Signs on Broadway and Wilmont

I took these pictures last year, never got around to uploading them until now. 

Wilmont Plaza has been here since before I moved to Tucson  (in 1990).

This is what remains of Popular outdoor outfitters. It abruptly closed down one day never to reopen. This store front has since been renovated. 

6th and 6th

I went to a hackathon on Saturday that was downtown. 

Benson Highway

I had to give a presentation with Tucson Embedded, they're near the airport, and I found some really interesting signs near there.

Found this car wash right beside a Circle K, where I got some gum. 

This hotel was on a lonely stretch of road along the Benson Highway. 

This derelict sign is a edifice of our consumerist, post-modern, culture. 

4th ave, near I-10

Took some pictures of signs near the South side of Tucson.

Although you can't see it, this sign used to say "mobile service station."

The letters didn't fall off as they did melt on. 

This sign used to say, "Old Spanish Trail," but the only part that remains is trail.

Motels of Miracle Mile

Here is my long anticipated post of Motels of Miracle Mile

It appears that they did a lot of renovation at the Ghost Ranch, unfortunately, it seems to have lost much of its soul.

Even though this wasn't a motel per-se, it was in the same strip and had many of the stylistic conventions of the other signs along Miracle Mile. 

Random Signs

After I cleared out my apartment, I went along some streets to take some signs from Euclid to Miracle Mile.

It's a big round poka-dotted sign. 

I see commercials for the place all the time. 

This was a sign for a "food store"

Coming soon: an up coming blog post about the motels of Miracle Mile. 

Campbell Estates Mobile Home Park

Rode my bike down Campbell a few days ago

Could not resist taking a picture of this sign. It's a little dark because I took this early in the morning.

Some Signs Near 1st.

Since I've moved out to Vail, the signs available to me have been few. Fortunately I found a few more in my photo library. 

I caught this Asarco building on my way home one day. I think it was near Stone and Grant. 

This was the sign of a closed down, run down gas station on 1st. Curiously they're building a new gas station on the next block from this one. I wonder why they just don't fix this one up. 

I found some pictures I haven't posted yet, you'll see a few more of these over the next few days.

 It turns out this is a church, not a farming coalition.

Despite Tucson's attempts to mend downtown, I feel like they're going to leave a few isolated details like this sign un-altered.

More of South Tucson

These are pictures I took while riding my bike a few weeks ago. 

There were a bunch of guys smoking marijuana when I went by this car wash, really sketchy.

 Not much to say about this one.

I admire the owners attempt to make the preceding letter to the 'C' symmetrical to it, but this resulting character just doesn't exist in the alphabet.

Downtown

Most things in downtown has lost its authenticity and is now "trendy." Regardless, this blog wouldn't be complete without a few images of the unique signage in downtown Tucson.

I did a little bit of research about this building. Apparently it's home to a studio that make models of old buildings around Tucson before they're renovated or torn down.


They went to town painting this building.

Around my apartment

I took some pictures real quick down Glenn: about 1-2 miles from my apartment.

This sign looked interesting because it's so faded and absorbed into it's enviroment.

Found this sign in front of a rundown property in a surreal line of abandoned, rundown properties.

This is the sign to a very nice, small, and deserted park.

Interdasting Vidya

I found this interesting video, while browsing youtube, that addresses signs, graphic art, and the erosion of historic signs in our culture. It's a good watch and I think we need to do "take it back" as the author insists.

Old Sign in the Middle of the Desert

I found this old warehouse while exploring in the desert with my friend.

It's very run down and doesn't look like it's been used for decades. It was beside railroad tracks and had a loading dock for trains so it had to have been related to railroad shipping. The only question is: what did it store? It isn't near any large industry that would require a large warehouse.

South Tucson Day 7

This is the 7th and final post of my South Tucson Pictures... for now.

This is one of my few portrait pictures. But because of the sign, this was ratio was completely necessary.

This is a good saying.

I wonder how the 'A' came off; the letters were painted on.

This is one of the most flamboyant signs I have ever seen.

South Tucson Day 6

This is one of the most run down places I have ever seen. It must have been glorious when it was open but now it's closed and breaking down. I would think that it would be a great building for something like an art gallery but I don't think artists see it that way.

Got this while I was in the car. Taken in a very quick shot.

I couldn't help but focus on the bottom of this sign. It looks like it's about to fall down. Pigeons made a nest inside it.

South Tucson Day 5

Here is my fifth day of South Tucson pictures.

That guy in the mural reminds me of the No Me Gusta face.

This is Paradise Motel's less sketchy counterpart down the road a few yards.

Says what is needs to say. If I need tires and wheels this is the place I would go.

"Paradise" Motel

Here is day 4 of my South Tucson pictures.
I'm dedicating today's post to a very special location in South Tucson, you'll see why from the pictures.

If you can see, the sign, at one time, had neon lights over the lettering, but that time was long ago.

This motel has Kitchenettes, and some other stuff, but I can't make out what else. Maybe each room has a T.V. but beyond that, this sign isn't much help.

No association with Paradise Bakery.

The owner doesn't play games.

South Tucson Day 3

Here is day 3 of the South Tucson blog posts.

I found this tire sign irresistible.

The simplicity of this sign, to me, is striking, Sans Serif font with a little decorative typography to make it stand out.

I tried to get this sign up against a stark blue sky, but for some reason I just got the edge of a tree in. I should have zoomed in a bit closer.