Enthusiastic Noise

Winter Sunrise on Grandview Avenue

2012-01-12T21:13:00.001-05:00

The weather earlier this week was incredibly calm. One of the results was a series of crystal clear skies. This is a photo I shot when I got up to work out in the morning.

When I looked out the window, the pink horizon in the sky totally caught my attention. The early morning was a combination of the bright lights of the city and the incredible colors behind it in the sky. I had to snap a quick pic!

A Little Patina in Lower Manhattan

2012-01-11T09:41:00.001-05:00

On a recent trip to NY, my friend and I had experienced the city when it was a ghost town. I know that is a little hard to believe, but the week after NYE was so quiet, that Manhattan seemed like a deserted island.

We had to walk around for about 30 minutes to find a place that was actually open. Finally, we found a gem of a place in the village called Anyway Cafe. It was the type of hidden, petite place that makes Manhattan so special. The atmosphere was incredible, and the building was either built to look old, or just really old. I shot this photo of the door inside the bathroom.

The lock was old and metal and amazing. The patina of time gave it incredible charm. Loved it!

Christmas Tree Graveyard

2012-01-08T22:30:00.000-05:00

While I was in New York visiting a friend, we enjoyed the great weather by grabbing lunch and eating in the park. Once we were finished, we headed to a little pub in the village. As we wandered through the park, we saw these kids making the most of the Christmas trees that has been abandoned after the holiday. They were playing a funny little game of hide and seek.

Warhola Scrap Metals

2011-11-14T08:03:00.001-05:00

Andy Warhol was a Pittsburgh native. He had amended his own name from Warhola at the beginning of his art career.
I had heard for years that he had a brother, Paul, and he owned a scrap metal company in Pittsburgh. The other day, I was in the North Side and I had to get gas. I ended up on a street I was not familiar with, but only a few blocks from the part of the neighborhood I know.
As I was filling up the tank, I noticed this sign across the street. I had randomly stumbled across Paul Warhola's scrap metal business. To my surprise, he had a nice little piece of art of his own to share.

Yinz Looking for Parking for the Steelers' Game

2011-11-08T09:22:00.002-05:00

This weekend, I ventured out into the city to have some fun. I hit a lot of different neighborhoods in the city including South Side, Oakland and the North Side.
The North Side is very close to the stadiums in Pittsburgh. That day, there happened to be a football game. While I was sitting at the traffic light, I noticed this man waiving cars into the parking lot. He was standing there without a care in the world, belly busting out and smoking a stogie.
In my head, he was saying "Yinz looking for a place to park for the Steelers' game?"
Gotta love the 'Burgh

Gentlemen Coffee Drinkers

2011-11-03T08:40:00.002-04:00

It is a good and a bad thing that there is a Starbucks one block from my office. It is good because when I need a break, I can wander down the block and head over there for a coffee.

Why is it a bad thing? Well, I used to have a 3 pm coffee addiction, and it seems to be returning.

During my trip yesterday, I noticed these three gentlemen sitting in the corner of Starbucks having a lively debate. Ah, the joys of retirement I thought. Or maybe it was, ah . . the joys of having somewhere to hang out besides your living room.

Monongahela Incline

2011-10-16T18:39:00.001-04:00

After having brunch with my parents, I took the Monongahela incline home. The incline has been a way for pedestrians to get up and down the steep hillside of Mount Washington. There are two inclines that are located on the hillside.

It is a pretty incredible view of the city and a great way to travel on public transit.

Sun shines on the Blue Band

2011-10-10T08:10:00.004-04:00

There is nothing like sitting in a stadium with 103,000 other people on a Saturday afternoon, watching your almi mater win. Hanging out with my sister, the great weather, meeting up with everyone at the tailgate, the feeling that your team can pull it off, makes it a great day.

While I was sitting in the stands, the horn section of the band was walking around and happened to walk up into our section next to our seats to play a quick tune.

I snapped a couple pics and this one of the young, clean faced Blue Band member bathed in sunlight summed up the day for me. It makes you believe everything is good in Happy Valley.

Pittsburgh Skyline in a Fog Bank

2011-10-07T08:34:00.004-04:00

One of the advantages of having an apartment on the hillside overlooking the city is that you get to experience mornings like this one.

With the sun just coming up and only the tips of the buildings peeking out of the fog, it makes for an incredible site. Only a short 30 minutes later, it was all gone. If you didn't wake up early enough or lived in a different place, it is like the moment never existed . . except on my camera and on this blog.

Enjoy!

Spinning Bridge in Cleveland Flats

2011-09-19T12:25:00.004-04:00

The other day, I was out for a walk and had missed to stop because the bridge was being moved for a boat on the river. At first, I thought of it as an incovenience, but I was able to see the spinning bridge in action and get this great pic with my phone.

I have always thought the lift bridges in Cleveland were interesting, but this spinning bridge is one of my favorites. It is an interesting way to make the use of a tight space.

Chair on the Roof

2011-09-16T11:36:00.004-04:00

As I was walking home from the west side market a couple of weeks ago, I had noticed this chair sitting on the top of the roof. The building is a manufacturing building, and I thought it was a bit strange that there was a chair up there.

Even better than that was the fact that is was this aqua blue and stood out like a sore thumb. To be fair, you can see downtown from up there, so maybe they were getting ready for the air show or something. Or maybe they just need somewhere to get away.

Like James Taylor said, "When this old world is getting me down" he goes Up On The Roof.

Old Rotary Phone

2011-08-17T09:07:00.003-04:00

Over the weekend, I was visiting my brother. Since the weather was incredible, we were outside and I noticed this old rotary phone in his garage.

Yes, it is a genuine phone that works . . . believe it or not.

I felt like the dusty old phone was so appropriate because my guess is that anyone under 25 has NEVER seen a real rotary phone. They might not know how to use one. Do they even make rotary phones that are toys anymore?

