I don't know, where do you want to go?

Kishi Bashi at Off Broadway

2012-01-15T12:35:00.000-06:00

This is Kishi Bashi. He has beautiful hands and an album coming out in April. JD saw him when he played with Of Montreal at the Luminary last year. Last night he appeared at Off Broadway. Have you even gone to a show and worried that no one else would show? This was like that, except that I shouldn't have worried- he has a following. Normally I would have left the balcony and gone down front to get more intimate shots, but his fans were clustered around the stage and I didn't want to get in anyone's way. And I didn't want to get distracted from listening. So, anyway, have some slightly distant telephoto shots and go listen to his track Manchester on Bandcamp.

Tour de Frances, St. Louis Hills

2011-09-04T21:48:00.000-05:00

I have a Reflex-Nikkor 500mm lens that I have never gotten a feel for. My dad loved it, and it does have good points: it's sharp, it's in perfect condition, and it's surprisingly comfortable to shoot with. On the down side, it's slow-- f8 fixed aperture (which is probably really a 1/2 stop darker in practice). Also, I'm not much of a telephoto shooter to begin with. Historically, I've preferred the large depth of field and sharpness of wide angle lenses. I just can't seem to think of pictures so far away.

Yesterday I decided to play with the behemoth. One of the reasons I bought a Nikon DSLR was so I could continue using the collection of Nikon lenses I had used for years on my F, F3HP and Nikkormat. The results aren't all that impressive, but another joy of digital cameras is the low cost of practice, practice, practice.

We went to Frances Park to watch the bicycle races.

Wings of Hope in the Forest Park Grand Basin

2011-08-01T06:01:00.000-05:00

It's no secret I love boats. Also, I have a fondness for things that may or may not work out the way they're supposed to. Clearly the Hope Floats cardboard boat race is made for me. Julie and I wandered out to Forest Park Saturday morning to see what we could see.

It was a beautiful morning- the heat actually broke for a few minutes.

Some launches went better than others.

Vikings don't seem to like bathing. Who knew?

After years of admiring the folks who risked their pride in the "Anything That Floats" Race at the Three Rivers Regatta, I think I'm ready to try making a cardboard boat for next year's Hope Floats. Who's with me?

The Safes at The Firebird

2011-07-31T17:36:00.002-05:00

After a week of not wanting to put anything near my tender nose, I picked up my camera again. I didn't use it too much, but I wanted to grab some shots of The Safes when they came down from Chicago.

It was another night of playing with the new camera and my RAW software. Shooting in the dark isn't much of a challenge with the D5100. Friday night I decided to see how "filmish" I could get. It's not my normal way of working; I don't generally waste my time twisting one media to resemble another. Everyone has moods, though, right?

Ohiopyle State Park, Western PA

2011-07-17T13:14:00.003-05:00

I try to visit this park every time I go back to Pennsylvania.

Happy Independence Day!

2011-07-04T07:05:00.002-05:00

I didn't brave the heat for any fireworks this year. Have some colorful pics from last week's Pride Parade instead.

Wednesday night at Off Broadway

2011-07-03T17:43:00.001-05:00

The new camera does really well in low light, and it works with all of my old Nikon lenses.

I took this pic of Holcome Waller (in his fancy shirt!) from the balcony of Off Broadway with a 40 year old 200mm lens.

And here's Haley Bonar...

and Daniel Martin Moore.

It was a good show. Exactly what I needed last week.

Playing with light in Tower Grove Park

2011-07-03T12:25:00.002-05:00

For the record, I'm really happy with the Nikon D5100.

I Went to a Showcase, Off Broadway

2011-05-17T17:44:00.000-05:00

I'm learning how to use a new camera. I don't quite have my sea-legs with it, yet, but five hours of practice last Saturday at Off Broadway certainly helped.

Record Store Day @ Vintage Vinyl

2011-04-19T17:44:00.001-05:00

I'm not really crazy about crowds, so you'd think I'd avoid events like Record Store Day (Featuring FREE SCHLAFLEY BEER), but I do like music. Papa Ray was a good host.

More from Cherokee

2011-03-17T06:41:00.000-05:00

Photo Walk on Cherokee

2011-03-16T10:28:00.003-05:00

I went for a walk with my friend Ann a couple of weekends ago. Our photo walks are always fun. It always crack me up how many times we jockey around to stand in the exact same spot, but we end up taking completely different shots.

