Compass High School carries on ~

For those of you who live in Tucson I'm sure you know about the terrible fire at Compass High School. HazMat teams were on site today to continue the clean up. School officials say they will open as scheduled for Monday classes. What determined teachers and students! Go Gators!!

Compass is a wonderful, innovative high school that prepares students for the workforce. They even have night classes. I've posted other photos/comments: March 15, September 24 & 25. www.compasshsgators.org.

Here's the full story in the paper with fire photos: http://azstarnet.com/news/local/crime/collection_f7d0658e-a68e-11df-bd87-001cc4c002e0.html

Unusual city skyline ~

I was struck today with how much this hotel under construction looked like a city skyline. Maybe the New Yorker in me just naturally sees skyscrapers everywhere! The 215-room hotel will be part of the Casino del Sol complex on Valencia Road. The construction work is a very welcome sight during our economic slump.
www.solcasinos.com

Just one week left to register for the $50 gift drawing!

Hello everyone! There is just one week left until the gift drawing!

On August 20 Tucson will celebrate its 235th birthday and as a special THANK YOU to all of you who have registered/signed up as a follower of this site, you will be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate good at more than 200 retail online stores (like www.cookware.com and www.allmodern.com).

Just stopping by? Become a follower and be part of this fun drawing! And please share this contest with your friends, family, & coworkers. Who wouldn't want $50 to spend on something nice? Everyone who is a follower by Aug 19 will be entered in the drawing. Thanks & good luck!

Unusual Tucson wildlife ~

You've learned alot about Tucson's history this week but I bet you didn't expect to find out that dinosaurs live here. This lifesize beauty was created by local artist Daniel McQuestion and is currently camping out on this friend's porch until it finds a new home. Know anyone who would like to display this fantastic creature in their home or office?

To learn more about Daniel's work, please go to his website: www.dmcquestion.com. There you will learn about his plans and see many other examples of feathered dinosaurs. Let me give a special thank you to the owner of 372 W Franklin for permitting me to photograph this beauty.

Tucson's exclusive men's club ~ The Owl

This magnificent building once housed an exclusive club for Tucson's bachelors ~ the Owl Club. You can see the mascot owl in the facade's porthole. Built in 1901 the club was active for decades. Eventually, the building fell into terrible disrepair and the story of its renovation is incredible: http://www.rwboucher.com/Portfolio02/index.html

http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/pick/Content?oid=1080491

Next stop: For the last stop on this downtown tour I'm taking you to a very unusual point of interest ~ guaranteed to not be on any other walking tour you might take! The Owl Club and the Steinfeld Mansion both flank Franklin. Walk west on Franklin to Granada. Stop at 372 West Franklin. See you tomorrow!

More mansions on Main ~

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.

Have a drink at a landmark ~

Probably one of Tucson's most famous restaurants, El Charro, has a fun bar area attached ~ TOMA! You can sit outdoors, enjoy something cool to drink, and rest your feet. Do check out the gift shop for some very interesting food gifts.

http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/north-america/united-states/arizona/tucson/20057/toma/nightlife-detail.html

Next stop: Turn left (west) on Franklin and walk back to Main Street.