Can I interest you in a cut or a shave?

Bart's Barbershop, 518 SE Morrison, ground floor of the Weatherly Building.

I boosted the color about 40% at Picnick. Made it all more vibrant.

Pietro Belluschi's Equitable Building

On Saturday, Jan. 9, after a Tour Guide Committee meeting at the PCPA, I roamed SW 6th with two things in mind. Find A. E. Doyle buildings and find Belluschi's building. First for you, Belluschi's building.

How many times have I walked by this building, on SW Washington at SW 6th Avenue? For most of the last three years, five days a week after work. Rushing from one bus to make the connection to another one, I never realized I had been that close to such an outstanding example of architecture, right here in Portland. I had seen photos of it, but those were taken when it stood tall alone.

Cold, blustery, those two words described the afternoon for the most part. If the sun hadn't struggled to shine now and then, I would have boarded a bus home and given up my quest.


Taken on SW 6th Avenue, looking southwest towards an amazing looking building in downtown Portland.



This isn't the corner I walked by all those times, but I love how the color of the glass shows in this photo.

From Wikipedia:
The Commonwealth Building is a 13-story commercial office tower in Portland, Oregon, United States, located at 421 SW 6th Avenue between Washington and Stark Streets. Designed by architect Pietro Belluschi, it was built between 1944 and 1948 and was originally known as the Equitable Building. It is noted as one of the first glass box towers ever built, pioneering many modern features and predating the more famous Lever House in Manhattan.

The building, which was built as the headquarters in Portland of the Equitable Savings and Loan Association, was originally intended to be 12 stories high but was expanded to 13. It is constructed of sea-green glass and was the first to be sheathed in aluminum. It was also the first to use double-glazed window panels, and was the first to be completely sealed and fully air-conditioned.

The Commonwealth Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places (as the Equitable Building) in 1976.

In 1980, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) designated the Commonwealth Building as a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark. The ASME History & Heritage Committee bestowed this landmark status for the specific feature: the first large commercial building in the United States to pioneer the use of heat pumps for heating and cooling.

Taken on SW 6th Avenue, looking northwest at the Equitable Building, now known as the Commonwealth Building. This is the corner I walked by so many times, noticing the businesses but not the building.


Consumed with the desire to be artsy, I walked to the sharp corner of the building, the brown column between the green umbrellas, and took this photo.


I found these two images on the Internet--they show the Equitable Building in the late 1940s.

Yummy entrees from 3 Doors Down Cafe, 37th and SE Hawthorne

The Special one night in December: braised lamb shank, mashed potatoes, roasted young turnips, Brussels sprouts, red onion and a scrumptious serving of what I call the wonderful juice, but the cooks in the kitchen refer to it as the braising liquid.


Braised Painted Hills short rib, parmesan, Meyer lemon, spinach risotto with pan jus. From the menu we find out the proper terminology for the wonderful juice.


Tuna, polenta, vegetables--I can't find my menu from that night, doggone it! Anyway, it was scrumptious! It might have been the special, I can't remember. But I got this great photo of it, right before I ate it all!

A lot of yummy appetizers at 3 Doors Down Cafe, 37th and Hawthorne

First, let me tell everyone how appreciative Mama is of all the birthday wishes sent her way! Happily she felt good enough to walk half a block to the car, then ride a block and a half to the beauty shop. A couple of hours later, with her newly cut and permed do, she rode home with me at the wheel. Later that night as we sat on the side of her bed for a minute or two, like we've been doing a lot lately right before she rests her head on the pillow and pulls the cover up to her neck, I said, "You got the best birthday present ever!" "A blood transfusion," she heartily agreed. Our next goal is to find out, if at all possible, what's causing the anemia, if it returns to debilitate her.

Please take a look at Wendy Brandes Jewelry Blog for a way to help a blogger in need. Thanks!

