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A lot of us are struggling to stay connected with our neighbors, but the solve may be as simple as a sidewalk happy hour.

Why it matters: Casual neighborhood ties are quietly disappearing, and research shows the health consequences of social isolation run deep, with a strong link to mortality and dementia risk.

Zoom in: We asked you how you're building community here in Arizona, a state notorious for its transplants. 

🎉 Throw a party: Several of you shared how driveway get-togethers have spurred long-term friendships.

Former Paradise Valley Town Council Member Dan Schweiker said he hosted two open houses when he moved to a new neighborhood in central Scottsdale in 2014. 

The shindigs were "such a success" that neighbors have continued to host meet-ups, and even transitioned to socially distanced "street parties" during COVID, he told us.

Down in Tucson, Gary Karr told us about "Friday street drinking."

"Birthdays are often celebrated, and, on a couple of occasions, neighbor deaths have been mourned. Sometimes dogs are there, like Benny or Bella, who are at least as popular as their humans."

📱 Start a phone tree: Knowing how to reach your neighbors, in case of emergency or just for a friendly check-in, is a great way to start building friendships.

Randy McGrane said his neighbors quickly helped locate his lost dog when he was on an international trip.

"One text and five minutes later the dog was safe at a neighbors … where she went since she knows the neighborhood as well."

💪 Expand your "neighborhood": "Neighbor" doesn't have to mean someone who lives on your street.

Fred Rickson said he rarely sees his next-door neighbors, but interacts with about a half-dozen people at the fitness center in his retirement community each day.

"Are these 'neighbor interactions?' I think so."

1 good thing to go: McGrane also told us about how his close neighborhood ties have helped him from descending into political fracture.

"There is tremendous value in having a human behind a label.  That's not some MAGA, that's Carol. That's not some radical leftist, that's Randy. The loss of community engagement and neighborly neighborhoods is a catalyst to polarization."

Neighbors share how they build community in Phoenix

From driveway parties to phone trees, here's how residents create connections.

Illustration of two houses in a neighborhood connected by a dotted heart. 

A lot of us are struggling to stay connected with our neighbors, but the solve may be as simple as a sidewalk happy hour.Why it matters: Casual neighborhood ties are quietly disappearing, and research shows the health consequences of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="social isolation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-soc-031021-012001?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=sendto_localnewslettertest&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="006e63a2-13f7-4f1b-a6b2-368ccbd66b5c" data-vars-headline="Neighbors share how they build community in Phoenix" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.annualreviews.org/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-soc-031021-012001?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=sendto_localnewslettertest&amp;stream=top" target="_blank">social isolation</a> run deep, with a strong link to mortality and dementia risk.

News

It's that time again! See how well you absorbed this week's news with our quiz.

🥳 Congratulations to last week's perfect scorers: Chanele R., Jordan E. Sharon S., Liza S., Brian P., Tony T., Craig F., Steve M., Joe G., Margaret W. and Joel M.

Email us at phoenix@axios.com with a screenshot of your perfect score for a shoutout next week!

Take the Axios Phoenix news quiz!

See how well you absorbed this week's news.

Illustration of a game-show-style board that spells "N_WS QUIZ."

It&#x27;s that time again! See how well you absorbed this week&#x27;s news with our quiz.🥳 Congratulations to last week&#x27;s perfect scorers: Chanele R., Jordan E. Sharon S., Liza S., Brian P., Tony T., Craig F., Steve M., Joe G., Margaret W. and Joel M.Email us at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="phoenix@axios.com" data-vars-click-url="mailto:phoenix@axios.com" data-vars-content-id="8584c84b-1b73-45e9-b82a-d64d040b1a37" data-vars-headline="Take the Axios Phoenix news quiz!" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="mailto:phoenix@axios.com" target="_blank">phoenix@axios.com</a> with a screenshot of your perfect score for a shoutout next week!

Data: National Weather Service; Chart: Jessica Boehm/Axios

Monsoon season is officially underway and meteorologists are hopeful that the Valley's in store for a rainier summer than usual.

