31 March 2010

Putting Tucson back to work ~

I attended a meeting at the Pima County OneStop facility and was impressed with how many services are offered (for job seekers as well as employers) ~ including a reference library! And the building is not your standard issue government drab.... in fact, it is light and colorful. Here's the welcoming planter by the front door. Never heard of OneStop? Check it out!
http://www.pima.gov/ced/cs/onestop/

30 March 2010

Always a lovely spot ~ the Arizona Inn

The lovely Arizona Inn is always a treat. The gracious service and beautiful surroundings make this a hotel that is known world-wide. Whenever I have a business lunch there it never feels like work!

29 March 2010

Stage coach travel ~ a hearty adventure

This is a stage coach on display in Tucson's fantasy western community, Trail Dust Town. Imagine traveling across the country in such a rig ~ or even just across town! Hot, dusty, uncomfortable, slow... The folks who settled the West were definitely made of tough stuff. And they traveled light!

www.traildusttown.com/

28 March 2010

Tucson's Baseball Season ~ end of an era



Sadly, this is the last season that the Colorado Rockies will do spring training in Tucson. They are moving to a fancy facility in the Phoenix area. Hi Corbett Field dates from the 1930's and it retains the charm of another era in its design and scale. Here are photos of the entrance, the opening ceremony, and just a view west to the Tucson Mountains.

27 March 2010

Doorway to a new year of adventure ~


A special birthday is being celebrated today so I offer this orange doorway in Tucson's Armory Park as a gateway to a new year ahead ~ a year that will be filled with excitement, travel, great food, and happiness! Happy Birthday, Nathan!

26 March 2010

Tucson's Old Fire Station = New Museum


In my opinion this is one great example of urban renewal. The downtown Tucson firestation was slated for demolition before the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) seized the opportunity to establish its first permanent home. The site offers space, light, and a definite style that complements modern art. For more of the story and additional photos, click here:
http://www.archpaper.com/e-board_rev.asp?News_ID=4323

25 March 2010

Tucson's Artful Train Trestle ~

This magnificent metal sculpture, "For Speed These Lines," honors the heroic work required to carve rail lines through the West. This installation can be viewed in Tucson's Iron Horse Park. Two artists collaborated on this work ~ here are details and more photos:

24 March 2010

Cheerful even on a rainy day ~

Even during an overcast and rainy day this bright cherry red home provides a wonderful spot of color! This street is part of the Armory Park neighborhood, a wonderful mix of historic homes and new construction in downtown Tucson.
http://www.city-data.com/neighborhood/Armory-Park-Tucson-AZ.html
http://www.armorypark.com/tucson.htm

23 March 2010

Charm from a by-gone era ~

One of Tucson's most popular sites for weddings is the charming gazebo in the center of the fantasy community, "Trail Dust Town," on Tanque Verde. Stroll down wooden sidewalks and enjoy the ambiance of the 1800's in this popular tourist attraction.

22 March 2010

Spring has blown into Tucson! ~

We have had big wind and on Sunday the temperature was in the 70's - ahhhhhh, spring has arrived in Tucson. Before you know it we'll hit the three-digit temperatures so enjoy this lovely weather while you can!

21 March 2010

Another "Truly" Beautiful Vehicle ~

I still haven't been able to photograph the Truly Nolen mouse car yet but here's another one of their beautifully restored vintage automobiles. This is a 1929 Nash Cabriolet. It is gorgeous! For other interesting cars in Tucson, click on the "Cars" label at the bottom of this post.
http://www.trulynolen.com/Corporate/mouse_car.asp

20 March 2010

Parking inside a rainbow ~


Adjacent to La Placita (a collection of very colorful shops and offices in downtown Tucson) is this rainbow striped, eyecatching, covered parking garage - fun!

BP La Placita Village - maps.google.com
110 South Church Avenue, Tucson
(520) 903-9905Directions and more »

19 March 2010

Home is where the heart is ~

I can only guess that this driver from Maine selected "Cactus" for his/her license plate because they miss the desert or love the desert (or both!). Whatever your reason is for being in Tucson...welcome!

18 March 2010

Charming & restful spot for shopping, dining ~

Here is one of the lovely fountains and tiled seating areas that shoppers can enjoy at the beautiful St Philip's Plaza (corner of River & Campbell). A refreshing respite!
http://www.stphilipsplaza.com/

17 March 2010

Top of the morning to you ~

Happy St Patrick's Day to you~ ! I hope you have a sweet, lucky day! Here's one Irish blessing that I particularly love:
Dance as if no one were watching,
Sing as if no one were listening,
And live every day as if it were your last.

16 March 2010

Metal petals, glowing egg ~

This beautiful, organic art installation, "Elements Transcending," was designed by Brad Konick. The Tucson Pima Arts Council (TPAC) facilitated this public art addition to Iron Horse Park in Tucson's Iron Horse District. Here's more information about the artist's vision for this piece. Oh - and the egg glows at night - wonderful!

15 March 2010

Trompe L'oeil Cars - Compass High School Rocks!


If you drive down 22nd Street near the Compass High School (they offer night classes - how cool is that?), you will notice they now have an auto repair shop. They have done an amazing job on the rolling doors of the car bays. At first glance it looks like they have 3 cars in for service... but look again. This is truly great trompe l'oeil - the detail is so lifelike. For comparison check out the second photo and look at the bay door on the far right. Amazing, yes?

