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Tempe, Arizona
Reviewer: | See all reviews by
Section: Hippie Havens | Category: Place | Area: Arizona | Topic: Hippiedom
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A visitor wrote us that "every Sunday there is a gathering of kind brothers and sisters in Tempe at the Sail Inn. We have been getting together for about two years for an afternoon of kind vibes with the incredible Grateful Dead cover band Noodles. They play from 4:20 till? If you're ever in town, we would love to have you join us. Hope to see ya sometime."
UPDATE: Noodles now plays at Nita's Hideaway, also in Tempe on Sundays starting at 7:00pm.
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Visitor Comments about Tempe, Arizona
Posted by Izze on 2008-03-06 02:06:30
My Score:
Comment: Hey do you any of you know what the movie theater is call down on Mill Ave not the Harkins the Old one.?
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Posted by Ashlie on 2008-02-14 21:25:00
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Comment: Yeah man. I agree.
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Posted by Dude on 2008-02-14 02:21:48
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Comment: The Noodles still play every Sunday at The Loft on 5th and Mill. But if you are looking for music, then definitely check out the GoatHead Saloon on Country Club just off the 60 in Mesa. Its the place to be most Thurs, Fri, and Sat nights.
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Posted by Andrew on 2008-02-10 21:32:53
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Comment: For anyone interested, poetry slams are held every friday night at Mill''s End coffee shop from 8:30 to 11:30. Coming can be pretty hit or miss, as the talent does vary from week to week, but there are always at least a couple good expressionists. Come out to support if interested.
Tempe is still a place that provides ptoential for excellent venues- if you have talent, talk to a local owner, they''ll be happy to work with you for the extra business you''ll draw in for them.
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Posted by Calvin on 2008-01-30 17:10:53
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Comment: Wow... came up on this page by accident...
I remember the glory days of Mill Ave, back when the Coffee Plantation was alive and kickin, had live music, etc etc... then there was Java Road (next to Long Wongs)... both gone now.
It used to be a very nice mecca for many types of people, but now it''s going to crap. I spent the last 17 years or so hanging out down there, but now it''s not worth my time. :(
Ahh... as they say... back in the day...
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Posted by Jooniper on 2007-12-06 20:06:10
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Comment: I''m with Joe. I''m a native Tempean. I have grown up and lived in Tempe for almost 30 years. I remember the days of sneaking into Chuy''s and my first beer at Long Wong''s well before being legal. However, I''ve watched Tempe institutions such as the Gentle Strength Co-Op close to be turned into a massive structure of greed and gluttony. I''ve watched the streets be re-designed to facilitate upscale consumerism. I''ve watched "The Man" hassle people for being musicians for years. I''ve also voted AGAINST Tempe Town Mistake (the lake) which does nothing for residents along with many other "improvements" which have done nothing to benefit residents. I''ve watched the ASU monstrosity expand to take over apartment buildings, business structures and all done with Tempeans not bothering to stop the over-running wheels of progress. Too often, people complain about the raging consumerism, but in reality, those complaining are in the forefront of those changes. The irony of people ranting, venting, etc. about how things have gotten worse and long for the days ago via the Internet and a board posting without actions to halt or even slow the progress are just as guilty of creating the mass-marketing consumerist nightmare that downtown Tempe has become. Whether you think Hippie Gypsy is "authentic" enough or not is irrelevant. What matters is whether you take the ideals behind the stores like them and turn them back out to those around. You get what you give out. Years ago, we were granted permission by HQ to overnight camp for Dead tickets. The police tried to ticket about 30 people for trespassing and loitering. Steve, the owner, had left a number for us to contact should such an event occur, along with documentation that we were permitted to be in front of the store. In fact, they brought hot chocolate and oatmeal for us the next morning. We''re all still out there, in a kind smile, a hug when needed.
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Posted by Bryan on 2007-11-30 22:31:29
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Comment: Wont give prices over the phone, you have to walk your happy ass there...gay as balls
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Posted by on 2007-11-24 02:38:44
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Comment: I''m trying to get in touch with friends in Tempe/Mill ave. I have been stuck out here in Texas for three years and am terribly homesick. I used to be a permanent fixture at the Drum circles, the sail inn, and the planter box in front of coffee plant.People used to call me" hippy Steve"
this was from 1998 to 2003.If you remember me feel free to e mail me, It would be good to talk about "back in the day" .
