By Libby Allnatt and Savanah Yaghsezian
First Fridays can best be described as street festivals full of art, food and culture. During these monthly festivities, Roosevelt Street resembles one big party, with Valley residents of all ages milling about and music thumping from all nooks and crannies.
While the food trucks attract a large crowd (Tater tots and Mason jar lemonade, anyone?), and avid art lovers flock to the galleries, there are also some hidden gems under the tents that house a variety of vendors. Phoenix fashionistas can find refuge nestled in between tents selling yummy goods and promising psychic readings.
Accessory aficionados in particular would have the time of their lives gazing over the tables of jewelry and headwear, as we did when we hit up the festival on Friday evening. Walking up and down the rows of vendors, we were drawn to certain stands and made sure to get the scoop.
Savanah Yaghsezian
I started going to First Fridays my junior year of high school. My friends and I could finally drive each other around instead of waiting on our parents to come pick us up or drop us off, and we wanted to take advantage of our newfound freedom.
Naturally, we wanted to go somewhere farther than the two-minute drive it took us to get anywhere in our suburban community. Someone in my group of friends suggested we go downtown for a change in scenery. As someone who loves cities and anything related to the arts, I happily seconded the notion. After a 20-minute drive, we parked at the art museum and made our way via the trolley to Roosevelt Street.
I remember exploring the various galleries on Roosevelt, ogling the accessories laid out on folding tables, and hearing an amazing cover of “Last Nite” by The Strokes from a band playing at Revolver Records.
The festivities on Roosevelt Street don’t appear to have changed much in two years, but I’ve still managed to find something new each time I’ve gone. This month, Libby and I came across a stand covered in colorful hair bows and charming bow ties.
“Jekyll & Tied” is run by a brother and sister duo, Meg and Stuart Neil. Additionally, they partner up with their other sister, Annie Neil, who runs her own hand-lettering stand. The three different types of merchandise (bow ties, hair bows and hand-lettering) make the stand different from any other at First Friday, according to the siblings.
“I used to come to First Fridays for a few years,” Stuart said. “I know the owner of Revolver Records — I emailed him and got us a spot.”
Everything at the stand is homemade and family-run. The Neils’ mother even helps make the bowties.
I did some further research when I got home and discovered that Jekyll & Tied have their own Etsy page, JekyllandTied. Prices for bowties range from $22 to $26 and there’s an option to create a custom hair bow or bow tie ($13.50 for the hair bow, $35 for the bow tie). All you have to do is send in the fabric of your choice and let Jekyll & Tied work their magic.
Unfortunately, due to an impromptu shopping trip I took at the beginning of the week, I wasn’t able to purchase a hair bow. I’m hoping next month my bank account won’t be so barren.
First Fridays are a great way to get to know the city, shop for unique items and support the community. The next one is Dec. 5, and there’s a good chance I’ll be there, hopefully with some new accessories.
Libby Allnatt
I have been to several First Fridays during my time in Phoenix, and there is always something new to experience at these unique events, whether it’s popping into different shops on Roosevelt Street or simply people-watching. However, there are some regular vendors I am always intrigued by, and I often stop to look over their uniquely crafted merchandise artfully arranged on the tables.
Last Friday, the stand of jewelry designer Tiffany Jordan caught my eye. Dozens of dangly earrings of all shapes, sizes and colors lined the table under Jordan’s tent. Nautical style is my preppy indulgence, so naturally I was drawn to the pieces that included anchors and shells.
Also in the mix were earrings with sparkly black hearts, structured peace signs and glitzy statement jewels. The best part? All these fun dangly pieces were only $5 per pair.
Jordan’s talent shows through in her intricate pieces, all of which she crafts herself.
“I make all of this out of just … charms, buttons, brads, beads, anything that I think would make … a cute earring,” she told me.
But Jordan’s stand does not just include earrings. The table on Friday also displayed colorful flower hairpieces and a rack of bracelets and necklaces. I was especially drawn to a chunky houndstooth bangle, and the rack included a quirky paint-splattered bangle and beaded bracelets that looked like they were made for layering, as well.
Jordan, who has been selling at First Fridays for eight years, describes the events as a “vast market” with a large variety of customers — no two are the same.
No matter whom she is selling to, Jordan says her goal each month is simply “to make people happy,” which seems to be a feasible task given the fun, stylish, hand-crafted pieces that line her table each month.
Contact the columnists at lallnatt@asu.edu and syaghsez@asu.edu
