Fairview Place and F Q Story

Two more of our 35 designated Historic Neighborhoods today.  Both of these I've featured here before.  They were fairly close to my old neighborhood so I drove around in these areas many times.  Fairview Place is made up of middle class homes built in the 1930's and 1940's.  The one above is in a Spanish style.

This one looks more eastern to me.  I do like the front arch and the brick trim.

I've featured homes in the F Q Story neighborhood a few times before.  It's a great little neighborhood close to downtown.  I love the look of the one above with the awnings and the trim around the entrance.

This one has a little front courtyard and an arched front door.  This neighborhood also dates back to the 1930's and 1940's.

Floating

I love to walk one of the trails at the Desert Botanical Garden that goes past the desert lagoon where a little reed and cattail filled pond is alive with all kinds of interesting life.  I always stop at the pond and look for the bullfrogs that live there.  They aren't easy to spot.  I have to really study the water but when I see one then I start to see the others.  This one seemed to be looking right at me.

This one was looking the other way.  As I walked away they started talking to each other in the deep baritone song they make.  My dad used to say it sounded like they were saying "jug-a-rum, jug-a-rum".

Outdoor Exercise

It was nice yesterday morning to see so many people outdoors getting some exercise and fresh air.  During the hot summer months, Phoenicians tend to do their exercising indoors where heat stroke is less of a problem.  This last week, the mornings and evenings have been nice enough to be out and people were out in force.

I saw cyclists and runners and walkers and shoppers and children playing in playgrounds.  We are finally getting our outdoors back!

Living in Phoenix....Las Vegas Style

I was prowling around the neighborhood just to the east of me one Sunday when I discovered this house.  It was so large that my wide angle lens couldn't get the whole front of the place in the shot.

The driveway was gated and this huge fountain was just on the other side of the gate with the drive circling around it.

I drove around the block and discovered that the property extended to the next street over and the back of the house was just as elaborate as the front.  This pool area made me think of Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today.  Take a look at a gorgeous house of worship.

Family Dinner....

...it's not what it used to be.

David and I were having dinner one night recently when this family arrived and was seated next to us.  They were very quiet and it was easy to see why.  Each and every one of them is studying some type of electronic device.  The father is hidden by that bottle of wine but, I can vouch for the fact that he too was looking at his cell phone.  It was too good of a scene to ignore so I snuck this photo.  No one at that table saw me.

The Gradual Cool Down

We had a big rain (and wind) storm last Monday evening and it seemed to tip the scale on our desert heat.  We haven't reached the 100F (38C) all week.  In fact it's been kind of pleasant.  Still too warm to be out in the direct sun mid-day but, the mornings and evenings are nice.  I decided to take an evening walk at the Desert Botanical Garden to get some exercise in.  The garden was very quiet with only few other people there.  I was pleased to see this fishhook barrel cactus in full bloom.

The early evening sun makes some great back lighting to light up all the thorns on a cholla cactus.  You don't want to trip a fall into this plant.  That would be quite painful.

The Phoenix

Here is another depiction of the Phoenix Bird.  This on is the mosaic style sign on the side of an apartment building that goes by the name "The Phoenix".

Men at Work

Early one morning I saw this guy and his ground team preparing to do some tree trimming.  He works for the power company and when the trees get too crowded around the power lines, it's time to trim them back a little.  He spotted me with my camera right away so he gave me a big smile and a wave.

You can see from this shot that he was pretty far up there when I zoomed in on him.

And, here he is in the thick of the tree working away.  I'm quite sure I couldn't do this job.  My fear of heights would kick in and I wouldn't be able to last 10 minutes up there.

Encanto Palmcroft & Encanto Vista

Encanto Palmcroft is probably the historic neighborhood with the highest real estate values.  The area is made up of large homes on curving, tree-lined streets with little pocket parks scattered about.  It abuts on the south Encanto Park, one of the city's largest and oldest parks.  I've cruised around in this area many times and have published photos from this neighborhood several times.

The houses in Encanto Palmcroft are all unique in architectural style with well manicured green yards.

The Encanto Vista neighborhood is also next to Encanto Park and just a few blocks away from the Encanto Palmcroft neighborhood.  However, this area consists of more modest homes in size and architecture.  The one above is showing it's tidy brick facade.

This one appears to be block construction and has adopted a unique yard style.  Those rock-wire walls seem to be very popular right now.

Hollow Eyes

Back in June I posted a mural I found and the artist was there working on it at the time.  You can see it here.  That mural was on a long wall in a narrow passage way and there was a series of murals all along the wall.  This is another one of the murals on that wall.  This one is closest to the street so it can be easily seen when driving past.  I'm not sure what it represents but the artist is Tyson Krank.  His murals tend to depict figures with rather vacant eyes so this one fits his style perfectly.

Patriotic Message

While I was walking among the memorial flags that I posted about yesterday, I noticed across the lake and on the other side of the freeway is this building that houses the headquarters for First Solar.  This side of the building is covered with panels and I noticed that they had arranged the panels to spell out USA.  I had never seen those panels arranged that way before so I'm assuming it was done in conjunction with the memorial that was going on in the park.

I have a new post today on Sharon's Sojourns.  Picture a nice refreshing walk on the beach.

9/11 Tribute

I drove out to Tempe yesterday to see the 9/11 tribute, 2977 flags flying along the Tempe lakefront.  It was a very moving experience.

Each flag was adorned with a card with the name of a person who died that day.  Some cards just had the name and where the person worked while others had loving comments about the person.

This photo gives an overview of the scene and even this doesn't encompass all of the flags that were out there.

Although it was very moving to walk among the flags, I didn't tear up until this guy played taps.  Everyone who was there stopped to look in his direction.  I'm glad I went.  It was a good way to mark the day.

