Heading south, eventual destination, Florida Keys

palm trees in Florida

I’ve long had an interest in the Florida Keys, the idea of a series of islands connected by a highway has intrigued me. I didn’t know much about the Florida Keys in advance of going, other than three basic concepts: 1, it’s where the Netflix drama “Bloodline” is set; 2, it’s where a former in-law’s … Read more

Honey locust pods and faces in the street

honey locust pod photo and illustration

On my travels walking around Pittsburgh, I noticed some brown pods laying in the street, and while I’ve seen these things before, I didn’t know what they were called or what they were from. A little research tells me that they’re “honey locust pods.” The honey locust tree (scientific name “gleditsia triacanthos”), is a deciduous … Read more

Sadness in the Taco District of Peekskill

figure with sombrero sculpture as seen in Peekskill, NY

On a visit to Peekskill, NY last September, I was walking down North Division Street when I noticed these seemingly sad figures crouched on the street. Then I noticed a boarded up window with the hand-written message “Taco District.” My first thought was that it was someone’s graffiti message, proclaiming this strip of Peekskill as … Read more

Mona Lisa and David on parking enforcement duty in Ellenville, NY

Mona Lisa and Michelangelo's David in Ellenville, NY

As I mentioned in my last post, I was walking around Ellenville, NY, at the suggestion of a friend who lives in nearby Wurtsboro. As I passed “Tony & Nick’s” Italian Restaurant on Canal Street, I noticed these photographic images of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and Michelangelo’s David, with David looking over at the … Read more

Exploring Charles Point Park in Peekskill, New York

View of Hudson River from Charles Point Park in Peekskill, NY

I had been driving around Bear Mountain in New York and decided to cross the river and head down to Peekskill – you’re going to laugh when you read this – as I was in search of a Shamrock Shake on St. Patrick’s Day, and figured there had to be a McDonalds in Peekskill somewhere. … Read more