Observations on Phoenix's Scene

[BeExcellent]

Ha! My best girlfriend got married at the 18th green of the TPC golf course last year. They are at their home in FL this week/weekend to avoid all the idiots, and there are lots of idiots. Last night on the way home from business travel some nitwits had wrecked on the 101 loop (the highway runs between the golf course and Old Town Scottsdale) and the whole highway was at a standstill. Huge police presence.

All the nightlife venues in the East Valley will be packed, two good places to go are the Bird's Nest (a pop up nightclub & concert venue right by the golf course, which gets current major recording artists in a smaller live music venue). This years line up includes Jellyroll, Nickelback & Tiesto so it will have a young hip vibe. It will also be expensive. The other place to be is the Talking Stick casino. They will be packed and have live music, gaming, and a sports book (it is also Super Bowl weekend) so they will be rocking.

Winter is lots to do here. In November you have the Bentley Polo Event, In January you have the Scottsdale Arabian Horse show followed by Barrett Jackson (these are all cool events I have attended), in February you have Phoenix Open. Then later this month MLB Cactus League Spring Training starts up. Those are fun events to attend. I love MLB so its cool to go and there can be opportunities to meet girls at those games because its a cool relaxed vibe with all age ranges present.

We are getting out of town for the craziness this weekend. My husband has an event elsewhere and I don't like dealing with the jackasses and drunks here. I was invited to the Open this year by a couple of friend groups. I declined. It's too crowded and rowdy for my taste. I can enjoy better drinks and a refined environment elsewhere.

 

[SW15]

My best girlfriend got married at the 18th green of the TPC golf course last year. They are at their home in FL this week/weekend to avoid all the idiots, and there are lots of idiots. Last night on the way home from business travel some nitwits had wrecked on the 101 loop (the highway runs between the golf course and Old Town Scottsdale) and the whole highway was at a standstill. Huge police presence.

There are lots of idiots is a very important sentence. From my experience living in Metro Phoenix, I felt that Metro Phoenix does idiocy better than most places. This weekend is the high point of idiocy, only exceeded by the years that both the Super Bowl and Phoenix Open are going on concurrently.

It can be difficult to discern out of town idiots vs. local resident idiots.

As someone who has traveled on Loop 101 many times during my residency in Metro Phoenix, I can only imagine how unpleasant that must have been.

I'm also aware that Loop 101 has been widened in spots since I moved away. Even though I moved away, I have returned periodically on recreational vacations.

I don't like dealing with the jackasses and drunks here. I was invited to the Open this year by a couple of friend groups. I declined. It's too crowded and rowdy for my taste. I can enjoy better drinks and a refined environment elsewhere.

You have a good perspective on it. Plenty of places have a far more refined environment than the Phoenix Open.

It seems like it is the opposite of refined.

All the nightlife venues in the East Valley will be packed

The nightlife venues would be an opportunity for same night sex. For a man, the same night sex could happen with a local resident or an out-of-towner in for the tournament. I'm not sure how many women seeking new penis would travel to Phoenix/Scottsdale for the Phoenix Open. There are rumors that some bachelorette parties attend the Phoenix Open.

Phoenix/Scottsdale is somewhat of a destination for Girls Trips and bachelorette trips. Both Girls Trips and bachelorette parties are opportunities for sexual flings for women.

I'm not sure daygame is affected much by the Open itself. The 16th hole itself isn't pure daygame, it's more like a nightclub environment during daylight hours, similar to commercialized pool parties attached to a business. This forum has a good pool parties thread.

Getting Laid as a Result of Going to Pool Parties

After using the Search function here, I realize that there hasn't been a lot of discussion about getting laid as a result of going to pool parties. The lay doesn't have to happen on the same day as the pool party, but at some time after meeting a woman at a pool party. Let me be more specific...

www.sosuave.net

Standard daygame venues like hiking trails, malls, and grocery stores are not likely to be as affected by the tournament. Daygame is also better for local men seeking local women for extended interactions whereas nightlife is better suited for same night sex that can happen with tourists.