Arancini, fried risotto balls, with a light, buttery tomato sauce


Dungeness crab cakes, satsuma mandarin orange & micro green salad, caper aioli


Potato gnocchi with Oregon black trumpet mushrooms, thyme, butter


Oregon Mushrooms, Madeira Cream Sauce, Goat Cheese Crouton

The statue of Jesus behind St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter

Found on the Internet: While Hurricane Katrina did not affect the French Quarter as profoundly as other parts of New Orleans, the high winds managed to displace two large oak trees in St. Anthony's Garden behind the Cathedral. The trees dislodged thirty feet of ornamental gate, while the nearby marble statue of Jesus Christ lost only a forefinger and a thumb. Locals have already declared that the statue of Jesus sacrificed two fingers while flicking the storm away from the city and saving it from total destruction. (Hurricane Katrina was downgraded from a Category 5 to a Category 3 before landfall, when it made a turn to the north just before striking the Louisiana coast.)


As part of the coverage of the NFC Championship today, I heard the archbishop on ESPN this morning, talking about the statue while I saw a video of it. I immediately looked for my photo to see if I managed to get a decent enough one to share with you. This is a close-up of the one I took on Oct. 21, 2009, while we walked from Place D'Armes to the Acme Oyster House. I figured it would be a good photo to speak to the strength of those who live in and love New Orleans, those of us who love New Orleans from afar, and those of us who now will follow the New Orleans Saints to the Super Bowl on Feb. 7!

Whether it's Santas or units of blood, red is definitely good!

Mama's feeling some better after getting two units of red blood cells on Tuesday. Including travel time, the process took six hours. We had no idea it would be that long--thank goodness she was in a comfortable recliner and could eat part of a Cobb wrap, in a bright green spinach-tinted tortilla, that I got at the hospital's coffee/sandwich shop. As I unwrapped it, I heard, "What's that? It looks like someone spit on it!" With my encouragement, she ate half of her half then and the rest for supper later after we had returned to our apartment. On Wednesday she managed to do everything she does each day for herself when I'm at work, all by herself. I feel much better about going back to work on Thursday.

In fact, I feel better than I've felt in almost a month. It was Dec. 24 the last time I took her to play the penny machines. She had a good time, got totally worn out, and said as we drove out of the parking lot, "I won't be doing that again any time soon; it took too much outta me." You have to understand that she really gets a kick out of playing those penny machines, and she's always said, no matter her health, "I can sit on a stool and push a button as good as I can sit in a recliner and do a crossword puzzle." When she made that statement on Christmas Eve and put her head back on the headrest, I wondered, "What have we got now?" Wednesday evening, though, she looked over at me from that recliner and said, "You know, if this keeps up, I might feel like going to the casino? Will you take me when I do?" "Of course I will, Mama," I replied, smiling. Hope returned. Hooray!

Y'all in Mississippi notice anything particular to the home state about this photo? Anyone else? E-mail or comment if you do, puhleeze.

Here's some info about where these two Santas stand, busy at the TriMet ticket machine. The Albina/Mississippi station is a light rail station on the MAX Yellow Line in Portland, Oregon. It is the second stop northbound on the Interstate MAX extension. The station is located in the median of Interstate Avenue near the intersection of N Albina Street. The station serves the Lower Albina Industrial District, Emanuel Hospital, and an emerging and redeveloping commercial district. The station is a center platform, with its main artistic theme drawing upon the lively jazz scene that thrived in Albina in the post-World War II era.

I took this photo on Dec. 5 as I was riding by in the Buick, Leland driving. Those are some responsible Santas, getting set for what I found out was the North Portland Santacon (NoPDX Anticon). The link has lists with all sorts of hints, guidelines, info and a link to five pub crawl routes. It even points out that most stops for the Santas will be near or by the Yellow Line.

Here's another photo filled with Santas that I took on Dec. 19, from the Buick, Leland driving, on W. Burnside at SW 12th.


More of the Dec. 19 Santas. "Who's Your Santa?" That's what one Santa's shirt says, the one to the right of the Santa in the green shirt who must be going for the Mexican mariachi look (witness the sort of sombrero, serape, and guitar).

