16 Nov 23rd–Nov 29th, 2023 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | a bit more. In lieu of trail beers, my husband and I like to end a long day of hiking by stopping at a local brewery, and you can bet I’ll take every single opportu- nity I can to sit outside and feel the cooler breeze, hear the buzz of people celebrating the day and have a little taste of Arizona in my glass. Thank goodness there are so many options to do so. — SARA CROCKER The best ‘winter’ in the country Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the greatest time to be in the Valley. As sleet, snow and frost encapsulates helpless bumblers bundled-up in other cities, Phoenicians shake off our summer sweat and start trotting around like a bunch of gay turkeys. From November to April, the weather in Phoenix is truly unbeat- able and the activities are limitless. You want to sit on a rooftop bar and sip on a Hot Toddy in a light sweater and flip flops? The sunset welcomes you. Want to hike a mountain in shorts and a tank-top? No sweat. Thinking about cosplaying a New Yorker and fash- ioning some real winter garb? It gets plenty cold at night for a true desert rat. Or, drive two hours north and experience real snow and all the recreation that comes with it. This leads me to my cherished annual tradition for which I am incredibly thankful: Rollerskating into the New Year. While many New Year’s Eve customs involve parties, champagne toasts and elegant attire, I mark the occasion by donning my roller skates and cruising through the streets of downtown. Without fail, Mother Nature blesses the Valley with a chilly, starry night every New Year’s Eve. The quality of the terrain may be question- able, but the exceptional weather and bois- terous crowds bar hopping, cheering as I skate by, make for a unique New Year’s experience. As a community, we tempo- rarily set aside the scorching heat and embrace the endless possibilities the New Year brings. You might be thinking, “Well, you can enjoy the same wonderful weather next door in California.” But then, you’d be in California. — EMMA RANDALL A thriving Valley vegan scene I’m grateful that the vegan side of the Valley is thriving. From the Early Bird Vegan on Broadway Road to Nami on Seventh Street, there are tons of great spots for animal lovers to grab guilt-free bites. I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived in the Valley in 2017 and found out how many amazing vegan spots there were in Phoenix. Before I relocated from the Sunshine State, I thought Arizona was a rootin’-tootin’ land of cheese, beef and potatoes. Little did I know there were so many plant-based eateries that make it hard to choose the best place to take out- of-state vegan friends when they visit. One of my all-time favorite spots is The Coronado PHX, which boasts a meat-free menu that includes some of the best cauli- flower tacos I’ve ever had. (Their drinks aren’t half bad, either.) A quick trip to Mesa uncovers one of the best tea rooms I’ve ever been to. Drink Me! Tea Room is not only 100% vegan, but it’s also a gorgeous place that looks trans- planted from England. If you love “Alice in Wonderland,” it’s a must-see. The tables are designed with illustrations from the book’s original 1865 release. The tearoom also has savory treats that taste meaty without any trace of animal products. Throughout the year, the owners redec- orate the tearoom to match different themes. In October, they designed it to look like Halloween Town from Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” This year, they had vegan marshmallow treats designed to look like little ghosts. It was magical. — SERENA O’SULLIVAN The awe-inspiring land Especially in the scorching summer, it’s easy to forget Phoenix sits at the heart of a beautifully diverse land. From the pine forests of the Tonto and Apache in the east to the lush Sonoran desert in the south, Arizona is home to so many different and awe-inspiring ecological climates. Arizona is also one of the most biologi- cally diverse states, with about 800 species of animals calling it home — the most of any inland state — as well as 4,000 species of native plants. People have lived in and celebrated the state’s lands for thousands of years, long before anyone called it Arizona or our current way of life came to dominate. For those people, there was no price on the land. The Earth belonged to no one and to everyone. I’m thankful to live in the middle of such beauty, where a new adventure is just a few hours away. From Coconino to Cochise, I’m always looking forward to seeing more of this state. — TJ L’HEUREUX Giving Thanks from p 14
