Urban Desert

Go See Some Music

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:28:20 -0700

Get off your butt and go see some music.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. I think there is something really incredible happening in Phoenix and Arizona. The music scene here is astounding. I was at Dia de los Crescent (Crescent Ballroom’s 2 year anniversary) last night and I’m simply blown away by what I saw. Most of the bands I had seen before, several I am big fans of, but seeing them all in one evening really drove it home.

The music scene in Arizona is awesome.

I truly believe there is something incredible happening here. And there are plenty of writers and organizations right now who are far more talented than I, who are chronicling what is happening. Go find “Sounds Around Town” or “Yab Yum” to get yourself started. But from a layman, a passionate fan and an excited observer – trust me – you can’t go wrong, just get off your butt and go see some music. Any given night of the week there is something awesome happening somewhere in the valley.

And let me just say even though I have certainly drunk the local music Kool-Aid I do listen to non-Arizona music. I think I might have squealed with delight at my office when I saw Local Natives was going to the Marquee (I didn’t see them in Tucson and regretted it!) I seriously considered going to LA to see Cloud Cult (which for a girl on a budget is a big deal!) and I basically stalk the Frightened Rabbit page in hopes that they will be back in AZ soon. So those of you that look down your nose at local music I challenge you to get off your butt and see some music. It is possible to be well rounded and still go local. If the word “local” is good in terms of dining, retail and produce why is there a tendency to look down on it in terms of music?

I recently saw a movie, Stuck Outside of Phoenix, about the Tempe music scene in the early 90’s. It was a reflection of a time when something exciting was happening. And something exciting is happening now. The scene is full of amazingly well-crafted music that is filled with heart and passion. It is rooted in its beliefs and in the place that it comes from. The performances are always present, in the moment. I always feel that just by being in the audience I am experiencing a moment in time, with these artists on stage, with the people, my neighbors, standing next to me, it is something special and unique and to be celebrated.

So please. Go support. Go engage. Go experience.

Get up and go see some music.

thisbigcity: applesandibexes: It is 150 years since the...

Mon, 13 May 2013 22:36:23 -0700

thisbigcity:

applesandibexes:

It is 150 years since the world’s first underground railway system was created. These posters are from the London Transport Museum’s exhibition titled Poster Art 150: London Underground’s Greatest Designs. (via Brain Picker)

Modern day London would never use the temperature of the underground as a marketing tool!

#littlegreencars

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 23:36:17 -0700

#littlegreencars

It’s amazing to me that something I used to find so challenging and uninteresting is now one...

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 22:16:00 -0700

It’s amazing to me that something I used to find so challenging and uninteresting is now one of the few things holding me together. Running. 4 miles, Tempe Town Lake, lights, people and a half dozen heron I’m calmer and more collected than I have been in weeks. Now if only I can sleep and wake up feeling half as good.

instagram: Vacant Chicago Warehouse Burns, Becomes Frozen in...

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 20:54:35 -0700

instagram.com/p/U6MJq3tifI/#bobbysuarez

instagram.com/p/U3xvbOzdzc/#andejoy

instagram.com/p/U4cz7ZQrro/#rossfeighery

instagram.com/p/U6PMMlRL0c/#belenaquinophoto

instagram.com/p/U4e4SKxL5-/#belenaquinophoto

instagram.com/p/U4JWsHCh-V/#therealdougphoto

instagram:

Vacant Chicago Warehouse Burns, Becomes Frozen in Ice

Want to see more photos from the icy warehouse? Search the #bridgeport hashtag, and visit the location page for the nearby Advertising Flag Company.

On Tuesday evening, a vacant warehouse in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood caught fire. It took more than 200 firefighters the entire night to bring the blaze under control.

With Chicago facing some of the coldest temperatures of the season, the water used to battle the flames froze to the exterior of the building. The warehouse-turned-ice cube has attracted visitors from across the area, who have been documenting the uncommon sight through Instagram.

The five-alarm fire—the largest in Chicago since 2004—thankfully resulted in no injuries.

Am I really doing this?

