Philly? Phooey! (Philly's the past. Phoenix is the future.)

The Arizona Republic ^ | Jul. 10, 2003

[Joe Hadenuf]

But I couldn't live there, personally. Cali. has too many natural disasters for me.

I really don't sit around and worry about natural disasters. They can happen anywhere and do. Most are much more concerned with getting certain politicos out of office, than they are about disasters. And right now, I am more concerned about what I'm eating for lunch and the spa temperature.

[commonerX]

I already had lunch here, Pizza Hut. I know it's not a Philly food but heck I like it. The weather here is about 86-87 degrees and the humidity isn't bad.

[Eva]

My brother organized the boat races that they held in that area for the bi-centennial. Also, my grandfather was once the Camden County State Assemblyman. Judge Peel was my aunt's brother and the senior Eichle was a friend of my mother's(they have handled all the family funerals for as long as I can remember). My mother is now in the Methodist home in Pitman. I never lived in NJ, growing up, but my family ties go pretty deep there.

[commonerX]

I remember the Bi-centennial well, it was probably the largest holiday celebration the city and area had. Firework displays were great. We went down to the Ben Franklin Parkway to watch them and had a ball.

[Jimmy Valentine]

Bring back Wilson Goode! He's da BOMB!! (literally)

[commonerX]

My family goes back here some ways as well.
My great greatgrandmother was married to John Kelly the Uncle of Princess Grace Kelly. Not related by blood to John Kelly it was her second marriage. My Great Greatgrandfather was a Philly Detective. My mother keeps telling me that Richardson Dilworth, once the Mayor of Philly is an ancestor, but i don't know about that. She hasn't done a check to see how true that is.

[UnRuley]

"hated the heat, and the backwardness of the natives, and the creepy-crawlies, and the gimmicky golf-courses, and the fact that there was no body of water bigger than a tennis court, but it was the bread (or lack thereof) that made me want to leave. Arizona sucks. There's a reason why people don't live in deserts if they can help it."
I happen to be a "native" Arizonan and I resent your comment. I am not backwards.
I don't know who you encountered out here but it wasn't me. As for the bugs, snakes, etc., I have yet to see one in any of the homes I have ever lived in. I personally hate the cold and would never consider living in a cold climate.
We have plenty of bodies of water, they are called "LAKES". Without our resevoirs and lakes, life in the desert would not be possible. Growing up here, we spent most of the summer out at the lakes in our boat.
I have watched this valley explode with growth and am not thrilled with it. Too many ex-californians and east coasters coming out here and trying to turn it into what they left. Keep spreading the word to your friends how horrible it is here, so us "natives" can continue to enjoy our magnificent desert in peace.

[Range Rover]

I've seen those people. A bit scary... Bologna on white with mayo. Yeeech.

There are a few invisible culinary borders in this country and the majority of them are just beyond NYC and Philly. Real bread is scarce anywhere south of Newark , Delaware but you CANNOT get anything resembling a decent bagel or bialy once you go 50 miles out from Ludlow and Canal ST.....trust me on this. It's the water.

[presidio9]

Fair enought Rock. Have a nice weekend. Don't do anything I wouldn't do ;)

[presidio9]

We have plenty of bodies of water, they are called "LAKES".

Being four hours from a body of water does not constitute as "having" it.

[radiohead]

Still haven't found a good stromboli or calzone down here, tho

boy, i almost forgot about those! i'm not a big fan, but my son was practically raised on them. you can only get a poor excuse for a calzone out here and i haven't seen any strombolis.

oooh, south philly italian food...almost enough to make me move back...

[UnRuley]

Canyon Lake and Sagauro lake are just 30 minutes from my house in Mesa. Roosevelt Lake is an hour away. Are you not aware of the huge quantities of water we have stored along the Verde and Salt Rivers???? Just what do you think we do for water around here??? Of course we have large lakes. Did you actually ever visit the Valley?

[saminfl]

Order a large cheesesteak. Be transported to a food paradise that the fine folks in Phoenix can only dream about.

I'd trade a truckload of cheesesteaks for one good cheese enchilada (which you cannot find here in NW Florida).

[riri]

Actually, the lakes here are quite beautiful. Lake Powell is absolutely one of my favorite places on earth. The only problem is everybody and their grandmother goes to them...

My only complaint is I am through with the sun. You'd have to threaten me with bodily harm to spend a day poolside and I am tired of wearing Elmers glue for sunblock. The aesthetician is getting rather costly and I just walked out to my mailbox and I swear I aged six months. But then again, I just turned 34 and am in the middle of a mid life crisis.

But in defense of Phoenix I can say, 7 months of the year it is glorious as far as weather is concerned. One month is dicey and four are pretty tough. I haven't been bitten by a mosquito in 6 years, except when on vacation. and being somewhat of a neurotic clean freak, I like the sterility of it.

[SauronOfMordor]

Not really. Philly has always had a low crime rate among major cities. Tough police, dontcha know!

That was then, this is now. When Rizzo was mayor, the cops were serious about crime. Then came Rendell, and now John Street. The official crime rate was low, but that was because the Philly PD was fudging the numbers, to the point where the FBI Uniform Crime Reports stopped accepting Philly figures as fiction.

One thing that probably kept Philly's crime rate from being too bad is that Philly is one of the few major cities with "shall issue" gun carry permits. In five years of commuting thru Philly, I only had to draw once (to discourage a crackhead from pulling me from my car)

[Clemenza]

I guess that you (wire) have never tried a Medianoche sandwich in Miami. One thing that is difficult to find here in New York (unless you want to shell out $10 at Victor's 52 and thats at lunch!).

Otherwise you are right, sandwiches are a foreign cuisine in the southeast and west.

[Clemenza]

hated the heat, and the backwardness of the natives, and the creepy-crawlies, and the gimmicky golf-courses,

Arizona=Florida without the beach and humidity.

Never lived in Arizona but REALLY hated Florida.

I grew up in a Jewish bakery in upstate NY and I know bread.

The bread is great here in downstate NY if you go to a REAL bakery (and not buy that Foodtown crap). Nothing beats a crusty Italian loaf from the Arthur Avenue Bakery in the Bronx!

Haven't been to a German or Jewish bakery in ages, but will head up to Borough Park on Sunday (the bakeries are closed on Saturday for the obvio