Glass Tree

 

I hadn't made it to AZ88 before Christmas this year so since I was in the neighborhood on Tuesday, I stopped by to see this year's holiday decorations.  

I like the look of this tree made of glass.

I took a close-up so you could see that it's made of stacks of glass 'bricks'.  

They always have something clever and different during the holidays and for that matter throughout the year.  

Click on AZ88 label below and you will see quite a variety.

Two Artistic Holiday Trees

 

While I was in Scottsdale last weekend, I stopped at AZ 88 to see how they have decorated for the holiday season.  They always have something unique to showcase the season.  

This is the 2023 holiday tree.  I was surprised that it was taking up so much space inside the restaurant.  They could get at least four more tables in the space that large tree was taking up.

The frame of the tree is made of plywood with flat areas where what appears to be ceramic mushroom gardens sit.  There was also a LED light shining on it but since I was there in the daytime, it's hard to see that.

It's quite unusual which you might say is normal for AZ 88. 

I'm adding a photo I took earlier in the month at AZ 88's sister restaurant in downtown Phoenix, Hanny's.

That restaurant also creates unusual holiday decorations.  This one is made of acrylic rods beautifully stacked to shape the tree.  It's lighted from inside with series of colors undulating through it.

Swirling Lights and Sparkles

 

I had dinner with a friend on Thursday evening at one of my favorite places to go, AZ88.  That's the restaurant with the ever-changing artistic exhibits.  The current display are these black dots on the wall above the bar.  You can see the sparkly lights emitting from behind the dots.

As it got darker, the lights show up even more and the swirling patterns start to show some rainbow-like colors here and there.  It was quite mesmerizing.  At AZ88 I always get dinner and a show!

As we left, I took a photo of the place from the outside and you can see those lights glowing inside the restaurant.  

I've featured so many photos from this place and all their artistic endeavors, I decided to create a label just for this place.  It took me a while to place the label on all the past photos but, I think I got them all.

Celebration Champagne

 

After my visits to two museums, I treated myself to a late lunch at one of my favorite restaurants, AZ88 in Scottsdale.  On the cocktail menu, they had something called Celebration Champagne which was described as champagne with a touch of peach and raspberry liquors and a sprinkle of confetti sugar.  

It certainly made a striking presentation.  

Since today is my birthday, I'll be doing a little celebrating with some friends today.  I'm betting some champagne might be involved.  

Sparkles Everywhere

 

I had lunch recently at AZ 88, that Scottsdale restaurant that is always having changing art inside the restaurant.  The current attraction is this cluster of "disco balls" on the ceiling. 

They happened to be hanging right above the table where I was sitting.  In fact, I'm probably reflected in these photos but, I can't find me.

 The place was also decorated with these wonderful gladiolus.  I couldn't resist a photo of them too.  

Hugs and Kisses

 

I saw these huge, stainless steel letters on the side of the AZ88 restaurant in Scottsdale a week ago.  At first I didn't know what they represented but I finally realized this is a symbol for "hugs and kisses".  I think the restaurant is giving us a very warm greeting.  Nothing beats a good hug!  

A Little Variety

 

I have a little variety in my photos today.  Above is a colorful bus stop I saw in the city of Mesa a while ago.  I like the bright colors.

To the left is a fellow I spotted in a shop window in Scottsdale.  I took this back in April on one of my walks just after the first lockdown started.  I thought this guy was a funny parody of life during pandemic isolation.  Luckily, I never succumbed to sitting in front of the TV with plates of food.

Above is a set of spinner chairs that were on the Mesa Art Center grounds.  I wasn't sure what they were until a little kid came running over and jumped in one and started spinning.  I didn't try it.  I'm sure I wouldn't have been able to get out without help.

The photo to the right was taken last January at this time when I met a friend at AZ88 for a martini.  Ahhh....one day we'll be able to do that again.

I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today.  I'm visiting the 'other' Bellagio. 

Change of Scenery

Yesterday I drove to Scottsdale and met my friend Glenda so we could take a walk with some new scenery.  I have to admit, the walk was a bit surreal.  The above photo is Main Street in Scottsdale Old Town, an area that this time of year would be simply packed with tourists.  The street is lined with galleries and jewelry stores and those parking spaces you see are simply never empty.  I've tried to find a parking place on this street many, many times with no luck.

