Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Phoenix

What would I do without you guys, really?

Bageena — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:31:30 -0800

My friends and I are starting an artist collective in Phoenix, Arizona and we desperately need help thinking of a name. Can you help? Short explanation; I myself am an artist with, you know, the paper and the pencil and occasionally, some ink or acrylic or something. I have three friends that are photographers, another friend who's a painter, two friends who are musicians, and a few others who might also join. What we've decided we'd like to do is start a community blog where we all write individually what we're doing to try and break into the mainstream or just get our work seen. The main site will show all of our posts, broken down by individual members, along with a sort of swarm cloud that shows how often each artist works with the others.
Anyways, we've got a ton of great ideas already and we're excited to get a move on it, but we're stuck at what seems to be the first effing step! We need a name for our little community. We don't have a lot in common except that we all work normal 9-5 jobs outside of our passions for our individual work, we are all artists of one sort or another, and we all live in Phoenix, Arizona. I'm trying to think of names that are reminiscent of the desert or of Phoenix. I sort of like the idea of something ancient and awesome sounding. Really though, we're open to anything. I'd list the links to our websites so you could actually see our styles and who we 'are', so to speak, but I think that'd be a little too self-linky for me. So yeah - if your really that curious, you can look in my bio and I think there's a link there to my personal work.
So yes, I leave it once again to the most clever people I know to help me hop a hurdle in my life. Thanks Mefites!

These boots were made for walkin' in LA?

pointystick — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:17:23 -0800

What is appropriate fashion in fall and winter when in a warm or desert climate? I live in Atlanta where we have 4 disctinct seasons (albeit in no particular order!) but I'm hoping to spend more time in the Southwest - Las Vegas, San Diego, Phoenix, Los Angeles, etc - both for fun and perhaps for work, but have no idea what to wear when it's fall (I'll be there this weekend) or winter (again around Christmas). Will my trousers and boots look silly? How about tweedy skirts or sweaters? I am most concerned about business wear (woman, 30s, casual to dressy office) and going out in the evenings. Does it matter if you stay inside where it's going to be air conditioned? Do desert-dwellers and southwesterners still hanker for wool and suede when the mercury outside is in the 70s? Thanks for your wisdom!

Kink-aware therapists: tips or suggestions?

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:05:04 -0800

How should I go about finding a therapist who will be open-minded about my involvement with BDSM? I'm a 22-year-old woman in Arizona, and I'm experiencing some issues with depression and social anxiety. I'd like to find an experienced local therapist who can help me with these issues, but I'm a little concerned that some aspects of my relationship with my boyfriend will set off domestic abuse alarms to therapists who aren't well-versed in alternative lifestyles.

I'm involved in a 24/7 dominant/submissive relationship (I'm the submissive). My partner and I are very respectful of each other, and I'm not being abused or coerced in any way. Still, I've seen therapists in the past who seemed to find my very interest in BDSM unhealthy and a little unsettling. I know I could just "leave those parts out", but then I'd feel like I wasn't being entirely honest.

I know about the database of Kink-Aware Professionals, but unfortunately all of the Arizona listings seem to be either:
a.) people with dubious credentials (hypnotists, life coaches, and the like)
b.) prohibitively expensive ($150 per session?!), or
c.) located in Tucson (about a two hour drive from me).

Does anyone have any general tips for finding a therapist who will be non-judgmental about my personal life? Specific recommendations for therapists in the Phoenix area would be fantastic as well. Throwaway email: therapy.in.phx@gmail.com.

Phoenix after five on a weekday?

sarabeth — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:56:27 -0800

Things to do in Phoenix area after five? Boyfriend and I are headed to Phoenix today on a whim, as we speak. We're going to try to catch the Science Center before it closes, and we're thinking about visiting Papago Brewery. Any other suggestions for things to do in Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale after five pm? Things we like: books and comics, movies, museums, records, miscellaneous nerdery. Thanks in advance!

Is there a comprehensive story written about the Phoenix Coyotes ownership saga?

