Street scenes -- a place to sit

I'm all for getting people out of their autos and onto their feet. Like me. But there are important considerations in designing spaces for pedestrians. Perhaps the most important -- making sure there are places to sit and just watch what's going on.

Or maybe providing a seat for the occasional busker. Music always makes for a more interesting street experience.

This is the style of bench in the middle of town erected by the city or maybe by the Chamber of Commerce. Not sure which. Reasonably attractive, though this particular bench is certainly hot in the summer. Should have been on the other side of the sidewalk, under the awnings!

This bench, similar, faces toward the corner planters. I'm not sure which view is preferable, though the benches down by the Chase Bank are shaded -- very important in the hot months.

Some business provide their own seating...

And, in some cases, it's an advertiser who pays for a place to rest one's feet.

Here's an attractive bit of seating on Gurley (tho I've seldom seen it in use.)

Even more interesting -- a comfy place to look at all those booklets with the real estate adverts, if indeed anyone is interested in buying property these days!! No, you won't see me on any of these neat benches or seats in the next couple of days -- that much advertised pair of storms is indeed dumping wonderful, beautiful, very wet water all over Prescott right at this moment and possibly for the next day or so.

Please Be Seated

For reasons that I cannot fathom, I've never been an easy chair person. Particularly not the lazy-type chairs with the retractable foot rest (despite the fact that I am convinced that airline travel would be immeasurably improved with the simple addition of foot rests.) These chairs -- and their over-stuffed brethren -- are traps for small people. Difficult to get out of. Always slightly more than a comfortable arm's length from the table to put the drinks or the book on. I suppose if the tube is your thing, they work. Me, I think the alley or the back of a pick-up truck is exactly where they belong!

No, my immediate family has always been a kitchen table family. An ample surface for elbows, beer, a magazine or a project; an excellent place for conversation or for solitary occupations such as crossword puzzles.