Mama News and the Last of the Snow Pix from 12/29/2009

She's getting a blood transfusion tomorrow morning. Let's pray that it makes a difference, a positive one.

The row of trees beside the Taco Bell, at NW 21st and Burnside, as seen from the bus.


Someone came to the Subway on this bike? Maybe before the snow started falling in mid-afternoon. I took this photo looking out of the bus.


My bus continues on its way, going west another block and half before turning north on NW 23rd Avenue.


Here's how the row of trees looks in autumn.

We continue to interrupt vacation with news about Mama and the New Orleans Saints!

I wrote all of this Saturday night.

My goodness, but am I an excited New Orleans Saints' fan! What a great game to watch today, for me and the rest of their followers! Hooray! Geaux Saints!



Now for news about Mama.

Leland got her to her primary doctor of Friday where it was decided to do some lab work, to make a referral to a vascular surgeon, and to give her a shot in her shoulder.

First the lab work revealed that she is anemic enough for the doctor to say that she just might need a blood transfusion. Huh? If she needs one, schedule one--that's my way of thinking!

Next the referral--I've got his contact info so that we can make an appointment with the man who almost tried to do a bypass of the subclavian steal in January '08 but didn't when Mama's symptoms improved drastically with steroids--those symptoms it was first thought were a result of the steal, but then as they responded so quickly and positively to the steroids, it was concluded they were the result of fluid in her ears--so together he and Mama and all of us breathed a sigh of relief for no major surgery. I will call that guy and make the appointment because maybe there is something that he can do.

Finally, the shot in her shoulder. The primary doctor listened to what she had to say about the ache, the pain. He read the note that I had sent, too. He rubbed around here and there and found several knotted spots in the muscles and decided that part of the trouble was being caused by muscle spasms, thus the shot which might have been an anti-inflammatory and some sort of steroid. Now for the immediate result of the shot. Mama's vaso-vagal reflex kicked in which means that her blood pressure dropped rapidly and drastically, so much so that she came near to fainting. After almost half an hour flat on an exam room table, she and Leland headed home. He called to tell me all about it. I checked on her several times by phone that afternoon. She reported that she had recovered from the episode and her shoulder seemed a bit better, that she'd let me know if anything changed, that I should go ahead for my Friday-after-work outing to 3 Doors Down Cafe so that I could see my sons, have a cocktail and something to eat.

At 5 p.m. as I got on the bus my phone rang. It was the heart failure nurse who wanted to let me know that they would get her worked in next week and would call me on Monday to tell me when. Good grief.

While I was on the phone with her, it rang again, not Mama but our Mississippi, Talladega bud Milton. He said he'd just talked to Mama and thought she sounded like she was having trouble breathing, so I called her to find out for myself. She said that the had just walked to the bathroom and back to her recliner, so she was out of breath, that I should go on to the restaurant. So I did. I got home about 7:45 p.m.

We watched the rest of the Blazers win over the Orlando Magic. Our team played well, Mama talked about it as it went on, and I noticed that she seemed to be gasping, laboring as she merely sat in the recliner. So I called the guys and mentioned what I felt would be an inevitable trip to the ER. By then it was around 10:30 p.m. Mama and I just wanted to go to sleep, so we decided to try to wait for Saturday morning to make the trip. Once she stretched out on the bed 45 minutes later, my phone rang, Lamont saying he was leaving the restaurant and didn't we want to go on to the ER then. I asked Mama who immediately said, "Yes."

So Lamont came and got us. Leland called while we were on the way and said that he'd meet us there. I lost track of time, but it didn't seem like it took too long for us to be in a room. The first nurse that took us back there said it appeared congestive heart failure was going on which is exactly what I had figured. Another nurse examined Mama, drew blood for lab work, and then she went for a chest X-ray. Somewhere in there she had a breathing treatment with Albuterol.

