Hi, I’m Gracie O. You may remember me from such blogs as Woolgathering & Miscellany and Tiger Butter. Allow me to take you on a magical tour of my hometown, the desert destination that is Phoenix.
Upon landing in Terminal 2 of Sky Harbor, you’ll be welcomed by artist Paul Coze’s best-known work. He created this amazing three panel mixed media mural in 1962 out of what is speculated to be 52 forms of different media, including dirt from Native reservations. Then, once we snap up your bags from baggage claim, we’ll make a stop at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale, where you can check-in and grab a margarita.
The original Valley Ho opened in December 1956 and was designed by the office of Edward Varney, it was recently renovated a few years ago. Hungry? Let us go to the Souper Salad in Phoenix for lunch!
The Phoenix Financial Center, also built by Sarmiento, was designed to look like an old computer punch card. The building was also featured in the 1993 film Suture. The lucky SOB lived in one of the round buildings!! Alright! We’re ready to head to the Christown Mall!
Built in 1960, Christown Mall was the first indoor air conditioned shopping center in Arizona. Check out all those bubble lamps & bird cages! Too much shopping? Feel a sin coming on?
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Good thing the Good Samaritan hospital in Phoenix isn’t too far away. This gorgeous amorphous buidling was designed by Bertrand Goldberg, most known for the Marina Towers Apartments on the Chicago River, the concrete corn cob buildings.
Phew! It’s been a long day. Time to have a night cap and tuck in. Hope you enjoyed your brief tour of Phoenix. If you’re ever back again, please take a peek at the other mid-century marvels our lovely little city has to offer.
Your dutiful hostess & tour guide,
Gracie
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I LURVE the photos of the Christown Mall. Do any of those fab fixtures still exist?
Phoenix is so phunky! Who knew? (Um, not me because I’ve never been there.) Thanks, Gracie!
Now. Do we have a name for that poor child yet?!
Wow – I’m super loving Phoenix!
Wow, is this the best-kept secret of the West? I’m packing my bags now…
Splendid tour my darling Grace.
Where can I leave tips?
I think I want to move to Pheonix just to work at The Phoenix Financial Center. Yummy scantron building.
Phoenix looks awesome – great post, Grace!
I love AZ. Can’t wait to make it back out there… I spent part of my honeymoon at the Hotel Valley Ho – so much fun! They even have condos in the same complex.
thanks, guys! hit me up if you’re ever in the area!
xoxoxo-
g
Thanks for the tour, Grace – very groovy architecture!
Raina,
The Christown amazingness was actually torn down a few year back!! Can you believe it! Such a low down dirty shame. They rebuilt a fug mall in its place. Blerg.
xo,
g
Great tour – didn’t know there was so much cool architecture in Phoenix!
ah….i lived there from 1981-2003 and just seeing those photos makes me remember what a different place it is there. you going to check out the frank lloyed wright house up there near squaw peak?
OK Gracie, you’re virtual tour beat the pants off of the real trip I took to Phoenix several years ago. Of course, just about anything beats a night of drinking soco in a crappy dorm room.
Thanks so much for joining us!
the nerd appreciation in me is really digging the computer punch card building! Thanks for the tour!
Love the hospital, love the post! Thanks for the virtual tour.
oh me oh my! I was born in that “gorgeous amorphous” hospital! And now I live in Mesa but take the snazzy light rail downtown to enjoy all the sights of vintage Phoenix!
Good bit!
How could you leave out that marvel of architectural marvels–Highland High School? The rectangular concrete buildings and gray color schemes are a metaphor for education.