Introduction
In Egyptian mythology, the phoenix was a majestic bird that lived
in the desert for half a millennium before consuming itself by fire and
then rising renewed from the ashes. Though by Egyptian standards, Arizona's
Phoenix has about 400 years left to stoke its pyre, newcomers desperate
to acclimatize after a cushy air-con arrival may also believe that their
goose is cooked. Let there be no mistake, Phoenix is a city in the sun,
and all its trappings of latter-day luxury aren't going to keep you from
breaking a sweat.
The largest city in the US Southwest, Phoenix's greatest attraction is
the land that surrounds it: a vast expanse of untamed desert, mystifying
in its stark beauty and yet daunting in the tacit peril of a lonesome,
roasting death. Today, as the state capital, Phoenix is as modern as any
American metropolis, with a hyperactive arts scene and an economy as brisk
as they come. You won't find the 1001 diversions of a New York or LA,
but if cowboy chic and the 'lone prair-ee' are your thing, laid-back Phoenix
has 'em both in abundance.
Details
Population: 1 million
Area: 375 sq miles (970 sq km)
Elevation: 1100ft (330m)
State: Arizona
Time Zone: Mountain Time (GMT/UTC minus 7 hours). Daylight-savings time
is not observed.
Telephone area code: 602, 480
When to Go
From September through April, Phoenix enjoys mild weather and cultural
events aplenty. Autumn is the choicest time to visit weather-wise, though
the early months of spring have all the best festivals. Those hardy souls
who brave a visit in summer can witness the mercury riding above 100°F
(38°C) for weeks on end, commonly climbing well over 110°F (43°C)
in midsummer. Summer is also monsoon season, when late afternoon thunderstorms
blast the area and flash flooding becomes a concern for hikers. During
the hottest spells, nobody does much of anything during daylight hours
unless they're in an air-conditioned zone.
Events
While the period from October to May is dotted with community events
in Phoenix, the city comes to a cultural standstill during the searing
summer. One of the region's biggest parades kicks off the Fiesta Bowl
college football game on New Year's Day at the ASU Sun Devil Stadium.
Late January and early February catch residents of Scottsdale dusting
off their chaps and Stetsons for a string of rodeos, hoedowns, Pony Express
reenactments and an All-Arabian Horse Show. The Heard Museum hosts the
Guild Indian Fair and Market during the first weekend in March, where
you can eat Native American food and peruse top-quality arts and crafts.
In mid-March, the Phoenix Rodeo of Rodeos is held at the Veterans Memorial
Coliseum. The costumed Yaqui Indian Easter Ceremonies are held Friday
afternoons during Lent in the main plaza of the village of Guadalupe,
just south of Tempe. The Arizona State Fair takes place in the last two
weeks of October.
Public Holidays
| 1 January |
New Year's Day |
| Third Monday in January |
Martin Luther King Day |
| Third Monday in February |
Presidents Day |
| Last Monday in May |
Memorial Day |
| 4 July |
Independence Day |
| First Monday in September |
Labor Day |
| Second Monday in October |
Columbus Day |
| 11 Nov |
Veterans Day |
| Fourth Thursday in November |
Thanksgiving Day |
| 25 Dec |
Christmas Day |
|