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 07:42:00 -0700

I haven’t officially registered but I am planning on (and therefore training like I am) running a half marathon at the end of March. Referring to myself as training to do anything athletic feels really weird. I mean this is coming from the girl who is so athletically ignorant that I would tell my little brother to break a leg at track rehearsal without any clue how stupid that sounds. I put the mile goals on a calendar yesterday and have to admit I did a huge “gulp”. But we’ll see, it’s a goal, it’s something to do it can’t be that bad right?

And learned this morning, if anyone is needing motivation to get up and going the Arizona sky is beautifully gorgeous and clear at 5:30 AM.

My breakfast view this morning

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 12:45:25 -0700

My breakfast view this morning

Big and Small

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 12:41:00 -0700

At my neighborhood breakfast joint this morning I was struck by how big and small my world is. A majestic view of the Estrella’s (at least I’m pretty sure it’s the Estrella’s ) lined the horizon. At the same time I enjoyed the comings and goings of all these colorful, vibrant people, my neighbors really. And yet I feel so detached from both. I’ve lived here 10 years and yet I’m not confident of the name of a mountain range that is so prominent to the south? And I’ve been a neighbor here for 3 years and I know so few names and have so few connections save enjoying the same breakfast on a Sunday morning? Now, how do I change that detached feeling?

How the New Year is Like the Muddy Bottom of the Arizona Canal

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 22:10:45 -0700

So life has dealt me a pretty crappy deck of cards the last few years. Details aren’t important- just consider one of your worst possible moments, magnify it and add a dose of lifetime movie f-up-ed -ness and you have a feel for the emotional stress I have been under. And in the past 9 months or so it’s been better. I would have a week or so of really bad anxiety every now and then but I would somehow manage to button it back up, feel better and I would continue to take steps forward.

Sometime in the beginning of December my old pal anxiety came creeping back and then didn’t leave. It just got worse and worse and nothing seems to help. Not drink, not silly rom com movies, not really loud music dance parties, not even crazy runs in freezing weather while visiting the Midwest of for the holidays. It started to take on an almost physical weight until I couldn’t take it anymore. It just started coming out of me in the form of tears and verbal diarrhea to family and friends. Which helps. I feel the need to repeat that, if you are a border line hermit type like me, REACHING OUT HELPS.

There is no one cause for my anxiety. My topsy turvy life lately have left me with so many problems, questions and challenges that they only way to survive, to exist, is to break them into smaller problems, questions and challenges and do my best to wake up every day and take full breaths. And for some reason the start of December all my little issues started to add back into their larger selves. Along with the usual stress and pressure of the holidays, some pop-up work surprises and a minor relationship let-down I ended up with a toxic emotional cocktail raging through my body.

And it’s still there, ebbing a bit perhaps. Tried to knock of a few issues of the list this morning and went for a run along the canal. The first of the year is one of my favorite times for the canal. It is drained and its muddy bottom is exposed. Along with a treasure trove of discarded items. Many not to be unexpected: grocery carts, smashed TV’s and a good dozen once orange cones. But there are surprises, a yellow and blue toy truck that has had almost all of the color sucked out of it, but enough remains to remind that it was once delightful. There was a lovely vintage looking suitcase propped up on a log like it was waiting to be packed. And two or three stuffed animals – enough probably to make them not so special of an occurrence but there is something so sad about their sogginess I feel the need to mention them separately.

I always wonder how these items get here. Even the grocery carts must have some story or tale of woe. But in a few weeks the canal will fill, life will surge in it again and I’ll feel the need to wax poetic about the duck families and reflected sunsets.

And I guess I’m a bit like the canal. At my core - emotions are still fairly muddy and gross. Stuck together with questions that will never have answers, problems that may or may not get solved and challenges that I’m going to do my best to step over. But even when all is going swimmingly and looking good, that muddy bottom is still there. And that is OK. I hope in the future I can be a bit more agile and avoid the perfect storm that hit me.

I’ve never really liked the introspection that occurs at the New Year. I’ve always found it more of a negative process that a positive. But inevitably it occurs. So I guess that is my epiphany for 2013. The cruddy bits of my life will always be there, but I can do my best to deal with them and move forward. I will continue to strive to remain in the present moment. I will do things I enjoy, be it a show, a hike or just an afternoon spent listening to podcasts and knitting. And when the water gets low and my uglier bits come up for air I will address them as best as I can and reach out when I need to. A little draining is a good thing, no matter the cause or form.

