Leaving Arizona
After close to two weeks of a hectic travel schedule, we’ve finally arrived in Barcelona. Before I give my initial impressions of our new home, I did want to put in a few words about a former home in Phoenix and briefly, Scottsdale.
I moved to Phoenix, almost on a lark, eight and a half years ago. I’m glad I did because I would not have met Les. Over those years, and especially since we decided to leave, I have contemplated what I will miss as well as what I would just as soon forget. So without further adieu and a drumroll, please here’s a list that is by no means comprehensive:
What I’ll Miss
The Grand Canyon: Pictures do not do justice to this wonder of the natural world. Nevertheless, I can always listen to Ferde Grofe’s “Grand Canyon Suite”, an inspiring piece by an unsung American composer.
The Desert Botanical Garden: Our favorite place in Phoenix, Les and I celebrated our wedding there with a reception in the Steele Herb Garden. We also enjoyed bringing Farrah and meeting friends during their special dog days in the spring and the fall.
Roosevelt Row: Always a lot to see and do from galleries to breweries to cocktail bars (although it has been getting busier, that’s good for the small businesses in the area).
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral: We were married there and it always served as a place for spiritual grounding. The clergy, staff and members of the congregation were wonderful, especially during COVID. They will be missed.
The Burgeoning Food and Drink Scene in Phoenix: It just doesn’t get its due, overshadowed by Los Angeles and other cities in the Southwest. So many great places too numerous to mention here. However, we do have a few local faves that I need to give a shout out to: Chula Seafood (all locations), Rusconi’s (their wine dinners). Lux Max Kierland (delicious pastries and coffee), Hidden Track Bottle Shop (unique wines and friendly staff), Clever Koi (cocktails and coffee-rubbed salmon), Killer Whale Sex Club (check out the photo gallery behind the bar, if you dare), Hush (watching the kitchen staff at work), Persepshen (using a cow from nose to tail), Barrio Cafe (excellent mole from Silvana), FnB (Charlene and Pavel are among the best), Vecina (an incredible fusion of Japanese, Mexican, and Spanish cuisines), Forno 301 (ask for Rico), Bitter and Twisted (visit during the holidays for “Sippin’ Santa”), the Larder and the Delta (gone but not forgotten) and O.H.S.O. Brewery (Farrah loves their sweet potato fries). If you haven’t been to any of those places, I invite you to try them out.
The Japanese Friendship Garden: An oasis of tranquility in downtown Phoenix that is worth exploring, especially during the fall Full Moon Festival (Otsukimi).
The Expanding Viniculture: Arizona has some great wines which are getting better every year. Once again, Arizona is overlooked by the wine press in favor of California, Oregon, and Washington. Check out wines from Rune and Los Milics.
KBAQ (or KBACH): One of the best classical music stations in the country. Waking up at 4 AM never sounded so sweet. We always enjoyed listening to “Reel Music” on Saturday nights while cooking dinner. The selections from sometimes obscure soundtracks shed new light on movie music.
“The J”, aka The Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center in Scottsdale: Not only a great gym and aquatic center but an amazing resource. The staff, instructors and members were simply the best and always welcoming. We will miss that awesome community of friends and neighbors.
What I Won’t Miss
I hate being negative but I have to do this ( I will keep it short and sour)
Circle K: Gas price-gouging, inoperable pumps and what is Easy Pay anyway?
Fry’s: Yes we did shop there regularly but substituting celery for leeks? C’mon!
Mass Transit: Or lack thereof
The Drivers and the Traffic; Traffic has gotten worse as have the drivers since I moved here. They’re not as bad as New Jersey but I’m surprised that the region isn’t rated more poorly.
Gun culture: Does anyone need to be “locked and loaded” going into the Safeway or out for brunch?
The heat and drought: Yes, I did move here to escape the East Coast winters but the summers began to wear on me after about five years. A weekly monsoon would help to alleviate the stress on residents, animals and plants but they became fewer and further between.
The Diamondbacks: Yes, I’m going there. I absolutely hate that they defeated the Phillies the night we saw them and especially that they won the National League Championship in Philadelphia. I was ecstatic that they did lose the series in Phoenix. Call me bitter if you will but it was sweet revenge nonetheless.
There’s my take on Arizona. It took longer than I expected to post this but I hope to have more updates this week as we acclimate to our new home. Until then…