AgentRocket — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:10:09 -0800

Is there a definitive write-up of the Phoenix Coyotes' recent ownership/bankruptcy saga? I have followed this story with one eyeball, and it makes no sense. From my understanding, here's the facts:

(1) The 'yotes moved to Phoenix and (surprise!) after a few years of not-great managment and playing in an arena that is not really anywhere near Phoenix they started losing lots of money;
(2) The owner prewired a deal to sell the team to super-rich BlackBerry guy Jim Balsillie for $212 Million + $17 Million in other fees. Balsillie planned to move the team near Toronto, where hockey is super-popular and where most agree a second team could flourish;
(3) The owner of the Coyotes filed bankruptcy and tried to connsumate the sale and the NHL freaked out and intervened to block it;
(4) After fighting in court, eventually the NHL's board unanimously rejected BlackBerry guy's deal and instead voted to sell the team to White Sox/Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, who will pay only $148 Million.

I can't understand why the NHL would fight like hell to keep a team that is losing lots of money in a market that has proven that it can't support it in favor of moving it to a market that would be more successful, or why it would accept a bid that is less than 2/3 the value of the other bid, or why the commissioner seems to really really really not like the BlackBerry guy.

The story is ripe for a long-form behind the scenes type of writeup in a magazine, but I can't find anything other than news reporting and blog posts. Has there been any good quality journalism on this subject?

Teach me about Phoenix.

reductiondesign — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:25:53 -0800

I'm going to college in Phoenix, AZ. Tell me anything and everything good or bad about the Valley of the Sun! I'll be going to ASU this fall for my second year of college, and I figured I'd ask the trusty hivemind what's what in Phoenix (or Tempe, Mesa, Scottsdale, etc.).

What are the best restaurants / shopping / things to do?
Good / bad areas of town?
What sort of weather to expect?
Where's good for biking? Where's not?
Places where traffic gets bad? (Any backroads unknown to out-of-towners?)
Anything else useful to know?

I realize this is fairly open-ended, but it's the sort of question I think AskMeFi is ideal for. Thanks so much!

Is the University of Phoenix acceptable?

HenryGale — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 11:20:15 -0800

How credible is the University of Phoenix online? I am currently a reporting analyst for a health care company. I worked my way up to this position over the years, but I currently don't hold a BS degree. I feel like I'm at a point that I cannot move farther up without getting my Bachelor's degree in business/finance. The only way I can work and go to school would be to get my degree online.

I've looked at University of Phoenix but I'm wondering what employers think of a degree from them. I live in the LA area and the University of La Verne also offers online degrees. Is it better to have a degree from a college everyone knows but might not accept or from a college no one has heard of?

What kind of insect stung me?

m_lazarus — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:36:38 -0800

InsectBiteFilter. Help! Last Sunday in Phoenix, Arizona I was chilling outside and then some insect stung/bit/injected my neck. It was not a bee/wasp/spider/ant. It was a tannish brown color and I think it had transparent green wings but I can't recall for sure. It was about half an inch long. I tried to just forget about it but each day the sting gets more painful. I just hope there's no brood in my neck. Anyone know what kind of critter this could be? And, yes, I know I should go to the doctor but I wanted some hive-mind reassurance that I'll be fine. Thank you so much! Dang bugs.

Times are tough...how do you get hitched without breaking the bank?

penguingrl — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:20:25 -0800

How do you have a simple, affordable wedding in Phoenix, AZ? Asking for a friend.....here are some details:

-Budget is $5,000. The bride will be making many items by hand, such as invitations, name tags, menus, centerpieces, etc.

-They have decided, due to the Phoenix climate, to get married in December.

-Guests will be between 100-150 total.

-Outdoor wedding, so a location with good backdrops for pictures, yet not necessarily opulent.

-Catering not necessary because food is covered by family and friends, but they would need to rent out stemware, flatware, tables, chairs, napkins, etc. So a location that does not require a catering license would be required.

-No money will be spent on limos, decadent flower arrangements, or anything, this wedding will be simple.

