Recently Phoenix was bumped up on the list of top cities in the United States. We are now the fifth largest city. (Take that Philadelphia!) And while we can bask in this glory thanks to our booming population, there is still a Rodney Dangerfield-esque feeling of "can't get no respect."

When people think of the great cities of America, they typically think of New York, Chicago, San Francisco. Even Philadelphia. But Phoenix? The first thing that pops into people's minds is "it sure is hot there."

Part of the problem is that Phoenix hasn't really established an identity. When I mentioned those other cities above, they summon images and character. The Big Apple. The Windy City. The City of Brotherly Love.

What does Phoenix conjure? "But it's a dry heat."

A common complaint from people new to Phoenix or just visiting is that "there's nothing to do here." You hear that especially from residents of those greater cities, usually delivered in an indignant tone.

First, let me address that. Snob is just a fancy way of saying arrogant and rude. And it'll throw in closed-minded for good measure. I remember the first time I went to New York City, there were a couple people I met who treated me like I was an uneducated bumpkin from the sticks. ("Golly gee whiz! I'm just simple country folk, ya'll.") Fortunately, I didn't let those two cloud my opinion of the many other New Yorkers I met, nor their city.

Next, there is stuff to do here. Lots of stuff. It may not be what you are used to and you may have to do some digging to find it, but it's out there. We have arts and culture. We have sports. We have music. We have festivals. There is good food to be found and good times to be had.

Oh, and we have the best fucking roller derby league ever.

Phoenix is not without its flaws and it is certainly not a flashy city. But it's also not without its merits.

1.5 million people seem to think so.