30 April 2018

28 April 2018

Time again for "Where is this?"


If you have ever dined in this popular Tucson restaurant you may have noticed thses unusual and intricately carved light fixtures. Can you guess where I am? First person to identify this location wins a "fabulous" TDP t-shirt! Good luck!

ALL IS REVEALED:  These beautiful and intricately carved light fixtures are at Sushi Garden's Broadway location (The former "Elle" for those who have lived in Tucson for awhile). 

27 April 2018

Bursting with Blooms!

Wow! This house in my neighborhood has what looks like a Sunflower BUSH growing! I have never sen anything like this. I have only seen sunflowers growing as single stalks. BEAUTIFUL! And I love the yellow contrast on the purple walls. 

26 April 2018

A Special "Throwback Thursday" - for a birthday!

26 APRIL 2012

It's the Wild West alright ~


THEN:
Until I moved out west I had never given a thought to the etymology of "maverick." It's a word that has been in use since the 1880's and it refers to a calf or yearling that is unbranded. Specifically Samuel Maverick was a rancher who was negligent in branding his herd. So a "maverick" is an unconventional person and its original meaning was a calf without a master. Interesting!
NOW:
Today is a "Throwback Thursday" and I was delighted to find this posting from 2012 that is a perfect "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" message to one of my friends who is a true "Maverick!" 

25 April 2018

Rosie in Bloom!


Earlier this week I told you about the Tucson Botanical Gardens' "Corpse Flower," Rosie. She bloomed early! People were lined up for HOURS on Monday night to enjoy the beauty and the awful smell that accompanies it. Quite a spectacle! I am going to see if I can pop in there and get a glimpse and a whiff!
Photos courtesy of Susan Dodson.

24 April 2018

Tucson Trivia ~ the Sun is big here!

Tucson's nearby Kitt Peak Observatory is home to the world's largest solar telescope. Its 110-foot tower focuses sunlight down a 200-foot-long diagonal light shaft that extends 50 vertical meters into the mountain, reflecting off a series of mirrors to give an 85-centimeter-wide image of the sun. To read more (including a cool video on last summer's eclipse), click here

23 April 2018

Tucson's Famous Corpse Flower ~

 
YES, you read that correctly! Corpse Flower. Tucson Botanical Gardens has announced that their Corpse Flower (named Rosie) is predicted to bloom this week - maybe Thursday. The remarkable thing about this flower is that its aroma is compared to rotting flesh. Yuck, I say! But it is a big tourist draw and you can also enjoy the abundant butterflies in the exhibit as well. If you are curious, here's a link to a video about it (thankfully, you can watch but not have to smell!).
Photo courtesy of Susan Dodson. 

22 April 2018

Two Orbits in Harmony!

Here is the 20th anniversary cake of a couple who own a space exploration company here in Tucson. The commentary was that they are "forever in each other's orbit." Sweet! Love is sweet and anniversaries are even sweeter! 

21 April 2018

So long, farewell! Come to the Goodbye party!

It's not often that I can post a photo of something in Tucson that is scheduled for demolition. Most often I touch on that when I do my "Throwback Thursday" feature and display a photo of a mural, building, or sculpture that has disappeared. I was alerted to this mural's upcoming demise by a site follower.

Here is a striking mural in the courtyard of the Clifton Hotel on South Stone. This mural will be lost when the hotel begins an expansion plan. For more info about it, click here for the newspaper article. 

The Downtown Clifton, at 485 S. Stone Ave., will celebrate Danny Martin's mural this Saturday, April 21, at 5 p.m. The Torch Bearers and DJ Ramshur Rx will provide the music and Geronimo's Revenge food truck will be selling food. More info here

20 April 2018

All that remains ~

The dessert tray was still full with mini cheesecakes (3 flavors!) and gigantic creme brulee when the most recent Women's Salon Series concluded. Speaker Daisy Jenkins gave the keynote about her challenges as an African American growing up, getting educated, and getting a job in America. Hard to believe that closed mindedness is still so rampant in our modern world. But more than 100 women left the event with new insight - I hope! 

19 April 2018

Throwback Thursday - Mice!

19 APRIL 2010

A Mighty Mouse Limo (and mousetrap!) ~

THEN:
I still haven't been able to catch the regular mouse cars as they drive around Tucson but I've captured the mouse LIMO for you. It's parked in front of the Truly Nolen headquarters on Speedway. And do check out that mighty mousetrap! Fun!
NOW: 
Eight years later the mouse cars are still scooting around town - fighting pests! 

18 April 2018

One Stop Wedding Planning ~

So right here on Oracle Road you can pop into David's Bridal and select a dress and then walk next door to arrange your catering. I am envisioning a really messy dinner, though....

17 April 2018

Did you know...Tucson is near WINE country?

YES! There is a robust wine industry in Arizona! Close to Tucson there are a number of wineries available to tour and have a tasting. Sonoita, Patagonia, and Willcox (south and east of Tucson) have soil and climate conditions similar to those in parts of the south of France and Spain. For more info and to plan your tasting tour, click here. 