Grafton Street Band

2011-08-15T22:33:00.003-04:00

While I was at the Dublin Irish Festival, I stopped at a little stage where all of the artists play acoustic only. This band, the Grafton Street Band, was great. They played some more contemporary Irish music like Van Morrison and U2, but had a great sound.

It reminded me of the buskers on Grafton Street in Dublin, Ireland.

A Reflection of Terminal Tower

2011-08-12T08:53:00.002-04:00

On my daily commute into the office this morning, I got off the bus and cross the street on the eastern side of Public Square. When I looked up, there was an amazing reflection of the Terminal Tower in this building. I have seen reflections in other building before, but never one that looks to vibrant and the sky so blue.

You have to really enjoy these summer days when the sun is shining and it is cool in the morning and warm during the day. No better time of the year.

A Stone's Throw

2011-08-10T08:39:00.002-04:00

Did you ever ask yourself - "How far can I throw a 12 pound stone?" or even better "What if I wore a kilt when I was doing that?" Well, I have found the sport for you.

While I was at the Dublin Irish Festival, there was an exhibition of Celtic Sports including the Stone Toss. I think it had a more official name, but I was too busy being fascinated by guys in kilts throwing huge stones for it to register.

What you cannot tell by looking at this photo is that it was about 90 degrees at 11am in the morning, so I am sure throwing this big rock was even more difficult than usual.

Crab Shells from the Beach

2011-08-09T09:27:00.003-04:00

On my recent vacation to Ocean City, I went for an early morning walk on the beach. I found a couple of these crab shells washed up on the shoreline during my quick jaunt.

I also found a live hermit crab later in the week that my nephews adopted and took home from the shoreline.

There is nothing like finding something great when you are at the beach. In addition, my nephews found a huge crab shell while they were playing on the beach after breakfast with my dad.

Demolition of the Columbia Building

2011-07-22T11:54:00.002-04:00

Many downtown areas in cities throughout the country have old building that feel like they are part of an older or bygone era. It always breaks my heart a little to see these buildings go. I can always imagine the glamor and excitement of these places in a different time. There are flashes of that from Downtown Pittsburgh when I was a small child.

In this particular case, I really hate it. The Columbia Building is being torn down to make way for a casino parking lot.

Now, I will say my mom loves to gamble, I am have been known to pull a few one-armed bandits, but personally, it makes me sad because I don't view it as progress to tear down the things we have cherished for a century to make way for out-of-towners pulling on the penny slots.

At any rate, I just wanted to capture a little piece of it, while it is still here.

Old Post Office Building in Ohio City

2011-07-20T12:42:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, I met a friend for dinner at a place in Ohio City. In order to get there, I got off of the bus in on West 25th Street and walked a couple of blocks. On my way over there, I noticed this Post Office engraving in over the door of a building they were renovating.

I always think that these types of signs are pretty cool, and this one had some nice embellishments. Ironically, as part of the surround, were crosses that were crumbling apart . . . not very church and state of the post office at the time.

The Ceiling Above

2011-07-15T16:58:00.001-04:00

The other day, I was waiting for someone in the lobby of my office building. As I was standing there, leaning against the wall, I looked up at the ceiling. It was pretty incredible. It is funny the things you walk by every day and never notice.

The ironic part of this story is that my co-worker walked by when I had this pic in Photoshop and asked "That is a beautiful ceiling. Where is that?" He almost didn't believe me when I said in our lobby.

Cowboy Mouth at the Beachland Ballroom

2011-07-13T08:26:00.001-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, it was my birthday. I try to keep this fact under wraps until the event is past. Long story. At any rate, I went to see Cowboy Mouth at the Beachland Ballroom with my brother.

Cowboy Mouth is a really fun band, and I find it interesting that the front man is a drummer. He sits front and center on the stage and REALLY high on the kit.

Even more than that is the fact that Fred, the lead/drummer, has so much energy. I call him Reverend Fred because I imagine this is what people spoke like at old time revivals.

One thing about Cowboy Mouth, you always leave there a little sweaty and feeling good about life and yourself.

Not a bad way to spend a birthday.

Cleveland's Federal Reserve Statue

2011-07-12T08:59:00.003-04:00

The other day, I took a bus to a meeting in Gordon Square Park. I took a different bus than usual, and while I was headed to the stop, I noticed this great statue outside of the Federal Reserve Building in Downtown Cleveland.

The statue reminded me a lot of the statues outside of the Shelbourne Hotel on St. Stephen's Green.

Old Time Pony Track

2011-07-11T10:05:00.004-04:00

My first experience riding a pony, or horse, was at Conneaut Lake Park. In the back part of the Kiddie Land was a pony track. It was a treat every year that we would get to go on the pony's once during our week long vacation at the park.

It is a testament to Conneaut Lake Park that it is still a park that is old fashioned, that a pony track still exists.

There are so many great memories of the park, but the old time pony track just seems like something you won't see at a modern park.

Deconstruction (Demolition) of the Storage House

2011-06-30T15:01:00.003-04:00

Cleveland is going to widen the Inner Belt Bridge and they are knocking down a series of bulidings in the process.

On this day, I was walking home from the West Side Market, and noticed a crowd of people watching the building coming down. These two guys backed up their car, dropped the tailgate and enjoyed the show.

I guess different people have different ideas about entertainment.

Gary's Modern Furniture

2011-06-29T09:20:00.003-04:00

During a recent trip back to Pittsburgh, my mom and I went to breakfast at Pamela's Dinner in a small town called Millvale. Yes, it was right near the mills on the Allegheny River.

After leaving, I noticed this sign. First, I love old signs. This one, I thought was funny because it says "Let Gary Modernize Your Home" on it. Yet, I am sure the sign has not be updated since the 1060/70s area when the store was new.

Love it!

iPad on the Subway

2011-06-17T08:09:00.002-04:00

For my recent trip to New York, the team was working on a pitch that primarily focused on mobile. We had been extensively discussing how people use mobile devices (phone, iPad, tablets) on a day-to-day basis.

