22 May 8th-May 14th, 2025 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | Creativity for Two 9 Phoenix date night spots for artistic types. BY ANGELA ROSERED C reative types often end up coupled; two people meet at a concert or an art opening, sparks fly and the rest is history. But what happens when you need a refresh, both romantically and artistically? Here are nine spots around Phoenix that make for a great date night, but also a creative kickstart. PIP Coffee and Clay 2617 N. 24th St. 2011 E. Apache Blvd., #147 Tempe What do caffeine and clay have in common? Both are stellar for getting the creative brain juices flowing. Family- owned PIP Coffee and Clay in Phoenix offers a range of ceramic class options from hand-building workshops to beginning and advanced wheel-throwing classes with a unique twist. Although it’s catego- rized as an art studio, PIP lives up to its name by also providing a variety of caffeinated and boozy beverages, along with meat-based and veggie-friendly eats. The 2023 Phoenix New Times’ Best of Phoenix “Best Place to Get Creative” winner recently expanded to another location in Tempe. Sketch Club Cafe Multiple Valley locations Want to get creative and get a caffeine fix to get your mind moving while waiting for inspiration to percolate? That’s where Sketch Club Cafe comes in. Sketch Club Cafe is a local Black-owned nonprofit orga- nization that gathers artists from all skill levels and mediums at different coffee shops across the Valley. The organization’s main mission is to hold a positive, creative, inclusive space for others to engage with each other, create art and sip some coffee. It’s perfect for an artistic rendezvous. Watch for upcoming club events at @ sketchclubcafe on Instagram. Jade and Clover 3939 E. Campbell Ave., #130 Studies show that being around plants can improve the mind’s cognitive behavior, which can be helpful when waiting for that creative spark. Jade and Clover in Phoenix offers a distinctive create-your-own terrarium experience. You pick out your container and plant at their Plant Bar before the staff guides you through the process of creating your new plant friend. The exterior of the Musical Instrument Museum in north Phoenix. (MIM) Feel free to bring your own food or drinks, including adult beverages. They even help you box it up and send you off with care instructions for your new creation. Spin Art Nation 2302 N. Central Ave., #3 Sometimes you need to embrace the chaos to get those creative wheels spinning. Luckily, Spin Art Nation has you covered by hosting an interactive art experience where you can use a variety of tools to create your piece. Let go of traditional art theory and let inspiration take you where it will — anything goes, and making a mess is encouraged. We particularly like the facil- ity’s Splatter Studio, where you can throw neon paint at canvases and the walls. (Yes, coveralls are provided.) Musical Instrument Museum 4725 E. Mayo Blvd. Music and art go together like peas and carrots. That’s why the globally renowned Musical Instrument Museum makes a great artistic date option. Unlike tradi- tional galleries filled with canvases, MIM’s exhibits feature more than 8,000 instru- ments from all over the world. In a first- floor gallery, see instruments owned and played by some of the most influential musicians throughout the decades. You can even interact with the instruments in the Experience Gallery. And take a look at the museum’s concert calendar; it’s packed with shows perfect for a date night. Candlelight Concerts Multiple Valley locations Looking for a more sensory-driven date that combines music and visuals? Check out what’s playing in the Candlelight Concert series. Providing multiple musical themes ranging from “’90s Unplugged” to “Best of The Beatles” to “A Tribute to Taylor Swift,” the performances let you and your sweetie lose yourselves in the sounds of classical instruments playing your favorite popular tunes, all set against a backdrop of hundreds of flickering candles. The ambiance is a great setting to recharge your artistic and romantic batteries. Candle Chemistry Multiple Valley locations Candlelight is famously romantic. At Candle Chemistry, you and a partner can hand-make the mood lighting for your next at-home rendezvous. The company’s create-your own-candle options begin by picking a container and customizing a scent. You can even design your own label and blend candle oils at the Fragrance Bar. Tutugether AZ 740 S. Mill Ave., #120, Tempe Join the tufting craze and craft a customized rug together at Tutugether AZ. Tufting is a textile technique where you use a tufting gun to push yarn through fabric to create a rug. This hands-on expe- rience is perfect for couples looking to focus on design elements like patterns, colors and textures. Bring in your own design, and the team will project your images so you can use the tufting gun to fill in and shape your creation. Desert Botanical Garden 1201 N. Galvin Parkway The Desert Botanical Garden is a Phoenix staple and made Vogue magazine’s 2024 list of Best Botanical Gardens in the U.S. for a reason. There’s lots of beauty and mystery in the desert, leading to both artistic and romantic inspiration. Take a stroll through one of their garden trails and galleries, or play with butterflies in the Cohn Family Butterfly Pavilion. You can also dust the creative cobwebs off by taking an art class. Their offerings range from desert art printmaking to nature journ- aling. Different music and community events are regularly on rotation, so reference their website to plan your visit. PIP Coffee + Clay serves up sips and ceramics. (PIP Coffee + Clay) Get messy together in Spin Art Nation’s splatter studio. (Cassie Hepler) ▼ Arts & Culture
