Symphonic Roses & Boundless Music

Last weekend, I went to another concert with the Phoenix Symphony.  This time it was a "pops" concert featuring the music of ABBA.  Being a long-time ABBA fan, I was thrilled to see this Finnish group called Rajaton perform some of ABBA's best songs.

The Finnish word "Rajaton" translates as boundless and that word truly sums up the talents of this a cappella group.  Yes, the orchestra did accompany them on most songs but they also did several a cappella and I have to say, their talent truly is boundless.

Needless to say, there was a lot of toe-tapping, clapping, arm waving and dancing in the aisles going on at this concert.

After their performance, they signed copies of their CD's for those who purchased them and that gave me an opportunity to snap a photo of them.  The group has released 17 different albums, one double platinum, three platinum and eight gold records in Finland.  In 2019, they celebrated 22 years of music-making.

Oh yes, those roses made from sheets of music were on the cocktail tables in the Symphony Hall lobby.

The Colorful Peacock

Something new on Roosevelt Row near downtown Phoenix.  A colorful mural by Phoenix artist Kayla Newman.

It covers the sides of a parking garage that used to be just plain white.

In fact, you've seen part of this garage before when I posted a photo of the big glass-box of a building in front of it.  That was back in July of last year.  Doesn't this liven up a rather plain looking garage?

Taking part in Monday Murals.

The World Press Photo Foundation

On Friday, I visited an exhibit put on by the World Press Photo Foundation that was held at the Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in downtown Phoenix.  The foundation believes in the power of showing and the importance of of seeing high quality visual stories.  Each year they send a series of photographs on a world tour visiting 100 cities in 45 countries.  Along with their annual festival in Amsterdam, these photos showcase stories that make people stop, feel, think and act.

Above are two photos I remember seeing when they were published.  The small one to the left is by Brendan Smialowski and it shows President Macron of France on his 3-day visit to the U.S. for President Trump's first official state visit.  The photographer caught a scene that looked way more intimate than it actually was and of course we know now that the relationship between the two men has soured completely.

The photo the right is by Australian photographer Chris McGrath.  It shows an unidentified man trying to hold back the press at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul Turkey amid the growing backlash over the disappearance  of the reporter Jamal Khashoggi.

I found this last photo unbelievably shocking.  The photo was taken by Portuguese photographer Mario Cruz.  The boy on the mattress collects recyclable trash from the Pasig River in the Philippines.  The river is so polluted with plastics and garbage that in some places people can walk on top of it all.  The text said that the river dumps 63,700 tons of plastic into the ocean every year.  That is a sobering thought to go with a very sobering photo.

All in all, I enjoyed the exhibit very much.  The photos are amazing to see, some with astounding beauty and some with incredible stories to tell.  It will move on to another city after this weekend.

I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today.  I'm showing a truly unique shopping experience right here in Arizona.

Architectural Patterns

I've featured this curved building on my blog a few times before, most recently here where I explained why some people call it the piano-roll building.

Today I have a closer view of the inside of that curve where all those gold colored columns dominate the facade.  I caught these shots on a Sunday when no workers were out taking a break at one of those tables.  During the week there is a lot of activity with people coming and going.

This place is called the Phoenix Financial Center.

Polka-dot Sky

A few of the midtown high-rise buildings against a polka-dot sky.  I love it when mother nature gives me a great back-drop for what would ordinarily be just a standard skyline photo.

Drinks, Games, Food & Trinkets

There is a new gathering spot in downtown Phoenix called The Churchill.  It has been created entirely from shipping containers which seems to be a new trend.  (How do you like that sculpture on the right side? It was made from a single shipping container cut into that design.)

I say it's a gathering spot because it was pretty full of people when I was there and they all seemed to be enjoying the games, the food and each other's company.

There are separate businesses all surrounding the outside and each business occupies its own "container".  There is a pizza place, a burger place, a wine shop, a bar, a healthy dessert spot and a couple of retail shops selling t-shirts and more.  All of that while a DJ plays some tunes for the crowd to enjoy.

Almost everyone sitting at the tables were playing a variety of board games with some bigger games like this foosball table in the center.  The whole thing appears to be a successful venture and a popular place. 

