The Church on the Corner

In Tremont, it might not be the best description to say the Church on the corner, or even the Church on the corner of Lincoln Park. My neighborhood is littered with churches. I can see 6 churches from my front porch.

As with the other churches in the neighborhood, all of them has some type of lighting to show of their building. Our Lady of Mercy is no exception.

I think the yellowish tint to this lighting makes the statue of Mary look very etheral. It lends a reverence to this scene on the front door of the church.

The Junkman's Bike

I didn't shoot this picture this week, but I did finally get the film developed and pick it up. There was a picture on my roll of film, yes, I still shoot with film, that I had been waiting to see.

When I first moved to Tremont, my friends had come over for a Cornhole Tournament. During our afternoon of play, a man on a bike came riding up and started talking to us. A few months later, I was strolling through the neighborhood when I noticed the bike he had been riding was propped up against the fence.

Fortunately, I had my camera with me and I was able to snap a picture. I can't be sure if the junkman lived in that house, but I like to think he is my neighbor. He recycles and doesn't drive a car. Pretty earth friendly neighbor to have

Standout Shell

The beaches in Englewood are littered with shells of different shapes and sizes. They form a wide swath across the beach at the tide line. However, you will spot one in the heaps of shells that stands out. The color the size is different and is among much smaller shells.

This particular shell was not totally face up, but caught my attention, so I laid it flat. In the early morning light, it looked really incredible to me. It is fascinating to notice all of the colors in the shell and how well they are work today.

Mother natures is an incredible judge of color. If I tried to put all those colors together, it would be interesting to say the least.

Morning Walk at Sunrise

Although you can see the sun coming up over Lemon Bay, the ocean is also beautiful at sunrise. The light is much softer and makes the sky glow in a different way. I think there are fewer people on the beach at sunrise - given the hour - than the sunset.

It is interesting to me that so many people go out to see the sunset every evening. It makes the beach seem much more active than at an early hour. I think getting out early in the morning for a walk on the Gulf Shore is much more conducive to having a ramble.

Lemon Bay Sunrise

Although vacation is supposed to be about sleeping late and relaxing in general, I think there is too much on my mind. Since I have the time to 'relax', it seems like my mind just races. The side effect of that is I tend to wake up just as early or earlier than I would at home.

On this particular morning, I got out of bed at 6:45, fully expecting my mom to be sitting in the living room. When she wasn't, I grabbed my camera and slipped on my running shoes to go for a walk. I ventured down to the dock. I got to see a lovely sunrise on Lemon Bay.

It was a little cold in the morning, so the boat dock was dewy and lovely. Make me wish I was there is morning because Cleveland was windy and bitterly cold.

Boats on the Beach

Due to the nature of the Englewood area, you don't often see boats on the beach. Most often, people have their boats docked on the bay side. There are a few marinas that are around the area as well.

These two boats were not abandoned here because they were in good shape. I did love seeing the masts of the boats as I was walking onto the beach the first day. There are very few things that really represent peace and freedom to me the way that sailing does. It is really one of the remaining places where you can just get away from daily life, especially on a catamaran.

Shell Washing Station

When of the things that I often think about when I visit my parents in Florida is the different in the pace of life. People go for longs walks in the morning and spend time walking on the beach or seeing the sunset.

I think part of the reason for that is the vast majority of people in the part of Florida where my parents go are retired. They have more time to relax and do things like collect shells on the beach.

Even with that, there is still a hint of the business efficiency that went along with their former lives they lead in the business world. The little shell washing station is a kind of evidence of that to me. It is a great set up to efficiently clean off your shells so you don't track the sand into your condo and you pipes. Yet, it is a quaint idea to think that people collect shells so often that this type of area is a necessity.

I converted this photo to black and white for two reasons. I think it adds to its kitschy nature. I also think that compared to all of the other brights buildings, the sun-washed wood actually seems like it is in black and white when you first see it.

Pelicans Landing

As I mentioned in my previous post, I was visiting my parents in Florida. I had some technical difficulties with downloading my pictures, but I am going to be working my way through these images in the next couple of days along with my regular blog posts.

