As a New York native, one thing I enjoy doing is staying busy. In my time in Arizona, I’ve learned that anyone who says there’s nothing to do here simply isn’t telling the truth. In Maricopa County, I have found that there’s an abundance of things to do, places to go, and people to meet.
That’s what inspired me to start this new column, Heat Map, which will be a monthly feature highlighting what I’ve done in Arizona over the month, my thoughts on each place, and whether I’d recommend it to others. My scale for picking what to feature tends to be whether I’d tell my New York friends about it; then it passes the test. Here are my top places for October that belong on the heat map.
I’ve decided to split this month up into four categories: coffee and cafes, vintage stores, things to do, and delicious bites. I hope you enjoy my recommendations. Please let me know if you have any more suggestions at npdagaev@gmail.com.
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Introduced to me by my lovely girlfriend Lauren, Satellite Coffee has one of the best matchas in the Valley (in my opinion). Owned by Phoenix’s well-loved Ollie Vaughns, the coffee bar opened last year inside the Neighborhood Outdoor Furniture design-oriented showroom (hence it’s amazingly decorated interior). Covered in greenery, modern wooden accent pieces, and natural light, it’s the perfect place to get some work done or catch up with a friend. They offer a wide variety of seasonal coffee and matcha flavors, including this month's offerings: Tiramisu cold brew, pear-spiced tonic matcha, sweet potato latte with maple cold foam, and white chocolate cinnamon chai.
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Cafe Mollie is one of my favorites for more authentic matcha, with this Vietnamese cafe being one of the most famous for Phoenix’s matcha madness. The cafe went viral earlier this year for its mango sticky rice matcha, and has been on the rise ever since. Founded in 2021, the cafe is located on 16th Street and is known for its classic Vietnamese coffee and experimental matcha combinations. Their fall specials include the London Fog matcha, Vietnamese Pumpkin latte, and Muscovado Butter Hojicha. Their Ube matcha is one of my favorites!
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The Indigo Room is another hidden gem that went viral over the summer, located inside Downtown’s vintage furniture store, Urban Collective. Opened in March of this year, the project is a family affair, with owners Quinn Unrein and Carder Mehr collaborating with Unrein’s mother who co-owns the furniture store. Not only is it incredibly cool to see the decor change as time goes on, but its home to some amazing drinks. They have a variety of coffee and matcha flavors, which change seasonally. Some of their classics include the Ube latte, Maple Cinnamon and Sage latte, and Earl Grey matcha. I love getting a matcha with vanilla!
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Voted the Best in The Valley by PHOENIX Magazine last year, Ewie Vintage has definitely been one of my favorite places to shop around. Located on East Indian School, the store features a Y2K theme filled with vintage prints, furnishings, and, of course, clothes! Own and run by Avery Greey, the store offers one-of-a-kind vintage pieces from every time period. Maxi and mini skirts, lingerie, jackets, jeans, you name it, you can find it there! The employees have also been extremely kind every time I’ve visited, and I found an insane vintage maxi denim skirt that I wore to a music festival.
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Opened in May of this year, this elegant vintage store on North 24th Street boasts a fabulous collection of designer and top brands. Mainly featuring neutrals and the occasional fun animal or polka dot print, this store is great for those seeking a curated selection of elevated basics or high-quality accessories. The store has recently hosted a few in-person shopping events with other businesses in the Valley, and even has an online store, making it easy to purchase from them even if you can’t visit in person.
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Located on Central Avenue, this is one of my all-time favorite vintage stores in the area. Owned by Tokyo Yasu Hashino, his vintage selection of classic American brands mixed with rare Tokyo pieces (and his friendly demeanor) makes this place a must-visit. Although there are some more expensive, designer pieces, there are also numerous affordable finds available here. They have an extensive collection of vintage tees and unique womenswear pieces that can elevate any look. I found a pair of vintage '90s Lee jeans for $30 and have worn them dozens of times since I bought them.
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Though this exhibit is no longer showing, I still wanted to put it on my list from last month. The World of Anna Sui featured more than 80 pieces from her archives, starting from her premier runway show in 1991 to her latest collections. Drawing inspiration from cowgirls, grunge girls, hippie chicks, hula girls, Mods, pirate rock stars, Pre-Raphaelite maidens, and surfer nomads, this was a fantastic exhibit to see in person. Having been a long-time fan of Sui’s work, getting the history behind how she got into fashion, some of her most iconic runway looks and even insights into her beauty and fragrance collections was one of the best exhibits I’ve seen at the Phoenix Art Museum.
