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Arrowhead Club District Is West Valley's Alternative to Scottsdale

A few weeks ago, my boys and I ventured to the Arrowhead Mall "club district" in Peoria to see what was poppin'!

We heard a few things about the talent out there and we decided to take a break from the same-old, same-old in Scottsdale.

Plus, I wanted to see if the West Side is ready for the Super Bowl that's coming to the Valley in February 2008! The parties, the parties, ohhhhh ... the parties!

I've already written about the West Side's potential to become the Best Side of the Valley (December 2006). But after my trip to Arrowhead, it's clear that the West Side still has a long way to go!

The First Problem: As I was driving on Bell Road towards the strip of nightclubs, I noticed that I had this "itchy feeling." I wasn't sure why, I thought it might've been that pizza I ate a few hours before, but as I got closer to the left turn on 83rd Avenue, I realized that the "itchy feeling" was my PoPo radar!

Maaaaan ... police were everywhere! I've been to some of the best club strips in the country - Miami Beach, Sunset Strip, Gaslamp District, Las Vegas and Nogales, Arizona and I have never seen Five-0 in force like that! Jake needs to relax if Arrowhead wants a successful club district!

I gotta admit that the police had me shook! They made me nervous as hell and I wasn't even doin' anything illegal!

Second Problem: So, my boys and I tried to hit El Toro Bravo, a Mexican restaurant that turns into a nightclub in the late hours. It's supposed to be the best club in the vicinity. We obviously came too late because the line was halfway down the street! That joint was packed! Good thing we could hear the music from the sidewalk because the DJ was wack! Kill the Top 40 and the 80s tunes!

Third Problem: I will say that most of the women I've met on the West Side have been very approachable, attractive and friendly. But on that night, I bumped into several women who were even snootier than the ones in Scottsdale! Are you kidding me?

After 10 minutes of standing in front of the club to discuss our next move, my boys and I decided to roll to this joint called The Moon Saloon.

You won't be able to dance there, but the drinks are cheap and the people inside were real cool. If you're with a group of friends and you're just lookin' to chill, The Moon Saloon is a good choice. Of course, you won't see many black people, but hey, this is Arizona!

There are several other clubs/bars in the area such as McDuffy's (you can dance here), Fox and Hound, Ah-So (happy hour) and Skye Restaurant (live music, older crowd). And of course, you can also travel a few miles south on the 101 to the Westgate City Center.

However, Peoria and Glendale just don't have the muscle right now to satisfy the Super Bowl crowd. Do the powers-that-be realize how many people will visit the Phoenix area for that one event?! Maybe the West Valley wants to keep the low-key profile. If so, that's a mistake! Glendale is the home of the Arizona Cardinals' and Phoenix Coyotes' stadiums! The civic leaders have a duty to ensure that there are more entertainment options! The economic impact would be tremendous if the West Valley stepped it up a notch (restaurants, nightclubs and hotels). And I'm sure the residents would love to see the West Side come alive!

For now, I guess the Super Bowl crowd will have to make the super journey to Scottsdale for fun!

PhxSoul.com Celebrates 1-Year Anniversary

Happy Birthday PhxSoul.com!

NEW! PhxSoul.com Shirts Available - Men's and Women's Styles!

I just wanted to thank all of you who have taken the time to read my blog/Website - PhxSoul.com!

I created PhxSoul.com exactly one year ago to inform African Americans about the great entertainment venues, restaurants, organizations, churches, outdoor activities and business opportunities in Phoenix. I am a proud native of Phoenix and I believe that in the near future, the Valley of the Sun will be an ideal place for all black people to live.

It was rough going at first, but PhxSoul.com caught fire among the black community in early 2007 and now this blog/Website averages more than 800 page views per week! I think that's outstanding for a city that only has a 3-5 percent African American population!

I appreciate all of the kind words and criticisms about PhxSoul.com and I look forward to posting many more entries in the years to come!

I encourage all of you to Comment on the topics published on PhxSoul.com - that's what a blog is for! Just click on the Comments link at the bottom of each entry and let everyone know how you feel! This is a great opportunity for the black community in the Valley of the Sun to share opinions, experiences and news! I will not delete your comments unless I consider them to be extremely offensive.

It's great to see that my posts about Relationships between black men and black women in Phoenix are the most popular on PhxSoul.com! My theories and opinions have sparked some spirited discussions! We need to engage in more discussions because it's clear that African American men and women in the Valley are having a difficult time making that "love connection!" If we talk about our issues on PhxSoul.com, maybe we can eventually understand and appreciate each other!

Let's keep the momentum going in Year 2! I encourage you all to spread the word about PhxSoul.com so we can all develop a better sense of pride in Phoenix and each other!

Did You Know Phoenix is Home to One of Essence Magazine's 2007 Do Right Men? Meet Antoine Stanford!

