Click logo for article link. Straight Up A Friday Night Fusion of Food, Art and Global Beats By Jonny Rogers for 944 Magazine “I saw a need for a world-class weekly event here in Phoenix,” says Joe DiPadova, the event’s originator, promoter and, often times, DJ. “I felt, and still feel, Phoenix was ready.” The first Friday night gathering, August 23, proved an audience existed for something out of the ordinary. Compared to the dozens of hip-hop and house weeklies throughout the metro area that offer little substance beyond resident DJs and an excuse to get drunk, StraightNoChaser’s focus is on diverse music, food and arts. Held just a block off Mill Avenue at The Loft (the echo of drums is often what draws people into the venue from the streets), the night starts early with a wine-tasting from 6 to 8 p.m. Either local sommelier Brent Karlicek from Postino or House Of Tricks wine buyer Ryan “RB” Brown are on hand to pour whites and reds, and share their vast knowledge of the sacred purple fruit. Chef Cullen Campbell, in the meantime, summons his talent in the kitchen to cook eclectic designer dishes that change weekly (they’re posted on the SNC Web site in advance). Past entrees have included Pumpkin Braised Beef Short Ribs and Grilled Salmon with apple salad and three sauces. During the wine-tasting and dinner, and especially as soon as the night heats up around 10 p.m., live artists paint for the crowd, and rotating resident jazz players, funk bands and DJs abound. DiPadova claims the music is part of the whole experience, but we think it’s the main reason a crowd forms here every weekend. A group of more than 15 local and international musicians make up the StraightNoChaser family, including Lars Behrenroth from Germany (uptempo, nujazz, broken beat), Lymbyc System (Rhodes-driven soul, funk and indie rock), and Sonorous (live jazz and avant-garde funk). DiPadova is known to step up to the turntables every so often to spin his danceable mixture of “jazzy, soulful, uptempo, nujazz, afrobeat.” A New York native, DiPadova cut his teeth in Boston on the nightlife circuit before relocating to the Southwest. Some might recognize the name from the much-talked-about Buhay night at the Sail Inn and joint partnership in parties from Flow at Majerle’s to Frequency Thursdays at Sky Lounge. StraightNoChaser, however, is his pride and joy. “The night has come about not on my own,” the humble DiPadova says, giving credit to those who have supported the night all along. “The way you build a community is by going to it.” The crowd is diverse in nature — varying age groups, different races and divergent backgrounds. No dress code exists for a reason: to create an environment where people can relax and have a good time. A local patron sums up the StraightNoChaser equation as, “A nice, little oasis.” DiPadova admits, “Practically every person that has showed up has come back.” It could be due to the attention to details that most weeklies ignore: the candles are lit, the incense is burning, the thump of the drum kit is always the right volume. So, what’s coming up in December? No heavily promoted special nights here. DiPadova’s philosophy is that every night is a special night and that everyone who is a regular deserves a surprise now and again. “Who doesn’t like surprises?” he says. However, he’s been known to give hints. “I’m working on a huge pre-New Year’s Eve party for the 30th, my birthday party is on the 2nd ... and I may have a few more surprises lined up.” We’ll be there to find out.