30 reasons why we’re thankful to live in AZ
Becky Bartkowski, Lauren Saria, Weldon B. Johnson, Jill Cassidy, Elizabeth Montgomery, Priscilla Totiyapungprasert, Tirion Morris, Ed Masley, Bill Goodykoontz, Melissa Yeager, Shaena Montanari and KiMi Robinson
Arizona, we’re here. That’s no small triumph. Faced with everything this year’s tossed our way — a global health crisis, our daily lives upended, a contentious election, fresh worries cropping up by the minute — it might seem Pollyanna-ish of us to reflect on the good. Silly in the face of serious. Joyful amid so much sorrow. Looking up as the earth beneath us shifts with uncertainty. But what can we say? We made it. So did you. Rooted here in the desert, we’ve found so many reasons to feel thankful. Here are 30 of them.
To start, an easy one: Sunsets
There’s really nothing like a Phoenix sunset. Not that I’ve seen anyway. And as a music journalist who’s always interviewing artists from around the world, I know I’m not alone in being mesmerized by magic hour in the Valley. When Courtney Barnett brought her last tour to Phoenix from Australia, she said she was looking forward to the date because we have the “best sunsets in the world.”
She’s right, you know. And if you find yourself not sharing our enthusiasm for those sunsets, here’s what Arizona native Dierks Bentley once told me.
“When I’m out there to hang out with my buddy Brian (Frakes) in his backyard on Indian School, you’ll see an Arizona sunset and I’m just like, ‘I can’t take my eyes off it.’ He’s like, ‘Another sunset. Big deal.’ But to me, it’s like, ‘No, look at that. That’s amazing! Look what it’s done to the clouds. The whole sky has changed color.”
— Ed Masley
Street art makes the city feel alive
You’ve probably read about James Baldwin. But you rarely see his face. Artist Antoinette Cauley aimed to change that with a nine-story portrait of Baldwin that went up in downtown Phoenix in August. Incorporating his famous quote, “Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced,” the large-scale art stands as a reminder of his work, or an introduction to it.
Cauley’s mural is just one of the many works of art in downtown Phoenix artists created to let their voices be heard this year. From 100 beaded turtles scattered downtown with “vote” painted on their shells, to a literal 2020 dumpster fire and a mural honoring Black lives, Arizona creatives took to the streets as a pandemic and a presidential election loomed.
This year has felt apocalyptic. But driving downtown and seeing new art outside reminds me the city is still alive.
— Elizabeth Montgomery
You’ll find plant stores for pros and novices
Sure, lots of people were into houseplants before the pandemic. But it seems that constantly staring at the interiors of our homes combined with having much, much, much more time to take care of household tasks (like watering plants) spurred many folks — myself included — to go full on house plant crazy this year. Which makes sense considering the Valley has such an amazing collection of indie plant stores to enable addicts.
As any good metro Phoenix green thumb knows, The Plant Stand of Arizona offers a wide selection at unbeatable prices (bonus: you can usually pet Bentley, the owner’s friendly golden retriever when you go) while Dig It Gardens wins the award for having the most helpful staff. (They’ll even re-pot your plant babies for you!) And when you’re looking to discover something special, there’s nothing better than a stroll through the urban oasis that is Pueblo plant store.
— Lauren Saria
Our beer brewers and cocktail masters make imbibing fun
When home became everything — your office, gym, school — it also became your neighborhood bar. And Arizonans reportedly enjoyed a whole lot of adult beverages during the early months of the pandemic. Good thing the Valley’s brewers and shakers were prepared and quick to, once they got the goahead, offer to-go drinks and deliver beer to doorsteps.
But they did more than mix up bevs and send them on their way. They made it fun. Thai spot Glai Baan issued glass jars of cocktails, each with a stuck-on label delightfully illustrating its name with a stick figure drawing. (Sunshowers, for instance, feature a smiling person with a flaming sunshine for a head standing under, you guessed it, a shower.) Wren House Brewing took their limited edition drop game to new levels, issuing hints about when new Frescas would hit the online shop with fresh labels that only made them more covetable. Pouring either into a glass at the end of another Groundhog Day made it feel a little like being on a twinkly patio or seated among friends at a long wooden table. Kind of. Not really. But almost.