The Tempe Town Lake is right under the flight path for Sky Harbor International Airport and the majority of morning flights are taking off to the east right over this area.  It was sort of a surreal experience to be standing among all those flags while one plane after another roared overhead.






Tomorrow I'll show you what else could be seen from this location.

Big Trees

I've been noticing the shapes and sizes of some trees around town.  This one is simply enormous.  It pretty much covers the front of that building.

I just liked the shape of this one.  It's a little heavier on one side giving it that wind blown look.  

Returning to Phoenix

I flew to California last Wednesday but I drove back with Julie and Dave on Monday.  Arriving in Phoenix, since I wasn't driving this time it was a perfect opportunity to snap a few shots of the Phoenix downtown skyline from Interstate 10 as we arrive in the city.  There aren't many places in town where you can get this view.

California Dream'n

I just got back Monday evening from a fabulous 6 days in California with my wonderful friends Julie and Dave.  Thanks Julie and Dave for a fantastic week of activities and beautiful California coastal weather.  What a way to cool off after the hot Phoenix summer.  The above scene is the ocean front view of Laguna Beach, a wonderful place to visit and enjoy everything a Pacific Ocean get-away has to offer.

Just look at this young one racing to shore on a green surf board.  Sometimes I wish I could do this and other times I just enjoy watching.  This time it was the watching (and photographing) that occupied my time.  It takes a lot of patience for that short little ride to the shore.

Gathering at the Mall

A couple of years ago I did a post about a bar that was added to the mall area of Scottsdale Fashion Square.  You can see it here.  The last time I was at the mall I noticed that the bar was gone and this seating arrangement was in it's place.  It looks like it's well used be people checking their phones (of course) and people eating ice cream.

Right behind the seating area is the smallest merry-go-round that I've ever seen.  It too was getting some use.

It's Labor Day in the United States

I've had this photo in the archives for a while now and never got around to posting it but, since it's Labor Day here in the U.S. of A, I thought today was a perfect time.

The name of the statue is Arizona Worker's Memorial
"El Pasaja" and it is located in Wesley Bolin Park in front of the Arizona State Capitol.

The inscription reads "This monument, entitle 'The Passage', honors the men and women, from the earliest territorial miners to the present day workers, who have suffered permanent injury or death on the job.  We recall their unique gifts and celebrate the time we shared."

It was funded by a number of workers unions. The artist is Clarke Riedy.

For the People

I was sitting at a table enjoying a pizza and the view to my left looked right into the door of this little shop called "For the People".  They sell all kinds of truly eclectic things from serving pieces, to art works to books.  I actually enjoyed watching people come and go in this little shop.  First there was a man and a woman who were both enjoying looking at everything the store had to offer.  They even asked the proprietor several questions.  The next couple that entered, the woman stayed a bit to look around but, the man took one step inside and then immediately turned around and waited outside.  Two totally different shopping personalities.

I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns.  A look at a mysterious staircase in Santa Fe.

Wall Art

 I found this giant eye on a block wall in the Loma Linda residential neighborhood in central Phoenix.  There wasn't any sign to indicate an artist but it was on the wall of a home that faces a different street.  Those lashes are actual wires sticking out from the eye's frame which seems just a bit dangerous to me.

Here's a view of the whole wall.  

East Evergreen & Encanto Manor

The East Evergreen Historic Neighborhood was another area that was new to me.  I don't believe I had ever driven on the one street that comprises this historic district.  The home above has a very business-like appearance.  I didn't see any sign that it was anything other than a home but, I could also see this one doubling has an office.

This one has a wonderful brick wall around the yard that gives it a very unique and almost mid-western look.  I could see a house like this in my old home town in Illinois.

I had to include this shot of a house at the very end of the historically designated street.  I have a suspicion that the neighbors aren't the least bit happy with the fellow who lives here.

The Encanto Manor neighborhood was right across the street from where I used to live.  I've driven through this area many times and admired the 1950's and 1960's style homes here.

They all seem to have beautifully maintained yards and attractive facades.

I like the way the neatly trimmed hedges on this one lead the way to the front door.

Phoenix Bird...as a mural

I found this Phoenix Bird in an alley in downtown Phoenix painted on the side of a building.  I couldn't find an artists name.

I don't think there is any message here.  It's just another artistic version of our namesake.

The View from Above

I was up in Julie and Dave's office a while back and snapped a few iPhone photos out the window.  This one looks down on the Chateau on Central condo development.  I've shown you that place before from the ground level here and here.

This view is looking straight down at the beautifully landscaped grounds of the Viad Tower where the office is located.  I do enjoy a great birds eye view.

Theme Day: Curiosities

The first of the month is theme day for City Daily Photo Bloggers and this month the theme is "curiosities".  I chose a rather intriguing art work at the Phoenix Art Museum.  It's called "Mass (Colder, Darker Matter)" by Cornelia Parker of London England.  The piece is composed of the charred wood of a church in Texas that was struck by lightening and burned.  Ms. Parker has suspended the pieces of wood from the ceiling in the shape of a cube with the pieces more dense in the center and thinner at the edges.

The piece was featured in the 1997 Turner Prize Exhibition at the Tate Gallery in London.  Here is what a the description at the museum says:
"The title in part, refers to the scientific term 'cold, dark matter,' used to describe the unquantifiable in the universe. 'Mass' suggests not only the spiritual gathering, but also the solids and voids that are basic elements of sculpture. The artist also thinks of this work as a charcoal drawing, or an abstract painting against a white background."

I think it fits the "curiosities" theme perfectly.  To see how other city daily photo bloggers have depicted the theme, click here.