Art in the Alley

The Alley by itself is not much, just an alley, really, though a few businesses have spruced it up a bit. The good part is every first Tuesday nigh, they have "Art in the Alley". This allows local/regional artists to set up tables and sell their atr. Its a great place to meet people and buy some great local art. When I went, there were about 20 booths and there was a lot of jewlery. They had live music and a vendor selling kettle corn and shaved ice (not a snow cone). Lots of fun for an evening in Casa Grande.

I try and get out to this every Tuesday, but ever since the Paramount was turned to new ownership, things have not been as lively. The Paramount's house band used to play near Picazzo's. They were really good. I have not seen them lately. The Paramount itself would open up for an open mic or improv. Now it is closed... this makes NO sense since it is an arts venue in the midst of an art event! Even the open mic is iffy these days... there is one performer who is good, but who fills up just about every slot for the open mic. This does not seem fair. On the upside, the farmer's market is growing in a great way. The prices of the art are reasonable (I got a beautiful tea bowl for only $5... the same type I paid $20 in the past). I will still attend, but hope that someone will see this and work to improve things the way there were in the spring of 2009.