K&A's Guidebook :-)
Public Transportation (2 blocks)
Just 1 block Northwest is the Montebello Transit Center, which includes a large Bus Depot and a Light Rail stop. The Light Rail runs a few stops North of here (mostly residential), and maybe 30-40 stops South and East of here, including Camelback and Central Entertainment District, Midtown Arts District (hosting First Friday Artwalk), Downtown Phoenix (Comerica Theater, Symphony Hall, Arena), Sky Harbor Airport (PHX), Downtown Tempe (Marquee Theater, Mill Avenue, ASU), Downtown Mesa (Mesa Amphitheater, Mesa Arts Center), and so on. Busses run in every direction from here. It's REALLY easy to get places without a car from here!
Hop the Light Rail to visit trendy and upscale downtown restaurants and bars, or to hit up a sporting event. The Light Rail will take you all the way to Mesa, and stops include Sky Harbor Airport too
Montebello/19th Ave Light Rail Station
Hop the Light Rail to visit trendy and upscale downtown restaurants and bars, or to hit up a sporting event. The Light Rail will take you all the way to Mesa, and stops include Sky Harbor Airport too
Phoenix has a bicycle-share service called Grid Bikes. You can pick up and return them on your schedule. Here's more info:
http://gridbikes.com/
Grid Bike Sharing Station
4866-4888 N Central AvePhoenix has a bicycle-share service called Grid Bikes. You can pick up and return them on your schedule. Here's more info:
http://gridbikes.com/
Food Scene
Within say 3 miles of our house, there are probably 30-50 really nice, trendy, cool spots with great food and craft cocktails to check out...one of the reasons why we LOVE living here!
Here's some of our favorites...but also check out Yelp and TripAdvisor for additional recommendations!
Great BBQ smoked daily on property. Nice ambiance and good service.
41 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bobby-Q BBQ Restaurant and Steakhouse
8501 N 27th AveGreat BBQ smoked daily on property. Nice ambiance and good service.
Great food, unique menu, and fun Hawaiian-themed atmosphere.
83 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Hula's Modern Tiki
5114 N 7th StGreat food, unique menu, and fun Hawaiian-themed atmosphere.
The 'Windsor Classic' is the Best Burger I've had in town! They have GREAT food for a reasonable price, and great service in a great location with great ambiance. (Yes, there's lots of 'greats' in there!) ;-)
136 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Windsor
5223 N Central AveThe 'Windsor Classic' is the Best Burger I've had in town! They have GREAT food for a reasonable price, and great service in a great location with great ambiance. (Yes, there's lots of 'greats' in there!) ;-)
One of our favorite Mexican spots. Family-owned for 30+ years, outstanding food, awesome service, really low prices for the quality!
Pepe's Taco Villa
2108 W Camelback RdOne of our favorite Mexican spots. Family-owned for 30+ years, outstanding food, awesome service, really low prices for the quality!
Thai Lotus Restaurant
7023 N 19th AveGREAT Thai food, and wonderful hosts! Family owned.
This is what I would call a "real" coffee shop...they roast their own coffee in-house, lots of shabby-chic seating, cool "Indie" music and vibe, hipsters, hippies, entrepreneurs, students, and the like hang out here. Their food is AWESOME, and there's a full bar as well...which is great because they are also open 6am until midnight unless it's the weekend, and they stay open until 2am...super cool place!
259 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Lux Central
4402 N Central AveThis is what I would call a "real" coffee shop...they roast their own coffee in-house, lots of shabby-chic seating, cool "Indie" music and vibe, hipsters, hippies, entrepreneurs, students, and the like hang out here. Their food is AWESOME, and there's a full bar as well...which is great because they are also open 6am until midnight unless it's the weekend, and they stay open until 2am...super cool place!
Huge place, beautiful patio, good food, and lively ambiance. Built in a historic 100+ year old adobe home which has been revamped. I have my birthday party there every year.
24 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Aunt Chiladas Squaw Peak
7330 N Dreamy Draw DrHuge place, beautiful patio, good food, and lively ambiance. Built in a historic 100+ year old adobe home which has been revamped. I have my birthday party there every year.
Upscale Ambiance, culinary-style menu, trendy, fun, and good service.
