Pedaling the gospel

After spending the afternoon at the Square photographing musicians, I'm too tired to spend much time with PhotoShop. Consider this my picture of the day, which speaks for itself.

On getting a new eye

Well, in reality, a new lens to replace the cataract-bedimmed lens I am currently sporting in my right eye.

What continually amazes (and awes) me is medical apparatus. Despite its benign purpose, most looks to have been designed by the prop man for a horror movie. I suspect that the scary machinery is part of what frightens people about a visit to the doctor or the lab or the hospital. Especially kids.

After all is said and done, this device is a fancy (and extra-expensive) version of a microscope to let the MD look straight into one's eye.

A cool lens setup (above) and, yes, below. The dial-monster pair is, I believe, used to outfit one with the right set of glasses.

Considering how optical medicine has advanced in my lifetime, I'm quite happy to put up with any monster devices that will help the surgeon to renew my right eyebone.

Rerun: breakfast at the airport

(Note: This morning the weekly breakfast gang ate out at the airport; as luck -- or misfortune -- would have it, I forgot my camera. Then it occurred to me that many readers may not have seen this post the first time around back in 20-aught-6, so why not a rerun. Which is just what this is. Not a great deal has changed, though I'm glad to see that the cafe is still there, little changed except perhaps a little more flying memorabilia. Please note that the original comments arrived in my editing window along with the original post and I left them there.)

The trouble with many small town city fathers is that too often they suffer from an extreme case of urban envy. They're willing to sacrifice a historic old building ... a long-established business ... a scenic vista ... almost anything in their drive to be more "progressive" and like the Big City.

Recent talk about "up-grading" our airport reported in the local gazette makes me fear for one of my favorite little cafes -- the Skyway Restaurant at Love Field. The food is, well, cafe food. Could be better.

But I love to sit at a table by the window, watching the small planes come and go, listening to pilot talk, asking a knowledgeable waitress about the private jet that just landed. Best of all is the downhome decor. Anything & everything to do with flying (except maybe the Enterprise.)

I went there today with friends, the idea being to record what might disappear some day in a flurry of civic betterment. First thing I noticed was the model of a new extra-jumbo jet leaning against the wall in the office next to the cafe. Turns out there wasn't enough room on the ceiling next door for the new model.

That's the kitchen pass-through window above, well surrounded with planes, planes and more planes. Openers for what follows as you get further into the restaurant.

The ceiling is covered with airplanes, from a really old tri-plane to the most modern fighter jets. Models are made of balsa wood ... of plastic ... even inflatables.

Aviation memorabilia covers the walls. Much of it is highly personalized.

There's a classic Goodyear blimp, for good measure.

The Skyway is very much a pilots' place. Have a spare Piper Cub or home-brew experimental craft to sell? Put a notice on the bulletin board at the entrance.

We've seen those mean-looking Army choppers land nearby so the troops can pop in for a hamburger and coffee. Watched Riddle beginners practice their bouncy touchdowns. Listened to a long-in-tooth aviatrix tell young students about her adventures piloting cargo planes to Europe during WW2.

And we were once told that a particular jet that showed up periodically belonged to Barbra Streisand, who owned a McMansion up in the canyons north of Paulden, where her current guru also had an establishment.

I really wouldn't want to trade a place like this for one of those polished, bland, planned, upscale cookie cutter chain restaurants that I'm sure our city fathers are envisioning for the future. I'll grant that they haven't said as much -- but is anyone willing to make a bet with me?

More professional decor

Prescott has more than its share of galleries and museums. Then there are the periodic weekend arts and crafts shows at the Square. However, I find that the small collections in offices and businesses around town are yet another albeit quieter venue for quality arts and crafts.

Today I visited one of my doctors who has been in his present quarters for a short time, hence there are only a few pieces. However, here is a horse that I would love to have. I'm sure that the Granddotter who is into horsies big time would also covet the painting.

Above is an attractive, smallish vase sitting on a waiting room table, hemmed in by medical brochures.

But truly outstanding is this tall vase -- about 3-1/2" to 4" tall. It stands by itself, as is proper. Furthermore, it is R.E.D. I want it.

Linkage for the day: While on the subject of arts/crafts, Tombo, who knows how to find graffiti, visited Flagstaff, where he found a splendid collection. Foolsewoode was also in Northern Arizona recently, but she focused her camera on the old Route 66 Wigwam Motel. There's a fabulous hi-res picture of a Martian crater at this UAriz site; click on the blog link to locate poster-size color PDFs from Mars.

The art deco lobby

Yesterday's post about the demise of the Willow Creek KMart resulted in a certain measure of wist regarding local institutions that fade into history. Which suggested that it's time for a few more pictures of a far older institution that continues to thrive -- the Hassayampa Inn, opened in 1927. According to the hotel's web site, in June 1925, the Prescott Kiwanis club selected a committee to raise funds for the new [hotel] project, with Mayor Morris Goldwater urging citizens to invest in the project. Listed in a place of honor outside the hotel's Arizona room is a list of the 400 different stockholders who purchased thousands of shares for a $1 a piece, making the Hassayampa Inn from its start a Prescott institution.