Talking Stick casino.

Talking Stick opened around the time I moved away. I have never been.

In the summer, Talking Stick has a reputation for its commercialized pool parties (see above thread).

Winter is lots to do here. In November you have the Bentley Polo Event, In January you have the Scottsdale Arabian Horse show followed by Barrett Jackson (these are all cool events I have attended), in February you have Phoenix Open. Then later this month MLB Cactus League Spring Training starts up. Those are fun events to attend. I love MLB so its cool to go and there can be opportunities to meet girls at those games because its a cool relaxed vibe with all age ranges present.

I have been to Spring Training games in Metro Phoenix. It is enjoyable. I agree that it is possible to meet women at a Spring Training game. It's a more relaxed vibe there than a Diamondbacks regular season game at Chase Field during the heat of summer with the roof closed. Spectator sports in general aren't good ways to meet women (sausage fest among attendees) but it can happen.

The Arabian Horse Show sounds like an interesting way to meet women. It's a smaller event than the Phoenix Open and far fewer idiots.

 

[BeExcellent]

NASCAR and NHRA are also both in Phoenix Metro. I really enjoy the drag races. You can get over in the pits and watch them work over the cars between passes. The professionals will chat with you & everyone mingles and is cool. A couple of years ago the husband got a photo with Brittany Force, which was fun. The Street Outlaws also hold track events in PHX and those are cool. I'm a car girl so I really enjoy all that. Easy to start up convos at the drag races although less unattached women. NASCAR forget it. You need earphones to protect your hearing & you can barely hear yourself think. Its shake your skeleton LOUD.

Women LOVE horses and the Arabians are beautiful. Those are high barrier to entry events on the private side. Serious money in Arabians. The show itself is open to the public and is well attended. Dress well and have some class. Its a more elegant event than anything else in the valley social calendar, but women go.

 

[SW15]

Women LOVE horses and the Arabians are beautiful. Those are high barrier to entry events on the private side. Serious money in Arabians. The show itself is open to the public and is well attended. Dress well and have some class. Its a more elegant event than anything else in the valley social calendar, but women go.

Is this the kind of event that would draw women in their 20s? I find it difficult to imagine that it would. When I lived in Metro Phoenix, I was a 20 something male pursuing 20 something females. At the time, I was unaware of this event but it has been an event that has happened for around 70 years. It's an event that was happening when I lived there.

One event I did a few times that I found disappointing was Scottsdale's ArtWalk. That was the Thursday night event at the art galleries near Old Town Scottsdale. It's a thing that has been going on since the 1970s. ArtWalk drew in an older crowd when I went. I could imagine ArtWalk possibly working for older men pursuing older women (at least 35+ women). When I went, I didn't see much in the way of younger women.

I could imagine the Arabian Horse Show being much like ArtWalk. The Arabian Horse Show could be good for meeting 30 something and older women.

I'm a car girl so I really enjoy all that. Easy to start up convos at the drag races although less unattached women.

Women who have automotive interests and go to automotive events will be popular with men.

Automotive events tend to be a bit of a sausage fest in general. Ratios would be challenging.

I agree that it would be easy for conversations to happen at the majority of automotive events.

 

[BeExcellent]

You'd be surprised at the horse show. There are lots of older women with money....but they have daughters who go. You'll also see friends of the daughters & participants, stable hands, grooms, vets, artists & merchants who are at times younger. It is an international crowd and a higher eschelon of people generally. No riff raff to speak of. People are warm & pretty open if your energy is cool. The horses are magnificent. But cheesy pick up lines are not going to be well recieved & it is extremely unlikely to develop into a same day sex thing. Women there will be paying attention to appearances as its a tight knit community.

Near our home are a number of well known Arabian show stables. When we walk we go past some & have met some horse people that way. Very nice people; very worldly/sophisticated.

For 20s guys I'd say Spring Training and ASU events. The Suns games are also fun and lots of younger people go.

