OT: Calling All For Destination Phoenix 2009

[Never Fear 33 Is Here]

We're famous...................we're REALLY famous.

[TASTIC]

well we're not.

sunsdownunder whoever that idiot is, is...

[Never Fear 33 Is Here]

Yeah it kinda feels like we are tag a longs, "sunsdownunder and three of his fellow Planet Orange citizens".

I think sunsdownunder is a cancer and we should trade him.

[nevetsov]

Yeah as I recall, it was Never Fear and I that were originally going to head over this year and SDU had a big cry cos he couldn't make it.. wahh

Ah well, as long as I get to meet Ced Ceballos i'm be happy.

[TASTIC]

We're like The Beatles...bags not being Ringo

[-SDU-]

ooh, tensions are high..... better call the waaaaaaambulance! haha

for the record, i definately dont want to take the lead for the trip, i reckon we should share all blogging, perhaps write one each fortnight / month up until we go then 2 each for the 8/9 games we will be seeing and a couple other randoms.

il catch yall on the email about it though

miiiiiiiite!

[-SDU-]

Damn, I had not read your itenerary until just now. You guys are nuts.

I would consider flying from Toronto to Boston. That is a quick turnaround and a long drive. Here in Arizona we have the dog days of summer, I would say the northeast has the dog days of winter, and by dogs, I mean sled dogs. It would suck to get stuck in a blizzard, atleast with flying you only need a short window to make the jaunt to bean town. And I am not sure how much time crossing the Canadian border will take, I have not crossed it since 9/11.

The Atlanta to DC drive is going to hurt as well, with the short turnaround between games. I would consider skipping the Hawks and heading straight to DC from Charlotte, or heading to PHX from Atlanta.

I don't think I will still be living in PHX when you guys are here (maybe, just not likely), with options being NYC and LA right now, and holding out for Hawaii, Tokyo, Sydney and the Carribean. If I am in in NYC or LA I will have to meet up with you guys, have a beer and shoot the shat.

thanks for the advice man, ive been hoping someone would give us an honest opinion like that.

we have factored about 9 hours from toronto to boston and about 10 hours from atlanta to washington.

due to the toronto game being a lunch time game, if we left that afternoon and drove through the night, do you think that would help? Same with Atlanta / Washington, i would have thought leaving at 4am and getting to washington at 2pm would be feasable, do you disagree?

really appreciate the advice man, there is only so much you can plan looking at google maps

[-SDU-]

Road trip is sweet man! Sounds like it is going to be good.

PM me and I am keeping my eyes open for flights for that week. Also, let us know where you will be sitting at US Airways.

If we want to do a pick up game, we might have to find a place, get some emails together and do it that way. We have a few months left, so lets see what I can do.

sounds awesome man, when tastic sends the details through, anything you could hook up would be sweet.

we havent bought game tickets yet, so if you decide you definately want to join us, just let us know soon and we can factor your tickets in when purchasing

[walkingart]

My wife is a pilot and she has had problems in the Northeast during Jan/Feb with the weather. That would be my biggest concern if I were making the trip. Most notably the drive from Toronto to Boston. Theoretically, 9 hrs should be enough, but I would factor in a minimum of an hour to cross the border and if there is snow, the drive could take an additional two hours maybe even three. And if there is a snow storm, you aren't making it, till its over and the highways are cleared. I would just check the weather and decide when to leave at the last minute. Once you make it to NYC, I wouldn't worry about the weather, but until then it would be in the back of my mind at all times.

My theory is to plan for the worst, and when it doesn't happen, there isn't a better feeling in the world. There is a better chance that the weather will be fine, then that it won't, but it is still the worst place to drive in the states at that time of year. Here is a sight that shows average weather trends, it is for Buffalo, which is between Toronto and Boston.

http://climate.fizber.com/new-york-city ... imate.html

There are 5 days on average in January that I wouldn't want to drive in, those are the days with more than an inch and a half of snowfall. Also, now that I am thinking about driving in the snow and ice; I would prefer to drive during the day, so that I wouldn't encounter any black ice on the roads.

The drive from Atlanta to DC won't be fun, because at that point you will have already been in the car for close to thirty hours, but is easily doable. Especially if you leave at 4 AM. Atlanta has horrible traffic, and leaving early in the morning is probably best. I would think DC traffic is pretty bad as well, but I have never been, and based off my experiences in other cities; mid day is a good time to roll into town.

My wife is in Cali for work, but when she gets home on Monday, I will ask her if there is a regional airline that flies from Toronto to Boston. Airfare might be cheaper than driving, and you only need a two hour window of good weather to make it.

[Never Fear 33 Is Here]

Cheers walkingart, thanks for the info and keep it coming. You have no idea how much this all helps. Definitely need to repay the favour with a few beverages at our expense should we meet up at some time.

If anyone else has any input then it is all very much appreciated.