Why it matters: About half of our annual rainfall typically arrives during monsoon season, which began Monday and runs through Sept. 30.

While one good monsoon season won't fix the decades-long "megadrought" we're in, it can replenish groundwater and keep our plants and wildlife healthy.

State of play: The season began with a (short-lived) bang — at least for those who live on the Valley's edges. 

Isolated showers popped up in parts of the Valley Monday morning, delivering a lot of thunder and a little bit of rain, National Weather Service Phoenix meteorologist Alicia Ryan tells us.

Parts of south Phoenix, Ahwatukee, Buckeye, New River, Queen Creek and San Tan Valley saw between 0.04 and 0.35 inches, per Maricopa County Flood Control District rain gauges. 

What we're watching: NWS' Climate Prediction Center says there's a 33–40% chance of above-normal rainfall this summer.

Monsoon season is expected to get a boost from El Niño conditions, which occur when surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean are warmer than normal. 

Some meteorologists are predicting a "super El Niño," with even more extreme weather.

Reality check: Ryan cautioned that the predictions are just that, and that it's much too early to take them to the bank.

The center also predicted a wetter-than-normal summer last year, but the season actually saw average rainfall, she said.

Maricopa County Flood Control District rain gages

Monsoon season starts with rainier outlook

The season began with a (short-lived) bang — at least for those who live on the Valley's edges.

A column chart that shows Phoenix monsoon rainfall totals from June 15 to Sept. 30 each year from 2015 to 2025. Rainfall ranged from 0.15 inches in 2023 to 4.2 inches in 2021. Totals were mostly below 3 inches.

Monsoon season is officially underway and meteorologists are hopeful that the Valley&#x27;s in store for a rainier summer than usual.Why it matters: About <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="half of our annual rainfall" data-vars-click-url="https://www.weather.gov/psr/2023MonsoonSeasonReview" data-vars-content-id="9516a320-cc35-4380-91eb-cbd0b1f58fee" data-vars-headline="Monsoon season starts with rainier outlook" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.weather.gov/psr/2023MonsoonSeasonReview" target="_blank">half of our annual rainfall</a> typically arrives during monsoon season, which began Monday and runs through Sept. 30.

Climate

Arcadia's long-awaited Poolboy Taco is worth a visit for the ambiance alone, but the Southwest-inspired fare packs a punch, too.

Zoom in: Poolboy is more cabana than restaurant, with Palm Springs resort vibes that begin with the bright yellow exterior and striped patio umbrellas.

Inside, you'll find loud splashes of baby blue, orange and red and enough natural light to make you think you may actually be poolside.

Catch up quick: Poolboy is the latest from Gadzooks Enchiladas & Soup co-owner Aaron Pool. It took over the former Gadzooks location at 40th Street and Camelback Road.

Best bites: Tacos can come in a crunchy corn tortilla or a soft half-corn, half-flour tortilla (my personal favorite).

The Poolboy taco: Tomatillo chicken, jalapeno ranch and honey slaw combine with a custardy sweet-and-spicy cornbread (also available as a side) for an unexpected but delightful flavor explosion.

The Aspen: I doused this taco — Wagyu ground beef, egg and cheddar — in a spicy green salsa from the impressive serve-yourself salsa bar.

Hear me out: The cornbread is the star of the menu.

Is cornbread a weird side with tacos? Yes. Is it an even weirder thing to include inside a taco? Also yes.

Pro tip: Poolboy is popular, but you can go around their 11am opening for a quieter vibe.

When I arrived at 11:30am, I was the only guest. By noon, the line was out the door.

Poolboy Taco brings Palm Springs vibes to Arcadia

The new taco spot shines with a salsa bar, creative tacos and standout cornbread.

Bright yellow fast-food storefront with a large red sign reading "POOLBOY" across the front and a smaller blue sign reading "TACO". A cartoon seal in a chef hat sits on the wall to the left, blue sky overhead.

