How to spot a Phoenix Native (2015, restaurant, shopping mall)

[Arizona Mike]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

Oh please, give me a break! They are not doing this because they are thinking to themselves: "Oh since our weather is typically dry, any onset of rain makes our roads more slick than a road elswhere in which it raines more frequently."

They are slowing down because they are intimidated of the rain because they are not used to driving in it whereas in cities in which they receive normal rainfall, they certainly slow down to a degree but not to the point the Arizona drivers do. And they certainly do not slam their bakes like the natives do on the freeways which is far more dangerous to other drivers.

The roads are more slick in Florida because it will rain heavily for hours and the amount of water that collects on the roads is heavier and you can actually feel this.

Regardless of the science of hydroplaning, it is a fact that if you grew up in Phoenix, you were told that the oil and grease collects on the road and makes the road more slick. If you grew up here, you internalized this. My mom told me that and my dad told me that when I first started driving. They would tell me that sometimes as I left the house even if there wasn't a cloud in the sky and we were in a drought. I think they even warned me about that when I was too young to drive and playing with my matchbox cars on the sidewalk in front of the house. Yes, I always drive a little more carefully on the highway after the first rain in a while. And yes, it is a strong indication that someone is a Phoenix Native. All 7 of us.

AAA in Arizona has taught that for years: "Because Arizona gets rain so infrequently, AAA said oil builds up on our roadways. This makes the first 15 minutes of a rainstorm especially slick. Rain also reduces visibility. Drivers can easily lose control while traveling through just an inch or two of water." (source: Rain Danger: Wet road driving tips from AAA - Tucson News Now).

The warning is even in the official State of Arizona Driver's License Manual, which you would have read on page 44 in its paper form if you grew up here: "Be extra careful during the first 30 minutes after rain begins; grime and oil on the road surface mix with water and make the road slippery." (source: https://www.azdot.gov/docs/default-s...7.pdf?sfvrsn=0)

We imbibed this knowledge along with the Shamrock Dairy milk we drank as kids. It's an Arizona truism that's so deep and fundamental it's almost genetic. If you drive fast on an Arizona road within the first 30 minutes of a rain, then you'll die. No ifs, ands, or buts. It's the out-of-towners who are zipping along in their high-falutin' Priuses (Priusi?) that are crashing into guardrails and flipping over, probably while they are trying to eat an organic salad from Whole Foods Market from their laps and talking on their cell phone.

Eastern transplants are also the ones who try to cross flooded roads, figuring that their fancy new pick-up truck or SUV will let them ford that tiny stream. They don't realize that the moving silt-filled water travelling across the sand and grit in the road removes the traction from even the best tires, so your truck or SUV suddenly turns into a boat. I once saw a brand new truck with Cal-a-forn-eye-ay plates do that while trying to cross Goldfield Road in Apache Junction. It got swept down into a wash, and the driver and passenger had to jump out and climb a palo verde and await rescue from a county helicopter.

Bear in mind George Carlin's dictum, however: One of things that unites us as humans is that everyone feels that they are a uniquely efficient and talented driver. Everyone else either "Drives like a maniac!" or "Drives like my grandmother!"

[AZ Tracy]

Back to the original theme of the post:

Spent many a New Year's Eve at a Jerry Riopelle concert.
Remember when downtown Gilbert consisted of Dairy Queen and the Copper Coin.
If you wanted go to the mall, you went to Park Central Mall.
They know where the Japanese Flower Gardens used to be.
Tubed down the Salt River without bus service.

Yes, showing my age!

[Java Jolt]

Originally Posted by AZ Tracy

Back to the original theme of the post:

Spent many a New Year's Eve at a Jerry Riopelle concert.
Remember when downtown Gilbert consisted of Dairy Queen and the Copper Coin.
If you wanted go to the mall, you went to Park Central Mall.
They know where the Japanese Flower Gardens used to be.
Tubed down the Salt River without bus service.

Yes, showing my age!

Being a transplant myself I can't admit to remembering anything on your list.

Was Park Central once a major shopping mall? I worked in an office tower near there shortly after I moved here 20 years ago and Park Central consisted of a healthcare operations center and a delicatessen or two but nothing else.

