St. Louis Daily Photo

Turn Off The Bubble Machine

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Crowe) — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:01:00 +0000

A scene along the Komen Run route. Is anyone out there old enough to remember Lawrence Welk, Stan Freburg and this bit?

If You Want To Call It That

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Crowe) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:01:00 +0000

Scenes from the Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure on Sunday. Looks like the Mercedes of strollers. While we're curing things, could we work on beltlines?

I've meen very remiss in visiting my friends' blogs. Monday evening was my fourth night out in a row, almost unprecedented. Let's see, Shakespeare In The Park, opera, opera, son-in-law's parents in town from Houston. Whew. And back to Chicago Friday. Things gotta calm down.

Hope

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Crowe) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 05:01:00 +0000

The Susan G. Koman Foundation is a huge organization that promotes education, treatment and research for breast cancer. They have fundraising runs and walks throughout the country. There's been one here for years and the women from my law firm usually organize a team.

That's the Crowe & Shanahan group. From left to right across the top: Julie, who has been my partner for 28 years; Dawn, one of of our paralegals for more than 20 years; in the pink shirt, Joan, our cancer survivor, Julie's sister and paralegal for twenty-something years until her family moved to another state; Traci, in the hat, a lawyer from another firm, but we like her anyway; Kaari, Julie's present paralegal; Cindy, who has been my paralegal for more than thirty years (the woman is a saint); Jackie, my administrative assistant; and Jennifer, who does intake for new clients. That's a group of really good people.

Attendance at the event has declined significantly in recent years. The Foundation has created a good deal of controversy, which you can read about here if you wish. Form your own opinion.

It Takes Concentration

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Crowe) — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 05:01:00 +0000

We finally got to our annual Shakespeare In The Park production on Friday. This year it's Twelfth Night and it was terrific. We tried to go opening night but, despite arriving two hours early (people have picnic dinners on the grass), it was so crowded we went home. Tried again two weeks ago but the show was canceled due to severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. The third try worked.

I usually take a lot of pictures of the green show, 90 minutes of entertainment before the play itself. Didn't get much this year because we tried a new offering, a superb four course dinner on the lawn above the stage. Only had time for a few shots of perenial favorite Juggling Jeff. I've taken lots of pictures of him through the years around town. This one is my favorite.

At the bottom, the stage just before the second act.

Near The Bottom Of The Tank

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Crowe) — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 11:30:00 +0000

When I'm running out of pictures there are certain things I can pull out to get a good response. Children. Dogs. Belly dancers.

Olivier will like this. The audience at this last show at the Renaissance Faire did. On to a new topic tomorrow.

Fairely Good Portraits

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Crowe) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 05:01:00 +0000

Ow. Go ahead. Call the pun police. Sometimes I can't stop myself.

Just three people hanging around the Renaissance Faire. Two were happy to pose. The last is what's sometimes called a sniper shot.

Lots going on in The Lou this weekend. However, Mrs. C and I will be attending performances tonight, tomorrow and Sunday that will keep me out late (long story). I usually write posts in the evening but we'll pull something together.

Gratuitous Cuteness: Animal Kingdom

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Crowe) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 05:01:00 +0000

There is a saying that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Similarly, when I'm low on material I can always go for cute. This time it's dogs and a cockatoo rather than children.

One of our CDP colleagues commented on the Flickr version of the second picture that "If he wanted to, the cockatoo could probably take his finger off. I once had a parrot clamp down on my finger, it was 40 years ago and I never forgot it. :-)"

The Joust

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Crowe) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 05:01:00 +0000

Still some pictures to review from the Renaissance Faire. There is a jousting match every day. The audience is on either side of the field of honor and each side has cheerleaders. They train the crowd to scream for their hero, boo the other guy and chant "Blood! Blood! Blood!"

The event has much more talking than action (a common human condition, isn't it?). But when the knights charge the fans go wild. Rules of chivalry notwithstanding, the combatants are encouraged to cheat. There is an example in the bottom photo.

Essentials

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Crowe) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 05:01:00 +0000

Two things I can't do without for very long. From the Art Institute of Chicago.

The Lonliness Of The Blue Line

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Crowe) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 05:01:00 +0000

Images from the Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line from Logan Square to O'Hare Airport. Even in the huge city it is easy to be alone.

And if that isn't isolated enough, have a look at the laundromat on Diversey Avenue, around the corner from my son's home.

