View From the Mound

View from the top of Indian Mound not far from my house. One in summer, one in winter.

I'm totally ready for the summer view. Each shot is a panorama made up of three different images stitched together in Photoshop. Views look south. Old Wards Catalogue facility is in the left part of the images... now known as Super Flea.

Wanting Lakefront Property

I know.... thank goodness someone finally took a picture of geese. This pair, they mate for life, returns each year ( at least I think it's the same couple ) to North Terrace Lake along Cliff Drive. They select a spot on the island in the middle of the east end of the lake and nest build. She lays her eggs... one per day... 5 to 7 total and they take turns sitting on the nest... although the female does it the majority of the time. 25 or so days later the goslings hatch and a flotilla is created. It is amusing to watch the little ones the first time or two they try to leave the water and head up the bank. The feathered duo was circling the island Tuesday.

57 Years In The Hood

In 1952 Tony Mortallaro opened the Askew Inn in Northeast Kansas City. A couple of years later his brother, Tom, came into the business and now, Tom's sons Andy and Bill keep the tradition going. It's a gathering place in the tradition of the neighborhood bar where folks have gone for brew and conversation for years. They are two of the nicest fellows you'd ever want to meet. I'm proud to have known their families for years... Bill and I went to Northeast High School together although he is hundreds of years older. If you're on Independence Avenue between Bales and Askew... stop in.

Marble, Mahogany , Tile and Light

It takes conviction to save an historic structure rather than level it and thank goodness there was plenty of that on hand when the Scarritt Building and Arcade were renovated a few years back.  Built in 1908 the buildings, 819 Walnut, were designed by Root and Siemens and were inspired by Louis Sullivan in both formation and detail.  The pictures above show the exterior of the Arcade structure which fronts on Walnut.  The taller building on the east opens onto Grand.  Inside the Arcade is open from the first floor to the skylight five floors above with offices ringing the airy space. The detail work in the plaster and tile is just incredible.  The Grand Ballroom is located on the Grand Avenue side.  One picture shows the lobby of the Ballroom and the other  the space prepared for a wedding last weekend.   Many thanks to Dawna and Shilah for letting me photograph their building!!

Offsprung Young

One advantage of being a photographer is that you can image your young without leaving the house.    This is Kelly, who is now a sophomore at SLU, between age two and three.  In the color shot she is wearing the dress her mom made for her to wear to the Nutcracker.  

God and Man

Looking east from Quality Hill.

Two Feet? Not Yeti

I neither believe nor disbelieve in Abominable Snow Folks.  My belief would be greatly helped by an unfuzzy picture of one that doesn't look like a costume from Dollar General.   However I could believe that they are being created right now, right here in River City... just north of the Folger's Factory...  or at least the track making parts....

Tara, Not So Firma

Yesterday while in Grandview on business I ran across this old house and out buildings.  Brad Finch, who does architectural photography for National Register Nominations and such, thinks the main part of the house could date from the 1870s.  It's located just a stones throw from 291 South and 150 Highway.  It is setback quite a ways from the road.    You can see additional photos of it and the other buildings here:  http://web.mac.com/dremley/Site/Abandoned_House.html

Fall Retrospective

This post is for Moxie who I know loves Cliff Drive in the fall.  Always prettiest when the sun is morning or afternoon low that's always the best time to see the abundant deer population as it feeds.   Late May and June are the best times as the new fawns make their appearance.  I found out last year that a whitetail doe, 79% of the time, will have twins or triplets.  This is why a herd can explode in population in a short amount of time.  However, weekends spring through fall, the Drive is closed to motorized traffic on Saturday and Sunday.

Full Moon Indian Mound

Indian Mound is the eastern entrance to the Cliff Drive Scenic Byway.  It's located at the intersection of Belmont Avenue and Gladstone Boulevard.   The original mound in the 1800s was only 5 feet above grade.   Amateur archeologists and "others" made digs at the site and came up with animal bones, remnants of cooking stoves and other artifacts.   In the 1930s the Works Progress Administration covered the mound with 30 feet of dirt which has served to protect it.

Liberty Memorial

City Market at Night

Shot looking south from the parking lot in City Market.   Standard photo with a touch of Lucis filter to enhance local contrast.   Nikon D200.

Reservoir, No Dogs

This is the old City Reservoir in North Terrace Park.   Tried to find info on line to include dates and such but was not successful.  Believe it was built in the early part of the 1900s but wasn't in use very long.   Reservoirs were always built on high ground to ensure good water pressure.  This reservoir is divided in two with towers in both halves.   It's roughly the size of a football field on the floor.   Currently it is mostly just a tapestry for taggers.  

Prospect Point

Shot taken next to Reservoir Hill looking west toward Prospect Point overlooking the East Bottoms.  This area is part of the Cliff Drive Scenic Byway... a Missouri State Byway.   In the early part of the last century the reservoir, which still exists, supplied parts of Kansas City with water.  Located on a high point of land to insure sufficient water pressure.  More pictures of the reservoir in a future post.

Bottoms Up

Another post from Kansas City's West Bottoms.   This area reminds me of the Crossroads District 10 years ago.  Plenty of available space.  Artist colonies forming. Newly and undiscovered.  I am terrifically fond of the elderly when it comes to buildings and architecture!

Another Part of the Spectrum

These shots are all from Elmwood Cemetery in Northeast KC.   It is the resting place for some of Kansas City's elite from the last two centuries.   These images were taken using the infrared spectrum.  It requires a special filter and a spectrum friendly sensor which some of the newest digital cameras don't possess.   Green shows white in black and white and pink in color.   Interestingly bees and other insects use the infrared portion of the spectrum to find the centermost point of flowers.    Blooms have colors for us in visible light and colors for insects in infrared.  The last image, taken by Bjorn Rorslett, shows the difference.   

Plaza Silhouettes

Chief Massasoit who, it is said, greeted the Pilgrims as they landed at Plymouth Rock, looks west toward the Giralda Tower on the Plaza.   The Chief stands next to Winsteads  another Kansas City landmark.  Taken after dinner with the kid... so I was in a good mood.

Colonnade on the Bluff

Above Cliff Drive in my home area, Northeast KC, is the Colonnade.  Built in 1908 as a part of George Kesslers master plan for North Terrace Park and the Concourse, it has been faithfully restored to its original beauty.   This view looks up the bluff toward the south with a crescent moon.   While I was shooting a raccoon came down the road, looked at me rather sullenly and went down into the woods.