561 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Culinary Dropout
7135 E Camelback RdUpscale Ambiance, culinary-style menu, trendy, fun, and good service.
Starbucks
5715 N 19th AveJust a 2 minute walk across the street!
Shopping
The nearby shopping is one of the things we love about living here!
Healthy store for fresh fruit, veggies, and groceries.
36 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sprouts Farmers Market
245 E Bell RdHealthy store for fresh fruit, veggies, and groceries.
HUGE SuperTarget, located just across 19th Ave from us. Pretty much everything you need in one store, including groceries.
48 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Target
5715 N 19th AveHUGE SuperTarget, located just across 19th Ave from us. Pretty much everything you need in one store, including groceries.
Right across the street from us...close proximity, air conditioned, and a food court.
24 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Christown Spectrum Mall
1607 W Montebello AveRight across the street from us...close proximity, air conditioned, and a food court.
Walgreens
7000 N 16th StClose to home, Walgreens is just up the street.
Albertsons
8035 N 19th AveAlbertsons Grocery Store
Entertainment & Activities
This category would have probably 300 things in it if we added everything you can do within a 1-hour drive of the house...here's a few we thought you might like. :-)
Again, just a short walk to Palo Verde Golf Course, a municipal 9-hole with a driving range.
11 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Palo Verde Golf Course
6215 N 15th AveAgain, just a short walk to Palo Verde Golf Course, a municipal 9-hole with a driving range.
New-release movies, just a 5 minute walk across the street!
18 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Harkins Theatres Christown 14
1620 W Montebello AveNew-release movies, just a 5 minute walk across the street!
Great place to spend the day! Lots of shops in the Tlaquepaque Village, and beautiful hikes. Cool off by taking a dip in Oak Creek afterwards!
883 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sedona
Great place to spend the day! Lots of shops in the Tlaquepaque Village, and beautiful hikes. Cool off by taking a dip in Oak Creek afterwards!
3-4 hours north of us. We recommend renting a car and heading out early AM...get up there around 8am before the crowds start, visit the Village, then hike a short ways down Bright Angel Trail to get great photos and a perspective on how big this thing REALLY is...standing at the rim doesn't get the job done fully. :-)
435 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Grand Canyon
3-4 hours north of us. We recommend renting a car and heading out early AM...get up there around 8am before the crowds start, visit the Village, then hike a short ways down Bright Angel Trail to get great photos and a perspective on how big this thing REALLY is...standing at the rim doesn't get the job done fully. :-)
Prescott is SUCH a cool town. Downtown there's live music and lots of antique shopping on Whiskey Row. There's also lots of cool spots to have a bite to eat, or just relax on the huge tree-lined green grass expanse that makes up the Courthouse Square.
163 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Prescott
Prescott is SUCH a cool town. Downtown there's live music and lots of antique shopping on Whiskey Row. There's also lots of cool spots to have a bite to eat, or just relax on the huge tree-lined green grass expanse that makes up the Courthouse Square.
Just 2-hours north is the place that Alisa and Kevin met in Jr. High School. Other than that fame, LOL, it also has GREAT breweries, restaurants with live music, hiking and mountain biking, and beautiful views of the San Francisco Peaks (14,000' elevation), where there's a ski resort as well. It's also a pretty drive. :-)
330 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Flagstaff
Just 2-hours north is the place that Alisa and Kevin met in Jr. High School. Other than that fame, LOL, it also has GREAT breweries, restaurants with live music, hiking and mountain biking, and beautiful views of the San Francisco Peaks (14,000' elevation), where there's a ski resort as well. It's also a pretty drive. :-)
Arts & Culture
Phoenix is not known as a very "museum-ey" sort of town...but the few museums we DO have are really done well !!
Yucca Library
5648 N 15th AveWe are less than a 10min walk from the Yucca Public Library.
I-Heard Museum
2301 N Central AveExpansive museum of the Southwest
As a Music Teacher, Alisa HIGHLY recommends MIM. It'll take you a full day...there's SO MUCH to see!!
652 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Iziko lezintsholongwane zomculo
4725 E Mayo BlvdAs a Music Teacher, Alisa HIGHLY recommends MIM. It'll take you a full day...there's SO MUCH to see!!
Some really cool exhibits that rotate through here, and the museum is interactive and fun.