Escapology Escape Rooms
In light of my desire to reduce my phone use and utilize my brain more, I recently rediscovered escape rooms, an activity I enjoyed greatly during my early teenage years. With the opening of Escapology in Tempe this summer, I’ve been enjoying their variety of rooms to test my brain. There are three rooms in each themed escape room, and visitors have 60 minutes to navigate through all three rooms and find the necessary items to progress and eventually escape. They have locations in Tempe, Scottsdale, and Phoenix/San Tan, with each offering different themed rooms to escape into. From a Mansion Murder to a chemical lab, there’s bound to be a themed room that will catch your eye.
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I joined a book club this year (shout-out to Florecer Book Club!), and we’ve been reading one book each month, then meeting up at the end to discuss what we've learned and thought about that month’s pick. Changing Hands was recommended to me by many of the girls, so I decided to give it a try. With locations in Tempe and Downtown, the local chain, which has been open since 1974, offers books on nearly every subject imaginable. They offer a wide selection of new books, used books, audiobooks, and fun trinkets at very reasonable prices. They even have a book bar in their Phoenix location. I have absolutely loved purchasing my books from them and greatly enjoyed meeting up there for book club to discuss our month’s pick.
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Another new pick having opened earlier this year, Club Contact is the sister club of beloved bar, Gracie’s Tax Bar. Featuring colorful blaring lights, great drinks, and a large outdoor area with some amazing late-night eats, this club earns the Nina stamp of approval. The music was excellent and rarely experienced a lull in the vibes, had a large dance floor, and it was easy to get a drink earlier on in the night. It does get packed, but that’s what makes it all the more fun. With theme nights throughout the month and a variety of local DJs and events, it’s the perfect place for a night out.
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Having just opened in Tempe, this sushi and sake spot immediately captured my heart. Part of the national Flagship Restaurant Group (who also owns Cham Pang Lane, Ghost Donkey, Palma, and Pyro), it is part of the country’s largest sushi chain running a sustainably sourced seafood program in partnership with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch. Additional locations are planned for Surprise and Gilbert next year. Not only was the restaurant itself gorgeous, with large murals across the walls and modern decor, but it also offered some amazing rolls, creative drinks, and delicious happy hour specials! It was reasonably priced for how fresh it was, and with the cooler weather, it was lovely to sit outside.
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Located in Downtown Gilbert, this first and original speakeasy of the area serves up a large variety of cocktails, spirits, and light bites. You do need a reservation (and to use the secret password), but this was one of the coolest bars I’ve been to in Gilbert. Hidden behind a bookcase door, it features a large gallery wall, numerous liquor bottles in cases, plush leather seats, and countless Instagram-ready photo areas scattered throughout. The drinks were artfully crafted using many local Arizona spirits (and were insanely flavorful). They also rotate cocktails, meaning you can try a new drink every season. There’s also a club right next door in case you feel like dancing after, making an excellent spot for an elevated night out or for a tasty cocktail.
That’s what inspired me to start this new column, Heat Map, which will be a monthly feature highlighting what I’ve done in Arizona over the month, my thoughts on each place, and whether I’d recommend it to others. My scale for picking what to feature tends to be whether I’d tell my New York friends about it; then it passes the test. Here are my top places for October that belong on the heat map.
I’ve decided to split this month up into four categories: coffee and cafes, vintage stores, things to do, and delicious bites. I hope you enjoy my recommendations. Please let me know if you have any more suggestions at npdagaev@gmail.com.
Coffee/Cafes
Introduced to me by my lovely girlfriend Lauren, Satellite Coffee has one of the best matchas in the Valley (in my opinion). Owned by Phoenix’s well-loved Ollie Vaughns, the coffee bar opened last year inside the Neighborhood Outdoor Furniture design-oriented showroom (hence it’s amazingly decorated interior). Covered in greenery, modern wooden accent pieces, and natural light, it’s the perfect place to get some work done or catch up with a friend. They offer a wide variety of seasonal coffee and matcha flavors, including this month's offerings: Tiramisu cold brew, pear-spiced tonic matcha, sweet potato latte with maple cold foam, and white chocolate cinnamon chai.
The Indigo Room is another hidden gem that went viral over the summer, located inside Downtown’s vintage furniture store, Urban Collective. Opened in March of this year, the project is a family affair, with owners Quinn Unrein and Carder Mehr collaborating with Unrein’s mother who co-owns the furniture store. Not only is it incredibly cool to see the decor change as time goes on, but its home to some amazing drinks. They have a variety of coffee and matcha flavors, which change seasonally. Some of their classics include the Ube latte, Maple Cinnamon and Sage latte, and Earl Grey matcha. I love getting a matcha with vanilla!
