Hundreds of thousands will be descending upon Phoenix, Arizona this weekend for both the PGA Tour’s WM Phoenix and, of course, Super Bowl LVII—as fans take in one of the most evenly matched championship games in recent memory between two powerhouse teams, Philadelphia Eagles vs Kansas City Chiefs (not to mention Riri’s half time show). We hit up one of the city’s very own, The Walking Dead star Josh McDermitt, for a local’s guide to the valley of the sun.
The Final Season of The Walking Dead is now streaming on Netflix
WEATHER
“From April to October, you’ll fry your face off. November to March, you’ll fry your face off a little less and maybe need a jacket in the morning.”
LAY OF THE LAND
OLD TOWN SCOTTSDALE
“Nightclubs, restaurants, shopping.”
SOUTH SCOTTSDALE
“Where the people who want you to think they’re rich live.”
NORTH SCOTTSDALE
“Where the rich people actually live.”
PARADISE VALLEY
“Where the really rich people live.”
DOWNTOWN
“Killing it more and more.”
ROOSEVELT
“Arts district. Great bars, great restaurants, and boutique shops central.”
PHOENIX
“Old money. Horses, ranch style homes, solid restaurants and bars.”
TEMPE
“Arizona State Univ., Mill Avenue, Tempe Town Lake, fun college vibes, bars, and great music venues.”
WHERE TO STAY
ARIZONA BILTMORE
“Old Phoenix. Tucked in between Piestewa Peak and Camelback Mountain. Superb. Great pools. One has a giant slide for the kids.”
2400 E Missouri Ave / Phoenix, AZ 85016 / 602.955.6600
THE CAMBY
“Basically any professional sports team in town for a game stays here. Bring a sharpie for autographs.”
2401 E Camelback Rd / Phoenix, AZ 85016 / 602.468.0700
THE HERMOSA INN
“Boutique. Quiet. Charming. Paradise Valley.”
5532 N Palo Cristi Rd / Paradise Valley, AZ 85253 / 602.955.8614
ROYAL PALMS RESORT
“Stay where the U.S. Presidents stay when they’re in town. If you’re into that sort of thing.”
5200 E Camelback Rd / Phoenix, AZ 85018 / 602.283.1234
WHERE TO EAT
BACANORA
“Phenomenal Sonran-style food cooked over a giant Santa Maria. James Beard nominated. Order everything.”
1301 Grand Ave Unit 1 / Phoenix, AZ 85007 / 602.612.4018
GLAI BAAN
“Thai street food. Their dumplings will make you question what you’ve been doing with your life.”
2333 E Osborn Rd / Phoenix, AZ 85016 / 602.595.5881
VALENTINE
“Delicious food, super cool vibe and secret speakeasy in the back. Brunch, dinner, anything goes.”
4130 N 7th Ave / Phoenix, AZ 85013 / 602.612.2961
CAROLINA’S
“I would eat every meal here if I could. And if you don’t buy a dozen tortillas on your way out then you didn’t deserve to come to Phoenix.”
1202 E Mohave St / Phoenix, AZ 85034 / 602.252.1503
MRS. WHITE’S GOLDEN RULE CAFE
“Soul Food. Old Phoenix. Fried Chicken, Oxtails, Mac… You name it.”
808 E Jefferson St / Phoenix, AZ 85034 / 602.262.9256
DURANTS
“Old school steakhouse. Walk in through the kitchen like Ray Liotta.”
2611 N Central Ave / Phoenix, AZ 85004 / 602.264.5967
WHERE TO DRINK
KILLER WHALE SEX CLUB
“Super cool vibe. Great cocktails. They have a wall of butts (literally Polaroids of people’s butts). You can order the drink “shirt off my back” and you get the bartender’s shirt and a shot or drink. And there’s the name lol.”
922 N 6th St, Phoenix / AZ 85004 / 520.352.7768
ROUGH RIDER
“Enter through the lobby of an office building. Love letter to Teddy Roosevelt in bar form. Incredible cocktails, incredible food.”
1001 N Central Ave / Phoenix, AZ 85004 / 602.675.0439
HANNY’S
“End the night here with some late night pizza, but save a little room for a few more kick-ass cocktails. Creepy doll museum downstairs, wtf.”