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Posted by LUCAS on 2007-11-03 19:52:35
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Comment: ALL THOSE REALWORLD BUMS CRACKED ME UP IN 1995 THE YEAR MILL DIED FROM THE WIRELESS CONVERSATION ,WHY GO TO MILL TO FIND YOUR FRIENDS AND SEE WHERE THE PARTIES ARE AT JUST GET A CELL PHONE !
ALL THAT WASTS ENERGY AND TIME
IN NEED MY ENERGY AND TIME......
LITTLE SCARRY
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Posted by Tanna on 2007-10-23 07:53:48
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Comment: I would not look to Tempe as a "hippie haven," but if you''re stuck in the Phx metro area, it''s your best bet. Three Roots Coffee House is cool, and the new Goat''s Head Saloon is supposed to be a cool new jam band bar (now that the Sail Inn, Long Wong''s, Nita''s, and everything else has disappeared). The Co-Op is long gone, but you have several chain health-food stores to choose from (my fave is Trader Joe''s). Otherwise, this city is fairly dry, culturally and hipp-ily speaking. As far as the drum circle goes, I first went in 2001 when I was 20 years old, and I just remember a bunch of street rats, drug dealers and meth kids, no real hippies. And as a young, naive 20-yr old Midwestern girl, I learned quickly how skeezy and creepy many of the drum circle guys were (and there are a lot of them). If you are a young woman, I recommend going with friends or staying away entirely.
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Posted by piper on 2007-09-28 02:13:04
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Comment: Anybody the remember them name of that hot girl who worked at Java Road. what ever happened to her? I think her name was Kasey?
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Posted by You think you explore? on 2007-06-28 11:50:47
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Comment: Everyone lists Mill Avenue but has forgotten going south of University. There''s Three Roots Coffeehouse, then a whole bunch of folks live on Farmer. Sure as shit, the college brings in a lot of brats - but it also brings a huge potential for diversity.
Remember, this place is so young and the history of how it was built - it hasn''t had time to grow, expand, then decay. Most other cities have had years put upon them. If you want to go to San Fran and eat shitty drugs, hang out on Haight, pay high rent in gentrified neighborhoods, and not have a hand in building anything - don''t come to Tempe.
Take a look at Haight, it''s dead culturally for what it was. You can buy more shoes on that street than you can buy food or books.
If you want to build something new, get to Three Roots - find friend''s on Farmer Ave, live cheap. Throw some energy and build a scene.
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Posted by my home on 2007-06-26 16:12:31
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Comment: sorry you guys dont like it here. you obviously arent hanging out with the right people. my friends and i are like family. thats the way its supposed to be. i dont know if they still have it down there but somewhere on mill ave. they have this thing called a drum circle. i havent seen it in a while but that was pretty sick....now everyone just chill and smoke a blunt.
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Posted by joe on 2007-04-23 16:54:44
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Comment: I have lived in tempe since 1980, and it''s not like it used to be, that''s for sure. As you know, NOWHERE is like it was nearly 30 years ago.
times change, businesses move on, others replace them.
I miss Chuy''s on Mill, 6 East, Long Wong''s, Rundles on the corner.
I never went to school at ASU, I choose to live in Tempe because it was, and still is, the most liberal, hippest town in the entire valley.
choices are many for places to live, but for us, Tempe is the best place to live in this area. I don''t hardly ever travel to downtown tempe - there''s not that much there for me. I live south of downtown, and everything I need is close, the weather is great, 20 minutes to the airport, and more great restaurants that I can ever go to.
suggestion - if you don''t like it here - move on to somewhere else and stop complaining.
if you do like it here - volunteer your time a little and make this place an even better place to live, that''s what we do.
join an organization, and give something back to the communitity around you, help out those a bit less fortunate than yourself.
enjoy life.
jam on
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Posted by Peter T Fox on 2007-04-20 17:05:34
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Comment: I like what Tempe is doing and hope to see them pass a panhandling and loitering law soon because I hate being harrassed walking down mill for money. I''m a poor college student dont ask me for change get off your ass and get a job you lazy bums.
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Posted by From a real city on 2007-02-11 08:02:13
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Comment: Tempe is the most uncool place I''ve ever had the misfortune to land in. Anyone who thinks this place is hip hasn''t been anywhere. It''s consumerist, conservative, boring and generic -- a cultural desert populated with an overabundance of rich naive brats armed with their daddys'' credit cards. Sure there are a few surly hippies lurking about. But hippies aren''t my idea of culture. Tempe is like the 50''s all over again, with worse music. It''s a total Chachi and Joannie town.
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Posted by Peter from England on 2006-12-29 05:56:55
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Comment: Hi all.
I hang out on mill and the coffee plantation about 1995 I think it was.
