Happy Halloween!

The presence of these ghoulish characters in my neighborhood didn't stop me from slipping out in the cover of darkness to get some night time shots of this group gathered on my neighbors lawn.  They didn't scare me one bit.

Neighborhood Ghouls

Do you remember these guys from last year?  Last year at this time, a new family moved into this house across the street from me and they brought along with them an assortment of skeletal pals.  You can see that post here.  This year, there are a lot more of these frightening creatures and they've made themselves right at home.

As you can see from this picture, the guy digging the graves is here and the guy hanging in the tree is here.  I posted photos of them last week.  Luckily, these guys stay put in this yard and are very quiet.

Scary Billboard

I had to drive around the block to get a second look at this scary electronic billboard.  I had never heard of Zombie Walk before but after checking out their website, I see it's a big family entertainment event in downtown Phoenix starting in late afternoon on Saturday the 27th.  Too bad I had other plans.  There might have been some interesting photo opportunities.  On the other hand, I've had quite a lot of ghoulish things to see right in my own neighborhood.  I just have to walk out my front door.  I'll show you what I mean tomorrow.

Sunrise on Camelback

I was part of the crew at a golf tournament on Friday and since I arrived at the golf course around 6:15 AM, I was able to catch an nice sunrise on Camelback Mountain.  The weather for this year's tournament was just perfect.

Hanging on

This guy is just hanging on....or is he hanging out....I wonder.

Which Witch

I've even seen witches in the grocery store.

Strange Sightings

It's getting to be that time of year when I see some strange things going on in the neighborhood.  This one kind brings life to that old saying "digging your own grave".

Two more Whispers

Here are two more sculptures from the Whispers of a New World Exhibit going on at the Desert Botanical Garden.  The top one makes me think of chili peppers.

This one makes me think of a scorpion.

This exhibit will be at the garden until May of next year.  That gives you plenty of time to make your way to the garden to check out these other-worldly sculptures.

The Fire Truck

When I was walking downtown last week, this fire truck pulled up and stopped right in front of one of the ASU buildings.  Their mission?  To pick up some lunch at the Subway Sandwich shop located there.

Rainbow Prickly Pear

I did some experimental photo editing work this last weekend, putting a new spin on Mother Nature's creations.  I especially liked the results of this prickly pear shot.

Lined up and waiting

My eye seems to be drawn to well balanced symmetry and that's what happened when I spotted these bar stools all line up in the bar at the Westin Hotel.  They seem to be patiently waiting for "happy hour" to arrive.  I'm betting that around 6:00 PM, they weren't so neatly arranged any longer.

Downtown Girl

I really am a downtown girl.  I love being downtown and now that our offices are located right on the edge of downtown it's an easy walk to all of the attractions that the city center has to offer.  This last week, I walked to the new Westin Hotel and had lunch on the patio at the hotel's Province Restaurant.

 It was a perfect day for sitting outside with a iced tea and watching the various business lunches that were taking place around me.

New World Sculpture

Here is another sculpture from the Whispers of a New World exhibit at the Desert Botanical Garden that I featured twice last week. This is one that I'm not especially fond of.  What do you all think?

FLW Design

Known as the Benjamin Adelman House, this home was built in 1952 using Frank Lloyd Wright plans created in the 1940's.  It was built for Milwaukee businessman Benjamin Adelman who spent his winters in Arizona.  It was built at a cost of $25,000 and sold in 2002 for 1.2 million dollars.  In between that time, the home was enlarged from 1200 square feet to 3360 square feet.

I had to stand in the driveway to get the photo above.  From the street, the home is hard to see.

Shade

The sun shade structure at Rio Salado Park is needed very much at anytime during the year.  Even in the winter months it's important to have a place to rest out of the sun.  I think they did a good job of making this structure look attractive.

In Focus, Out of Focus

I took these pictures from the Rio Salado Park in South Phoenix looking west.  In the first I focused on the bridge in the distance.

In the second photo I focused on the flowers in the foreground.  I can't decide which I like better.

Greek Festival

I had an awesome time yesterday at the Greek Festival with my best friend David, his sister and a few other friends.  I ate Baklava and drank Retsina; all delicious.

I watched lots of dancing by some very talented (and energetic) volunteers.

I enjoyed it so much that now I want to go to Greece!  Anyone want to go with me?

Sunshine & Rain

I liked how the sprinklers made these purple flower glisten in the sunshine.

Decorative Street Lighting

Downtown Phoenix has a very decorative street lighting system.  These street light towers have an art deco look.  I think they are quite attractive.