Beauty All Around

Even with all my evening activities last weekend, I still found time for a nice walk at the Desert Botanical Garden.  That's where I saw this perfect rose in the prettiest shade of lavender.  It's called Violet's Pride.  Isn't it a beauty?

Nearby the section of roses is the vegetable garden where I saw this rather nicely formed cabbage growing.  Who knew cabbage could be so lovely to look at?

And I couldn't visit without a stop at the contemplation garden where so many birds come for a drink.  I can't believe how well this shot turned out because the spot was full of people talking and moving about.  This fellow only stayed there for a matter of seconds.

So my weekend consisted of the beauty of nature during the day and the beautify of the arts at night. All in all, a perfect weekend.

Busy, Busy Weekend

I had a very busy weekend last weekend that started with jazz, moved to classical and then on to Broadway musical with lots of activities in between.

It all started Friday night when I went to The Nash to see and hear the New Guard Big Band featuring the great vocalist Dennis Rowland.  The Nash is not a very big place so that band was all squeezed together on a tiny stage and Rowlands sang from off to one side behind the musicians.  What a voice he has.  It was an outstanding performance by one and all.

Saturday night it was downtown to Symphony Hall for the Phoenix Symphony performing Verdi's Requiem, a masterful piece that required a full chorus and four soloists.  That was another knock-out performance with the all the drama of an opera and the genius of Verdi's symphonic writing.

Sunday night it was out to Tempe to Grady Gammage Auditorium for a performance of "Fiddler on the Roof" which you probably guessed from the names given to these three drinks.  As always, the bar serves up three drinks themed to the performance.  I had the one called tradition.  The drink was great and so was the outstanding performance by a stellar cast.  I was singing "If I Were a Rich Man" all the way home.

It was quite the cultural weekend, just the kind of busy-busy I love.

The Piano Player

I found another mural by Tato Caraveo last weekend.  This one is located in an alley near downtown Phoenix.  On the other side of the wall is an electrical substation.  That explains all those wires and condensers.  I bet some of you might recognize Tato's large headed people by now.  This guy is playing the piano with one hand and holding a branch with the other while the blue bird listens to the music.  Clever fellow.

Taking part in Monday Murals.

Crickets, Tea, & Snuff

I stopped at the Phoenix Art Museum on Friday and visited an exhibit in the Asian Gallery called "Crickets, Tea, & Snuff:  Chinese Intellectual Pursuits".  The description explained that the educated class set the standards for aesthetic taste and leisurely pursuits,  Three of those pursuits were the collection of and keeping of crickets, drinking tea and using snuff.

I failed to get a picture of one of the cricket cages but, I did get photos of two different tea pots.  These two were my favorites in the group on display.  I love the lizard on top of the one in the first photo and the smooth lines on the one above.

There were two large cases of different snuff bottles in all shapes and sizes.  The tiny bottles were a symbol of status and wealth.  These in this case were made from jade, tourmaline, agate, ivory, porcelain, enamel, coral, turquoise, malachite and many more precious stones.  It was quite a collection.

I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today.  I love the beauty of Santa Fe.

Theme Day: Streetscape

There I was on Jefferson Street heading east right into Downtown Phoenix on Sunday afternoon when there was hardly any traffic downtown. It was the perfect opportunity to snap a photo looking into all those buildings that make up the city center.  I grabbed the camera and pointed it and snapped just as the light turned green. I've been on this street many times when the traffic was pretty much bumper to bumper so this was my chance to get a clear shot.

For the City Daily Photo bloggers, the first of the month is always "theme day" with everyone posting a shot along the same theme.  You guessed it, today's theme is Streetscape.

Check out other bloggers streetscapes here.

Shoes as a Work of Art

Most of you know that I do love a nice pair of shoes.  However this great pair was not for sale.  These were part of a display of unique art works at the Heard Museum.

Artist Teri Greeves took a pair of Converse basketball shoes and covered them in finely stitched glass beads.  The name of the art piece is "We Gave Two Horses in Honor of Our Son".  Teri Greeves is known for her incredible bead work.  You can see some of her other works here.  (I love the umbrella)

Bear Tracks

This sculpture stands outside the Scottsdale Museum of the West.  It's quite an elaborate sculpture with many intricate details all the way down to his moccasins that look like they are heavily beaded.

