160 Best of phoenix 2023 | WWW.bestofphoenix2023.c0m | septemBer 28, 2023 Best African Shop AFRI-SOUL MARKETPLACE 1145 E. Washington St., #100 afri-soul.com Talk about a hidden gem. Tucked away in a thoroughly nondescript office building is the Afri-Soul Marketplace, a small store that carries beautiful items from across the African continent. Just down a hallway from the also-wonderful Grassrootz Bookstore & Juice Bar, Afri-Soul carries clothing, jewelry and other accessories, beauty and personal care products, and art from a number of vendors. We left after a recent visit carrying a bright, fun bracelet made of paper beads, a sturdy yet stylish cloth hand fan and a handpainted giraffe-print belt. And we suspect we’ll eventually pick up that handwoven basket and bright cotton dress we can’t stop thinking about. Prices at Afri-Soul Marketplace are exceptionally reasonable, and anytime you go, you’re sure to find a gift — or something for yourself — you can’t find anywhere else in town. Best Place to Buy Local Art PRACTICAL ART 5070 N. Central Ave. 602-264-1414 practical-art.com “Shop local” is a popular buzz phrase these days, and with good reason: When you buy from an Arizona business, signifi- cantly more of the store’s revenue stays in-state to bolster the economy. Practical Art in Central Phoenix has been exempli- fying the phrase for 15 years, selling the work of some of the city’s best artists, including Ann Morton, Janel Garza, Carrie Marill, Christopher Jagmin, Jon Arvizu and dozens more in the form of paintings, prints, jewelry, T-shirts, ceramics, sculptures and kitchenware. If you can’t get enough of Practical Art’s merchandise, you can join its Art Club, where a moderate fee gets you one new item per month, plus exclusive offers and invitations to special events. Best Art Supplies BLICK ART SUPPLIES 930 E. University Drive, #101, Tempe 480-446-0800 dickblick.com We know a lot of professional artists. We ourselves are amateur — dare we say terrible — artists. But the thing about Blick Art Supplies in Tempe is that it welcomes customers of all skill levels in with equal amounts of enthusiasm. Whether your medium is paint, clay or pencil, Blick’s got
