August 3, 2019
One of the the things I like about Queens and Brooklyn is that there is still places where you can feel like an explorer, still places that every square inch is not branded with an advertisement or a means to generate profit. With a weekend within the corners of my Read more…
July 28, 2019
Do you know that fish fly in Staten Island? That birds have condos by the bay? That you can walk into a tree hallway and share the experience with no one but you and yours? And that it’s getting more vegan food… slowly. Yes, there are a lot of things Read more…
July 14, 2019
Sometimes I like to put stuff in front of a huge blue thing and take their picture. All of these pictures are hashtag: ThisSky. And tons of my favorite photographic subject matter. The wheels in the sky keep on turning. (Atlantic City & Wildwood, New Jersey) Run-down vintage neon porn Read more…
July 6, 2019
What do you get when you photograph the exteriors of abandoned places after nautical twilight? You get a photographic mash-up: Astro-UrbEx! Which has like no google search results, so maybe I coined it? Also, you get mosquito bites and you get very scared… a lot. Given these thrills I am Read more…
May 5, 2019
I was so excited to participate in one of Matthew Christopher’s Abandoned America photography workshops this past weekend in the Catskills. As I try to more actively improve my skills and knowledge of my camera, it was a great opportunity facilitated by acclaimed photographer of abandoned decay Matthew Christopher. But Read more…
April 22, 2019
While I rest, here is a collection of gorgeously dilapidated places of Western Texas–where you can wander freely through the rambles, where an expanse of space allows the abandoned to live on. These pictures were taken in Fort Stockton, Marathon, and Terlingua. Terlingua’s are part of its Ghost Town. More Read more…
March 10, 2019
How have I never been to this place before?! Sandy Hook is part of Gateway, a National Recreation area that spans New York and New Jersey. I’ve explored the New York portions, Staten Island’s Fort Wadsworth, Jamaica Bay’s Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and Dead Horse Beach in Queens, but I Read more…
October 20, 2018
Pollepel Island is a small island in the Hudson River most known for Bannerman Castle. A man named Francis Bannerman purchased the island in 1900, building the castle to store surplus military equipment–which was his livelihood. And those stockpiles of shells and gunpowder are to blame for substantial damage to Read more…
October 13, 2018
My partner in special ed combat and ultra-rare fellow INFJ is a Staten Islander. So today she was my expert guide, uncovering the best of all the things on the island I like–abandoned stuff, scenic beauty, and vegan options. First, we split a quick lunch at Dosa Garden in Tompkinsville. I was Read more…
October 7, 2018
Another perfect day inside Autumn. Today on Hawk Falls Trail in Hickory Run State Park in White Haven, PA for waterfalls and foliage. The glorious mist on a beautiful early Fall day Waiting for everyone to leave… …because I wanted to go in! Ok, so it’s cold but it might be Read more…
February 22, 2018
Arts & Crafts, Beautiful Places Far Away, Eating Out, Nature, Photography, Urban Exploration, Wanderlust
It was a short walk from my hotel to breakfast at Cafe Pascal’s, right on Santa Fe Plaza–the heart of downtown. This is a popular place so centrally located, dressed to the nines in New Mexican flair, and with awesome service. I had to doorbust so as to not be Read more…
August 30, 2017
I was so excited to see the long-abandoned saltwater pool of old money millionaire William Vanderbilt, located on the grounds of The Vanderbilt Museum, Mansion & Planetarium in Centerport, Long Island. The 70,000 gallon pool used the water from the Long Island Sound and was the location for Gatsby-style cocktail soirees. Read more…
August 25, 2017
I’ve likely been through Pennsylvania’s interstates the most frequently of all the states. But today I planned some stops to break up an otherwise long, boring drive into chunks. Starting from Pittsburgh in Western PA, I first headed to Shanksville, the crash site of the United Flight 93 on September Read more…
August 22, 2017
Wigwam Village No. 2 in Cave City, Kentucky, a themed motel of Route 66, is still operational. The abandoned Haunted Hotel attraction also in Cave City. It is open to explore, but an adorable grey tabby kitten was guarding the door. Overgrowth A sinister fellow plays the piano. I Read more…
July 10, 2016
The bummer of my flight being cancelled seemed to infiltrate my food choices, too. I plan to make up for these less than wonderful options with a kick-butt breakfast tomorrow. But first, some roamings: The Babcock Building of the South Carolina Lunatic Asylum, now empty and decaying. The UFO Welcome Center Read more…
July 7, 2016
Jacksonville, Florida has vegan credibility. This I state enthusiastically in my head while the locals in Southern Roots Filling Station discuss New York City vegan eats. I could chime in, I suppose, and tell them that New York City isn’t all that spectacular. Well, I mean that the places they are Read more…
May 2, 2016
With a limited time before having to catch a flight, we seized the afternoon one last time with another hike in nearby Griffith Park. The park is huge, with a ton of different attractions set apart within the mountains. This time we opted for a short hike to see the Read more…
April 24, 2016
Undeveloped Long Island: It is so easy to hate where you’re from. It conveniently holds blame for all the ails of your upbringing. It takes no offense. But it’s other things, you just need to look beyond the paths you’ve worn well. Like anywhere, it can be new and fascinating Read more…
April 3, 2016
Like New York, Philadelphia’s vegan options are ever-evolving. From the vegan mock meat Asian restaurants I visited decades ago when I briefly contemplated moving to Philly with a friend to all the brief day trips through the passing years, today’s highlights are a quick skimming off the mound of Philly vegan options to Read more…
October 21, 2015
For as long as I have worked, I have always taken off my birthday. It’s a gift I give myself–to be under no obligations but my own. So I do the things I enjoy… driving and finding new places to take pictures of. Shrine of Our Lady of the Island in Manorville Read more…
September 26, 2015
**Updated for 2020** This post has received a lot of traffic since I first posted it in 2015, but more so recently. I have since discovered that it is now a retail “community center.” Considering the continued interest, I unearthed more shots from my visit in honor of the now Read more…
August 5, 2015
Travel tucks you into new environments, which facilitate different experiences. And experience is the basis of all learning, all growth. So, travel is enlightenment…. Luckily, there is no need to head to an ancient Buddhist temple to derive this wisdom. There is plenty of beauty, adventure, inspiration, oddity (and vegan eats) just a couple of hours away. Read more…
July 17, 2015
Another jam-packed day ahead of me and needing the boost, I had the tart from Louisville’s Flora Vegan Treats for breakfast. Clearly by observing Exhibit A below you can see it was light and crisply satisfying–like you want these kinds of tarts to be. The filling was blackberry, the ideal partner for the lemon zested Read more…
November 18, 2014
Treating my home, and its surrounding cities, like I would an unknown city—subject to the same fine tooth comb in search of vegan options—my list of vegan leads in the neighbor state New Jersey was growing. And preferring a random and mysterious lone vegan option to a well-worn, all-vegan establishment Read more…
September 28, 2014
Fields and fields of corn. This is what’s inside the heart of the heartland. After hours of fields of corn, I was back in the Motor City area to sample some vegan eats. Lunch, finally was at Inn Season Cafe in Royal Oak. They have a promising brunch menu they only serve Read more…