Visiting Downtown PHX, AZ...

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Ns1

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,600
126
SO it's happening, except I'll be in Downtown Phoenix instead. Will try to hit up Pizza Bianco but don't really have anything else lined up.

Anything good on Sunday?


Original Post:
To my southwest ATOT'ers, I will be visiting the lovely city of Tempe in October. What is there to do around there besides leave? I'll have 5 days or so around the region.

I'm thinking there's NOTHING, so I'm going in there to go to my event, then leaving for Sedona/Grand Canyon.

Thoughts?
 
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C

Childs

Lifer
Jul 9, 2000
11,313
7
81
Downtown Tempe is fun, especially in summer when all the ASU girls are wearing short shorts. Or course, the downside is summer is super hot in Tempe/Phoenix. When I lived there I remember 105 degrees at 3AM. During the day when I'd walk out of the office I'd get a headache. And giant flying roaches. Come to think of it, dont go to AZ.
 
Drako

Drako

Lifer
Jun 9, 2007
10,697
161
106
Hang around ASU and hit on some coeds, if there are any around in the summer. :hmm:
 
C

Childs

Lifer
Jul 9, 2000
11,313
7
81
Drako said:
Hang around ASU and hit on some coeds, if there are any around in the summer. :hmm:
Click to expand...

There were tons, at least in the 18-25 range. Dont know if they are actual ASU students, and didnt care. I want to say Mill Ave is where all the action was, but its been awhile since I was there.
 
McLovin

McLovin

Golden Member
Jul 8, 2007
1,915
58
91
October isn't summer so I'd say there will be a ton of College Ladies abound.

There is a place called Portillos that I went to last time I was home that was not that bad.

Organ Stop Pizza is awesome and they have a giant Wurlitzer Organ that plays while you eat.

English style Fish and Chips, The Codfather is the closest to the real thing I've had since going to England.

You NEED to go to Honey Bears BBQ, some of the best I've ever had in my life.

Some of the best German Food I've had is at Haus Murphys and my grandmother said that it was closest thing to her Mother's cooking she ever had.

I know this place is a chain now, but seriously had some of the best Italian Food ever back in the day. The Old Spaghetti Factory is worth the stop, location is cool to!

It's TGIFridays so don't get excited about the food, But Friday's Front row @ Chase Field is a very cool place to go once. In october won't be busy so you won't have to fight the crowds.

Rustler's Rooste is good and has an excellent view from South Mountain in the evening.

Bobby Q is also good, but it used to be called Bobby McGee's and was a blast to go to. Atmosphere is the biggest draw for me.

That's just the stuff of the top of my head. I will continue to think about more recommendations if you'd like.

I am not an ASU fan so I tried to stay far away from Tempe as far as possible lol.
 
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lxskllr

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,222
10,670
126
McLovin said:
October isn't summer so I'd say there will be a ton of College Ladies abound.

There is a place called Portillos that I went to last time I was home that was not that bad.

Organ Stop Pizza is awesome and they have a giant Wurlitzer Organ that plays while you eat.

English style Fish and Chips, The Codfather is the closest to the real thing I've had since going to England.

You NEED to go to Honey Bears BBQ, some of the best I've ever had in my life.

Some of the best German Food I've had is at Haus Murphys and my grandmother said that it was closest thing to her Mother's cooking she ever had.

I know this place is a chain now, but seriously had some of the best Italian Food ever back in the day. The Old Spaghetti Factory is worth the stop, location is cool to!

It's TGIFridays so don't get excited about the food, But Friday's Front row @ Chase Field is a very cool place to go once. In october won't be busy so you won't have to fight the crowds.

Rustler's Rooste is good and has an excellent view from South Mountain in the evening.

Bobby Q is also good, but it used to be called Bobby McGee's and was a blast to go to. Atmosphere is the biggest draw for me.

That's just the stuff of the top of my head. I will continue to think about more recommendations if you'd like.
Click to expand...

So, eat and look at girls. He can do that in his house :^D
 
Ns1

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,600
126
I know this place is a chain now, but seriously had some of the best Italian Food ever back in the day. The Old Spaghetti Factory is worth the stop, location is cool to!
Click to expand...

browned butter mizithra cheese pasta for the clogged arteries.

Thanks for the reminder though, there's supposedly a pizza guy in AZ...Anybody been? http://www.pizzeriabianco.com/#about

Yes I like neapolitan pizza, yes I eat it with a knife/fork, yes the center should be soggy.
 
McLovin

McLovin

Golden Member
Jul 8, 2007
1,915
58
91
Ns1 said:
browned butter mizithra cheese pasta for the clogged arteries.

Thanks for the reminder though, there's supposedly a pizza guy in AZ...Anybody been? http://www.pizzeriabianco.com/#about

Yes I like neapolitan pizza, yes I eat it with a knife/fork, yes the center should be soggy.
Click to expand...

Dude it is SO delicious, clogged arteries be damned!

I lived in phoenix for 25 years and honest to god I've never heard of this guy or his pizza. :-\
 
U

unokitty

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2012
3,346
1
0
SCOTTSDALE-TALIESEN_WEST-DRAGON.jpg

Ns1 said:
To my southwest ATOT'ers, I will be visiting the lovely city of Tempe in October. What is there to do around there besides leave? I'll have 5 days or so around the region.

I'm thinking there's NOTHING, so I'm going in there to go to my event, then leaving for Sedona/Grand Canyon.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

When I did some training in Phoenix, I took a half day tour of Taliesin West.

TALIESIN WEST, 12345 N. Taliesin Drive, Scottsdale AZ, 85258 Review
Scottsdale rather than Tempe. But its not far.

