Thirsty Throwback Thursday!

31 AUGUST 2010

Exactly how thirsty are you?

THEN:

So you might have guessed that if I was already that close to the train tracks in yesterday's post that I would make my way over to Nimbus Brewery. And here we are. I love bold advertising and this GIANT beer glass sends the message far and wide! When Nimbus first opened at this location (3850 E 44th St) it was considered a great adventure just to get there. Now they have also opened a "regular" restaurant on Tanque Verde to serve their custom brews to those who don't want to drive to the wild blue yonder for a drink.
www.nimbusbeer.com

NOW: 

Unfortunately, their restaurant on Tanque Verde closed a long while ago. I really don't know why - each time I was in there it was busy! You can still quench your thirst at the original location. Cheers! 

Wow Owl!

Imagine looking up in your backyard and seeing this beautiful owl resting in your tree! Wow! Absolutely gorgeous!
Photo courtesy of George Goldman.

Tucson Trivia Tuesday - Firefighting

Did you know.....it wasn't until 1910 that Tucson had its first motorized fire truck! Here is Tucson firefighter Alex McNeil with "Engine Number 1" in 1906. 

Start Your Week with COLOR ~

This brilliantly colored mural is one of the dozens of pieces of art that you will find on a stroll around downtown Tucson. This is on the old Scrappy's building at 213 E Broadway. So much is going on here I can't even begin to guess what is happening. Artist To-Ree-Nee Wolf Keiser says it is, "the creation story, chaos theory, and quantum memory." Thanks - that really clears it up for me! You? Scroll down for a photo of this mural in progress.

Tucson's Locks of Love ~

Inspired by the locks of love snapped onto bridges and fences in Paris, Tucson's 4th Avenue Merchants Association launched a "Locks of Love" art project featuring "HeARTs" lining 4th Avenue. Nonprofits benefit from the purchase of the locks and the "HeARTs" serve as fun sculpture and permanent memories for those who lock their love onto them. Fun! And Romantic! 

Treed!

There was quite a bit of excitement and commotion when my Jasper spotted this fluffy-tailed cat siting in a tree. Lots of vocalizing on both ends but no hissing. I guess the cat knew it was safe and it could always climb higher! 

Eclipse in America's West! Scroll 1, 2, 3, full....

This fantastic photo was shared with me by a planetary scientist who was in Dubois, WY for the event. Dubois was in the path of totality for this week's eclipse. As you can see, the local residents were really celebrating this spectacular event! FUN!
Photo courtesy of Amanda Hendrix. 

Throwback Thursday Reminds Me....

24 AUGUST 2010

Fish & Chips & a great neon sign ~

NOW:

Arrrgh! This posting reminds me that I STILL haven't eaten there! I WILL! I WILL! 

THEN:

Sue's Fish & Chips has been around since the 50's and is considered a bit of a forerunner to Lucky Wishbone (which has locations all over town now). Sue's is on 4th Avenue in South Tucson. It wasn't open when I spotted its great yellow fish neon sign, but I want to check it out. Looks like a hole in the wall at the beach... When I try the fish & chips, I'll let you know!

2500 South 4th Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85713-4813
(520) 622-5711

Warm Welcome!

Here is another beautiful entry way that is "so Southwest" in feeling. The cocoa colored stucco looks soft like suede, doesn't it? I also love the ocotillo spines inserted into the front gate. So nice to come home to! 

Tucson Trivia - Did you know...?

 Did you know that Amazon ranked Tucson as the 4th most well-read city in America? Tucson is home to one of the country's largest book fairs every spring (held on the University of Arizona campus). Bibliophiles Live in Tucson!

Spectacular Solar Event Today!

I think that Google has captured today's eclipse with wit and whimsy! Enjoy the sun and moon show with protective glasses, please! What a cool thing! 

BIG BIRD - Rubber Ducky!

This gigantic rubber (well, plastic, actually) ducky was parked outside of a pool supplies store on Tanque Verde. At first I thought it would be a fun pool float to have but then the more I looked at those big lips/beak, the weirder it looked. I think this duck has a case of "trout pout," the over injection of fillers often seen on celebrities (Lisa Rinna, Melanie Griffith, etc)! 

Sweet Circle of Sugar ~

Lucky me! I was part of a cake tasting and I had the "job" of tasting SIX kinds of cake and ELEVEN kinds of icing.  Mmmmm, mmmmm! It was very very hard to choose a favorite combo. And in the end, I couldn't choose just one - it was a tie.  Yummy! 

Day of the Dead - on sale!

If you are a collector of Day of the Dead memorabilia, don't miss this last chance to shop at Picante on Broadway. As a great loss to the Tucson retail world, Hazel is closing her doors and the D of D merchandise is 50% off. Call the store for the hours when she will be there. Cash only. 

Throwback Thursday ~ Boot Still Stands

17 AUGUST 2011

Tucson's big boot ~

This 17' tall boot was formerly the landmark sculpture that denoted a famous old Tucson restaurant, The Tack Room. It began as the restaurant for a dude ranch and eventually was recognized as Tucson's first five-star restaurant. Sadly for resident gourmets and tourists alike, The Tack Room closed in 2003. The property is now a gated residential community. 

Modern Abstract Streetscape ~

I just loved the way the sun intensified these sharp shapes on Elm Street. The shadow of the street sign pointing to the inset stone bench coupled with the soft greenery makes a really interesting contrast. This is just outside the Arizona Inn. 