I've always entered the Hassayampa Inn lobby via the Gurley Street door, hence have no experience of the grand front entryway. However, with not just one piano but two, what more is needed for a classy intro from the side door.

Features of the lobby include a classic Talavera tile fireplace (above), etched glass doors (below).

When in the Hassayampa, you don't want to miss the art deco trim of the ceiling beams and panels...

...or the elegant chandeliers.

Water for the guests is served up in style (above), while a beautiful window lets in morning sunlight (below). I wouldn't mind reading my morning newspaper sitting in one of those chairs.

End of an era

When we moved to the Prescott area in 1980, KMart was where it was at ... the bee's knees ... the big deal. Yes, there was a Sears and there was a Pennys for Serious Household Shopping and Foxworth for a major building project. But for cheaper items, including Commodore computers, one patronized the Willow Creek KMart. There was a great nursery and what one might call an convenience building supply department, including lumber. We bought a lot of Good Stuff from KMart back then (including lumber and Commodore computers).

With the coming of WalMart and Home Depot, things changed. The original KMart huffed and puffed and added the Martha Stewart line of upscale goodies, but the Willow Creek store simply couldn't compete. Now it is about to become history.
I made a point of visiting today -- the parking lot was full for the first time in ages.

Everywhere, signs declaring that the End Times were near. Discounts of 10-30%.

Naturally, I checked out the boys' department for a potential tshirt; yes, I bought a purple item with twined dragons. Couldn't resist. My other purchase: three large plastic flower pots in a nice neutral color.

Other people were opening their purses wide for big items or large amounts. Bird seed and blankets, for example (above), or a Barbie bicycle (below). The place was jumping. (I wonder if many of these customers would normally be shopping at the Prescott Valley BigK store, which is not closing.)

As a punctuation mark to the sale: the sign man at the Iron Springs intersection.

Choice Links: For a scary picture of your brain on Google, you might read this article at Slate. Both Rich and Tombo have been up to Northern Arizona; Rich fell in love with a decaying diner in Winslow, while Tombo has pictures in which the forest fire up near Flag dominates the big sky in Jerome. Finally, Box Elder pays a wonderful, poetic left-handed tribute to August, the frumpy, sweaty middle-age of the year.

Late summer afternoon walk

No, if it appears I haven't been walking very much, that's quite true. Too dang hot; I don't do summer heat well. However, with our monsoon moisture skittering away, we had a sunny day with autumnal breezes and temperatures. A perfect time to head over to Grove Street to inspect the Moroccan fountains and otherwise to see what was to be seen along the way.

The time: late in the afternoon, as shadows of the stones in the roadway should attest. However, despite unseasonal dryness along the way, this big Park Avenue trumpet vine was lush. (FYI: we have had absolutely lousy rains this summer.)

Here's the historic white house which was gutted, then waited and waited for the expansion/remodeling to begin. Finally, the job is almost complete; below is a handsome new set of doors at the front.

Another handsome door, this on Grove Street.

Of course, there's always infrastructure that's in need of repair -- and no federal bailout money available for the work, either. I guess for that you need to be a bank or a government operation, not just people.

Along the way, I found the auction sign, tucked away in a planter by the sidewalk. Waiting, no doubt for the next auction to be announced; I believe they happen at least once per week.

I'm still trying to puzzle out just how (or why) this juniper got scalped. Was it possibly growing higher than its mate (below), and so cut back to the same level resulting in this misfortune? Any landscape experts out there? Will new leaves cover that barren understory? How long should it take?

A more pleasant sight along the streetside next to the gutter: pavers in circular patterns.

Then there's the question of that large square building at the northeast corner of Sheldon and Grove. It appears to be 1) empty and 2) the victim of vandalism, unless all that boarding up of what had been plate glass is/was to create more privacy inside. I wonder, too, about those circles: paste-on decal graffiti?

Right across the street is this Prescott College building currently being remodelled. At the moment, however, it looks like an extra big package was just dropped off by FedEx or the boys in brown.

I guess tonight is my night to be querulous, as I have yet another query. To wit, how do two competitive C-stores both survive when plonked down cheek-by-jowl? I don't get it. They both appear to stay in business. While we're stopped here, do note the flower in the lower right hand corner of the pic (enlarged below). It's a healthy volunteer snapdragon, one of the garden flowers that does extra well in Prescott, wouldn't you agree.

By this time on my walk, Grove Street had segued into Miller Valley and I could get a picture of that lovely stone building which is, once again, looking for an occupant. Too bad. Catty corner at the CVS, I was reminded that there will always be a marketing man: specifically, the sort of charlatan who invents a so-called "collectible" out of whole cloth, signs up a factory in China to make the geegaw and sets about making his fortune off the clueless. Neat toys they might be, but "collectible"? Come on.
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