Photo Essay: Downtown Tucson Revisited
June 22nd, 2011In my previous post, I talked about the good, bad, and ugly aspects of Downtown Tucson revitalization. Time for an update.
I noted a messy situation in the Aviation Underpass, which is on one of the main routes in and out of Downtown. In recent months, this area had turned into one of the littering hotspots of Tucson.
To the point where volunteers on the monthly Meet Me at Maynards Downtown cleanup were told to refrain from doing any trash pickup. From my perspective as one of these volunteers, I found this news to be very disappointing. What's worse, the cleanup's organizer told me that she had called the city four times.
Still no cleanup in the Aviation Underpass.
After I finished last week's post, I did something that I usually don't do. I sent out a batch of e-mail alerts -- and included our current mayor, the six Tucson city council members, and one mayoral candidate on my list.
Very quickly, I heard back from the mayoral candidate and the two city council wards that include Downtown. The even better news is that I was told that Aviation Underpass would get a cleanup.
Indeed it did.
It was monthly cleanup time during this past Monday's Meet Me at Maynards event. And guess where there was very little work for us volunteers to do? In the Aviation Underpass -- which had just gotten quite the cleanup. I had to find other places to fill my garbage bag.
So, thank you City of Tucson.
In the interest of keeping the good Downtown Tucson vibe going, how about some mural art? Murals are one of the many artistic touches that make Downtown such a visual feast...
I'll conclude with a note about the Tucson weather: It's hot out there. But triple-digit temperatures aren't keeping Tucsonans away from the Meet Me at Maynards walk or run. (You can do both, if you're so inclined.)
Smart Meet Me at Maynards participants know that it's important to stay hydrated. Doesn't matter if you're Schatzi the dachshund...
...or a human walker or runner. Make sure you have plenty of water with you...
Tip: You can view more event photography in my portfolio and on this blog. I am also available for event photography assignments in Tucson, Arizona, and elsewhere. I specialize in concerts, festivals, parades, political rallies, and sporting events. To check availability and to request a proposal, please e-mail me or call 520-690-1888.
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Photo Essay: Downtown Tucson Revitalization
June 14th, 2011Yesterday evening, I did my 100th Meet Me at Maynards walk around Downtown Tucson.
While I padded along in the 100-degree heat, I shot the following photo essay. It's intended to show the positive and negative sides of Downtown Tucson's revitalization efforts. First, the positives:
Let's start with Meet Me at Maynards itself. It's been going non-stop since April 2009. Every Monday evening, it draws hundreds of runners and walkers to the Downtown area...
The Downtown business community has been very supportive of this event. Here's a free water and lemonade stand hosted by Janos Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails...
And there's Downtown Tucson itself. Full of old-fashioned architecture that's still hanging in there. Case in point: Meyer Avenue at Franklin Street..
A few years ago, the Providence Service Corporation moved its headquarters into Downtown Tucson. Providence has been doing some marvelous restoration work on its building on Broadway Boulevard at Scott Avenue...
Further south on Scott Avenue, there are some interesting footprints in the sidewalk. But fear not. In two years of walking the Meet Me at Maynards course, I have yet to encounter the creatures that left these prints...
Okay, time for the negatives.
You're probably thinking that I'm going to launch into a rant about the $230 million that's been spent on Downtown's Rio Nuevo revitalization project, and how there's been very little to show for that expenditure. But I'll spare you. Just read Rob O'Dell's articles in the Arizona Daily Star if you need to get up to speed.
Instead, I'm going to focus on a more visible topic: Public squalor. It's something that this guy's just a few steps away from encountering...
Yeah, I know. Bad photographer -- I just took a picture of my foot...
But look at all that broken glass. It's just a small sampling of what you'll find in the Aviation Underpass, which is part of one of the main routes in and out of Downtown. Great first impression of our city, isn't it?
It gets worse...
Every month, on the third Monday, Meet Me at Maynards organizes a cleanup of Downtown. I've been participating for quite a few months, and I'll have to say that there's something very satisfying about finishing a three-mile walk with a bag full of garbage.
A couple of months ago, the cleanup boss told us not to try to clean the Aviation Underpass. It had just gotten too filthy for Meet Me at Maynards volunteers to handle. She said that she'd be calling the city.
Well, last time I saw her, she said that she's called the city four times (emphasis hers). You can see from the above photos how much effect her calls have had.
So, hello, City of Tucson? Are you aware that one of the main drags in and out of Downtown looks like a garbage dump? Do you care?
And what about the graffiti? Plenty of that around Downtown. Please don't give me that line about how it's artistic expression by the downtrodden. It's vandalism. Nothing more. Nothing less...
