While downtown Phoenix has been known for its nightlife and workplace atmospheres, some businesses are attracting families with more kid-friendly events and attractions such as the MonOrchid Gallery hosting its first Family day.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 27, and children and their families can talk to artists and musician and enjoy food from local Phoenix restaurants.
“We want to bring a whole life, not just a nightlife,” said Nicole Royse, The MonOrchid Gallery Associate Curator.
Royse said that there are a lot of families in the Downtown Phoenix area with young children and it is important to have activities for the kids to do as well as the adults.
“There are a lot of families, especially in the art community downtown, and I hope to build a place where families want to bring their kids,” Royse said.
Royse said involving families builds a community.
“We love the community and we want downtown to grow,” she added. “It is important to us for the community to have a good time and allow their children to have a good time too and get a little culture while doing it.”
According to Royse, the event will showcase live paintings, yoga, their Thermal PHX exhibition and limited edition coloring sheets for the kids that were put together by the artists from the show.
Royse hopes to continue hosting family events in the upcoming years to continue building the downtown art community.
Children’s Museum of Phoenix also has been attracting families and children with exciting events and exhibits.
“The difference in our museum is that it is geared specifically toward kids from birth to ten years old,” said Brandi Devlin, marketing manager for the Children Museum.
Devlin said that the museum was excited for its downtown location because of Phoenix’s growth.
“Phoenix is growing and with so much to do in the area like going to different games and restaurants, it is nice to have another alternative for kids,” Devlin said.
Devlin said that there is a nationwide trend for wanting to live close to the city, especially for younger families.
“Younger families are buying houses close to the downtown-area so it is nice to provide something for the kids to do,” Devlin said.
These families are used to the suburbs with the malls, parks and Chuck E. Cheeses, but now they are apart of a community, she said.
“This is the bigger picture of what’s going on downtown,” Devlin said. “These kids and families make a community and they are able to become more in tune with arts and culture.”
Parris Peters, owner of second hand clothing store, Squid and Monkey, wanted a place for neighbor children to be able to come and express themselves.
“My kids are here every day with me at the shop, so I decided to open it up to the neighborhood,” Peters said.
Every Saturday the The Squid and The Monkey hosts small activities for kids to come participate in and these kids are also able to hear stories on Sunday’s, Peters added.
“The neighborhoods surrounding the downtown area are full of children and they don’t have a lot of activities to do because it is nightlife oriented,” Peters said. “These kids are still growing and still learning and there is so much for adults to do on Fifth Street that we want children to be able to do things just like an adult.”
Peters brings in guest readers and hosts to help her with these various science or craft oriented projects.
“If these different programs continue downtown we will have very talented children,” Peters laughed. “Bringing these kids downtown will make them city savvy and that is so valuable.”
Contact the reporter at megan.conner@asu.edu
