What makes Greater Phoenix so great: Julie Ries
Published: 11/11/2021
Updated: 02/09/2023
How long have you lived in Greater Phoenix?
A little over two years
What city do you currently reside in?
Tempe
Where are you originally from and why’d you decide to move to Arizona?
I’m originally from Louisville, Kentucky, but I used to visit some family that lives here in Arizona and I fell in love with the state. My sister went to Arizona State University (ASU) and when I visited her on campus for the first time, I knew it was also where I wanted to go for college.
If you graduated from college, where did you attend and what was your degree?
In the spring of 2023, I will graduate from ASU with a B.S. in Economics and a B.S. in Business Data Analytics.
Where do you currently work and what is your title?
I currently work at GPEC as a Research & Analytics Intern.
What do you like to do in Greater Phoenix on the weekends?
I love to find new coffee shops and restaurants (if anyone has any recommendations don’t hesitate to reach out!). If I’m not doing that, I love to do yoga and get outside, whether it’s hiking, swimming, or just even walking around. I also love certain events around the Greater Phoenix area like First Friday, the art walk in downtown Phoenix.
What’s your favorite restaurant and why?
My current favorite spot is the Pemberton, and specifically Saint Pasta. I love the location, the art and just the general atmosphere of the entire place. Saint Pasta is some of the best pasta I’ve had in a while! Al dente forever.
What’s your go-to staycation spot and why?
Honestly, I don’t have a specific answer for this. All of Arizona is my staycation spot! Coming from Kentucky, being out here, seeing the mountains daily, and having the sun almost always shining is a staycation in itself. If I did have to narrow it down though, I’d say the pool at my apartment complex.
How do you stay “cool” in the Arizona summers?
I’ve just learned to embrace the heat at this point! As long as I’m staying hydrated and making sure to not overheat, I’m good to go.
What do you like about our winters and why?
My favorite thing about winters here is when I get to go to the pool during some of those months before it gets too cold, and I know back home it’s freezing. I’ll send a picture of the pool to my friends or family, and when they send back a picture of it snowing or a screenshot of their weather app saying it’s below negative degrees outside, I know I made the right choice moving out here.
What do you love most about living in Greater Phoenix?
I love everything Greater Phoenix has to offer. Growing up in Louisville, the city wasn’t that big, so I was limited in how much I could explore and what I could do. Here, the amount of restaurants, museums, hiking trails, parks and shopping is endless. I’ll never get bored or run out of things to do, and I love that!
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