16 April 2018

So beautiful, so annoying!

It's full spring here in Tucson and the Palo Verde trees are in gorgeous bloom. Yes, and that yellow flowering tree is producing tons and tons of pollen that can make life very uncomfortable for anyone with sinus problems. It is a beautiful tree, for sure, but I suffer for it! (And yes, our sky is really that blue!)

15 April 2018

Gnome Home ~

This gnome has a pretty nice space carved out of a desert barrel cactus! Sweet!
Photo courtesy of Susan Dodson. 

14 April 2018

Pretty Impressive Want Ad!

I've never seen a "want ad" quite as BIG and COLORFUL as this one. Looks like Toolspot on Golf Links Road needs to increase their staff and they want everyone driving by to know about it! 

13 April 2018

Tucson's Remarkable Rock Garden ~

Whenever I hear the term "rock garden" I don't really picture THIS! But it is clear that these homeowners on Desert Steppes Drive want to make sure that they remain untroubled by weeds until the end of time! Wow - imagine how long this must have taken to install! Rock Garden indeed!
Photo courtesy of David Aber. 

12 April 2018

Tucson's Biggest Stationary Burger ~

12 APRIL 2011

Tucson's fantastic Burger-mobile ~


THEN:
Pointing the way to the wonderful Little Anthony's Diner is this fun Burger-mobile parked at the corner of Kolb & Broadway. That's quite a whopping big burger on the hood and make sure to check out the fun French fry bumper!
NOW:
The Burger-mobile is in exactly the same place! It would be so great if they could actually drive this thing around town. That would be FUN! 

11 April 2018

We need a little perspective here...

 
You, too, may be wondering WHAT ON EARTH IS THAT???  I wondered the same thing as I looked over in traffic and saw.... that. OK, the best I can figure out is that this landscape guy collects stuffed animals and he hangs them on the back of his trailer. Stuffed animal road kill? Only in Tucson! 

10 April 2018

Tueson Trivia - Downtown Characters

Everyone has their favorite character among the many black and white photo tile murals that decorate the Broadway Underpass. This massive public art project ("Windows to the Past; Gateway to the Future") is a great Tucson valentine. Steve Farley invented a process to convert archival photos into tiles and turned a display of Tucson's history into a display of Tucson's "Best Wall Ever!" Here are a few stories to give you more information about this wonderful and amazing art work. Click here and here and here to read more and to see more images! Enjoy! 

08 April 2018

The location is....

07 APRIL 2018


It's Contest Time Again!

OK, you sharp-eyed Tucsonans! It's time again for the "Where is this?" contest. The first person to identify where this lovely pin up girl is wins a "fabulous" TDP t-shirt. Good luck! For those of you who are regular winners (you know who you are!), please sit on your hands for a day and let some other lucky person go for the gold. (:
April 8: NOT A SINGLE GUESS?  OK! Here's a clue....  think MILITARY.
April 9:  Miller's Surplus, the self-described "Greatest Store in the World!"  (Craycroft location)

07 April 2018

It's Contest Time Again!

OK, you sharp-eyed Tucsonans! It's time again for the "Where is this?" contest. The first person to identify where this lovely pin up girl is wins a "fabulous" TDP t-shirt. Good luck! For those of you who are regular winners (you know who you are!), please sit on your hands for a day and let some other lucky person go for the gold. (:

06 April 2018

Tucson Food Friday! (Is beer a food?)

TOMORROW! Saturday! 
The 3rd annual Baja Beer Festival is back! This year it will be held in historic Armory Park. Sample over 200 beers from Arizona's best breweries and food (for purchase) from the regions most talented chefs. This year's fest features a focus on IPAs, as brewers compete in the first state-wide IPA competition. For FULL DETAILS, CLICK HERE. 

05 April 2018

Throwback Thursday ~ Ditto, Repeat!

05 APRIL 2013

Southwest Good Luck Charm ~

 
THEN:
You know you're in the Southwest when you see strands of drying chile peppers (ristras).  Ristras are hung in front of a home to welcome visitors and to bring good luck.
NOW: 
Happily, good luck wishes endure from year to year! 

04 April 2018

Mysteries of English ~

So I had to laugh when I saw this sign at the Beyond Bread on Campbell. Yes, it means "Parking for people who are picking up a food order" but if you drive a Pick Up Truck, hey.... this spot's for you!

03 April 2018

Tucson Trivia According to Guinness...


According to Guinness World Records, Tucson's Davis-Monthan Airforce Base has the largest aircraft repair shop and storage facility on Earth. Covering 2,600 acres, it could house 4,200 aircraft and 40 aerospace vehicles at one time, while still leaving room for 350,000 production tools. Awesome!

01 April 2018

Hope your day is Sweet!

Happy Easter! What is your favorite Easter treat - chocolate eggs, chocolate bunnies, marshmallow Peeps..... tell me!