Drive-Thru

While exploring the industrial side of Phoenix, I spotted this rather unique liquor store.  I'm guessing that years ago, this building might have had another purpose.  For some reason, it makes me think of a root beer stand or and ice cream store.  Maybe when I was a kid, I saw a similar building that served that purpose.

More of the Performing Arts Center

I was really taken with the rusty metal louver-like siding on the performing arts center I featured yesterday. I took this close up shot to show the panels in more detail.  The photo below is similar but, I thought it might be a bit more interesting in a sepia tone.

Performing Arts Center

While I was at the library opening last weekend, I had an opportunity to see this performing arts center adjacent to the library.  It is part of the South Mountain Community College and it is built in a similar architectural style as the library building.  I'm going to watch for a performance here.  I'd love to see the inside of this facility.

I love the etched violin on the sign for the center.

Industrial Patterns

I took a drive in a part of town I don't usually visit looking for interesting things to photograph.  The area is very industrial with factories and storage facilities all around.  I found an area full of these storage tanks.  There were hundreds of them in all shapes and sizes.  I was immediately drawn to the patterns of the shadows and the stairs that wrapped around the tanks.  In this photo, I love that everything is white except for the dark stairs and the yellow handrail.  I took a lot of photos that day and there is something about them I just love.  So here is the first in my industrial pattern series.  I'll sprinkle a few others around every now and then.

The second photo is the exact same image as above only with the colors turned around.  Not exactly a negative image but an image with the colors reversed and the edges of the shadow highlighted.

Cooking Class

My favorite Thai Restaurant "Wild Thaiger" had a cooking class on Sunday afternoon that I attended.  Above we see chef Olashawn Hasadinrata in the kitchen with some of the students, preparing the woks for cooking.  We learned to prepare three dishes, Grapao Gai, Lahb Nua, and Kimow.  So, now I'm ready to do a tasty Thai dinner at my house.

Here is my favorite photo of chef Ola that was taken by my friend David with his cell phone.  Don't you just love her enthusiastic smile?

Grand Opening

Saturday was a day for Grand Openings.  After attending the ribbon cutting for a brand new dog park at the Steel Indian School Park, I headed to south Phoenix to see the grand opening of a brand new Library facility located next door to South Mountain Community College.  There was a large gathering of people waiting for the doors to open to this new facility.

This view shows a little more of the crowd listening to officials give their thanks for the hard work and collaborative support that made the new library possible.  I like the look of this building.  I'll have to visit again and gather some artistic shots of the unique architecture.

Pueblo Style

I love pueblo-style homes so when I saw this one I had to stop to take a photo.  This one has great color and I love the green trim.

I'd love to see how this one is decorated inside.

More Big Bugs

We grow dragonflies big in Arizona.  Here are another two shots from the Big Bugs display I told you about yesterday.

I really don't care for spiders but as long as this big guy stays put, I can tolerate him.

Big Bug Invasion

Big (and I do mean big) bugs have invaded the Desert Botanical Garden.  Just look at the size of this praying mantis.  The assortment of 11 huge insects are the creation of artist David Rogers who constructs them out of fallen wood, cut saplings, twigs, twine and bark.  The insects weigh anywhere from 300 to 1200 pounds (136K to 544K).  It's a whimsical exhibition with fun for all ages.

It's a mystery

While I was driving in the neighborhood of yesterday's mansion, I came across this rather elaborately landscaped yard.  If you click on the photo you will see a waterfall back there at the end of the man-made stream bed.  I couldn't see a house at all so if there is one behind this area, it's well hidden.

This gate was attached to the yard and a bit of construction equipment was behind it but, no house.  I drove around the area trying to see if there was a house somewhere back there but, no luck.
It's a mystery.

Mansion newly built

Last summer I had a picture of a large mansion under construction.  You can see the original post here.  I've driven by a couple of times during the past year and observed that the home was still under construction.  Finally last weekend, I drove by again and saw the the home was done with the exception of the landscaping.  The yard still needs a little work.  It's a grand looking house, a little too ostentatious for my taste.

Turret

This is a tower that is attached to the Chateau on Central condo complex that I featured yesterday.  I think it is supposed to add a European feel to the place.

Bricks & Gaslights

I don't think these are really gaslights but, they were made to look like it.  This was taken at Chateau on Central, a very high end condominium development.  This was a development that got caught up in the real estate crisis and sat empty for about two years.  It was recently purchased by a new developer who is now selling the units.  I walked around here for about 30 minutes and it looked to me like it's still pretty much empty.

A bird in the hand.....

.....is worth two in the bush....or in this case the agave.

Firey Sky

We've had a lots of clouds lately but only a tiny bit of rain.  All those clouds make some interesting sunsets.

80 years and still going

Sing High has been a popular downtown restaurant for over 80 years and it's still going strong.  It's located between the busy sports arenas and the equally busy court buildings so there is a little bit of traffic from both venues.  I believe I ate here once a very long time ago; so long in fact that I can't remember if I liked it or not.  I did look up the online reviews and it was pretty much a mixed bag of "wow, wonderful" and "I'll never eat there again".   Have any of my local readers eaten there?  If you have, let me know what you thought.

