Phoenix Daily Photo

Another PEN Story

2010-10-16T09:05:00.001-07:00

I'm still partial to the original. And of course, Her Morning Elegance is my all time favorite.

Hipstamatic Church

2010-10-05T13:42:00.000-07:00

St. Thomas the Apostle on 24th St. and Highland

Scottsdale International Film Festival

2010-10-04T00:05:00.000-07:00

Harkins Camelview during the Scottsdale International Film Festival. Only two more days left. See http://www.scottsdalefilmfestival.com/ for more details.

The Best

2010-10-03T01:28:00.000-07:00

I've tried most cupcake houses in town. Let Them Eat Cake is my favorite by a long shot. Pictured above are Better Than Sex (right), Spumoni (center) and Mocha (left). Great taste is a given, but these little cakes look good too. So, if you're looking for a presentable sweet gift, give this place a try.

Funny Face

2010-10-02T10:26:00.000-07:00

Movies at the Park at the Biltmore kicked off the Fall Season with Funny Face. This is one of the Valley's few laid back, dog-friendly, totally free, weekly events. It's very well attended, so come early and stake a spot on the lawn.

105 in October

2010-10-01T11:20:00.001-07:00

Where is Fall?

Doggie Day Trip - Southern AZ Missions and Forts

2010-04-22T04:27:00.000-07:00

Sophie and I spent Good Friday 2010 exploring the sights along I-19 in Southern AZ. I highly recommend this easy day trip from Phoenix as it offers a variety of interesting, dog-friendly destinations. The round trip tour took 12 hours and included many leisurely stops in between. Here are the highlights:

Pima Air and Space Museum - We didn't have the time or inclination to stop here, but the museum gets high marks in my guide book. Check it out, and let me know what you think.
San Xavier del Bac - We experienced the iconic "White Dove of the Desert" at dawn before the tour buses rolled in. It's the perfect time for shutterbugs as you'll get no crowds and pure, golden light to highlight the architecture and whimsical landscaping. Dogs aren't allowed in the Mission, but Sophie was happy just roaming the grounds.
Tubac - Tubac's historic center is surrounded by eclectic shops and galleries. It is an artist's town, and you'll find many opportunities to view local works. Recent state budget cuts threatened the Tubac Presidio Historical State Park. So, concerned locals raised enough money to keep the park open. The Park is currently operated by the Tubac Historical Society. If you're looking for colorful Mexican pottery or large copper/metal art pieces, a stroll through Tubac will be worthwhile.
Anza Trail - Tubac and Tumacacori are 3.5 miles apart on the Anza Trail, which is only a small portion of the 1200 mile trail that stretches from Nogales, Arizona to San Francisco, California. We enjoyed one good mile of the trail by using the gated trailhead just outside the Tumacacori walls and heading for the cottonwoods that line the Santa Cruz river.
Tumacacori - The highlight of our trip was Tumacacori. The Mission structure is unconsecrated, so both the mission and the grounds were accessible to dogs. The structures are beautifully preserved, and both the self-guided and guided tours are well executed. There is a peaceful church garden, a museum and a tortilla making exhibit complete with free tortilla and beans. Yes... Sophie had a tortilla too.

Directions - Take I-10 from Phoenix to Tucson. Take I-19 south to hit the sights. We took the same roads back, but if you have extra time, drive further south past Tumacacori and take the 82 north to Tucson. It passes through Patagonia State Park and several Southern Arizona wineries.

Tumacacori

2010-04-21T04:23:00.000-07:00

Bell Tower

2010-04-20T06:21:00.000-07:00

Tumacacori Garden

2010-04-19T02:19:00.000-07:00

Granary - Tumacacori

2010-04-18T02:18:00.000-07:00

Doggie Day Trip - Tumacacori

2010-04-16T05:50:00.000-07:00

Doggie Day Trip - Anza Trail

2010-04-15T05:10:00.000-07:00

Pots

2010-04-14T03:49:00.000-07:00

Fake Fort

2010-04-13T04:46:00.000-07:00

Door

2010-04-12T04:44:00.000-07:00

Door in Tubac

Walls of Tubac

2010-04-10T05:40:00.000-07:00

Doggie Day Trip - Tubac

2010-04-09T05:32:00.000-07:00

San Xavier del Bac

2010-04-07T05:08:00.000-07:00

Mission San Xavier del Bac

Devotional Fountain

2010-04-06T05:06:00.000-07:00

Drinking fountain at San Xavier del Bac

Dawn

2010-04-05T05:04:00.000-07:00

Titled "Dawn" because, quite frankly, I have no clue what this thing is called. Turret? Nevertheless, I love the look of morning sun on white stucco. San Xavier del Bac was radioactive white from the freeway. Even more gorgeous up close.