Point of history and a little hint for the City of Tucson: As late as the 1980s, the New York subway system had a major problem with graffiti. When William Bratton became chief of the transit police, he led an effort to rid the subway system of graffiti.
It got to the point where tagged trains were called "dirty trains," and they weren't allowed to leave the car yard. I might add that the car yard was up in Harlem.
In his book, Turnaround, Bratton told of a little game that his staff played with the graffiti artistes. They let them decorate the trains. And, oh, they spray-painted some masterpieces. Took them several lo-o-o-ong nights to do it.
Bratton's staff let them finish their work. They even gave the artistes a chance to admire it.
Then the Metropolitan Transit Authority people removed every last bit of graffiti. You could almost hear the chorus of groans from outside the car yard. But the artistes got the message: Keep your graffiti away from MTA property.
Getting tough on graffiti was one of many things that turned the New York subway system away from its fearsome, crime-ridden reputation. Nowadays it's clean and safe, the people are well mannered, and yes, they'll even help you find your way. I've personally experienced such helpfulness.
I'd like to conclude this post with a look at Tucson's dumbest intersection. It's where Fourth Avenue, Congress Street, and Toole Avenue come together. It's scary in a car, and even worse if you're a bicyclist or a pedestrian.
One bicyclist has already been killed here, and the trolley isn't even running yet. Speaking as a bicyclist, I fear for our collective safety...
Tip: You can view more event photography in my portfolio and on this blog. I am also available for event photography assignments in Tucson, Arizona, and elsewhere. I specialize in concerts, festivals, parades, political rallies, and sporting events. To check availability and to request a proposal, please e-mail me or call 520-690-1888.
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Event Photography: 2nd Saturdays First Anniversary
May 19th, 20112nd Saturdays Downtown celebrated its first anniversary this past weekend. This event has been drawing tens of thousands of people to Downtown Tucson for arts, entertainment, shopping, and good old fashioned people watching.
The Ronstadt Transit Center isn't known for its musical entertainment, but haven't you always wanted to sing a song while waiting for the bus? Here are the Desert Melodies with your just-before-six soundtrack...
Further west on Congress Street, Toby Chivers & Deceptively Innocent played outside the Chicago Store. This trio may be young in age, but they can rock it like old pros...
I'll confess to having a real thing for guitar closeups. So, let's zoom in on Deceptively Innocent's bass player...
On to the Scott Avenue Stage, where My Town Music Youth Graduates perform pop and rock...
We still have a little daylight left, so let's backtrack to the corner of Congress and Scott. Here are two performers from the Parasol Project's Living Statues...
Sun's going down at last. Here's Chillie Willie Groove to help you bring on the night...
Tip: You can view more event photography in my portfolio and on this blog. I am also available for event photography assignments in Tucson, Arizona, and elsewhere. I specialize in concerts, festivals, parades, political rallies, and sporting events. To check availability and to request a proposal, please e-mail me or call 520-690-1888.
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Event Photography: Tucson Folk Festival 2011
May 9th, 2011The official 2011 Tucson Folk Festival photo gallery is up and ready for you to enjoy!
Feast your eyes on 315 images of performances, workshops, the Songwriting Contest, the Folk Women's Jam & Song Circle, the Children's Show, and Tucson Folk Festival scenes.
To whet your appetite, here's my very opinionated selection of Best o' the Fest photos...
And here's a complete list of the performances that I photographed at this year's Folk Festival:
- Don & Victoria Armstrong
- Larry Armstrong & Copper Moon
- Arnold/Klingenfus Ensemble
- Roman Barten-Sherman
- Batucaxe
- Chris Borreca
- Bwiya-Toli
- John Coinman
- Sabra Faulk
- Tony Furtado
- Eb's Camp Cookin'
- Sandy Hathaway
- Debbie Hawkins
- Hot Club of Tucson
- Indigo Spirit
- JC & Laney
- Jeff & Patricia
- Scotty Johnson with Native Seed
- Robyn Landis
- Jaese Lecuyer
- Kevin Pakulis Band
- Ladies Gun Club
- Leila Lopez
- Lilla Luoma
- Linda Tepper Rothchild and Mark Holdaway
- Manzanita Bluegrass
- Mzekala
- namoli brennet
- Otter Creek
- Privy Tippers
- Robby Roberson
- roth d'lux
- Scatter the Dust
- Smallvox
- String Bean Folk Orchestra
- The Determined Luddites
- The Flying Javelinas
- The Greg Morton Band
- The Long Wait
- Titan Valley Warheads
- Way Out West
Tip: You can view more event photography in my portfolio and on this blog. I am also available for event photography assignments in Tucson, Arizona, and elsewhere. I specialize in concerts, festivals, parades, political rallies, and sporting events. To check availability and to request a proposal, please e-mail me or call 520-690-1888.
