I enjoy taking the Caltrain to destinations south of the city. It feels stealthy: like I'm getting a look behind the scenes, into people's backyards (which is true, in some cases). Photos here from a trip on Christmas Eve (dirty windows contributed to the atmosphere.)
up
Downtown GRrrrr, Michigan.
northern-er
More from Grand Rapids...
From top:
- murmuration of starlings, as seen through Ann Chuchvara's installation in the UICA window (*I have no idea if these are starlings, but I've just learned this word/phrase and wanted to throw it out there...)
- tin ceiling at San Chez restaurant
- bike, south of downtown - art, Oakes St.(?)
- Urban Institute of Contemporary Art
- Opening at the UICA (The Moving Crew)
- Mixed media by Jaeha Yoo
north-ish
disco ball @ Mezze restaurant, GR, Michigan - we had coffee here this am
I'm taking a little break, spending a few busy days in Western Michigan to help put up an art show...and also visit friends and family. Its cold here: the kind of cold that makes your breath catch a little when you breathe in deeply. And there was some snow tonight. Not a lot, just enough to make things sparkle-y. Awesome. Having been away from it for a good period of time, I do enjoy this weather.
For the moment being at least, you are still allowed to smoke in bars here (and I think some restaurants have smoking sections). Cigarettes and bars seem like a natural pairing to me, but I certainly don't miss the souvenir of my clothes and hair reeking of smoke. When I first encountered a woman lighting up in a restaurant lounge last night, it took me a second to realize that was something I hadn't seen in a long time.
tis the season... with soundtrack
This weekend shoppers stumbled up Fillmore St. to the sounds of a lone trumpet. Make that two. And a saxophone. And a handful of upright basses...
It was the weekend of the "Fillmore Holiday Stroll," business-owners' attempt to lure holiday shoppers to the neighborhood. (Judging by the number of people out and about, it seemed to be working.) Five different jazz combos were serenading the crowds at intervals from Post to Jackson St. (maybe further). I don't know whether the added ambiance increases sales (I found myself suddenly wanting a large cup of coffee, if that counts), but I thought it was a very nice touch and spent some time loitering and listening on my way home.
excursion, part 1
A few weekends ago I was instructed to pack an overnight bag for a mysterious short adventure. My only clue: there were no showers where we were going. (Very mysterious, no?)
Although the clue would seemingly point to camping, I know J isn't a huge fan. And that would require more gear than we were venturing out with. I was a little flummoxed.
Out of the city we went. The drive wasn't long, but was packed with subterfuge, including an unnecessary bridge crossing and some impressive doubling back. (For awhile I was sure that J had neglected to look up directions, but he assures me it was all part of the plan.) We passed through a deserted-looking military base(?), and then turned onto a very twisty and pothole-filled dirt road, ending up at a working marina...
It was a collection of floating homes, discarded concrete pilings, rocks and seagulls. Old cabin cruisers were disintegrating into piles of parts and material around the edges of the parking lot. There was a fair amount of interesting stuff to poke around and take pictures of, but after an hour I wondered what the heck we were doing there, exactly.
I didn't have long to wait before the Plan was revealed.
* we learned this tugboat was recently towed in from parts north and will probably will be dismantled for scrap
disco, muni
(Soundtrack: St. Etienne, "Urban Clearway")
west coast illumination
From top:
- Westfield Mall food court (nicest food court I've ever seen)
- Sir Francis Drake hotel Grand Hyatt, viewed from Sutter St (SF)
- Stumptown Roasters (Portland, OR)
- modern chandelier (SF)
- Diesel (Portland, OR)
- Isa restaurant (SF)
- The Ambassador (SF)
- Bacchus Kirk (SF)
impressionism
Layfayette Park as seen from the #1.
saturday, it rained
Sutter St.
6.20am/7.40am
diversion
Stage of the San Francisco Opera House, as seen from the top of the uppermost balcony. (Performers onstage in this photo would appear about a centimeter tall.)
This building is amazing: massive, solid, labyrinthine, full of interesting details...lights, doorknobs, carpet. Hopefully I'll have more photos in the future.
the reveal...
The neon sign from the "can't read it from here" post is from the apparently newly renovated Galleria Park Hotel, on the corner of Sutter and Kearny, downtown SF.
I like that first photo, because the buildings in the background are a little Oz-like (though the hotel sign is illegible still unreadable).
eyes on denver
Coors Field at dusk
Go Rockies!
neon
can't read it from here
squint your eyes and pretend you're somewhere else
A little slice of Enchanted Forest, @ Civic Center