@ eastside the pick up game would be sweet. Not sure how my neck will hold up by hopefully by that time I may be able to play. Regardless of if I am ok to play or not I will be playing don't you worry about that.

D

[-SDU-]

yeah, thanks HEAPS for the advice walkingart, really appreciate it and any further advice you might have. its definately not falling on deaf ears and we will be taking it into consideration

flying from boston to NYC is definately an option for us if its necessary and safer. Ive driven on black ice in scotland before and yeah, its pretty dangerous for sure

if you can find a recommended airline for Tor to Bos, let us know and ill look at the costs and the weather etc and we can make an educated decision

thanks man

[TASTIC]

Agreed. Goes for everyone out there - if you have ANY input for the trip, like things to see/places to go that us 'generic' tourists won't know about, sing out!

cheers walkingart

[KPCB34]

Im checking up now Im gonna try and get me a loan for the trip!!!!




Im gonna do all i can to come on this trip!


Im drunk and soooo pumped right now!!! i hope i can get this loan.

[rsavaj]

Agreed. Goes for everyone out there - if you have ANY input for the trip, like things to see/places to go that us 'generic' tourists won't know about, sing out!

cheers walkingart

I wish I could help you out in terms of fun things to do/see in PHX, but I myself have a hard time coming up with things to do on the weekends con mis amigos. I suppose the fountain at Fountain Hills is worth seeing b/c it's the largest fountain in the southwest or something. It's pretty cool looking at night.

We have an insanely ghetto(really, REALLY ghetto) amusement park called Castles and Coasters that somehow manages to entertain on a fairly consistent basis even though your safety is always in jeopardy with the shoddy rides and the teens carrying knives. If you have 2 hours to kill, it's not a terribly bad idea(minigolf too!).

Aside from those and the Grand Canyon, there isn't really anything 'unique' I can think of that isn't in any other state.

Supposedly, it's "impossible to be bored in the Valley". http://www.azcentral.com/travel/arizona ... do-CR.html

http://phoenix.about.com/od/attractions ... places.htm

OH, if you can, try to eat at Pizzeria BIanco's downtown....supposedly it's the best pizza in the country(a couple of national news outlets like Newsweek and yahoo.com say so, at least).

Hope this kinda sorta helps, it's not much.


eta: this is going to sound quite ridiculous and random, but there's an Ostrich farm on the way to Tucson where they let you feed the ostriches/chill with them/other animals too. For a Phoenician, that's pretty much mind-blowing.....I'm not sure it'll have to same affect on you guys haha.

[TASTIC]

Ostriches?

SOLD!
haha

Majerle's will make a killing off us I think...might be the watering hole for the week - many of you guys frequent it?

[walkingart]

LOL, rsavaj, I don't really do anything unique either, but there are still a ton of things to do that are unique to the valley.

1. If you are into architecture, you can check out Taliesen West in Scottsdale.
2. For a generic old west time, there is Rawhide.
3. For the botanist in you, there is the Desert Botanical Gardens.
4. For the scientist in you, There is the Arizona Science Museum.
5. The Phoenix Art Museum can have some interesting exhibits as well.

There are five things to do just off the top of my head.

If you are staying Downtown, you need to check out Los Dos Molinos, for the real deal when it comes to Mexican food. It is just south of Downtown. You can skip Pizzaria Bianco, better pizza in Boston and NYC, whoever decided to call Bianco the best, obviously has horrible taste!

And as far as Majerles, it is a ways away for me, but it is alright. Not great, not bad, kinda middle of the road. There is a really good Irish Pub and Restaurant downtown, but the name escapes me.

The Waterfront in Scottsdale is a good spot to check out all the work of the local plastic surgeons and Mill Avenue is a good spot to check out all the talent from ASU.

Peace

[nevetsov]

I have a friend that wants to take me to Sedona.. apparently she reckons its really pretty and crap. Not sure how 'pretty' it's going to be in February though. Are we going to have enough time for either a Mexico or Vegas trip?

Also we have to hit up Scottsdale, maybe we can ask Boris to show us all the dirty hangouts.

[Rodrizzle]

Im going to be the token Heat guy on the East coast trip of this. If i have the cash i will be heading over to the valley of the sun.
Either way there will be plenty of piss consumed!!!

[Never Fear 33 Is Here]

I have a friend that wants to take me to Sedona.. apparently she reckons its really pretty and crap. Not sure how 'pretty' it's going to be in February though. Are we going to have enough time for either a Mexico or Vegas trip?

Also we have to hit up Scottsdale, maybe we can ask Boris to show us all the dirty hangouts.

I believe at the moment Mexico has a travel alert so I would not be so keen to go there. But Vegas on the other hand would be great. We may be able to handle it at some point whilst we are in the Valley.

[daveang]

I'm another Aussie currently weighing up the chances of traveling in March/April to see the Suns play - anyone else from overseas planning to go around that time?