Lamont went home around 1 a.m.--he was scheduled to work about 10 hours on Saturday and had worked at least that long or longer on Friday. Leland had worked about four and a half hours on Friday, and he didn't have to work on Saturday, so he waited with us while she had intravenous Lasix, from a syringe into one of those ports, for the fluid in her lungs--yes, the same fluid I had found out about on Wednesday that the cardiologist's heart failure nurse was trying to get her fit into some point next week to check it out and maybe alter her medicines! Before long she had a good pee, that and the breathing treatment started to help her breathing.

The ER doctor breezed in, said that the fluid on her lungs could be dealt with by taking the Lasix at home twice a day instead of once a day (that's what the cardiologist had her doing, once a day). He said that she was very anemic, in fact she had about half the red blood cells that she ought to have and that we should follow up with Dr. Yutan next week about a blood transfusion. I think he mentioned needing two units. I was so tired by then that I didn't have enough sense to ask, "Why not give her blood right now?" None of us did. The man actually said, "You get this fluid off you and get some red blood cells in you, and you're gonna feel a whole lot better." Then he buzzed out of the room so quickly that it took all three of us a few seconds to realize that he was gone. Sleep deprivation is a bitch. Leland finally got an answer from the nurse--we could leave as soon as the papers were signed, we had our copy and a wheelchair.

Mama mentioned her walker, and it dawned on us that it was still in Lamont's car. Leland said, "I'll just carry you, Grandma, when we get to the apartment." Which he did--at about 4 a.m. when we pulled to a stop in front of our building--from the car to the elevator where she stood in the corner and then on to her bed after I ran ahead and unlocked our door. I got her in her jammies and settled in the bed, with Duncan of course. It was 4:30 a.m. when I turned out my light and pulled the covers up around my head.

We both woke up around 9 a.m. and then again around 11:30 a.m. I stayed up that second time, she didn't. Finally about 12:30 p.m. she asked me to make her protein drink which I did and took to her in the bedroom. Once she had finished that, she stayed in bed. In a little while she got her clothes on and slowly made her way to her recliner.

About an hour later, I fried us some bacon, scrambled three eggs my co-worker/friend Sarah gave us from her backyard chickens, made some toast. We ate and headed back to the living room to watch the New Orleans Saints' game. I washed the dishes before Leland and Kailey came to visit and bring the walker.

After they left, I cooked supper, another one of my own concoctions. Rough chopped onion, yellow bell pepper, orange bell pepper, thin-sliced potatoes, all sprinkled with sea salt, some black pepper, and sauteed for a while in a hot skillet with some olive/canola oil, then covered it with some Swanson's chicken broth from the carton and turned down the heat. In another skillet with olive/canola oil, I sauteed some boneless, skinless bits of chicken breast. Then I threw in some Oscar Meyer bacon cut into about an inch and a half wide rectangular pieces. Once the chicken had all turned white instead of raw-chicken-color, I tossed it on top of the veggies, then stirred it into them. I let the bacon continue to fry until crispy, then stirred it into the other mixture, letting it cook another minute or so, until the potatoes were done. I served it hot in a bowl along with a piece of buttered bread and sweetened iced tea. Just what we needed, hot food and iced tea. I enjoyed it. I think Mama did.

We watched the rest of the Colts, Ravens. Now we're watching "The Karate Kid." I am tired and plan to go to sleep once the movie is over. Mama figures the shot in her shoulder is still helping some, that she still is having a time breathing when she walks anywhere in the apartment and doesn't want to fool with another appointment at Dr. Yutan's next week. She just wants to get the blood transfusion, period.

Thank you to everyone for your continued prayers and love.