— Becky Bartkowski
Young Arizonans care about climate change
Let’s face it: Phoenix was designed for cars, not people. And unless something changes, the climate crisis — fueled in part by carbon dioxide emissions — will continue to harm this city in different ways, whether it’s deadly heat or intensifying drought. While it’s easy to despair in a place dubbed “the least sustainable city in the world,” I’m thankful for the diverse generation of young Arizonans and first-time voters who give a damn about our air and water and living things. As my coworker Erin Stone reported, Gen Z will be the ones who live to see how climate projections play out in the latter half of their lives. I want to live in a Phoenix that will become more livable for everyone and I feel hopeful the next generation of leaders feel that way, too.
— Priscilla Totiyapungprasert
There’s no daylight saving time
From the moment you move to Arizona, you repeatedly hear this question from friends outside the Grand Canyon State.
“What time is it there anyway?”
Arizona’s decision in 1967 not to take part in pushing clocks forward and back means no extra hour of sleep in the fall. But it also means no spring forward disrupting your sleep schedule either.
Sure, sometimes you feel like you’re doing quantum physics deducting what time it is in other places. But isn’t it worth it to not have to change every clock in your home and office twice a year? Isn’t it great if you have small children that you don’t have to adjust their sleep schedules? Time peacefully marches on in Arizona without interruption.
If only the rest of the world would join us.
— Melissa Yeager
Reconnecting with Japanese culture at Arizona Matsuri
Since moving to Phoenix a year ago, there have been a few times when I’ve experienced a collective excitement for Asian cultures and food — something I saw firsthand every day while working in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo.
Sure, there was online hype for H Mart, which finally opened in Mesa in June. But it wasn’t until I was struggling to wade through the crowds (and the mud) at the 36th annual Arizona Matsuri in February that I felt like I was reconnecting with something I’d been missing since my move.
Thousands of people filled Steele Indian School Park to appreciate Japanese arts, culture and food that I’d grown up with in Southern California. Lines more than an hour long blocked pathways by the food booths offering taiyaki, curry rice and ramen.
It was the best “welcome to Phoenix” I could’ve asked for.
— KiMi Robinson
It’s a birding paradise
It’s difficult to run out of birds to spot in Arizona, from roadrunners to raptors to hummingbirds. The state is a birder’s paradise with 566 species to check off your list. In southern Arizona, Chiricahua National Monument’s unique sky islands make it a haven for over 200 species of birds, including the stunning red-and-green elegant trogon. In northern Arizona, you may even get lucky enough to spot one of the 102 endangered California condors that call Utah and Arizona home.
The state is also lousy with hummingbirds: about a dozen species can be spotted in southeastern Arizona each year. Compared to birders east of the Mississippi River who only get to enjoy one species, we’re in luck. I’m glad we have easy access to a perfectly peaceful activity in this time of social distancing.
— Shaena Montanari
Some Arizona food favorites are coming to the Valley
It’s has been a trying year for small businesses of all varieties. Restaurants and bars have been some of the hardest hit. However, there is still plenty to cele
brate, as some of Arizona’s favorite food and drink destinations have opened locations in the Valley.
Southern Arizona’s Tombstone Brewing Company opened a new brewery outpost near Arcadia. The drive to Superstition Meadery just got a whole lot shorter as the Prescott favorite opened its downtown Phoenix taproom and restaurant in November. Globe’s comic and video game-themed spot Nurdberger opened a second location in Gilbert. Tucson vegan restaurant Beaut Burger is bringing plant based burgers and dairy free ice cream to the Valley in the new year and the Old Pueblo’s favorite fast food chain eegee’s confirmed plans of opening not one, but five Phoenix locations. Now, that all sounds like something to be thankful for.
