It’s officially spring and what a wonderful time of year it is. Fling, training, break, all of these words just roll of the tongue after just saying the word while the weather and general cheery disposition of all the people we can only assume are tourists is just too darn hard to ignore. What does one do with all this excess joy? Get out and experience all this city has to offer. We sift through the blogs and you can use all that extra free time for skipping, smiling and listening to music with the windows down. You’re welcome.  And now, we present to you this week’s hometown low down…

Have you every been to The Duce in downtown Phoenix? The place is the perfect mix of boxing arena, boutique and bar. Everything you would want in an abandoned warehouse and yet nothing you’d expect. They serve their classic cocktails in mason jars which you can currently enjoy while sitting on bleachers and watching Spring Training games on big screen televisions. It’s like being at the game, but without the annoying sun wrinkling your baby-smooth complexion. CenPho has the dirt on the old warehouse revamped for you nightlife needs so check it out.

We recently did a post about the Art Deco jewelry making a comeback in fashion and how it represents a much discussed era in history. Nothing, however, is more closely tied to our perceptions of the 1920s than The Great Gatsby. The F. Scott Fitzgerald novel has been making high school children groan for nearly half a century, but we all know it’s a classic worth revisiting. If reading isn’t your thing, have no fear as the Arizona Theatre Company is performing the “Great American Novel”  from now until April 8th and the Herberger Theatre Center in Downtown Phoenix. Read a wonderful introduction on Frontdoors News Network here and gear up for a night of jazz, booze and not-so-subtle nuances alluding to the major flaws and impending collapse of American society.

Being a teenage girl sucks. Speaking strictly from experience it is a very difficult time especially when your interests differ from what one would call “normal”.  While many people assume that girls and Science go together like toothpaste and orange juice, the ladies of Xavier College Prep and The Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering at Arizona State University would beg to differ. According to Downtown Phoenix Journal, last Friday, the school hosted the fourth annual “Girls Have IT Day” which aims to promote women’s involvement in math and the sciences. More than 500 middle school girls from around the valley attended the event pushing us one step closer to having more kick ass female techies tearing up the IT world.

Hey March, you’re looking good and we can’t wait to take advantage of all you have to offer. Even with that extra day thrown in the end of February, you are a month jam packed with two extra days of springtime fun and, luckily, there are many media outlets dedicated to letting us know just what you have in store. We could write an entire ode to you, March, in fact, we just did. Here’s this week’s Home Town Low Down:  

Plans tonight? Of course you do, it’s First Friday and downtown Phoenix will be buzzing with local artists, musicians, actors and flappers? Well, that last one is due to the Arizona Theatre Company’s 1920s Soiree held at Hotel San Carlos tonight in honor of their upcoming production of The Great Gatsby, according to Jackalope Ranch.  The show will run from March 22 through April 8, but you can get a sneak peak of how they probably didn’t live in the prohibition era with swanky, classic cocktails , tunes by DJ Shade (the modern day equivalent to a live band) and attire supplied by a few choice vintage boutiques in Phoenix. Scrounge up your best Nick Carraway gear and grab your Daisy Buchanan for an exciting way to spend Friday night.

Sure, we complain when we can’t wear fall fashions until at least November, but when spring’s hot new looks come out, we are the first to be able to strut them down the catwalk of life. If you love fashion and are always hunting for a good deal, Downtown Phoenix Journal has got you covered with a comprehensive list of where to shop in the 602 and when the stores offer their best deals. From the big chains like Urban Outfitters to the lesser-known boutiques like Mercantile and Antique Sugar, this list is worth a gander.

We’re suckers for a good photograph, which is why we felt this beautiful photograph (above) from Ashley Brown courtesy of CenPho of the Bridle Path in downtown Phoenix was worth sharing. It started out as a equestrian path (hence the name), but now is enjoyed by pedestrians and bikers alike. The beautiful path runs along Central Ave. from Bethany Home Road to Dunlap and is just waiting for your feet to explore for yourself.