While I was visiting, I stayed with my parents at Pelican's Landing. When my mom was originally showing me around, I found it ironic and kind of cool that there were actually pelicans on the boat dock for the resort. I guess this was a situation where the owners didn't just make up a cute name, but something that was a bona fide point of interest.

Vacation Blues

As you know, the best laid plans can often go astray. I had planned to post my photos from my dad's laptop. However, this machine is on its last leg and didn't have the driver for my camera. I was too afraid to download and install it, so I will have to post all my vacation photos for the blog after I return home.

Otto Moser's Moose

There are places in Cleveland that are institutions. Sometimes, I don't really understand why they are renown. Other times, I realize that the close proximity to events that never managed to die in Cleveland might be the main reason for their survival.

Tonight, I went to a concert with my brother and sister-in-law. In regular order, we met up for a cocktail before the show. We met at Otto Moser's bar right down the street from the theatre. It isn't a great place (it is a good place), but it has stood the test of time with good food and cold beer. I am always fascinated by the strange moose head on the wall that really don't seem to fit the rest of the decor.

I don't think I will ever know how they got there, I just need to trust they are there for a reason.

Finding the Way to The Map Room

During the summer and fall months, my co-worker and I spent a lot of time at The Map Room. Young Adam (that's what I call him) and I spent a lot of time canoodling about everything. We talked about your jobs, our lives, the world in general.

There were some great evening when we and some other office mates were at the Map Room having a few beers. It seems like a long time since we have been there - I want to say it was either early December. I am thinking that soon it is going to be Map Room time again.

I don't need to worry, our office administrator drew me a map after I had a failed attempt to take a short cut through a gated parking lot. Live and learn.

The Happy Buddha

On a Saturday afternoon in the summer, I made a trip to the West Side Market in Ohio City. During my visit to the fruit and vegetable vendors, I wondered down the street to a store called City Buddha (it is no longer there).

The store is filled with all sort of strange odds and ends. While I was looking around these store, this small statue of this happy Buddha caught my attention. The Buddha has a prestigious position on my piano with Jeju and Sita. I never really considered the decorations in my apartment as that culturally diverse, but I guess that and the photos of Ireland, France and England might indicate otherwise.

Flowers in the Iron

One of the things that I have always found fascinating about buildings in older cities is the attention to detail that was taken with buildings. I think that there are some buildings that not only have great interiors to be discovers, but also have wonder exterior elements to be seen.

On the way back from dropping off some materials for a client, I was looking at the iron work on the side of the Rockefeller Building. I had noticed it so many different time on this. Today, I decided to take a photograph of the flower details with my camera phone.

It amazes me how ornate these elements were. For this particular building, I also like how extensively they use it on the facade of the building. It is nice to think that in the dead of winter, that something is covered with flowers.

What is Old is New Again

So the idea of this blog was to take new photographs and talk about why I took them. If you didn't know, it was about 8 degrees in Cleveland this weekend. I wasn't really that encouraged to leave the house.

Instead, I watched four movies and read a book. I do have to admit, that on Sunday, I was very tempted to go to the local pub for a pint of Guinness. I was going to take my book and spend the afternoon near the cozy fire. If I had actually done this, the photograph would look something like this one.

p.s. I read a lovely post on Gadling about approaching photography with the idea of seeing old things in new ways. I think this project is starting to make me dig into that a bit.

Lovely Locks

When my sister moved in with her husband, she found that some pieces of furniture they had did not fit into their new home. One of the items that didn't make the cut was a storage chest. Although it initially was in the house, eventually, it was a piece of furniture that didn't fit with their lives.

Since I had always admired it, and always seem to run low on storage space, I inherited the piece. One of the things I love about it is the detail to the simple elements of the piece. Since it is older, the iron work on the locks is more detailed than its modern day companions. It makes me appreciate the craftsmanship and artistry that we seem to have lost.

Wonder Bar

In Cleveland, there are two major entertainment districts. One is West 6th, where my office is located. The other are is around the arenas in the downtown area. There is a street - East 4th - that has grown over the years with stylish restaurants and bars. It is right around the corner from the House of Blues.

