I too live in Queen Creek. Actually, the San Tan Valley side of it. Unfortunately everything I like is nowhere near it. Any ways, howdy neighbor.
It will be nothing like what you're used to. The city is totally exposed (no tree cover) so you can see "forever"; mountains in the middle of town; heat, heat, heat, and more heat.I get to visit Phoenix for work in a few weeks, actually. As a New Englander, I'm told that it will be a bit of a system shock.
Live in Ahwatukee here. Work at Wildflower Bread Company, if you haven't eaten there yet our food is awesome.
As far as food around the valley, my favorites are
Italian / Pizza - Cibo (Downtown), Pizza Bianco (Downtown), North (Downtown / Scottsdale)
Mexican - Taco Guild (Downtown), The Mission (Old Town Scottsdale), Los Taquitos (Ahwatukee), Elote Cafe (Sedona, but well worth the trip)
Sushi - Sakana (Ahwatukee)
Is taco guild pricey?
What are your crossroads, neighbor?? I'm just south of the hospital on Ironwood.Moved out to AZ in 2001 and currently living out in Queen Creek. This will be the first summer in years that I've had a car with a working a/c so that's kinda nice.
I get to visit Phoenix for work in a few weeks, actually. As a New Englander, I'm told that it will be a bit of a system shock.
I'm not among your ranks yet AZ GAF, but I'll be moving to Chandler in about two weeks, so it seems like a nice coincidence that this thread popped up. I'll be moving down from LA for my first job for a tech company right out of college. I'm really excited and am already taking notes about where I should visit/eat!!! haha
It will be nothing like what you're used to. The city is totally exposed (no tree cover) so you can see "forever"; mountains in the middle of town; heat, heat, heat, and more heat.
I would argue that Taco Guild is in uptown, not downtown. I mean, Osborn and 7th st. isn't really downtown, lol.
Chandler GAF represent. Welcome, though hot as fuck right now. Worse still cause I'm building a pool and doing a lot of the work myself. Completion cant come soon enough.
As for eating, goto Yuphas kitchen in Tempe for the best thai in AZ (mclintock and Elliot), postinos in downtown Gilbert, and El Zocalo in downtown chandler for the nicest patio you've ever seen.
So, GAF.
Let's make it happen.
Tucson people, I think there's what, 3 of us? Let's meet up this weekend. I propose that pizza place that was mentioned earlier.
Let's also do a Phx meetup. Come on.
damn , I can't this weekend. I am going to San Diego to escape the heat lol. Next weekend though?
shit, i completely forgot about the 4th. I have family coming in then. By all means, don't work around my schedule. SorryYeah, that's fine. So, with you, it makes 5 of us in Tucson.
Next weekend it'll be Jul 3-5, so I don't know about their availability, but I'm down for it. I'll PM them and see if we can get something started.
shit, i completely forgot about the 4th. I have family coming in then. By all means, don't work around my schedule. Sorry
It will be nothing like what you're used to. The city is totally exposed (no tree cover) so you can see "forever"; mountains in the middle of town; heat, heat, heat, and more heat. /QUOTE]
I'm sure the term you'll use is "blast furnace".
I've been to Vegas in July, so I can Prepare to Dry as needed, but I do look forward to getting out there. It's a liberal/Dem convention in town (Netroots), and I've been speculating on the number of dehydrated progressives ending up in the ER over those few days.
Live in Ahwatukee here. Work at Wildflower Bread Company, if you haven't eaten there yet our food is awesome.
As far as food around the valley, my favorites are
Italian / Pizza - Cibo (Downtown), Pizza Bianco (Downtown), North (Downtown / Scottsdale)
Mexican - Taco Guild (Downtown), The Mission (Old Town Scottsdale), Los Taquitos (Ahwatukee), Elote Cafe (Sedona, but well worth the trip)
Sushi - Sakana (Ahwatukee)
I lived in Arizona for 25 years. Was born in upstate NY and my whole family, including grandparents, decided to move to AZ when I was very little. I was recently transferred to Chicago almost 2 years ago, but I still call AZ home, even though there are things I miss and things that I don't!
