Thrilled and blessed to have both my little brother Dylan and the immeasurably lovely Kathy near me for 2012.
(via kathyosborne)
On a whim, I made a post on my bike tumblr a few weeks ago that said I would be visiting Manhattan, and asked if anyone would be willing to take me out for a ride around NYC. Not thinking I would actually get a response–because who wants to hang out with a total stranger for 5 hours, AND let them borrow a bike-I immediately got one. Initially I was shocked, but upon seeing who responded, I thought “of course.” Gentlemen in every sense of the word, brothers James and Dylan generously offered to set me up.
James arranged a bike for me through his friend Erik, who I was impressed to learn is a partner at Vice Magazine. 7am on Sunday morning, I show up at Erik’s apartment and immediately he welcomes me, a complete stranger, into his home. He shows me where I can change into my kit, wrenches a set of peddles I brought along and perfectly adjusts the saddle height on the bike I would be riding on his first try. James shows up a few minutes later and after some small talk, we are underway.
Beginning in the LES, we rode over to the west edge of Manhattan and met up with a couple more riders who would be joining us, Ian and Jonathan. Dylan, who unquestionably has the best looking US Postal Trek you will ever see, would catch up with us along the way.
The day’s route would be a part of their usual training ride, traveling along the westside of Manhattan along the Hudson River, crossing the George Washington bridge into New Jersey, then further North along the Hudson River through Palisades Interstate Park, Permont Marsh and Blauvelt State Park up to the Tappan Zee and back.
As soon as we cleared Manhattan, I knew it would be long day. It became obvious that my level of fitness wasn’t on par with the group. To the point where I didn’t even attempt to keep pace on the ascents, just riding as steady as I could so that I could finish the ride on the bike, instead of in a cab. Yo-yo’ing off the back of the group, they would wait for me at the top of the climbs and give encouragement along the way. Halfway done, we stopped for some well deserved coffee and muffins in a tiny little coffee shop packed with other cyclists.
On the way back after crossing the George Washington bridge into Manhattan, we regrouped, talked about the things that cyclist talk about, and said our goodbyes. Tired and humbled after 62 miles, I felt extremely fortunate that these guys–who I’ve never actually met in person–were so generous with me. I just hope I can return the favor.
The Westside Market, Cleveland, OH.
One hundred year old neoclassical brick is likely responsible for the West Side Market’s municipal look. Opening the doors, I expect stairs leading down to a subway platform, a bared ticketing booth, or a wooden bench darkened with use and covered with the carved expletives of disgruntled citizens, but instead there is another set of doors.
The space inside is massive, and the vaulted ceilings serve as a sort of tilt-shift lens, turning the crowds of shoppers milling around the booths into miniatures. Each booth offers a different discovery. First I bend down to get a closer look at the pig behind the butcher’s glass, before asking an old italian man for a pound of uncured bacon. The cheese is arranged in piles across the aisle, but I get side tracked by filled-to-order cannolis. I swim through half focused crowds to get a better look at the characters behind the counters and the strange stock they sell in every tiled corner. The West Side Market is not the best place to do a bit of quick grocery shopping. You won’t find the cereal you eat for breakfast here, or the ice cream you eat for dessert, but I came shopping for experience, and bought at every booth.
Words by Dylan Nord, Images by James Nord
I’m still hungry.
Things Dylan ate whilst in Cleveland:
- The Melt 5LB Grilled Cheese Challenge
- The Polish Boy from Hot Sauce Williams
- Cannoli from The West Side Market
Posted December 9, 2011 at 10:39am in food cleveland ohio melt grilled cheese hot sauce williams
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At night, The Warner Swasey Observatory looks up, blind, into a sky obscured by the glow of a community which once yearned for it’s talents.
In 1919, two American mechanical engineers who shared a passion for astronomy funded a brick & mortar project for Case School of Applied Science which later became Case Institute for Technology which federated with Western Reserve University to become Case Western Reserve University. The two men, Worcester Reed Warner and Ambrose Swasey, turned their passion, a small building and a 9.5 inch telescope into the Warner Swasey Observatory to be used to teach and further the research of astronomy; it was dedicated on October 12, 1920. In 1939, the observatory was expanded to include a new telescope, auditorium and exhibit hall to serve the growing community and university interest in Astronomy. In 1963, above the dim lights of Cleveland the observatory was again expanded to serve the purposes of the growing university. Over the next twenty years, students and professors continued to teach, learn, and research in this facility, but the city lights grew brighter each year and polluted the sky. Finally in 1982, without a starry sky, the research and teaching responsibilities of the facility were moved onto the University’s campus and the telescope was moved to a new location on Kitt Peak south of Tucson, AZ. Now, for nearly thirty years, the observatory has sat abandoned.
The Warner Swasey Observatory stands in the dark hallway of a quiet house, and the glow of a bedroom lamp leaks beyond an open door onto the heels of its red brick feet. Reaching into the air, fumbling for a remembered wall, it can not catch a bearing. The neighbors have fallen asleep to a skipping record again, but the distant noise is lost when the searching hand knocks against the frame of some old door - relief. But then again, what use is knowing where you are if you have nowhere to go.
Posted December 5, 2011 at 3:26pm in Cleveland Ohio Warner Swasey Observatry Worcester Reed Warner Ambrose Swasey Astronomy
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Posted December 2, 2011 at 2:21pm in gotye free music listening Somebody that I Used to Know
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Dixon Raney and I have been friends since the 9th or 10th grade, I’d have to ask him to be sure, but I remember it was english class when I first decided I really liked this kid. He has a laugh that few can match and he isn’t slow to share it. He was a fun kid who was loyal unlike any other - no matter what. When other kids weren’t, Dixon was supportive, and when many struggled to understand Dixon seemed to get it. As a man he has a powerful sense of himself and an insight into the world that few are courageous enough to share. I was happy to know him then, and I’m even happier I know him now. Friendships like this make the quickly passing time seem a bit slower or at least sweater. He now has a blog.
I went to Sequoia National Park hoping to quench this thirst I had for natural beauty. For years, I had wanted to see the giant redwoods, the surrounding mountains and rolling hills, the Pacific Ocean and the land Muir fell in love with, and I did, and I was fulfilled. I saw the objects of my dreams and they seemed more a part of a dream than ever before. I stood below thousand year old trees thinking of impermanence, climbed among scattered boulders to the base of a waterfall thinking of scale, and rode my bike along the ocean and through the hills of LA thinking about challenge. Leaving California, a few weeks later, I discovered a deeper longing than ever before. Walking among the grey and black sky scraping giants of NYC, I realize I was changed by the things I saw and the experiences I gathered, and I want to change again.
Every designers’ dirty little secret is that they copy other designers’ work. They see work they like, and they imitate it. Rather cheekily, they call this inspiration.
— Aaron Russell
Posted November 30, 2011 at 12:07pm in realizing more everyday how true this is design Aaron Russell seek originality
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[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
5,837 Plays
Jay-Z Featuring Kanye West & Adele
Never Chasing Pavement [Urban Noize Remix]
Posted November 29, 2011 at 9:38pm in jay-z kanye west adele never chasing pavement listening free music
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