Reflections in a diner window

It looks like a classic 1950's diner!  I'm looking in the window of the old location of Matt's Big Breakfast.  (Click the link to see the photo I posted 3 years ago.)  The restaurant moved to a much needed larger facility located just at the end of the same block.  Since my new office is right across the street from the new place, I can report that the enlarged space doesn't seem to have impacted the lines.  There is still a line out front every morning.  I can also tell you that the smell of bacon cooking is often wafting in our direction.

What does it mean?

I see these types of stickers pasted on the back of road signs all the time but, only recently took a look at them.  I was waiting for a friend to meet me at a movie theatre and spotted these two stickers.  Priority Mail and Plastic Fangs....I have no idea the purpose but, I've decided they would make good names for rock or punk bands.  What do you think?

Unusual Plantlife

When I was at the Botanical Garden last weekend I saw this unusual cactus bloom.  I've seen it before but, I never knew anything about it.  So this time, I did some research and what I found was very interesting.  First of all, it's name is Carrion Flower.  Yes, that's what I said "Carrion Flower".  Further reading revealed that this flower has a most unusual scent.  It smells like rotting meat.  Now, I'm reading this information and feeling a bit lucky that I didn't get close enough to smell it.  The scent (or odor if you prefer) is engineered to attract flies, the plants primary pollinator.  Well, I guess if it's flies you need to attract then that smell is quite appropriate.  Isn't nature fascinating?

Another Whisper

Here is another sculpture from the exhibit I mentioned yesterday.  This is another one that I liked.  I think the colors are great and the shape is....well...kind of alien looking.

Whispers of a New World

There is a new art exhibit at the Desert Botanical Garden and it's called Whispers of a New World by local artist Carolina Escobar.  She uses steel, copper screen and resined cloth to create organic sculptures in bright and vibrant colors.  It's an exhibit that I'm sure will elicit many emotions from those who view it and isn't that what art is supposed to do?  I liked many of the sculptures but, I must admit not all of them.  The photo is of one of the ones I liked very much.  I'll go back and take another look one of these days soon.

Butterfly Royalty

The Monarch Butterflies are back at the Desert Botanical Garden and if you get there before noon, the weather is cool enough to enjoy them.

Food Trucks & Blue Hair

My office moved last week to our new location in a great old brick building in downtown Phoenix.  We are located exactly one block from the spot where the Saturday Farmer's Market is held.  That same spot is also home to a weekly event called "Food Truck Friday".  The Farmer's Market lot is filled up with all sorts of food trucks and people come from all over to have lunch there.  Yesterday was my first trip there and I took my camera with me.  There were so many people and the crowds were so thick that I almost gave up on getting a good photo.  Then I spotted the lady with the blue hair I thought that's my shot.  It is certainly a shade of blue that gives a whole new meaning to the blue hair crowd.

Lunch was delicious by the way.  I was impressed.  I bet as the weather starts to cool off, it will get even busier here on Fridays.

Lights & Shadows

I spotted these lights in the stairwell of the brand new Palomar Hotel in downtown Phoenix.  I was drawn by all the light refractions and shadows so I snapped an iPhone photo.

Restaurant Week

Restaurant week happened two weeks ago and I was lucky enough to try out the special fare at three different places.  Restaurant week is an event where restaurants are able to show off a little by preparing a special fixed price meal for between $30 and $40 per person depending on the restaurant.  The last one I went to was Zinc Bistro in Scottsdale and it was the only one where I remembered to take a couple of pictures with my iPhone.  Above is my salad of kale, broken parmesan, avocado, and grilled blood orange.

Below is my entree, grilled hanger steak Basquaise with sherried peewee potato and sweet onions and peppers.  Dessert was a chocolate soufflé but I was too busy eating it to remember to catch a picture of it.

So, do they do a Restaurant Week where you live?  It's very popular here and you have to get reservations well in advance at most places.

Bubbly on Sunday Night

Last Sunday several friends got together for a fabulous dinner at Julie & Dave's house.  (You know them as Scottsdale Daily Photo and Tamarindo Costa Rica Daily Photo.)  Julie & Dave welcomed their guests with a glass of bubbly Prosecco so I took the opportunity to snap a few shots of the glasses being filled.  I think it's a perfect way to start a meal with good friends.

Sunset with power lines

Saturday when I took that moon shot, I turned around to face the west and saw that we were having a spectacularly colorful sunset.  There was no time time get to a better location, I had to take the shot power lines and all.  I decided I kind of like it this way.

Full Moon

I was on my way to meet friends for dinner Saturday night when I spotted the full moon.  Luckily I had my camera with me so when I got parked I took a few experimental shots.  I think I like this one the best.