192 LA VIDA line. This year, he helped with the “Ranfla Vida: Local Lowrider History” exhibit at the Tempe History Museum, putting decades of firsthand knowledge to use. i i i BEST YERBERIA BOTANICA & TIENDA NATURISTA 6502 W. GLENDALE AVE., GLENDALE 623-847-9999 1456 N. 27TH AVE. 480-361-4752 First things first: When you visit one of Botanica & Tienda Naturista’s two Valley locations, be respectful. You’ll probably see things you’re not familiar with. The shops carry items relating to a number of world religions, including santeria, traditional African religions, Catholicism, hoodoo and more. They’re beautiful and fascinating. Not what you’re looking for? Maybe you’re there for herbs, for Mexican skincare products, for candles, for crystal bracelets. Even if you’re just there to browse the incredible selection of items, the friendly staff are content to let you wander and happy to answer questions. Go in with open-minded curiosity, and you’ll find that a visit to Botanica & Tienda Naturista is one of the coolest shopping experiences in the Valley. BEST MEXICAN IMPORT STORE MEXICAN ARTS IMPORTS 340 N. 24TH ST. 602-275-9552 MEXICANARTSIMPORTS.COM Put on your sunglasses before you walk into Mexican Arts Imports. The central Phoenix shop is an explosion of color from jump, jam- packed with a maze of tight aisles over- stuffed with goods imported from Mexico. Are you building a shrine? They got you. Are you looking for a new set of dishes? You’ll have the prettiest table in the neighborhood. Are you looking for the perfect gift for the Frida Kahlo lover in your life? You can find the iconic artist’s face on all sorts of items. There’s also crucifixes, framed images of the Virgin Mary, leather purses and gun holsters, and metal sculptures for your front yard. If you want something well-made from Mexico without crossing the border, this is the store for you, as it has been since 1968. BEST CALAVERAS LALO COTA INSTAGRAM.COM/LALOCOTA Keep your eyes peeled around town, and it won’t be long until you spot a mural by Lalo Cota. The renowned local artist is famous for his vibrant skull imagery that has brought color and life to the Valley for years. Cota has added a family of baseball fans in Diamondbacks jerseys to Chase Field. He has portrayed Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker as a dribbling calavera. He painted his late friend and fellow artist Pablo Luna as a smiling skeleton on a bowl at Desert West Skate Park in the West Valley. It feels like a little win anytime we see a Cota work we haven’t seen before, another bright, charming addition to the character of the city. BEST DIA DE LOS MUERTOS FESTIVAL MESA MESAARTSCENTER.COM/ DIA-DE-LOS-MUERTOS-FESTIVAL Phoenix gets deadly serious about Día de los Muertos. The annual holiday dedicated to remembering loved ones who have passed is observed in every corner of the Valley, in ways big and small. Our favorite place to experience the emotion, music and color is at Mesa’s Día de los Muertos Festival, which draws tens of thousands of people to Mesa Arts Center. An enormous ofrenda honors those who are gone, folks in traditional dress and calavera masks roam the complex, music fills the air, community members perform, vendors sell food, drinks and other goods, and we’re just happy to take it all in.