When we jumped on the train on the way to the pitch, I noticed a gentleman sitting there using his iPad. Being the covert photographer that I am, I used my mobile phone and snapped a pic of him.

Franking Street Subway Station

2011-06-14T19:29:00.004-04:00

While I was in New York for a pitch, our team got on the subway at the Franklin Street subway station. One of the things I love about NYC is that there are great gems around the corner.

I loved the tile work for the street address in this station and had a second to snap a quick pic.

It reminds me a bit of contemporary versions of the great time street signs in the French Quarter in New Orleans.

Banana at the ATM

2011-06-07T08:50:00.002-04:00

Excuse me sir, would you like a banana with that cash? At least that is what I thought when I saw this banana sitting on the ATM machine in downtown Cleveland.

At first, I couldn't figure out why the heck it would be there. Then, it dawned on me that the Cleveland Marathon had been the weekend before. A runner probably carried the banana with them after the race and just left it there in the post-race mental hysteria.

Or maybe Huntington Bank started a new program where you get a banana with every ATM deposit

Discovering Lincoln on the Mall

2011-05-12T09:32:00.000-04:00

While I was waiting for the bus yesterday, I had a ton of extra time, and I decided to take a spin around the part of the Mall in Cleveland near Key Tower. During my little stroll, I discovered a statue of Abe Lincoln. The bottom of the statue has the Gettysburg address on it.

I never realized the statue was there, but even more so I got a chance to re-read the Gettysburg Address. As we are coming up on Memorial Day, it has reminded me of this country's incredible history and time when we had taken up arms against each other.

I think it is the thing that is incredible about living in an older city - there is history around every corner.

K9 H2O

2011-05-11T08:09:00.001-04:00

On my daily stroll from the bust stop to my house, I get to walk through my neighborhood of Tremont. I spotted this little gem on my way home yesterday and thought it was so cute that I took a picture of it this morning.

The Cleveland Trust Building

2011-04-27T10:45:00.003-04:00

On my way to the dentist, yes the dentist, I noticed this incredible door. The building on Euclid avenue is being renovated, but the door from the Cleveland Trust is still there.

The ornate nature of the door and the incredible iron work caught my eye. Or maybe I was trying to distract myself on the way to get a cavity filled.

Either way, the door is incredible. Makes me wonder what the inside of the building looked like in its heyday. The building has an incredible rotunda and is perched on the corner of Euclid and East 9th street, one of the busiest arteries in downtown Cleveland.

It makes me want to go inside the building.

325 - The Library

2011-04-15T08:13:00.001-04:00

Every day on my way to catch the bus after work, I pass by the Cleveland Public Library. On this particular day, the street address numbers on the building caught my attention.

I like how the numbers were not so straight forward, but stacked a bit and different sizes. It adds a little fun to a 'serious' location.

Ely House Door in Dublin

2011-04-06T12:13:00.004-04:00

On the is a great museum tucked away in the corner of city centre Dublin. If you walk past Ely House. This part of Dublin has maintained it Georgian architecture, and the houses and entrances are incredible.

This door in particular caught my attention. The ornate knockers and well-polished mail slot was a great example of these doors. A lot of them have plastic business signs on them or are neglected by the landlords.

The Old City Walls of Dublin

2011-04-05T12:45:00.001-04:00

One day, on the way to the Brazen Head, I took an alternate route and stumbled across this site. It is the Dublin City Wall and Gate from 1240 AD.

Two things occurred to me. First, that Dublin was not much bigger than it had been back then. Second, there are some many old things in Europe as compared to the United States.

It very often is staggered in between something new as well. You see a new office building next to ruins that are hundreds of years old. Awesome

The Royal Bank of Ireland

2011-04-04T11:42:00.002-04:00

One of the things that you start to notice when you have gone to a city several times, is the number of signs or placards that are around for places that are not there anymore. Sometimes it is obvious because they have been converted into something else .. like the Dillards sign on the Cleveland Visitors Building (soon be become a casino).

In this case, the Royal Bank of Ireland building is now a pub. A very cool, upscale one. Regardless, the sign is dutifully polished on the outside.

Indians Open Open Day Skyline

2011-04-03T14:34:00.003-04:00

During my early morning walk on the Indians' day. The weather was a bit on the chilly side and there was some great steam coming of the stadium as they were preparing for that afternoon's game.

An Homage to Thin Lizzy

2011-03-31T08:05:00.002-04:00

While watching a documentary on Irish music, I learned that the band Thin Lizzy was actually an IRISH rock band. Aside from that completely shocking fact is that the lead singer, Phil Lynott was black. His mom was Irish and his father was Afro-Guyanese.

I guess it makes more sense to me why Thin Lizzy actually performed the song Whiskey in the Jar. And it also makes sense that there would be statue of him in city centre Dublin.

The statue is just off of Grafton Street outside of a place called Bruxelles, that has great music as well.

Neary's in Dublin of Grafton Street

2011-03-23T12:47:00.002-04:00

For all the times I have gone to Dublin, I have walked by Neary's pub so many times. I think the lanterns being held by the hands are interesting. They are kind of a landmark for the establishment just off of Grafton Street.

For the people who get weary from their shopping adventures on Dublin's business shopping avenue, it always seemed like an Oasis. Until this year, I had never gone inside. Encouraged by the rain and my lack of an umbrella, I ventured in. There was not an open table or a seat at the bar. I did a u-turn and headed back into the rain and for an alternate location.

The inside was like walking into Dublin 20 years ago. The crowd was much older and it just seemed more sedate and genteel. Maybe how Ireland was before the Celtic Tiger and the recent economic downfall.

Guinness and a Travelogue

2011-02-26T12:46:00.002-05:00

While I was in Dublin, I stopped at Donahue's pub to get a Guinness. While I was there a made a couple of notes about the places I had gone and the things I had done.

Since I go to Dublin pretty often, the trips have started to blend into each other and I really wanted a way to capture (aside from my photos) the things I had done during the trip.

This was my first Guinness during the trip. Lovely!