Icy Walk

2011-02-01T21:50:00.004-06:00

JulieDill and I took a short walk today.
First we planned to go to Francis Park.
Then we decided to go the shorter distance to Ann & Karen's.
Then we decided against dropping in on people without warning and thought we'd go get coffee instead.
Murdock Perk was closed, so we decided to be sensible and headed home to a pot of homemade chili and a quiet afternoon in front of the fire.
I see nothing wrong with walking a mile and a half to get nowhere.

Lookie: Knobs!

2011-01-23T15:54:00.004-06:00

So I oggled a sound board at one of my favorite music venues last week. I'm not very good with the audio part of A/V, but I'm learning.

I have it on good authority that real audio geeks like knobs. This must be a sweet board.

There was a photo shoot with a bunch of music bloggers going on in the background, but you'll have to check out the Riverfront Times to find out more about that.

Staying Home all January

2011-01-15T15:51:00.004-06:00

It's been 2.5 weeks since my last blog post, and I've been sick the whole time. For those of you who haven't been listening to me whine, here's the rundown. I started getting sick the day we visited the trains. By New Year's Eve I was too sick to go out for dinner & party. Thanks to a monster course of antibiotics and much sleeping I've only missed one day of work, but really, this is getting silly. I'm sure my throat will stop hurting soon, but I'm getting impatient.

Julie made jello today.

I think it might be medicinal.

Holiday Recap: Gardenland Express at MoBot

2010-12-31T08:31:00.001-06:00

I still miss the madness that was the Buhl Miniature Railroad of my childhood, but Missouri Botanical Garden's Gardenland Express is fun (and the line to get in is certainly shorter).

Holiday Recap: But What About the Cats?

2010-12-30T09:45:00.001-06:00

Yes, the cats loved the attention of having us around the house all day, and Rudy forgave us immediately for staying out all night Christmas Eve.

The tree has stayed upright so far, and only a couple of ornaments have mysteriously fallen off.

I'm going back to lounge on the sofa, now, if Pammy will let me have my seat back.

Holiday Recap: Baking

2010-12-29T10:39:00.001-06:00

I was a lazy baker this year, but JD did coerce me into stealing the secrets of The Little Bears from Mom while she was here.

I still rolled them too thin.

Mom's a rough baker to work for. The results were pretty addictive, though.

Holiday Recap: Grocery Shopping

2010-12-29T09:42:00.002-06:00

So when you know other people are going to have all the traditional Christmas foods covered, why not have a little fun with your groceries?

Holiday Recap: Christmas Eve

2010-12-28T21:19:00.004-06:00

Normal fire. Then accelerated. I can't tell you how many times this cycle repeated.

Sometimes, it's okay to not get too close when you're taking pics. Especially if you show up in the country wearing city shoes. (Yes, of course I had hiking boots in the car, but that's not the point. Also, I probably would have been down there with them if my mom hadn't been visiting. She likes to think I grew up.)

Walking Around SLU

2010-12-04T12:32:00.001-06:00

Sleeping Around Clayton

2010-12-02T18:09:00.001-06:00

I love JD's business trips, even when we don't leave town.

Walking Around Soha

2010-12-01T17:45:00.001-06:00

Rock & Roll Craft Show: More Stuff

2010-12-01T06:43:00.001-06:00

Spider pillow made by Katatomic Labs...

Rock & Roll Craft Show at 3rd Degree

2010-11-30T19:56:00.003-06:00

Hats-- everywhere.

Happy Thanksgiving Afterparty

2010-11-30T19:41:00.002-06:00

Sometimes you just want to watch football and eat nachos.

Walking Around Chicago: Weathered

2010-11-19T18:04:00.001-06:00

Walking Around Chicago: Slow Down

2010-11-18T17:20:00.001-06:00

Walking Around Chicago: Messages

2010-11-17T19:55:00.000-06:00

Walking Around Chicago: Pavement

2010-11-16T17:51:00.001-06:00

I was in a gray mood. I think the sinus infection had something to do with it.

Walking Around Chicago: Halloween Weekend

2010-11-15T19:38:00.002-06:00

I followed JD up to Chicago last month. She worked. I walked.