Mama Update and more of the snow

I finally got it straight, between Leland, Mama and my brain, that the heart doctor wanted her to go see her primary doctor at some point in the next eight weeks so that he could refer her to a vascular surgeon--this is in reference to the subclavian steal syndrome that she suffers from on her right arm primarily. It hurts terribly with the least bit of exertion--just think how your own muscles pain you when you've exerted them into oxygen deprivation, that's what she's got a giant head start on, that sort of pain. So today I called her primary doctor and got the appointment changed from March 1 (Mama and I had totally misunderstood what the doctor had meant, thank goodness for Leland's young mind and memory) to this Friday. Leland's going to take her. While it's not likely that much can be done for her about this, we at least don't want to not try. (What a pitiful sentence. It shows you just how tired I am right now.)

Then I called her lung doctor to try to find out the results of the chest CT scan that she had done on Monday. A nurse practitioner called back in the afternoon--the lung doctor is out until Monday. She said that the only person who had looked at it so far was the radiologist. For that person it showed fluid in her lungs, emphysema in the upper lobes. The fluid is consistent with congestive heart failure, so she talked with one of the other doctors who said to get the heart doctor's heart failure nurse to call me and see if the heart doctor wants to set up an appointment for lab work and then there could be the possibility of altering her meds. Why didn't the heart doctor's people do lab work last Thursday when she was there for her office visit/check up? Duh.

I asked the nurse practitioner about the continuous oxygen and the manner in which Mama should be breathing in and out. I've been suspicious that lately she's not taking deep enough breaths--on Saturday I asked her to take deep breaths with her mouth closed. "Why?" I said I thought it would help. "Do you see people doing that? Breathing through their noses with their mouths shut?" Yes, I said, I believe I do. She started then to take a few deep breaths now and then. For real, the nurse practitioner explained that Mama ought to be taking deep breaths with her mouth closed, then slowly letting it out through pursed lips. It seems this method allows more oxygen to make it into her lungs. The problem is that she cannot remember to do this very often. So I've got my aunt down in Mississippi reminding her--they talk on the cell phone every day. Tomorrow I'm going to talk with my brother and get him in on it. I'll remind her when I talk with her every day, too. Plus I'm going to get Lamont and Leland to do it, too.

She and Duncan are in bed now, Wednesday night, as I sit her typing, breathing through my nose with my mouth shut. She's reading; he's sleeping.

Now for the snow.

These men have been shopping at Fred Meyer on Burnside. I can tell by the paper shopping bags with handles that you see in the hands of two of them. They're walking east, about the cross in front of our bus. Those cars are on Burnside. And you see the McDonald's--our goal, the bus stop alongside it, just out of the photo to the left.


See that 20 bus, To Portland? Our skilled, determined driver did and calmly said, "Maybe that 20 will help us." It did, eventually, once our driver sent strong vibes to that driver who then sort of blocked both west-bound lanes for a few moments so that we could take advantage of an opening in the east-bound traffic flow.


Hooray! We're finally on Burnside, head west up the hill. It would take about half an hour more before I could get off at the top of our street, four blocks away from McDonald's.


Next time, the last of the snow.

Snow fell quickly, creating havoc with the traffic, and a report on Mama

First I shall digress for a few moments, to say thank you to those who visit and comment, as well as those who visit and do not comment. I really appreciate it. My time to blog has diminished as my duties at home have grown. Any more Mama cannot do any of the things she used to do the most of, home things like the dry Swiffer, the wet Swiffer, the carpet sweeper, the laundry, the cooking, the washing of dishes, the dusting. For years she happily did these things most of the time, saving me from having to do them as I worked 40 hours a week, did the grocery shopping, most of the cooking, and some of the other housework. She knew she was contributing and it made her feel good about herself, needed. Now, even with the continuous oxygen, she is out of breath after walking 20-30 feet in the apartment. She's upset, feeling down and somewhat worthless, and scared now and then. I'm trying hard not feel scared all of the time. Please continue to pray for her to regain some stamina. The heart doctor, after last Thursday's visit, didn't change any of her medicines and made an appointment for March 30. Today she had a CT scan of her chest, ordered by the lung doctor. She goes back to her on Jan. 28. I am going to call that woman later this week and try to find out what, if anything, she's learned from it. I can't wait until Jan. 28. Mama needs some help before then, if there is anything that can be done.