Snow Sculpture Made by Wind

2011-02-25T07:50:00.002-05:00

I was woken up this morning by the sound of the wind violently pushing through the trees. The branches beat against each other and the power lines outside of my wind.

Even more frightening is that some of the gusts of wind were so strong, they literally shook the house.

Although it was snowing, the sky was filled with occasional bits of thunder because of the raging storm. It is called "Thunder Snow."

Things like thunder snow and lake effect rain are some of the things that make living in Cleveland interesting.

When I left my house, I noticed that there were some unusual snow drift. The one in the photo was incredible. There were inches of snow everywhere, but you can clearly see my brick walkway. Actually, a fair amount of this managed to drift right in front of my garage.

Snow can be a pain, but it can be really beautiful. And remember, shoveling is REALLY great exercise.

Breakfast at Delucas

2011-02-07T19:25:00.003-05:00

While I was visiting Pittsburgh, my brother and I eat a late breakfast in the Strip District. We went to a restaurant called Delucas that has been in business for 70 years. One of the things that I really like about the place is the mix of people who go there for breakfast.

Since it was a Monday, some of the workers who load and unload the produce trucks were there for breakfast. I snapped this quick picture of a couple of them. Even better, the breakfast sandwich I eat was sooo yummy.

The Lore Of Ireland

2011-02-02T14:08:00.003-05:00

As I get closer to trip to Ireland, I keep thinking about all of the wonderful trips I have taken there in the past. I found an online album of some of my favorite photos. I almost forgot I had shot this photo on the way to the Cliffs of Moher with my friend Orsolo.

Although I won't be headed there on this trip, anytime you get outside of any city, and it doesn't need to be very farm, the warmth of rural life surrounds you in Ireland.

A scene with a farmer crossing a herd of cattle is something that I never saw as a kid, even when we ventured into the country side. It feels like a throwback and something that makes Ireland the low key place that it is.

You often hear about what Ireland is like, and that national lore serves them well. However, there are things that are true about Ireland. Some of them are dying out, but some traditions are still going strong.

Snowy Night in Ohio City

2011-01-24T10:02:00.003-05:00

While I was driving home the other evening, the song "Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley. It was snowing lightly and just such a wonderful scene.

It is one of the times that I was really able to enjoy the snowfall in the city and how wonderful it makes everything look.

This photo reminds me a bit of the photo of Tremont in the winter that I took in 2009.

It makes me really appreciate the great part of living in a city during this time of year.

How Much Snowfall in Cleveland

2011-01-14T14:37:00.003-05:00

If you have been hibernating, you might not have heard about the huge snow storm that hit every state except Florida.

I found a ruler in my house and measure the snow. This was not the deepest point in the yard, but I get snow drifts so I wanted to be fair.

Personally, 9.5 inches or so in two days is pretty impressive.

I love winter in Cleveland. Did I mention we are expecting 3 more this weekend?

LeBron - A Message from Boston "NOPE"

2011-01-04T08:05:00.003-05:00

As a resident of Cleveland, I have seen more than my fair share of LeBron haters, but I was surprised to see the trend in Boston.

OK - LeBron is still a rival even though he is at the Heat. However, I thought these t-shirts were hysterical.

I had seen these t-shirt being sold outside the arena, and was surprised how many people inside were wearing them.

Even better is the way the guy wearing the shirt is pointing at it. Love it!

The Christmas Tree at Faneuil Hall Marketplace

2011-01-03T14:14:00.002-05:00

This year, I spent New Year's Eve in Boston. Althought I was disappointed the Celtics lost the game I flew to see them place, the balmy weather made getting around the city great.

On the morning I flew out, we make a short trip to Faneuil Hall. The Christmas tree was still up - much like my own one is - and I was able to snap a photo before it started to rain.

Ironically, I had just seen a tidbit that the tree is donated by the people of Nova Scotia as a gift for supporting Halifax through some tragic events.

Overall, it was a great trip to Boston, and a great place to spend the holiday.

Christmas at the West Side Market

2010-12-29T08:25:00.003-05:00

Right before Christmas, I had to go to the West Side Market to meet an artist to pick up a print for my mother's present. I snapped this photo with my camera while I was waiting.

It definitely put me in the Christmas spirit to see all the decorations and people shopping for the holiday.

There was even a band in the upstairs viewing loft to add to the Christmas mood.

Even better was the flash mob of choral singers doing the Allelejah chorus.

There are so many great things about living in the city and the West Side Market is near the top of the list.

A Christmas Story in Tremont

2010-12-22T08:31:00.004-05:00

As some of you may know, part of the movie "A Christmas Story" were shot in Tremont. This time of year, you can see leg lamps in several of windows of restaurants and shops throughout Tremont.

About 6 years ago, we visited the Christmas story house. It was before they renovated it or had a museum across the street. My mom bought a string of leg lamp lights and gave each one of us a cover as a souvenir.

I lived in Lakewood at the time, so I find it kind of funny that I now live in Tremont very close to the elementary school. Every year, I put my leg lamp light cover on the tree. It just one more thing that makes me love the holiday in the city.

Ghosts of Christmas Trees Past

2010-12-06T20:24:00.003-05:00

As I have been looking back through some old image files, I found this photo of the christmas tree in my first apartment when I moved to Cleveland.

I had only been here a few weeks and there wasn't any furniture in my living room .. not even a light. The only light I had was from the Christmas tree. Eventually, the furniture that I ordered arrived.

There was a huge snow storm today, and it is getting me in the mood for the holiday, and I am excited to get my tree this week!

Meeting the Drum Guy

2010-08-29T18:41:00.002-04:00

As mentioned in my previous blog about the drum guy at the Tribe game, I was very excited to meet him. As a matter of fact, my brother and I were checking out the drum and get grabbed this photo.

Almost everyone in the city knows who this guy is, but how many people can say they met him or held his drumsticks. Stellar!

