Road trip to Phoenix - Where to go?

finalrequiem · #1 12-09-2009, 10:09 AM

My best friend and I are going to Phoenix, probably in February. We are going to The Mandolin Store and The Bass Place. I'm looking for suggestion on where to eat, stay, and if there are any other music stores (bass and acoustic instruments in particular) that would be worth stopping at. We will probably arrive on a Friday morning and leave Sunday morning/early afternoon.

Just a heads up, I will probably bump this obnoxiously if I don't get any help so it's all on you guys now!

standupright · #2 12-09-2009, 10:19 AM

what's your budget for hotel

what do you like to eat

what kind of stuff do you like to do

what kind of music do you listen to

finalrequiem · #3 12-09-2009, 10:36 AM

Hotel budget will be low, I probably shouldn't have mentioned where to stay unless there is a "better" budget hotel than another, lol. I'll probably shoot for $200 or so for both nights together.

We like EVERYTHING. Seriously. I'm interested in any suggestions that might be different than what we'd get in OKC. We have super legit Mexican here so we'll probably stay away from that. Maybe somewhere Friday night that isn't really expensive, sort of casual, but that is really good (probably not a chain) and then Saturday night somewhere that is nicer. Steak, Seafood, whatever. Something can't miss.

What do we do? Music. Honestly that's pretty much it. Pickup ice hockey but I'm not taking skates, we can do that at home. It's a music trip, anyway.

What kind of music? Jazz, alt rock, acoustic anything, folk, bluegrass, prog rock. Yes, I know, that wasn't helpful at all, lol.

Gubna · #4 12-09-2009, 10:41 AM

whenever I go there, I stay at the Phoenix Doubletree Hotel just north of the airport. nice place. won awards... but it's not cheap.

if you are up for it, hike camelback mountain (yeah, it looks like a camel's back). nice climb, an excellent 360 degree view of the whole valley from the top. I did it a few years ago (in february) and it was pretty cool. but be careful, some people twist their ankles on the rocks.

just to the west of there is Squaw Peak, which you can also hike.

as far as music stores, I've never been to one in the area. maybe you can get a tour of Fender's facilities (I would call in advance for that one, though).

standupright · #5 12-09-2009, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by finalrequiem

Hotel budget will be low, I probably shouldn't have mentioned where to stay unless there is a "better" budget hotel than another, lol. I'll probably shoot for $200 or so for both nights together.

We like EVERYTHING. Seriously. I'm interested in any suggestions that might be different than what we'd get in OKC. We have super legit Mexican here so we'll probably stay away from that. Maybe somewhere Friday night that isn't really expensive, sort of casual, but that is really good (probably not a chain) and then Saturday night somewhere that is nicer. Steak, Seafood, whatever. Something can't miss.

What do we do? Music. Honestly that's pretty much it. Pickup ice hockey but I'm not taking skates, we can do that at home. It's a music trip, anyway.

What kind of music? Jazz, alt rock, acoustic anything, folk, bluegrass, prog rock. Yes, I know, that wasn't helpful at all, lol.

unfortunately, phoenix's food culture sucks. we aren't known for anything really. lot's of chains, and lot's of poor quality restaurants. i used to be chef, so i cook at home mostly.

as for music -

Blues - book mark this page - http://www.rayrayblues.com/bluesjams/

That guy keeps the calendar up to date of most of the open blues jams in the valley.

mrpackerguy · #6 12-09-2009, 11:05 AM

organ stop pizza

south park

superstition mtns

finalrequiem · #7 12-09-2009, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrpackerguy

organ stop pizza

south park

superstition mtns

South Park?

warwick.hoy · #8 12-09-2009, 11:18 AM

I know it's a little out of the way, but perhaps a side trip to the Grand Canyon might be on order.

Check weather conditions though,...my Mom tried to go there this past week but had to bypass it for PHX due to a blizzard.

finalrequiem · #9 12-09-2009, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

I know it's a little out of the way, but perhaps a side trip to the Grand Canyon might be on order.

Check weather conditions though,...my Mom tried to go there this past week but had to bypass it for PHX due to a blizzard.

I think going there without my wife might be an unwise desicion.

MJ5150 · #10 12-09-2009, 06:07 PM

Have some Filiberto's. It's fast food Mexican, but better than Taco Hell. Plus, it is cheap.

The area around the football stadium and hockey arena is a GREAT place to party, but it's a good drive from the actual city of Phoenix.

