A Pretty Handy Coverup

Saw the head of Neighborhoods and Communities (I love city department titles that don't tell you a dang thing) last night explaining why the Cosby Hotel HAS to come down. Of course I don't believe him... but how convenient is it that when your department is totally ineffective at preservation by enforcement of codes early on that you can cover up your own incompetence by tearing a building down.

If you fix the little things early on than the big things don't fall off.

I got two responses to my plea for help from Will Royster and Scott Wagner.... And to them I give huge thank you's ..... I suspect I'll hear from other government folks after the building is gone.

That has been the pattern in the past.

A City That Doesn't Care

Here we go yet again..... another historic kansas city (lower case on purpose) landmark is about to be destroyed. This is negligence by the owner and incompetence by the city... dangerous buildings in particular. I don't believe for a second that this structure is "dangerous"... why not use the $115,000 for demolition to secure it if it's that dangerous? The Cosby Hotel was built in 1881 and has managed to stand for 129 years.... yet, all of a sudden, it's a threat. Bull.

In the case of an historic building a second opinion as to the need for demolition should be automatic and totally independent of the city agency that first determined the status.

How come we have structures all over Northeast that ARE actually falling down but there is no money to raze them.... I can show you three adjacent homes on Independence Avenue one of which has a roof that is falling off ... but we can sure find money to destroy our history.

I have seen zero change from the city council and the mayor's office in regards to preservation of historic properties. I also believe that Landmarks and other historic associations are falling down on the job since this is allowed over and over again.

From now on if my preferred candidate for office doesn't have a vocal and deep seated commitment to preservation I will either vote for their opponent or I'll skip voting altogether in that race.

Enough is enough.

A Penny For Your Thoughts

One of my cats, Miss Penny, passed away last week. She was a great pet and very smart. One of the things she loved was "posing." In the past she loved to lay in my neighbor's birdbath...when it was dry of course. I would go over with a camera, gently awaken her, and shoot away. This is from one such series. The shot above was actually the last pose she did that day with a fortuitous yawn.

Amber

Amber will be competing in a pageant this month in St. Louis... I think she will do very well. She's a trouper. We shot these in the studio last Sunday.

All images were shot with the Nikon D3 and 105mm macro lens with a three or four light setup.

Tour of Kansas City, Cliff Drive Stage

The Cliff Drive stage of the Tour of Kansas City was held today... racing began at 8:30 this morning and participants in 10 categories went around the 2.8 mile course with varying numbers of laps. Below are pictures from the Pro, Category 1 and 2 race which began at 2:30.Races started and ended at the Colonnade above is the start of the Pro race.
The course went west of Concourse Park and past Reservoir Hill then on to Cliff Drive going past North Terrace Lake and then up Goose Neck and back around to the Colonnade.
Above.... Gladstone Boulevard just after Goose Neck... the Kansas City Museum in the background.
I can barely get up Gooseneck once on my bike.... these guys had to do it 18 times on a 100 degree (in the sun) day.
Above, rounding the first curve on Gooseneck. Below, once you made the top of the hill a cooling hose spray awaited.

Above, passing the Thomas Hart Benton Memorial, below, riders seen through the Colonnade.

Above, Brian Jensen won the race going away... the 5th time he has won the Cliff Drive portion of the Tour. Below... he discusses the race with the announcer.
The Tour this year was a benefit for Operation Breakthrough. The final stage... the Power and Light Criterium is tomorrow.... racing starts at 8am.

Went To A Garden Party.....

Visited Bruce and Veda Rogers at their bed and breakfast, Gladstone Manor, Thursday to see the garden they have lovingly worked on for years. Long time residents of Scarritt Renaissance the two theatre professionals (retired, sort of) have acquired extra land behind their home to create a terraced garden complete with a fish-populated pond.
At their suggestion I time my visit to witness the feeding of the fish... a frenzy to say the least... and I enjoyed tea and conversation before taking pix.....

The garden is on three levels connected by stairs that Bruce built himself.
It really is an urban oasis.
The day lilies are in bloom but won't peak for a little while longer.


The pond has a small waterfall and ranges from two to three feet deep so the fish and many of the plants can overwinter.



Actual shot of fish-frenzy as Bruce threw in the food.... one of their longest lived coy is emerging from the water right center.



Day lilies up close and personal with more of an impressionistic approach than absolute sharpness....








My thanks to the Rogers.... it was a great way to spend part of an afternoon......