This is the time of year when these businesses make all their money.  The late winter and early spring months are the bread and butter of this area.  I couldn't help wondering how many of these stores will survive this crisis.

It was odd to see one of my favorite restaurant, AZ88 closed up with a sign out front advertising a few "take-out" items on the menu.

Scottsdale Civic Center Park was virtually empty with the exception of one or two walkers like us meandering about.  And, there were signs posted everywhere reminding people to maintain social distancing.  There was a bright side, I did get quite a few photos that I can share in the future and it was just great to see new scenery and enjoy the peace and quiet in a place that is never peaceful and quiet.

Inspecting the Wine

When I was sorting some photos, I came across these shots that I had forgotten all about.  I was having lunch with a friend at AZ 88 in Scottsdale and I admired the pretty flowers they had placed on all the tables.  I snapped this photo when....

....across the room, I saw this fellow having a look at the wine they had chosen to go with their lunch.   I loved the way he was holding the bottle and examining it so carefully so I snapped his photo too!

My original intent was photographing the flowers but I got a bonus with the interesting candid shot to go with the beautiful flowers.

Late Night Observation

Last Sunday evening I went to see the Broadway musical "Anastacia" and I loved it.  It was beautifully staged and the music was wonderful.  After the play, my friend and I were starving so we stopped in at AZ88 to get something to eat.  AZ88 is that artsy Scottsdale restaurant/bar that I love going to.

Sunday nights are kind of slow at most restaurants so the place was pretty quiet.  I noticed the reflection of all those bottles on the bar in the glass-top table and I wondered if I could catch that scene with my cell phone.  So I tried it and got it on the first try.  Cell phone cameras just keep getting better and better.

More Art from AZ88

When I was posting yesterday's photos from AZ88, I discovered one other art installations they had that I never got around to posting on my blog.  This one is from June of this year.

They put up a whole cluster of those mirrored "disco balls" and passed light over them so they threw sparkly light all over the restaurant.  When this one was up, I was only there during the day.  I bet this looked fabulous after dark.  Can't you just picture John Travolta in his white suit standing in the center of this room?

Burning Man

My good friend Glenda took me to AZ 88 for for drinks to celebrate my birthday.  If you will recall, AZ 88 is that hip restaurant in Scottsdale that always has the changing art exhibits.  This time they had something that originated at the infamous Burning Man event.  When we arrived around 5:30, it was still light outside and you could see these great photos on the wall but, when you look at the reflection in the mirror (to the left), they were covered with fire.

As the evening progressed and sun was going down, the fire started to show up on the photos on the wall.  The photos were taken by Bill Tonnesen an artist whose work I've featured here before. He took the photos at the Burning Man event where he invited people to crawl into a box he made and pose for him.   You might also notice the hefty lady sitting on the pedestal in the center.  She is also a Bill Tonnesen creation.  I feature her in a post here.
(If you don't know much about Burning Man, just Google it and look at the images.  It's an annual bastion of self-expression and art.)

By the time we were leaving, the glow of the fire was pretty strong on the wall.  Our waitress said it gets even stronger after dark.  Once again, AZ 88 has come up with another fabulous art display.  I love this place for so many reasons!

If you want to see some other art exhibits from AZ 88, check these links:  8/28/16, 1/18/17, 10/11/18.

Drenched

A little over a year ago, I introduced you to the art works of Bill Tonnesen.  He makes sculptures of all kinds but it's his human form sculptures that really catch the eye.

This lady pouring the black paint all over her is one of his works.  It's located on the patio dining area of AZ88, that Scottsdale restaurant I've featured here many times.  It's the one with the changing art exhibits however, this lady is a permanent feature.

Here she is from the side.

This big lady is also found at AZ88 greeting guests just inside the front door.  She has been sitting there for many years wearing her tutu and funny hat.

The other Bill Tonnesen sculptures that I've featured in the past are here and here.

I'm sure I'll find more of his sculptures to share with you as I continue my explorations.  They are all over the valley.

Tree Made of Metal Strands

I made it to AZ88 to see how they had decorated for the holidays.  You might remember that last year they had a tree made of real one dollar bills....five thousand of them.

This year's tree is made up of strands of metal.  Some of the strands are safety pins.  You might be able to pick those out from the close up to the left.  Other strands were straight pieces of metal and occasionally round pieces that sort of look like key rings.