 

[SW15]

You'd be surprised at the horse show. There are lots of older women with money....but they have daughters who go. You'll also see friends of the daughters & participants, stable hands, grooms, vets, artists & merchants who are at times younger. It is an international crowd and a higher eschelon of people generally. No riff raff to speak of. People are warm & pretty open if your energy is cool. The horses are magnificent. But cheesy pick up lines are not going to be well recieved & it is extremely unlikely to develop into a same day sex thing. Women there will be paying attention to appearances as its a tight knit community.

At my current age, if I still lived there, I could see the Arabian Horse Show being an enjoyable event with some potential for finding dates.

For 20s guys I'd say Spring Training and ASU events.

I think Mill Avenue is better for earlier 20s guys (up to about 25-26). It's good to be slightly older than the women who go to the bars. Mill is even better for those who are Arizona State students (undergrad or graduate) or recent Arizona State alumni.

Old Town Scottsdale nightlife is better for men by later 20s. It does require a little bit more money/status than Mill Avenue. Looks are #1 but money/status are relevant there.

 

[BillyPilgrim]

This is one of the biggest party weekends of the year in the Metro Phoenix.

This is the weekend of the Waste Management Phoenix Open. In this thread, the Phoenix Open has been mentioned in February 2023 (Posts #76-78) and February 2024 (Posts #147-151). @BeExcellent wrote a good summary of it in the post below in 2023.

Observations on Phoenix's Scene

Which parts? Would you say OP's assessment of Tempe/Phoenix being the spots is accurate? Or does Tuscon deserve some regocnition? Tempe has attractive women because of the proximity to Arizona State University (ASU). Tempe has a lot of undergrad and grad level ASU students. The southern half...

www.sosuave.net

Are any of the Phoenix area posters going to go to it this year or go out to bars/restaurants likely to be affected by it?

The Phoenix Open is one of the biggest parties in golf, especially at the 16th hole spectator area. While golf is usually a subdued event, Metro Phoenix manages to lower the class on it a bit and sometimes turn it into a crass party.

Last year was an unpleasant year at the Phoenix Open. There was bad weather and also some play cancellations. There were more drunk and unruly golf fans at the 16th hole spectator area last year. There were substantially more ejections, trespassing incidents, and arrests at last year's Phoenix Open than in 2022 and 2023. The Athletic (owned by the New York Times) published an article yesterday about the Phoenix Open changes and a local TV station did a feature story on this (links below).

The WM Phoenix Open is golf’s most raucous party. Now it needs everyone to be cool

Tournament organizers have adjusted their policies and the grounds to handle huge crowds. "There's no way it's going to be worse."

www.nytimes.com

If You Throw, You Go: WM Phoenix Open officials cracking down at 16th hole.

There are stricter rules for fans at the infamous 16th hole at the WM Phoenix Open, known for its rowdy crowds, skyboxes and party-like atmosphere.

www.azfamily.com

The 16th hole itself seems to be more of a sausage fest and attention whorring than a good place to get laid. People get intoxicated and do silly things. I don't believe that a serious pickup artist would be interested in going to the 16th hole to try and get laid. This seems like it would be more of a thing for beta males and NPC's.

A good portion of the metro area is affected by the Phoenix Open golf tournament. Nightlife venues in Old Town Scottsdale (15 miles south of the North Scottsdale golf course) get more crowded. The North Scottsdale bars (generally aimed at middle aged people) also become more crowded. I don't think the tournament affects the nightlife scene in Tempe on Mill Avenue as much. The Mill Avenue Tempe scene is more focused around Arizona State University. Arizona State University's Tempe campus has been known as a major party campus for decades. It doesn't take much for Arizona State students at the main Tempe campus to find a reason to party.

The article in The Athletic mentioned that the Phoenix Open is raising ticket prices significantly this year to discourage more riff raff from attending and starting incidents.