— Tirion Morris
Arizona’s wine industry feels like a true community
I’m a proud homer for Arizona wine. If I were some kind of expert, I’d tell you about the terroir and the technique and the what all, but I’m not. What I love about Arizona wine (besides the fact that it tastes good) is that the people who make it are so generous and welcoming. At Chateau Tumbleweed in Clarkdale, a winemaker poured for me and offered samples of wines not on the tasting menu. At the Southwest Wine Center in Clarkdale, where Yavapai College students do everything, the tasting-room manager once gave me a behind-the-scenes tour because it was a slow day. And I can’t count all the times I’ve been told, if you like this wine, you should try so-and-so’s down the street. Arizona’s wine industry feels like a true community, and we need all the community we can get these days.
— Jill Cassidy
Our sports teams are perfectly mediocre
Ever wonder what it’s like to be part of a dynasty? Home to a consistent winner? In Arizona we don’t have to worry about that — and it’s kind of nice. Yes, the Arizona Diamondbacks won a World Series ... in 2001. The Phoenix Mercury have won three WNBA championships, but none since 2014. The once-proud Phoenix Suns were a fun bubble team but not much more, and despite one trip to the Super Bowl, the Arizona Cardinals have a tradition of failure. (A tradition they may reverse this season; we’ll see.)
Sure, winning is great, but mediocrity ain’t bad. Fans of Arizona sports teams can invest the perfect amount of fanaticism into their favorites: a little, but not a lot. Cheer, but don’t obsess. We don’t have the stress of wondering how a favorite team will fare in the championship game, because we so rarely get there. Enjoy!
— Bill Goodykoontz
The calm of biking Valley canal paths
I’m thankful for the multi-use paths
along the canals that criss-cross the Valley. In particular, for the paths along the Western and Consolidated canals. I began to ride my bike more often when things started to shut down due to the pandemic. Before that I’d just ride occasionally on weekends, but when I started working from home, I’d get on my bike and ride to clear my head after work. It was a way to work up a sweat once the gyms closed, but soon it just became something I enjoyed doing. I started riding in the neighborhood but wanted to get in a more miles each day. I don’t have the faith in humanity – or drivers – necessary to feel comfortable riding long distances on busy streets, so I like to take to the paths along the canals. You can ride up to a mile in some places before you have to cross a major street, and there’s something calming about being able to ride along the water.
— Weldon Johnson
Landscapes are so beautiful they look like paintings
I first visited the Grand Canyon 12 years ago for spring break when I was a geology student on the East Coast. It was my first time going west of central North Carolina, and one of my professors warned me that the size of the Grand Canyon might shock me because I had never laid eyes on something so vast in my entire life.
He was correct — all I could think when I first stepped up to the ice- and snow-covered South Rim of the canyon was that it looked like a painting. My ears filled with quiet in a way I had never experienced before. It is no surprise artists have been inspired by this geologic wonder for centuries. If ever lacking inspiration, I recommend everyone snap a photo of their favorite Arizona rock formations at the golden hour near sunset. Now that I live in Arizona, I remind myself to never stop being thankful that I have the chance to see the glowing red rocks of Sedona or the verdant green forests of the Mogollon Rim any time I want.
— Shaena Montanari
Curbside pickup is everywhere, even the library
I’m still daydreaming about the leisurely Sunday afternoons I used to spend wandering up and down the aisles of Burton Barr Central Library. But the silver lining to the library’s ongoing closure is that many Valley branches have reopened to offer curbside pick up so bookworms can still get their fix without having to leave the comfort of their cars. The system is remarkably easy to use: Anyone with a library account can go online, find and select the books they want to borrow, and the library will send an email when they’re ready to pick up. Then you just pull up out front, call to let the library staff know you’re outside and someone will run the stack out to your car.
— Lauren Saria
Alice Cooper is our resident rock legend
I discovered Alice Cooper as a preteen Catholic schoolboy of the 1970s. With his macabre theatrics and darkly comic portrait of an anti-social antihero on the edge, this was peak Alice when it came to striking fear into the hearts of the middle American PTA and, more specifically, the woman I call “mom.”
