Is there a Coolness to Phoenix? (Tucson, Mesa: neighborhoods, to live, restaurants)

[CinSonic]

Originally Posted by New Horizons

I'm not talking about the temperature kind of cool, I know it certainly gets hot there. I'm talking about the state of mind cool. I'm talking about the LA kind of coolness that's a blend of laid-back liberalism and yet at the same time a touch of smug arrogance. I don't mean it as in insult to them, I mean it's LA and I'd feel the same way if I lived there. The conflict lies in that I actually love the look of Phoenix more than LA. I love the intense golden light, the dryness, rock landscaping, the modern buildings, clean roads and freeways, I could go on and on. But I've been sold the image of southern CA all my life. The Beach Boys (well that one is a little B4 my time), bonfires on the beach, Katy Perry, and who's that other chick, Kesha? When that movie Point Break came out, it left a strong impression on me, showing me that Los Angeles is where it's going on at.

I guess if I could create my own city I would take that whole feeling of LA, the people, the liberalness, the bizarreness, everything, and transplant it right into Phoenix. I know some of you will read that and think, thank god it's not!

Thank you for reading.

I really don't understand the meaning of this post?

[CodyW]

To put it simply: No, Phoenix does not have the same 'cool' vibe that Los Angeles has. There ARE certain elements of that here- fashion trends, lifestyles and such.. But overall, it's quite a bit different. As stated before, Phoenix has a "southwestern" vibe - that is, things are fairly laid back and slow moving. The slow moving part has changed in recent years with all the growth the area has experience, but indeed it still operates more slowly than most places in the country. I recall one of my first lessons in New Mexico was "New Mexican time" ...where everything operates much slower than other places. Arizona has this, to a degree.

If there were any type of vibe that is unique to Phoenix, it would have to be in a very large divide between the older and younger generations. There is a very large senior population, and likewise, as very large teen and twenty-something population. The dynamics at play here are pretty much unique to Phoenix.

[stasi_crystals]

People say Phoenix is a mini LA in so many ways, both good and bad but im not going to get in that. Scottsdale is a slice of South Beach Miami and Tempe is definately a spring break city and Phoenix id have to say is a modern oasis in the desert. Downtown isn't the best but I can tell it's getting better: Cityscape, the light rail, first Friday, growing ASU campus, and (hopefully) a growing skyline. All in all im young and love it here

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by CodyW

To put it simply: No, Phoenix does not have the same 'cool' vibe that Los Angeles has. There ARE certain elements of that here- fashion trends, lifestyles and such.. But overall, it's quite a bit different. As stated before, Phoenix has a "southwestern" vibe - that is, things are fairly laid back and slow moving.

That "southwestern vibe" is really more noticeable in Tucson than Phoenix. Tucson has always had more of a southwestern influence in its architecture and culture. Phoenix used to have that a long time ago, but it has become more like L.A. in some ways, and even similar to some Texas cities in other ways. The laid back atmosphere is typical of western cities ... even L.A. is somewhat laid back compared to Chicago or New York.

Originally Posted by CodyW

The slow moving part has changed in recent years with all the growth the area has experience, but indeed it still operates more slowly than most places in the country. I recall one of my first lessons in New Mexico was "New Mexican time" ...where everything operates much slower than other places. Arizona has this, to a degree.

The sixth largest city in the nation has no reason to be slow moving. I'm glad it has changed, and hopefully it will get faster if we keep growing and attract more people besides just snowbirds and retirees. Those two groups, I believe, contribute to why there is still somewhat of a slow feeling here. Some people want Phoenix to return to more of a small townish vibe like it was many years ago ... but sorry, a city/metro area this large will more than likely lose any sense of a small community feeling as we keep getting larger.

[zenkonami]

Originally Posted by New Horizons

I'm not talking about the temperature kind of cool, I know it certainly gets hot there. I'm talking about the state of mind cool. I'm talking about the LA kind of coolness that's a blend of laid-back liberalism and yet at the same time a touch of smug arrogance. I don't mean it as in insult to them, I mean it's LA and I'd feel the same way if I lived there. The conflict lies in that I actually love the look of Phoenix more than LA. I love the intense golden light, the dryness, rock landscaping, the modern buildings, clean roads and freeways, I could go on and on. But I've been sold the image of southern CA all my life. The Beach Boys (well that one is a little B4 my time), bonfires on the beach, Katy Perry, and who's that other chick, Kesha? When that movie Point Break came out, it left a strong impression on me, showing me that Los Angeles is where it's going on at.

I guess if I could create my own city I would take that whole feeling of LA, the people, the liberalness, the bizarreness, everything, and transplant it right into Phoenix. I know some of you will read that and think, thank god it's not!

Thank you for reading.

Arizona? Pretty cool in a mythic, Southwest, living on the edge, libertarian, dusty towns sort of way.

Phoenix? Nope. Not in the least.

[azriverfan.]

I look at Phoenix like Metropolis, yes that Metropolis. It's a science fiction city that bends the rules and rolls to the beat of it's own drum. You can't peg Phoenix and that is what is cool about it. It has elements of everything. Politically, this is the same state that voted to ban an anti-gay marriage act in 2006, voted in support of medical marijuana but wants guns on campuses. There are so many people that move here from some place else that everyone brings their own influence.

[grmi66]

Here is one site devoted to some cool things in Phoenix: Modern Phoenix: The Neighborhood Network

Phoenix has quite a bit of mid-century modern architecture if you know where to look. Especially now with the popularity of "Mad Men" that makes Phoenix cool.

[New Horizons]

Thanks you all, I like the responses. Now that I think about it, it was a vague question to begin with and "cool" is about as generic a term as it gets. Every person has their own interpretation of cool.

[SubconsciousMe]

It depends on your definition of cool. For me, Phoenix is not my definition of cool.

Everything is subjective.

[maverick974]

I grew up in the L.A. area. I moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1988. Both those places have a certain "vibe" and in my opinion, the Phoenix area has it's own vibe in that it is unlike any other larger metro area. It's very unique and I personally like that about this place we call home.