Arches

2010-04-04T01:01:00.000-07:00

The chapel at San Xavier del Bac

Doggie Day Trip - San Xavier del Bac, San Xavier Reservation near Tucson

2010-04-03T12:55:00.000-07:00

Love that crazy cactus.

Doggie Day Trip - Superior and Globe

2010-03-13T05:34:00.000-08:00

Poor Sophie has to suffer through my latest case of itchy feet. Before summer, we'll be hitting the road to revisit all those little places my parents once insisted were interesting and important. Of course, only dog friendly spots will make it on our agenda. Last week, we took off on the 60 and headed northeast to the mining towns of Superior -Miami- Globe, then took the 88 hugging Roosevelt Lake to the east and the Tonto National Monument to the west. These spots were our favorites:

Boyce Thompson Arboretum - The Arboretum houses an incredible collection of desert plants from around the world - the Chihuahuan, Sonoran and Australian deserts are well represented. The cactus garden is a must see. We even got to watch the tree climbing competition in the eucalyptus garden.

Besh Ba Gowah Archaeological Park - The Salado Indians' upper and lower dwellings at Tonto National Monument are off limits to dogs, so Besh Ba Gowah was a pleasant find. The Park houses over 200 Salado pueblos. There is also an on-site museum, a gift shop, a spacious and clean restroom, a mini botanical garden, and an informative video - all for the bargain price of $4. Dogs are free!

Roosevelt Lake - Ok, so we didn't really hit the lake, but the scenic drive around the lake was relaxing. If traveling north on the 88, you'll hit a nice lookout pullover before the bridge. It's a platform to view the upper dwelling of the Tonto National Monument to the west (I had to squint to see it) and Roosevelt Lake to the east. It's also the perfect spot for a car sick pup to get some fresh air.

one car sick puppy

Besh-Ba-Gowah in Globe, AZ

2010-03-12T05:26:00.000-08:00

Pueblo Interior

Barrel

2010-03-11T05:59:00.000-08:00

Barrel Cactus at Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Garden Art

2010-03-10T05:57:00.000-08:00

Glass and metal piece at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Cactus Garden

2010-03-09T03:05:00.000-08:00

The Cactus Garden at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Green Grove

2010-03-08T09:07:00.000-08:00

Chilean Palo Verde grove at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Doggie Day Trip - Tucson

2010-02-24T07:23:00.000-08:00

Sophie and I jetted off to Tucson on Saturday and discovered a few spots that welcomed both man and beast:

Saguaro National Park (East) - Dogs are not allowed on the trails, but they are welcome to trot on the nine mile loop road, the various scenic overlooks and the expansive picnic area. The ranger even had a stash of dog biscuits at the entry. $10/vehicle. The pass is good for 7 days.
Agua Caliente Park - Check out this site for info and stunning wildlife photos. There is a natural spring pond and bevies of beautiful birds (great for meditation or chasing).
Farmer's Market at St. Philips Plaza - A lot of crafts and a few fresh produce stands. Great for people watching and dog sniffing. I bought a steaming cup of hand pressed Costa Rican coffee and an apple crumble pie made with mesquite flour (ground mesquite pods).
Cup Cafe at the Hotel Congress - A great little place in downtown Tucson by the University. Sophie and I hung out at the patio until the storm rolled in right over our quiche. We retired to the lobby where Herb, our waiter - great name for a waiter, brought us some sweet potato fries, a bowl of fresh water and a cup of coffee.

As for the Finger Rock Trail (see two previous photos)... well, Google just informed me that dogs aren't allowed on that trail. So, let's just drop that one from the list.

