I Ain't Sorry – Quick Hits in the Valley

I will say that someone once told me that it doesn’t get cold in Phoenix, and I really wish I remembered who that someone is, because I’d like to tell them they lied. 

I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Phoenix quite a few times in the past six months, but have been lucky enough to go in October and January. As someone living north of North Carolina, I endure way too many frigid winter days for my southern bones. Fall and Winter in Phoenix is something I can get used to.

Phoenix and Arizona at-large have a lot to offer. Some folks still associate the city and state with a painful history of bigotry and racism. After all, Sheriff Joe Arpaio managed to hang on to power for decades, and the state elected a governor that was so racist one of his first orders of business was to deny Arizonans the MLK Day holiday. All that may be true, and history shouldn’t be forgotten, but there’s a lot of progress on the horizon in the Valley, and tons of beauty to match. 

I LOVE: The people! Arizona is brown. Like, really brown. I shouldn’t underestimate how much that probably impacts my affinity. The Latinx population continues to grow, and the influences are seen in all walks of Arizonan life, from food to business ownership to general hospitality. Don’t be fooled though, because there is definitely a sizeable Black population, with a heavy concentration in South Phoenix. I’ve gotten my haircuit by a lot of barbers as a result of all my traveling. Big Mike gave the boy the best fade he’s ever gotten in his life.

Airport: Phoenix Sky Harbor airport is not a masterpiece, but it also doesn’t make you angry. It’s not too small, not too big, and has limited but decent dining options if you’re hanging out. For both of my recent arrivals, I managed to go from jetway to baggage claim to ground transportation in less than 20 minutes. That’s fantastic rate, especially for someone that has the misery of flying mostly out of Atlanta and Dulles. The downside? If you’re renting a vehicle, Phoenix, like many other airports in Southern or Western cities, requires you to catch a shuttle to and from the rental car station. The trucks come with fairly good consistency, but if you’re ever in a pinch to make your flight, I can imagine it being a hurdle. My October journey rental car drop off to airport arrival and check-in was 12 minutes. In January? It was a whoomphing 33 minutes. Plan accordingly. Not to mention there was also an unfortunate fatal accident not too long ago.

Transportation: You need a car in Phoenix. No way around it. You can try to rideshare your way through a trip, but that will almost certainly end up being way more expensive than just renting a car. Even if you’re staying downtown, you should still plan on having wheels. The positive (again, southern and western cities – I love them!) is that parking is available in abundance, and unless you’re going to a convention or a large sporting event, you can certainly find free parking if willing to walk a few minutes.

Describing this bad boy as perfection would be an understatement. The breakfast burrito at The Dressing Room is sure to leave you satisfied. Oh, and the coffee is amazing too!

Food: The holy grail has arrived. Phoenix has some absolutely amazing restaurants, ranging from typical American fare done well to exemplary Mexican. My favorite things, ironically enough, were the chicken tenders and fries at Arizona Wilderness and the breakfast burrito at The Dressing Room. (Pay the extra $0.50 for the sweet and sour dipping sauce with the tenders. You won’t be upset.) Stay away from the ramen at SosoBa (underwhelming flavor and too many random ingredients — it’s gentrified Ramen) and be prepared to be underwhelmed yet somewhat full at Matt’s Big Breakfast. (The waffle and pancakes leave soooo much to desire.)

THE ABSOLUTE BEST THING (YES, IT WAS SO GOOD I AM TYPING IN ALL CAPS) is the Deep Fried Burro at Poncho’s in South Phoenix. Bill Clinton was a regular here, and if you to Maricopa County and do not delight in this deliciousness, you will have missed out on one of the greatest experiences this life has to offer.

 The quick hits list affirms my belief that Phoenix is an amazing place to both visit and live. I learned a lot from my time out here though. Check out my reflections in the next installment!