What don't you like about Phoenix? (Mesa, Scottsdale: job transfer, casinos, camp)

[shiphead]

Originally Posted by WSPHXPELON

*Lack of a vibrant downtown area (although it is improving)
*Lack of quality public transportation (although it is improving)
*Lack of density (or you could say "presence of urban sprawl")
*Lack of diversity (I.e. the Metro area is very White/Hispanic concentrated, with a sprinkling of Blacks and Natives)
*Too right wing (politically speaking)
*There are not enough bike lanes in the city.
*People drive long distances to commute to work here; therefore a large gas spike could be crippling.


Now, having said all that; I do like Phoenix as a city, and for that reason I continue to live here. These are just the areas that could use improving in my opinion. I guess your thread just brought out my inner hater LOL

Best well thought out post I've ever seen on this forum. I couldn't agree more with this.

[Minntoaz]

- The heat for over half the year
- driving style
- driving distance
- lack of things to do when's its so hot
- no real city feel

[maverick974]

Originally Posted by Minntoaz

- The heat for over half the year
- driving style
- driving distance
- lack of things to do when's its so hot
- no real city feel

I've been sitting on the sidelines on this thread but I have to speak up on this one.
My apologies in advance to you sir but if you can't find anything to do around here when it's hot, you just aren't looking at all. There are tons of things you can do when it's hot around here. I'm living proof of that. I've been doing more things this summer than I ever have in my life. Sometimes I have to tell my friends that I just want to stay home and rest up for the next adventure.
Just sayin'

[pokuku]

Originally Posted by maverick974

I've been sitting on the sidelines on this thread but I have to speak up on this one.
My apologies in advance to you sir but if you can't find anything to do around here when it's hot, you just aren't looking at all. There are tons of things you can do when it's hot around here. I'm living proof of that. I've been doing more things this summer than I ever have in my life. Sometimes I have to tell my friends that I just want to stay home and rest up for the next adventure.
Just sayin'

Oh please do tell us about the abundance of things to do on a weekend of 118 degrees, that has nothing to do with fleeing the city like a huge number of people do for the entire summer.

These have to be real quality activities, on par with other similarly sized cities. This isn't Mayberry.

[Goober13]

I think that if you compare a winter in the Midwest to a summer here, there are an abundance of things to do in the summer.

We can play golf, take a walk, drive anywhere we want, swim, the weather doesn't stop us, there is no ice on the roads or blizzards, one can tolerate hotter temperatures for longer periods of time than extreme cold. It's just hot. You just sweat a lot and drink lots of water.

Realistically most of us go from air conditioned car to air conditioned building, and do outdoor activities early in the morning or late at night, but if we have to will do outdoor stuff during the day.

[maverick974]

Originally Posted by pokuku

Oh please do tell us about the abundance of things to do on a weekend of 118 degrees, that has nothing to do with fleeing the city like a huge number of people do for the entire summer.

These have to be real quality activities, on par with other similarly sized cities. This isn't Mayberry.

Wow! I guess I hit a nerve. Well, since you so condescendingly asked, here are just a few things I do and it's not limited to the weekends. Most of which don't cost much or are free.

Waterskiing. Saguaro or Canyon Lake or close by if you are in the east valley.
Swimming in my pool or any pool.
Riding a bike early in the morning. Lots of fun.
Taking a nice ride on my motorcycle.
Plenty of museums around here. That's always cheap entertainment.
I've even been known to go to one of the casino's now and then for their buffets. Fort McDowel has a pretty good all you can eat prime rib dinner on Tuesdays for 8 bucks. Wed. is all you can eat crab for $9.00 including your drinks. They give you 10 dollars to play the slots. I usually just play their money on the cheap machines and I'm entertained for a fairly long while on their money. Dinner and entertainment for $8.00 plus tip is pretty good if you ask me.
Taking in a show. The theaters nowadays are fantastic. Particularly during the week when the crowds are low. There is a theater near the 60 and Power that is $2.00 per show. Hard to beat.
Taking a walk early in the morning or later in the evening.
What about going out to a nice restaurant? Can you make it from your car to the restaurant door? I can.
How 'bout going out and finding some venue with live music? In my case, I go to a place called Filly's just off the Apache Trail near A.J. Fun place. A soft drink is cheap and refillable. Listen to some country music and enjoy the great views of the Superstitions out back.
There is a pretty cool place call the Arizona Opry. A live performance with dinner and drinks is about $32.00.
Sometimes I just go to the mall and check things out. Nice way to spend some time window shopping.

Believe it or not, people do things even when it's hot. If you are going to lock yourself in your house just because it's hot, then perhaps you should consider living elsewhere. That's a dreadful existence.

I do plenty more. Shall I go on or does that answer your question?

[DetroitN8V]

To piggyback off of Maverick's point (great list, BTW), I can't think of anything that I would do during a Midwest summer day that I can't do here during the summer, other than get eaten alive by mosquitoes. For me it's the same stuff and I certainly didn't hibernate this summer nor did I flee the city that many times.

