It's been seven years waiting, finally, the return of Viva Phoenix happened on Oct. 19. Fourth Avenue is shutdown between Van Buren and Washington streets. More than 6,000 people were expected to celebrate the music, arts & cultural festival that has taken over downtown. Co-director Matt Baquet really wanted to showcase what Phoenix has to offer in the arts, music and food scene, as Phoenix is one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S.
It's not just music, but the food scene is showcasing Phoenix's best, like Andrade, who is the reigning 2024 James Beard Award-winning best chef in the Southwest."My specialty? Everything over the fire," Andrade says.His secret? Sanoran el pastor, manually rotated over the flames for a smokey finish. A place for collaboration and connection with local artists like Sam Perry, who is right on theme with rising from the ashes. Perry's work is made from Arizona's landfills.