During the years that I lived in the Phoenix area, I did not go to the Phoenix Open (located in suburban North Scottsdale) because I knew that the golf course itself was more of attention whorring and established couples than more of a way to get laid easily. Many bachelor parties attend the event and go to the surround nightlife. It's a big overhyped event, much like New Year's Eve parties are in most major USA and global cities. Some years I even reduced my nightlife gaming that weekend.

There have been 4 years where the Phoenix Open and Super Bowl were happening in Metro Phoenix concurrently (1996, 2008, 2015, and 2023). Those have been the craziest years in Phoenix. Metro Phoenix is likely to host another Super Bowl due to its pleasant winter season weather and reasonably modern football stadium (the current stadium opened in 2006).

When Phoenix hosts big events, it always happens in winter. As mentioned above, the Super Bowl has been played in Phoenix 4 times. 3 of the times have happened since the new football stadium opened in 2006.

The Phoenix Open is an annual event.

The Barrett-Jackson collector car auction event draws in a lot of people and craziness and happens every January. That's another big party occasion in Metro Phoenix and one that hasn't been mentioned on this thread before.

When they open the sewers, you get the crap. Lolz.

 

[SW15]

When they open the sewers, you get the crap. Lolz.

It's amazing that Metro Phoenix can turn golf into something trashy.

 

[SW15]

The last 2 days in Phoenix have had nice temperatures, with high temperatures of 64 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Tomorrow (Friday) will only be 70 degrees. The weekend will be seasonable, but unbearably hot weather is coming soon.

100-degree days could arrive in Phoenix next week

Enjoy the cooler Valley weather while you can, because the year's first 100-degree days could be just around the corner.

ktar.com

When I lived in Phoenix, I thought a good rule of thumb for the start of hot weather was April 15.

I would say that the high temperatures regularly get past 90 degrees starting around April 15.

 

[BillyPilgrim]

The last 2 days in Phoenix have had nice temperatures, with high temperatures of 64 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Tomorrow (Friday) will only be 70 degrees. The weekend will be seasonable, but unbearably hot weather is coming soon.

100-degree days could arrive in Phoenix next week

Enjoy the cooler Valley weather while you can, because the year's first 100-degree days could be just around the corner.

ktar.com

When I lived in Phoenix, I thought a good rule of thumb for the start of hot weather was April 15.

I would say that the high temperatures regularly get past 90 degrees starting around April 15.

Nice my @ss, this sh1t's cold af

 

[SW15]

Nice my @ss, this sh1t's cold af

64-70 degrees is cold af?

I think that's pleasant. However, I can see part of your point.

It's probably cold in the mornings/late at night.

I can remember some winter nights where I was outdoors in Phoenix/Scottsdale in the 10:30 PM - 2:30 AM time frame on days where the high was likely around 65 degrees. During that time frame, the temperature might have been in the 30s.

There were nights I was on a patio in Old Town Scottsdale doing pickup with outdoor temperatures in the 30s/40s. I didn't find that pleasant.

 

[BillyPilgrim]

64-70 degrees is cold af?

I think that's pleasant. However, I can see part of your point.

It's probably cold in the mornings/late at night.

I can remember some winter nights where I was outdoors in Phoenix/Scottsdale in the 10:30 PM - 2:30 AM time frame on days where the high was likely around 65 degrees. During that time frame, the temperature might have been in the 30s.

There were nights I was on a patio in Old Town Scottsdale doing pickup with outdoor temperatures in the 30s/40s. I didn't find that pleasant.

Once you've been here awhile your blood thickens and what would be comfortable in a neutral, moderate environment shifts upward about 10-12 degrees. So 83 degrees (fahrenheit) is the new 72.

 

[SW15]

Once you've been here awhile your blood thickens and what would be comfortable in a neutral, moderate environment shifts upward about 10-12 degrees. So 83 degrees (fahrenheit) is the new 72.

Living in Phoenix for an extended time would make it more difficult to spend winters in cold, northern climates.

Dallas isn't much better than Phoenix for that but Dallas does have more frequent winter temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Dallas also has ice and snow storms at times.

Phoenix spends a large part of the year above 80 degrees. Consistent 80 degree + high temperatures happen from late March until early November.

