54 MEGALOPOLITAN LIFE SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 | WWW.BESTOFPHOENIX2025.C0M | BEST OF PHOENIX 2025 each year’s artwork, as people are jazzed to see all those artists together in one space. The artists are stoked about that, too — congregating at this arty party. e e e B E S T P L A C E T O S T O P D U R I N G T H E F I R S T F R I D A Y A R T WA L K EYE LOUNGE 922 N. FIFTH ST. 602-430-1490 EYELOUNGE.COM This collective for area artists turns 25 this year and is continuously a must-see stop on the monthly First Friday artwalk. A Roosevelt Row stalwart, it’s a beacon at the monstrous monthly event as a destination for quality work. The gallery has been standing longer than many of the new beer gardens, and the number of artists who’ve exhibited work on the venue’s walls is well into the hundreds. With the array of creatives making this a popular spot, the mediums are as diverse as the artists themselves. Photography involving multiple processes, textile work, paintings and intricate drawings barely scratch the surface of what’s been installed. For us old- timers who still go to First Friday for the art, Eye Lounge is a stop we never skip. e e e B E S T P L A C E T O S T O P D U R I N G T H E S C O T T S D A L E A R T WA L K ANTICUS 3922 N. SCOTTSDALE ROAD, SCOTTSDALE 480-483-5663 ANTICUS.COM First Friday who? The Scottsdale Art Walk celebrated its 50th anniversary this year — that’s five decades of heading to Old Town once a week on Thursdays to pop in and out of the area’s many galleries. While each stop has its own character, there’s one we always make a point to see. The work at Anticus is eclectic and leans heavily into pop culture; if you’re looking for a Looney Tunes painting by the Chuck Jones or a Dr. Seuss drawing, you’re in luck. But there’s far more to see at the store, including jewelry, books, stickers, children’s items and more. The gallery hosts occasional artist events, too. The best part is that you don’t actually have to wait until Thursday to visit; Anticus is open seven days a week. e e e B E S T A R T A L O N G T H E L I G H T R A I L ‘RESILIENT LIGHT’ 717 S. CENTRAL AVE. VALLEYMETRO.ORG The word “majestic” gets tossed around a lot these days. We don’t doubt that one cookie was great or that the laser light show you saw was spectacular, but we’ll bet a penny they weren’t majestic. That word should be reserved for things like “Resilient Light,” the sculpture by Isaac Caruso. The 20-by-20- foot rising phoenix (bird) sculpture literally weighs a ton, and is lit internally by LED lights, so when the skies are dark, it’s an unforgettable beacon that links north and south Phoenix. It’s no slouch by day, though. Its fiberglass body also catches the eye in the daylight, creating colors that draw you in. The project, commissioned by Valley Metro, took seven years to complete and was worth the wait. The bird, its feathers rising upward and its fiery palette, is ever-symbolic of finding personal strength in a naturally chal- lenging environment. e e e B E S T M U S E U M M A I N S T A Y HEARD MUSEUM 2301 N. CENTRAL AVE. 602-252-8840 HEARD.ORG It feels as if the Heard Museum has been around nearly as long as some of the splendid Indigenous artifacts it currently houses. That’s likely because since the museum opened way back in 1929, it’s been an essen- tial link to the art, culture and worldviews of Native peoples across the state, the country and the world. Even as exhibits come and go, you can rely on the Heard for having both new and familiar objects to remind you of its place as a storyteller and living journal for the region. Whether you last visited on a sixth-grade field trip or you come back for free activities every First Friday, remember that the Heard is always there, ready to welcome you back for a visit. e e e B E S T M U S E U M Y O U P R O B A B L Y H AV E N ’ T V I S I T E D PHOENIX TROLLEY MUSEUM 1117 GRAND AVE. 623-252-5602 PHXTROLLEY.ORG By now, you’ve likely visited the Phoenix Art Museum, the Heard Museum and the Musical Instrument Museum a dozen times over. But there’s one hallowed hall of learning to add to your list: the Phoenix Trolley Museum. Incorporated in 1977, the PTM is a shrine to the streetcars that defined transportation across Phoenix in the early to mid-20th century. Whether you want to walk around an old car or just peep some uniforms, tickets and other classic memora- bilia, the museum holds a cornucopia of arti- facts dating to the first mule-drawn cars circa 1887. These cars built the foundation of Phoenix, and everything about the way our city is laid out — good, bad and otherwise — is connected to this mode of transportation.
