AMERICANWAY

BRIEF: GO COURTESY BOULDERS RESORT; BILL TIMMERMAN; TAYLOR PETERSON/HEARD MUSEUM; COURTESY PIG & PICKLE A WEEKEND IN: Phoenix Living up to its name (which, thankfully, is not related to a squash), Phoenix is rising to the top of the list of America's must-visit cities. And not just because it's HOSTING THE SUPER BOWL in two months. A S THE STORY GOES, 19th-century set- tlers — inspired by wild gourds grow- ing along the Salt River — initially proposed that Phoenix be called Pumpkinville. Luckily, though, they came to their senses and instead named their newly founded city after a mythical bird triumphantly rising with youthful vigor from its own scorching ashes. Talk about the right decision — and not just for NBA reasons (the Pumpkinville Suns, anyone?). Could there be a better name for a soaring, forever-young metropolis plunked in the heart of a sun-drenched, saguaro-studded, desert valley? The city has faced its share of hurdles for more than a century, including nearly being named after a squash. But it's on the rise and making quite the comeback. On Feb. 1, the country's sixth-largest town will host Super Bowl XLIX, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. According to Southwestern urban legend, there may be no hotter or cooler place to be this holiday season. EAT: Ask 10 top Phoenix chefs what their last meal in town would be and most will likely point to the omakase menu at Nobuo at Teeter House. The downtown Japanese teahouse by day/tavern by night, presided over by James Beard Award- winner Nobuo Fukuda, is famous for elevating izakaya (casual after-work nibbles) and sashimi into inventive five-star creations. If patio dining wasn't born in Phoenix, it proudly resides there now — notably at canalside road- house Chelsea's Kitchen, where guests can sip white sangria and enjoy New Mexican- American comfort eats on a leafy terrace with a roaring fireplace. When it's after midnight and you're craving late-night duck-fat fries or a bacon-pork cheeseburger called "Apocalypse Sow," head to the Pig & Pickle. In the morning, fuel up at Matt's Big Breakfast with a Chop & Chick (two eggs and a skillet-seared Iowa pork rib chop) or homemade Belgian waffles with sweet-cream butter. SEE & DO: Few cities can boast as varied an as- sortment of impressive collections as Phoenix, which houses the Phoenix Art Museum (largest in the Southwest), a world-class treasury of Native American artifacts at the Heard Museum and one of the most complete exhibits of firefighting paraphernalia at the Hall of Flame. The hallowed Desert Botanical Gardens is a 140-acre oasis that's home to more than 50,000 plant displays and one of the state's top holiday-season evening attractions, Las Noches de las Luminarias. Up your perspective (and heart rate) on Camelback Mountain, Phoenix's beloved landmark and urban escape hulking above town with summit trails leading to stunning valley views. GO & KNOW: For an Old West fix in the northern foothills, Cave Creek is a time warp of saloons, Western shops and authentic cowboy life. Stop in at Buffalo Chip Saloon & Steakhouse for weekly live music and dancing, with bull riding on Wednesdays and Fridays. Fun holiday fact: There are several places in the U.S. called Christmas, including the ghost town of Christmas, Arizona — a former Gila County mining community (about 100 miles east of Phoenix) named on Christmas Day in 1902 by a pair of prospectors. The long- gone community's post office was popular with visitors for Christmas postmarks until 1935, when it was shuttered. SLEEP: Anchoring downtown's new CityScape commercial hub, Hotel Palomar is Phoenix's latest hit boutique hotel , with spacious, modern rooms and the requisite chic rooftop pool overlooking the city. North of town, The Boulders Resort is a secluded, aptly named luxury property nestled among ancient desert rock formations in the Scottsdale foothills. AMERICAN AIRLINES is proud to have Phoenix as one of its hubs, off ering 287 peak daily fl ights to 86 cities in North and Central America. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to aa.com. Find contact information for all of the places mentioned in this story on aa.com/americanway; search keyword Phoenix. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The Boulders Resort; the plaza of the Phoenix Art Museum; Hopi Katsina- doll carver Delbridge Honanie at the Heard Museum; the Apocalypse Sow burger at Pig & Pickle By Jor da n R a n e * PHX * 4 2 D EC E M B E R 2 01 4 A A .CO M/A M E R I C A NWAY

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