Phoenix Blog

Since we checked out the cool paper art at Green, we've been curious about what's going on over at sister restaurant That's a Wrap on 7th St. in Phoenix -- or at least, curious about what's going on their walls. The two veggie-friendly eateries were sired by restauranteur Damon Brasch, and like real sisters, there's some common ground (fresh salads and wraps) and personality differences (it's "mock meat" only for 'Lil Sis). 

Detail of Cathedral Rock at Red Rock Crossing by Sparbanie

Apparently, Green and its Big Sis share "clothing," too. Though we planned to visit That's a Wrap in May to peep their art selection, when we arrived, lo and behold there was ASU student Catie Raya's folded paper art, which we saw at Green back in late March. Damn. That meant a return trip, and luckily when we went back last week, Raya's colorful portraits had been replaced by a series of scenic photos by the enigmatically-named Sparbanie. Who IS this mystery man/woman/collective?  

It's about this time of year that Phoenicians -- even some of the natives -- start looking to get out. It's not that we don't love our warm, sunny spot on the map. It's just that our hotter than hell summers are the equivalent of snowy northern winters; the time of year in a particular region where locals just need to go somewhere else for a couple of days. Basically, anywhere with a different climate.

Dawn at the Golden Gate by Mark Kroeppler

And while we haven't quite made it to our annual "summer vacation" yet, on one recent visit, Essence Bakery Café on University Dr. in Tempe managed to temporarily transport us to San Francisco, Europe and some nameless wonderland where it actually rains. How? Well, the food has a distinctly European sensibility (we'll get to that later) and they offer amazing French macarons, but it's photographer Mark Kroeppler's prints that really eased our cabin, er, city fever.

More food and photos after the jump...     

We've discussed just about every way a restaurant owner can source local art, short of personally heading out to galleries and art fairs and soliciting artists to exhibit in their space. But there's one possibility we hadn't even considered -- exhibiting artwork made by your own staff.
Sure, this could go tragically wrong. While Duff Goldman and his talented Ace of Cakes Crew certainly can sculpt in fondant, and many so called "starving artist" types moonlight as waiters, we can only imagine the grade school crap that might come out of handing our favorite chefs a canvas, some paint and a brush (hmm... do we smell a challenge cooking?) But some restaurants are lucky enough to have an artist on staff. Several months ago, the childhood photos on the walls of Phoenix's Lisa G Cafe & Wine Bar were replaced by the contemporary paintings of employee Susan Burgos.

Did the switch pay off? More after the jump...     

We've often wondered what it takes to get one's art displayed at local restaurants. Money? Notoriety? Clearly, if you're trying to bust into the likes of Malee's or District American Kitchen, you'll need representation via the galleries they've partnered up with. This (almost) guarantees the restaurant that the art they receive won't suck, but it also prevents the little guy from getting a break.

Photo of a desert landscape by William "Bill" Fuller

What to do? Grab your portfolio and schedule an appointment with a place like Gold Bar Espresso in the Basha's plaza at McClintock and Southern Ave. in Tempe. Like most coffee houses, it's an easier and cheaper affair: if the owners like your artwork you're in, and they don't take a commission from anything you sell (although they don't assume liability if your work gets damaged, either). 

Granted, your paintings or photos might get lost amongst the clutter of Michael Parkes prints, stained glass windows and movie memorabilia at Gold Bar, but hey -- two words: solo show. More after the jump... 

Malee's Thai in Scottsdale isn't the only eatery in town that partnered up with a local gallery. Prior to opening in the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown hotel at 320 N. 3rd St., District American Kitchen and Wine Bar (with the help of Tele Art Resource's Laurie Post) solicited proposals from local art galleries. Paulina Miller answered the call and created a sort of miniature art show on District's walls that changes every two months.

A trio of works by Marcella Harvey.

