Weekly photos: winter and driving

Divine Banh Mi from Neighborhood Noodle

Chasing the moon.

Neighbor's dryer vent stalagmite.

It is about a foot tall.

The Brandywine Inn in Grand Rapids

Waiting for Jim in the lobby of Calvin College.

I like blue.

 

Weekly photos: winter morning

 

Weekly Photos: Infected what?

 

Weekly Photos: Dunes, New Year’s

I need to sharpen my neglected photography skills, so let’s see if titling this post “Weekly Photos” will be inducement enough to keep the camera in my paws…

Snowy beach on Lake Michigan

Pines at Saugatuck Dunes park.

John playing Hamlet? (Actually, I think it was solitaire.)

Dave at Fernando's, or why low-light digital images aren't as cool as grainy film ones.

Jim at Fernando's.

Jim S. at Fernando's.

Michael plays the Steinway

 

Flower Day at Eastern Market

From my morning at the Eastern Market.  Flower Day comes but once a year!  I, alas, have no wagon, so I just kept returning to my car, over and over again.  The kid in the final shot carried impatiens to my car, too!  He was shocked I asked to take his picture.  “That’s a first,” he said.  I’ll post pictures of my yard when things have grown in a bit.  Happy Spring!

 

More from Woodward

Welcome to the Vinsetta Garage on Woodward, where they love their old time look just as much as I do.  (Click to enlarge any of these photos.)

It’s a real working garage that’s been there since 1919, though they no longer sell gas from these old pumps.  Did you catch the license plate displayed in the window?

And does that really say 33 gallons of gas for $2.22?

Maybe it’s 3.3 gallons.  Where would one put 33 gallons of gas?

More from Woodward this afternoon below.

 

Sign of the Beefcarver

Kicking off the my Detroit signs project with this gem. (Click to enlarge any of these.)

I wanted this in my portfolio the first moment I drove past the sign last week on the way to my new job!  In a startling coincidence, later today at work, I read this facebook update from Laurel:

Laurel Taylor salivates at the thought of the 53 pounds of grass-fed beef that Evan is going to be bringing home tonight.

While not salivating, the beefcarver looks pretty pleased with himself.  Perhaps that’s what inspired his generosity, if it was he who left this little gift on the wall…

Take a closer look and you’ll see…it’s a coupon for dinner!

I just took this for a bit of perspective.  It wasn’t until I looked at it later that I began to find it hilarious.  “Mommy?  What happens to Bessy when…”

 

See the signs

Alexander and Polen butcher's in Grosse Pointe Woods

The Detroit metro area is rife with Signs with Character.  I need to do a whole book, but here’s just a sampling.

Cadieux cafe, home of Belgian beer and featherbowling

I don't know what Mother's used to be. Corner of Conant and Mt. Elliott in Hamtramck.

Former service station in Grosse Pointe Park

 

8 coneys with everything

Where can you tromp through the snow, past a boarded-up building or two, downtown in a major American metropolis, and climb into your choice of early-morning, late-night, semi-dives serving the famed Coney Island?  New York?  No, Detroit, of course!

What is a Coney?  It’s a chili dog.  And a source of regional pride and oneupmanship.  And it’s hot and cheap and you can get it with fries.  While you’re at it, have a swig of local fave (and America’s Oldest Soft Drink), Vernor’s.

Did we mention this was the only time we let Nicki out of the trunk on our wee outing that day?  I hope the fries were worth it.

 

Last Chicago hurrahs

The running photos did not end with the wearing of the winter hat, my friends.  I even upgraded from my phone to a wee gem of a camera that I can carry while running and take real pictures.  We’ve only just begun.  And, as is my wont, I coerced my friends into running with me and submitting to photographs as well.  I only hope Detroit brings as many running adventures!  (Click on any picture to enlarge.)

John and Michael live very near a forest preserve, and also very near Superdawg! What better excuse for a nine-mile run followed by tasty junk food?

Note our nifty team shirts. I warned you I was wont to overorganize. These first appeared in April for the Ravenswood Run and have been rearing their ugly heads every since. Perhaps I will create them annually? Who can say?

Bless his little pure beef heart.

Stephen and I trained together for the Chicago Distance Classic half marathon and discovered the joys (?) and benefits of the post-long-run ice bath. Though if it’s early enough in the year, you can just wade in the lake instead. Does he look cold to you?

Cool off those tootsies, do.

This was after a twelve-mile run. We actually swam after the 14-miler. That combined with the massage of walking barefoot on the warm sand is really quite refreshing.

Most of Stephen’s and my training runs were early in the morning, to beat the heat and the 9-5 workday. Exactly one time we were accompanied by Jim. I think 6:00am is too early for him.

Stephen’s favorite training run, which we did once in the spring and once in summer, was a 10-mile jaunt that included Navy Pier. On this trip, (John came, too) Stephen even ran into (almost literally) Carl Kassell.

At The Bean (okay, Cloud Gate) in Millenium Park. None too crowded at 8:00am on a Sunday. Who knew?