shows. But most importantly, the McGarrys have built at Cruisin’ 7th a second home to many, but especially members of Phoenix’s gay and trans communities. EEEEE Boycott Bar 4301 North Seventh Avenue 602-825-6240 boycottbarphx.com Located in the Melrose District among an- tique shops and other LGBTQ clubs, Boy- cott Bar gives lesbians a safe and cool place to hang. Boycott’s team of DJs spins the lat- est pop and dance hits, and bartenders pour cocktails as strong as the women that pack the dance floor on weekends. The cli- entele represents a diverse array of fe- males, from androgynous types to bois and lipstick lesbians, and everyone is made to feel welcome. And of course, there are ka- raoke nights, for those who consider them- selves dancers and singers (or who just want to bust a tune out on the mic). There aren’t many pure lesbian bars left in the country. We’re glad to have this one in our own backyard. EEEEE Yucca Tap Room 29 West Southern Avenue, Tempe 480-967-4777 yuccatap.com So here’s what we love about Yucca, a fix- ture of the Tempe music scene since the ’70s: The bar draws local and national acts in all genres — in the space of a week, you could catch a touring punk band, nervous locals at an open mic, a metal showcase, and some Tempe desert rock. Show up a couple of times, and you’ll get to know the staff and the regulars, ensuring that there’ll be a friendly face or two any time you go. Drinks are cheap and strong and the bar- tenders keep them flowing. And when you need a break from the musical onslaught, you can step over to the lounge side of Yucca, where you can take a breather and grab a bite to eat (we like the gold wings and the bulgogi bao). EEEEE The Van Buren 401 West Van Buren Street 480-659-1641 thevanburenphx.com We like to think about the days when The Van Buren was a car dealership. Could the owners of the Phoenix Motor Company ever have imagined that many decades later, their building would be one of the best music venues in the bustling metropo- lis of Phoenix? There’s no trace of The Van Buren’s former life when you walk into the building for a show, just chandeliers, desert murals on the walls, and space for about 1,800 concertgoers to rock out to local acts like Playboy Manbaby and Phoenix Afro- beat Orchestra as well as national ones like Gogol Bordello, Lord Huron, and Cold War Kids. We like the sense of space at The Van Buren; both the outdoor patio and the in- door area near the bar are roomy and open, perfect places to see and be seen. In 2021, car dealerships are a dime a dozen. We’re glad The Van Buren got the concert venue upgrade. EEEEE Footprint Center 201 East Jefferson Street 602-379-7800 footprintcenter.com 214 It can be a challenge to keep up with the stadium’s name changes, but whether it’s called America West Arena, US Airways Center, Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoe- nix Suns Arena, or now, Footprint Center, there’s no place we’d rather see a big show. This year, downtown Phoenix’s biggest in- door sports and concert event center fi- nally got a makeover to match its many moniker changes; the $230 million renova- tion completed in early 2021 includes new suite levels, more comfortable and sleek black pleather seats, a family-friendly food hall on the upper concourse, a state-of-the- art sound system, and new video screens. BEST OF PHOENIX 2021 | WWW.BESTOFPHOENIX2021.C0M | SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 ni ghtlif e B E S T S M A LL M U S IC V EN UE B E S T MIDS IZ E M U S IC V EN UE B E S T L E SBIA N B A R B E S T L A RG E M U S IC V EN UE