The Drum Guy at the Tribe Game

2010-08-27T15:21:00.003-04:00

There is a tradition in the city of Cleveland that I always thought was very cool. There is a man who goes to pretty much every tribe game with him drum. He has been attending games with his drum since Aug. 24, 1973.

At a recent game, the attendance was so low, that my brother and I were able to get up in the stands and talk with him. He is a very cool guy and I snapped this picture of him in his perch in the outfield bleachers.

My brother and I were able to play the drum and hold the drumsticks. I am thoroughly convinced that when they started charging him for a season ticket for his drum, it might have cursed the Indians.

Maybe if we figure out a way to pay for his ticket and for the drum, the curse might be broken.

Thoughts?

Pat O'Briens in the French Quarter

2010-08-22T21:33:00.003-04:00

One of the best placed in the United States, if the not planet, is New Orleans. What most people think of when they think New Orleans, is the French Quarter.

There are so many great bars and restaurants. Fortunately, a vast majority of these places were not damaged by Hurrican Katrina, so a lot of tradition survived.

Speaking of tradition, in New Orleans, the Hurricane drink is a big tradition. They are delicious and pack a punch. One of the best places to get one is Pat O's . . not only because they are yummy, but the courtyard with the flaming fountain at night is a great scene.

Besides, who could resist a drink that comes in a glass with "Have Fun" on it. BTW- they trademarked the term.

Boats in the Galway Harbor

2010-08-19T04:21:00.003-04:00

One of my favorite cities in Ireland is Galway. Even though it is a relatively compact city, I find myself always exploring new streets and walking the strand along the sea like it is the first time I was there.

On my recent trip to Ireland in July, the weather was less than wonderful, but it didn't take anything away from the experience of Galway. On my first day in the city, I fought the blustery weather and walked to Salt Hill along the bay. I snapped this photo of a few boats in the harbor on my journey.

It would have been a rough day at sea, and in the harbor with a pint of Guinness was a much better place to be.

Fiddlers at the Cobblestone

2010-07-13T22:14:00.005-04:00

During my trip to Ireland, I stopped at the Cobblestone to hear a session of local musicians play traditional Irish music. The music was incredible. Mick also sang a couple songs and has an incredible voice.

It is interesting that the Cobblestone almost met with distruction because the area, Smithfield Village, has gotten so built up. Ironically, when the Celtic Tiger started to collapse, the owner of the building was not able to sell, and the Cobblestone was saved.

There are not very many places in Dublin that you can find traditional music that isn't played for the tourists. This session is played for Irish people who want to keep the tradition and the old songs alive.

Big Sam's Funky Nation in Pittsburgh

2010-06-08T08:26:00.002-04:00

This past weekend, I was in Pittsburgh for my parent's 50th wedding anniversary. I had the good fortune to see Big Sam's Funky Nation.

Big Sam is from New Orleans and I remember seeing him last year the Blue Nile. His energy exhausted me then, and he did it again.

Somehow, Big Sam managed to start a second line and have it follow him all around the Rex Theatre.

Nothing like great music . . . an definitely nothing like great brass!!

The Cool Guy

2010-04-11T10:31:00.003-04:00

When I was out in Tremont on Friday, I stopped into Lolita. My friends and I lucked into some seats at the bar. The perfect place for people watching.

As fate would have it, this 'cool' guy was sitting at the corner of the bar. He is one of my favorite people to watch. Although you could make fun of this dude, (actually, I said that he looks like he just emerged for the casion scene in Reno)you have to love him.

He is living the dream. He is dressed in some groovy threads and out with some friends (it might have been his daughter) as a cool joint in Tremont.

This is not a guy ready for the retirement village.

The thing that caught my attention were the shades, but the leather jacket with the zippers kept my attention. I just wish the lighting was better so the picture would have been clearer.

Biking through Tremont

2010-03-30T16:22:00.001-04:00

One of the things I love about Tremont is there is still a great cast of characters in the neighborhood. Although a lot of young urbanites have moved into the neighborhood, the immigrant roots are still firmly planted in the soil.

On my way to get on the highway, this gentleman was biking down Clarke Avenue. Bundled in his winter gear, he was biking with some supplies in his basket.

I don't think he was trying to save the planet or anything, just trying to get some groceries and get home maybe, but hats off to him because he did't have to pay the $2.69 a gallon BP was charging.

DC's China Town gate in Washington DC

2010-03-25T13:58:00.002-04:00

While I was waiting for my friend outside of the metro, I got to watch a lot of the bustling crowds of people wandering by. I was standing right by the China town gate and thought it looks really lovely glowing in in the dusky evening light.

It is pretty amazing to me that China Town has become a hot spot because it was an area that was generally pretty quite other than events at the MCI Center (which is now renamed).

The neighborhood has a good vibe and it was cool to see so many people enjoying the city and cool restaurants.

Morning Fog In Tremont

2010-03-24T11:27:00.007-04:00

This morning, Cleveland was embanked in fog. It is probably the worst I have ever experienced. It gave my neighborhood a very odd, weary feeling. The strange trees and slightly titled angle from just holding up the phone while I was driving makes everything feel off kilter . . . even a little bit spooky.

It almost seems like this photograph is something out of a 1950s archive from the neighborhood. It is like some of the pictures in the history archives that reflects it immigrant, mill worker past.

Tremont always has a bit of a throwback feeling to it, but with the fog masking anything that seemed modern day and the sun only a gleeming spot in the sky and not a visible mass, it made me stop my car, get out my phone and snap these pictures.

Strolling on the Strand at Bray Beach

2010-03-02T12:30:00.002-05:00

If you hop on the DART in Dublin City Centre and take the train about 20 minutes south, you will be at Bray. Bray is a seaside town that is about as close as Ireland gets to the Jersey Shore in America. There is a promenade and a couple of arcades for the kids and adults.

Mostly, it is a place where the Irish gather to enjoy a great view of the water. On this day, it was about 30 degrees (Fahrenheit). Since the sun had made an appearance and the kids were off of school, the area was packed with people. In American, we would have been hiding in our houses. The Irish, they never miss soaking up a minute of sun.

