"Lack of Culture/Things to DO" in Phoenix?? Huh?? (Mesa: home, neighborhoods)

[Sunvixen]

I often see comments of the board about Phoenix having "nothing to do" and that it lacks "culture." I'd like to know exactly what people MEAN by these comments.

Let me give you something to compare it to: In MI, (other than crappy weather, terrible economy and lots of racial tension in Detroit) here's the kinds of things we do:

Dinner, movies, bars, plays, NHL, NBA, NFL(if you consider the Lions a football team! Grrr!) Tiger's baseball, museums, casinos, lots of cute little friendly pubs, road trips to other major cities. Car shows, festivals, rodeos, arts and crafts shows...

In the summer: the lakes (and mosquitoes ) "Up north" trips to cabin, GOLF.

Things my husband and I enjoy doing besides work: Having family and friends over for dinner, going out to movies, dinner, GOLF, going to a cute little pub that reminds me of "Cheers" to watch a ballgame and debate politics, going to church functions, cooking, decorating, GOLF, walking the dogs, horseback riding, working out, swimming, gardening, GOLF, taking enrichment classes, volunteering, GOLF, traveling, taking long drives to look at scenery,farmers markets...

Oh, shoot, did I say Golf?



So, let's see...other than the Great Lakes, does Phoenix lack any of these things?


My husband and I are pretty friendly, likeable people who have never had a problem making or keeping friends. I think the people in the Phoenix (east and west side) area seem friendly and genuine, much like the people in MI. Did I miss something?


I've always been under the impression that life is what you make of it, and I've known people who adapt well to any situation and some who never feel happy unless they're miserable. But it's very hard to tell on a message board who is who, ya know!? I'm really wondering if it is younger people talking about the bar/club scene or people from areas like NY or Chicago where there is something new to do 365 days a year. We are not shut-ins or anything (as you can tell) but we are at a point in life where we are pretty laid-back and enjoy simple things, with a big night out a couple times per month.


I'm wondering why people say there is no "culture" in Phoenix? What does that MEAN? Is it simply that things are spread over a larger geographical area than other cities...or what?

As long as we move to a fairly well populated area, will we have a hard time making friends and finding a couple little "hang out" spots? We are in our early/late forties.

[Patrick754]

As far as the supposed "lack of culture" if you ask those who make this generic slam they will be hard pressed to cite specific examples. I think it's more of a packaging problem. The pseudo intellectual class that has grown up on a diet of Woody Allen films and the Sunday New York Times Magazine seems to have a hard time accepting any culture that isn't delivered to them in a stereotypical east coast/Manhattan style package.

[artvandelay]

Sunvixen,

You are exactly right about the "spread out" question. When you move here from an older big city, you don't immediately see or find all the things Phoenix offers. It can take a few years just to discover the culture, and we don't have the super-hot-spots concentrated in a single area. Phoenix does have its cultural nuggets, you will just have to drive around much more. I've been here almost 2 years, and for me, I SLOWLY learn about the different cultural and recreation opportunities because they're not centralized, and my small kids limit my exploration some.

You will LOVE golfing in February, when the weather starts turning spring-like.

[synapse]

I agree with the posters that said the problem in Phoenix is that it's all decentralized. The great things about Chicago - the sports, the art fairs, the bars, the museums, the restaurants, etc - they *are* in Phoenix, but they're so spread out. You might have to drive to Glendale and Mesa to see a football and then a baseball game, Scottsdale to an art fair, Tempe to a hot new bar, central Phoenix to the art museum, north Phoenix to the classy restaurant and so on. In Chicago, it's all the middle of downtown, and there are web sites that allow you to find it all, like Metromix. In Phoenix, it's everywhere, and you have to search a bit to find it (although the Arizona Republic's Entertainment web page is a good start.) And of course in Chicago it's all ramped up a notch - the football is in a more historic stadium, the art fair more nationally recognized, the bars more classy, the museums better known, etc. But that's just time's effect - Chicago's an older city, and has had more time to develop.

I really think that if Phoenix had a centralized downtown - which they're working on - with maybe a park like Millenium Park in Chicago, better public transport, and more walkable districts with bars and restaurants downtown, I really don't think people would be complaining as much about a "lack of things to do." It is there. You just have to go out and find it. As for the neighborhoods, Phoenix actually is starting to develop specific neighborhoods with people you recognize - Mill Avenue in Tempe, Desert Ridge in north Phoenix, Arcadia, Encanto, Camelback, etc. It may take some time for those to coalesce into actual neighborhoods like New York and Chicago, but I don't think you'll be lonely or have trouble meeting people.

[vegaspilgrim]

As a college student, I find that there ARE things to do here, but most people my age aren't interested in doing them. Pretty much all people my age do for fun is go drinking. Fortunately for them, there is no shortage of bars in Tempe and Scottsdale; you could probably go to a different bar every single night and never go to the same place twice for a whole year. I'm not much of a drinker, personally, so I find myself often having to "invite myself" to cultural stuff.

[MotleyCrew]

I think Phoenix and the surrounding cities have everything you mention. The "lack of culture" comments puzzle me. If San Francisco is an example of culture, you can keep it. I will take our very clean cities and restaurants. Thank you very much.

[Synergy38]

I'm a sports junkie so having every sport known to man instantly provides me 20 years of enteratainment. But more or less as a 24 year old, I'm a stay at home fella, play video games, go to the mall, ect.

[Magnum Mike]

If I hear anybody else saying we don't have any "culture", I'm gonna tell them - Boil some milk and leave it in your backyard ... you'll get plenty of "culture" in 2 or 3 days!

If you don't like our lack of culture, then don't move here, go somewhere else where they have plenty of "culture", simple as that.

[artvandelay]

Magnum Mike

Nobody on this thread has written anything for you to write this response to. Every response to this point has put Phoenix in a positive light.

Is this your canned response for all threads? "If you don't like -----, don't move here".

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

It makes me happy to see all the spring training camps for MLB in the area. Also University of Phoenix Stadium for Cardinals Football. Also like the fact that it isn't too far from Surprise. The Phoenix Suns are a great team. I doubt that anyone would suffer from sports withdrawl in the area.

As far as car shows, Scottsdale has one of the best. Sometimes visiting can be a car show in it self. The weather is ideal for auto and trucks.

As far as clubs, Jimmy Buffet just put one of his places in Glendale. Now it is 5 o'clock all the time in the valley and their are a lot of Parrots flying around. (Parrot heads anyway.) The area is full of clubs, sport bars, and other watering holes. There is also a place to get some great Bar B Q. I think it is called the Pig or something like that. Been their only a couple times and can't remember the name of the place. Some where off of Bell in Glendale or Peoria I think.

I would say that their is a ton of things to do and see in the valley.