Via Audio @ Cicero's

2010-09-22T18:03:00.001-05:00

Jukebox the Ghost @ Cicero's

2010-09-22T18:00:00.002-05:00

The Arch is sneaking up on you

2010-09-19T08:52:00.001-05:00

Art Outside in Maplewood

2010-09-18T18:46:00.002-05:00

Apples at Braeutigam Orchards

2010-09-18T18:38:00.002-05:00

Live Music: Tapes and Tapes

2010-08-22T11:42:00.003-05:00

Live Music: Art Majors

2010-08-22T11:38:00.002-05:00

Live Music: Luxora at The Firebird, 7/31/10

2010-08-06T06:24:00.001-05:00

Live Music: Bruser Queen at the Firebird, 7/31/10

2010-08-05T07:18:00.001-05:00

Live Music: The Safes at The Firebird, 7/31/10

2010-08-04T06:08:00.001-05:00

Live Music: At the Luminary, 7/30/10

2010-08-03T19:55:00.004-05:00

Jersey Settlement Cemetery, western PA

2010-07-20T13:19:00.002-05:00

I'm wrapping up the family visit, getting ready to drive back to STL tomorrow. A few days ago Dad took me for a ride to show me some places he thought might make good photos when the light was right. I made notes so I could find them again. This is one of the places. I don't think this is the photo I want, yet, but it's a start.

My Latest Project: Green in Black and White

2010-07-05T12:57:00.006-05:00

This project has been my latest time sinkhole. Click here to see a slide show of digital infrared and straight black & white images. I just finished laying out a little book of prints to give to my dad. Thank you to my friends who helped me sort all these, especially Julie, Karen and Ann, who joined in on the nerve-wracking, math-heavy and dangerous job of framing 20 of them for display at SLU.

Things I Like About Chicago

2010-06-27T15:32:00.001-05:00

Mystery Pic

2010-06-27T10:20:00.004-05:00

I should probably clear the pics off my phone more often. I wonder where I took this? Probably in the alley behind my house, or some other exotic locale.

June Hungry Young Poets @ Duff's

2010-06-26T16:02:00.004-05:00

Next HYP reading? July 19
Check out the River Styx website for details.

Random Saturday Morning in SoHa

2010-05-29T19:26:00.002-05:00

I don't ask questions.

You probably knew that already, didn't you?

Sometimes a girl just wants to take pretty pictures of roses

2010-05-10T06:43:00.000-05:00

Happy Kitchen

2010-05-09T11:48:00.001-05:00

Silver Ballroom, Bevo

2010-05-09T09:33:00.001-05:00

Highly recommended.

Great Rivers Biennial 2010, Contemporary Art Museum

2010-05-08T19:25:00.000-05:00

Running thru August 8.

Ben Folds, Midtown

2010-04-18T19:12:00.004-05:00

Ben Folds and a Piano came to town.

It wasn't the best BF show I've seen, but I blame it on the audience. It was, flat out, no reservations, the worst audience I have ever been a part of. They were clearly not there for the music.

If I'd had those sticks I probably would have been escorted off the premises after using them to ask a couple dozen d-bags to please let me hear the show.

SLSO Blogger Night, Powell Hall

2010-04-11T18:30:00.003-05:00

Every once in a while, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra generously offers local bloggers tickets to a performance. I am not one of those bloggers. Happily, Julie is.

Gil Shaham was our soloist, dancing his way through Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 2. That's him on the right with the long tie.

Watching him play was almost as much fun as listening to him, and I thought he sounded incredible.

The whole program was strong. I'll let JD tell you all about it. I'll just leave you with another pic of Powell's staircase

...and part of the view as we wandered back to our car.

Exterior: The Minister's Treehouse

2010-04-10T12:35:00.002-05:00

I like to check out Roadside America whenever I'm thinking about traveling. It really paid off this time.

Around the Fall Creek Falls Inn

2010-04-10T12:20:00.003-05:00

The kind folks at the inn had an Easter basket waiting for us when we arrived late Friday night.

Clouds over the lake Saturday morning:

The view from our room Saturday evening:

Fall Creek Falls State Park, TN

2010-04-07T08:46:00.002-05:00

Following our usual Easter tradition, JD and I ran away for the weekend. This year we drove a little farther than usual.

View from the overlook above the falls.

Near the base of the falls. (This was all the closer JD would let me get. Something about "slippery" and "falling" and "forgot your walking stick.")
I used a stranger for a sense of scale.

Hikers on another overlook.