The loop drive at Saguaro National Park East

Finger Rock

2010-02-23T07:12:00.000-08:00

Break in the Storm

2010-02-22T07:08:00.000-08:00

A sunny break in Saturday's storms - view from the Finger Rock trailhead in Tucson.

Trash

2010-02-14T09:16:00.000-08:00

Stage

2010-02-13T09:14:00.000-08:00

Ticket Booth

2010-02-12T09:12:00.000-08:00

Vampire and Coffee

2010-02-11T09:10:00.000-08:00

Anti Space

2010-02-10T09:09:00.000-08:00

Piano Man

2010-02-09T09:06:00.000-08:00

Michael David Little's canvas.

Incubator

2010-02-08T09:04:00.000-08:00

The Roosevelt District has been dubbed as downtown Phoenix's arts incubator. The District hosts First Fridays Art Walk and houses several arts organizations, galleries and hip restaurants. There is nothing polished about the area, but there is a palpable vibrant and dynamic energy to the place. Case in point are the various wall murals that pepper the buildings. I'll post several examples in the next few days.

Bird Wall

2010-02-07T09:03:00.000-08:00

Lesson on how to bring a wall to life.

Priorities

2010-01-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

I've run in every Rock and Roll since the inaugural race in 2004... until this year when, at 5 am, I realized that my puppy, Sophie, would have to sit in her crate for too many hours while I carved another notch on my running belt. So, we decided to play spectators instead. Here she is chilling out on some pompoms.

Cheer

2010-01-19T14:03:00.000-08:00

Cheerleaders at the 2010 PF Chang's Rock and Roll Marathon

PF Chang's Marathon

2010-01-18T19:48:00.000-08:00

Mile 1 of the 2010 PF Chang's Marathon

Eyes

2010-01-10T08:12:00.000-08:00

Superheroes

2010-01-09T07:33:00.000-08:00

Showing off superpowers at the 12k's of Christmas: Speed (left) and strentgh (right)

2009 12k's of Christmas - Gilbert

2010-01-08T08:06:00.000-08:00

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR A GOOD TIME. I am in love with this race! It is a relatively new 12k with carolers along the course. Runners get Santa hats instead of race shirts - advertised as "running in a sea of Santas". The best part... the event benefits Maricopa County Animal Care and Control. So,all of the booths are dog/pet related. Dogs, costumes, ice cream and Santa all add up to great fun. BRING YOUR DOG.

Happy Family

2010-01-07T08:04:00.000-08:00

Post-race ice cream at the 12k of Christmas

Tour de Scottsdale

2010-01-06T07:49:00.000-08:00

I felt like the entire course was uphill. It was a windy day. Too blustery to enjoy the race. I hopped on a support vehicle at mile 57.

Tour de Scottsdale

2010-01-05T07:43:00.000-08:00

Early morning prep at DC Ranch in Scottsdale

Ducks

2010-01-04T07:54:00.000-08:00

Picking up ducks at the AFLAC Iron Girl 5K and 10 miler

One of my favorite races, the AFLAC Iron Girl 5k or 10 miler is held at Tempe Town Lake. It's a medium- sized, well-organized race. There are plenty of mother/daughter teams (I've seen 5 year olds on the course), and breakfast is served after the race. The technical shirts and plush ducks are a plus.

Races

2010-01-03T05:30:00.000-08:00

Races are perfect venues for people watching and portrait taking. Between the crazy rush at the start and the slow flurry at the finish, there are miles of really intense people taking it one step, one stroke or one pedal at a time. Endurance sports are one of my few remaining vices... not because I'm good (I usually finish in the bottom 10%), but because they're fun social events populated by healthy people all madly driven towards a common end. Also, snacks are often provided - it's all about the snacking. In the next few days I'll post my small collection of portraits from some fall events.

Little girl waits for her mom at the AFLAC Iron Girl 10-miler.

Portrait - Noon

2009-10-26T18:09:00.000-07:00

I LOVE JAM!

Portrait - 7am

2009-10-24T18:38:00.000-07:00

Homeless man in downtown Phoenix on a summer Sunday.

