This is on of the many small storefronts I encountered in New York City. The red front is almost reminiscent of a fire station. This market was on Elizabeth Street.
Although I've never actually been in Farner's I think it is a, sort of, PG rated pool hall on the corner of North Washington Street and East King Street in Shippensburg.
I finally hauled by butt out of bed before the sun came up this morning. First time that's happened on a weekend since hunting season. I took a spin around the gamelands hoping to see some turkeys or deer. Lots of hawks, a few squirrels and one deer. Then I went on down to Big Spring for a walk. First time down there in months and months. The red winged blackbirds are starting back. I also saw mallards, wood ducks, Canada geese, kingbirds, a kingfisher, sparrows, a woodpecker and a blue heron. And three or four muskrats. I hope I can get back into a routine and do some more of those walks all spring and summer.
As you should know by now I was up north in central Pennsylvania a week or two ago. Passing through Tyrone I stopped by their firehouses for some pictures. Shown first is the Blazing Arrow Hook and Ladder Fire Company. How cool is that name? Blair County Company 33. Their website mentions an older hook and ladder company that went under and the local Redman's Club brought it back naming it after their local chapters name. That was in 1911. This station sits in the 1200 block of Blair Avenue. Also attached to this station is something you never hear of down in our parts. It's the fireman's social club. Second I have the Tyrone Fire Patrol Company No. 1. Googling tells me nothing about this organization. Googling does mention a Neptune Fire Company in Tyrone that I can't find anywhere else. The fire patrol company sits on 15th street at Burley Street. When I peeked in the window it appeared to have a Fire Police van inside.
I discovered this Painted Gentleman while walking through Chambersburg during their annual Icefest and Fireworks Extravaganza. It was along North Main Street about a half a block north of the square. It faces south, against the one way traffic. That's how it stayed hidden for so long. The Ice sculptures here were meant for you to walk up behind and stick your face into for a picture of you as an ice Eskimo holding your cat. The answer to your next question is, "No."
While driving home through Tyrone last week, as always happens, something interesting caught my eye. Since when is a building demolition interesting? (this is the third here) When the big CAT is literally centerstage. While snapping these pictures I struck up a conversation with an older gentleman who was also watching the process. He told me this old building was built in 1914. There were basketball games here, a swimming pool, a two-lane bowling alley and a 600 seat auditorium (by the looks of the stage here it must have been a beauty). He said he played in a rock band in the 60's and they would play here. Time has taken it's toll on the old Y. Hurricane Ivan struck the decisive blow in 2004 warping the floors. The current owner made an attempt at saving the building but the damage was more than anyone could handle. By now I'm sure this is a vacant lot. I did dig up a little history here. And I see they have their own My Face page. I don't do the Facebooks, you know, a lot less drama over here by myself.
With spring almost here I'm seeing the beginning of some work related travel in my future. Last week that took me to Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. Within a short walk of were I was working (in opposite directions, though) I found the current and old firehouses of the Phoenix Volunteer Fire Company. Blair County Station 10. Formed in 1871 they say they are the only original Blair County fire company to make it through both World Wars and the Great Depression. The new station sits at 206 Wayne Street and the old station is on North Montgomery Street (I think). They run two engines, a rescue, a QRS squad and a tower truck. Last year they ran 429 calls.
If you were to stop by the Philadelphia Municipal Building you would think you are part of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Scattered about are random, very large game pieces. From the wheelbarrow and iron from Monopoly, Chess pieces, Checkers pieces (even some that are kinged), the play pieces from Sorry and, of course Dominoes. We saw these on the way to somewhere else but had to stop and now I'm sharing them with you.
What best describes a place. The people? The food? Would Chinatown be Chinatown without the Chinese? Is Little Italy still Little Italy with the Chinese? One of the reasons Junior and I trek to NYC in February is the food. Although I wish I had the time to experiment more, I think we found some things we liked a lot this year. Dumplings. Like little pierogies with see-through wrappings. Dipped in soy and hot pepper sauce. We got them at Vanessa's Dumpling House on Eldridge Street. They came out looking pink like miniature baby piglets. A little intimidating, but wow. I could eat some now. After the parade we stopped at a Vietnamese restaurant for a baguette sandwich. It definitely looked better than it tasted. Here we broke an unwritten rule and each got one to try. Problem was it wasn't that great and it filled us up. We made this similar mistake last year at a Malaysian place called the Sunrise, I think. Difference was it was very good but too much for someone who want to try something else. Hey, they had a 'roast meat' special at this place. How could you go wrong? And on the walk back to the car we stopped at Natalie's Bakery (not the Nice One Bakery, as seen here) for a pineapple roll. Still too stuffed to eat it we had them for breakfast the next day. So remember the next time you travel someplace new. Eat like the locals. Seems a waste to go that far and eat at a place that is within 5 miles of your house.
Welcome to the weekend. Yesterday, while taking a nap on the couch, the pager tones sounded for a grass fire. Well, I'm awake now, might as well take the camera and go. The flames had been knocked down before I got there but there was still plenty of work left for me to document. Our annual banquet was last night so we have friends from Mifflin County come down and man the firehouse for the weekend. This gives everyone time to prepare, enjoy and rest up from the festivities. So in these pictures there is a total of four Vigilant guys. The rest are from 5 or 6 different companies from the Lewistown area. Sometime after midnight the answered an alarm for an auto accident on the Interstate. Great job guys.
Yes, you have seen this sign before, but finding cool, neon in my neck of the woods is tough. These pictures are all from Icefest in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