My question for my friend is: Where to go? Many wedding factory places in Phoenix, AZ have the full package and start at $5k not including the photographer. Many wedding items will either be done by hand or provided for by others, we are just looking for tips on garden-like venues, some affordable vendors, and suggestions for photographers. The bride and groom are using their own funds for the wedding and would like to keep it that way.

Safe place to spend the night between Phoenix and San Francisc?

twiggy32 — Sat, 16 May 2009 18:58:51 -0800

I am driving from Phoenix to San Francisco, with all my worldly possessions in the car. I plan to split the trip into two days. Any suggestions of a good place to stay overnight where my stuff will be safe in the car? I don't know yet if it will be on the weekend or on a weekday, but I want to avoid the worst of LA traffic. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Staying Downtown in Phoenix

sporb — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 08:52:02 -0800

I'm a hayseed prairie boy about to spend a week in downtown Phoenix without vehicle nor desire to travel far - any tips are appreciated. For example: Is there a drugstore? How about fresh veggies? Places to avoid? thanks!

weekend in Phoenix!

beandip — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 16:08:12 -0800

I'm visiting a friend in Phoenix next weekend - what are some fun things to see and do? A dear friend of mine moved from the midwest to Phoenix two years ago and is gradually getting acquainted with the area. I finally have a chance to spend a long weekend visiting her (yippee!!) We are looking for ideas of what to see and do during my visit. We'd prefer not to spend more than a couple hours driving anywhere and our budget is modest.

Things on our list so far:
the botanical gardens
the Heard Museum
some easy/moderate hiking not too far from town

Things I am wondering about:
The Science Center - is it worth a visit?
looking for a couple great local restaurants (in the less-than-$20-a-meal range)
maybe a good low-key place to grab a beer and hear some music

Things I'm not particulary interested in:
driving to the Grand Canyon (too far!)
Taliesin West (I hear it's really expensive to tour?)
shopping

What else should we check out?? Her apartment is on the northern end of Scottsdale, I think, so things to do and see in that area would be especially welcome.

Help me give facts to a friend looking to invest in a second house in Scottsdale, AZ.

blastrid — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:52:07 -0800

A friend of mine owns a house in Phoenix proper. He wants to rent it for nearly his mortgage amount and purchase a bigger house in Scottsdale, intending to have his money in property investment as opposed to sitting in the bank. Help me give him facts that may support or prove inauspicious his idea... He says his mentality is that of Warren Buffet's - when all the money is being pushed in one direction, put yours in the opposite direction. He can make a few thousand by letting a big chunk of money sit in the bank, or he can put that big chunk into a down housing market and let it grow with his investment. He has and will have a well-paying steady job in a field relatively unaffected by the current crisis (at this point). But he seems to think the curve is within 6 months of the bottom, and I very much disagree. Please help me give him solid data and weblinks that show him why this time, everything's different, and now is definitely not the time to invest in property in Scottsdale, AZ.
So far I've gathered:
RealEstateDecline.com
Marketwatch
Financial Sense
and a few news stories from the AZ papers.

Anything like an ESPNZONE in downtown Phoenix?

teg4rvn — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:28:32 -0800

I need a recommendation of a sports bar/restaurant in downtown Phoenix that is kid-friendly. Think ESPNZone. My seven-year-old son and I are sports nuts. He was in heaven at the ESPN Zone in Times Square, NYC, eating mac and cheese and watching sports on multiple monitors, all while sitting in a barca-lounger.

We're spending a weekend in Phoenix to see some Spring training baseball and catch a Suns basketball game and I'd like to duplicate as best I can the EspnZone experience for one dinner. I'd prefer for it to be within walking distance of downtown hotels, but i will have a car, so a drive is not out of the question if there's somewhere not too far away that's really fun/cool.

Scenic drive from Phoenix to Tucson?

Perplexity — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:20:58 -0800

Scenic drive from Phoenix to Tucson? Tomorrow we're flying into PHX and driving to Northeast Tucson (specifically, 7000 N. Resort Rd., Tucson, AZ 85750).