This photo shows the sign for the Wonder Bar. I have never been in the restaurant, but there is something quite inviting about this sign. It makes me think something fun is happening inside.

The Majesty Inside

When you live and work in a big city, you sometimes become immune to the wonderful things that exist where you are. I think part of that problem is that the splendor of the things in a city are often hidden behind the facade of a building. If you don't have a reason to go into a place, you will never discover the magic and beauty it holds.

As I was walking back from lunch today, I remembered being in this building during the St. Patrick's Day parade. I also remember it was a truly beautiful place inside. It was designed to make the people who walked through its arcade appreciate the architecture and the sometimes unrecognizable daylight that flirts with the city.

Walking through this hall today makes me want to explore and discover the hidden gems of Cleveland.

Brooklyn and Company

I have discovered that to take a photo on a daily basis, you have to really think about what are the things around you that are worthy of taking a picture. Since I am working during the day, I am struggling to find things around town during daylight hours.

Where does that leave me, if you know me, you will guess why it is that I took this picture. Just in case you didn't know. Honey, I'm not in Brooklyn, I was at the Tremont Tap House.

Oh, forgot to mention, the food was yummy, especially the polenta. And my friend gave me some photo editorial help.

Permanently in the Up Position

There are a ton of bridges between where I live and where I work. A lot of them cross the river that snakes through the flats. This particular bridge I pass every day on my way to and from the office.

The bridges are very cool because they raise and lower for the large ship traffic on the river. This bridge was having some mechanical problems being raised and lowered. Instead of spending the money to fix the bridge to support mostly industrial traffic, they bridge is now permanently in the up position.

Why fix something when you can leave it along and let people drive around another way? Gotta love Cleveland logic.

Snowing St. John Cantius

When I first started hanging out in Tremont, I went to the Treehouse bar. Across the street there is a great church with very ornate statues. It took me a few visits before I payed attention to the name of the church.

The name of the church, St. John Cantius, was the same as the school where I had to attend for a few years while in Catholic grade school. While they were renovating my school, the class from grade 6-8 attended this alternate location. I still find it ironic it is the same name, and now I just live around the corner.

The Dashboard Lights

The weather in Cleveland can be a bit unpredictable. Today, the weather couldn't decide whether it wanted to rain or snow. So it did a bit of both. The weird weather made the slick roads glow in the first evening darkness.

As I was driving down the road and seeing the tail lights of the cars on the highway bounce off of the blacktop, I was inspired to take a photograph of the lights I was seeing across the dashboard in front of me.

A Cool Place

I often see this sign on my walks. It is part of the sign for the 3rd Street Cafe. I don't think the place is still open, but the sign still remains there.

The sign reminds me of my childhood. I think it looks a bit innocuous, like it would be part of a soda fountain and a cap of a coke bottle, not a beer bottle.

I think Tremont feels a bit like this. It is in a modern city, but has the atmosphere of a small town where I grew up.

The Fantastic Four

I knew it would happen eventually, but I didn't think it would be so soon. I was not able to actually post my photograph from yesterday. I am doing it today. I took this picture at a little 'at the office' party the developed with our staff.

Mike G. got a rousing string of Flip Cup games going and this photo was snapped when the four boys who were on a streak were getting ready for the next game. I had planned to put up a photo of the CEO's hairy hand that Mike G. commented on, but that only made it to my Flickr account.

Illuminated Bike at Prosperity

My apartment is on a park located in Tremont. Besides the fact that I really enjoy living on the park, where is live is conveniently located near a coffee shop, a few bars and a convenience store. I feel like it is the perfect spot.

The closest restaurant and bar to me is The Prosperity Club. They have great food, a good beer selection and music on the weekends. The place has the common trappings, a lighted sign, some neon in the window, but they also have a lighted bike located in front of their building.

When I walk outside in the evening or on my way to somewhere, I always see the bike. It reminds me of the unique, walking friendly neighborhood where I live.

The Processing Station in the Flats

Almost every morning, I go for a walk into the edge of the Flats in Cleveland. I am always fascinated by all of the buildings in the industrial valley. I think the contrast of the industrial buildings against the high tech looking skyline is intriguing to me.