Now to the snow.

It must have been around 2:30 p.m. when I noticed it had started to snow. To tell you the truth, I thought, "Yuck!" when I looked out the window at work and saw the grass and the streets turning white. I thought, "Well, maybe it'll quit soon, turn to the predicted rain." Nope. By the time I got on the bus to head home, I believe at least 2-3 inches had fallen on the sidewalks and streets where I walked and waited. The only thing to wonder about really was what sort of traffic jam awaited the homeward bound bus ride. I think it must have taken about an hour to get from the corner of SE Grand and Morrison, over the Morrison Bridge, west on SW Washington, then south onto SW 11th and west onto SW Morrison, to the stop very near PGE Park. It took another 45 minutes to go the next two blocks!

This photo gives a hint or two as to why we went so slowly. Bumper to bumper traffic, headlights facing us as we turned right towards West Burnside. That Burnside with the right-facing SUV on it. That clear space behind the SUV would be the last open space on Burnside that we, including the skilled, determined TriMet bus driver and about 10 of us who stuck out the bus ride, saw for at least 30 minutes.

The 15 bus heading south was on its actual route. The 20 bus, the driver said, had probably been informed by TriMet to turn around here, to not continue west up the ever-steepening Burnside. Well, the 20 is stuck. The hill is steeper here than it seems. I took this photo out the side windows, behind the driver.

Our goal, this stop which is out on Burnside, was oh so close, yet so far, right beside McDonalds. I had plenty of time to take this photo, to not worry about the motion of the bus causing any blur because we were sitting still.


Here's why we sat still. I took this photo out the windshield of the bus. The cars going left to right and right to left are on Burnside, in the middle of the intersection, inching along just in case they could make some progress. Good grief! All they did was jam up the intersection which caused us and the other cars who had to turn left to jam up the intersection behind us--it was a time-consuming mess!

Surprise Snow, December 29, 2009

The traffic waits at the intersection of SE Grand and SE Morrison. The snow falls as it had been doing since mid-afternoon. Rain had been predicted, but as I understood it from hearing something on the radio, frigid wind blew in from the east, right through the Columbia River Gorge and into Portland and other nearby areas.

Silly me--I had paid attention to the morning weather report. I had my umbrella; I left my YakTrax at home! This time of year I always wear two coats, the outer one a water-repellant coat, the inner one a fleece jacket. Thank goodness it was a wet snow and that few people had walked the sidewalk between my building and this bus stop. I could avoid compacted, slippery looking snow very easily. However, I did not feel safe enough to go to the Hollywood Theater for Charles Phoenix's Retro Holiday Slide Show. I lost the $15 I had paid for the ticket, but I didn't slide down. Ha, ha--that's sort of a pun! A little over two and a half hours after I took this photo, I walked into the apartment thanks to the skillful, determined man driving the #15 bus.

More surprise snow photos tomorrow!

Vacation, Day 5, 10/25/2009, Part 3

Artist Richard McKey has his studio just north of Fondren Place on North State Street. I love this giant Obama head! Ever since he opened it, you never knew what you might see when you went by--always something outta sight creative and beyond wonderful!

From the Jackson Free Press, about artist McKey:
Richard McKey, by Janine Jankovitz, September 2, 2009.
Richard McKey, 55, didn't know he was destined to be an artist. Born in Starkville, McKey moved to Jackson in the second grade. On a path similar to Van Gogh's, McKey first studied pre-ministry at Belhaven College. Halfway through school he decided to pursue his own business and began a career as a cabinet-maker. Eventually, he created his own construction company and built homes.

In his 30s, McKey returned to Belhaven College to study art history and art theory. Off campus, McKey studied under professor Bob Pennebaker in Pennebaker's private studio. "He was a huge influence on me, he taught me how to draw," McKey says. About 10 years later, McKey closed his construction business to focus on becoming a full-time artist.