[pokuku]

Originally Posted by maverick974

Wow! I guess I hit a nerve. Well, since you so condescendingly asked, here are just a few things I do and it's not limited to the weekends. Most of which don't cost much or are free.

Waterskiing. Saguaro or Canyon Lake or close by if you are in the east valley.
Swimming in my pool or any pool.
Riding a bike early in the morning. Lots of fun.
Taking a nice ride on my motorcycle.
Plenty of museums around here. That's always cheap entertainment.
I've even been known to go to one of the casino's now and then for their buffets. Fort McDowel has a pretty good all you can eat prime rib dinner on Tuesdays for 8 bucks. Wed. is all you can eat crab for $9.00 including your drinks. They give you 10 dollars to play the slots. I usually just play their money on the cheap machines and I'm entertained for a fairly long while on their money. Dinner and entertainment for $8.00 plus tip is pretty good if you ask me.
Taking in a show. The theaters nowadays are fantastic. Particularly during the week when the crowds are low. There is a theater near the 60 and Power that is $2.00 per show. Hard to beat.
Taking a walk early in the morning or later in the evening.
What about going out to a nice restaurant? Can you make it from your car to the restaurant door? I can.
How 'bout going out and finding some venue with live music? In my case, I go to a place called Filly's just off the Apache Trail near A.J. Fun place. A soft drink is cheap and refillable. Listen to some country music and enjoy the great views of the Superstitions out back.
There is a pretty cool place call the Arizona Opry. A live performance with dinner and drinks is about $32.00.
Sometimes I just go to the mall and check things out. Nice way to spend some time window shopping.

Believe it or not, people do things even when it's hot. If you are going to lock yourself in your house just because it's hot, then perhaps you should consider living elsewhere. That's a dreadful existence.

I do plenty more. Shall I go on or does that answer your question?

Yep, because none of the outdoor activities are suitable for 118 degrees and blazing sun. The indoor ones are good though.

[(*)]

Originally Posted by WSPHXPELON

*Lack of a vibrant downtown area (although it is improving)
*Lack of quality public transportation (although it is improving)
*Lack of density (or you could say "presence of urban sprawl")
*Lack of diversity (I.e. the Metro area is very White/Hispanic concentrated, with a sprinkling of Blacks and Natives)
*Too right wing (politically speaking)
*There are not enough bike lanes in the city.
*People drive long distances to commute to work here; therefore a large gas spike could be crippling.


Now, having said all that; I do like Phoenix as a city, and for that reason I continue to live here. These are just the areas that could use improving in my opinion. I guess your thread just brought out my inner hater LOL

Absolutely right.

I also worry a lot about the declining water table, lengthening periods of drought, and increasing heat. Climatologists have been predicting for years that the Southwest would be unlivable within a few decades, and we're starting to see that happen. To make conditions livable now we are incredibly reliant on fossil fuels, which will continue to rise in price and make a comfortable life here unaffordable. Add just another $1 to the price of gasoline and our food system will begin to break down. Dunno about you, but I can't eat cactus pads every day. The political climate here is no longer conservative, it is right wing extremist. That works for some people, but means that that the minds of policy makers are firmly closed to the very geological and biological sciences that would help save and support our way of life. The Arizona legislature fiddles while the state slowly burns down around it.

[maverick974]

Originally Posted by pokuku

Yep, because none of the outdoor activities are suitable for 118 degrees and blazing sun. The indoor ones are good though.

First of all, how often is it really 118? Not that often. This year we broke a record. We had 25 days of temps above 110 and only a few days above 114. It just doesn't happen as often as your posts would lead newcomers to this forum believe. The "average" summer daytime high temps are 104 in June, 106 in July and 104 in August.
Intellicast - Mesa Historic Weather Averages in Arizona (85206)
I'm just sayin' that doing stuff when it is sizzling outside, is doable and enjoyable. Of course, sitting in front of the A/C unit watching TV or pounding away on the computer is certainly a comfortable way to waste an afternoon, but it's not the ONLY way to deal with the heat. At least for me.
Some people are more comfortable in cold weather. My father was like that. It would be snowing outside and he would have the windows open when he slept.
Me? I'm freezing when it's in the 50's. I do very well in the heat so if you are one of those "cold" people, perhaps the desert in summer is not the place to be. I'll take the heat over the cold and crappy weather any day of the week though, but that's just me.
I don't let the heat slow me down. I've been fishing all day when it's over 110. If I get too hot, I put the rod down and take a dip. I also keep a wet towel around my neck. That works wonders. If your head and neck is cool, the rest of your body follows suit.
I've worked outside for up to 14 hours non-stop when the high for the day was 114. Not really enjoyable but it wasn't too bad as long as I had some cool water to drink and a wet towel around my neck.
I've ridden my motorcycle a few times when it was that hot but I must admit, it's WAY more comfortable in the morning and evenings.
A pool? The hotter the better.