Arcadia&#x27;s long-awaited Poolboy Taco is worth a visit for the ambiance alone, but the Southwest-inspired fare packs a punch, too.Zoom in: Poolboy is more cabana than restaurant, with Palm Springs resort vibes that begin with the bright yellow exterior and striped patio umbrellas.

Food and Drink

Dear readers, we have news. We finally got a reservation at Din Tai Fung in Scottsdale.

Why it matters: The April debut of Arizona's first location of the critically acclaimed Taiwanese chain was met with a groundswell of enthusiasm that made getting a table nearly impossible.

We're glad to report that the dumplings were worth the wait and deserving of the hype.

The vibe: It's very Scottsdale. You check in at a long black front desk and wait to be escorted to the surprisingly large and swanky dining room.

It's intentionally Instagrammable, as was evident by the deluge of teen diners with iPhones in hand.

A gif of someone pouring soy sauce into a dish. 

Our waiter helped us mix our sauce for the Xiao Long Bao. Gif: Jessica Boehm/Axios

Best bites: We had to try a smattering of everything, for journalism.

Cucumber salad: Not what we were expecting, but in a good way. Slices of Persian cucumber are assembled in a pyramid and then covered in sesame and chile oils for a crunchy, spicy starter.

Crab & Kurobuta Pork Xiao Long Bao: These are the soup dumplings that put Din Tai Fung on the culinary map, and they require an intricate eating process, which includes dunking them in a special sauce and poking them to release the broth (don't worry, there are signs to guide you). They're saucy, flavorful, 100% worth trying, but weren't our favorite thing on the menu.

Shrimp & Kurobuta pork spicy wontons: Sorry soup dumplings, these stole the show for both of us. The chewy-but-not-too-chewy wontons are doused in a "house spicy sauce" that brings sweet heat and richness.

Chicken dumplings: These were good, made great by dipping them in the leftover sauce from the spicy wontons.

Why we'll go back: We filled up on dumplings and wontons before we got a chance to turn to the backside of the menu, which featured delicious looking noodle and rice dishes.

Pro tip: The crowds are starting to die down, at least if you pop in for an early lunch.

There wasn't even a line when we arrived at 10:45am (activity picked up shortly thereafter).

What's next: A second location is coming to Chandler Fashion Center next year.

There's a viewing window outside the restaurant to watch chefs prepare the dumplings. Gif: Jessica Boehm/Axios

Din Tai Fung is worth the wait

The soup dumplings shine, but the spicy wontons stole the show.

Bamboo steamer with dumplings on a white table, beside a bowl of dumplings in orange sauce and green onions. A spoon rests in the bowl; chopsticks lie on a plate, with a blurred restaurant background.

We preferred the spicy wontons to the classic soup dumplings, but they were both worth the trip. Photo: Jessica Boehm/Axios

Dear readers, we have news. We finally got a reservation at Din Tai Fung in Scottsdale.Why it matters: The April debut of Arizona&#x27;s first location of the critically acclaimed Taiwanese chain was met with a groundswell of enthusiasm that made <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="getting a table nearly impossible" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/04/29/how-to-get-din-tai-fung-table-reservations" data-vars-content-id="e309771a-90bd-471c-b087-e980154ba4c9" data-vars-headline="Din Tai Fung is worth the wait" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/04/29/how-to-get-din-tai-fung-table-reservations" target="_self">getting a table nearly impossible</a>.

A column chart that shows Phoenix monsoon rainfall totals from June 15 to Sept. 15 each year from 2015 to 2025. Rainfall ranged from 0.15 inches in 2023 to 4.2 inches in 2021. Totals were mostly below 3 inches.

Jessica Boehm

Featured stories

Monsoon season starts with rainier outlook

Take the Axios Phoenix news quiz!

Neighbors share how they build community in Phoenix

Din Tai Fung is worth the wait

Poolboy Taco brings Palm Springs vibes to Arcadia