If you're into architecture or Frank Lloyd Wright, you might enjoy it.

Uno
 
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R

rchunter

Senior member
Feb 26, 2015
933
72
91
At least it's only 5 days. You're going at the wrong time of year. The ONLY time to visit is in the winter.
EDIT- nevermind, you're going in october so it won't be THAT bad. The heat is just starting to be OK. You'll probably have 80-90 degree days instead of 105. lol.
 
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X

XavierMace

Diamond Member
Apr 20, 2013
4,307
450
126
Ns1 said:
To my southwest ATOT'ers, I will be visiting the lovely city of Tempe in October. What is there to do around there besides leave? I'll have 5 days or so around the region.

I'm thinking there's NOTHING, so I'm going in there to go to my event, then leaving for Sedona/Grand Canyon.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Are you looking for touristy stuff or just general hang out stuff? If touristy stuff...

Phoenix Zoo is a decent zoo. Not San Diego Zoo good, but decent. Desert Botanical Gardens is interesting if you're into that sort of thing.

If you're at all interested in military stuff, the Titan Missile Museum is well worth the drive. It's about half way between Phoenix and Tucson so it's a bit of a drive from Tempe (2 hours-ish). Last Titan II missile silo open to the public. The short tour is available pretty much any time. The longer, more extensive tour is only certain days.

Grand Canyon is an obvious point of interest but that's a full days trip. If you're going that far, Hoover Dam is quite interesting. I've heard the new tour (1 hour) isn't as good as the old one, but it's still an impressive structure. Plus at that point, you're almost to Las Vegas.

Bondurant School of High Performance Driving is on the south side of town and has half day and single day courses but aren't for the feint of wallet.

If you're just looking for general hang out stuff...

Like the others said, Mill Ave in Tempe is the place to go for eye candy and most the general night life. I'd have to disagree with some of McLovin's recommendation's but to each his own.

I find Joe's Real BBQ in Gilbert to be much better than Honey Bear's.

Organ Stop is a quite enjoyable experience but the pizza isn't what you'd call top tier by any means. You're going for the entertainment not the food. The amount of off the wall songs and mashups they do (via request) is quite impressive although varies from musician to musician. Imperial March is always good for a smile. We usually request Star Trek and Mission Impossible as well. If there's a lot of people with kids there, expect to hear a variety of Disney song's. Plus there's always the staple songs like the national anthem and that sort of thing.

Oregano's (Gilbert/Tempe) is quite tasty Italian food. Most of their dishes are on the spicy side for Italian food.

I'm also a fan of Macayo's (Tempe/Phoenix) and Nando's Mexican Cafe (Gilbert) for mexican food. I'm especially a fan of Nando's Enchilada's Del Mar if you like seafood as well.

Cornish Pasty Co (Tempe) is tasty if you like that kind of food.

Four Peak's Brewery (Tempe) and SanTan Brewery (Gilbert) are pretty obvious choice if you're into that kind of thing. Expect both places to be quite busy at night.
 
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Ns1

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,600
126
Thanks for the recs!

Titan Missile Museum = I'm going to drag my wife there. I'll probably have to repay the favor by going with her into a forever 21 or someshit =X
 
EvilYoda

EvilYoda

Lifer
Apr 1, 2001
21,198
9
81
Desert botanical gardens (best when they have the Chihuly exhibit), I also think that Taliesin West is an amazing place to see.

If people are talking pizza, I haven't seen mention of Pizzeria Bianco in downtown Phoenix (15 minute drive from Tempe), which has been named best in the nation in the past. Lines are long but if you go for lunch during the week you'll be fine.

The beer scene has really picked up - there are the big ones already mentioned but also a lot of smaller micro and nano breweries.

Tempe Town Lake always has festivals and concerts and is right at the end of Mill Ave so you can walk around with your wife.

Plenty to do in and around Tempe (Scottsdale's food scene is really good and only a short drive away)...but if you're considering hitting up Sedona, that's always worth it.

BTW, don't forget that Phoenix is a no-tolerance city in regard to BAC and driving. Be careful or make the wife drive! :)
 
Ns1

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,600
126
EvilYoda said:
If people are talking pizza, I haven't seen mention of Pizzeria Bianco in downtown Phoenix (15 minute drive from Tempe), which has been named best in the nation in the past. Lines are long but if you go for lunch during the week you'll be fine.
Click to expand...

Reply #8 actually. Anything particularly note worthy?
 
EvilYoda

EvilYoda

Lifer
Apr 1, 2001
21,198
9
81
Ns1 said:
Reply #8 actually. Anything particularly note worthy?
Click to expand...

Ah, didn't come up in the text search. I've only been 2-3 times over the years (don't live there any more so I try to go when I visit) but it just comes down to the dough and the oven. I don't eat a lot of bread/carbs these days but I'd go through empty pies if they gave them to me. Most of the pizza toppings I've had work well - they're all very simple, they let the dough/bread shine through. The taste, the chew, the freshness...so good. Last time I went I was with a vegetarian and still loved every minute of it. Highly recommended.
 
P

Pantoot

Golden Member
Jun 6, 2002
1,764
30
91
It's about half way between Phoenix and Tucson so it's a bit of a drive from Tempe (2 hours-ish).
Click to expand...

Its way worth the visit, but it isn't halfway between Phx and Tucson, its about 15 miles further south of Tucson. (more than halfway to Mexico...)
While you are down there the Pima air and space museum is worth a visit too, if that sort of thing interests you.

If the wife likes to shop there are decent outlet malls on the way out of Phx if you decide to head down to Tucson.
 
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