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Pretty Good Hat

Tag: Flagstaff

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I walked a lot when I was back in Flagstaff a couple of weeks ago. Downtown Flag is perfect for the many photo walks I’ve taken there over the years, being full of alleys, shops and restaurants. On this night I had a solo dinner — a big bowl of ramen from Sosoba — and walked past a dozen familiar shopfronts, all busy and warm with people.

Teatro was previously a favorite place named Criollo, where we were regulars for breakfast. The last time we were there was a Valentine’s Day; we came in late, and they were absolutely packed, but the hostess recognized us, welcomed us and squeezed us in at the bar. We’re not yet regulars anywhere in our new hometown, and I miss the easy familiarity and routine of a favorite spot.

An alley leading into the distance, with a car crossing the frame midway. In the background are sunset-lit clouds, and otherwise the alley is dim.

A big bowl of ramen on a wooden outdoor counter

Railroad tracks lead toward a horizon lined by small buildings. Low cumulous clouds are bright on the horizon but shadows from behind the photographer are long, indicating evening. An oncoming engine’s headlight can just be seen in the far distance.

The front patio of Flagstaff’s Pay N Take. People mingle under blue umbrellas in low late evening light. The interior is lit and welcoming.

A restaurant photographed in low light from across the street. In the foreground is a bike locked to a dark green rack. A car is blurred in motion and obscures the restaurant, named Teatro.

I spent most of last week back in Flagstaff, my first trip there since we moved more than a year ago. I have so many thoughts and feelings about visiting that town — where I lived for nearly twenty years. I went for a lot of photo walks and revisited some favorite places, including this lovely corner that holds a lot of memories. Pizzicletta has expanded to a small empire but this original location is special (and next door to my favorite bike shop, too).

A low white building on a street corner at dusk. It is lit by small pools of warm light in which diners can be seen on patio tables.

A low white brick building with shades over patio tables and windows. A narrow window has a sign reading “gelato”.

A nighttime photo showing a small paper cup with two big scoops of gelato stacked in it, one probably chocolate and one a lighter color (it’s olive oil, and delicious). Behind the steel counter where the cup sits is a stylish vertical sign announcing gelato. Further behind is a window revealing a cozy dining room.

Saying goodbye to a home and hello to another

As of last week, we’ve officially sold our old home, the place we lived for nearly seventeen years, the duration of my whole current career. Now we can fully, 100% live in our new home in a new city and state; and processing this move is quite an interesting, reflective and ongoing set of moments.

As I navigate our new home, I think a lot about the old one. We really loved that house. We had remodeled it, making the kitchen just what we wanted and enjoying it tremendously. It’s a little hard to leave it, and now all we have are memories of so many mornings making coffee there, talking, cooking. I hope the new owner appreciates how smoothly the drawers close, how warm the big butcher block counter is amid the tile and countertops, and how the sun changes throughout the day. I hope they appreciate the urban trail entry path, just across the street, and the way the wide east-west street gives them views of sunrise and sunsets.

We landscaped the backyard with a garden and native plants, and installed a cable rail so that we could see the whole yard from the porch. We passed so many hours out there, watching starlings, ravens, nuthatches; and at dusk, bats would emerge against the pale, darkening sky.

It’s where we brought our baby home, and watched her grow to a teenager.

The memories are endless, really. Moving closes one story and starts another, but they’ll always be tightly linked, more continuous than discrete. Let’s put down new roots.

Looking into a kitchen and living room from the floor above. A vaulted ceiling arches high. The rooms are empty, lights sparkling on shiny counters and wooden counter island. An intricate chandelier and large teardrop shaped light fixtures focus more light.

What a big two weeks: I traveled back to FLG to pack, clean and get the house ready to sell. My dad joined me and we worked hard; it takes a lot to pack up sixteen years of life in a home. It was a really special week together.

A person sits on a worn wooden bench outside a brick building, across the street from the photographer. Through the windows several people can be seen gathered, talking. There is a red neon sign in one window reading ‘Rendezvous’ in a cursive font.

One more photo post today: A moment from a photo walk around town a couple of weekends ago. I really liked this bit of inside/outside downtown life on an early autumn day.

I just learned about this really neat community space in town: The Co-coop (for Coconino County co-op, I assume) has a tool library, ceramics studio, coworking space, fine art printer, laser cutter, metal and wood shops, textile room, and a community garden! Wow. So many cool things to check out, learn and tinker with.