McKey opened his studio six years ago on State Street. Today it is easily recognized by the mammoth-sized Obama head that sits to the left of the building. "Obama" was constructed right before the 2008 presidential election. McKey enjoys the attention the stuffed head receives, especially when people take pictures besides it.

The artist also opened a new gallery on Duling Street. It is important to him to be involved with the growing arts district in Fondren. Every inch of the gallery proudly displays artwork by McKey and other local artists.

McKey's excitement is contagious. He laughs often, remarking how much he loves what he is doing. As he walks around his new space, McKey points out the 14-foot ceilings. "I love the light in this room," he says.

The space is filled with ink and watercolor, portraits of cats and horses, abstract faces and sculptures of men made from dollar bills. "Whenever I walk out on to the street, there's some artists yelling, 'Let's do this together.' It pumps me up, it's fun," he says.

McKey finds inspiration for his work in other pictures. "My wife is always on me because I tear out the pictures (from her magazines)," he says. What he creates in his studio varies, depending on his mood. "Some days I'll go in my studio, and I'll just have a strong desire to do abstracts. If I try to do something else that day, it doesn't work."

All together, McKey has about 50 pieces of commissioned art in commercial buildings on Highland Colony Parkway. His work can be seen all over Jackson, such as his two painted figures that greet pedestrians in downtown Fondren and in Basil's downtown. Today he is focusing most of his time on the gallery, "I am really excited about meeting other artists. ... It's going to be fun to pull some of this talent out (from Jackson)," he says.

Here's one of the "...two painted figures that greet pedestrians in downtown Fondren..."


The other painted figure.


The building the two figures call home, Fondren Corner.


Other close-ups of what is in the studio's front yard--at least this is what was in it the day I took these photos.

Vacation, Day 5, 10/25/2009, Part 2

Across Duling from Fondren Place--Tangle Hair, a beauty salon, and Dream Beads, "Make It, Wear It, Love It!"


Next to Dream Beads, Fondren Art Gallery, with a Grand Opening sign--see more about the gallery's owner, Richard McKey tomorrow. On the corner, well actually from thos two windows to the right of the door and then around the corner, is the Orange Peel, a truly fun and fabulous used, consignment, and vintage store. I used to go there before we moved to Portland.


The front of the Orange Peel, facing North State Street.


Just south of the Orange Peel stands Walker's Drive In. Talk about a great place to eat a fantastic supper! Walker's is it because chef Derek Emerson makes it so!


The Pix Theater which I knew as the Capri. I have fond memories of seeing "Irma La Douce" and "Tom Jones" at the Capri. I couldn't believe movies so up front about the subject of sex were playing in Jackson, Mississippi, the heart of the Bible Belt. I loved both of them!

Found on the World Wide Web:Pix/Capri Theare is a former movie theatre in Jackson, Mississippi. Built in 1939 as the Pix Theatre, on the historic US Highway 51, known as North State Street in Jackson. While many Jackson movie theatres were going strong through the 1940s and into the 1950s, the Pix had winded down and ceased operations by 1957.

By 1965, however, the theatre was sold to Cinema Guild Inc and had reopened as the Capri Theatre. The Capri was highly successful and had a longer run than its predecessor, the Pix. The Capri, feeling the effects of the onslaught of the multiplex theatres, had switched to second run/bargain films by the late 1970s. By the early 1980s, viewed by many as a tool to survive the Capri had become a porn theatre showcasing X rated films. By 1985, the Capri was closed, although daily ads in the Clarion Ledger Newspaper had appeared two months after closing.

By 2005, after twenty years of sitting vacant, the Capri was used once again. It had reopened for live music, indie films and theatre performances. Various groups had surfaced trying to raise money for restoration, but that has never came to fruition.

By October 2008, Jackson lawyer and developer David Watkins announced plans to develop mixed use development behind the Capri Theatre and announced his intentions to restore the Capri as a music venue, specifically blues and jazz.