The upside of such a pairing is the eclectic mix of artwork. Contemporary, traditional, oil, acrylic, graphite -- all are possible given the range of artists represented by any major local gallery. The downside is also the eclectic mix of artwork. With several artists represented in a range of styles and media, you might be seated next to an exotic painting of a native woman. Or, you might get stuck next to this:

With Southwest tourists galore and more art galleries per square foot than even most Manhattan suburbs, Old Town Scottsdale is a big draw for local artists seeking fame -- or just seeking to draw attention to their works. It's also a hotspot for national artists, whose works can be found lining the walls of Gebert Contemporary or Bentley Gallery's Scottsdale branch.

Detail of "Swimming Around" by Patrick Coffaro

Considering how hit-and-miss it can be for restaurants to solicit local artists (see "Breakfast with Bob Dylan..."), wouldn't it be easier and wiser to hit up a local gallery and showcase artwork that's not currently on display there? Talk about an easy win-win sitch. The gallery gets tons of exposure for pieces that would otherwise just sit in the storeroom gathering dust, and the restaurant gets a rotating selection of free art to decorate with. Sweet! At least one Scottsdale mainstay has picked up on this fact -- Malee's Thai Bistro on Main St.    

Drive past Carly's Bistro on Roosevelt St. in downtown Phoenix and you might think the place is a total dive; the kind of shady bar & grill where smokers huddle in clusters, puffing under the counter, ready to snuff out their illegal-in-public cancer sticks should the PoPo arrive. If that's what you're expecting, you'll be sorely disappointed. 

Inside, Carly's is bright and welcoming, with orange and turquoise walls, artsy bistro tables plastered with cartoon sketches and a rotating selection of local art on the walls. There's a nice size bar, natch, but really this is a neighborhood joint which caters mostly to the downtown business and First Friday crowds. That being said, since First Friday has grown into such an art destination, I wondered where does Carly's rank? 

When it comes to restaurant decor, good art is definitely the key to success. Sure, exotic hardwood tables and funky exposed brick walls go a long way, but if a cool place is decked in dime-a-dozen IKEA prints or fuzzy amateurish photos it can ruin the ambiance. And let's be honest, unless you're going for the Pure Sushi look, bare walls won't cut it.

Detail of mural by M. Brandon Vela

Thank God Tempe's Caffe Boa on downtown Mill doesn't suffer that fate. We could barely contain ourselves when the quirky, eclectic original was razed in to make way for the gravel pit of despair at Mill and Sixth. We'd hang ourselves with a limp noodle if the Caffe redux was a sanitized, totally commercial eatery.

One look at the historic facade and exposed brick arches, and our fears were assuaged. But does it measure up in the art department? 

Few coffee shops have attracted the attention that Hob Nobs has, after gentrifying and occupying the former Willow House space. First, there was the public outcry over the proposed "Willo House" name. Then there was the mixed reviews and, recently, an unfavorable health inspection involving blowing in plastic gloves. The place seems to be getting a bad rap, despite the fact it's much cleaner and more welcoming than the building's former occupant.

Local art remains on the walls, and even on the tables and in the windows. There's no stale smoke smell. No crazy ocean-themed bathroom (although we kind of miss that). No dreadlocked hippie poet types, despite this very Grateful Dead ink drawing by local artist Ignacio Farias.

Detail of "Overflying Kandinsky" by Ignacio Farias

There's nothing scarier for a die-hard meat eater than a vegan restaurant. Just mentioning the lack of animal by-product may cause him or her to sweat, or at least go into a lengthy rant about "those damned veg-heads" with hippie dreadlocks and unshaven pits. How they had a boyfriend/girlfriends they couldn't take anywhere public for fear of their vegan date whining about nothing edible on the menu or launching into a sermon on the horrors of slaughterhouses.

 

Enter Green, the super popular, hip eatery in the strip mall next to the Salvation Army on Scottsdale Rd. The place is cute and comfy, with mismatched couches for relaxing and pretty varnished wood tables with black tree designs. The painted VW hubcaps and car doors on the wall might be a granola-crunchy giveaway, but the place is relaxed enough to beckon vegan and omnivore alike. Green also hosts a rotating selection of local art on the bright orange wall near the entrance -- often as funky and fun as the rest of the decor.