This song came on near the end of my run yesterday. Hit me in a...

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:30:02 -0700

This song came on near the end of my run yesterday. Hit me in a new way.

Photo

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 19:43:35 -0700

Home garden vs grocery

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 19:16:12 -0700

Home garden vs grocery

Shmorgishborg Weekend

Sun, 06 May 2012 22:15:40 -0700

My brother has been staying with me for the past few months. This weekend was the first in a while were we had the whole weekend to ourselves without any work or social obligations. We decided to have a bit of a lazy weekend but all still check off a few of the things he wanted to do before leaving in a few weeks. We started off with something that I had been curious about for a while, Saturday morning yoga at the farmers market. Doesn’t sound like a combo that would work but it was surprisingly relaxing and I felt really grounded afterwards.

In the afternoon we went to the Pueblo Grande Museum, which I had been to for work many years ago, he had been curious about it since the first time he saw it. From there he headed downtown and stopped into the Phoenix Ale Brewery. One of many places that I pass constantly and always think about going in but needed a guest to get me motivated. And it was pretty cool – try the watermelon wheat, it sounds weird but it was really good.

After the brewery, my brother wanted to toast Cinco de Mayo so we continued down to Los Dos Molino’s another “new” spot for the both of us. I was afraid it would be disastrously crowded but it wasn’t and we were able to enjoy a margarita and some appetizers on the patio with a view of the baseball stadium and downtown behind us. The experience at the museum spurred conversation about the environment, our role in the world today and how we can make it a better place. I felt inspired after our margaritas to take him to the Rio Salado Restoration; a place that I think is very special in the city and example of something positive happening in our environment.

On the way home I pulled into one of my other favorite places in Phoenix: Indian Steel Park. I hadn’t been in quite some time and sitting on the hill watching the moon rise and listening to the sounds of kids playing and water gurgling I was reminded why it was one of my favorite places. In the past it has been a place I have gone to find peace and realign the busy thoughts in my mind. I have had a crazy year and a few trips to the park probably would have done me much good. I will not forget about it again.

Sunday we headed south towards Tucson. We stopped to feed the ostriches. The ranch has turned into a full on petting zoo with donkey, deer, goats, ducks and lorikeets in addition to the ostriches. The entire experience is bizarre and trippy but silly enough to bring any out of towner to at least once. From there we meandered thru the Saguaro National Park, taking a brief hike straight up for a fantastic view of the cacti and the land beyond. We entered Tucson on Gates Pass Boulevard – which is just a beautiful way to enter the city. We headed downtown in search of a beer and some food and landed at Hotel Congress – a place that I have been hearing about since I moved here and yet never visited. Good food, great atmosphere – it lived up to 10 years of hype.

We headed home the scenic way – a route I had heard about but again, never tried – forgoing the 10 for the lesser known 77 and 79. And scenic it was. In reality we weren’t all that far away from the 10 but that slight shift in distance made the mountains seem all the more real and varied, even with the sunset rapidly pushing them into the realm of trompe-l’œil Hollywood flats. Rather than the dust devils we watched on the way down to Tucson we were surrounded by verdant desert. On the 10 it is hard not to feel like the area between Phoenix and Tucson is a wasteland but on a two lane highway we were passing through little towns, catching glimpse of people’s homes and communities. I think we were both filed with wonder and awe for this land that I now call home.

Lately I have been overwhelmed by an unending stream of questions marks about my future that have been burying me in depression and fear. I have struggled to focus and stay present. This weekend has been a reminder, a lesson in how to stay afloat. There is so much beauty in the present and I don’t have to know my future to appreciate it. I have always taken much love and pleasure in the little things in life- I have forgotten that lately. And if I can just do that, find that one thing every day – be it something new, or old, or that has always been underfoot and never experienced then maybe, just maybe, I can start to find some clarity and direction.

Goals for this weekend:

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:03:00 -0700

1. Don’t drive my car.

2. Take a hike in the Phoenix Mountains starting at my front door.

3. Not cave to the urge for Chile Con Queso dip.

4. Knit. Knit a lot.

I love Phoenix in the fall. To me it’s a season of re-birth which is the exact opposite to the...