Vintage Stores
Voted the Best in The Valley by PHOENIX Magazine last year, Ewie Vintage has definitely been one of my favorite places to shop around. Located on East Indian School, the store features a Y2K theme filled with vintage prints, furnishings, and, of course, clothes! Own and run by Avery Greey, the store offers one-of-a-kind vintage pieces from every time period. Maxi and mini skirts, lingerie, jackets, jeans, you name it, you can find it there! The employees have also been extremely kind every time I’ve visited, and I found an insane vintage maxi denim skirt that I wore to a music festival.
Opened in May of this year, this elegant vintage store on North 24th Street boasts a fabulous collection of designer and top brands. Mainly featuring neutrals and the occasional fun animal or polka dot print, this store is great for those seeking a curated selection of elevated basics or high-quality accessories. The store has recently hosted a few in-person shopping events with other businesses in the Valley, and even has an online store, making it easy to purchase from them even if you can’t visit in person.
Located on Central Avenue, this is one of my all-time favorite vintage stores in the area. Owned by Tokyo Yasu Hashino, his vintage selection of classic American brands mixed with rare Tokyo pieces (and his friendly demeanor) makes this place a must-visit. Although there are some more expensive, designer pieces, there are also numerous affordable finds available here. They have an extensive collection of vintage tees and unique womenswear pieces that can elevate any look. I found a pair of vintage '90s Lee jeans for $30 and have worn them dozens of times since I bought them.
Things to Do:
Though this exhibit is no longer showing, I still wanted to put it on my list from last month. The World of Anna Sui featured more than 80 pieces from her archives, starting from her premier runway show in 1991 to her latest collections. Drawing inspiration from cowgirls, grunge girls, hippie chicks, hula girls, Mods, pirate rock stars, Pre-Raphaelite maidens, and surfer nomads, this was a fantastic exhibit to see in person. Having been a long-time fan of Sui’s work, getting the history behind how she got into fashion, some of her most iconic runway looks and even insights into her beauty and fragrance collections was one of the best exhibits I’ve seen at the Phoenix Art Museum.
Escapology Escape Rooms
In light of my desire to reduce my phone use and utilize my brain more, I recently rediscovered escape rooms, an activity I enjoyed greatly during my early teenage years. With the opening of Escapology in Tempe this summer, I’ve been enjoying their variety of rooms to test my brain. There are three rooms in each themed escape room, and visitors have 60 minutes to navigate through all three rooms and find the necessary items to progress and eventually escape. They have locations in Tempe, Scottsdale, and Phoenix/San Tan, with each offering different themed rooms to escape into. From a Mansion Murder to a chemical lab, there’s bound to be a themed room that will catch your eye.
I joined a book club this year (shout-out to Florecer Book Club!), and we’ve been reading one book each month, then meeting up at the end to discuss what we've learned and thought about that month’s pick. Changing Hands was recommended to me by many of the girls, so I decided to give it a try. With locations in Tempe and Downtown, the local chain, which has been open since 1974, offers books on nearly every subject imaginable. They offer a wide selection of new books, used books, audiobooks, and fun trinkets at very reasonable prices. They even have a book bar in their Phoenix location. I have absolutely loved purchasing my books from them and greatly enjoyed meeting up there for book club to discuss our month’s pick.
Another new pick having opened earlier this year, Club Contact is the sister club of beloved bar, Gracie’s Tax Bar. Featuring colorful blaring lights, great drinks, and a large outdoor area with some amazing late-night eats, this club earns the Nina stamp of approval. The music was excellent and rarely experienced a lull in the vibes, had a large dance floor, and it was easy to get a drink earlier on in the night. It does get packed, but that’s what makes it all the more fun. With theme nights throughout the month and a variety of local DJs and events, it’s the perfect place for a night out.
Good Eats:
Having just opened in Tempe, this sushi and sake spot immediately captured my heart. Part of the national Flagship Restaurant Group (who also owns Cham Pang Lane, Ghost Donkey, Palma, and Pyro), it is part of the country’s largest sushi chain running a sustainably sourced seafood program in partnership with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch. Additional locations are planned for Surprise and Gilbert next year. Not only was the restaurant itself gorgeous, with large murals across the walls and modern decor, but it also offered some amazing rolls, creative drinks, and delicious happy hour specials! It was reasonably priced for how fresh it was, and with the cooler weather, it was lovely to sit outside.
Located in Downtown Gilbert, this first and original speakeasy of the area serves up a large variety of cocktails, spirits, and light bites. You do need a reservation (and to use the secret password), but this was one of the coolest bars I’ve been to in Gilbert. Hidden behind a bookcase door, it features a large gallery wall, numerous liquor bottles in cases, plush leather seats, and countless Instagram-ready photo areas scattered throughout. The drinks were artfully crafted using many local Arizona spirits (and were insanely flavorful). They also rotate cocktails, meaning you can try a new drink every season. There’s also a club right next door in case you feel like dancing after, making an excellent spot for an elevated night out or for a tasty cocktail.