Another Usonian Style Building

Here is another Usonian style building constructed as a dental office.  This one still remains a dental office to this day.  Again, this comes from the 1951-1952 era but, no record of the architect could be found.

This one has been nicely maintained and the blocks in the patio and walkway compliment the building style.

Inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright

This office building was built in the Usonian style of Frank Lloyd Wright which is identified by the block construction.  This building originally housed a dental office and today it has been subdivided into two or three offices.  The building was first listed in the city directory in 1952 but, no other information is available so the architect for this building has not been determined.

This photo shows another entrance to the building.  This isn't a great shot of the building but, I love the reflection of the red Mustang in the window.

The Beauty of Northern Arizona

I thought I would post one photo from the weekend in Northern Arizona.  A beautiful meadow surrounded by tall pines and capped with a big sky!  It was a great weekend.

Tribute

Today I pay tribute to New York with a photo that was taken at least 12 to 15 years ago.  I have a panoramic version of this photo that sits on my desk at home.  I put it there 10 years ago and it's been there ever since.

Ten years ago today, I was in San Francisco.  I flew in the day before and was there to pack up the temporary apartment that I used while working a contract in the city.  The contract had ended the week before.  I woke to my usual radio program and the sound of familiar voices filled my ears.  Within a matter of seconds, I realized those voices were not reporting a normal story but describing real time events and the edge in their voices told me it was serious.  I leapt out of bed and ran to the living room to turn on the TV.  From that point on, the day was filled with horror and disbelief and the crushing feeling of sadness and fear.

I remember that evening a good friend and I decided to get together.  As I walked across the city to meet her at her apartment, the absolute stillness of a city otherwise consumed with activity and noise was an eerie reminder that something devastating to the whole nation had happened that day.

Let me eat cake....

My cake wasn't quite as tall as the one I pictured yesterday but, what it lacked in height it made up for in taste.  It was simply scrumptious!  Thanks to all my co-workers for the cake and thanks to all of my readers for the wonderful Birthday wishes!!  And thanks Marcella for sending me the photo!

I must also add special thanks to my very best friend David for arranging a fabulous dinner with great friends.  I had a wonderful time.  Birthdays are best enjoyed with great friends, good food and champagne.

Celebrating

Today is my birthday!!  Do you think my cake will look like this?  Maybe not but, I'm sure I'll enjoy it anyway!

Too many fingers

The pads of a prickly pear cactus (nopals) sometimes remind me of hands and the fruit (tuna) as fingers.  This one has way too many fingers!  I count 14 tuna on this nopal.  Maybe that's why it's hanging so close to the ground.
Many of you asked yesterday about the fruit and how it's eaten.  It is mostly made into candy and jellies but, it can be used for other things too.  I have a bottle of prickly pear syrup that I use to add sweetness to drinks or sauces.  I can't really describe the taste other than a fruity sweetness.  Rabbits, birds, and other small animals also love the fruit.

Loaded

This prickly pear cactus is simply loaded with fruit (or tuna's as they are called).  I wonder if anyone will harvest these beauties.

Returning to the City

Returning to Phoenix from the Flagstaff area was a bit of a challenge yesterday!  I'm glad I wasn't doing the driving.  What should have been a 2 hour drive took closer to 4.  I think lots of Phoenicians wanted to get out of the heat for the weekend.

Hiding in the Urban Jungle

Yesterday I had a view of the urban jungle at Papago Park.  Today I'm showing one of the wild birds hiding among the reeds there.  He was swimming in and out of the reeds and hiding from my camera lens.

I'm away for the weekend and will catch up with all of you later today and tomorrow.

Urban Jungle

Tall reeds and palm trees make a home for wild birds and all kinds of insects at Papago Park.

I'm away for the weekend and may not have access to the internet.  I'll catch up with all of you next week.

Sand Trap

This is the golf course at the Arizona Country Club and as you can see, players are in the shadow of Camelback Mountain.

I'm away for the weekend and may not have access to the internet.  I'll catch up with all of you next week.

Arizona State University, West Campus

While I was on the northwest side of town last weekend, I decided to stop at the ASU west campus to see if there was anything interesting to photograph.  I found these metal gates gracing the main entrance to the campus.  They were designed by sculptor Albert Paley in 1991.  Paley has been a sculptor for 30 years creating all kinds of architectural features.  In fact, he won a highly coveted Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Institute of Architects.  It's the only award they have given to a non-architect and it was given for is gift of combining art with architecture.  

When you step through those gates, this is the view to the main entrance of the campus.

Theme Day - Perspective

It looks like I've escaped the heat and headed to the mountains but, I haven't.  This isn't a mountain top scene and it's not even a hiking trail scene.  This happens to be at a very busy intersection in north Phoenix.  I was sitting at the traffic light when I glanced to my right and saw this little wilderness-like scene out of the passenger side window.  Fortunatly, I had my camera sitting on the passenger seat of the car.  I picked it up, rolled down the window, extened the telephoto to get past the frame of the car window and snapped.  Then the light turned green and off I went with the flow of the traffic.  It's just a matter of perspective.  To see more "perspective" photos, click the link below.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants