What makes Greater Phoenix so great: Flare Elliot
Published: 10/16/2018
Updated: 10/09/2019
What is your first and last name?
Flare Elliot
How old are you?
70 years old! (How did that happen?? lol!)
What current city do you reside in?
Phoenix
How long have you lived in Greater Phoenix?
3 years
Did you grow up in Arizona?
No
Where are you originally from and why’d you decide to move to Arizona?
I was accidentally born in Pennsylvania; migrated to Phoenix by way of a lengthy and semi-glorious adventure in Florida. I abandoned the seductive magic of the ocean for the Oz-like magic of Phoenix because I had worked on various aborted and demoralizing downtown revitalization projects and needed (before I die) to live in a City that actually pulled off this frequently-defeated endeavor…and by it’s own book – wove the best of its past into the fabric of a dazzling new Downtown and rolled out this magic carpet of a twenty-first century city!
What college/university did you graduate from and what’s your degree?
Ohio State University (B.F.A. cum laude)
Where do you currently work and what is your title?
I am a Venue Host at the Phoenix Convention Centers and Venues and a freelance writer/photographer
What do you like to do in Greater Phoenix on the weekends?
Sunday – very early am take pics of historic buildings within the Old City core. Brunch…afternoons at the Heard or Phx Art Museum. (Often work Saturdays…)
What’s your go-to staycation spot and why?
Prescott in the late summer – obviously to chill for a week, but can also indulge my history-museum obsession…AND get my annual ‘hill and actual-foliage-tree’ fix! (The place is remarkably very ‘Pennsylvania’…).
What’s your favorite restaurant and why?
Lunch: The Heard Cafe & Fair Trade Cafe (local vibe)- fresh interpretations of old favorites, always warm & knowledgeable service.
Dinner: The Nook at the Hilton Garden Inn… sophisticated but friendly, innovative menu, love the historic vibe, soft music so you can actually enjoy a conversation …AND the magic of a nightcap on the deck of Floor 13 as the dazzling jewel box of nighttime Phoenix opens before you.
How do you stay “cool” in the Arizona summers?
Summer is great time to catch up on your ‘Museum List’ – Central AZ has 40 museums!
What do you like about our winters and why?
Endless sunshine and cooler temps open endless possibilities for wandering in every direction. I am from Pennsylvania, and live in Phoenix, so I take special pleasure in NOT shoveling snow and navigating icy roadways!
What do you love most about living in Greater Phoenix?
The electrifying sense of place in Downtown…you really don’t even have to do anything but walk around to feel the multi-cultural, ‘City-On-the-Rise’ energy pulsing from people enjoying the magical life in our kaleidoscopic city! (Yes..I know I hack the word ‘magic’ to death!!)
Please include anything else you’d like to share about what makes Greater Phoenix so great.
The ability of so many diverse people working together and also sustained fearless, flexible leadership…The courage to first try something; and if that doesn’t work, try something else.
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