Heading to Dublin - Áth Cliath

2010-02-26T11:17:00.003-05:00

One of the things I always love about Ireland is that the road signs are in both English and Irish. It often helps you figure out how the Irish pronounce the name of a town.

There are a couple of exceptions where the Irish for a place and the name of the place are different. Dublin - the capital city - is a great example. The name Dublin comes from the Irish Dub Lin (or black pool), but the Irish name for it is Áth Cliath.

At any rate, I love the weathered signs that you find around the country. It adds to the romance and charm of the Emerald Isle.

Feilim's Lake

2010-02-25T13:07:00.005-05:00

On my recent trip to Ireland, I had the good fortune to be escorted to Wexford by a lad named Feilim. Although the trip to Wexford was nice, the journey back to Dublin the next day was extraordinary.

You can make it from City Centre Dublin to Wexford in about 60 minutes. The drive back was a relaxing 2 hours of great stories and side roads. With Feilim as my guide, I got to see some out of the way and interesting sites.

Although I had taken a tour through the Wicklow Mountains, I had never seen this lake before. I don't know the name of the lake, so I am aptly naming it Feilim's Lake because it reminds me of that trip.

Any time you are laughing so hard you and you driver have tears in their eyes, you can chalk that up to an amazing day!

Clancy's Pub in Bray, Ireland

2010-02-19T12:39:00.003-05:00

When I lived in Ireland, I had made a day trip to Bray. During that day, I shot a few photos on the strand. However, by the time I had started walking in to town, the skies opened and it started pouring down rain.

Since I didn't have an umbrella, I headed for the first pub for a bit to eat and pint. In Ireland, you can often wait 10 or 15 minutes and the rain will pass. The rain didn't let up.

I was totally discouraged and headed back to the Dart (subway) station and headed back to Dublin.

Clancy's is one of the closest pubs to the Dart station, and I had NEVER seen it. Bray is a great little town, within 20 or 30 minutes of Dublin, that has a lot of character. I spent the entire afternoon walking the streets, having lunch and enjoying the sites the town offered.

Sunset on Cape Haze

2010-01-28T12:53:00.001-05:00

I shot this picture with my phone while I was having dinner with my parent's in Cape Haze, Florida. The palm trees and water look amazing in the sunset.

Of course, I pulled the ultra mean moved and sent it as a picture message to my friends in Cleveland who were enduring 25 degree temps and getting snow.

It is much better to seeing the sunset in person than on a picture message!

Venice Beach Jetty

2010-01-27T19:22:00.003-05:00

While on vacation in Florida, my family and I went to Venice Beach. Tucked away from the main promenade is two jetties where a lot of people go fishing. It is a pretty amazing spot. The water is so blue and it is entrancing to watch the waves.

One of the things that I think is incredible about the beaches on the gulf is that there seems to be a more mellow vibe than the beaches on the Atlantic Coast.

Christmas Tree at Tower City

2009-12-23T13:03:00.002-05:00

I finally got a chance to break out of the office and head to Tower City. It is the first time I have been up there since the holiday season began.

The tree looks great and all the kids hanging around really got me into a holiday mood. It is only a few days until Christmas and I have 3 gifts left on the list. Not bad for being on the road for the majority of December.

Fountain in Front of Union Station (DC)

2009-11-16T12:03:00.002-05:00

Yet another in my series of photos from DC. Since I took the metro to the train station most of the time, I never really noticed the exterior of the building or the fact that there is a pretty incredible fountain in front of it.

In my defense, there is a lot of traffic and the fountain is on a relatively inaccessible island. I had to dodge a few cars to get over there.

Luckily, I had a few beers and was braver than usual (or maybe just more stupid).

Union Station in Washington DC

2009-11-16T11:58:00.002-05:00

During my adventure to Washington, DC, I was able to walk over to the Art of Can exhibit in the rotunda of Union Station in Washington DC. I have taken the train from there to NYC a ton of times, but generally, I was in a rush and really didn't notice how incredible the building is. I had also taken the metro there most of the time and didn't walk through the front door of the building.

The artistry and architecture of old trains stations always amazes me.

Constitution Avenue with a view of Washington Monument

2009-11-10T14:59:00.001-05:00

The one thing I really loved about working in downtown DC is that it feels like you are perpetually walking through history. The town is littered with monuments and memorials.

There are not many places were you can read the Emancipation Proclamation and the see the Bill of Rights in one afternoon.

During my time there, we used to call the Washington Monument the Big Stick. You can see it from so many places in town, when you get lost (and you will most likely get lost and do a couple of u-turns), it is a great way to orient yourself.

U.S. Capitol Building

2009-11-10T08:50:00.001-05:00

During my DC adventure, I went to a bar on Capitol Hill called the Pour House. It is a Steeler Nation bar. I walked in and the place was a sea of black and gold jerseys. After the game, I strolled back down the hill around the capitol.

I realized I had never seen the main entrance of the building and the promenade to the building in the entire time I lived in DC.

It is a pretty impressive view.

George Washington Masonic Temple

2009-11-10T08:35:00.003-05:00

While I was visiting Washington, DC in late October, I had a day where I was able to do some sightseeing. I was staying in Alexandria, VA and catching the metro at King Street station.

While I was standing on the elevated platform, I realized I had a great view of the masonic temple. I snapped a quick photo of it.

It is even more interesting given the recent interest in the Mason after Dan Brown released his latest book, "The Lost Symbol" this fall.

Terminal Tower through a Skylight

2009-10-08T18:08:00.003-04:00

It has been awhile since I went to Tower City for lunch. The food court makes it easy to select from several types of food. I have walked through there more times in the 2.25 years I have worked downtown.

In all of that time, I never realized that you could see the Terminal Tower through the skylight. I did realize there was a skylight. It makes a cold winter day not feel as brutal when there is a little bit of sun.

I thought it was a pretty incredible view.

Ironically, I posted a photo of a reflection of the Terminal Tower at about the same time last year.