Tucson Trivia - World's Largest Collection...

Tucson's Arizona State Museum has the world's largest and best documented collection of Southwest Indian pottery. This museum is a treasure trove of exhibits and anthropology archives. Be prepared to travel through time as you enjoy their rich exhibits of pottery, baskets, ceremonial objects and more.  

Storm from hell ~

It's easy to imagine our monsoon storms as just being lots of rain. They are that, for sure, but they also come with hellacious winds that uproot trees and do a LOT of damage. Here are two views of an apartment building that was slammed by our recent storms. Happily (and amazingly) no one was hurt as these trees crashed into the roofs!
Photos courtesy of Mark Sykes. 

Day 3: Charming downtown eatery - all is revealed!

Day 3:  This beautiful sunflower mosaic is part of the charming patio decor at the lovely Cafe a la C'art adjacent to Tucson's Museum of Art. Never been there? Oh you are in for a treat!

Day 2:  OK - here are some  hints. The sunflowers are not real nor are they painted. They are mosaic flowers that decorate the outdoor patio of a popular restaurant. Now does anyone have a guess??

Hello everyone! It's time again for a "Where is this?" contest! Previous winners please step away from your keyboards for a day and give a new sharp-eyed site visitor a chance to be the first to identify this Tucson location. AND... winner receives a "fabulous" TDP t-shirt for correctly identifying this location. Good luck! 

Tortoise Featured for Throwback Thursday ~

10 AUGUST 2009

Desert Tortoise on Steroids

NOW:  

YAY! This handsome fellow is still guarding the median and the neighborhood residents are still decorating him for every holiday! For July 4th he was wearing an Uncle Sam hat! 

THEN:

The Sonoran Desert is home to the Desert Tortoise, a herbivore that can live to be 100 years old. They typically measure about a foot in length and are about 6" tall. This SUPERSIZED metal tortoise maintains control of the median on Harrison Road north of Golf Links.

The scale of this sculpture is closer in size to the Giant Tortoise ~ typically associated with the tropical region of the Galapagos Islands - a location with weather definitely a bit wetter than Tucson, AZ! The artist also created some metal prickly pear cactus (visible on lower right) to complete this desert tableau.

To learn more about the interesting desert tortoise:
http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/desert_tortoise.php

Brilliant Stage Set ~

This vivid blue wall is not part of any real house in Tucson. It is part of an exhibit at the Tucson Botanical Gardens and functions as the entry into an exhibit just inside the entrance to the Gardens. It certainly would be an eye-catching color for a home! Sadly, my homeowners' association would probably veto this as "Too Vivid" or "Too Distracting" or something... 

Tucson Trivia ~ Lucky Lindy Landed Here!

In September of 1927 Charles Lindbergh (aka "Lucky Lindy") landed his plane The Spirit of St Louis here in Tucson. His flight was to commemorate the opening of the new municipal airport on South 6th Avenue, near the site of today's Tucson Rodeo grounds. 

Welcome to August!

Welcome to the first Monday in August. In Tucson the kids are already back in school so summer feels over except for the 98 degree heat! I am always intrigued with beautiful doorways and gates so I have started posting more of them. This wrought iron beauty is the side entrance to Plaza Palomino at Swan and Ft Lowell. Looks like they are (again!) renovating - lots of "Space Available" signs. It's a retail mix of clothing and restaurants. I do miss all of the wonderful sculpture that once adorned the courtyard...

Is that Shangri-la in the distance?

When our Tucson Catalina Mountains are shrouded in monsoon clouds they do tend to look very soft and mysterious. Beautiful! 

And along with the rains....

Along with the welcome rains from the monsoons come beautiful, vibrant sunsets! WOW!

Photo courtesy of George Goldman. 

Wild Neighborhood ~

Thanks to former Tucsonan Kathy Rice, I can share this image of a coyote wandering around in the Blenman Elm neighborhood. Kathy lived in this neighborhood in the 80's and when she recently was in Tucson for a visit she was surprised to see this wild fellow on a stroll in her old 'hood. Loss of habitat brings a lot of wildlife closer to residences. Coyotes, bobcats, and even mountain lions have been spotted in populated areas.
Photo courtesy of Kathy Rice.   

Tucson Throwback Thursday ~ Bevel-dom is Better than Ever!

03 AUGUST 2009

Tucson's Kinetic Art Scene ~ Mat Bevel Institute

August 3, 2009:

Weird and fun and provocative, the Mat Bevel Institute is a Tucson art treasure. The outside courtyard of the institute looks like a cross between a wind farm and a junk yard. The sculptural art pieces are created from found objects ~ a bicycle tire, a tractor seat, a TV antenna ~ and they all move in different ways. A strong breeze gets everything going at once - fun!

August 3, 2017:

You will be amazed at the treasure of art and fun on the website: matbevelcompany.org!

The Museum of Kinetic Art is located at 2855 E. Broadway Blvd.

For more information contact Paula Schafer at 520-604-6273.

http://www.matbevel.com/
530 N Stone Ave, Tucson, AZ

Sweet Tooth, anyone?

I had brunch at the Cafe Francais in Palomino Plaza and had to stop and admire their pastry case! They also offered fluffy meringue puffs in several flavors/colors that looked like little clouds!  

Tucson Dreams of Jeannie!

Tucson Trivia - did you know that the star of the popular '60's sitcom, "I Dream of Jeannie," was born in Tucson? Yep, Barbara Eden was born here in 1931.