Frank Lloyd Wright was one of America's most famous, and important architects. His winter residence and studio, called Taliesin West is located in Scottsdale, and is open for tours. It is a fascinating insight into Wright's ideas and principles. For those not into design or architecture, it is just a cool building.
The tour covers the exterior site, as well as unique rooms used by Wright and his associates to model and present their designs. Two theaters in the complex are also included. If you have the time, the extended tour goes into the recently restored living room and private studio of Wright.
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Cactus: Camelback from the Desert Garden
Looking for other things to do in Phoenix, when you aren't at the ballpark? How about the Desert Botanical Garden, which happens to be next to the Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
We stopped there one morning and were treated to just about every type of cactus imaginable, plus a surprising variety of other desert flora. From the mighty Saguaro to the tiniest barrel cactus, to the tree with green bark, the Palo Verde, the garden is full of surprises, especially for an east coast guy like me.
The Desert Garden is well worth a couple of hours. In fact, we went back after the ballgame to finish our own tour!
We stopped there one morning and were treated to just about every type of cactus imaginable, plus a surprising variety of other desert flora. From the mighty Saguaro to the tiniest barrel cactus, to the tree with green bark, the Palo Verde, the garden is full of surprises, especially for an east coast guy like me.
The Desert Garden is well worth a couple of hours. In fact, we went back after the ballgame to finish our own tour!
Monday, March 28, 2005
Cactus: Buttes of Papago Park
This is a view from the seats behind first base at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. The buttes behind the left field fence are located in Papago Park, which is also home to the Desert Botanical Gardens. Just try to find a view like this in the Grapefruit League!
I enjoyed the afternoon at Phoenix Muni. It is a nice, funky ballpark with a spirit. It is older than the parks at Maryvale, Peoria, and Surprise, and is therefore just a little more cramped, but that didn't bother me a bit. Unlike Maryvale, the concessions lines moved quickly.
I think another reason I enjoyed the game is because of the laid-back good natured banter between the Cubs fans and the A's fans. It must have been spring training, where the fans were also getting in shape for another pennant race. There was none of the "edge" that might accompany an important game during the season, just a lot of fun chatter.
I enjoyed the afternoon at Phoenix Muni. It is a nice, funky ballpark with a spirit. It is older than the parks at Maryvale, Peoria, and Surprise, and is therefore just a little more cramped, but that didn't bother me a bit. Unlike Maryvale, the concessions lines moved quickly.
I think another reason I enjoyed the game is because of the laid-back good natured banter between the Cubs fans and the A's fans. It must have been spring training, where the fans were also getting in shape for another pennant race. There was none of the "edge" that might accompany an important game during the season, just a lot of fun chatter.
Cactus: Graphics in Phoenix Muni
What struck me most about visiting "Phoenix Muni" as it is called, was the striking graphics all over the ballpark. This sign is typical of the directional signage throughout the park. I really liked the literal baseball theme.
All along the concourse, banners were mounted that had terms unique to baseball, and their definitions. Not words like ball, strike, or sacrifice, but more colorful terms such as "can of corn" or "Texas leaguer."
This view of a tunnel to the box seats from the concourse also shows the neat stone walls and the currogated steel of the pressbox structure, other features I also like.
All along the concourse, banners were mounted that had terms unique to baseball, and their definitions. Not words like ball, strike, or sacrifice, but more colorful terms such as "can of corn" or "Texas leaguer."
This view of a tunnel to the box seats from the concourse also shows the neat stone walls and the currogated steel of the pressbox structure, other features I also like.
Cactus: Entering Phoenix Muni
To get to Phoenix Municipal Stadium, you walk up a spiral ramp, cross the main road, and spiral back down to the gate on the third base side. While crossing, you get a good look at the concrete roof over the grandstand that looks a little like the bleachers roof at Dodger Stadium, and the striking graphics that are found throughout the stadium. A full park was expected today, as a split squad of the Cubs was visiting the Oakland A's. It seemed that a good portion of the crowd were Cubs fans, who seem to show up everywhere.
