Center St. has a spacious lobby with trees,
elegant staircase, large windows, high ceiling and fountain with a bronze sculp-
ture of little boy and girl. It’s a classy entrance for those visiting the Jackson
White law firm, attorney Doug Cook, attorneys Vernon and Kent Nicholas, M.
Paul Fischer Law Offices, Outlook Vision, Tennison Investments and the City of
Mesa Fire Administration. The building is owned by Pepper Mesa, L.L.C. whose
members include Eric Jackson and Richard White of Jackson White law firm.
Yarn, accessories, equipment & classes for :
Knitting, Weaving, Spinning, Crochet,
Tatting, Basketry, Navajo Weaving, & Bobbin Lace
MArriott MEsA hotEl
Above: We’re going to get a little liberal with our definition of “interiors” by including
courtyards, like the one with a fountain surrounded by palm trees in the center of the
Marriott Mesa Hotel, 200 N. Centennial Way. This is just one of many elegant spaces
found throughout the Marriott, which has 275 guest rooms, numerous meeting rooms,
upscale restaurant and lobby bar. For more information call
(480) 898-8300 or visit www.marriott.com/phxmm.
Continued on Next Page
Page 28: It's What's Inside That Counts March/April 2009 · Downtown Focus
it's whAt's insiDE thAt Counts Continued From Previous Page
Mrs. Potts tEA PArty
To enter Mrs. Potts Tea Party, 209
W. First St., is to walk into a fairy
tale. Characters from Cinderella
and Beauty and the Beast are
painted on the walls, along with
amazingly realistic Victorian
curtains, brick walls, architectural
columns and such. It all provides
an ideal atmosphere for children to
enjoy dress-up English tea parties.
A wardrobe allows girls to choose
from hundreds of dresses, plus
hats, gloves, jewelry and hairpieces.
When the party begins, each guest
is formally introduced, then maids
serve imported tea, finger
sandwiches and the like on linen
and real china. For more information,
call (480) 827-0654 or visit www.
MrsPottsTeaParty.com.
Downtown
Address Service Requested
Mesa, AZ 85201
PERMIT #332 58 West Main Street
MESA, AZ Downtown Mesa Association
PAID
U.S. POSTAGE
PRSRT. STD
Focus
AriZonA MusEuM For youth
This photo essay provides just a sampling of great downtown The Arizona Museum for Youth, 35 N. Robson St., introduces
building interiors. If we had more pages we could also show children to the fine arts with an environment designed to spark the
Regency Garden, Courtyard Towers, Muralt's Custom Jewelers, imagination, stimulate the mind and captivate the eye. Shown
Antique Wedding House, Inside The Bungalow and many other above are Mesa residents Kimberly and Stanton Curry in Artville,
businesses, all of which are beautiful on the inside. the museum’s permanent miniature city made of art. The Arizona
A slideshow featuring these photos and a number of others Museum for Youth also has changing exhibitions featuring both fine
is also online at www.DowntownMesa.com. Just click the art and hands-on activities, many classes and workshops, a great
“Interiors” link on the home page. Or better yet, come gift shop, and more. For more information call (480) 644-2467 or
downtown in person and check out the variety of shops, visit www.ArizonaMuseumForYouth.com. Also see page 10 for
restaurants and other buildings and see first-hand that beauty information on current exhibitions including the Stone Sculptures
really is on the inside. of Dominic Benhura from Zimbabwe.
