< PreviousT HIS ONE-MILE STRETCH OFF 7TH AVENUE IS AFFECTIONATELY known as the “Melrose Curve” for its slight eastern-leaning bend that breaks from the city’s usual straight-lined coordinate plane. Back in the 1950s, this area served as a vibrant commercial corridor that connected industrial downtown to the residential suburbs of Phoenix. “In the suburban spread-out of the 1950s and 1960s, 7th Avenue in the Melrose District was where the auto-attracting buildings and businesses were located that catered to clients who were making their way to and from work downtown,” says Roger Brevoort, historic preservation activist and director at TRU Realty. Anchoring the neighborhood on the northwest corner of 7th Avenue and Indian School Road is one emblematic building that has stood the test of time. Constructed in 1957, the space originally housed Paris Laundry & Dry Cleaning, identifiable by its large slanted structure that’s supported by three tilting columns and an eye-catching sign that lights up at night. The wide porte-cochère enabled cars to easily dash in and out for drop off and pick up. The building’s unique shape is representative of Googie architecture, a retro-futuristic style that was inspired by industrial progress, car culture and the space age during the postwar era. ARCHITE C TURE BY CHRISTINA SILVESTRI Modern Manor “Googie architecture was a very optimistic look into the future with everything moving forward,” says Michelle Dodds, retired Phoenix historic preservation officer. “The soaring roofline of the Paris Laundry building was really indicative of that architectural style along with the signage that went with it.” When Paris Laundry & Dry Cleaning closed in 2016, the building’s preservation was at risk. Coincidentally, local entrepreneurs Ryan Durkin and Kylie Durkin were searching for a new location to expand their vintage modern furniture store, Modern Manor, that was then just up the street. “After three years of looking, we found the Paris Laundry building,” says Ryan. “It’s an iconic building; everyone in town knows it. There was fear of it being torn down. We thought: Let’s do a concept where lots of people can appreciate and experience the building above and beyond just shopping for couches.” Nowadays, the building is not only home to Modern Manor but also shares space with an all-day restaurant, Valentine, in the front, and speakeasy, Bar 1912, in the back. Vestiges of the old edifice can be spotted inside and out—from the well-preserved exterior, given a fresh coat of paint with a new “Modern Manor” sign, to the interior, where the original “Paris Laundry & Dry Cleaning” sign hangs for an Insta-ready photo opp. “It’s a really beautiful and charming space,” says Ryan. “We intentionally left a lot of it raw on purpose. We wanted it to feel authentic to what the building looked like in the ’50s while achieving the aesthetic and function of what we’re doing now.” Perhaps Googie futurism predicted it all along. The Melrose District, freshly revived with vintage nostalgia, is now hotter than ever. “Architectural character draws people who identify with the amenities and assets that the unique buildings in Melrose have inherently,” says Brevoort, noting the rise in popularity and appreciation of historic neighborhoods such as Melrose. “I see the Melrose District continuing to thrive,” says Ryan. “It has culture and creativity. As people continue to believe and invest in the neighborhood, it can’t go wrong.” Modern Manor is located at 4130 N. 7th Ave, Phoenix, Ariz. 85013. www.modernmanorphx.com, @modernmanorshowroom, @valentine_phx WITH ITS MID CENTURY MODERN BUILDINGS AND BOLD GEOMETRIC SIGNS, 7TH AVENUE BETWEEN INDIAN SCHOOL AND CAMELBACK ROADS IN THE MELROSE DISTRICT OF PHOENIX CAN MAKE YOU FEEL AS IF YOU’RE MAKING YOUR WAY THROUGH A TIME CAPSULE. AZFOOTHILLS.COMAZFOOTHILLS AZFOOTHILLS Ryan Durkin and Kylie Durkin inside Modern Manor , Daniel Gr eene THEN & NOW AZFOOTHILLS.COM “ FASHION IS THE EXPRESSION OF TASTE, AESTHETICS, MOOD AND ART through clothing, accessories and wearable items,” says retail consultant Dr. Danielle Testa. “It is a direct reflection of society, culture and individual moods.” The fashion industry is always on the fasttrack to what’s new and next; however, the irony is that fashion can’t escape from being an artifact of time. And fashion, just like history, so often repeats itself. “Twenty-five years ago, denim took off,” says Tom Simon, operating partner at The Clotherie, an