There is a hill that I don't walk every day. There are no homes in this part of the valley and it can be quite desolate. As the mornings have been blessed with a bit more light, I have found myself trekking there more and more.

As I was driving home this evening, I thought of this view and the number of times that I thought about taking a photograph here.

Track 13

There is one constant in my daily life . . my car. Whether during the working day or the hours and days in between. The best part of being in my car is the music. It is a quiet place where I can hide away by myself.

I love getting into my car and putting on a song I really love. I am listening to the soundtrack for the movie "Once". I have discovered that Glen Hansard has a magical laugh at the end of track 3. I have also realized how achingly painful his voice sounds on track 13.

Iron Work on Key Bank

Before the chilly fall weather set in, I was walking back from a customer meeting. Since the weather was good, I was taking my time on my stroll back to the office. I had only been working in downtown Cleveland for a few months.

I was thoroughly enjoying the discovery of the great buildings in the city.As I had the time to really look around, I had noticed this beautiful iron work on the corner of one of the buildings for Key Bank.

The artistry of the iron work caught my eye. It seems like there is very little embellishment that is created for modern architecture.

As I left lunch today, I thought of this iron work and decided to walk over there and capture it for this effort.

Walking on Wade Oval

Although I don't go to the Museum that often, there is a great exhibition that is ending in a week. On Sunday afternoon, after my apartment was cleaned and my laundry was put away, I headed to Wade Oval to catch the impressionism show.

As I was leaving the museum, I was noticing the other buildings from the roof of the parking garage. Before I went down the steps to go to my car, I walked over the wall to take in the view. When I was there, I snapped this photograph of a couple walking through the park.

It was early January, but the weather was mild, and the sun had made an appearance that day . . . perfect walking weather.

A Relic at Steelyard Commons

At the Northern border of my neighborhood, there is a new shopping center called Steelyard Commons. The shopping center was once the site of a steel mill. Although that mill is gone, there are still other mills operating in the valley.

The area has been leveled except for a few remnants from the time when the mill was working. The photograph shows one of the remaining items from the steel yard. I love the shape of the rail house. The overall shape actually serves as an influence for the facades of the shops in Steelyard Commons.

The Skyline at Sunrise

There are often mornings when I am walking, that I see the city skyline at sunrise. Since it is winter, my walks are often cloaked in darkness. As the days begin to get longer in the new year, I have the treat of watching the morning sunlight reflect off of the high rise office buildings in the city.

It is true, Cleveland doesn't get that many days of sun. Clear mornings are even more rare. However, when the skies are clear, the brilliant light hitting the buildings and bouncing off of the lake seem to illuminate the city. It is on mornings like these, when the pink sunrise shows its brilliance in the morning sky, that keep me going through the cold, snowy winter days.

The Flats Bridge

I am totally fascinated by bridges. The bridge in this picture is in the industrial flats of Cleveland. Although this picture was taken in the lounge of my office, I always see a similar view out of the window of my bosses office. It is an image that always seems to captivate me.

Lincoln Park in the Snow

A few months ago, I walked around Tremont (my neighborhood) during an Art Walk. I noticed a great photograph of Lincoln Park.

I immediately loved the photograph. The photo struck a chord with me because it reminded me of one I had taken when I was in Tours, France a few summers ago. The globe lights and the park bench. It clued me in about why I loved where I lived. There is a great sense of community. People all know each other and walk everywhere.

Since Cleveland is in the snow belt, I really love the even greater sense of community that exists when the weather gets bad. Everyone in the neighborhood hunkers down, walks through the snow to their favorite bar. I enjoy the walk through the park.

Starting the Project

For my New Year Resolution, I decided that I was going to take a photo every day and blog about it. This photograph of our assorted New Year accessories was my first attempt.


This year, as well as last year, I went to my brother's house. I celebrated this year with him, his wife and their two daughters (one only 9 weeks old).

We hung out and had a good time, recording our resolutions (this being mine). I think my brother's of 'get rid of my booty' might be the best one, but we will see who sticks with theirs.

Happy 2008!