Graduation Wit Da Mayr

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Crowe) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 05:01:00 +0000

There are still pix from the Renaissance Faire I want to post but we're in Chicago for the weekend. So, an interlude.

Son Andy got a masters degree in teaching through the AUSL program. This is a private, not-for-profit organization whose business is turning around under-performing urban schools. It is hard to be accepted in the program and many of their new teachers come as part of a career change. Andy was a software engineer with a bachelor's and master's in computer science from the University of Chicago. He reached the point where the business problems of his boss' customers were of no interest. Now he's teaching high school math in the city.

And who unexpectedly showed up to speak? Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of the City of Chicago, former congressman, former Chief of Staff to President Obama. He's known as tough, pragmatic and sometimes abrasive. AUSL is important to him. Its director said that the mayor came to him and asked if he could double the size of the program. He said yes. The mayor told him "I've got your back. We'll get the money. Just don't screw up." But, um, he used another word than "screw."

Much later that night, our super teacher transformed himself into a DJ. Everyone needs a hobby.

Green Monster

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Crowe) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 05:01:00 +0000

Not this one. Shrek, actually. I've never seen the movies but I recognize the marketing images. For some reason the proprietor of a leather and metalworks shop at the Faire chose to adopt this persona. You would have to ask him why. He insisted I take his picture in front of the sign on the left.

We're in Chicago for the weekend. Our son's commencement is today. Busy busy busy.

Pirates of Wentzville

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Crowe) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 05:01:00 +0000

I mentioned that the Renaissance Faire takes place on the edge of the metro area. The town is named Wentzville. It's best known for a major highway junction, a huge General Motors plant and endless, soulless strip centers. To their credit, though, they have a park large enough to hold this event.

For the last couple of years they've had a man wandering around who does a spot-on impersonation of Johnny Depp's role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean series. He's a chick magnet. Probably has experience as a model, too. Always keeps his eyes on the camera.

This has been an awful week at work but now it's break time. Up to Chicago this morning - our son gets his second masters degree tomorrow. This one is in education; the other was computer science. Mom and dad are pretty proud.

Their Royal Majesties

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Crowe) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 05:01:00 +0000

So, this was supposed to be Lyon in 1518. Who was in charge? I don't have my kings of France memorized, much less the presidents of the United States. Well, Google and Wikipedia to the rescue. The monarch would have been François Ie.

The king and queen always preside at the Renaissance Faire, appearing at special occasions. One of the nice things their majesties do is spend some time in the children's area, knighting any tyke that was up to the challenge. I would have been thrilled if I were that age.

Kinda low comments this week. I'm just bombed at work. The tide will turn.

Return Of Gratuitous Cuteness

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Crowe) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 05:01:00 +0000

Sometimes even I can't resist. The dull gray skies over the Renaissance Faire didn't help the color but the kids were irresistible. Love the whole ensemble of the girl at the top. The boy in the second picture has a couple of scoops bigger than his mouth. Didn't bother him in the slightest.

And anyway, I need to brush up on child photography since my first grandchild is scheduled to debut in August. She is going to be the most over-photographed baby in St. Louis. Better not be scared by fill flash.

More gratuitous cuteness before this series ends. Two dogs and a cockatoo. At a minimum.

Axel The Sot

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Crowe) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 05:01:00 +0000

The Renaissance Faire has lots of fun entertainment, although not much of it has to do with that period of history. Axel the Sot is one of our favorites. He sings boozy, bawdy tunes and has a wicked sense of humor. We caught his milder show on Sunday. There was a frankly lewd version later in the day but I wouldn't have brought the kiddies to the one we saw.

As you can see, Axel made a special friend before the performance. He's a friendly chap and quite outgoing when he has a drink in his hand.

TOMORROW: the return of gratuitous cuteness.

Delft, Via Uluru

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Crowe) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 05:01:00 +0000

We made it out yesterday to the St. Louis Renaissance Faire, which takes place in May and June on the edge of the metro area. The conceit is that this is "Petit Lyon" of 1518. The lords, ladies, peasants and knights of 16th Century France walk about with the most outrageous fake French accents, right up in this league. As we left, one of the cast bid me au revoir. Jusqu'à l'année prochaine, I replied. Say what?

The young lady above might have posed for Vermeer. What she's doing with a didgeridoo I haven't the faintest. The man in the second photo could be looking for Velasquez's studio or a disreputable Mexican cantina.