upscale boutique at Biltmore Fashion Park which has outfitted some of the Valley’s most well-heeled men and women in top-selling dress wear and luxury sportswear since 1969. Simon, who started his career at The Clotherie in the ’70s, also founded the former Hub Clothing store that brought luxury denim to the Phoenix market in the ’90s before returning to The Clotherie as co-owner in 2019. FA S H I O N BY CHRISTINA SILVESTRI The Clotherie “A stylish pair of jeans—think super low-waisted styles from Diesel, Big Star or Frankie B—was considered a status symbol circa 1997, when name-brand denim broke over $200 for the first time,” says Simon. “It was also the era of ‘pre-athleisure,’ as evidenced by Juicy Couture velour tracksuits and when stretch was first incorporated into denim.” Now, these nostalgic trends from the last millennium are making a comeback. “Expect that any late ’90s or early ’00s trend is fair game for fashion brands,” says Dr. Testa, noting trends such as midriff-baring tops, wide-leg trousers, shimmer makeup and butterfly hair clips. “Looking back 25 years provides a joyous escape with our clothing because we are all balancing a lot coming out of a couple years that were pretty somber for society as a whole.” Dr. Testa also observes a direct correlation between fashion and world events as trending styles capture the zeitgeist. “What we wear is becoming more directly related to the economy and society,” she says. “Take the massive loungewear trend of the last two years; can you imagine a ‘Mad Men’ character wearing sweatpants to the office in the ’50s, even if there was a pandemic? The boundaries of what is socially acceptable in fashion have widened, and subsequently, our fashion choices are now more direct reflections of our environment and sentiments.” While styles continue to evolve and change, some elements of the fashion experience have stood the test of time. For Simon, that’s prioritizing the individual wearing the clothes. “In the present, past and future, what has always been number one for us at The Clotherie is service,” he says, noting The Clotherie’s personal shopping and in-house master tailor services. “It’s about instinct, not imitation.” Meanwhile, Dr. Testa forecasts the future of fashion in Arizona to be bright. “Phoenix is a place for innovation,” she says. “There are so many entrepreneurs and innovators here that are making this a destination for—not just jobs in fashion and related fields—but creative opportunities to ignite new ideas in a rapidly evolving industry.” The Clotherie is located at 2502 E. Camelback Road, Suite #169, Phoenix, Ariz. 85016. www.theclotherie.com, @theclotherie “ WHAT IS FASHION?” DEPENDING ON WHOM YOU ASK, IT’S AN OPEN ENDED QUESTION.AZFOOTHILLS AZFOOTHILLS The Clotherie ads from 1978–1981 Looks from The Clotherie Tom Simon, operating partner at The Clotherie. , Brad Reed THEN & NOW AZFOOTHILLS.COM T EN YEARS AGO, PHOENIX-BASED PHOTOGRAPHER DEBBY WOLVOS wanted to begin shooting food and beverage jobs in the metropolitan area. The Minnesota native had quality experience in F&B photography, reporting and television in other markets, but she didn’t have much of a Valley résumé in the culinary work she particularly enjoyed. So, she called Melissa Larsen, then editor-in-chief of Arizona Foothills, making a pitch as a photographer/writer for a monthly culinary feature. “When she said ‘yes,’ I was so happy that I had tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. I owe my F&B photography career to Melissa and Arizona Foothills, and I’m forever grateful to her and to the pub,” she says. Immediately, it was the start of a beautiful friendship. “The assignments were great. Melissa gave me so much flexibility. I enjoyed meeting chefs and interviewing them. I photographed many of the best chefs and cooks in Arizona, such as Chef Kevin Binkley.” THE MA G AZINE BY DAVID M. BROWN / PHOTOGRAPHY BY DEBBY WOLVOS Debby Wolvos The jobs also helped her build a local portfolio; the chefs often needed images for their restaurants for marketing and websites. At the same time, Wolvos photographed events and submitted galleries to the magazine. Nowadays, her commercial photography, cookbooks, culinary textbooks, marketing images, billboards and editorial have prevented her from contributing to azf, but she’s proud to be Best of Our Valley winner. Food photography was different 10–25 years ago than it is now. “It was a bit more formal back then. Food photography is a little more relaxed looking now, showing food that is ‘perfectly imperfect.’ Today, you might see a few crumbs or a bite taken out of the dish now.” She adds: “Images used to be more sharply focused then. Now you usually see ones with only part of the food in focus, and the background is out of focus.” And, “There are a zillion food photographers on social media now.” She shoots for both editorial and commercial clients and has worked in the Sienna hills of Italy, the Sonoita plains of Arizona and kitchens wherever she can find chefs soliciting her skills. Clients have included periodicals such as Travel + Leisure, Forbes, Imbibe, Phoenix Magazine, Southwest Airlines Magazine and USA Today and companies such as The James Beard Foundation, IHOP, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts and Market Watch. Wolvos began still work in 1980 in Minnesota and has been specializing in F&B work for about 14 years. She was a corporate photographer and later a radio and television reporter/anchor in the Minneapolis/St. Paul market and a TV reporter in the Boston and Phoenix television markets. From Boston, she moved to Phoenix with her husband, Tom, and two children 21 years ago, working first as a reporter on ABC 15’s Sonoran Living Live for several years. All the while, she wanted to return to her joy of taking pictures. “I’ve had a passion for photography ever since I received a Kodak Instamatic camera for my 10th birthday. I spent time in my father’s darkroom and was excited to see the creative process come alive,” she says. She loves F&B in particular because it’s always challenging—chef to chef, kitchen to kitchen, dish to dish. “Each shoot brings something new: chefs, cooks, food and cocktails. I was a ‘foodie’ before most of today’s ‘foodies’ were born,” she adds with a smile. “When I was asked to photograph a cookbook 13 years ago, that was it. I put the two joys together, and we’ve been together ever since!” www.dw-photography.net, @debbywolvosphotography FOOD & TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHER GETS A FIRST SHOT IN VALLEY WITH AZ FOOTHILLSAZFOOTHILLS AZFOOTHILLS Debby Wolvos THEN & NOW AZFOOTHILLS.COM JAMES ‘JIM’ DUKE FOUNDED DUKE PHOTOGRAPHY IN 1950, AS PHOENIX was beginning its post-World War II boom; Americans were caravanning West from the Rust Belt and Midwest for bright opportunities and an affordable locale to start their families in the sunshine. After early years photographing families as a sidelight, he opened the photography studio and built it into the largest in Arizona, the company says. Many locals will remember the landmark building at 7th Avenue and Thomas Road across from St. Joseph Hospital. On April 25, 2015, Duke died, and his son Darrell built the business until 2021 when Phoenix native and Arcadia resident Aaron Klusman became the new owner; he moved the studio into its current contemporary space on Central Avenue north of Camelback Road, explains Darcy Carter, who manages the company. PHO T OGRAPHY BY DAVID M. BROWN / PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID WILLKIE Duke Photography The business was known for a variety of quality work and the clients served. “Mr. Duke was active in the Phoenix and surrounding areas, organizations. He did lots of weddings, school yearbook and sports photography, cotillion and business photography, and he also did pro bono work for the homeless and many other causes,” says photographer David Willkie, who has been with the company for 32 years. “If you needed a portrait for the family wall in your home or to build a holiday greeting card, you called Duke Photography,” says Carter. “Your child’s prom, corsage, dress, tux and all, wasn’t complete without a Duke photographer capturing the experience for everyone to enjoy in posterity. Your son came home from Vietnam or the Gulf War: You strung a banner across your house façade, invited relatives and friends—and Duke Photography. And when your parents celebrated their golden anniversary, you threw them a party and had one of the company photographers add to the joy.” With Duke Photography now in bustling uptown Phoenix, the future is in sharp focus, she says. “In a fresh studio with our trusted photographers, we’re still capturing the moments for families, seniors, schools, for sports events and for business.” She adds that the company will soon debut a “Crown Club Studio” as a membership-based studio lounge for the neighborhood to enjoy. A graduate of the Lindsey Hopkins