Doggie Door?

 Pretty grand front door, isn't it? And that bottom opening -- doggie door? Package delivery? 

And a little to the left ~

No comments about the last photo so here is another view....a little to the left. 

Bird's Eye View ~

Care to guess where this was taken?

Tucson Trivia ~ the Tucson Portrait Project

Chances are good that someone you know is one of the thousands of portraits on display in the Fourth Avenue Underpass. 10 years ago the "Tucson Portrait Project" was launched to capture photos of people in Tucson - all kinds of people...young, old, big, little... and some animals, too! A truly great piece of public art! 

Tucson Throwback Thursday ~

06 DECEMBER 2012

Secret shopping ~

THEN:

This is a wonderful store that is on the grounds of hte famous El Corral restaurant - so it's a little hidden from view. "Diamond Lil's" feataures vintage clothing and jewelry. I can't find a website for t hem but I did find this basic info on Yelp:  2201 E River Rd, Tucson, AZ 85718; Open Wed-Sun 3pm - 9 pm. 

NOW:

A newer Yelp entry: https://www.yelp.com/biz/diamond-lils-vintage-and-gifts-tucson

Native Gardens ~

 

Here is the set for Arizona Theatre Company's current production, "Native Gardens" at the Temple of Music and Art. For more info about this play, click here. 

Village in the Garden ~

Did you know that the Tucson Botanical Gardens has a village complete with railroad station? This charming feature, "Thorneville Garden Railway," was the brainchild of Thorne Pierce and Gary Martin and was dedicated in 2008.  Fun!
Photo courtesy of Ken Wilcox. 

Greetings from Tucson!

This wonderful "Tucson Postcard" mural is in Swan Way Park (4800 E 1st Street). This project had local artists Allison Miller leading a community paint day in collaboration with Big Brothers Big Sisters. The mural was completed in August, 2012.
Photo courtesy of Dave Aber.

 

More Trompe L'Oeil! Fun!

One of the many things I love about Tucson is the amount of public art that adds a note of fun to the landscape. Here is a wonderful mural that decorates Dale's Doors on S Kino Parkway. The figure in the doorway is NOT a ghost - it's Shana, the daughter of the store's owner, Leslie Bray. The artwork was done by "Murals by Jos." 

Inside looking out ~

Want to take a guess where this is in Tucson? Rustic and beautifully vine covered - looks like somewhere in Europe, doesn't it?

Historical Throwback Thursday - all is the same!

09 AUGUST 2010

More mansions on Main ~

THEN: 8 years ago this particular posting was part of a "Walking Tour of Downtown Tucson" that I was navigating for site visitors. 

NOW: The tour would be the same! 

Facing each other on Main at Franklin are two very different homes ~ both beautiful. The Steinfeld Mansion (California Mission Revival style) was built in 1898 and originally housed an exclusive bachelors' club (tomorrow you'll visit the club's later location). Later, the Steinfelds bought it. Even later it was a convent! It is reputedly one of the first homes in Tucson to have running water.
http://www.dotcomtucson.com/tucson_arizona_attractions/steinfeld_mansion.html
The Jules Kruttschnidt House (now a bed and breakfast) blends Mexican adobe construction with a veranda and breezeway. http://www.bbonline.com/az/elpresidio/history.html

Next stop: Keep walking north on Main and on your left you will spot the Owl's Club building - just a few steps from the Steinfeld Mansion.

Charm at every turn ~

Tucson's historic Hacienda del Sol Resort offers charm at every turn. They have modernized and expanded the resort over the years but have kept the essential southwest charm in every element. 

Tucson Loves Sushi!

26 JULY 2010

A flagship restaurant ~

THEN:

Here is one of the anchor stores at Broadway Village ~ Elle restaurant. It used to have a giant ripe red tomato as part of their logo/signage and fun tomato shaped door handles at the entry. Ownership has changed over the years and I noticed in my recent walkaround that the current owners decided to paint the tomato door handles shiny black.... Go figure.

Anyway, you can see the weathervane on top displays the year 1939 when the Village was built.

NOW: This site is now Sushi Garden Restaurant which has pretty good reviews!

Whisky & More Whisky!

Check out the cool light fixtures at Tucson's Batch Cafe! Batch is famous for Whisky & Doughnuts so they made these cool lamps with the empties! Fun! 

Epitome of Southwest Style ~

Handsome and rustic beamed ceiling, painted fireplace with stucco bench seating.... where do you think this beautiful, classic Southwest living room is located? 

Throwback Thursday - Still the same!

19 JULY 2009

Two Tucson Icons - Monsoon Sky & Hotel Congress

THEN & NOW - the same! The Hotel Congress is perhaps best known as the site where John Dillinger last stayed before he and his gang were captured by the Tucson police. And then there are the many stories about the resident ghosts... Here the monsoon sky serves as a cloudy background for the hotel's iconic rooftop sign.

Hotel Congress 
http://www.hotelcongress.com/

311 E Congress St

(520) 622-8848

Get directions

Some relief from the heat!

Just looking at this green on green house makes you feel a little cooler, doesn't it? Such a great house with its Juliet balcony and big 2nd floor deck in addition to the porch! Lots of outdoor spaces to enjoy the amazing Tucson sky. And speaking of sky, yes, our sky is really that blue!!  (:

Shrine Dedicated to a Sinner ~

Tucson's El Tiradito Shrine (The Wishing Shrine) is part of the Turquoise Trail walking tour. This little shrine is dedicated to a young man who was killed by an enraged husband when he found him in bed with his wife. The young man was having an affair with his mother in law. As a result of his murder, the mother in law (his lover) and her daughter (his wife) both committed suicide. Interesting piece of Tucson trivia, yes?

Southwest Sun Screen ~

Here is a sun roof constructed from ocotillo spines that I spotted at Hacienda del Sol, one of Tucson's historic resort properties. 

The building has also vanished! Throwback Thursday....

03 MAY 2010

Bookman's Fantasy Murals ~ gone forever

THEN:

Believe me, I never dreamed that this website would ever serve as any kind of historical record about Tucson but at least in this one case, it really will. Sadly the Bookman's store at Grant & Campbell has painted over all of their splendid fantasy murals to use the wallspace for..... advertising. Bob, Bob ~ what were you thinking???

So, here from my photo stash is the last of the medieval series that once enchanted store shoppers and Grant Road drivers alike. As you know from my previous postings, the staffers had named all of the mural characters. Depicted here is sweet Pip (Pretty in Pink) trapped in the tower as Evil Queen Wendy and Dr. Volt each scheme how to harm her. Assuring her of his love below is... who else but... Romeo.

These murals were a wonderful, quirky addition to the Tucson cultural landscape. I am very sorry that they have been eliminated. To see the whole series, click on the "Bookmans" label on the bottom of this post.
http://www.bookmans.com/

NOW:

Not only are these murals long gone but now the building is gone as well! The old Bookmans store at Campbell and Grant has fallen to the wrecking ball. I have no idea what will next occupy that corner.