Tag: Blog Posts About Me

Road Trip to Portland for Thanksgiving 2008

The Journey North

If you don’t already know, I am up in Portland, OR for Thanksgiving to visit my family this year. I left the house at 5:05am yesterday and was expecting to hit rush hour traffic in Sacramento, but I guess it being a holiday week, the traffic was really light.

392 miles

Distance to First Stop

$1.89/gal

Gas Price

$21.00

First Fill-up

10 hours

Total Drive Time

I drove past Weed, CA where I normally stop for lunch and gas because at 9am I wasn’t hungry and with a Honda Civic I get great gas mileage. In fact, I didn’t have to stop for gas until Grants Pass, OR, which is a whopping 392 miles (ca. 631 km). Another bonus was I only paid 1.89 a gallon for gas, so the bill came to $21.00. Although I didn’t go to Weed, I took a picture of the sign for you. 🙂

Being that I am traveling alone this year, I didn’t have anyone rational to tell me they want to stop. I’m always someone wanting to test my limits and decided stopping wasn’t an option and after filling up with gas (and a bathroom break) in Grants Pass, OR I drove the rest of the way to Portland. I got into Portland at 3pm and was amazed that I still had a half a tank of gas left.

When I normally drive up to Portland, I take a Saturn Vue, which requires you fill up at least twice. So that means I was able to get up to Portland on pretzels, corn nuts, water, and a little more than $30 in gas. Since technology hasn’t allowed me to blog and drive at the same time (safely at least) all I could do was listen to my iPod and take pictures.

Family Time in Portland

Once I got there, my mom and nephew Evan were there to greet me. They have been having Evan practice “Uncle Jeremy” which turns out to be “Meeemeee Uh Uh” when he says it which is the most adorable thing in the world if you ask me.

“Meeemeee Uh Uh!”

— Evan, my adorable nephew

Evan is super smart and as soon as my mom told him I was the infamous Meemee uh uh he instantly associated me with that name. I would leave the room, and he would say “Meeemee uh uh”? Of course, then returning, he would say Meeemee uh uh!

We went to dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory, which is so awesome. This morning we are going to Bob’s Red Mill for breakfast, and I’ll blog about that later because it seriously can’t be beat for a breakfast place.

Coming Up Next

Breakfast at Bob’s Red Mill! Stay tuned for the next post…

Desert Majesty: Discovering Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West in Scottsdale

A personal journey through architectural genius in the Sonoran Desert

The stunning architecture of Taliesin West against the backdrop of the McDowell Mountains

As I mentioned in previous posts, I spent last week in Scottsdale for a conference. While the business aspects of the trip were productive, it was the unexpected cultural encounter with architectural history that left the most lasting impression. On my final evening, I attended the President’s Dinner at Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home and architectural laboratory nestled in the McDowell Mountains. What began as a simple business dinner became a fascinating glimpse into the mind of America’s most celebrated architect and his revolutionary vision for desert living.

Before diving into that experience, I want to share a bit about Scottsdale itself, a city that perfectly balances luxury, natural beauty, and a rich cultural heritage. My October visit coincided with ideal weather—85 degrees during the day dropping to a pleasant 70 at night. For someone who’d rather be hot than cold (and who remembers all too well that scorching 115-degree visit when Gary made us talk with a store manager in a restaurant parking lot), this climate was absolute perfection.

The Luxury Desert Oasis of Scottsdale

Scottsdale may be in the desert, but there’s nothing barren about this vibrant city. Driving around town, I was struck by the visible affluence—passing a Ferrari/Maserati dealership I’d never seen before, spotting a Ferrari while driving through a golf course community, and counting two Bentleys during my stay. The pinnacle of luxury sightings occurred at Starbucks before heading to the airport, where a woman casually parked her Aston Martin in the middle of the road right in front of the building. Clearly, Scottsdale’s reputation as an upscale destination is well-earned.

What many visitors don’t realize is that Scottsdale’s evolution into a luxury destination has deep historical roots. The city began as a small farming settlement in the 1880s when U.S. Army Chaplain Winfield Scott purchased 640 acres of desert land. The development of the Arizona Canal system provided the critical water access that allowed the community to flourish. But it wasn’t until the post-World War II period that Scottsdale truly began its transformation into the high-end resort destination we know today.

While luxury cars and upscale shopping certainly catch the eye in Scottsdale, I found myself equally captivated by the natural beauty. The omnipresent saguaro cacti stand like sentinels across the landscape, their distinctive silhouettes emblematic of the American Southwest. I learned from locals that these magnificent plants grow extraordinarily slowly—a ten-foot saguaro might be over 100 years old. Having lived in Reno, Nevada for three years (another high desert environment), I’ve always appreciated the stark, minimalist beauty of arid landscapes. Scottsdale’s seamless integration of luxury developments with desert preservation showcases how thoughtful urban planning can honor rather than erase natural environments.

Taliesin West: Wright’s Desert Laboratory

The highlight of my trip was undoubtedly the President’s Dinner at Taliesin West. While I had certainly heard of Frank Lloyd Wright before, I knew surprisingly little about him or his work prior to this visit. Established in 1937, Taliesin West served as Wright’s winter home and architectural school for over two decades until his death in 1959. Today, it functions as the headquarters of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Historic Landmark.

