Halloween Jaws of Death!

Go through this doorway IF YOU DARE! Here is a front and back view of the skull portal that leads from Toole Avenue to the Hotel Congress patio.......creepy! Fun! Happy Halloween!!

Is that drummer a banana??

Yes, it is true. The drummer is dressed as a banana. I don't know how many state and Federal regulations are broken by having a fruit work in a band but there it is. Maynard's happy hour featured this band and the drummer, in fact, was dressed as a banana. I didn't catch the band's name. Does anyone know??  

Halloween Humor!

Ha! Happy Sunday! 

Tucson's Terrible Tarantula ~

Perhaps the biggest tarantula in the world has taken up residence at Tucson's Hotel Congress! Holy Toledo he is a big one! 

Tucson's Room with a View ~

This is one of the private dining rooms at the historic and charming Arizona Inn. The room opens to the lovely patio and garden area on the Inn's east side. This is just behind the bar area. 

Tucson Throwback Thursday ~

26 OCTOBER 2012

South of France? Italy? Nope - Tucson's east side

THEN and NOW:  Some things stay the same! 

As I rounded the corner I thought I had stumbled into a charming village in France or Italy. No, I'm still sharing photos of my wonderful day at the Tanque Verde Guest Ranch. Here is their "Hiking Department" office.

Sculptural Dessert ~

Have you ever seen a polka dotted cake? This thin curved cup of cake is filled with strawberry mousse and rests in a berry sauce decorated with white chocolate shavings. Mmmm! Just one of the Arizona Inn's lovely dessert offerings. 

Tuesday's Tucson Trivia!

The location of Tucson's El Con Mall on Broadway was originally the site of the El Conquistador Hotel. This is how the mall got its name and its logo - check out the Conquistador between the "L" and the "C" and the weapons that decorate the signage. The hotel opened in 1929 and was taken down in 1968, never having managed to turn a profit.

Happy Monday!

Here's a little joke to help start your week with a smile!  (:

Screaming Skull, Flying Bats ~

A screaming skull and flying bats are just the beginning of my Halloween decor! So far I have flying ghosts in the trees, cobwebs, spiders, and a creepy witch with flashing green eyes. On a sweeter note you can see my puppy Abby watching my decorating project from the window. Awwww...... 

Morning's at Seven ~

Tucson is world famous for its spectacular sunsets but let me assure you that our sunrises are equally fabulous! Here is a sky greeting of the Tucson sky at 7 am. Wow!
Photo courtesy of Kathi Gardner. 

Skeleton Diva ~

Lots and lots of ghouls and ghosts are appearing on porches, walls, and windows. I particularly like this grande dame who is lounging regally on a porch chair! 

Throwback Thursday Pumpkin ~

19 OCTOBER 2009

Tucson's Barrio Pumpkin ~

THEN:

For today I couldn't resist highlighting this pumpkin orange building in Tucson's Barrio district. It is the season, after all, for all things orange... This office building is at Convent & Simpson. Like many of the restored buildings in this area, this one houses a business ~ in this case, a law practice. Tucson's barrio district is also known as Barrio Historico or Barrio Libre.

http://southwest.library.arizona.edu/barr/body.1_div.2.html

NOW:

I haven't been past this building in a while so I don't know if it is still NEON ORANGE, but I am certain it is still standing. (:

Curvy Contrast ~

While walking downtown I was struck by the beauty and elegance of this historic building. I liked the contrast here of the curved white archways accented by the cylindrical green cactus. And yes, our sky IS that blue! (: 

Grand Illumination ~

These dramatic lamps/lanterns are part of the elegant ambiance in St Philip's Plaza, a collection of offices, shops, and restaurants at Campbell and River. A lovely spot! 

Ghosts of Christmas Past ~

When I first glanced at these reindeer I thought, "Whoa there. It's only October! Not Christmas decoration time YET!" but then I looked a little closer and by the rust on these little Rudolphs it is clear that these are year-round decor for this house! I guess these folks decorate once every decade or so....   (:

Combo Super Hero ~

By the size of this lizard I would suggest naming him "The Hulk" but by his climbing abilities I would say he is more like "Spiderman." This heroic sculpture is a feature on one of my neighbor's walls. 