Portraits

2009-10-23T10:59:00.000-07:00

Of the 50 photos I've posted since July, only one features people - and that photo was a guest contribution. Portraits aren't my strength mostly because people shots are all about catching the perfect moment, which requires mind-numbing patience and luck. However, I can't continue to deny the fact that wherever I find myself, people define the place as much as, if not more than, landmarks, food and scenery. If I'm to do a city photo blog justice, I need to post people pics.

For inspiration, I'll be hitting Phoenix Art Museum's newest exhibit "Face to Face: 150 Years of Photographic Portraiture". The exhibit runs from September 19, 2009 to January 10, 2010. In honor of the exhibit, and as a tool to force myself to sit still and try people pics for a change, I'll post only portraits through November.

For more information, see http://www.phxart.org/exhibition/exhibitionfacetoface.php.

Water Tower

2009-10-17T15:41:00.000-07:00

As part of the Town's Heritage District redevelopment plan, Gilbert's historic water tower was restored in 2002. It's now the focus of downtown Gilbert which features restaurants, a theatre and fun public art.

The final food post... for now

2009-10-11T19:56:00.000-07:00

It was a perfectly beautiful Sunday morning - clear skies, temps in the 70's. We hit Morning Glory Cafe at the Farm at South Mountain. I had lemonade and the Eggs Benedict... pretty and delicious.

Peppers

2009-10-08T14:11:00.000-07:00

Guest photographer Belinda took this great pepper shot during a visit to St. Lawrence Market in Toronto.

The Mission

2009-09-30T11:31:00.000-07:00

I topped off restaurant week with a visit to The Mission -an Old Town Scottsdale restaurant that serves "modern Latin cuisine mixing tradition and ingenuity". The ambiance was dark, rich and comforting - evoking a mix of Old World elegance and modern Southwest. The service was a tad brisk, but gracious. This time, we sampled the prix fixe offerings. The winners... the Halibut (tender with an interesting tamarind/fennel/mostarda sauce) and the Filet Uruguayan (perfectly cooked and served with crispy potato croquettes). The BEST dish by far was the Pumpkin Bread Pudding which, in my mind, tops the Cowboy Ciao version. All in all, a wonderful meal. Check them out at www.themissionaz.com.

Avalon

2009-09-28T14:40:00.000-07:00

Avalon is a new Scottsdale restaurant with the typical polished Scottsdale decor in an atypical South Scottsdale location. The biggest plus - you don't have to sift through a pulsing heap of humanity to get to a table and enjoy the food. Try and hit Avalon for Sunday brunch. They have phenomenal live music, AM cocktails and THE BEST toast (pre-treated with vanilla butter).

For dinner, the Duck-Duck-'Goose' was a bit underdone, and the Seared Maine Diver Scallops were a smaller than expected - (but still delicious). We were really impressed with 'Provimi Farms' Lamb and the Aged Prime Rib-eye Steak. Oh, and for desert, the Roasted Banana Bread Pudding (peppered with salted caramel) was very very good.

I was hesitant to post this because it's nice to keep a good thing to yourself. Many Scottsdale restaurants just like this start out as relaxing hangouts only to mature into PACKED houses where people watching is the main sport -spot the cougars/divorcees, $30,000/yr millionaires and prostitutes. I'm hoping Avalon doesn't succumb to the same fate. When/if it does, I'll stop visiting. For now, I'll be hitting it occasionally for a relaxing brunch or dinner.

Try and visit when the band is playing on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings. Check out restaurant.com for coupons. Avalon is at http://www.avalon-scottsdale.com/.

Nine/05

2009-09-25T08:15:00.000-07:00

I've been so busy eating out this week that I forgot to post. Here are pictures from Nine/05 - an Asian fusion restaurant in downtown Phoenix. Like many places in downtown Phoenix, Nine/05 is housed in a small bungalow with wood floors. The decor is urban, artsy with a hint of cheeky. There is a nice outdoor bar/seating area. The service was warm and efficient. And the food... well... it was excellent. We ordered a variety of dishes, but the standouts were... the char siu pork (tender with a perfect glaze), the seven spice duck confit crepes (the best on the table), the shrimp fried rice (surprisingly garnished with coconut) and the coffee and chocolate torte (heaven). We found out later that the chef (pictured above) used to work at our all-time favorite restaurant - the now defunct Methode Bistro. We're lucky to find him again. Great food, reasonable prices, inviting ambiance.