I see that it would be very easy/direct to take just take I-10 South to W Ina Road.

But it looks like some other options are available -- 60 to 79 to 77; 87 to 79 to 77; even 60 to 177 to 77.

How's the I-10 drive? Are any of the other routes particularly pleasant? How much time would we be adding to the trip? Any recommendations en route?

Thanks!

Trail skills for girls.

Barry B. Palindromer — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:02:51 -0800

What skills can I teach my daughters, aged 9 and 7, while hiking? Also, where should we take our big, culminating hike in the spring (in or around Phoenix)? Beginning Saturday, November 1, I will be taking my three daughters (ages 9,7 and 3) hiking every Saturday morning in our wonderful Phoenix Mountain Preserve. We will continue our hikes through the winter, probably until March or April when summer re-commences. Last winter we worked in identifying the flora along the trail. This winter I would like to teach the older girls more about map-reading and navigating with a compass. How else could I augment their outdoor education? Any resources for teaching these skills to youngsters would be appreciated, too.

Additionally, I'd like to have our hikes culminate in a big hike, or perhaps an overnight backpacking trip for the older two girls. Any suggestions on Phoenix trails or trails within 150 miles of the metro area for such a hike?

What airlines will get me from Phoenix to New York City with three adult cats?

Optimus Chyme — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 12:44:11 -0800

What airlines will get me from Phoenix to New York City with three adult cats? Failing that, can you recommend anyone who does live animal shipment? I moved to New York and left my cats with sitters in Phoenix while I found an apartment. I have an apartment now and would like to retrieve my cats. My plan was to a) fly back to PHX and fly them back out to NYC with me or b) have them shipped out here via a live animal transport service.

I know, for instance, that Southwest doesn't allow pets at all. What airlines are the most pet-friendly?

With respect to shippers, I got an eye-popping $1500 estimate from Precious Pet Transport, which I will be happy to spend if there are no other options available. Do you know of better or less expensive pet transport companies?

Flying back and renting a car is out of the question due to time and cost constraints; my research indicates that it would be the most expensive option other than building them a rocketship out of gold.

I am open to any suggestions or advice you may have. Thank you!

How to make the most of a very brief trip to Arizona

horses, of courses — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:55:09 -0800

I am looking for advice about places to stay and things to do on a trip through Phoenix, Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon and Sedona. My mom is going to be in Phoenix for a conference soon and since neither of us have spent much time out west we decided to make a little vacation out of it. Help us make the most of it! After two days on my own in Phoenix, on Sunday afternoon/evening we are going to drive to Flagstaff. Monday we will drive to the Grand Canyon for the day and then return to the same hotel in Flagstaff. On Tuesday we want to see Sedona on our way back to Phoenix. Tuesday night we will sleep somewhere in Phoenix (probably just close to the airport) and then Wednesday morning we will both fly home.

As these are the biggest areas where I lack knowledge, can anyone help us out with…

1) More than anything else, we are looking for suggestions for what to do in Sedona. With only one day, what would you do? I have read suggestions in previous threads but most of those askers had more time! We are mostly looking to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. Walking and light hiking would generally be our preferred activity.

2) Any suggestions on places to stay and things to do in Flagstaff and Phoenix? As it’ll be largely unused, we’d rather not spend much on our room, but we’re flexible on cost. Are any of the museums worthwhile? Any cool coffee shops or unique shopping districts? What about solo excursions, as I’ll have two days on my own while my mom is at her conference?

3) My mom injured her knee recently and while she is fine for all normal activity and even moderate hiking we certainly won’t be trying to make the trek down into the Grand Canyon. How can we make the most of our trip while mostly staying along the rim?

