We've been looking for museums and art galleries to change up the day to day and add some culture…read moreto our busy lives. I was driving past this spot so I thought I would check it out to maybe bring the girlfriend and the family. I wasn't able to see any art this day but I did explore the little shops around here to also give us ideas for food when we come back. I will update my star rating when we get back here.

I love this little gem in downtown Gilbert. Art Intersection was established in 2011. I was a…read morestudent in a black and white photography class down the street at Chandler-Gilbert CC when they opened. They had asked us in our class to submit a photo for viewing for a student photography exhibit at Art Intersection. I have visited numerous exhibits over the years since discovering this place. Art Intersection is located on the second floor of the Heritage Court Building. In addition to being a gallery, they offer a variety of photography classes for both beginners and experts. They also have a wet darkroom and both a process and digital lab that you can rent out. I have taken a photoshop class here in the past and enjoyed getting to know the founder Alan Fitzgerald. He has a deep passion and love for photography and is fun to chat with about photography. Every few months Art Intersection showcases an artist's photography work in their gallery. This includes an opening night reception where you can meet the artist and chat with them about their work. It's a great way to learn about many of the local photographers here in the Valley and view their work. The annual "No Strangers" exhibit is one of my favorites to check out. They used to have a fun event called Phototapas where they would celebrate the art of photography during the month of February. If you want to check out some great photography work and avoid the hassle of a larger museum, Art Intersection is open throughout the week and is free to visit.

The Marshall Gallery is located in an Old Town Scottsdale. It is one of my favorite galleries in…read morethe area for all their contemporary collection of paintings, glass, and sculptures. Don't forget to visit their upstairs area showing more glass works and paintings. Free street parking.

I visited the Marshall Art Gallery this morning and received an excellent education in many fine…read moreartists and their outstanding pieces. I personally loved the works of Douglas Aagars. Jillian did a wonderful job of demonstrating the importance of lighting when displaying his Birch Tree painting. The Gallery had a wonderful display of multiple mediums from many artists from the Western States. I would recommend visiting this Gallery and working with Jillian Latzman.

Scottsdale Art Walk is a famous event. It takes place every Thursday from roughly 6-9 p.m. in Old…read moreTown Scottsdale. Prior to going, I thought to myself: what can possibly make this weekly event so amazing. I thought I would be underwhelmed, Boy, was I wrong! I checked out the Art Walk for the first time in February. It took me a little while to find parking. Scottsdale has plenty of free street parking (which I always appreciate), including surface lots, but this is a popular event. After circling around for a few minutes, I was able to find a spot. In my opinion, here's the best way to enjoy the experience...have it come to you organically. Which is tough to say coming from someone who is a planner. Just walk around and walk into any and all of the art galleries that seem interesting to you. Of course, you can visit all of these galleries outside of the Scottsdale Art Walk. What makes this experience different is that rather than closing around 5 p.m., they keep their doors open late. Many of them will also offer complimentary drinks including wine, champagne, and cocktails. Awesome! With it being Scottsdale, you'll see a focus on Western and Native American art. That is not by any means the extent of what you'll find though. Some art galleries specialize in other styles of painting including surrealism, abstract art, French impressionism, or pointillism. Are y'all impressed with my knowledge of art? All of the art books I read when I was a kid are coming in clutch now. The art is generally quite expensive so I didn't buy anything but I still very much enjoyed the experience. You're also likely to find entertainment on the streets e.g. musicians and street performers. My favorite of the bunch I saw was a Native American performance. There are also Gold Palette Walks which are special versions of the weekly Scottsdale Art Walk. I haven't been to one of these, so I can't touch on how they compare, but I would like to at some point. I feel like a Scottsdale Art Walk is an experience all locals should check out at some point!

The Scottsdale weekly Thursday art walk is a great date night activity. Watch for the gold pallet…read moreones for extra activities going on like artists painting live and wine and cheese at the galleries. Nice to combine with the nearby Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art that also has free/donation based entry on Thursday evenings.

The Vision Gallery is located in downtown Chandler. It is small in nature. It carries selected…read moreartwork and small gifts. The gallery has an art vending machine where you can purchase small works of art. Staff are pleasant and helpful. Free shared parking right outside.

When I was younger, I had so much free time dedicated to doing whatever I wanted, but now free time…read moreis not easy to come by. Luckily I had time to enjoy to myself and visit Vision Gallery. I had been here last year during my pregnancy and enjoyed the exhibit then. Currently they are doing a wonderful showing of mixed media with quilts. I highly recommend visiting before the exhibition ends Jan 12 2024. Gallery is free but accepts donations. Free parking is also avail across the street

Such a cool collection of hidden Dr Seuss and Chuck Jones originals as well as different books…read more Would 100% recommend stopping by this hidden gem in Old Town Scottsdale.

I love Anticus! They are such an amazing support in our community. Beautiful art, Jewelry, and…read moresupport of local authors. I bought the most beautiful ring last time I was there! Owners KT and Phil carried my books in the Don't Be A Stranger Series for years. So grateful and excited to celebrate their 9 year anniversary celebration! And a little extra perk is seeing sweet Chewy each time I visit!

This is hands down my favorite coffee shop. As a student, I've been to a lot of coffee shops, and…read morethis one stands out every time. I absolutely love their chia, it's rich, bold, and full of flavor, and the matcha is truly top tier. The space is filled with artwork and has such cozy, welcoming vibes. This is my go-to spot, and I'll definitely keep coming back. The service and quality are always amazing, and I always feel comfortable here.

Really (yes, very really) bad coffee and the chai was clearly premade. While I was hungry enough to…read moreeat the whole thing, the Turkey sandwich felt like it was just Walmart ingredients and Ruffles potato chips. The place has a unique and interesting vibe, but felt more dirty than it did quirky. The cringy (yes, very cringy) live music being performed with maximum intensity on a grand piano shoved into the corner of the front room was just about the worst part of it all.

I've been coming to the Mesa Arts Center for years! For graduation ceremonies of the university i…read morework at. The staff are friendly and helpful. The sound engineers are very knowledgeable. There are two green rooms we use - both have the space to accommodate approximately 40 faculty members who make up the stage party. I sing the national anthem for the graduation ceremony and let me simply say how amazing their sound system is. There used to be no sound delay. The sound is crisp. And I think the sound system makes me sound even better than I really am!! lol The lobby area is spacious and great for after-ceremony gatherings. It truly is a great place! I also have contemplated taking some of the arts classes they offer. I haven't found time in my busy schedule but I do know they offer a variety if classes. I look forward to when I can take a class!!

My mom and I came here for the first for the Shen Yu. Great event we go every year but this year we…read moredecided to try the mesa location. We chose the sitting on the higher levels which we liked but don't chose the edge of the row cause then you can't see the side of the stage. Choose more in the middle. I was not happy with the bathroom stall I used. It seems when so many other people slam their doors my door became unlocked and opened on me while using the restroom. The bathroom was very clean!! The other annoying part was there was only one person working the concession stand. So we couldn't get anything. Cause our intermission ended by the time we got to the front of the line.