I enjoyed when high temperatures got below 90 consistently in October. I liked having more outdoor seduction options.

 

[SW15]

Now that the hot temperatures are arriving in Phoenix, it's a good time for me to post about indoor game spots. I'm going to post about grocery store approaching below.

Best Grocery Stores For Approaching Women in the Phoenix Area

I will rate as many grocery stores in Phoenix for approaching. I was in some of these stores prior to me moving away from the area. Some have opened up since I have left. I will rate in tiers by the internet standard.

S Tier (Superior)
A Tier
B Tier
C Tier
D Tier
F Tier

I'll mostly mention S Tier, A Tier, and B Tier stores because there's not that much of a point to me mentioning C-F tiers. I might not mention some stores, so if I didn't mention a grocery store that you know about, please mention it in this thread.

S Tier

1. Safeway at Broadway and Rural in Tempe. This Safeway location has been around for decades and is known as 'Sexy Safeway'. This location is near Arizona State University and many off campus living undergraduates and even some graduate students will shop here. This is the #1 grocery store for approaching younger women in Metro Phoenix. I would recommend this one more for under 30 guys or guys 30+ with both looks and money. Under 30s are best positioned to do well here.

2. Trader Joe's at University and Rural in Tempe. This location opened in Summer 2020 as the pandemic was going on. Unlike Safeway above, it has less of a reputation because it hasn't been around as long. Due to its location at the eastern edge of the Arizona State campus, it's a great place as well to meet Arizona State women.

3. Whole Foods at University and Ash in Tempe. This one opened in 2019 on the western edge of the Arizona State campus. This location has free indoor parking (great in Phoenix) and likely gets the most bougie Arizona State students and some recent graduates that didn't move to Old Town Scottsdale. Speaking of Old Town Scottsdale.....

4. Sprouts at Camelback and Miller in Scottsdale. This store has been around a long time, as the shopping plaza where it is located was built in 1978. It was a Sunflower Market in the 2000s-early 2010s until Sunflower and Sprouts merged in 2012. It has an older feel on the inside too, but Sprouts has kept it from looking outdated. This is an S tier location because it is in Old Town Scottsdale and draws in many 20s/30s residents from the Old Town Scottsdale apartments. This is the best grocery store option right now in Old Town Scottsdale.

A Tier

1. Albertsons at Scottsdale and Thomas in Scottsdale. This is just south of Old Town Scottsdale so it will attract Old Town women.
2. Bashas at Indian School and Hayden in Scottsdale. This is also just south of Old Town Scottsdale and there are Old Town women there too. This location is right off the Scottsdale Greenbelt, which is a good outdoor daygame location. A good daygamer could combine time on the Greenbelt with a stop at this Bashas. That would typically be done in the less warm months.

B Tier

1. Safeway at 32nd Street and Camelback in Phoenix. This is only a few miles west of Old Town Scottsdale. There are some apartment complexes near here, but this is going to attract more couples.

2. AJ's Fine Foods at 44th Street and Camelback in Phoenix. This intersection is more upscale than 44th and Camelback. For those unfamiliar with the AJ's concept, AJ's is owned by the same company as Bashas and it is a more upscale concept. It's designed to compete with Whole Foods. This AJ's location is right next to an upscale gym with 15 tennis courts and a swimming pool. It's also in the shadow of Camelback Mountain and near the moneyed area of Paradise Valley. There is an apartment complex diagonally across the street, which wasn't there when I lived in the area and went inside this store. This store will draw some marrieds but it will also draw enough upscale singles, including attractive divorced single moms.

3. Fry's 20th Street and Highland Phoenix
4. Whole Foods 20th Street and Highland Phoenix
5. Trader Joe's 20th Street and Highland Phoenix

All 3 of these stores are across from each other. The Whole Foods is next to an LA Fitness location that is known as a pickup spot for both homosexual males and heterosexuals. Any of these 3 stores will have a pickup environment at times, but there are better options out there. There are enough apartments and condos nearby to bring in some single population.