Check them out at: http://www.nine-05.com/.

Pasty

2009-09-22T05:57:00.000-07:00

I'll start with a place that's not featured in AZ Restaurant Week but is worth a mention because it's one of those places you'd miss if you blinked. And what you'd be missing is a great neighborhood restaurant that serves simple, satisfying, inexpensive food. The Cornish Pasty place in Tempe specializes in the humble pasty - a half-moon shaped crust stuffed with wholesome meats and veggies. Check them out at www.cornishpastyco.com.

Bannoffee Pie

Cornish Pasty Co.

Restaurant Week

2009-09-21T15:18:00.000-07:00

September 19 marked the start of Arizona Restaurant Week wherein participating local restaurants offer 3-course, prix fixe menus. It's a great way to sample your way through some of the best restaurants in town. For details, see http://www.arizonarestaurantweek.com/. In celebration of restaurant week, I'll post some savory closeups of local dishes. I'm not a food blogger, so please see chowhound.com or azcentral.com for restaurant reviews.

Here is a related thread on Chowhound

Cholla

2009-09-19T04:52:00.000-07:00

Cholla and rock at sunset.

I'm down to two stock sites - shutterstock and bigstockphoto. It's too time consuming to submit to any more. The cholla shot above is one of my favorites, but it was officially rejected by both stock sites. No big loss - I get to post it in large format on this blog.

Here is a great article outlining the recent changes in microstock.

Attainable Art

2009-09-18T04:08:00.000-07:00

Praia Piquinia

by Christian Chaize

available at www.20x200.com

I'm a big fan of 20x200 - an innovative website built around the formula:

(limited editions x low prices) + the internet = art for everyone

The website showcases original photography and prints twice a week. Each work is available in limited quantities with prices starting at $20. Check out their website at www.20x200.com.

Overtime

2009-09-17T04:54:00.000-07:00

Night time construction at the Phoenix Childrens' Hospital site.

Another Stately Saguaro

2009-09-16T04:53:00.000-07:00

The Other Side

2009-09-15T07:47:00.000-07:00

Here's a shot of the other side of the canal. Wish more lights were on.

Waterfront

2009-09-11T01:09:00.000-07:00

View from bridge at Scottsdale Waterfront

City Trees

2009-09-10T08:15:00.000-07:00

Tree lined path leading to City of Phoenix building.

Dawn

2009-09-09T05:48:00.000-07:00

5:30am - yawn!
Dawn breaks over Tempe Town Lake

Breathtaking Landscapes

2009-09-09T02:47:00.000-07:00

Ahhh... if only I had half his talent. I've fallen in love with Ron Niebrugge's blog. He and his wife Janine travel the globe to capture some of the clearest and most stunning landscape and wildlife shots I've ever seen. They have an extensive portfolio of desert photos and many incredible shots of Phoenix Metro. Check out his blog at http://www.my-photo-blog.com/.

Link to his Arizona photos
Niebrugge Images' main web site

Water Front

2009-09-07T01:01:00.000-07:00

View of bridge by Scottsdale Waterfront

Her Morning Elegance

2009-09-06T10:06:00.000-07:00

Another brilliant stop motion photography piece.

Her Morning Elegance

Courthouse

2009-09-04T05:11:00.000-07:00

Sandra Day O'Connor Courthouse

Pony Express

2009-09-03T04:49:00.000-07:00

Passing the Legacy

by Herb Mignery

Bronze, 2008

by the Scottsdale Waterfront bridge

Attached Inventory

2009-09-02T08:30:00.000-07:00

9,800 attached lots on the market in the Phoenix Metro MSA as of July 31.

Ugly Duckling

2009-09-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

Little camera for little hands - Guest photographer, Colin (age 11), handled the micro four thirds body nicely. This picture of his sister, Kennedy (center), playing the mother swan in Desert Stage's production of "The Ugly Duckling" was taken with steady hands and no flash.

