Category: About Town

Arizona summers are brutal. Two weeks ago, we lost a local who decided to go hiking at Second Water in the Superstition Wilderness. He has not been found. The official search has been called off.

From July through September, we take sanctuary in our air conditioned houses and local drinking establishments. The studio is inhospitable.  With no new art or photographs to share, I have little to share here.

Continue reading “Omens”

Well, the great thing about living in the desert is the weather. The bad thing about living in the desert is the weather.

From June until September, we tend to hide indoors. We in the East Valley enjoy the lack of the winter visitors, which we call Snowbirds.

As our temperatures creep below 105°F our winter visitors creep in. But we also welcome the events that make this state the Great 48. Continue reading “Apache Jii”

This past weekend, tired of being housebound in 100+° heat, I suggested to Liz that we take a day trip to Superior.  Superior is 2,888 feet elevation.  Apache Junction is 1,722 – and that 1,000 feet make a difference.

The cloud cover added to the cooling effect of the elevation, and it was pleasant all day as we walked the streets of Superior, and stopped into the Silver King Smokehouse and Saloon. Best pulled pork this side of the valley! Continue reading “Superior”

Last weekend we attended the Mining Festival and burro races in Superior, AZ.

Superior is a town that has had its ups and downs.  Many times a ghost town, Superior is rising again.

The day’s events included a parade, live music, a beer garden, food tents and more.

We arrived early to get some photos before the crowds arrived.  We visited our favorite gallery, ate some fresh handmade donuts, listened to the music and had lunch at the Silver King. Continue reading “Feeling Superior”

Apache Leap swerves as the backdrop to this old Arizona mining town.  Founded in the late 1870’s, Superior was originally named Queen, due it’s proximity to Queen Valley and the Queen Creek.

Later it became Hastings, and in 1902 it became Superior, after the Lake Superior and Arizona Copper Company.

The Magma mine (also the Silver Queen), and later the Silver King mine depleted all of the silver. The mines changed hands, just in time for copper to become king.

The copper industry supported the town for years. Superior has had its ups and downs following the trends of the copper industry. Continue reading “Feeling Superior”

In the middle of the Sonoran Desert just outside of Florence, AZ is an unlikely oasis. Founded in 1996, St. Anthony’s Monastery is home to 42 monks.

The grounds boast several chapels of various styles, and the monastery is open to the public for self-guided tours daily. Continue reading “St Anthony’s Monastery”