Note that Fry's is a sub brand of Kroger in Arizona.

C Tier

1. Bashas at 7th Street and Missouri Phoenix. This is a small location but near some apartments and can be convenient.
2. Fry's at 44th Street and Thomas Phoenix. I have heard of approaches happening here. There are some nearby apartments but this isn't known as a great location. It's interior has been upgraded since I was last inside of it. This is at an intersection in a transitional area between some good neighborhoods and sketchy neighborhoods.
3. Safeway at 48th Street and Indian School Phoenix. This is a location that would be more popular with the Arcadia neighborhood moms than singles. It's a possible option for some divorced moms but not great.
4. AJ's at Central and Camelback Phoenix. There's some single life around here, but some of it would go to the 20th Street and Highland B tier stores. This is an upscale store more popular with the North Central Phoenix married moms. It's just less good of a location than the 44th St. and Camelback AJ's. Some divorced moms are options here.
5. Sprouts at 16th Street and Glendale Phoenix. This was once an aging Bashas. There are some apartments nearby but not enough of a singles population. Sprouts has made the interior of this location better, so it's better for shopping than the Bashas was, but not a spot that anyone would prioritize for making grocery store approaches.
6. Fry's Jefferson and 1st Street Phoenix. This is a new Fry's in Downtown Phoenix. Downtown Phoenix has really improved in recent years with some newer buildings and an Arizona State campus. This location is across from the Phoenix Suns arena, so traffic would be bad on Suns game days. The Arizona Diamondbacks' stadium is also nearby. The proximity to the sports stadiums and the traffic issues would cause problems. No one is grocery shopping after going to a Suns or Diamondbacks game. However, there could be some approach opportunities with Downtown Phoenix women who walk there.

D Tier and F Tier

I could name some bad options but why would I? I'd rather focus on the good.

 

[BillyPilgrim]

That Basha's on 7th and Missouri is straight F tier. 90% elderly people there and the lines take 20 minutes every time and there is no self-checkout. I'm not sure exactly what direction the causation is but it seems symbiotic. No one else can stand waiting 20 minutes and mgmt knows they can save cash by having only 1 cashier (again, with no self checkout) for the entire store for a weekday night when you're trying to grab something quick. And this is in an area where lots of young professional urbanites live. This chain is so cheap they're fine attracting the only old people who live in midtown.

Worst grocery store ever for shopping, nevermind cold approach.

 

[SW15]

That Basha's on 7th and Missouri is straight F tier.

I have been in that location, but I was last in it during the 2000s.

There were also old people in Midtown in the 2000s and some went to that location then.

Midtown is a place where younger singles could be, but it seems like it's not that Bashas. You acknowledged the young professional urbanites in the neighborhood. There was a reason I didn't go into much detail there. It was even older looking back in the 2000s, both on the outside and inside.

That sounds like a miserable shopping experience.

Have you been to any of the S tier locations?

 

[BillyPilgrim]

I have been in that location, but I was last in it during the 2000s.

There were also old people in Midtown in the 2000s and some went to that location then.

Midtown is a place where younger singles could be, but it seems like it's not that Bashas. You acknowledged the young professional urbanites in the neighborhood. There was a reason I didn't go into much detail there. It was even older looking back in the 2000s, both on the outside and inside.

That sounds like a miserable shopping experience.

Have you been to any of the S tier locations?

I've been to the Sprouts on Camelback and Miller a few times but whenever I'm there it's more of an older crowd and not the bar-hopping younger crowd.

Mostly I go to the B tier places you mention. I'm lazy af about it though. I'll mess with them, joke around, shoot the sh1t, troll them whatever but I'm not really there to pick up since I have good app game. That being said, I should since I get ioi's from time to time and even women opening me. I have a rough opener/stack sequence drafted but need to start dressing sharper when I go. I really only dress up for dates/meets. That and/or hit the gym more and get in better shape. I feel bad because I've even seen other dudes opening chicks (in the Fry's for instance)