The close up shot just looks a like dense bunch of shiny objects.

  From a distance it's quite pretty.  It sparkles like a crystal chandelier.

I took the top photo around 5:00 PM before the crowds started to arrive.  The last photo I took around 7:00 PM after the place had filled up.  I thought that couple at the table next to the tree framed the tree perfectly.

Just Call it Art

Remember that restaurant I like so much called AZ 88?  It's the one with the wall behind the bar that is dedicated to changing art.  The last couple of times I had photos was when the "beating heart" was on this wall or the time the "eyes" followed you everywhere.  The latest project is above.

I had to take a photo from the side so you could see what it is.  Saw blades imbedded into the wall.  I have no explanation.  It's just another artistic expression.  So, even if I don't get this one, I still love that they create these artistic exploits on a regular basis.

Five Thousand Dollar Christmas Tree

I've written several times about AZ88, the very eclectic restaurant located at the Scottsdale Civic Center.  They always have changing contemporary art exhibits that decorate the restaurant and they always have some very creative Christmas decorations.

This year's tree is no exception.  It is literally a $5,000.00 tree because it's composed of about 5,000 one dollar bills.

Here's a close-up view.  They are real dollars, I asked just to make sure.

The star on the top of tree is made up of shiny new pennies.

From the table where we were seated, I liked looking at the view of the tree in the big mirror that is on the back wall of the restaurant.

I go to AZ88 because I love the atmosphere and the food but, the creative art keeps me coming back time and again.

The Beat of My Heart

Remember AZ88, that restaurant/bar in Scottsdale that I frequent especially when attending an event at the Scottsdale Center for the Arts?  If not, check this post from last August and this one of the outside of the place.  David and I stopped in last Wednesday night after the Pink Martini concert and we got to see their latest art work.  If you remember, this is the place that constantly has a changing and very eclectic art concept.  This time it's a beating heart.

They actually ripped a hole in the wall to expose the beating heart.  It doesn't make any sound, it just beats away over our heads.  They really do come up with some of the most clever ideas, but ripping out the drywall to expose the "bones" behind it was genius.

The Best Burger in Arizona

AZ88 is a very popular and very eclectic restaurant located at the Civic Center in Scottsdale, just across from the Performing Arts Center.  And, it happens to served my all-time favorite burger.  Yes, I've posted about some tasty burgers on this site lately but, this one is still my favorite.  It's called the Burger Au Poivre and it is made with peppercorns, minced onion and a burgundy sauce.  Also on the plate is my favorite accompaniment, Hell's Fire Chips.  Those are house made potato chips covered with hot sauce and blue cheese.  Yum!

They have been serving up this delicious burger since the place opened and it's always sheer perfection.  

I Feel Like I'm Being Watched

Last weekend, I headed over to AZ88 in Scottsdale with a friend for lunch.  I've posted about AZ88 before.  It's my my all-time favorite place for a burger but, more about that tomorrow.  I think in one of my previous posts, I might have mentioned that the restaurant is constantly changing it's artistic decor with something new and very inventive.  This time it was a row of eyeballs above the bar.  They are a little hard to see in this photo because it was very bright in the restaurant but, each one of those round dots has a blinking eyeball projected on to it and the one giant eyeball in the middle.

I cropped the photo down to give you a better look.  The eyes kept moving back and forth and blinking and they all moved and blinked individually.  It was quite an interesting achievement as is fitting for this very eclectic restaurant.  I hoped to catch them at night sometime when they would photograph better but, the waiter said they would be coming down soon and a new exhibit going up.  They tend to change the decor with the season.

I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today.  Did you know there were pyramids in Canada?

Christmas in glass

Saturday night I attended another "Pink Martini" concert at the Scottsdale Center for the Arts along with my good friend David, Julie and Dave, and Julie's mother Glenda.  David and I had dinner first at AZ 88 a restaurant I've featured here before.  It's the place that always has ever changing eclectic decor.  This years Christmas tree at AZ 88 is made of glass with colored lights inside and as they twinkle it creates light patterns all over the walls and ceiling.  You can see some of them in this iPhone shot.

Pink Martini put on a fabulous show with (for the first time) both female singers, China Forbes and Storm Large singing together.  I'll be playing their music for the rest of the month.  Oh what am I saying, just ask my friends.  They'll tell you I play their music all the time.