Spotlight

Took this photo recently. Couldn't resist the palm trees illuminated by ground lights at night.

Mixed Messages in Phoenix, AZ

With Halloween just a couple of weeks into the past, I am not sure if I am ready for Christmas decor, not yet, and I am still trying to reconcile sights like this, where a Christmas tree, which to me suggests a winter setting of chill and snow, stands in front of palm trees, which remind me that I am now living in a winterless desert. I am no "snowbird"; autumn and winter still make me homesick for the Midwest.

Flowers in the Path

At 24th Street in the Biltmore community of Phoenix, there is an underpass with a decorative floor running beneath Camelback Road and connecting the Esplanade Center with Biltmore Fashion Park. I love the floral motif. The decoration actually seems to harken back to the art deco movement. Just as important, I love having a convenient pedestrian connection between these two points of interest that allows me to avoid the hassle of walking quickly across the street before the light changes to red. Here are some details from this beautiful decorative floor. Enjoy!

Camelback Mountain in Sunset

Camelback Mountain from a different angle during sunset over the weekend. The closer you get to Camelback Mountain, the more surreal it seems. It is one of the iconic features of Phoenix. Flying back to Phoenix, I can always tell I'm getting closer to home when I see Camelback Mountain off in the distance.

Art Deco Retro in Phoenix, AZ

The Bank of America building on 20th Street and Camelback Road displays these two remarkable art deco-inspired architectural reliefs. I have admired these two for quite some time, two architectural details to provide beauty and uniqueness to what is otherwise a generic corporate center. Each shows an economic sector that has built the state of Arizona and helped it to thrive to become the state it is today. First is agriculture, and I love the plentiful bounty at the left corner of corncobs and a pumpkin, largely because it stirs up memories of autumn. The clouds up above at the top left, suggesting rain, seem like a prayer answered in this state of perpetual sun. Then, there is industry and the laborer in the act of doing mechanical work. The copse of saguaro at the bottom left corner is a nice desert-specific detail for an architectural relief that could otherwise suggest anywhere.

Cinema with a View

View from balcony of AMC Esplanade 14 Theater, Phoenix, AZ

This is a view from the balcony of the AMC Esplanade 14 Theater in Phoenix. In the distance lies the popular Biltmore Fashion Park and a peak that has always fascinated me. I am not sure if this particular peak has a name, but it has always seemed almost mythical in appearance. The view from the theater balcony is actually quite surreal. Coming from a flat land region, I love to be able to look out and see mountains in the distance.

There is more to see, both in Arizona and Phoenix, but I've been a slacker these days. Rest assured, there is more to come.