Observations and stories of art and creative energy exchanges.

Atomic Motors Las Vegas

Last weekend, while in Las Vegas, I took a time out to check out the local car scene. In my previous post, I shared my story and miles of pics from the Las Vegas Cars & Coffee. Right after, it was time to stop in on an old favorite, ATOMIC MOTORS, to visit with owner Bill Biler and see his amazing collection of classic cars, street rods, and awesome custom truck collection, along with all the shop upgrades he and his team have done since my last visit in 2024.

A.D. Cook March 17, 2026

Las Vegas Cars & Coffee

It’s been a while since I’ve attended the Las Vegas Cars & Coffee hosted by Celebrity Cars. At one point, I stopped by this show almost weekly, but since moving to the Phoenix/Mesa Valley a couple of years ago, my focus has been on local car shows within Arizona. But this past weekend, I was in Las Vegas to take care of old business and couldn’t resist stopping by my old favorite weekly Cars & Coffee gathering on Eastern in the Twin Peaks parking lot at 9510 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89123. And I’m so glad I did! The collection of amazing sports cars, racers, classics, street rods, and custom trucks was everything I remembered and more.

A.D. Cook March 16, 2026

The Music Was There

Whenever a song stays with someone that long, I get curious. Over the years I’ve noticed that songs often say something deeper than what we hear when they are simply playing in the background. You’d think that once I had learned that lesson, I wouldn’t forget it. But today it came back to me. I realized that I had never fully grasped the depth and beauty of the song, so I went back and read the lyrics again.

Frank Mallinder March 14, 2026

Mesa Cars & Toys

It could not have been a more perfect morning for a car show. Friends and local car fans have suggested I check out the Mesa Cars & Toys Car Show for some time, and today was the perfect opportunity to do so.

A.D. Cook March 8, 2026

AI vs ART – The Copyright Conundrum

The artist vs. AI battle over copyright and creative infringement has been ongoing for a while now. Up until just recently, the big question was “Are A.I. images art, and if they are, who created the art, and so who owns the copyright to the images created?“

A.D. Cook March 6, 2026

American Legion Apache Post 27 Car Show

Patriotism and desert skies shone bright for the American Legion Apache Post 27 Car, Truck & Bike Trophy Show. Several dozen beautiful rides on display, including classic cars, muscle cars, hot rods, street rods, sports cars, cool trucks, custom motorcycles of every variety, and even a cool Freightliner semi.

A.D. Cook March 2, 2026

Heritage Academy Car Show and Concert 2026

The weather was perfect, as sports cars, muscle cars, and amazing pickups filled the parking lot at the Heritage Academy at 32 S Center St, Mesa, AZ, United States, 85210. Today I enjoyed the 5th Annual Heritage Academy Car Show & Concert. Along with Trophies, Food Trucks, Vendors, and Raffles, they featured three hours of live entertainment presented by their amazingly talented music students. Vehicle and vendor registration supports music education at Heritage Academy in Mesa.

A.D. Cook March 1, 2026

Las Vegas Brewing News: March 2026

This month’s Brewing News covers great events from Beer Zombies, Mission Control, the Brew’s Best Craft Beer Festival, the Great Vegas Festival of Beer, Boulder City Beerfest, Rustic House, and more.

Bob Barnes February 26, 2026

Celebrating 800 Posts

This is a truly special day for me, as I joyfully celebrate the remarkable milestone of reaching 800 posts on this website. Throughout my online archived journey, I’ve shared my observations, personal reflections, and captivating stories that encompass not only my art (and others’ art) but also my love of cars, life experiences, unique encounters, and fascinating creative energy exchanges.

A.D. Cook February 24, 2026

Eastside Road Runners Saturday Car Show

The Eastside Road Runners hold a Saturday afternoon car show in Apache Junction that features an impressive variety of hot rods, custom cars, and an eclectic mix of music. The event, which is carefully organized and widely publicized, often takes place in collaboration with local businesses, such as Fresh Press Burger, creating a vibrant and casual meet-up for car enthusiasts and families alike in the East Valley.

A.D. Cook February 23, 2026

Low Tires

It’s a given that some bike rides are harder than others. But when a familiar ride suddenly feels like a grind, the cause may not be what you think. Same bike. Same route. Same rider. On a ride a short while ago, every mile felt heavy. No steep hills. No headwind. Still, my legs burned early, and the joy drained out of what should have been an easy ride. So, I did what most riders do when pedaling gets hard. I changed gears. And changed them again. When that didn’t work, I began troubleshooting the rider. Maybe I was out of shape. Maybe I was getting older. Maybe I just needed more grit.

Frank Mallinder February 23, 2026

15th Annual Mountain Bridge Classic Car Show

There were 100 places to park incredible cars at the Mountain Bridge Car Show, where owners showed off their incredible rides in the grassy-green Owners’ Club Park. Driver check-in began at 9 a.m., and the show started at 10 a.m., which ran until 1 p.m. I got there just after 9 and stayed the entire time, even catching a few great shots of cars rolling out after a great day of sunshine and car camaraderie.

A.D. Cook February 22, 2026

Posts & Updates

Observations and stories of art, cars, life, and creative energy exchanges.