Sunday, March 27, 2005
Cactus: A Little Touch of Home
Every spring training park tries to bring a little bit of the club's home park and city to the game. Often, the current game time weather is given at the start of the game. This day at Maryvale, we heard that the gametime weather in Milwaukee was 31 degrees and snow flurries.
Another touch of Milwaukee was the famous sausage races. Not only did the polish, italian bratwurst and frankfurter race down the right field line, the appeared on the concession menu, "imported" from Wisconsin.
Another touch of Milwaukee was the famous sausage races. Not only did the polish, italian bratwurst and frankfurter race down the right field line, the appeared on the concession menu, "imported" from Wisconsin.
Cactus: Cloudy Day at Maryvale
There are a lot of neat architectural features in the park. I particularly liked the trellised "roof" structure, the outfield berm seating, and the open areas on the concourse.
The only part of the whole Maryvale experience that I didn't like was the incredibly long concessions lines. Three innings for a soft drink sort of saps the fun out of the afternoon.
The only part of the whole Maryvale experience that I didn't like was the incredibly long concessions lines. Three innings for a soft drink sort of saps the fun out of the afternoon.
Cactus: Welcome to Maryvale!
They call Phoenix the Valley of the Sun, saying it has 330 days of sunshine a year. Well, our first game of Cactus League baseball took place on one of the other 35 then. Not that cloudy and 63 degrees at game time is bad, compared to cloudy and 43 when we left Virginia the day before!
Maryvale is located in a residential area on the west side of Phoenix. It is a comfortable, park-like setting for a modern, spacious ballpark and the many practice fields needed for a spring training camp. The complex appears to be an attempt at spurring economic development in the surrounding neighborhood, as it seems a little out of place.
Maryvale is located in a residential area on the west side of Phoenix. It is a comfortable, park-like setting for a modern, spacious ballpark and the many practice fields needed for a spring training camp. The complex appears to be an attempt at spurring economic development in the surrounding neighborhood, as it seems a little out of place.
Saturday, March 26, 2005
A Cactus League Weekend
It has become something of a tradition in my family to take a long weekend in March to see some spring training baseball. It is a great break from the cold weather of the northeast and midwest, and a fun way to "cheat" on the start of the baseball season.
A couple of years ago, it was just my dad and I checking out some games in Florida. I flew down a little earlier than him, and was able to squeeze six games into four days- five of them with him. Last year, my sister and neice joined us, and we saw five games while based in Orlando. This year, five of us ventured out to Phoenix, to sample the baseball among the cacti.
My sister and nine-year-old niece flew in from Cleveland. Dad and mom drove down from New Jersey and flew with me. It was a long trip on cramped airplanes, but when we were greeted with sunset over the mountains, it was already worth it.
Three games were on the schedule. Friday, it was the A's versus the brewers at Maryvale Baseball Park on the west side of Phoenix. Saturday, we saw a split squad of the Cubs play the A's at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Sunday, our final game was the White Sox versus the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Because there were no night games scheduled during our visit, we had some time to check out the area and see a few of the sights, Because the ballparks and training sites are so close together, we were able to avoid some of the long drives we had to put up with in Florida in years past.
I'll follow with my thoughts on the ballparks we visited.
A couple of years ago, it was just my dad and I checking out some games in Florida. I flew down a little earlier than him, and was able to squeeze six games into four days- five of them with him. Last year, my sister and neice joined us, and we saw five games while based in Orlando. This year, five of us ventured out to Phoenix, to sample the baseball among the cacti.
My sister and nine-year-old niece flew in from Cleveland. Dad and mom drove down from New Jersey and flew with me. It was a long trip on cramped airplanes, but when we were greeted with sunset over the mountains, it was already worth it.
Three games were on the schedule. Friday, it was the A's versus the brewers at Maryvale Baseball Park on the west side of Phoenix. Saturday, we saw a split squad of the Cubs play the A's at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Sunday, our final game was the White Sox versus the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Because there were no night games scheduled during our visit, we had some time to check out the area and see a few of the sights, Because the ballparks and training sites are so close together, we were able to avoid some of the long drives we had to put up with in Florida in years past.
I'll follow with my thoughts on the ballparks we visited.
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