The Minister's Treehouse, Crossville, TN

2010-04-04T23:13:00.003-05:00

Around the Neighborhood

2010-04-04T08:57:00.000-05:00

Eggs

2010-04-03T10:01:00.000-05:00

On the Scooter

2010-04-02T09:37:00.003-05:00

I live about 5 miles from work, 1.5 miles from the library, & about half a mile from Tropicana. I guess it's starting to add up.

A grey day in Maplewood

2010-03-30T18:46:00.001-05:00

Wandering around Lowe's with JD and Munchausen

2010-03-29T06:42:00.001-05:00

Manga meets the Hallmark Channel?

2010-03-28T09:54:00.002-05:00

I respect the idea behind this, and am always happy to see intelligent talk about autism. Has anyone read this? I glanced through the first volume. It seemed a little didactic. Then melodramatic. Then didactic again. It didn't feel exploitative, though, so my crack about the Hallmark Channel is probably uncalled for.

Actually, what I thought when I was skimming Volume 1 was more like: "If I had already lived through this, if I had an autistic baby, if I had already had to fight these fights, wouldn't this book just bring me down?"

Happy Hour / Dinner @ the Bleeding Deacon

2010-03-27T10:40:00.004-05:00

The Bleeding Deacon started running a new menu last night. Still awesome.

Seattle Public Library

2010-03-26T22:49:00.001-05:00

More film from Seattle.

Walking around Seattle with Film

2010-03-25T18:42:00.000-05:00

I hadn't used any film cameras since I had my rotator cuff repair. I had completely forgotten how heavy that F3 can seem.

More Flight

2010-03-24T17:37:00.002-05:00

Yeah, I like airplanes.

Museum of Flight, Seattle

2010-03-23T17:31:00.001-05:00

Sometimes a girl just wants to play with film. Of course, that doesn't mean it won't take her five months to develop it...

Cheese!

2010-03-22T18:23:00.001-05:00

JD also took me to meet the cheese-monger at The Wine Merchant.

My birthday lunch, London Tea Room

2010-03-21T22:15:00.003-05:00

It's been a couple week, but this was so tasty, I thought I should mention it. After we watched the launch of the Itiodarod, Julie took me out for a pot of tea and marvelous roast beef boat of a sandwich.

Thank you very much, Julie.

Idiotarod: MUSH!

2010-03-08T17:54:00.001-06:00

More from the STL Idiotarod

2010-03-08T06:38:00.002-06:00

Downtown St. Louis Idiotarod

2010-03-07T22:13:00.003-06:00

JD and I wandered downtown Saturday to see silliness for a good cause.

Music & Words at Stone Spiral

2010-03-05T19:41:00.001-06:00

More Orchids at MoBot

2010-03-04T18:38:00.000-06:00

Visiting Orchids at MOBot

2010-03-03T20:33:00.003-06:00

Sondre Lerche at the Old Rock House

2010-02-16T20:40:00.002-06:00

Friday Night at Off Broadway

2010-02-06T17:40:00.000-06:00

The Blind Eyes

Too Bad This Isn't Scratch'n'Sniff

2010-01-08T06:58:00.001-06:00

Julie went spice shopping last weekend.

Peppercorns

Smoky Hungarian Paprika

A wonderful sweet curry blend I can't remember the name of.

Srećan Božić

2010-01-07T20:51:00.002-06:00

No, I'm not Serbian, and neither are any of these ornaments,
but I just realized today was Christmas.

More Gardenland Express

2010-01-04T06:53:00.001-06:00

I've never noticed the dinosaurs in the real Climatron...

Gardenland Express @ Missouri Botanical Garden

2010-01-03T15:00:00.002-06:00

At Home

2009-12-30T07:26:00.001-06:00

I maybe stayed at home too much last week.

Christmas Eve

2009-12-29T20:41:00.003-06:00

Mom

Julie & Jordan

Jordan in his jammies

Discovering the London Tea Room, Downtown

2009-12-27T11:40:00.003-06:00

After our book binge at Left Bank, JD and I stopped in for tea and scones at the London Tea Room, which is, of course, in St. Louis and not anywhere near London. Not even London, Ohio.

(The St. Louis Tea Room is in Tower Grove South - totally different place. More on that later, I'm sure.)

Anyway... I've enjoyed the London Tea Room's website and blog for a while, so we decided we should stop.

It was a classic Julie & Lainey outing: good food and drink, people-watching, Julie tweeting, Lainey taking surreptitious photos, complete with live music from a violin & guitar duo. We even had the table of ladies next to us finish their drinks and ask if I could take their picture.