292 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Arizona Science Center
600 E Washington StSome really cool exhibits that rotate through here, and the museum is interactive and fun.
I-Phoenix Theatre Company
1825 N Central AveGreat little local theatre
Drinks & Nightlife
Within say 3 miles of our house, there are probably 30-50 really nice, trendy, cool spots with great food and craft cocktails to check out...one of the reasons why we LOVE living here!
Here's some of our favorites...but also check out Yelp and TripAdvisor for additional recommendations!
Swanky, upscale lounge with AMAZING food and great lighting, beautiful surroundings, and beautiful patrons, lol. On Monday and Tuesday, they have a "Board and Bottle" special...currently $25 for an entire bottle of good wine AND a Bruschetta Board with four pieces of bruschetta of your choosing from their selection of eight or so. Genius!
215 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Postino Central
5144 N Central AveSwanky, upscale lounge with AMAZING food and great lighting, beautiful surroundings, and beautiful patrons, lol. On Monday and Tuesday, they have a "Board and Bottle" special...currently $25 for an entire bottle of good wine AND a Bruschetta Board with four pieces of bruschetta of your choosing from their selection of eight or so. Genius!
Live music 5+ nights per week...cool little upscale retro spot!
47 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Womack
5749 N 7th StLive music 5+ nights per week...cool little upscale retro spot!
Cute little spot, not far away, with interesting beer and wine selection.
Take the Light Rail to Camelback and Central Ave, and walk just a bit down Central Ave (follow your train, on foot), and you'll see Rott, and just past that, Hula Tiki Bar as well.
13 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Rott n' Grapes Uptown
4750 N Central AveCute little spot, not far away, with interesting beer and wine selection.
Take the Light Rail to Camelback and Central Ave, and walk just a bit down Central Ave (follow your train, on foot), and you'll see Rott, and just past that, Hula Tiki Bar as well.
1980's and 1990's video games throughout the place, great beers on tap, and good food!
Take the Light Rail to Camelback and Central Ave, and cross Camelback...it's right there!
11 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bonus Round
24 W Camelback Rd1980's and 1990's video games throughout the place, great beers on tap, and good food!
Take the Light Rail to Camelback and Central Ave, and cross Camelback...it's right there!
Speakeasy, with a "hidden-in-plain-sight" back entrance, which has to be one of the swankiest, most upscale, awesome lounges we've ever been to...seriously. Look for the unassuming "industrial-looking" stairway BEHIND Stock and Stable Restaurant, climb the stairs, and enter through the heavy door, down the dark hallway, and allow your eyes to adjust to the opulence of a REALLY nicely-done speakeasy-style lounge. Drinks are strong, barkeeps are attentive, and lots of little "alcoves" to sit in. HIGHLY recommended!!
24 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Honor Amongst Thieves
5538 N 7th StSpeakeasy, with a "hidden-in-plain-sight" back entrance, which has to be one of the swankiest, most upscale, awesome lounges we've ever been to...seriously. Look for the unassuming "industrial-looking" stairway BEHIND Stock and Stable Restaurant, climb the stairs, and enter through the heavy door, down the dark hallway, and allow your eyes to adjust to the opulence of a REALLY nicely-done speakeasy-style lounge. Drinks are strong, barkeeps are attentive, and lots of little "alcoves" to sit in. HIGHLY recommended!!
Authentic-ish Irish Pub...upscale, good food, and good live music several nights a week.
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Rosie McCaffrey's Irish Restaurant and Pub
906 E Camelback RdAuthentic-ish Irish Pub...upscale, good food, and good live music several nights a week.
Essentials
Regal Discount Cleaners
5501 N 7th AveQuick turn-around...often very next day. Discounted rates.
Like most laundromats, you're going to see people of all types here, and you'll not likely see a "best-dressed" fashion show here, but it's cheap, and it's close.
Laundry Basket 24-Hour Laundromat
5108 N 19th AveLike most laundromats, you're going to see people of all types here, and you'll not likely see a "best-dressed" fashion show here, but it's cheap, and it's close.
coin less laundry
An alternative to Laundry Basket, but doesn't have great reviews on Yelp...
You can take the Light Rail one stop North (toward Dunlap) and visit the Fry's Grocery Store (Kroger) if you are not able to find what you need at SuperTarget across the street.
Fry's Marketplace
1815 W Glendale AveYou can take the Light Rail one stop North (toward Dunlap) and visit the Fry's Grocery Store (Kroger) if you are not able to find what you need at SuperTarget across the street.