North Mountain - Phoenix, AZ

Once the jewel of a rapidly expanding Phoenix metropolitan area, North Mountain is in the process of redevelopment. The development of new home communities on the outer reaches of the Valley drew businesses away from the inner city, leaving areas like North Mountain in a state of disrepair. The Phoenix City Council declared the North Mountain community a redevelopment area and promises to spend city dollars to promote the area.

Although the area hosts the North Mountain Visitor's Center, no museums reside in the area. The adjacent neighborhood of Sunnyslope does host an art walk on the second Saturday of the month. Local artists display their works in a casual, fun-for-the-whole-family environment.

A short drive to downtown you'll discover the Heard Museum and Phoenix Art Museum, but no annual events or festivals exist within the North Mountain neighborhood.

After a featured appearance on the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives," Chino Bandido makes people wonder why they never considered marrying the flavors of Asian and Mexican food. The ordering process takes a couple of trips to get used to, but the friendly staff helps diners along. Emerald chicken with a light green onion ginger sauce makes a good choice with either plain or jerk-style rice. This establishment provides sample bites for diners on the fence about a selection.

As one might expect from the name, the Spoke & Wheel Tavern caters to the bicycling crowd that travels along the bridal path on North Central Avenue. For a quick lunch before getting back on the trail, the Hatch green chili burger provides a zesty interlude that packs a punch. Along with the famous New Mexican green chilis, the burger features honey, pico de gallo and Mexican feta cheese. Choose your favorite side from items like macaroni and cheese, tavern fries, sauteed garlic kale and grilled asparagus. On Friday and Saturday nights, a large cut of prime rib serves as the house special.

For a quick bite of some Mexican street food, locals head to Most Wanted Taco Shop on 7th Street. This little restaurant features specials (Taco Tuesday), catering, takeout, and food-to-go.

Once the sun goes down, plenty of places to get a drink and listen to some music await you, and The Lounge ranks highly as a local favorite. Located on 7th Street just north of Mountain View Road, this trendy cocktail bar features a relaxed atmosphere where knowledgeable bartenders mix adult drinks and provide pleasant conversation. Perfect for parents who just need a couple of hours away from home, The Lounge closes at 10 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on weekends.

For a great dive bar with cheap drinks, dancing to a juke box, gold fish races and karaoke on Wednesday and Saturday nights, head south on 7th Street to the Rum Runners. The very definition of a neighborhood bar, the staff greets regulars by name and drinks don't require a second mortgage.

Because of its proximity to I-17 and a number of wide surface streets, the majority of North Mountain residents use private vehicles for transportation. Valley Metro serves the North Mountain area, providing bus and Dial-a-Ride services seven days a week from early morning to late evening. Bus riders can also link up with the city's light rail service, which runs from 19th Avenue and Bethany Home Road through downtown Phoenix, and then from Tempe into Mesa.

Hailing a cab from the street in the North Mountain area proves impossible, but a number of taxi companies who normally respond quickly to telephone requests serve resident's needs. Both Uber and Lyft provide ride-share service to the area.

North Mountain isn't particularly bike friendly or easy to walk around. Some bike lanes do make their homes on the major streets, but generally heavy traffic discourages biking as a mode of transportation. Great distances between businesses make anything other than walking for exercise time-consuming and inefficient.

Part of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, North Mountain and Lookout Mountain parks maintain popularity with hikers, bikers and lovers of the outdoors. These areas welcome leashed dogs, so bring your entire family when you visit.

The North Mountain Visitor's Center provides tours and workshops explaining the local flora and fauna as well as geology and the Arizona sun cycle. The center also sells gifts and snacks.

Dog lovers head over to the Rose Mofford Sports Complex Dog Park on 25th Avenue. Long dog runs and separate areas for big and small dogs make for a fun day. Available water benches and trees for shade make this park a hit with both dogs and their owners. The complex also features soccer fields and basketball courts.

The cost of living in the North Mountain area runs slightly less than the rest of Phoenix. A trip to downtown Phoenix costs $2 on the bus although discount passes make public transportation more affordable for frequent travelers. The average cost for a one-bedroom apartment sits at slightly more than $600 per month. Local neighborhood bars drive the price of a beer down to $3 for domestics and a couple of dollars more for craft or imported beers. The cost of gasoline dips about 14 percent less than the national average.

When it was built in 1973, Metrocenter Mall stood as one of the largest indoor shopping malls in the nation. With more than 1.4 million square feet of shop space, locals saw a trip to this mall as a major event. While its glory days are behind it, the mall still provides a convenient place to go for people in the North Mountain neighborhood. Large chains such as Dillard's and Sears still anchor there, with small specialty shops filling in the rest.

The area also holds a number of unique specialty shops. For a great boutique selling vintage charm, a short drive to Camelback and Central lets you patronize Frances. Hard to see from the street, this shop draws a legion of loyal shoppers due to its wide selection of handmade gifts, unique jewelry, vintage clothing and paper goods. An annual "Frances Crafeteria" here gives local artists and crafters a chance to sell items and put their names on the map.

For the person who wants a little more glitter and style in her life, Boom Boom LaRue's has everything from feathered boas and sequined accessories to makeup and long eyelashes. Visit this store to get some over-the-top ideas for a Halloween outfit, or select unique pieces that add a touch of drama to your everyday attire.

Safeway, Sprouts Farmers Market, and Fry's Food comprise the major grocery stores in the North Mountain region. A number of smaller convenience stores supplement residents' needs for everyday items like milk, bread, beer, and soda.