I guess one thing I can reminisce about is how the Phoenix area once had an active alternative-rock scene and lots of homegrown bands became national and worldwide success stories.

[PhureeKeeper]

I remember Scottsdale when there were cow farms and dirt roads!

Natives remember the original Pink Pony with all of the old baseball players and celebrities.

Natives know how to predict shade and park accordingly.

[azriverfan.]

Okay the road topic is not as fun any longer. Let's have fun and think of other fun stereotypes that applies to natives.

Oh, here is one: Chompies....Natives love Chompies and I can't understand why. The bread is way too large for the sandwhich and hard. When you take a bite, you just feel like you are eating a bunch of stale bread with a little cold cut in the middle.

So Natives explain your facination with Chompies. And while we are at it, explain your fascination with Carolinas Mexican food. Carolina's is good but I don't understand what the buzz is all about. It tastes just like any other Mexican fast food eatery like Carambas. I see no difference.

[JGMotorsport64]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

Okay the road topic is not as fun any longer. Let's have fun and think of other fun stereotypes that applies to natives.

Oh, here is one: Chompies....Natives love Chompies and I can't understand why. The bread is way too large for the sandwhich and hard. When you take a bite, you just feel like you are eating a bunch of stale bread with a little cold cut in the middle.

So Natives explain your facination with Chompies. And while we are at it, explain your fascination with Carolinas Mexican food. Carolina's is good but I don't understand what the buzz is all about. It tastes just like any other Mexican fast food eatery like Carambas. I see no difference.

Carolinas is overrated. Mi Patio in Midtown, Rosita's Place in East Phoenix, and El Guero Canelo in West Phoenix are a lot better. Carambas is just generic Mexican food IMO, but they do have a killer Mexican Pizza.

Natives also love Bashas, which sells Chompies Bagels! Those I actually like.

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by JGMotorsport64

Carolinas is overrated. Mi Patio in Midtown, Rosita's Place in East Phoenix, and El Guero Canelo in West Phoenix are a lot better. Carambas is just generic Mexican food IMO, but they do have a killer Mexican Pizza.

Natives also love Bashas, which sells Chompies Bagels! Those I actually like.

The only reason to go to Carambas is for the margaritas. You only need a couple of them!

[KurtAZ]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

Okay the road topic is not as fun any longer. Let's have fun and think of other fun stereotypes that applies to natives.

Oh, here is one: Chompies....Natives love Chompies and I can't understand why. The bread is way too large for the sandwhich and hard. When you take a bite, you just feel like you are eating a bunch of stale bread with a little cold cut in the middle.

So Natives explain your facination with Chompies. And while we are at it, explain your fascination with Carolinas Mexican food. Carolina's is good but I don't understand what the buzz is all about. It tastes just like any other Mexican fast food eatery like Carambas. I see no difference.

While not a "native"...I will explain Chompies if you will explain White Castle.

[Diane de Poitiers]

Originally Posted by Java Jolt

Being a transplant myself I can't admit to remembering anything on your list.

Was Park Central once a major shopping mall? I worked in an office tower near there shortly after I moved here 20 years ago and Park Central consisted of a healthcare operations center and a delicatessen or two but nothing else.

.

I don't know about "major", but it was definitely a shopping mall......back when we lived in northern Arizona, Park Central was one of the malls we visited when we would down to Phoenix. (back in the 1980s, this was) The last time I remember going there was before my daughter was born, this would've been in 1997, and they still had some of the food court places, not much else.

[asufan]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

Oh, here is one: Chompies....Natives love Chompies and I can't understand why. The bread is way too large for the sandwhich and hard. When you take a bite, you just feel like you are eating a bunch of stale bread with a little cold cut in the middle.

So Natives explain your facination with Chompies. .

Bad post. I am not native and I love Chompies. My Jewish roommate from Boston while I was at ASU is a huge Chompies fan and it is his favorite restaurant in the valley (and he lives here now). When his buddies from Boston came to visit (some also Jewish but all familiar with East coast Jewish deli's), they loved the food at Chompies too. I'm not sure it's Arizona natives that love Chompies, it's everyone that I have met that has eaten there