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Bicycle Photography: Swapping and Racing
April 18th, 2011Yesterday was one of those "can't miss" days for bicycling in Tucson. Not just for the warm, sunny weather, but for two wonderful events.
The morning started with a Tucson classic, the Bike Swap Meet, which has been around since the 1980s. Matter of fact, I can remember attending the spring 1988 edition, which was held during a monthly bicycle club meeting in the Biological Sciences West auditorium on the University of Arizona campus.
Let's just put it this way -- this event has gotten wa-a-a-ay too big for an auditorium...
If you were looking to buy or sell anything bicycle-related, well, you were in good company. Plenty of it...
One of my favorite things about the Bike Swap Meet is, well, the artsy-ness of it all. It's not just the beauty of the vintage bikes like these classic Schwinn Stingrays...
...there's the elegance and simplicity of the bicycle wheel...
Okay, enough artsy-ness. Let's go to the races!
Downtown Tucson was the place to be if you like a good, fast criterium bike race. Yesterday's Old Pueblo Gran Prix was the first-ever, but I believe it's destined to be a classic...
The Old Pueblo Gran Prix course was only six-tenths of a mile long, which meant that you didn't have long to wait before the racers went speeding by...
I'd like to offer a special shout-out to the men and women in blue who protected the riders from those who wished to walk, bike, or drive across the course...
To some, the cops came across as real hardnoses, but I speak from personal experience when I say that you don't want anyone but racers on a criterium course. Back when I was living in Ann Arbor, Michigan, I was a volunteer course marshal for a criterium that went around the University of Michigan campus.
Things were going just great until some out of state visitors drove right onto the course. It took a lot of screaming and pleading to get them to move out of the way of the riders. Fortunately, they drove off without incident.
Want to see more bike-tography? Pedal your browser over to my Bicycle Stock Images site, now including photos from Tucson Bike Swap Meet the and the Old Pueblo Gran Prix.
Tip: You can view more event photography in my portfolio and on this blog. I am also available for event photography assignments in Tucson, Arizona, and elsewhere. I specialize in concerts, festivals, parades, political rallies, and sporting events. To check availability and to request a proposal, please e-mail me or call 520-690-1888.
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Event Photography: Cyclovia Sidelines
April 1st, 2011My previous Cyclovia Tucson post focused on notion that streets aren't just for cars. People traveling under their own power also have a place.
This post will cover one of the greatest benefits of self-powered travel: An enhanced ability to see and hear what surrounds you. With this thought in mind, let's look at the Cyclovia sidelines.
An abandoned gas station on South 4th Avenue near 22nd Street is still home to a barrel-ful of Santa Rita prickly pear cactus...
Further south, the Cyclovia riders met up with a musical extravaganza, starting with Mariachi Aztlan de Pueblo High School...
Near the southernmost point of the Cyclovia course, riders got a thumping-loud salsa serenade...
Tip: You can view more event photography in my portfolio and on this blog. I am also available for event photography assignments in Tucson, Arizona, and elsewhere. I specialize in concerts, festivals, parades, political rallies, and sporting events. To check availability and to request a proposal, please e-mail me or call 520-690-1888.
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Event Photography: Solar Rock 2011
March 30th, 2011Cyclovia Tucson riders had a special treat awaiting in Armory Park. The Food Conspiracy Co-op's annual Solar Rock concert offered a musical feast that was 100% powered by the sun.
Tucson's GeoInnovation furnished the 800-watt solar array that kept the tunes coming. This array can generate 4 kilowatt-hours per day...
Performers included Robyn Landis...
...and a very high-spirited group of water dancers, whose performance coincided with Tucson's second annual Synergistic Water Festival...
Tip: You can view more event photography in my portfolio and on this blog. I am also available for event photography assignments in Tucson, Arizona, and elsewhere. I specialize in concerts, festivals, parades, political rallies, and sporting events. To check availability and to request a proposal, please e-mail me or call 520-690-1888.
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Bicycle Photography: Cyclovia Tucson 2011
March 28th, 2011What happens when you throw a streets-closed-to-cars, human-powered mobile party and 10,000 people show up? You get Cyclovia Tucson, that's what!
The second annual Cyclovia drew bicyclists, bladers, skateboarders, runners, walkers, and wheelchair users to the streets of Tucson and South Tucson yesterday.
Cyclovia Tucson was truly an event for everyone -- didn't matter if you were a triathlete in training...
or an around-town cruiser...
If your bike needed some help, it was right there waiting for you. Here's Steve Vihel, owner of There and Back Bikes with his trusty repair stand...
Need a break from the bike riding? How about stretching and toning those cycling muscles with a free zumba class?