Forum

2009-08-31T22:03:00.000-07:00

Hope

by George Pallas

Here is a great little website - myfourthirds.com. Four-thirds camera users can post shots for critique, share tips and ideas, and publish camera and equipment reviews. The photo above was the winning entry on the site's July photo contest.

Check it out at http://myfourthirds.com.

Lazy

2009-08-30T06:06:00.000-07:00

hot lazy saturday

Old West Reproduction

2009-08-28T08:11:00.000-07:00

Pinnacle Peak Patio

Goldwater Dusk

2009-08-27T04:59:00.000-07:00

Dusk - Goldwater Road

Wild Mushroom Pizza

2009-08-26T05:37:00.000-07:00

Wild Mushroom Pizza at Christopher's Crush. 1/2 price at happy hour - 3:00-6:00pm daily.

Tempe Center for the Arts

2009-08-24T08:19:00.000-07:00

TCA

Rain

2009-08-23T04:26:00.000-07:00

after a summer storm

Tree

2009-08-21T05:30:00.000-07:00

Wolf and Pig

2009-08-20T14:33:00.000-07:00

Fun stop motion photography.

Inspiration for Olympus' Pen Story? See for yourself:

Wolf and Pig

Olympus PEN

2009-08-20T07:17:00.000-07:00

The Olympus PEN E-P1 is available for pre-order on Amazon.com. It is Olympus' take on the micro four thirds format. Ahhhhh - it's so pretty. Just looking at it makes me want to safari, invest gobs of money on heritage Leica lenses and dive into perilous adventures. Check out the PEN story below - it's 3 entertaining minutes of stop motion photography.

Olympus PEN story

Olympus PEN E-P1 12.3 MP Micro Four Thirds Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens (Silver Body/Black Lens)

Reviews:
DPR Review
Digital Camera HQ
Video review on CNET

Retail

2009-08-18T09:05:00.000-07:00

Macy's at Biltmore Fashion Park.

North Scottsdale View

2009-08-16T05:07:00.000-07:00

View of Troon community.

Ringed Saguaro

2009-08-15T04:03:00.000-07:00

Rejection

2009-08-15T04:02:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I submitted a batch of ten G1 shots to various microstock companies and fared much worse than I did with my old point and shoot shots. Of the ten, six were accepted, but only by bigstockphoto.com. The other microstocks were categorically brutal with their rejections.

Here's a critique of two of my rejected shots on the Shutterstock forum

There is some good news... to date, I've earned $3.75 on Shutterstock which pays $0.25/download - yeah!

More Lines

2009-08-13T07:54:00.000-07:00

Lines and Light

2009-08-11T22:27:00.000-07:00

Owl

2009-08-10T05:21:00.000-07:00

Wooden owl scarecrow.

Barrel

2009-08-09T02:00:00.000-07:00

Peak

2009-08-07T07:04:00.000-07:00

Pinnacle Peak Visitor's Center.

Missing the wind

2009-08-06T05:18:00.000-07:00

Forecast high - 111. No breeze.

Conductor

2009-08-05T08:16:00.000-07:00

Statue at Renaissance One directing City Scape construction.

Free Culture

2009-08-05T08:15:00.000-07:00

It's a staycation year... time to revisit my hometown. After a decade-long hiatus, I stepped into a Phoenix Public Library last week. I paid $10 in old fines and a $2 lost card fee. In exchange, I walked away with a culture pass to the Heard Museum-North.

The library's Culture Pass Program grants FREE admission to local cultural attractions. Culture passes are circulated like books. There is a finite number of passes per attraction, and when you check out a pass it is taken out of circulation until the pass expires (it is valid for 8 days). You can check out only one pass at a time. Each pass is good for up to FOUR admissions.

It might get a bit tedious hunting for the pass you want, but the library makes it easy with online inventory tracking. Visit the Phoenix Public Library's website for availability: Phoenix Public Library - Search for "Culture Pass"

Culture Pass website

It's 108 outside

2009-08-03T06:02:00.000-07:00

Sorbets at Christopher's Crush. They have a delicious happy hour. Visit after 10pm for "leftovers".

Nikki Buchanan's Republic review