Does anyone remember bones, piero, doug, andy, to name a few.
Sorry I dont have last names. :(
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Posted by fairygoddess on 2006-01-08 04:21:57
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Comment: I miss the Tempe of 15 years ago, when they would close Mill Avenue every Friday night and bands and street performers were everywhere and you could always meet someone new. You could get a stick of incense at the corner and cruise through the Changing Hands bookstore and the cops didn''t hassle people. Tons of mom and pop stores and plenty of new bands played at Long Wongs. Now, all but rare few of the shops are gone, they''ve been replaced by P.F. Changs and Abercrombie and Fitch and some botique that sells overpriced sweatsuits. If you look even remotely hippie the cops accuse you of being a squatter. Tempe has lost its soul to the almighty dollar and it''s a shame. Even the co-op is moving to different digs.
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Posted by free on 2005-11-16 04:49:36
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Comment: The city council is trying to turn Tempe into Scottsdale yuppieville and they''re winning. They''ve just started construction on a 30-story high rise of expensive condominiums. If Tempe is to be saved from this, the time to act is now.
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Posted by Heather on 2005-10-10 23:25:27
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Comment: Who Here knows DEADLY???
I need to know how to find him & get ahold of him!!!!!!!!!!!
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Posted by LD on 2005-09-29 04:18:19
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Comment: Sail Inn still rules but yeah mill ave turned from a collection of freaks to a totally main-stream scottsdale yuppie bullshit area
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Posted by Alecia on 2005-08-29 22:56:42
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Comment: I have lived in Tempe for a few years now to attend ASU and it''s exactly as most have described it.
Horribly generic, but "so much fun" to the people that have never been to a cultured city.
ASU isn''t bad though.
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Posted by oshinn on 2005-05-03 04:21:51
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Comment: tempe is probably the highest on the list of phoenix metro areas to hang out it, but that''s just because the rest are so utterly dull. when i first went down mill avenue on a weekend, i thought, wow, now here''s a place with culture! yeah, that lasted about ten minutes, until i passed chile''s, then abercrombie & fitch, then borders and starbucks and urban outfitters. tempe is the type of place to attract fauxhemians like my sister, who wears peasant tops because it''s the latest style. hippie gypsy is a disgusting chain of stores that market ''hipness'' the way starbucks markets ''a coffee house atmosphere''. the only cool place in tempe that i know of is the food co-op, which is just past ash on university, on the right-hand side. other than that, it''s just another preppy college area.
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Posted by Curious on 2005-03-28 19:05:48
My Score:
Comment: What''s the racial atmosphere like in Tempe?
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Posted by @nti_/\/\atter on 2005-02-09 07:50:38
My Score:
Comment: whats up every 1
this is {anti matter} and im just here to say that on mill ave and 6th
every sat.night im at the drum circle and i would like to see more of the
kind hearted fellowship that i enjoy seeing in my life {ESPECILLY GIRLS}
---ohhh gotta go---its 4:20--------
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Posted by Ill to AZ on 2005-01-27 06:07:20
My Score:
Comment: Whoever is talkin shiz about Tempe is pretty wrong. Yes there is new chain resteraunts and stuff but that is what makes the city grow. there is over 100,000 that move to the valley every year and thats cuz of how nice it is. The school is great if that is what you are gonna do and there is plenty of stuff to do and TONS of places to eat, compared to where im from this is heaven, in my old town there is 10 fast food joints that are in every town and they suck, here... you can eat somewhere new every meal for a whole year i bet. I see MAYBE 1 cop a day driving through town so there isnt too much to worry about with them. the worst part of it is the car crashes and murders every day.... its legal to carry a gun on you if u are 21 so its pretty lax. and theres plenty to do here so dont listen to the haters. this place is awesome
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Posted by conor k on 2004-08-28 07:08:19
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Comment: Hey all im from tempe and venture down to Mill Ave quite often. And yes it does suck and yes it is just a bunch of rich kids in there abercrombie drinking starbucks and talking about how much cooler they are. BUT if you can find it in you to look past these people tempe aint all that bad and neither is Mill Ave for that matter. The thing is you just need to know where to go. Like for instance hippie gypsy is ok if your looking for some clothes but if you want to go to more a "head shop" then go to TRAILS its like one block north of hippie gypsy and about a half block west. Also there is a drum circle that goes on like every saturday night kind of behind the old movie theater. And o yeah the old movie theater rocks, they play old movies and more of the independent films every friday and saturday night. So yes tempe is predominately one large corporation but if you look past that its alright, so give a chance and find out for yourself. And sorry if my spelling sucks. haha, keep on rockn'' it y''all and maybe ill see you on mill sometime
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Posted by Gentle Jay on 2004-05-25 06:51:02
My Score:
Comment: One word to describe Tempe . . . GENERIC!!