Joe's Real BBQ in Gilbert is very, very good BBQ. Bergies next door has very good coffee too.

-Mike

Lapicide · #11 12-09-2009, 08:42 PM

I suspect you do have Mexican in OKC. Though, also here there is New Mexico Mexican. They cook alot with hatch chiles. Good place is Arribas Mexican grill. If you like hot and spicy, check it out.
http://www.arribamexicangrill.com/ And HUGE margaritas, fresh and damn good with the good Tequilla choices etc.

Feb. is tourist time. Hotel prices go way up. A good bargain can be the La Quinta inns. They are hit and miss sometimes. Might also look for Hampton inns. If you stay out of Scottsdale and Downtown hotels will be a alot cheaper. As usual investigate a bit the area the hotel is in or near. A drive to Sedona is really cool. Little over an hour north. Well worth to see it, if you have time. You about named the music stores to hit, other than the usual GC and Sam Ash. I could give you a few more, but you'd feel you wasted your time getting there to see just a few things. If you want to further info on any particular area or place, drop me a line......Lapicide

nick g. · #12 12-10-2009, 01:15 AM

Mill Avenue in Tempe is a must. Los Favoritos is a great, cheap Mexican place near that area.

The Bass Place is pretty rad. You might also wanna look out for Music Brokers in Phoenix.

SMASH · #13 12-10-2009, 01:20 AM

A friend lives there but we haven't checked this place out yet, so I can't vouch for the food but the view is excellent :

http://www.heartattackgrill.com/

standupright · #14 12-10-2009, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Have some Filiberto's. It's fast food Mexican, but better than Taco Hell. Plus, it is cheap.

The area around the football stadium and hockey arena is a GREAT place to party, but it's a good drive from the actual city of Phoenix.

Joe's Real BBQ in Gilbert is very, very good BBQ. Bergies next door has very good coffee too.

-Mike

+1 Filiberto's at 2am after drinking is the perfect sponge. some shredded beef tacos, a carne asada burrito, chorizo burrito with potatoes eggs and cheese, or the super nachos should do the trick. don't forget the agua de jamaica, some chiles jalapenos (mexican candy), and plenty of salsa.

DblG · #15 12-10-2009, 07:40 AM

Last time I was there was 1999, so I dont' remember a whole lot...it was just a long weekend to catch the Bills game. We went to some local restarant that was an old church, or maybe a church that is a restarant too and , IIRC, wasn't too bad. Maybe some of the locals can help here, dont know if it's even there or not anymore. I also remember going up in the hills and looking down on the valley at the city...pretty cool except for that thick brown haze hovering above it.

finalrequiem · #16 12-10-2009, 08:06 AM

What about Fogo de Chao? The ONLY reason I ask is there may be someone going with us who has ALWAYS wanted to eat there. At the first of the year he was a big fella, over 360 (would've been all over that heart attack grill place), but now after gastric is 254 and can only eat a few bites of food and I think it'd be hysterical to take him there now, lol.

Edit to add: Will there be any difference in things to do or prices if we go in late March, versus early February? I'm thinking about checking out what concerts will be going on while I'm there. Any small venues that have great shows? I would say like the Zoo Amphitheater or Diamond Ballroom here but unless you are familiar with OKC or have seen a show at one of those places you wouldn't know what i was talking about...

Lapicide · #17 12-10-2009, 09:50 AM

Not much of a difference in price from Feb to March. Prices don't go down until late May/June. St. Pat's Parade and Faire is in March. There is Fogo de Chao in Scottsdale. BTW it is pricey if you are on a budget around $50 for dinner , $30 for lunch. If you want to check out alot of guitars, Bizarre guitars has lots of guitars though limited amount of bass stuff. I have been to the heart attack grill. There were two, now only one. Decent burgers and fries, kind of a novelty with the nurse thing, maybe 3 girls running around in skimpy outfits. If you're on that side of the valley, might be worthwhile to stop in. I live way on the otherside of the valley, and went there just to go there. Long way for a burger.
Checkout out http://www.livenation.com/ for upcoming gigs. The Orpheum theatre or Dodge theatre are listed on there. Joe Bonamassa is here Mar 19. Here's a vid regarding him http://www.jbonamassa.com/rahdvd/?gc...FQImawod-ERJeQ
...... Lapicide

finalrequiem · #18 12-10-2009, 10:13 AM

Anyone know what kind of travel time I should expect, driving through New Mexico, in Feb/March? Is the 14-15 hour time frame based on distance too good to be true?