Washington St. near the Tucson Art Museum used to be pretty boring. Halfway down the block, there was a side entrance to Old Town Artisans that wasn’t used much. Basically, the street was a way to walk through to somewhere else. Then, somehow, a tiny cafe called Ceres opened and managed to get permission to put picnic tables and umbrellas in the street. Then added big pots of flowering plants. And at this time of year, a couple of palo verde trees–native to Southern Arizona–are in bloom adding to the sense of vibrancy to this once neglected and forlorn little street.
Now, at noon time it’s busy, especially on a sunny, warm Thursday. Workers from nearby offices come to the counter facing the street and order one of four house-made pastas each with a choice of sauces. For dessert you can order Italian gelato in flavors like cotton candy or black sesame. It’s a limited, but delicious, menu, and all take-away. In the evening it reopens to serve coffee and dessert only.
Adding art to a dull street
What came next on this street were new murals on the exterior of Old Town Artisans, a collection of shops filled with things that tourists like. In many of the shops the crafty goods and art works have been created by Tucson locals. One of these new murals faces Meyer Street and this second one is on the Washington street side of this old adobe building. Both depict an earlier world where Tucson is now located. Below, the image of a women harvesting saguaro fruit.
Across the street from the Ceres ordering counter, below left, is one of the many entrances to Old Town Artisans, below right, where there is dining in the courtyard. Mostly Mexican-Sonoran style food, if I remember correctly. l love the use of ocotillo as ceiling material! It recalls the ancient ways in Southern Arizona — actually, not so “ancient”. People use ocotillo for fences these days.
A mystery map in the sidewalk
While I was taking photos at the corner of Washington and Meyer Streets, I glanced down to see what looks like a street map of old Tucson embedded in the sidewalk. Here is the image of it. It’s worn and faded and I have no idea what it is all about. Again an example of the old and new in Tucson sitting side-by-side. I may go back there and do a rubbing of it to see what it says. There is something about “changed to politician” but that is all that’s clear. Perhaps it has to do with the massive demolition that took place nearby in the 1950s in the name of urban renewal. Maybe?
Another curiosity from the past: the rustic addition of a room? apartment? jammed into the side of an old bungalow around the corner on Meyer St. It doesn’t have that AirBnB quality about it. Maybe a spare room for guests or relatives? Or a budget rental to help support Mom and Dad in retirement?
Then a block away: springtime in Tucson as it has been for centuries. All the trees are now leafing out and the palo verdes are blooming brilliant yellow–everywhere. The daily temperature is in the 70F to 80F range. It’s the best time of year.
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