Anybody have anything to say about this place? As far as a place to live for a few years?

Im originally from Cleveland. About 70% of my hometown buddies moved to Tempe. They think it's great, but that's their cup of tea. I know my one friend gets laid all the time by many different ladies of dramatically varying ages. I know there is a huge "college" party scene, but I think the local music scene might be pretty lame. If you don't know anyone there and decide to move, I can give you some contacts.

Aside from the social scene, it's a beautiful part of the country. They have rock lawns over there. And scorpions instead of squirells. Also, you're really close to Sedona which is a totally awesome place. Painted Desert's really close as well. Vegas is also relatively close, as is the Grand Canyon.

mike

Two things to watch out for:

1. Auto Theft (and consequent insurance costs). Phoenix has the highest auto theft rate in the nation. Tempe is a bit better, but insurance costs of all kinds are astronomical.

2. H.I.V. (another chart topper). Michael, I hope your friend is aware of this.

I think he is, actually. Scary shit though.

Thanks so far for all the info. It's going to be my wife and I, so the AIDS scare isn't really an issue. We live in New Orleans now, which is a racket for insurers. Rates are pretty fucking sky-high and I can't imagine them being higher anywhere else. There's a "brake tag" you need to get every year that costs $20. It's supposed to say your brakes work fine, but the inspector ends up just making sure your lights work. I'm not exaggerating.

I hear Tempe is big on jam bands, which makes me sick, but I'm doing a singer-songwriter thing right now so I might be able to hold it together until we can get back up North.

If yr determined to live in AZ, Tucson is a much better choice than Tempe. It's a vastly superior city. There are some cool recording studios there too (Waterworks, Wavelab).

Unless things have changed dramatically in the last few yrs, it isn't real easy to find work there, and wages are shit, but I know they are terrible in New Orleans too.

Sedona used to be an incredible place to go. Now that it's been "discovered" by yuppies, New Agers, etc., it's home to the "Red Rock Outlet Mall" and other abominations.

If yr determined to live in AZ, Tucson is a much better choice than Tempe. It's a vastly superior city. There are some cool recording studios there too (Waterworks, Wavelab).

Unless things have changed dramatically in the last few yrs, it isn't real easy to find work there, and wages are shit, but I know they are terrible in New Orleans too.

Sedona used to be an incredible place to go. Now that it's been "discovered" by yuppies, New Agers, etc., it's home to the "Red Rock Outlet Mall" and other abominations.

Well, I lived in the Phoenix area (first Chandler then north Phoenix then Tempe) for about 2 years - I left a little over a year ago. First off, don't go there for the music scene, because there really isn't any. Unless you are really into pop punk or gin blossoms-esque crapola, there's really not much going on. I was playing in a band out there for a while and pretty much every place is 'pay to play.' The only real venues for 'indie' stuff are Modified (a hole-in-the-wall art gallery), Nita's Hideaway (which has since moved and I'm not sure if its still cool) and house parties. I can count the number of local bands worth seeing on one hand and I'm not sure I'd use every finger.

The town itself is extraordinarily sprawled out, its smoggy and the traffic sucks. The town has grown so fast that there is virtually no culture, except that which has been imported from south of the border. The weather is hot, to say the least. If you really like temperatures of 110+ for a couple months, you'd be in heaven. Personally, I grew up in the Midwest and missed the change of seasons.

So, with all that bitching about the Phoenix area, I must admit there are some cool things about it. While the valley itself is pretty morbid, with a relatively short drive, you can be in San Diego, Mexico, the White Mountains for skiing, Sedona, etc. etc. The state of AZ really is beautiful, even if Phoenix metro is a huge eyesore. The weather in the winter is absolutely fantastic. And housing in the valley is sooooooo cheap. You can build a new house (3 bdrm, pool, etc.) for under $150K no problem. That would barely get you a condo in the ghetto here in Chi town. Andl, even though you are married, the girls in Tempe are really hot.

OK, thats all.

I'm wondering where you got the info that Phoenix is a "chart topper" in the realms of auto theft and AIDS? I lived there for 10 years and never heard either. Just so Dylan knows when I left phoenix a couple of years ago, I was paying about $40 a month for auto insurance, i don't think it's gone up much since then either. As for the "Pay to Play" comment, I never encountered that either. Modified and Neta's are both cool clubs to see shows at as well as Long Wong's in (the one in tempe) on some nites. Both Eastside records and Stinkweeds in Tempe are great record stores. Good luck on the move.
Tom

Just so Dylan knows when I left phoenix a couple of years ago, I was paying about $40 a month for auto insurance, i don't think it's gone up much since then either.

That's because you've been sitting there stoned in your Volkswagen for the past 10 years, dude. It's the first time you've left the driveway in a while, huh?
We had a couple friends over one time when I lived in Phoenix. Their car was stolen out of the parking lot. I went through two car stereo's and my cousin's car was stolen about three months ago (she still lived there at the time).