Photos courtesy of Jarrad Henderson

Antoine Stanford

Phoenix resident Antoine Stanford is featured in the August 2007 issue of Essence Magazine's 2007 Do Right Men contest.

Essence Magazine is the country's leading publication for African-American women. The Do Right Men contest is a national competition featuring 60 single men including celebrities, millionaires and every day men for their local community service involvement.

The list of Do Right Men include singer Brian McKnight, actors Shemar Moore and DB Woodside and Cleveland Browns wide receiver Braylon Edwards.

Antoine, president of the Phoenix Alumni Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., oversees the local organization's fundraising efforts for the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund. He has helped raise more than $20,000 dollars in scholarship for Valley residents.

You can see Antoine's profile on the Essence Do Right Men Website by clicking on the link below:

http://www.essence.com/essence/dorightmen/bio_heroes_astanford.html

The profile features a photo gallery of Antoine, a guestbook, and you can even vote for Antoine as your favorite Essence Do Right Man!

Special Note for the Ladies: You and a friend can win a Dream Date with two of the Do Right Men bachelors. The deadline to fill out the entry form is August 17, 2007. Click here to enter the Sweepstakes.

PhxSoul.com recently had a chance to chat with Antoine so Valley residents could get to  know him better ...

Q: When was the opportunity to be recognized as one of Essence's Do Right Men for 2007 presented to you?

A: This past February, I received an email from one of the writers (Katti Gray) at Essence magazine regarding their upcoming “Do Right Men” article. To my surprise, she mentioned I was nominated by one of my fraternity brothers (Eugene Scott) to become a “Do Right Man” based upon my past and presence community service work here in Phoenix, my current leadership status within my fraternal chapter, my Christian beliefs and my professional career with IBM.

Q: Did you jump at the chance or were you hesitant?

A: Of course I was hesitant at first because I thought I was being setup to star in the next episode of the TV Show “Punk’d” featuring unknown everyday people. But after speaking with Ms. Gray (Essence) who reassured me that I was not being setup for the ultimate practical joke, I became very excited about the opportunity to potentially become a “Do Right Man” for Essence magazine. Besides, who wouldn’t jump at a once in a lifetime opportunity to have their face and profile featured in a worldwide publication for doing something good for a change?

Q: How did it feel to be selected for this honor, especially in the Everyday Hero category?

A: It has been a very humbling experience to be recognized as a so-called “Everyday Hero,” even though the work I do is done in complete sincerity with no hidden agenda for personal gain or recognition. I do what I do simply because I have a genuine interest in helping others who sometime may need a helping hand. And for this same reason, I’m proud to wear the badge of an “Everyday Hero” because I know it is a testament on how I view myself and how others view me because of the work that I continue to put forth.

Q: What comments have you heard from your family, friends and co-workers about being an Essence Do Right Man?

A: All the comments I’ve been receiving have been great, especially from my mother. It's funny, my mother is like every typical mother of the world when it comes to their child getting some type of recognition. She has been talking about me to all of our family members and her friends, "Oh my baby is going to be in Essence magazine ... I'm so proud of him ... Yada yada, yada, etc. etc." But overall, my mom is very happy and proud of me with receiving the honor of a "Do Right Man," which goes to show that those butt-whippings I got from her growing up allow me to do what's right later on. Outside of my mom, I have been receiving several emails, phone calls from other family members and friends and even a few plugs from my Pastor while attending a Sunday morning church service (First Institutional Baptist Church) regarding how happy they are for me in being featured in Essence magazine.

Q: How has your life changed? What has been the best part about the Essence Do Right Man experience?

A: My life hasn't changed dramatically, even though it feels great to have people walk up to me and ask "Are you in this month's issue of Essence magazine?" Of course, I humbly say "yes" and in return they look at me with such contentment by saying, "Brother, do your thang." But for me, I'm the same guy who puts his pants on everyday one leg at a time. The last thing I don’t want to happen is to allow this so called "instant fame" to go directly to my head. ... My head is already big enough!!! So, I try to remain grounded outside of the hype. However, the best part about this entire experience is all the emails I've been receiving from people all over this country who don't even know me, but love reading that I'm a good Christian brother, that I've given my time and effort back to the community and that I have no problem in voicing a love for GOD through serving others.

Q: Is this your proudest accomplishment (personal or professional)?

A: Outside of receiving both an undergraduate and a graduate degree and let me not forgot being a born-again Christian, this honor definitely ranks among the top 10 of my most proudest accomplishments.

Q: Are you single?

A: Currently I am single, living the bachelor life.

Q: What are the ideal qualities that you seek in a black woman?