The Beauty of Autumn

2009-10-05T08:35:00.002-04:00

This weekend, I traveled to Oglebay Park in West Virginia for their annual OglebayFest. It is a craft fair, county fair and Oktoberfest all rolled into one.

The lodge itself is nestled in hills of West Virginia near Wheeling. The drive there was beautiful, but the location itself was incredible. It was the perfect time of year to enjoy the fall colors.

This tree was one of the first to really turn and leaped out of the landscape.

The Last Summer Sky in Ohio

2009-10-04T19:36:00.003-04:00

On the way to Oglebay in West Virginia, I was driving down US 77 through Ohio. The wind was really kicking up and the sky was so amazing, I snapped this photo with my cell phone.

Ironically, I thought this was the last time the trees would be green before the encroaching fall took over. When I sent this to TwitPic, I titled it the Last Summer Sky in Ohio.

Ironically, there is a construction sign in the bottom left corner - definitely a sign of summer in Ohio.

Bridge from Cuyahoga

2009-09-20T14:06:00.002-04:00

While I was at a concert during the Labor Day weekend, I snapped this photo of the bridge over the Cuyahoga.

It is a bridge that is no longer in use and is permanently in the up position. As a matter of fact, I took a picture of this bridge when I first started this blog.

The really odd thing about this photo is that it looks like a black and while picture, when it is really a color photo. Due to the time of day, a storm rolling in and the light behind it, the color of everything just seemed to get washed out.

Twitpic and Labor Day in Cleveland

2009-09-07T21:03:00.003-04:00

This weekend, I spent Labor Day in Cleveland. I spent the time attending festivals and exploring the gems of the neighborhood. I provided real time updates via twitter, so I thought I would just blog about the posts from Twitter when I posted some groovy pics.

http://twitpic.com/gvl76 - Cowboy mouth . . . True
http://twitpic.com/gvhq2 - Cowboy mouth rocking
http://twitpic.com/gliz7 - Old trolley car @ end of the line
http://twitpic.com/gledd - View from veterens bridge subway deck

I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I did experiencing the city.

Mack and Manco Pizza on the Boardwalk

2009-09-01T08:27:00.004-04:00

It might be the ocean air, but Mack and Manco has the best pizza! There is nothing like stopping for a saucy slice when you are cruising down the boardwalk.

Waiting for Brown's Donuts

2009-08-27T08:21:00.002-04:00

On of the great things about family resort towns is that there are traditions that never change. Some thing never change.

My mom and I headed to Brown's donuts on the northern end of the boardwalk in Ocean City, NJ around 7am to get donuts.

When we got there at 7:05, this line had already formed waiting for Browns to open.

We talked to the people in line and basically just enjoyed the weather.

It was worth the wait! There is nothing like eating a Brown's chocolate glazed donut.

Afternoon at Ocean City Beach

2009-08-20T09:05:00.002-04:00

During my vacation, the weather was hot. As a matter of fact, it was the hottest day of the summer in Ocean City when I was there.

Some brave, or maybe crazy, people were at the beach hunkered down with their umbrellas. I thought with the parasailer, it was a pretty cool (in the vibe sense) scene.

I pulled over my bike and snapped a pic. You have to love compact digital cameras.

Life guard Boat on Ocean City Beach

2009-08-20T08:31:00.003-04:00

There is something very peaceful about the ocean in the morning. I love how everything seems to have taken on a blue cast from the morning light.

This photo is of the row boat at the life guard station. They don't have it at all the stations, but they are sprinkled down the beach at different points.

They keep the beaches in Ocean City very well groomed, so it makes the early morning adventures really enjoyable because you don't see any liter on the beach from the day before.

Sunrise at Ocean City NJ Beach

2009-08-19T14:23:00.001-04:00

I took this pic when I was on vacation in Ocean City, NJ. I got up early on my last day and wandered down to the beach to take some pics

This one of the lifeguard stand makes me want to go back.

Kicking It Old School at Westide Market

2009-08-03T08:15:00.002-04:00

I love going to the West Side Market in Ohio City. Besides being a great place to shop, it is a great place to people watch. This Saturday was no exception.

I didn't take my camera because I had headed out early to bet the crowd. If you want to get the best stuff and do serious shopping, the earlier the better.

I was so glad my cell phone had a camera because I would have hated to miss this guy.

Cheese Glorious Cheese

2009-07-29T08:16:00.004-04:00

It is summertime, and in Cleveland that means festivals. Local church festivals, beer festivals, food festivals and cultural festivals.

This weekend I was at the Irish Festival. Instead of getting some good Irish fare, I decided to have a corn dog. While I was standing in line, I noticed this sign. It immediately reminded me of Tom. His love of cheese is absolutely unparalleled.

As a matter of fact, he had been extolling the virtues of the cheese on a stick he had at a church festival the previous week.

Oh Glory Day!

Nader Rides Edisons' Bike

2009-07-22T18:41:00.002-04:00

Some of your might recall an image of someone else riding the bike outside of Edisons' pub.

Apparently, when the folks from Optiem go to 806 in Tremont for happy hour, this activity is a quick follow on. It is like a tradition has started!

O'Neill's Pub In Dublin

2009-07-22T18:34:00.002-04:00

Of course we managed to eat lunch in a place that is a pub. You need a good Guinness with your lunch when you are on vacation in Ireland.

This pub is directly across from the Tourist Office. However, the most incredible thing about this pub is that it is HUGE inside. It is a bit deceiving from the outside. It has 5 or 6 rooms, an upstairs and two carvery rooms inside.

Oh, and the Guinness Beef stew was Yummy!

St. Canice Cathedral in Killkenny

2009-07-15T15:34:00.000-04:00

There are great churches and cathedrals all over Ireland. St. Canice in Killkenny is especially interesting because you can climb the external spiral tower. It provides an incredible view of the city and lets you imagine that you are on the lookout for invading tribes.

