This week we will visit Arizona’s only producer of extra virgin olive oil, the Queen Creek Olive Mill. They have tours, a great Tuscan inspired eatery, and we have even heard mention of a Gelato Waffle Sandwich. Stay tuned!
On Saturday, we went to visit a new exhibit that has just opened at the Phoenix Art Museum entitled Cézanne and American Modernism.
Whenever we travel to a major city, you are certain to find The Roaming Boomers in its art museum. Now that we live in Scottsdale, Arizona, we feel most fortunate to have the Phoenix Art Museum just down the road from our home.
This particular special exhibit consists of 100 works of art. There are 16 of Cézanne’s pieces, and 84 others by American artists who were greatly influenced by Paul Cézanne.
As we approached the Phoenix Art Musuem’s Steele Hall, we were greeted by cheerful representatives of the museum who gave us what appeared to be an old style Motorola Flip Phone. I was greatly pleased to learn that these were digital devices that would give us an audio tour of the collection. Cool! There’s nothing worse than going to an art museum and not having any understanding of what you are looking at.
The audio tour was very well done, and kept us in rapt attention as we made our way through the exhibit.
“Paul Ce?zanne (1839–1906) is universally acclaimed as the father of modern art for his revolutionary use of flattened perspective, carefully structured compositions, and his signature technique of painting with patches of color. This exhibition is the first to reveal how a small group of pioneering American artists championed the reclusive French artist before he gained international prominence. Although these painters and photographers never met Ce?zanne in person, his long and prolific career provided many avenues of influence for them to explore.”
There seemed to be well over 100 people visiting this exhibit with us. All had their little “flip phone” glued to their ears listening to the various curators explaining not only Cézanne’s life, but why his particular style of painting earned him the title of modern art’s father, as well as his influence on the great many works of art that we were strolling by.
I was also captivated by the wide variety of people present. There were young girls dressed up in stylish dresses and heels. While at the other end of the spectrum, several older folks confined to wheel chairs were also enjoying the exhibit. And, there was seemingly present, folks from every corner of the globe all gathered here in a common bond: the enjoyment of Cézanne, his art, and his influence.
The Phoenix Art Museum has brought us an exhibit that is informative, and very pleasing to the eyes. It will broaden your perspective of the world, and leave you a more enlightened person than when you first entered the beautiful lobby.
As I have mentioned before, the Phoenix Art Museum is a must for your top 10 list when visiting the Greater Phoenix Area. If you happen to live in the Valley then you simply must go see these works of art. I promise you will have a most enjoyable visit.
I took this photograph a few years ago while driving on Arizona’s Desert to Tall Pines Scenic Byway.
As I have mentioned many times, and will likely say again many more times, “The Roaming Boomers love to do road trips”. In fact, I am suffering from scenic byway withdrawal, and feel one coming on real soon.
A wonderful place to gather information about America’s scenic byways is at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Scenic Byway Program website.
When you visit, make certain that you also check out the other byways link. There you will find National Forest Scenic Byways, Bureau of Land Management Back Country Byways, America’s Byways and National Wildlife Refuges, America’s Byways and the National Park Service, as well as State-Designated Byways.
This site is a treasure trove of information, and beckons you to get out on the road.
When you take a drive on one of these scenic drives, please come back here and tell us about it in the comments section. I would love to hear your stories.
We are spending two days at this 2010 Travel & Leisure World’s Best Winner. This resort grabbed the #1 spot for Arizona, and #13 for US/Canada. We can’t wait!
Scottsdale, AZ (2010) – Arizona possesses 5 AAA Five-Diamond resorts, and they all happen to be in Scottsdale, Arizona.
During the months of May and June we were invited to come sample each of these beautiful resorts. We slept in their rooms, enjoyed their fine cuisine, swam in their pools, luxuriated in their spas, and completely bathed ourselves in their amenities for two full days.
You don’t earn the prestigious AAA Five-Diamond award without firing on all 12 cylinders, and doing nearly everything perfectly.
Therefore, it was not our intention to say that this resort was better than that resort. Rather, we were expecting world-class service from all, and suspected that we would merely view different flavors of such service from each.
We were not disappointed.
Even though we were in our own Scottsdale backyard, each of these magical resorts transported us to such a place of relaxation, luxury, and pampering we quickly forgot where we were and simply enjoyed the moment.
And after all, isn’t that what a world-class luxury resort is suppose to do?
At each of these resorts, we have prepared for you video, beautiful photography, and even a little pithy text. So, sit back, relax, and let me take you on a wonderful journey of Arizona’s AAA Five-Diamond Resorts:
With each of these properties, we have prepared for you at least two separate postings. One on the resorts in general (with a video), and one on each of their fine dining restaurants. Make sure that you scroll all the way down to catch all the material on each resort.
We sincerely hope that you find these article informative, and entertaining.
Furthermore, if you are coming to these articles from a search engine, these are the best of the best of Arizona, and we highly recommend that you visit one of them.
Further still, if you live in the Greater Phoenix Area, or anywhere near the area for that matter, these properties will make for you a magical stay-cation. I highly recommend that you take advantage of these jewels for occasions like wedding anniversary’s, special birthdays, or any special occasion. Also note that these resorts are amazingly affordable in the warmer months when the snow birds have flown the coup.
Again, we hope you enjoy our work, and we hope that you in return will honor us by following us by e-mail, Facebook, or Twitter.
We have many exciting destinations up our sleeves, and we would love for you to follow along.
David & Carol Porter (aka The Roaming Boomers)
PS Here is a link that will take you to all ten (10) of the articles.
The Roaming Boomers