A: Now that’s the million-dollar question ... the ideal qualities that I seek in a Black woman are: a woman who is spiritually minded whose spiritual walk with GOD is real, a woman who is family oriented, who communicates well (no drama queen), career-minded, loves children, has a sense of humor, a woman who is trusting and can be trusted, caring, faithful to God and to me and lastly, someone who is attractive both equally on the inside and outside.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: In my free time I simply like to relax and kick back on the couch and watch TV ... I'm a big movie buff. I also like to workout by running with my dog "Bandit," go out to dinner, sometime bowling, or golfing (Tiger-wanna be), but I generally do whatever is going to keep my interest at that time.

Q: How long have you lived in Phoenix?

A: I’ve been living in Phoenix for the past six years.

Q: How has life been for you as an African American male in Phoenix? Enjoyable? Difficult?

A: I actually enjoy living here in Phoenix outside of the triple-degree heatwave we normally have to put up with. There have been some personal ups and downs that I’ve experienced while living here, but I firmly believe that “adversity does build character,” but such is life. For the most part, Phoenix is a growing metropolitan with a mass of potential and I want to be part of its growth.

Q: Any advice for those who are struggling to "find their way" here?

A: Place your trust in GOD and see how far He can take you...

Q: Any other comments or words of wisdom that you'd like to share?

A: The best word(s) of wisdom I love to share with anyone is the word of GOD.  You see through GOD’s word, I try to live a life according to the inspiring words of the Apostle Paul in the Book of Galatians, chapter 6 verses 9-10, "And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due time you will reap a harvest, if you choose not to give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone ...” So for me, this one scripture has helped me through some major transitions in life and it is my prayer that it will help to inspiring others.

Be sure to vote for Antoine as your favorite  Essence Do Right Man!

You can see the entire Essence Do Right Men Website by clicking on the link below:
http://www.essence.com/essence/dorightmen/index.html

Is South Phoenix Headin' South?

I love South Phoenix. I've worked and lived in South Phoenix for the last five years and I'm a native of Phoenix.

I remember the days when South Phoenix used to be considered as the black part of town (now it's mostly Hispanic - which is cool with me). I remember the days when South Phoenix used to be considered as the bad part of town. In many circles, South Phoenix is still considered as the bad part of town!

I remember the days when it was cool to cruise up and down Central Avenue and Keys Market was the primetime hangout spot! I grew up in the Moon Valley/Deer Valley area and I nearly lost my mind when I'd visit friends on the south side because black people seemed to be everywhere!

I had some great times as a kid in South Phoenix until the gang-bangin' era really got crazy in the mid-to-late 1980s. For a while after that, South Phoenix scared me to death!

But about six or seven years ago, South Phoenix became the focus of a renaissance! New, affordable homes started poppin' up everywhere and businesses slowly started investing in the community. It was cool to see all of the young black professionals who were buying homes on the south side and showing their optimism about the future. I heard whispers of plans to build a new mall, a movie theater, golf courses, restaurants and improve the schools here.

A few years ago, I can recall driving by 24th Street and Baseline Road religiously in anticipation of the Target/Fry's Shopping Center! And when Starbucks came to the south side, I was like, "What???? Have we arrived?"

But now, I'm starting to get worried about South Phoenix.

Is it me or does it seem that the rate of violent crimes are on the rise? I just read a story about a 22-year-old woman who was shot and killed in a truck not too far from my home. Almost every night on the news, I see a story or two about home invasions, shootings or armed robberies in South Phoenix.

Also, many of the walls surrounding the new neighborhoods are being defaced on a regular basis by taggers and vandals.

Lastly, it seems that the retail momentum in South Phoenix has slowed tremendously! Sure, we have new shopping centers on 51st Avenue and Baseline Road, 35th and Southern Avenues and the shopping center at 19th Avenue and Baseline Road is on the way, but is that it? I've seen a lot of fenced-off corners that seem to be earmarked for development but these lots seem to sit untouched for months!

I've talked to a few long-time residents of South Phoenix and I've been told that many of them are irritated with the growth that they've seen here! They say it's out of control and it has broken the sense of community they once had. Some complain that it's actually more difficult to drive in South Phoenix because more people live here. Overall, they're upset because they didn't have a chance to voice their opinions about all of the new development.

I've even been told that some of the crime, graffiti, vandalism and public opposition to new retail is caused by people who are sick of the "progress" in South Phoenix!

If that's true, I think that's absolutely crazy, but that kind of backlash is not a foreign concept in America! I would love to think that everyone has embraced the "renaissance" here, but obviously you can't please everyone!

I believe more of the old-school residents would be more willing to accept the growth if they had a chance to share their thoughts in townhalls with potential business owners and home builders. I had the opportunity to attend a few community meetings while I was a newspaper reporter and South Phoenix has been home to some of the most spirited discussions I've ever seen!

Overall, I have great hopes for South Phoenix and there are many positive and intriguing aspects to MY side of town, but my eyes are not as wide open as they were a few years ago.