Why doesn't anyone ever ask Julie to take their picture? History shows it doesn't matter how I'm dressed, where I am, or what I'm doing; strangers pick me out of the group, hand me their camera and ask if I'll take their picture. I guess I have a "good camera karma" sort of vibe. Or maybe it's a "she too fat to run away with my camera" vibe. Oh well.

Here's Julie checking out the list of loose leaf teas, deciding what we needed to take home with us.

Holiday Shopping @ Left Bank Books Downtown

2009-12-26T10:13:00.002-06:00

JD and I did some of our Christmas / birthday shopping downtown last week.

Do I want to read this? I think I might.
Unfortunately, I don't get to shop for me for a few more days...

Here's Julie hunting down a copy of Anna Karenina.

My Life With The Real Still Kult

2009-12-25T17:01:00.005-06:00

You might think that with a little down time I'd get all relaxed, maybe make some art or something. Nope. So far I've been reading library books, watching videos and trying to remember to speak loud enough for my mom to hear me.

I went to Bouffant Daddy and got tidied up...

I resisted the urge to find out what Dutch chocolate and red wine taste like together...

I held Rudy so JulieDill could take his picture. I don't remember why...

Maybe it's time for some baking.
Pax vobis, y'all.

More from the Farty Party

2009-12-10T06:57:00.000-06:00

Westbound lanes were for walking.
Eastbound lanes were for bikes.

I-64 (if you're not from around here)

2009-12-09T07:11:00.001-06:00

Highway 40 is open.
We walked around on it Sunday.
Cars started using it Monday.

Big Ass Indie Art & Craft Show 3 @ Mad Art

2009-12-08T07:02:00.002-06:00

"a convergence of bright ideas"

Erin McKeown and Jill Sobule at Off-Broadway

2009-12-05T06:33:00.001-06:00

My Sane Black Friday

2009-12-04T07:21:00.001-06:00

Watching snow.

Lunch with Whit, including her marble lesson.

Quiet time at home, after chores and errands.

The Thanksgiving Feast

2009-12-03T17:45:00.000-06:00

Really, we didn't just hang out in bars. JD and I put together a lovely family feast Thanksgiving day. We made a turkey breast, gravy, dressing, roast cauliflower & carrots, baked sweet potatoes, roast turnips, corn casserole, and a chiffon pumpkin pie. Best of all, it was a relaxed dinner, eaten off tray tables in the living room since Dad didn't feel like dragging his cast to the table.

Thanksgiving night at Gooski's on Polish Hill

2009-12-03T06:10:00.001-06:00

After the adventure of cooking for the family, JulieDill and I wandered down the Parkway, picked up or friend Julie Platt, and wound our way up to Polish Hill. The Polish Hill Civic Association claims PH is "Pittsburgh's most vertical neighborhood." I believe them. Also, I'm really glad I learned to drive stick in PA and not out in the prairie...

Anyway, I liked Gooski's. It was dark, crowded, full of beer, and the people watching was good. Mostly we hung out in the corridor under this light...

and drank on this pitcher of Yuengling. Yes, JD was taunting the folk back home again.

More bar views:

Greensburg After Dark: Lounging

2009-12-02T07:12:00.001-06:00

I really expected to see more bar-goers out on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Longbada was really dead when we got there.

Julie taunted folk back in STL by sending pictures of her Yuengling. This was an ongoing theme.

Eventually we got tired of staring at the well-lit bottles of booze and decided to go back to Murrysville.

Greensburg after Dark: Minatures in Windows

2009-12-01T06:56:00.000-06:00

According to the Trib's website: "the 5th Annual Miniature Parade of Trees benefits the Tribune-Review's Operation Santa Claus... Customers vote on their favorite by making monetary donations."

The mini trees were in the Just Miniature Scale dollhouse shop window, just down the sidewalk from this scene:

On the Street in Short North

2009-11-30T06:47:00.000-06:00

Stoppig for Dinner & Drinks in Columbus

2009-11-29T09:22:00.004-06:00

JD & I started our drive to western Pennsylvania last Monday. Between construction and rain, the trip went more slowly than usual, so we decided to stop for the night in Columbus. For dinner, Julie picked out the Surly Girl Saloon in Short North.

I recommend the Frito Pie.

Sleeping Swanky in Clayton

2009-11-26T08:52:00.000-06:00