Continuing my Friday walk...

...and a new collection of small things seen. Let's begin with this truly weird Californian who appears to be part of the West Virginia Mountaineers. Huh? He got something against the Sierras? Makes me think of someone from Florida really getting into exploration of Indiana swamps.(Forgive my bad schmeer of the license plate number -- policy here is that actual numbers are private and out of bounds unless it's a vanity plate, in which case the rules change.)

In any event ... the guy with the multi-color spray cans has been out again doing his civic graffiti thing. My favorite marking this time round is the white (below) which carefully points out the very evident location of sign posts. Again, huh?

I'm always surprised when, suddenly I discover a notable item that's obviously been around for a long time. Here it is a plaque that marks the founding of the first Protestant church in Arizona; the church in question is the United Methodist on Summit and Gurley. The not so memorable coffee tin is one of several butt cans for the homeless and down-on-their-luck folk served by the church's Open Door mission.

One more door at the church.

Down the hill at the Sharlot Hall Museum grounds, something major is happening at the southwest corner, where the former blacksmith's shop (above) appears to have been gutted -- and the building that once defined the corner (below) has been replaced with a concrete pad. Again, my plaintive question: anybody know what's in store?

Across the street from the museum grounds is the backside of the Goodwin Street Plaza. Look carefully. Note those fine fat logs? Suitable for a fireplace or for a chain saw artist, aren't they. Wonder which it is? And there's another puzzle for the really sharp eye: do you see Mr. Graffiti outlined in blue (below)? I became aware of him only after I had opened the image in PhotoShop, by which time it was too late to get a really good view

Being a nosey sort, I couldn't resist a peek into the backroom of the Builders Wholesale store; they do fireplaces and such.

Finally, an update on the McCormick Place building -- it looks like one of those three million- dollar condos has been sold, leaving just two to go. I must say, speaking as a former smoker, that the sign below is a bit imperious. If I'm not mistaken, there's a law about when and where smoking can take place in front of a building -- it has to do with distance from the doors. These folk need to cool it and borrow a couple of those butt cans from the Open Door people. But that's too sour a note for leave-taking.

Instead, I'll close with this wonderful collection of sycamore seed balls against a bright blue, sunny Arizona sky.

Desert Landscaping...

...and the spotlight is on penstemon. Don't think the white flowered species with the deep red foliage is a native; in fact, it might be a cultivated hybrid, though it grows, seeds and spreads like a wild plant!

A small-flowered pink penstemon is mingled with little white daisies.

But the real prize over at the recently landscaped Park Plaza shopping center is a fine collection of Rocky Mountain penstemon in bloom right now. I doubt if this species is a Prescott native, but it sure seems happy at our elevation and I have seen plants growing wild here and there. In a couple of weeks, the embankments along I-40 between Flag and Williams will be brilliant purple with this flower.

Pinatas & More

The Mexican food store over on West Goodwin, in the Park Plaza shopping center is open. It looks good. Clean. Well stocked shelves. The cashier also said, "fresh baked bread every day."

And, in time for Christmas, a big supply of bright pinatas.

In addition to a basic produce section, plenty of interesting canned and packaged goodies.

A meat, cheese and deli counter.

And a bright yellow deli/ restaurant where, the owner assured me, they'd be glad to make mole for me! Wow.

All very interesting. One way of looking at it is that this old shopping center (Prescott's 1st, by the way) has suddenly become a place for food away from home. There's also the Thai take-out (above)...

...a little sub shop...

And a workman told me that the site of the former Liquor Barn is on its way becoming a bakery/ deli/liquor store, with the bakery predominating.

So I guess that change isn't always that bad! Even in Prescott.

Lively Streets 2 - Foodservice Al Fresco

The rains are beginning to thin out ... the clouds are fewer ... and the days are growing both sunnier and crisp. A great combination for outdoor dining or just coffee-and. I'd guess we have a good month to enjoy our food al fresco up here in the mountains.


The outdoor creekside dining offered by El Gato Azul is delightful. For years, a non-food business occupied what I always envisioned as a prime restaurant location; it seemed a pity that the neat little yard next to Granite Creek was not used for pleasure.


Streetside food -- even a simple ice cream cone -- helps keep streets lively and thus safer and more entertaining. There's nothing like watching the passing parade of pedestrians. It's one of the secrets of Continental European charm; it surely has taken a long time to become fixture in our semi-Puritan world.

But then we're a offshoot of the English culture, which was never big on sidewalk cafes. Besides, American city fathers are more inclined to give space to autos than to walkways.


Today, even our local Thai take-out over on Goodwin at the Park Plaza has added a couple of tables and chairs to keep customers happy.


You can enjoy your coffee and a paper up the hill on Gurley at the Apple Pan or over on Cortez Street (below).



Maybe the anti-smoking crusade is part of the reason for the increasing popularity of outside tables and chairs. For example, this cast-cement table at the title company at Gurley and Grove is a hang-out for smokers as well as for brown-baggers.


Outdoor seating seems almost always to be a winner -- except at this setting on Montezuma. Hugo's customers overwhelmingly prefer the picnic tables out back. But it's still outdoors!