one for all, all for one

E. McDowell Road & 16th Street, Downtown Phoenix

Phoenix is a community of communities. There are lots of little secrets here; places, groups, and businesses. Some you would never know about unless someone took you there in person. Nevertheless, I don't think Phoenix has the anonmity of some large urban areas. Everyone here has a place, somewhere to fit in, in some way or other. Yet, no one is so attached to their micro community that they don't feel at home within the larger population. There's that casual welcome in the form of a subtle, authentic smile; it's here on most any face.

taken 01/09/2007

time to share

Near 7th Street & Thomas Road, Downtown Phoenix

If anything, Phoenix is an outdoors place. This is surprising since we are known for our extreme summer heat. Some may think residents are rarely seen out of their hideaways, always seeking relief from the blazing sun. Like the other desert creatures, we are lured outside as soon as the sun goes down. It's plenty hot still but the evening offers release of all the stored up energy of the sheltered day, as we come alive in the night warmth.

taken 01/20/2006

in service

Wilky's, corner of Mesa Drive & Main Street, Downtown Mesa

There is something about this shop that really attracted me. Maybe it's the cluttered layout that seems to lack any discernable organization, or the way the parts are condensed into every square inch of available space. Or maybe it's just the way it was lit up at night - seeming sort of empty, yet crowded. But I think it's that it reminds me of some old shop my father used to take me to when I was a kid; kind of like a dad's hangout away from mom.

taken 04/14/2007

the little people

Coranado Pool, 12th Street & Oak, Downtown Phoenix

Almost everyone in the Valley seems to have a pool. Everyone but inner city kids. The City of Phoenix saw to it to provide one as a place to go for relief from the extreme summer heat. They made it free for kids under 12 years old, sometimes even providing a bag lunch too.

This summer the pool never opened. In fact, city budget cuts have caused some pools to close down permenately. It's always those who have the smallest voice that the government seems to target first!

taken 01/11/2006

a good night's sleep

Main Street & Alma School Road, near downtown Mesa

Unlike Phoenix, Mesa (a suburb of Phoenix) has kept much of it's original businesses in tact, at least for now. Time is suspended in the many old neon signs remaining from the decades past when Mesa's Main Street was a primary throughfare for travelers coming from the east.

Many of those motels are now empty or have become low-rate apartment rentals. Only the signage alludes to better days, provoking daydreams of northern vistors in plaid shorts and wide-brimmed hats, sipping margaritas by the pool.

taken 04/16/2007

sausage factory

Downtown Phoenix, around Washington and 7th Avenue

Long abandoned, this meat factory is not in the nicest part of town. Trash blows along the side of the building. The train tracks to the south are a hang out for those engaged in suspcious activities. Next door is a large homeless shelter where crowds of desparate-looking people roam around, seeking food and shelter.

I found this mural a bit of a novelty, especially with the chain link fence, as if to keep the animals from escaping their beautiful farm paradise.

taken 03/02/2007

a momentary relief

Main St & Mesa Drive, Downtown Mesa

It's hot and I want ice cream. It's 9 pm and the tempreture is 104 degrees. It was 113 degrees earlier today. I drove around to get estimates for the broken air conditioner in my car. It was unbearable to be in the car for more then an 15 minutes, even with all the windows open.

The heat is not the "dry heat" we are known for here. This is monsoon season, which is when the dry heat combines with moisture, making it most unpleasant. We won't get much break until September, which will have high day temps but the nights will begin to cool down (below 100 degrees, that is).

I always tell people, this is like our winter - everyone stays inside during the day. For the other 9 months of the year, we have nearly perfect weather. Even though it's still hot at night, I love the balmy summer evenings.

This old DQ stand reminded me of when I was a kid back in the 70's.

taken 04/14/2007

shabby chic

Coranado Historic District, 12th St & Oak

Almost anywhere you may live in Phoenix, you're never but a stone's throw from a neighborhood of varying economic status. Truly urban and genuinely Arizona, this is Phoenix; portrait of a southwestern city with adobe roofs rising up over of a thick influence of Old West and Hispanic color.

taken 2/06/2006

out of town

I will be out of town for 4 days. No new photos will be uploaded. I will resume daily fotos on Saturday 7/11.

shopping in the hood

Clothing store on 16th street & Oak

Throughout the city are pockets of shops catering to the large Mexican Community living in all parts of the valley. These speciality shops are not necessarily clustered with like businesses but offer a range of services to a for one area, all within walking distance of each other. This clothing store is adjacent to a laundromat, beauty salon, tire retailer, two small Mexican restauraunts, a dollar store, liquor store and a bakery-ice cream parlor.

taken 01/08/2007

ol' times, good times

Mr. Lucky's, on Grand Avenue, going towards Glendale

I don't know what sort of going on's happened at Mr. Lucky's, but I couldn't resist this sign. It loomed over a large parking lot with an abandoned looking building to the west. Like many business on Grand Avenue, it looks as if it's seen better days, seeming anything but "grand".

taken 2/26/2007

simple living

10th Street and Oak, Coranado Historic, in downtown Phoenix

Some historic areas have beautiful, well kept homes that are occupied by those who can afford the higher cost and maintainance of a home over 75 years old. In Phoenix's Coranado neighborhood, there are quaint, 2 bedroom homes from the 1920's, usually owned by singles or couples in the upper-middle income bracket. These historic homes are scattered amoung small, inner city homes or apartments, usually rented by those in the lower-middle income bracket. This combination makes Coranado more affordable, edgy and characteristic of an urban neighborhood.

taken 4/19/2006

in pursuit of happiness

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Coranado Historic Neighborhood, south of 12th St & Thomas Rd

In the older neighborhoods, there are alleys behind each house. Certainly not the most scenic area to stroll through, but I often found them to offer a unabashed range of color, depth, and character that depicts the way people really live. In our pursuit of style, wealth and thrills, we don't always take note of the way things really are, or accept that it's not necessarily something that needs to be changed.

taken 01/05/2007

room and board

Downtown Phoenix, W. Madison and S. 1st St, next to US Airways Arena

Phoenix has gone through years of attempted urban renewal. Looks like we've finally succeeded at making downtown a place to hang out before and after the game. Then there are those people who hang out cause they have no place else to go.

taken 2/26/2007

night time snack

Rainbow Donuts on McDowell Road, between 12th and 16th Streets

Always looks empty but never seems to shut down. If you were to meander in one night, or early morning (they open at 4 am), you'd most likely find a diverse range of passerby's - or no one at all.

taken 1/09/2007