Which is to say my inner 12-year-old was thrilled when I moved to Phoenix, where Cooper is not only part of the cultural fabric as our resident rock legend but an actual pillar of the community, holding an annual Christmas Pudding concert to build and operate the Solid Rock Teen Center, offering free music, arts and dance programming to kids from 12 to 20. Cooper oversees the center with his wife of more than 40 years, Sheryl Cooper. Bonus points for increasingly frequent reunions with the other three surviving members of the classic Cooper group.
— Ed Masley
I found boba that reminds me of home
One ritual has remained a constant for me, pandemic or not: finding good milk tea boba — aka bubble tea or tapioca milk tea — even if it means an hour in the car.
I schedule my Saturday errands around getting a cup of milk tea with chewy tapioca balls sitting at the bottom that require a big straw to sip up. Why go to such lengths? Because it’s delicious — depending on where in metro Phoenix you get it from, of course — and it reminds me of home.
From enjoying boba slushies as an occasional treat from my mom in middle school to grabbing milk tea boba as a coffee alternative on my way to class in college, having boba tea is a comforting ritual for me. And places like Aloha Tea and Coffee in Glendale and Tea Swirl in Tempe have helped me satisfy my cravings and have a feeling of normalcy in these unprecedented times.
— KiMi Robinson
Innovative theaters went virtual
It has been inspiring to have a front row seat as artists tenaciously thrive this year. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced Valley theaters to postpone entire seasons and cancel shows. So when 12 Arizona theater groups came together in July for a virtual show called “The 24 Hour Plays: Viral Monologues,” it gave us hope.
Writers had less than 24 hours to create a monologue for an actor who had even less time to record their portrayal. The videos were posted on Instagram and the result was truly brilliant. In a year when so much feels unknown, those 24 hours made things feel a little normal. I’m thankful to see the Arizona theater community’s talent thrive under unprecedented pressure.
— Elizabeth Montgomery
Phoenix’s indie boutiques make shopping local easy
The need to shop locally has never felt so urgent. Here in Phoenix, though, patronizing independent boutiques is more of a joy than an obligation. Why? Because our neighbors have really good taste.
Phoenix General, born from a pair of downtown stalwarts, offered comfort in incense, textiles and artist-made masks. Vintage go-to Antique Sugar served kaleidoscopic sweetness and some delightfully tart takes on Instagram. Bunky Boutique and Frances kept the spotlight on desert-inspired wares and wearables, while Noons and Local Nomad respectively blessed the timeline with art-inflected style and a sunbleached state of mind.
In the year of WFH, when wearing something more elevated than sweatpants proved challenging and, honestly, pretty pointless, these shops helped us find fun in fashion, self-expression and supporting each other.
— Becky Bartkowski
You can road trip all over the state
In 24 years of living in Arizona, I’ve never been more thankful for the ability to take a road trip. Drive a couple of hours in any direction and you can have whatever outdoors experience you want – active or laid-back – and as far from people as you want to get. Hiking near Greer, Flagstaff and at the North Rim of Grand Canyon, I saw a kaleidoscope of leaves turning on aspens, cottonwoods, maples and oaks. While kayaking the Colorado River above Lees Ferry, I was mesmerized watching trout jump and the underwater plants undulating in the current. And at the end of the day, easing into the hammock I strung between two trees felt like heaven.
— Jill Cassidy
Arizonans care about wildlife
I’m thankful that the state has an ar
ray of stunning wildlife to observe such as mountain lions, coatis, tarantulas and snakes—and I’m thankful for the people who take care of wildlife-inneed at the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center, Phoenix Herpetological Society and Liberty Wildlife.
The Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center rescues and rehabilitates hundreds of animals each year and releases the majority of them back into the wild. While the Center deals mostly with mammals, scaly creatures get the care and attention they need at the Phoenix Herpetological Society. This year, they nursed a severely injured Gila monster back to health and regularly take care of hundreds of tortoises that people cast off once the pets get too large.