im sorry to say that tempe is nothing but a link of "chains" from Chillies, to Borders, to Harkins movie theater, to worst of all uggghhhh, starbucks. all the cool mom and pop shops have been pushed out by urban redevelopement. Kids cant afford to eat or drink any where, the arizonians are snoots, the bike cops and mounties are quite harsh to kids as well. and guess what, Mill Ave doesnt even have a dinner!! i live about two blocks off of 5th st and Mill, so im right in the downtown, and even though iv only lived here for a year, i can tell you this place is getting to be no better than scottsdale, rep wise. Oh Yea, i almost forgot! the Coffee Plantation, if you walk past it, it looks like a cool spot, BUT, The Coffee Plantation has BANNED long time paying customers, for the simple reason of personal hygene!!! basicly saying NO HIPPIES ALLOWED! The whole area is so focused on keeping up apperances to attract dollars from the out of state college students at ASU (adjacent to downtown btw) the boys in blue will hassel out of town anyone they look at as undesirable to the town vibe(starbucks and sushi bars). soooooo, KIDS BEWARE!! TEMPE IS NOT HIPPIE FRIENDLY!! *dont be fooled by the weak ass, so called head shop, Hippie gypsy. its just like tempe, fully homogenized, and sterile. a bring your parents along sort of place.
so if your a young suburban family, or college student from a wealthy family, than tempe is built just for you!! if however you would be called a hippie by a total stranger,,, just head south for bisbee.
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Posted by floyd on 2004-05-17 23:25:21
My Score:
Comment: First hung out on Mill in Tempe in 93 and it blew my mind. I had just come down from the nonstop rain and clouds of Seattle and I was so refreshed to hit Mill at night in shorts and a tee and to feel the warm wind of the desert. There were travelers everywhere - even hanging out inside Coffee Plantation twisting hemp. I had to head back North in June due to the heat but I vowed to return soon. I didnt'' make it back there until the Fall of 96 and I was even more glad to find the streets full of kind folk lingering on the street and in Tempe beach park. This seemed to be the perfect Winter resting place for North American travelers. I sold my jewlery easily on the streets and quickly joined a community of beautiful people who were living as I was. Those were the days when the kids still hugged each other and really meant it. I lived out of my van without being harrased and opened my little rolling home to any of the kids who needed a floor to sleep on. I also met a sweet 17 year old local hippie mama there at Java Road coffee shop one night and we have been living happily together since. The persecution began sometime in 1998 and since then it has been an ugly scene. The previous reviewer described it perfectly. Tempe could still be a good scene (October - April) if the kids all got together and rented houses in the same neighborhood and learned their rights as Americans to gather and assemble in public places. The authorities think that we are just stupid dippie dopie hippies who are easy to push around. If we can link together and really start to love one another again and stand up for our legal rights against the ever growing police state (especially in Tempe) I know that we can take back our stomping grounds in the cities and jump start the hip revolution. "Find yourself a city to live in"
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Posted by Jennifer on 2004-05-08 19:50:17
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Comment: No offense to those who think otherwise, but Tempe sucks. It lacks every essential component a good college town has (a good greasy spoon, a thriving locally owned business strip, and an air of tolerance, wonder and questioning about the world or even what''s down their own street). They wouldn''t recognize a picketing sign if you fanned them with it. Instead, Tempe is as homogeneized as a new suburb, with its last few locally owned businesses gasping under higher rents and a city council well-versed at spreading the word of brotherly convention. The downtown sparkles with the newness of one long coporate strip (and a few sports bars that attract the oh-so-liberal ASU jock).
To call Tempe a wanna-be college town is a compliment for this simple reason: whatever thin thread of liberalism that exists here was long ago squashed and replaced with condo-dwelling, golf-loving, saggy brown skinned rich folk who seem to own the very air we breathe. They lack environmental foresight...they lack a conscience...they lack a mind of their own. That simple. But it''s not Tempe''s fault; the whole valley sucks in the same way. I would only recommend it to a capitalistic drone.
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Posted by incidents_happen on 2002-04-23 16:16:27
My Score:
Comment: Tempe is alright...its your typical college town, with a lot of hip kids. On MIll Avenue is where all the cool stuff happens: go down there on Friday night, and check out Hippie Gypsy, a pretty kickin store and head shop. Theres always live music on the street and lots of cool people bartering and trading,
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