Downtown Mural

A while back I wandered around the downtown area taking photos. One of my favorite is here on the right. I think the reason I like it is that the mural looks so life like. It's as though someone pasted a large photo on top of a muted Aztec mural.

For those that want to see it for themselves, you can find it on the back of the Chicago Music Land store on Congress.

June Cinema La Placita

The latest schedule for Cinema La Placita is out. From the first Thursday to the last Thursday in June:

• Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
• Singing in the Rain
• Kramer vs. Kramer
• Topper

Sorry, I posted these a bit late.

Grand Canyon Trees

As it has been a while since I last posted, I thought that I'd put up another photo of the Grand Canyon. It's funny, but of all the photos I took at the Grand Canyon, I happen to like those that don't show the canyon the best. I guess that's because it is so hard to capture it in a way that no one else has. Whereas, a photo like the one on the left has far fewer similar photos to compete with.

Now in case you are wondering, I didn't really post-process this at all, just a simple circular polarizer was used to bring out the blue sky.

Hope you like it.

Maynards Market

This past Thursday we stopped in at Maynards Market for dinner. This is the second time we've been here, and I think we can say that we'll be going back.

We arrived around 5:30 and were met by the hostess and promptly seated. Perusing the menu, we both decided on the Mac' and Cheese side (large), and one of us had fries as a second side and the other had chard with raisins and pine nuts. Let me tell you, the large Mac' and Cheese is a meal. Do not make the mistake of ordering it to go along with something else. As it was, we had to take home a small box for the next day.

After a wait of about 20 minutes, two large, extremely hot, bowls of M&C were brought to the table. Covered in slightly toasted, garlicky, bread crumbs, it was obvious that these were done in the oven as all good M&C should be. Taking a bite, one could tell that they used a smoked Gouda along with Parmesan, and probably some Mozzarella to add to the stringy consistency. Wow! This is how M&C should be made!

The fries, well, they were fries, nicely done and crispy, and the chard with raisins and pine nuts, was quite good. Unfortunately, we did not have room for dessert, but of coarse there's always next time.

The vibe at Maynards is quite Tucson-like. Instead of trying to make the train depot conform to the restaurant, the restaurant conforms to the depot. Drink menus hang on a railroad spike at the table, and the main dining area looks out over the tracks so you can watch the trains go by. Overall, Maynards is bit on the noisy side, but that was just because it was quite busy. I hope it stays that way.

North Shore

As I mentioned in the last post, we took a quick vacation up north. To the North Shore of Lake Superior, in fact. It was quite nice to see the bright new green showing up everywhere in the spring, and the area was just beautiful. I'd highly recommend a trip up there.

We spent a few days going along the shoreline, pretty much covering the area from Duluth to Canada, stopping to wander out to the lake shore, or watch the cascades of snow melt tumble down rivers on the way to the lake. Every time we would see the rushing cascades, I would think of the story Paddle to the Sea by the wonderfully named Holling C. Holling and winner of the 1942 Caldecott Award.

For those that haven't read Paddle to the Sea, you are missing out.

Ice Break

This year it looks as though I missed the ice break on the Rillito. We took a short vacation up to one of those northern climes. You know the kind of place -- where the real ice had broken just a week or so prior. Really. In fact, right up near the Canadian border we happened to see a lake that was still covered in ice! And when we arrived back in Tucson, the radio announcer said it was a lovely 100° degrees in Tucson.

Here in Tucson, we don't have real ice on the rivers, or even water for most of the year, so we make up our own version of an ice break. The first day above 100°. This year it was on May 7th.

Keep cool.

Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society

When most people think of the desert, they think dry, brown, and dusty. It can be all of that, and more. For example, the photo to the left (a tricocereus) was taken right here in Tucson, just a day or so ago. Not quite brown and dusty is it?

In fact, right now a number of things are blooming here in the desert, although they are mostly cacti of some sort: prickly pears, chollas, and even the saguaros are starting to bloom. And what is nice is that cacti bloom every year without fail. It doesn't matter how much or how little rain we get, they bloom. That, and the minimal care that is needed, make cacti one of the best landscape plants for Tucson in my opinion. To make it even easier, you should get native cacti. That way there is no wories about the plants getting too much sun. Yes, too much sun. The first year we lived in Tucson, we went out and picked up a number of cacti from one of the nurseries in town and nearly all of the cacti ended up dying from sunburn. Ah well, live and learn and pass it on.

To avoid problems like acclimitization, I generally buy cacti for the yard from the Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society (click on the title) sales. They offer up rescued plants at terrific prices, and for the most part you can just put them in the ground, cover them with shade cloth for a season, and you're done. If you're looking for great blooms, check out the hedgehogs (echinocereus spp.), you won't be dissappointed.

Grand Canyon

I've lived in Tucson a fair number of years, and surprisingly (to me), I've only been to the Grand Canyon once. Just once, and that was late last year. The reason it's surprising is that it is relatively close: 4 to 5 hour drive. A half of a day to get to one of the most spectacular locations in North America.

If you're like me, you tend to put off those close by attractions in favor of something more exotic. Something distant, perhaps a plane trip overseas. And by doing so you miss out on some really great experiences. I tend to think this is natural, but kind of a shame, really. You (and I) should spend more of our time doing things close by. Learn about the area we live in. Eat the regional foods. Visit those small local shrines. These are what makes it so exciting to live in Tucson.

So with that, get out and start exploring!

Cinema La Placita

Ok, I know a number of people are asking when Cinema La Placita will start showing the free movies downtown, and which movies are the showing. I get asked because I attend regularly, but I'm not affiliated with Cinema La Placita in any other way.

Well, I don't know the answer to the second question. But to the first, Cinema La Placita should start up the first Thursday in May.

Now while the movies are technically free, they're not really free, or at least shouldn't be for most people attending. It does cost money to put on the shows, and the amount isn't insignificant, either. Now I know you say to yourself, "I can run down to the video store and rent this movie for $3, how can it cost much more to show it outdoors?" Well, for one thing, when you rent a movie from the video store, it's for home use. Not for public viewing. When you show a movie publicly, you must pay licensing fees.

So between the licensing fees, the popcorn, the security staff, and everything else showing one movie costs around $600. Yes, $600. Over a season that's around $15000. So you see it's not free. But where does that money come from? Not from the city. Not from a grant. Not from a wealthy benefactor. It comes from you and me -- the patrons. All of the costs of putting on Cinema La Placita come from donations. Every dime.

And the audience could definitely stand to kick in a bit more; last year they contributed around $4000. Just a bit over 25% of the cost. You can see that's not sustainable. So this season, dig deeper. I know it's tough. But do it anyway and chip in your $5 (per person) when you go to the movie. Keep the series going. It's up to you.

Se you there!

Agave

I just thought that I'd include another photo of an agave. This also was taken out at ASDM and I happen to like it for the way it shows off the "ghost leaves," or impressions leaves embedded in other leaves that formed when the agave was a tight rosette.

Hope you like it.