— Shaena Montanari
Sky Harbor’s a hub for local food and drink
A quick confession: Whenever I have a flight that leaves out of the D gates at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, my heart flutters with excitement. On the way toward the gate, I make a hard right to Le Grand Orange and grab a salted chocolate chip cookie for the flight.
If I was completely honest, a few times I’ve even walked from distant gates just to buy one cookie for myself, and another for the friend picking me up at the airport on the other side.
Though the D gate is my favorite stop, at Sky Harbor, every gate has a local treasure that’s one of the contributing factors to Phoenix consistently leading the nation for having the best airport in America.
So, whether you decide to splurge on the onion soup at Zinc Brasserie, grab some guac at Barrio or pass the wait with a beer at O.H.S.O., give thanks that Phoenix has a robust local food scene at the airport.
— Melissa Yeager
It’s easy to grill pretty much any time
One thing I’ve always loved about living in Arizona, at least this part of the state, is that you can barbecue yearround. That’s not something you can say everywhere. If you’ve ever tried to work the grill when it’s 15 degrees outside in January (I come from Michigan), you know what I mean. Here, that’s not an issue. Yes, you’ll want a cool drink and a fan – maybe a mister – in the heat of summer. You might need a light jacket during what passes for winter around here. But whether you want to throw on a few quick steaks or burgers or you’re looking at spending hours smoking ribs or a Thanksgiving turkey, grilling is no problem. And you won’t have to brush six inches of snow off of it before you can get started either.
— Weldon Johnson
This pit bull rescue cares for dogs like mine
In October I took Yolanda, a hefty 8year-old pit bull, home to her new palace. I like to think I’ve given her a good life: a couch to snore on, a backyard to hide her chews, a garden hose to pounce on. I also think about the neighbors she left behind at the animal shelter, whose futures are uncertain. Some may never get adopted. That’s why I appreciate One Love Pit Bull Foundation, a Mesabased nonprofit that offers free training classes for pit bull owners and sponsors at-risk or longtime shelter dogs. Maricopa County Animal Care is overwhelmed with significantly more pit bulls than any other type. I’m thankful for the people at One Love who are helping Yoli’s former shelter mates find loving families that can give them each the couch, backyard and garden hose they deserve.
— Priscilla Totiyapungprasert
We have year-round farmers markets
When I tell family in other parts of the country that I went Christmas shopping at my local farmers market, they find it hard to imagine. Pop-up tents, fresh produce and local artisans selling wares are mere memories of warmer summer days. But here in Phoenix, farmers markets are a year-round treat.
Not only do farm-fresh apples make for better holiday pies and local honeys add a perfect touch to winter desserts, there are many gifts to be found at Valley farmers markets from handmade pasta and jam to unique jewelry and sweet smelling soaps. While the rest of my family battles the cold, I am thankful for cool mornings, hot coffee and a stroll through the farmers market.
— Tirion Morris
Three words:
Changing Hands Bookstore
A city’s not a real city unless it has a great independent bookstore. Sorry, that’s the rule. Happily Phoenix has one (Tempe, too): Changing Hands Bookstore. It’s been around since 1974, and it hits all the right notes required of a great bookstore: fantastic selection, employees who know what’s what about books and, most importantly, a welcoming vibe for like-minded people — which is to say, people who love to read.
The Phoenix location boasts the First Draft Book Bar, which is cool, and there are frequent author events at both stores, but really all that is just gravy. The reason Changing Hands is an Arizona landmark is because of the books — the words, page by page on the shelves, ready to be thumbed through, scanned, considered, purchased or put back, then on to the next one. There’s something inspiring about spending time there — it’s relaxing but uplifting.