I'm going to run with this all week. Jousting! Sword play! Gratuitous cuteness! Shrek!

And While We're On The Subject

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Crowe) — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 05:01:00 +0000

This isn't quite like the wrecks in yesterday's post but some merchant has fallen on hard times. Maybe the proprietor should have broadened the product line. The place looks open for business in the photo on Google Street View.

This is at Jefferson and Shenandoah on the South Side. The area is a mixture of not-so-hot, hipsters and urban homesteaders. The photo was taken just a week ago so I think that tree out front is a goner.

City Daily Photo June Theme Day: The Beauty Of Decay

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Crowe) — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 05:01:00 +0000

Hey, this is a Midwestern rust belt city. We got a good supply of decay (although no place can hold a candle to Detroit - see here for some brilliant video about that). I've been cruising The Lou's run-down industrial areas looking for images and found plenty.

I couldn't pick just one. Since, as Mae West said, too much of a good thing can be wonderful, I'm posting a few of my favorites. Pick your own.

Have a look at beautiful examples of the second law of thermodynamics from around the world on City Daily Photo here.

Heavy Metal And Salvation

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Crowe) — Fri, 31 May 2013 05:01:00 +0000

Getting warmed up for tomorrow's theme day. Psalms 2:9 : Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron. A meditation on faith and metallurgy.

Thursday Arch Series (We'll Always Have Paris)

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Crowe) — Thu, 30 May 2013 05:01:00 +0000

Paris, Illinois, is a town of about 9,000 near the Indiana border. It's just off Interstate 70, the highway from St. Louis to Indianapolis. I'd never heard of it. Yet when I was out trolling for pix last weekend, there was its high school band on the stage under the Arch. They were good, and so wholesome.

Walk Across Eads Bridge

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Crowe) — Wed, 29 May 2013 05:01:00 +0000

If you were to look a bit up from the MetroLink train in yesterday's post you would see the walkway on the bridge. It spans the Mississippi from St. Louis to East St. Louis, Illinois. I've crossed it many times. Great place to shoot the water, the riverfront and the Arch.

By the way, I'd like you to look at something. I've mentioned a very talented young photographer I met, Daniel Grudek. He's new to St. Louis, spending several months in an internship at a local architectural firm. He's working on a photo book about STL and all he has discovered here. He is fundraising on Kickstarter to do a quality book. Click here and consider contributing. I did.

Tough Act To Follow

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Crowe) — Tue, 28 May 2013 05:01:00 +0000

Well, lots of people liked the blues harmonica player yesterday. Thanks for all the comments. It's rare that I break into double digits. What to do for follow up?

I've been cruising old parts of the city near the river, looking for material for the June 1 Beauty of Decay theme day. Plenty of material. At one point I was walking along the promenade at the north end of the Arch park, right beside beautiful old Eads Bridge. Decidedly not decayed, as a lot of money has been spent to restore and preserve it. If fact, you can see scaffolding under it for maintenance work in the first and second pix.

Our MetroLink light rail zips along the lower of the level of the bridge at the bottom. I don't think you're supposed to drink on board.

Bluesweek

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Crowe) — Mon, 27 May 2013 05:01:00 +0000

More like Bluesweekend. This event took place on Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday of our Memorial Day long weekend. We've had blues festivals in different formats for years. This version is, in part, to promote the National Blues Hall of Fame, under development here.

At lot of local events that are behind a barrier (because of alcohol sales) have a "no professional cameras" policy, enacted just to annoy me, I'm sure. Turned out not to be a problem yesterday but I took my little Olympus E-M5 just in case. These pictures were all taken with it. Stunning quality in a little package. Right, Grace?

Ball Sports

noreply@blogger.com (Bob Crowe) — Sun, 26 May 2013 05:01:00 +0000

Lots of sports involve putting something generally round through enemy territory and into a designated place at the end of the playing surface. Basketball, hockey, rugby, U.S. football, soccer and even tennis do this. Baseball and cricket take the idea and make it geometrically more complex. They are all metaphors for war.

Soccer does it in fluid motion, as if the battle lines were wave interference patterns. At its simplest, though, all you need is is a couple of kids, a dad and some artificial turf in the middle of 7th Street. Sweet, except that it blocked my normal route to my office. (I know, humbug and so on.)

By the way, when did young people start wearing a spectrum of colors on their athletic shoes? Just got through to me when I saw the Chelsea and Man City players with orange, yellow and lime on their feet.