Institute in Miami, Florida, Willkie moved to the Valley 34 years ago after working as a ship photographer for six years. He and his wife have two girls. In the last 20 years, almost everything has shifted in photography from film to digital imaging, he explains. “Digital cameras completely changed the photo business, allowing more people to become photographers because of the ability to see images in real time, make changes and produce an acceptable product.” Willkie’s favorite moment in his three decades for the company was a heavenly assignment years ago. “We showed up to the event only to discover that the main speaker was actor Charlton Heston, who played Moses in The Ten Commandments,” he recalls. Willkie took divine shots that day. After all, for 72 years that’s been rule #1 at Duke Photography: Thou shalt not take bad pictures. www.dukephotos.com, @dukecrownclub 72 YEARS & STILL PICTURE PERFECTAZFOOTHILLS AZFOOTHILLS THEN & NOW AZFOOTHILLS.COM T HIS WILL BE THE FOURTH TIME THAT ARIZONA HAS HOSTED the NFL’s annual playoff championship, joining only four other sites—including Southern Florida, New Orleans, Los Angeles and Tampa—with this distinction. While we wait to see which two teams will battle it out to score the winning points for the prized Lombardi Trophy, let’s take a look back at the Super Bowl’s history in Arizona and what there is to look forward to next year. 1996 | Super Bowl XXX Arizona’s very first Super Bowl saw the Dallas Cowboys win against the Pittsburgh Steelers 27 to 17 at Tempe’s Sun Devil Stadium on January 28, 1996. Diana Ross performed hits from her days with The Supremes during halftime before being dramatically airlifted off the field in a helicopter, all while singing “I Will Survive.” 2008 | Super Bowl XLII The Super Bowl first arrived in the West Valley on February 3, 2008, at the former University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. Considered one of the greatest games in sports history, the New York Giants beat the then-undefeated New England Patriots 17 to 14 during an epic fourth quarter that awarded Giants quarterback Eli Manning Super Bowl MVP. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers performed the halftime show. 2015 | Super Bowl XLIX Arizona’s most recent Super Bowl was once again at the University of Phoenix Stadium, where the New England Patriots faced off against the Seattle Seahawks, 28 to 24, on February 1, 2015. Katy Perry, Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliott were the halftime performers. Between Perry’s “left shark” and Malcolm Butler’s last-second goal-line interception, this game retains the record as the most-watched TV show in U.S. history, seen by 115 million viewers. According to the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee, 120,000 visitors joined the festivities in person, resulting in a $719-million economic impact. 2023 | Super Bowl LVII With former Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald as the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee’s executive chair, the upcoming Super Bowl aims to be the most sustainable yet. “Working with APS, the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee’s Official Green Partner, and NFL Green, the Host Committee will ensure all materials are recovered, reused or repurposed,” says Lesley Miller, the committee’s communications director. “Everything from unused food at events to the lumber to the sod used in the stadium will be donated. Plus, beautification and tree-planting events will take place around the Valley.” A free, multi-day, outdoor festival with live music and entertainment, local cuisine, and multicultural celebrations will take place at Margaret T. Hance Park in downtown Phoenix the week leading up to Super Bowl LVII, where Rihanna is slated to headline the coveted halftime show. The NFL’s Super Bowl Experience at Phoenix Convention Center is also planned where fans can collect autographs from football players, participate in interactive games, youth football clinics and more. www.azsuperbowl.com, @azsuperbowl SUPER BO WL LVII The Super Bowl THE COUNTDOWN TO THE 2023 SUPER BOWL IS OFFICIALLY ON. ARIZONA LOCALS WON’T HAVE TO VENTURE FAR TO WATCH AND CELEBRATE THE BIG GAME. THE GRAND CANYON STATE IS SET TO HOST SUPER BOWL LVII AT GLENDALE’S STATE FARM STADIUM, THE HOME OF THE CARDINALS, ON FEBRUARY 12, 2023. BY CHRISTINA SILVESTRI2015 Super Bowl XLIX 2008 Super Bowl XLII AZFOOTHILLS AZFOOTHILLS THEN & NOWNext >