Our group was treated to a private tour of the residence, and I was immediately struck by our guide’s unusual invitation—she encouraged us to bring our wine glasses along and make ourselves at home, even allowing us to sit on the furniture. This welcoming approach provided a much more intimate connection to the space than the typical museum experience where everything is roped off and untouchable.

What makes Taliesin West truly remarkable is how it emerged from Wright’s philosophy of “organic architecture”—the belief that buildings should harmonize with their natural surroundings. Rather than imposing a structure upon the desert, Wright designed Taliesin West to grow from it, using local materials and responding to the unique qualities of the Sonoran landscape.

One of the most fascinating aspects of Taliesin West is its construction method. Wright pioneered what came to be known as “desert masonry”—a technique where local desert rocks were set in wooden forms and bound with a mixture of concrete and desert sand. This approach allowed the buildings to blend seamlessly with their surroundings while providing natural insulation against the extreme desert temperatures. The compound’s low-slung buildings with their angular, geometric designs echo the shapes of the surrounding McDowell Mountains, creating a visual harmony between architecture and landscape.

Architectural Innovations

Our guide shared that Wright was a tireless innovator who never patented his architectural ideas or techniques. While I can’t verify all of her claims, she pointed out several innovations that were incorporated into Taliesin West’s design. The theater where we had dinner that evening was particularly impressive, featuring what our guide described as an early form of “surround sound” achieved through non-90-degree stone walls that naturally reflected and dispersed sound throughout the space.

The theater also showcased Wright’s innovative approach to seating design. Instead of traditional theater rows, he created built-in seating with specific angles and proportions designed to maximize comfort and acoustic experience. What struck me was how these innovations weren’t just technical achievements but also aesthetic triumphs—the theater space was simultaneously functional, comfortable, and visually stunning.

Wright’s original designs for Taliesin West included canvas roofs that filtered the harsh desert sunlight, creating a luminous interior atmosphere. As technology evolved, these were eventually replaced with more durable synthetic materials, but the principle remained the same—controlling light was fundamental to Wright’s approach to desert architecture. The buildings were positioned to maximize views of the mountains and sunset while minimizing exposure to the intense midday sun.

Another remarkable aspect of Taliesin West was its function as both a home and a school. Wright established the Taliesin Fellowship, a program where apprentices would learn architecture through direct experience—building and maintaining the complex while studying under the master. This “learning by doing” approach was revolutionary for architectural education at the time and continues today through the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation’s educational programs.

Scottsdale: From Western Town to Luxury Destination

The contrast between Taliesin West’s purpose-driven desert architecture and Scottsdale’s luxury developments is both striking and complementary. When Wright established his winter home in 1937, Scottsdale was still a small town primarily focused on agriculture and ranching. The area’s transformation accelerated after World War II, particularly after Scottsdale incorporated as a city in 1951 with only about 2,000 residents and the official slogan “The West’s Most Western Town.”

  • The 1950s brought technology companies like Motorola to the region, diversifying the economy beyond agriculture and tourism
  • Beginning in the 1970s, master-planned communities like McCormick Ranch started transforming the landscape
  • The Scottsdale Airpark developed into one of Phoenix’s major employment centers
  • Tourism grew exponentially, with Scottsdale now welcoming over 11 million visitors annually

Despite its rapid growth and development, Scottsdale has maintained a commitment to preserving natural desert landscapes. In 1995, voters approved a sales tax to fund the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, which now protects approximately 36,000 acres—nearly one-third of the city’s land area—from development. This balance between luxury development and environmental preservation reflects a modern interpretation of Wright’s philosophy of harmonizing with the natural environment.

Today’s Scottsdale represents an interesting fusion of its Western heritage, luxury lifestyle, and desert landscape. The city has managed to evolve while retaining connections to its past, much like how Wright’s architectural philosophy embraced innovation while respecting natural surroundings. This thoughtful approach to development has helped Scottsdale maintain a distinct character despite its explosive growth over the past several decades.

A Desert Experience Worth Having

My brief encounter with Taliesin West has given me a new appreciation for Frank Lloyd Wright’s genius and his contribution to American architecture. While I would never have classified myself as someone “into architecture” before this trip, the experience was thoroughly engaging and accessible even to a novice like myself. The buildings speak a language that doesn’t require technical knowledge to understand—there’s an immediate, intuitive sense of rightness about how the structures relate to their environment.

Scottsdale itself proved to be more than just a conference location—it offered a perfect blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and modern comforts. The contrast between the ancient desert landscape with its slowly growing saguaros and the city’s contemporary luxury presented a fascinating study in how human development can both complement and highlight natural environments.

If you find yourself in the Phoenix area, I can’t recommend Taliesin West highly enough. Even if you’re not particularly interested in architecture (as I wasn’t before my visit), the site offers a unique window into a visionary mind and an important chapter in American cultural history. And as for Scottsdale in October? It’s pretty close to perfect—just don’t let anyone make you stand in a parking lot if you visit during the summer months!

Join the Conversation

Have you visited any architectural landmarks that surprised you with their impact? Or do you have a favorite season to visit desert destinations? Share your experiences in the comments below!

CMMA Conference Pictures

John Forte from Cummins was taking pictures during the event and was nice enough to gave me a copy of a few he took while Jody and I were presenting the new website.