— Bill Goodykoontz
Our natural wine scene is thriving
The natural wine trend arrived in other cities years ago, but 2020 was the year pét-nats and orange wines finally had their moment in metro Phoenix. And just in time, too. Getting through months of staying home was all the more bearable with a glass of glou glou. Thank goodness for online ordering and curbside pick up from downtown Phoenix’s O.G. natural wine shop Sauvage and Hidden Track Wine Shop, a local favorite with a sizeable selection of low intervention wines. Plus with $5 delivery from Arcadia Premium, which started stocking some affordable natural options, nearby patrons no longer have to leave the house to get their hands on some crushable juice. Most recently, the Melrose neighborhood welcomed new bottle shop the Montecito into the mix, which offers a fridge full of pét-nat — and a nice selection of sour beers for those who love funk.
— Lauren Saria
South Mountain is perfect escape
Despite searing heat for a big chunk of the year, Arizonans are thought of as an outdoorsy bunch. Show us a good trail and we’ll hike it. And South Mountain Park — the largest municipal park in the United States — is dotted with them. All levels of difficulty are available, whether you are a beginner or an expert. Whatever trail you choose — Warpaint, Pima Canyon, Kiwanis, Mormon and Marcos de Niza are some personal favorites — you’ll find something to recommend it. No, there aren’t Sedona-level jaw-dropping views, but there are eye-opening ones. Best of all, this really is a city park, a short drive from just about anywhere in the Valley. It’s no exaggeration to say that one minute you’re in the middle of hustle and bustle and the next you are out in the desert. That’s not just an escape. That’s magic.
— Bill Goodykoontz
Music scene is a patchwork quilt
Every year without fail since I moved here from Pittsburgh in 2006, a fairly shocking number of my favorite records of the year have been made by Arizona artists. Phoenix is a thriving patchwork quilt of local music scenes within a scene, producing an astonishing variety of sounds, from punk to hip-hop, straight-up rock ‘n’ roll, blues, country, jazz and Afrobeat.
In simpler times, you could go see your favorite local artists live in some really cool venues, from the Lost Leaf to Last Exit Live, the Nash, the Rebel Lounge and Crescent Ballroom (among many others).
Until concerts return, I’m bingeing on recent recordings by some of my favorites: Playboy Manbaby’s “Debbie From Zumba” EP, AJJ’s “Good Luck Everybody,” Mega Ran’s “Two Hands Up,” Injury Reserve’s self-titled album, Sundressed’s “Home Remedy,” the Darts’ “I Like You But Not Like That” and Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra’s “Laugh to Keep From Crying.”
— Ed Masley
Winter patio weather is a thing
There’s no question the summer heat can be brutal. Misters and fans do their best, but the heat can make sitting outside an uncomfortable option. As the sun cooks the pavement, we hide indoors with the AC cranked and wait while the summer, and a good chunk of fall, pass by.
But here in the desert, winter washes over slowly, with words of encouragement. We did it, we made it through the hottest summer on record and now winter weather is our reward. It’s time to celebrate with an ice cold beer or a fresh margarita on the patio. And this year in particular, as experts continue to recommend opting outside to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread, Phoenix’s warm winter weather is something to be thankful for. While many around the country shovel snow, we can dust off the chairs and wind up the umbrella. Flowers are blooming, winter is here and it’s beer garden time. To that, I say cheers.
— Tirion Morris
Dark skies initiatives keep the heavens unfiltered
On my feet for more than 13 hours, I was still more than 2 miles from the top of the South Rim when the sun began to set over the Grand Canyon. I had hoped by that time to be at the rim, watching a sinking orange glow highlight the path I had trekked from rim to rim. Instead, I was in the dark, struggling through the final miles of a difficult hike.
Frustrated and exhausted, I sat down on a rock on the side of the trail to rest for a moment. When I looked up at the sky above me, an awe-inspiring sight breathed new life into me.
A canopy of millions of stars, free from the light pollution of the city, danced above my head. The remorse of a missed sunset now quickly replaced with gratitude for this unexpected treat. From Flagstaff to Sedona, Arizona’s commitment to dark skies initiatives allows us all to see the heavens unfiltered. — Melissa Yeager
Reach the editor gannett.com. Follow @beckybartkowski. at rbartkowsk@ her on Twitter