4) Also, as a bonus, my mom is a pescetarian and I rarely eat meat, so any suggestions for good vegetarian food in any of these locations will be greatly appreciated.

endothermic or exothermic?

phritosan — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:19:35 -0800

Apartment filter: I need my apartment to be cool inside! We moved into a very nice 3rd (top) floor, west facing apartment... in March... came home in June and no exaggeration, it was 94 degrees in my living room. The AC has a 20 degree difference and runs nonstop from 4pm to 11pm and its 84 degrees in the bed room till 11pm. We’ve had the maintenance people out three times. There’s a 20 degree difference between intake and output. The filters are new. Everything on the roof looks fine. But more than 2 feet from the vent and you can’t feel it anymore.

All the ceiling fans are going 24/7. The floor fan is on whenever we're home and not asleep. The sliding glass door is covered by UV/light blocking tinting designed for RVs, venetian blinds, and a blanket. The office window has venetian blinds and a blanket. The bedroom window has venetian blinds and very thick light blocking curtains. The AC is always set on 78. We cannot make any modifications that are visible from the outside.

Do you think it’s worth another $100 to tint the other two windows? The heat has to be coming through the walls, right?

I live in the Phoenix area, opening the windows after dark will not help. Moving is not an option till March and we still like everything else about the apartment.

What else can we do?! I’m not looking for stop-gap solutions like a bucket of ice water in front of a fan. I want my apartment enjoyable. There is no reason I should have a $230 electric bill for a 980 sq ft apartment when my parents have a $380 bill for a 5 bedroom house! Our electric bill in April was $76!

Help us mefi, you're our only hope!

Phoenix-Area Late Night/Weekend Drycleaner - Wishful Thinking?

TurquoiseZebra — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:13:45 -0800

Phoenix-area dry cleaner - Needs to be open late/on the weekend! Flying into Phoenix Friday evening. Need to have something dry cleaned for Sunday. Problem is, won't land in Phoenix until 5:00 pm, so won't be able to drop off until 6:00 pm or so. Willing to drive anywhere. Already talked to the hotel, and they aren't able to do it or help.

Any ideas, suggestions?

You can't get that from here.

Lou Stuells — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:08:17 -0800

What goodies do we need from Phoenix, AZ? Husband is going there for a few days in July, and we're trying to think of what treats he ought to bring back to New England - stuff we can't find here at home. Cactus Cooler soda and prickly pear jelly/candy are all I can think of. See's Candies would be wonderful, but would not travel well. Any other regional favorites? Thanks in advance!

Looking for a locally-owned restaurant in Phoenix...

pwb503 — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:44:33 -0800

Who can recommend a locally-owned restaurant in or near Phoenix for lunch on Saturday? Type of food doesn't matter, just that they know what their ingredients are and are willing to deal with some food allergies. One person (me) can eat anything, another (not me) has a soy, nut, and dairy allergy. We don't need a hippy place that only serves allergy friendly food, but that'd be ok too. We just need a place that makes everything from scratch and can make something on a clean pan for her. BBQ, mexican, pub, thai, whatever; just name the best local joint open for lunches.

why do you have to be closed pizza gods?!!?

outsider — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 07:59:50 -0800

Where to eat a great dinner out in Phoenix? The lady friend and I are going to Phoenix next week to see Tom Waits... the only restaurant we have ever needed in Phoenix is Pizzeria Bianco... which unfortunately will be closed the night we are there. Any other recommendations for a great early dinner spot? We have to be done with chow by 7:30 or so to make it to the show. Atmosphere / food quality are paramount, price is a concern but we are open to anything.

Red sky at night AND morning? Must be Mars!

jwells — Wed, 28 May 2008 17:47:31 -0800

I want to reconstruct Phoenix Mars lander pics in color. There are five B&W images of the same scene with the wavelength in the jpg headers (445, 485, 533, 604, 753nm). How do I combine these? There's an explanation and combined color wheel here. Funny thing is, I don't get what they get with GIMP and RGB (604, 533, 485). There's too much red and it looks darker. What am I doing wrong?

Phoenix Suns Tickets

woolylambkin — Mon, 19 May 2008 11:12:00 -0800

I'm looking for a picture/scan of a Phoenix Suns ticket and my google-fu doesn't seem to find anything large enough to print. Any links or personal scans would be much appreciated.