Arizona was very different in the 90s. There were less freeways, no 101 to catch the 51 and so on. Track homes were all the rage, Pulte Homes being one out of the many that bought tons of land and slapped hundreds of houses upon it, so close together you could see the inside of someone else's home from your bedroom window. These kinds of homes still happen in AZ even now, tiled roofs and stucco exteriors, but back then it was kind of like the American Dream of the 90s in the desert. At least, that's what it felt like as a kid.
I miss that house so much! Two-story with a huge backyard. Pebbletec pool. Most of the yard was grass which took a lot of work considering the weather, but we also of course had lots of river rock, too. Arizona is one of those places where just throwing a ton of rock in your backyard is acceptable and fashionable. It's weird seeing all the green here in Illinois. What a difference!
Heat stroke is no joke. I remember one time in my early twenties, just relaxing outside by the pool in the summer, drinking margaritas all day. Passed out, ended up throwing up like crazy! The tequila and the 110 degree day didn't mix so well. I still have to be careful with tequila now, ever since then.
There's a not so fancy Japanese restaurant on Scottsdale/Miller Rd. called Dozo (long o, you know what I mean) that I used to go to all the time. Really good food there. Oreganos was also a favorite, Tandoori Times, Pizza Picasso, Mellow Mushroom, Pita Jungle.
Bookmans which you guys have talked about is really cool. Bought a lot of older games there that I needed in my collection!
I used to go to this club called Sanctum when I was into that scene for a bit. I avoided Old Town like the plague. Didn't like the people there. Arizona has an interesting variety of people that's for sure. Are Juicy Couture velvet workout clothes there still a thing? I remember the mom's with their pink pants and zip up tight hoodies embellished with rhinestones, tons of makeup and spray tans, carrying their chihuahuas all over town.
Anyone here from AZ remember Smitty's?
Yeah, that's fine. So, with you, it makes 5 of us in Tucson.
Yeah I remember Smitty's. I was born here in '75 lol. In the 80s US60 stopped at power and that whole area and most of what is now Chandler/Gilbert/Mesa was orchards, cotton fields, or used to raise cattle.
6!
I'll post more later, (I'm on my phone, but I wanted to put my name in.)
Tucson here. Moved out here in 04 from Philly
While I'm currently living in Colorado, I grew up in Tucson and went to school in Phoenix. If you're ever in Tucson and you want a great hole-in-the-wall breakfast place, I highly recommend Brawley's Restaurant. Their food is real good and crazy cheap. $1.95 for two eggs, hashbrowns and toast.
Have you guys ever heard of Yuma
Might be visiting ya'll real soon. Still not sure about a relocation, yet, but I may be coming down to check out the scene for about 6 weeks, just to see how it is. Unfortunately it will probably be during the fall, so I wont be able to experience that "dry heat".
All right, not on my phone anymore.
I'm Retro, and I was born and raised here in Tucson, AZ. I lived in and around Pittsburgh, PA for a few years, then came back home to the desert. Currently I'm a full time student at an online college, studying Information Technology.
I'm totally down for a meetup. I especially like Pizza or Japanese as ideas.
Oh, and if you like music, try to find a Zia Records. That place is a gold mine, for music and other media.
I love driving South Mountain. It's like my Miata was made for those roads!I live over in Ahwatukee ("The Tuke") near South Mountain. I've been in AZ for roughly 30 years. Parents dragged me out here in the middle of summer. I love this state for 4 months a year, don't like it for 6, and tolerate it the rest of the time! Hiking here is amazing and the sunsets are great, but it's hard living in an oven sometimes.
As for food places, they recently built a Teharu conveyor belt sushi place near my work, so I've been going there a lot.
Phoenix GAF!
http://movephx.org/
Phoenix is having a proposal this year to drastically improve the public transportation of the city and fix a bunch of roads.
All for the low low cost of 7 cents per 100$.