40 N 1st St / Phoenix, AZ 85004 / 602.252.2285
THUNDERBIRD LOUNGE
“Divey bar with old 80s arcade games.”
710 W Montecito Ave / Phoenix, AZ 85013 / 602.283.4621
WHERE TO BRUNCH
EL CHORRO LODGE
“Old Phoenix. Sit on the patio. Sticky Buns. They set those down when you sit down and they’re dangerous. It’s just across the street from Camelback Mountain. Hike in the morning, then pop over for brunch and feel better about the buns.”
5550 E Lincoln Dr / Paradise Valley, AZ 85253 /480.948.5170
THE OCOTILLO RESTAURANT AND BAR
“Big outdoor space. Also has a bitchin’ night vibe.”
3243 N 3rd St / Phoenix, AZ 85012 / 602.687.9080
LA GRANDE ORANGE
“Arcadia neighborhood. Anything on the menu. Then buy some trinkets in the market or a bottle of wine from the shop.”
4410 N 40th St / Phoenix, AZ 85018 / 602.840.7777
WHERE TO HIKE
CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN
“The standard for hiking in Phoenix. Make sure you’re hydrated or they’ll have to rescue you with a helicopter like they did with me. Twice!”
SUPERSTITION MOUNTAINS
“Look for the Lost Dutchman Mine and the hidden gold. Just kidding, don’t. It doesn’t exist… or does it?”
TOM’S THUMB
“North Scottsdale, up by Four Seasons Resort. Different feel from other hikes.”
WHERE TO DAY TRIP
WEST FORK TRAIL, SEDONA
“Sedona. 90 mins away. Get into some spiritual vortex shit and bask in the red rock.”
W Fork Trail / Sedona, AZ 86336
DOS CABEZAS WINEWORKS
“Sonoita, Near Tucson. Arizona has some amazing vineyards and their wines are winning awards around the world. If you can’t make it to Sonoita, you can visit their tasting room, Garage-East in Gilbert.”
3248 AZ-82 / Sonoita, AZ 85637 / 520.455.5141
WITH THE KIDS
ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER
“This place will turn you into a lover of science.”
600 E Washington St / Phoenix, AZ 85004 / 602.716.2000
HYATT SCOTTSDALE RESORT AT GAINEY RANCH
“HUGE pool, like a water park.”
7500 E Doubletree Ranch Rd / Scottsdale, AZ 85258 / 480.444.1234
SPRING TRAINING
“Hotdogs and sunburns.”
DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN
“Take the kids on a bike ride through the Papagos up to the Garden.”
1201 N Galvin Pkwy / Phoenix, AZ 85008 / 480.941.1225
WHERE TO GOLF
“Throw a dart at a map and go play where it lands. Seriously. Golf Mecca.”
THE GOLF CLUB AT DOVE MOUNTAIN
“Marana, AZ. I shot over 200 here lol.”
6501 W Boulder Bridge Pass / Marana, AZ 85658 / 520.572.3500
TPC SCOTTSDALE STADIUM
“Play where the WM Phoenix Open is, but without the crazy crowds at the 16th hole.”
17020 N Hayden Rd / Scottsdale, AZ 85255 / 480.585.4334
THE BOULDERS CLUB
“North or South. Carefree, AZ. Awesome rocks to bounce your balls off of.”
34631 N Tom Darlington Dr / Carefree, AZ 85377 / 480.488.9028
CAMELBACK GOLF CLUB
“Scottsdale. Beautiful views of the mountains in Phoenix.”
7847 N Mockingbird Ln / Scottsdale, AZ 85253 / 480.596.7050
WHERE TO GO FOR MUSIC
THE VAN BUREN
“Saw The War on Drugs here twice. Rufus du Sol before they exploded. Bob Moses. Standing room only but intimate.”
401 W Van Buren St / Phoenix, AZ 85003 / 480.659.1641
CHARS LIVE
“Been sneaking in here to listen to the blues since I was a teenager.”
4631 N 7th Ave / Phoenix, AZ 85013 / 602.607.5568
COPPER BLUES
“Catch a comedy show and then filter out into the bar afterwards for live music and drinks.”
50 W Jefferson St / Phoenix, AZ 85003 / 480.719.5005
AND FINALLY
“Hydrate! Seriously. Hydrate. It sneaks up on you. Heat Exhaustion is no joke and I’ve had it more times than I like to admit.”
