Phoenix - ASU Museum & Tucson - 47 Scott

Journal:

Finally left Phoenix today!

Morning dip in the pool, b'fast, packing, on the road by about 11am to ASU Art Museum. Circled the Downtown campus until realized it was in Tempe. Tempe has lovely tree-lined (shade!) main street. Spent about 1/2hr tracking down an espresso, in the heat (walking 10 blocks is not fun in 110F+). Three Races was closed, and after walking back to 6th St (from 10th) a restaurant tout (young girl) tipped us off to Cartel, a very cool (in all senses) coffee shop on Ash at University. Art Museum is skeletal Aztec temple out of concrete (more concrete...). Found one Georgia O'Keefe in the Americas collection -- enjoyed the rest of the collection, though didn't recognize many of the artists (aside from the Edward Hopper and Winslow Homer pieces). A Vietnamese artist had an engaging exhibit on centered 'round the Bicycle. And there was a gallery on modes of transportation (by foot, by car, by train, by plane, by horse) -- favorite piece there was a very evocative 'horse' lying down, made from scraps of wood and metal and an old tire. Then over to the Ceramics Research Center, with a small collection of pots and other pot-sized sculptures. Actually, theirs collection is the largest in the world , but only 20%  of it is on display. Certainly have works by the Ceramicist Greats, according to Wren, as daughter of a professional ceramicist. Lunch at Sacks around 3pm, then on to Tucson. Falling asleep at the wheel after 30miles, so switched. Checked in to the Econolodge of the I-10 at 6th St, took a nap, tried to hook up with Chris McCreedy but he was working tonight. Headed into 'downtown' Tucson and happened past 47 Scott which looked trendy in a pared-down modern kind of way, so parked and had dinner there. Comfort food prepared delicately, if that's not an oxymoron; fresh ingredients, subtle flavors, pairings with grilled veggies and salads. Quite a treat, and very reasonably priced too. Were thinking if this were in Flagstaff, every dish would have been $5-$10 more expensive.