Vacation, Day 5, 10/25/2009, Part 1

Now that's what I call an eye-catchin' billboard! It's for Ro'Chez Restaurant, located in Ridgeland, a small city north of Jackson, Mississippi. I didn't get to go there, but I love this vintage car--a '50's Ford, I think. My brother H says they've not been there to eat yet, but some friends of theirs have and said it was good.

I saw it on my way to lunch at Pan Asia, another Ridgeland. I met three of my librarian buddies--Nancey, Sherry and Cheryl--and enjoyed good food and fine company. We four, along with our other librarian buddy Anne, successfully endured the National Board Certification process for school librarians several years ago. I know without a doubt that I couldn't have done it without their help and support; the process reminded me of being in labor for six months! We ended up what the National Board people call Accomplished Library Media Specialists--I shortened it to ALMS, as a sort of pun because we also ended up getting a substantial yearly stipend from the state of Mississippi--get it, alms for the poor, we teachers in Mississippi being among the lowest paid in the country.

After spending several super hours with the ALMS gals, I drove around Jackson a bit, looking here and there to see what had changed, what had stayed the same. I stopped now and then to take photos to share with you.

I found this about the neighborhood I photographed first. Fondren District is a culture center in Jackson and is one of Jackson's most sought after districts, featuring an array of antiques stores, galleries, and lots of entertainment options in the numerous pubs and restaurants.

First, in Fondren, I took a few photos of the refurbished Duling School, part of Fondren Place, which includes various businesses including The Auditorium, a restaurant that my brother and his wife have enjoyed a time or two. Here's some info I found about Duling School: The Lorena Duling School in Jackson was built in 1927 and served as the neighborhood elementary school for the developing community of Fondren. The school was designed by architect Claude H. Lindsley in the popular Tudor Revival style. Lindsley would go on to design Jackson's Central High School and Standard Life Building. The Duling School was used for educational purposes until 2005, at which time it was vacated.


This new building takes up what used to be a vacant lot just west of the school building. You can tell that I took this shot through the windshield--see the blue band along the top of the photo?


The same building, the back corner from the parking lot behind the building. Found this on the Internet, "The building will house BankPlus and have other office spaces, some retailers, and a restaurant. There are also loft apartments and rooftop decks." I imagine some of those are in this particular part of the development. In fact, I see a sign about the ATM near the dark brick section.

Vacation, Day 4, 10/24/2009, Part 7

Back to Jackson, Mississippi, where Mama and I met up with around a dozen friends for supper at Sal & Mookie's New York Pizza & Ice Cream Joint.

The entrance and a covered dining area.


The other side of the entrance, another covered dining area.


Good friends for many years, Jean, Libby and Jamae--I couldn't believe I was sitting there with them in Jackson--fantastic!


In fact I got so excited and shaky and happy at seeing everyone, at being able to hug them, that I forgot to take very many photos, and the ones that I did take are blurry. Like this one of good friend Nina, a new mother to Roscoe who is in the next photo.


He's gorgeous!


Roscoe and his Aunt Joy, enjoying a smile together.


My burger, the Statue of Liberty, 1/2 pound of all-American ground chuck, charbroiled and served with sliced tomato, pickles, lettuce and red onion, hold the pickles for mine. It was huge, tasty, too! I could only eat half of it, along with some of the fries. That's the rest of my burger in the bag in the photo below, the spoon to the dessert I couldn't pass up is resting on the paper bag.


My dessert, Mookie's Brownie a la Mode, made with the best, ever-lovin' brownie in the universe, along with vanilla ice cream, topped with hot fudge, nuts, whipped cream and a cherry. You see, I know about that brownie because I used to get it all the time when I lived in Jackson, at Sal & Mookie's sister eatery, Broad Street Baking Company. Allow me one more aside, please--Lamont and Leland got their start in these two eateries' elder sister, so to speak, Bravo! Italian Restaurant and Bar, Lamont as a bus boy, Leland as a dishwasher. I am eternally thankful for the chance to learn that my sons got from Jeff Good and Dan Blumenthal.