14 March 2010

So interesting ~ what alarms YOU?

OK, it's only conceptual, I know.... I get it that the car is alarmed. But let's ponder the state of the driver. What is he/she alarmed about? And how about you ~ what alarms YOU? I'd love to know!

13 March 2010

My friend Cathy's personal salad bar ~

My friend Cathy's garden is overflowing with green & leafy produce, also! She has planted romaine and butter lettuce, snap peas, carrots, onions, and peppers- all colors - red yellow and green! I have had some of her snap peas and they were as sweet as dessert! Yummy!

12 March 2010

Tucson's Temple of Music & Art ~

This Tucson treasure was built in 1927 to provide "a proper concert hall" in the Old Pueblo. It is primarily used now by the Arizona Theatre Company. The building has a main hall and also a smaller caberet area. A restaurant and gift shop, too.
http://www.thepepper.com/tucson_arizona_theatre.html

11 March 2010

Tucson has the Biggest Rattlesnake in the world ~



We are having some overcast, cloudy, rainy weather right now. The local paper just printed a warning that "snake season" is starting (snakes emerge when the weather warms up a bit) so it seems fitting to post some photos of Tucson's most famous snake ~ the Rattlesnake Bridge.

This pedestrian and bike bridge is a fun, giant piece of art/sculpture that stretches over 6 lanes of traffic on lower Broadway. The snake's head (with fangs!) is on the north side and its tail (that rattles!) is on the south side of Broadway. The metal pattern is of a Diamondback Rattler.
http://www.paramount-roll.com/services/work/snake-bridge/

10 March 2010

Ah ~ the mighty Bristol bus brews again!

Anglophiles and coffee lovers can rejoice! The mighty Bristol Coffee Bus is brewing again! I was delighted to see it parked on the north side of Golf Links Road near Wilmot in the parking lot of the Desert Taekwondo studio (6221 E Golf Links Rd).

What everyone loves is the seating "up top" ~ a nice place to relax with a cup o' Joe. For more info about this bus, check my posting from December 30.

09 March 2010

Tucson's Fantastic Floral Dome ~

Yesterday I posted a photo of the front of the beautiful St Augustine Cathedral. On the northern portion of the property stands this gorgeous, celebratory canopy crafted of brilliantly colored metal flowers. In the left of the photo you can see three young ladies in identical dresses who had just finished rehearsing for something ~ a concert? a wedding? What a pretty setting!

08 March 2010

Tucson's cathedral ~

Surely one of the most beautiful buildings in downtown Tucson is St Augustine Cathedral on Stone Avenue. Over the front door carved in stone are various desert plants and inside the santuary the saguaro cactus blossom is featured on the main altar, pulpit, lectern and baptismal font. On the north end of the property is a colorful canopy/gazebo/stage which is formed of brilliantly colored metal flowers. I'll post that tomorrow so stay tuned!
http://www.staugustinecathedral.com/

07 March 2010

Some of my favorite Tucson art ~

Here is another one of the fantastic photo murals (series of 4) that decorate both sides of the underpass on Broadway leading to Congress Street. Steve Farley, a photographer and artist, invented the special technique to create these tiles. This is such an interesting series. You can see more photos and read more about this art project here:
http://www.tilography.com/gateway.htm
and here: http://www.tilecanvases.com/star5399.htm
Click on "murals" at the bottom of this post to see other photos of these and other murals around town. Enjoy!

06 March 2010

Garden Post Whimsy ~

A few days ago I posted a photo of the Iron Horse District's community garden. Here's another view of that garden fence. Looks like a lot of talented artists have combined their skills to make this community really charming.

05 March 2010

Leaping Lizards! Well.... CLIMBING lizards, actually

The Midway Business Park on Speedway is full of surprises. Colorful lizards climb many of the walls in this mecca of small businesses. What a fun, delightful element that the builder or the developer added to what could otherwise be just an ordinary office park!

One of the organizations housed in this park is the terrific Southern Arizona Diaper Bank, a Tucson treasure. (http://www.diaperbank.org/).

04 March 2010

Is there a canine union?

On the way to and from Nogales, Mexico there are Border Patrol stations that work to halt the trafficking of drugs and the human smuggling, too. In addition to human agents, the Border Patrol also employs specially trained canines to assist.

03 March 2010

A Tucson Neighborhood Named after Dessert!

This home, circa 1800's, is in the historic Pie Allen neighborhood. I was walking near 4th Avenue and this house was on Hoff Avenue near 8th. The area is named after John "Pie" Allen, a man who was famous for his delicious dried apple pies (fresh fruit was not in supply year round). He was also a regional entrepreneur and ran trading posts and post offices from Bisbee to Wickenburg.

02 March 2010

Iron Horse District - feels like a village

Tucson's Iron Horse District is named after the rail workers who onced lived here to be close to the railroad. It's a mix of small houses, apartments, and a little industrial, too. The area is a few square blocks - roughly north of Broadway to 8th Street and between Euclid and 4th Avenue. They have a charming, wonderful community garden!

01 March 2010

Whoa, partner... Tucson Rodeo ~


This lifesize metal horse sculpture on Speedway looks like it's about to step into the roadway to join the Rodeo! Sunday was the last day of the internationally famous Tucson Rodeo ~ also known as La Fiesta de los Vaqueros. It is an event "celebrating cowboys and cowgirls" and is in its 85th year. For some great action photos, click here and go to their website: