Walkable, Entertainment, Urban, Arty and Diverse Neighborhoods In Phoenix (Mesa: real estate, amusement park)

[acrylic]

Originally Posted by ivanabacowboy

I've been to Tampa a few times. I forget what it was called there was some like huge street that they blocked off to traffic that was nothing but bars dozens of them-including a few "wayyyy" alternative places like cross-dressers and the like and shady dudes selling Cuban cigars on the street. For the life of me I cannot remember the name. It was a cool place (of course I was a tad younger then too). If that is the type of area you are thinking, you won't find anything on that scale in Arizona-closest you will come is the places folks already identified.

Could it possibly be Ybor City? (It's a part of Tampa proper, but it's a neighborhood, called Ybor City.) I remember when I was there 7 years ago, my sister went out with my cousin there multiple times and it was the major hotspot. I don't know if it still is. I have a soft spot in my heart for the Tampa/St. Pete area.

[fcorrales80]

[Moderator cut: orphaned quote
Usally nightlife, and the quality thereof, can be linked to other amenities that more urban minded people are looking for; density, museums, diversity, sports, transit options, restaurants, cultural events, history, neighborhoods with very deep roots, etc. Sorry, there is "no need to keep it positive," just keeping it real...

[cmist]

Originally Posted by fcorrales80

Usally nightlife, and the quality thereof, can be linked to other amenities that more urban minded people are looking for; density, museums, diversity, sports, transit options, restaurants, cultural events, history, neighborhoods with very deep roots, etc. Sorry, there is "no need to keep it positive," just keeping it real...

He's 24 yrs old and asked about walkable nightlife. Moderator cut: personal
Bluntly stated, Phx, for a city so large, only has a very tiny area that can be considered if you seek to be near walkable nightlife and easy transit options. The rest of it beyond that tiny micro-environment is as he stated himself, "mindless sprawl"

[KarmaPhx]

Downtown is not a "walkable nightlife" area on most nights, come to Old Town on a Wednesday and you'll still see tons of poeple walking down 5th ave and Main.

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by KarmaPhx

Downtown is not a "walkable nightlife" area on most nights, come to Old Town on a Wednesday and you'll still see tons of poeple walking down 5th ave and Main.

It certainly is; walk Roosevelt, Central, Washington, 1st Street, Adams, Camelback, 7th Ave, etc...it is and has become extremely walkable thanks to the light rail, ASU and new condos, apartments, and a surge in the Central City population.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by fcorrales80

It certainly is; walk Roosevelt, Central, Washington, 1st Street, Adams, Camelback, 7th Ave, etc...it is and has become extremely walkable thanks to the light rail, ASU and new condos, apartments, and a surge in the Central City population.

It seems that despite the LR being less than one year..........it is having the effects as you delineated.

[cmist]

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It remains true that its a very small area in relationship to the staggering footprint of the city. One only has to look at map and draw a little black line around the little walkable parts you are referencing. For a city of this size, there are very few affordable neighborhoods near anything remotely interesting, considering the artsy lofts are 300k+ for studios. Hardly within reach of a 24 yr old college student, unless they are living on a trust fund.

As far as the clubs go, I havent been there in awhile because I didnt find a scene that appealed to me. There are no gritty rock clubs like LA, or smoky blues bars, or punkish indie places. Its a very homogeneous scene like the rest of Phx. I tend to like places that are less polished and not so mainstream. Phx & downtown scottsdale is very polished and trendy, NOT edgy, artsy, or colorful as he originally asked for.

[fcorrales80]

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Moderator cut: orphaned

It remains true that its a very small area in relationship to the staggering footprint of the city. One only has to look at map and draw a little black line around the little walkable parts you are referencing. For a city of this size, there are very few affordable neighborhoods near anything remotely interesting, considering the artsy lofts are 300k+ for studios. Hardly within reach of a 24 yr old college student, unless they are living on a trust fund.

Moderator cut: off topic You can also veer off into any direction into the neighborhoods east and west of Central and these don't take into account other areas with walkable streets and shops. Lofts are NOT 300K plus. You can get a 1 or 2 bedroom condo in the 44 monroe for 220K, a house in Melrose from 180K that is in great shape but is a small bungalow or brick cottage but with a large yard, old growth trees, and nearby old and established parks, bike paths, etc. You can also rent apartments with roommates or rent a small one bedroom for a reasonable price starting around $500 a month or a couple/few hundred dollars a month with roommates. If you live in a central location you can also do with out a car, saving hundreds, even a thousand a month on that expensive and instead live somewhere interesting.

As far as the clubs go, I havent been there in awhile because I didnt find a scene that appealed to me. There are no gritty rock clubs like LA, or smoky blues bars, or punkish indie places. Its a very homogeneous scene like the rest of Phx. I tend to like places that are less polished and not so mainstream. Phx & downtown scottsdale is very polished and trendy, NOT edgy, artsy, or colorful as he originally asked for.

Actually there are; lost leaf, Harley's, Rhythm Room, Bobby C's, Hotel Valley Ho has a great indie scene and performances, and too many clubs to list. As the article reads: "get to know your local bands."

This is just a small list of some of the indie/rock/alternative bands that play at venues, clubs, etc around Phoenix and especially in downtown. Let's not forget about all the artsy and "edgy" clubs in the Roosevelt Row area. I bet some of these clubs are too "edgy" for many not used to a diverse crowd. They are not polished and trendy but have been around for a very long time and offer some unique artists, bands, musicians, people, etc. Plenty of blues places as well, but not too smoky since it is illegal (in CA and L.A. too by the way).

[ivanabacowboy]

acrylic: THAT'S IT! Ybor. I remember it had a really weird name. And zillions upon zillions of people. And I seem to remember like a "weirdo" parade or something with all kinds of people in costumes (this was some years ago). It was the home of the first bar I ever went to with unisex restrooms lol!

[Obamanation]

Originally Posted by oscottscotto

Are there really multiple districts like that in Tampa? If so, awesome. You are the first person I have ever heard say that though. Most say that there is not much there (when referring to neat little independent/indie areas of town). I have family and friends in Tampa, but have never been there myself.

WHOA this has gotten crazy! Thanks everyone for the insight. Ivana, that district is called Ybor City. The street no longer closes and the west end of it has a concentration of gay establishments, called "GaYbor District."

OSCOTT, there are myriad areas like that around here. Look up Ybor, SoHo, Hyde Park Village, Channelside, Davis Islands, Palma Ceia, Harbour Island, and Downtown Tampa, and International Plaza and Bay Street on wiki. Oh and Seminole Hard Rock Casino too. Plus the "Other side of the Bay" (St. Pete and surrounding areas) has tons of stuff from great beach towns (Clearwater Beach), colorful art enclaves (Gulfport), to gayborhoods (Grand Central).

So far it appears as if I was right with my fledgling assessments. Except someone mentioned Chandler, I will look that up. According to walkscore, Encanto is the most walkable 'hood in Phoenix. Anything noteworthy there? I live in the 'burbs now so please no suburban/drive to everything areas.