The back of the sculpture is just as elaborate as the front. I love the painted details on what represents a buffalo hide. The artist  is Dave McGary.  His bronzes are always very realistic and expressive. McGary's work is internationally known with sculptures in the U.S. Capitol National Statuary Hall, the Smithsonian and in the White House collection.

Nothing to See Except Ducks

I stopped at the Japanese Friendship Garden over the weekend and walked the trail hoping to see some blooms.  No such luck, nothing was blooming yet.

I did however, see plenty of ducks enjoying the water.  This one looks like he's about to leap off the water fall.

I used to live not far from this great spot so I would go often.  Now I only go about twice a year.  In the spring, they usually have some gorgeous flowers so I'll have to mark my calendar to return in a few weeks.

Oh yes, along with the ducks I did see a few koi swimming around.  

New Color for a Phoenix Bird

A few years ago, I was posting photos of all the different versions of the Phoenix Bird that can be found within the city.  One of them was this stylized version.    Back then, it was all metallic.  Recently I drove past this building and saw that it had been painted a bright yellow. At first I wasn't sure about that color but the more I look at it, the more I like it.  It looks good against the blue sky reflected in all that glass.

P.S.  I notice that in the top photo I captured a reflected image of a mural I posted back in 2013.  That mural has been there a very long time even though the salon it was on has been gone a long time.

Freedom is Back

The name of this mural is "Freedom is Back".  It was painted by the Fortoul Brothers, Gabriel and Isaac who have a national reputation for their distinctive art works.  The brother's use human images along with natural elements in their paintings.  This was designed with Isacc's 12 year old daughter in mind as she rides her horse across the desert in total freedom.  I love it.  It graces the side of a building that houses three radio stations.

Taking part in Monday Murals.

Red!

How is this for a blast of color?  I saw this poppy growing in pot along one of the streets in old town Scottsdale and I wondered if I could capture its brilliant color.  I think I did!

I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today.  I have something a little different.  I'm comparing a relatively recent visit to a place in California with a visit I made some 30 years ago.

Patterns and Textures

My post today is all about patterns and textures.  I start with this photo of a row of cactus planted up against a textured wall.  There is lots of pattern and texture in this shot.  A few thorns too!

This one is just some architectural detail on one of the buildings at Biltmore Fashion Park Shopping Center.  Straight lines, angles and curves, all together.

This one happens to be an art work that was included in a show at the Phoenix Art Museum.  It's called "Pixeles" by Oscar Munoz an artist from Columbia.  It looks like pixelated images but it's actually made from coffee stained sugar cubes.  Surprised?  I was.

This last one required two photos.  It was also taken at the Phoenix Art Museum.  This room at the museum was all set up for some kind of meeting or presentation.  When I looked down on the room from the second floor, I saw the long row of chairs in the photo to the left and when I went downstairs, I liked the look of the chairs from that level too.

How is that for a variety?

Private Dining Room

There is a restaurant in Scottsdale called Olive & Ivy located right on the Scottsdale waterfront, next door to Scottsdale Fashion Square.  I only dine there occasionally but, I walk past it often.  In one corner is this private dining room that isn't really all that private because there are glass walls on three sides.  I shot this photo right through the window on one side.  I suppose they could close those drapes if the party required more privacy.  Regardless, I liked the look of the room.

These lights decorate the inside of the restaurant.  You can see them through the doors in the photo above.  It's the kind of place that I would call "trendy".

SkySong Under the Sun

Every now and then, I take a drive through the campus of SkySong, the ASU campus in Scottsdale designed for innovation, technology and imagination.  It is constantly changing with new buildings going up and more business partners collaborating.

I simply love those huge, white sails that fly above the center of the campus.  On this day recently, I caught some shots with the sun playing a big role.

It was also nice to see the trees turning colors and losing their leaves along the walkway.  It's a true fall look.  I know it's actually winter but we are a little slow to catch up here in the desert.