Provence? No - downtown Tucson!

The next time you venture downtown, remember this place as a charming location for lunch or dinner. It is especially lovely for brunch! It is Cafe a la C'art, the cafe adjacent to the Tucson Museum of Art. You'll feel you are on vacation! 

Fore!

I don't suppose this counts as a Hole in One, does it?   (:
Photo courtesy of George Goldman. 

Tucson's Back-Flipping Violinist

12 OCTOBER 2009

Tucson's Back-Flipping Violinist

THEN: This mural is quite faded and I enhanced the color as much as I could for this photo image. This nice piece of building wall art depicts a swimmer (?) doing a back flip into the ocean(?). He holds his violin high as he flips. If you know anything about this mural (artist, vintage, title), please post a comment. I'd love to know more about this image at Broadway & Arizona.

NOW: So many murals that I have posted over the years have been painted over or the building itself has been torn down. I do not know if this mural is still visible. If you know anything, please post it! Thanks. 

Patchwork Paint ~

My guess is this homeowner is fighting back on repeated graffiti attacks. And I also guess that he grabs whatever bucket of paint is handy! The overall effect is kind of interesting, don't you think? Certainly it's better than gang tags!

Tucson's Painted Lady ~

Built in 1907 for Senator Owen Rouse, this stately mansion has been fully restored to its original glory. Located in the heart of downtown Tucson near the Temple of Music and Art and the Children's Museum, it is an architectural gem. And it's currently for sale! Check out the portfolio of photos here or call Susan Dodson, Tucson realtor extraordinaire, for more info!

Suggest a caption!

This praying mantis is so curious! Any one of these photos invites a clever caption -- what is it seeing/thinking??
Photos courtesy of Ken Wilcox.

Get your GLOW! on ~

This year's GLOW! event offered a Steampunk night as well as other specialty nights - all had glowing sculpture and amazing and bizarre art constructions illuminated with millions of twinkling lights. It is part art, part celebrating the full moon, and part adventure. To read more about GLOW!, click here.
Photo courtesy of Susan Dodson. 

Cool Cocoon ~

If you are a regular visitor to this site you know that I love seeing public art all around Tucson. This steel structure, "Cocoon," is in residence on Houghton Road near Drexel (just south of the TMC Medical complex). To see a really fun time lapse video of its construction, click here. 

Looking in ~

This is a peek into the beautiful grounds surrounding the Arizona Inn, a Tucson treasure. 

Thin Skinned!

My neighbor Rich found this rattlesnake skin in his backyard this morning! Note that it is doubled over where he is holding it -- that's one big snake!  Rich was not happy and I don't blame him. And now we know that a very big rattlesnake is lurking nearby. If you want to see some very interesting photos that detail the shedding process, click here. 

Tucson Trivia - Neon Girls Get Facelifts, too!

Tucson's "Diving Girl" is one of my favorite of the many vintage neon signs around town. This building is no longer a hotel and apartments; it is now a law office. The lawyers/building owners had to wait a long time to get permission to give Diving Girl a facelift but it is quite a sight! Here's an old news story about the restoration that shows the "Before" sign. Wow - what a difference! 

Tile Style ~

The tile setters who decorated The Shanty building on 4th Avenue made a cool choice when confronted with a bulge in the building. They customized the pattern to make it harmonize with the other wall bits. I think if this had been done today, that protrusion would have just been painted instead of artistically tiled. 

Another culinary choice...

So if yesterday's "Coconut Ash" ice cream wasn't your cup of tea (as it were), perhaps you will find something to your liking in this 4th Avenue store! Enjoy! 

To each his own....

The day's featured ice cream flavor, "Coconut Ash," prompts me to say, "Bleahhhhh!" but perhaps it sounds like a delicious treat to some of you out there...