Charles Stewart Parnell

2009-07-10T09:15:00.002-04:00

At the top of O'Connell Street, there is a statue in the middle of the intersection. It is a statue of Charles Stewart Parnell . The square directly behind it is named after him.

Having a Pint In Dublin

2009-07-10T08:48:00.003-04:00

In Dublin, there is a bar called the Knightsbridge. It is right on the River Liffey. You can sit in the front and look out of the window at the traffic going by on the quays. It is a great spot to have a pint of Guinness.

After a long day of touring the city, my friends and I stopped in there. While we were there, I noticed these two friends sitting there enjoying the view out the window.

I was torn about converting the photo to black and white because there were some lovely, warm brown tones in the other one. However, I think the black and white photo shows the light flooding through the window in a better way.

250 Years of Guinness

2009-07-01T08:27:00.003-04:00

This year, Guinness is celebrating their 250th anniversary. To commemorate the event, they have a special display at the Guinness Factory. It is amazing to think that in 1759, Arthur Guinness opened a brewery that has remained opened for 250 years. Ultimately, it was his decision to only brew the now famous porter that was the real difference maker . . . and most likely people drink approximately 5 million pints of the stuff every day.

Guinness Log Book

2009-07-01T08:18:00.002-04:00

While on the tour at the Guinness Factory, there is a room where they display all of the master brewers from Guinness through the years. This log book is on display as an example of the detailed notation of the brewery operations that were done.

Dublin - Trinity College Gate

2009-06-28T19:51:00.002-04:00

This photo is of the main gate of Trinity College. According to Wikipedia, Trinity is one of the seven ancient universities in the English speaking world and the only one outside the present United Kingdom.

It is a gorgeous campus and boasts alumni such as Jonathan Swift, Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde, and Samuel Beckett. Pretty impressive and incredible to think as a student, you are sitting in some of the same classrooms.

Cup of Tea

2009-06-28T19:36:00.003-04:00

By trade, I am a coffee drinker. However, I do have to say there is somethign about the tea in Ireland. I drink it every day and virtually don't have any coffee. (I substitute Guinness for my black beverage.) At any rate, I shot this on the second morning when I sat down in the breakfast room of my hotel.

Although there is something very simple about this photo, I always flip back to it. I think I like the symmetry of the silver ware or something. It also make me long for yummy Irish sausages.

Dancing at Gogarty's Pub

2009-06-28T19:29:00.002-04:00

While we were listening to some rollicking good reels at Oliver St. John Gogarty in Temple Bar, this gentleman started dancing. I guess he couldn't contain himself. In short order, the woman in the picture was up and dancing with him as well.

When I looked at this photo when I first got home, it reminded me of the couple dancing at the Fais Do Do stage at Jazz Fest in New Orleans. I guess it doesn't matter where in the world you are, when you have good music there is always a chance someone will be dancing.

250 Years of Guinness

2009-06-26T08:34:00.004-04:00

It was very exciting to be able to go to Ireland and visit the Guinness Factory during the 250th Anniversary yaer. I have posted tons of pics and stories about Guinness over the past few years. So you can imagine my excitement.

The actually day the Arthur Guinness signed the brewery contract (for a whopping 9000 years) was on Sept. 24th. Guinness is having a big bash called Arthur's Day to commemerate the event.

Brilliant!

Traditional Music in Gogarty's Pub

2009-06-26T08:22:00.003-04:00

One of the benefits of Dublin as a big city is there is a lot of music. You can find music in plenty of pubs every day.

These musicians were playing in Oliver St. John Gogarty in Temple Bar. Although they do play traditional songs, the actually music isn't really considered a 'traditional session' because the musicians are using microphones.

In a traditional session, the gathering is relatively informal and the group of musicians is not set. Tradition or not, the music is great.

Iran Protesters In Dublin

2009-06-26T08:13:00.003-04:00

One of the things that I love about being in a foreign country is that you get to watch their news broadcasts. You start to see world events through their cultural lens.

While I was in Dublin, the British government forced two Iranian diplomats out of England. There was a lot of press coverage of the dispute over and recent uprising after the election.

While I was walking down O'Connell Street, a main thoroughfare in Dublin, I noticed this protesters. It had never occurred to me that people in Ireland would be protesting the election in Iran.

Pouring the Perfect Pint at the Guinness Factory

2009-06-25T09:48:00.003-04:00

While I was in Dublin, I did the Guinness Factory tour. At the very end, you can go to Gravity Bar and get a freshly poured pint of the good stuff.

Grave at St. Canice in Killkenny

2009-06-23T09:28:00.002-04:00

In general, I will talk a lot about the great pubs in Ireland and how much I love Guinness, but I actually do manage to see historic things as well.

I took this photo in the church yard at St. Canice Cathedral in Killkenny. It was one of the few grave markers that had not been worn down.

Guinness from the Factory

2009-06-23T09:24:00.001-04:00

At the top of the Guinness Factory tour is a place called the Gravity Bar. It is where you can go and collect your pint that is included in this part of the trip.

There is always a lot of activity up there. You can actually see the whole city because all the walls are glass.

Even better are the yummy pints that are being poured as well. Slainte!

Byron on the Go in Dublin

2009-06-15T22:17:00.002-04:00

One of the things that I love about Ireland is that it is a country of people who read. It is not unusual to spy someone in a pub who is reading a book of poetry.

Ireland is definitely a nation of great writers. One day as I was walking toward Jarvis Center, I noticed the young boy in front of me had a Byron paperback stuffed in his back pocket.

Typical Irish Pub

2009-06-14T17:58:00.002-04:00

There is a long standing debate with my brother about why Guinness tastes so much better in Ireland. We have surmised that it is the grain, the water, the Irish just being downright greedy and keeping the best stuff for themselves.

We have also heard that Guinness doesn't travel well. It needs to be fresh to taste its best. In Ireland, people drink the crap out of Guinness. I think this photo demonstrates that pretty well.

The average pub will go through about a barrel a day - that is what most publicans will tell you. Just counting the days until I land on the Emerald Isle to enjoy a pint.