It felt a little bit like Brooklyn or Queens, smack dab in the middle of the Midwest. It was a row of brick houses, some laced with ivy, all with charming, quirky character, and the streets were lined with trees and fences of infinite variations. The neighborhood, tucked away at the edge of Wicker Park,…
Downtown Los Angeles. I shouted bye to Jon and Will as they crossed the street and headed to their meeting. I walked down the street with camera in hand, no smart phone, no maps, just a mental picture in my head that told me how not to get too lost. This used to be one…
If I just concentrate for a moment, I can conjure it all back. The amazing overlooks, late-afternoon blue skies, and the feeling of being in this beautiful city with no obligations– only an open day to explore and spend time with friends. Seattle has a vibe not unlike the Bay Area’s. Despite its gray reputation…
Sometimes I dream about the jetsetter lifestyle– not only flying to all kinds of places, but actually doing so spontaneously. I could wake up in the morning and think, I’d love to be in New York today, and voila, be there before sundown! But really, how many people actually have the flexibility in their time…
I know it’s a matter of familiarity and time. I just moved to San Francisco, and I haven’t been there long enough to enjoy it yet. I haven’t become a part of the city, and it hasn’t become a part of me. I’m not used to this fog, this windy chill, the irony of my…
Even before it hits, you can feel it coming on. It takes but one step from the plane onto the jetway for it to strike in full force. The humidity. The heat. It’s a giant cloud stifling you with its sticky, unsolicited embrace. Welcome to Cincinnati. To be honest, I kind of missed it. There’s…
My favorite thing about our “tafLabs” room is not the ten computers or the impressive mass of wires and hard drives everywhere. It’s not even the six Canon DSLRs with all their amazing lenses scattered on all the desks. (And you know how much I love my DSLRs!) No, it has nothing to do with…
The afternoon sun entices me out of my desk chair and over to the window. Floor to ceiling, wall to wall, Downtown Oakland. Seven palm trees in front of the Tribune tower, next to the courthouse. OUSD, Laney College off to the left. I’ve looked at this view a million times, and it still hasn’t…
It’s a struggle every day as the sun battles the clouds. Seattle’s gray, dreary reputation is redeemed each day around 2pm when finally, blue peeks through, the sun trumphantly takes over, and the city transforms. Sunny, mid-70s– beautiful. I leave you with a sneak peek from the Bite of Seattle two days ago; today’s the…
Driving back from the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco last night, I missed a turn, and Nora (my GPS) decided to take me on a scenic route around the city. As I drove along The Embarcardero, the Ferry Building came into view, perfectly lit against the sparkling lights of the Bay Bridge. All…
I am not exactly an outdoorsy person. I am quite the opposite of the athletic, adventure-sports type, and I prefer to have internet and running water around as much as possible. But somehow, I rather like the idea of camping. It speaks to the quiet explorer side of me– being able to break routine, go…
My first impressions of New York are always of the grimy streets and subways and the overwhelming number of people everywhere. The hustle and bustle has a commanding presence and an allure– that concrete jungle where dreams are made of. But first impressions aren’t always everything. My boyfriend Ernie moved back to New York in…