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 20:12:28 -0700

I love Phoenix in the fall. To me it’s a season of re-birth which is the exact opposite to the falls I grew up with in the Midwest. It has taken me several years work against this muscle memory that fall is a time for hibernation but rather of celebration.

As the temps cool we venture out of our air-conditioned confinement. Fall is a great time for cocktails dinners outside (yes I have grilled a turkey for Thanksgiving without having to bundle up.)

Fall is a great time to plant flowers. If they can be protected through our light winters the plants will be strong for spring and bloom into summer.

I love that there is a slight chill in the air and I can wear a scarf or hat without covering them with layers of jackets and hoods. Those items are truly accessories here.

There are usually some lovely rains in the fall which bring in lovely clouds that aide some truly stunning sunsets.

Perhaps my beacon of fall – my visual signal that it’s here is the State Fair ferris wheel. Sadly few of our leaves change colors and even then usually not till the winter chill of December. My drive home starts to coordinate with the sunset and for a briefest moment I can catch a glimpse of the ferris wheel . It’s neon glow always a pleasant surprise and a cue for me to go “ahhh, it’s fall at last!”

Fresh for fall.

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:50:26 -0700

Fresh for fall.

Music in My Life

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 07:45:00 -0700

Over a month ago I participated in the PJ20 destination weekend with my two younger brothers and their wives/girlfriends. It was an amazing weekend and an event that really moved me greatly, something I don’t know as I was quite expecting. Pearl Jam has been a part of my life for the majority of their 20 years in existence. They were there for me through my angst ridden teenage years, through the growing pains of college and in adulthood they even were the soundtrack for me as I walked down the aisle. My brothers and I all share a love of music and Pearl Jam is certainly a common thread – though I do have to go on record as saying I am the original fan in the family.

Since the weekend I have been giving a lot of thought to music and life. How it ties people together and the ties that people have with certain musicians though their life. Aside from Pearl Jam there are very few groups that I have such a long history of listening to and fewer still that resonate with me in the present tense rather than bringing back a feeling of nostalgia.

For me one of the only other musicians that fits this description is Ani Difranco. I haven’t been listening to her as long as Pearl Jam but certainly a good long while and album after album there is always at least one song that hits me to the core. And last night, coming home late from work I was struck again by her. I have been going through some pretty heavy life changes (let’s just say my left hand is bare). A friend had given me a live album that I put in the CD player for the first time last night. The song Dilate came on and I was in tears. How could a song written 15 years ago, a song from an album that for some reason I skipped buying in my college years, resonate so clearly with me now? I listened to it over and over the whole drive home gaining comfort and strength with every mile.

I am constantly amazed and humbled by the power of music to comfort, touch, heal and impress upon a person any myriad of emotions and feelings. I wish that I had a tenth of the talent of these important people in my life and I hope to continue the relationship for years to come.

Hit the trails at Dreamy Draw again today. Seems like just yesterday it was spring and I was doing...

Sun, 25 Sep 2011 12:18:08 -0700

Hit the trails at Dreamy Draw again today. Seems like just yesterday it was spring and I was doing my best to navigate trail 1 A. Lately I feel like i look forward to summers as having so much free time in them and then regret when they pass too quickly. And already the activities of fall are piling on me - busy work schedule and also trying to make this the year that I see more theater and music and participate more in community events. I’m even feeling the stress of holidays sneaking up on me (which let me just say should not be stressful or looming on the calender in September) already. And so I find myself committing to one more thing. I think if i can get out and hike, enjoy the wilderness of the city, I will find stress melting away and more time to just be.

As a resident of the sprawl that is Phoenix, I tend to forget sometimes that I live in an urban...

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:48:27 -0700

As a resident of the sprawl that is Phoenix, I tend to forget sometimes that I live in an urban area. I was reminded of that today. I am enjoying the hustle and bustle that is Central ave outside the Y. People coming and going from there post work work outs, light rails zipping by, and across the street, in a public park, a man is getting his hair cut seated on a park bench. I call it one of my “holy crap I live in a city” moments.

Photo

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:46:24 -0700