Okay, maybe it's not you who needs the break -- it's the kids. Well, send them up the climbing wall!
These kids are still too young for the climbing wall. Or for pedaling their own bikes. But that's not stopping them from having a good time on Cyclovia Tucson...
Want to see more Cyclovia 2011 photos? Pedal your browser over to my Bicycle Stock Images site.
Tip: You can view more event photography in my portfolio and on this blog. I am also available for event photography assignments in Tucson, Arizona, and elsewhere. I specialize in concerts, festivals, parades, political rallies, and sporting events. To check availability and to request a proposal, please e-mail me or call 520-690-1888.
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Bicycle Photography: UA Criterium 2011
February 28th, 2011Saturday was a great day for indulging my passion for bike-tography. I pedaled my bicycle and camera over to the east side of the University of Arizona campus, which was blocked off for the UA Criterium.
This closed-course event drew bicycle racing enthusiasts from hither and yon, but there were plenty of good spots to capture the action. Here are the Category 3/4 Men, lining up for the start of their 35-minute event...
After the start, those Cat 3/4 guys went flat out. Here's one competitor nearing the main entrance to the UA softball stadium...
Okay, so you're not into racing, but you did ride your bike to the UA Criterium. Well, there's a laid-back cruiser ride that's just for you. Just donate a minimum of $15 to benefit the Tucson Tragedy Victims Fund, and you're in.
Among those who pitched in to aid the victims of the January 8 shootings was Ralph Phillips, owner of Fair Wheel Bikes, not to mention the biggest front basket in the cruiser ride...
The relatively small women's field provided the surprise finish of the day. Check out the middle rider in this photo. She's Lizzy Caputo, a 15-year-old member of El Grupo Youth Cycling...
Lizzy was the only female entrant in her youth race and was the winner by default. So, she decided to mix it up with the adults. And she came in third.
Tip: You can view more event photography in my portfolio and on this blog. I am also available for event photography assignments in Tucson, Arizona, and elsewhere. I specialize in concerts, festivals, parades, political rallies, and sporting events. To check availability and to request a proposal, please e-mail me or call 520-690-1888.
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Event Photography: Weatherization Workshop
January 25th, 2011If you're like most Tucsonans, you live in a house that does a lousy job of keeping the winter's cold outside. Which means that you're left with the uncomfortable choice between living in an icebox or dealing with heating bills that rival your mortgage payment.
Almost all houses inside the Tucson city limits were built before any national energy efficiency standards. Roughly 175,000 houses in eastern Pima County – which includes the city of Tucson – have little or no insulation, R-2 or R-3 walls, and leaky single pane windows.
The above fits my house to a tee. This Middle-Aged House is in its mid-50s, it's pretty drafty, and I've already had the windows replaced.
So, how am I solving my drafty house problem?
I started by having home energy auditor Maggie Michel over for an inspection. Here she is, identifying air leakage with an infrared camera...
The bad news is that Maggie's report confirmed what I had long thought: This place leaks like a sieve.
The good news is that it's possible to make houses like mine more energy efficient – without spending megabucks. And a lot of the work can be done with tools you already own.
That's where Tucson's Green Retrofit Co-op (GRC) comes in. It helps members work on each other's homes in order to make them:
- Energy efficient
- Resource efficient
- More affordable and livable with age
I'm a GRC member, and I recently hosted my first of what will probably be several GRC workshops. Reason: This Middle-Aged House is an emotionally needy house. One workshop just isn't enough.
The festivities started with instruction from GRC founder Tres English. Here, he's showing GRC members how to seal air leaks around electrical outlets and switches. He's using a spray foam sealer called Great Stuff...
Tip: Tres is using the window and door version of Great Stuff. There's another version that's used for sealing bigger gaps. That version of Great Stuff foams like crazy. Don't use it for sealing leaks around outlets and switches. Just don't.
Maggie's home energy audit found quite a bit of leakage where my walls and ceilings meet. To help solve this problem, here's Richard, the courageous kitchen caulker...
On to the back of the house. What do you do to keep your hot water heater from getting cold and lonely?
Well, you give it a nice, warm insulating blanket so it doesn't keep coming on and making money-burning sounds that I can hear inside the house. GRC mentor Norm is on the case...
It's been a week since the workshop, and as mentioned above, there's still a lot of work to be done. But I've noticed that this place doesn't get cold as quickly in the evenings as it used to. So, some progress is being made.
Tip: You can view more event photography in my portfolio and on this blog. I am also available for event photography assignments in Tucson, Arizona, and elsewhere. I specialize in concerts, festivals, parades, political rallies, and sporting events. To check availability and to request a proposal, please e-mail me or call 520-690-1888.
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