Sage And A Cup of Joe ...

"In wine there is truth,

In coffee there is wisdom."

                       ~ Author Unknown

I spotted this sage advice on the benefits of coffee ~

"Drinking espresso can solve a latte problems"  ~

on a chilly November day on the sidewalk outside the

"Terra Cafe  ~ Coffee, Art and Culture"  in 

downtown Easton, Pennsylvania.

 

And All That Jazz ...

"Come on babe why don't we paint the town

And all that jazz ..."

                           ~ "All That Jazz" (alternatively "And All That Jazz")

                                           ~ opening song of the 1975 musical "Chicago"

I captured this cool mural of jazz silhouettes of musicians on the façade of the Hotel Lafayette, Easton, Pennsylvania as they literally paint the town on a chilly November day. The mural features the shadows of musicians on keyboard, saxophone, trumpet and other jazz instruments against bright colors.

The mural is an Easton Main Street Initiative public art project created in 2012. It is a gift of the Easton Rotary Service Foundation in memory of Ted Pierce, who was the station manager of WEST radio, an outstanding and devoted citizen. He was a generous benefactor of the Easton community and Easton Rotary Service Foundation, as well as an exemplary journalist and key reporter on the Nuremburg War Crimes Trial for the Armed Forces Network. Pierce left a large amount of money for the Rotary Club to use on Easton-based projects.

The mural was designed and painted on the Fourth Street side of the building by the Freehand Mural Group of Easton.

Jersey Autumntide ...

"Autumn burned brightly, a running flame through the mountains, a torch flung to the trees."

                 ~ author Faith Baldwin

                                 ~ 1893-1978

A beautiful pop of autumn color blazes brightly in the hilly terrain of historic Phillipsburg, New Jersey overlooking The Northampton Street Bridge as viewed from across the Delaware River in Easton, Pennsylvania at a November sunset.

The Northampton Street Bridge - commonly called The Free Bridge - that spans

the states was completed in 1896 and survived massive flooding from Hurricane Diane in 1955. It underwent a thorough restoration in 1990 and is one of my very favorite places to photograph.

 

                                              

 

Coloring Hope ...

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul ..."
                                      ~ Hebrews 6:19

 Hope is illuminated in pink during Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October atop the iconic PPL Building in downtown Allentown, Pennsylvania.

The PPL Building, formerly the Pennsylvania Power and Light Building, is a 24-story, art deco/art moderne skyscraper at Ninth and Hamilton Streets.

It is the tallest building in Allentown and the second tallest in the Lehigh Valley, and serves as headquarters for the electric utility, PPL . 

The building is often uniquely illuminated at night, especially during the Christmas season. During the 1960s, PPL supported the local United Fund community drive program by using the building's brightly lit windows to spell out the abbreviation "U.F." to remind area residents to contribute to the fund drive.

The PPL building was built from 1926-1928. The building was designed by architect and skyscraper pioneer Harvey Wiley Corbett, who would later have a hand in designing
New York's Rockefeller Center, and was supervised by by his assistant, Wallace Harrison, who would later design Lincoln Center, La Guardia Airport and the United Nations Headquarters Building. The building has exterior features bas reliefs by Alexander Archipenko. In 1930, the PPL building was named "the best example of a modern office building" by Encyclopedia Brittanica, and also featured the world's fastest elevator.

Raining Retro ...

"There's a certain nostalgia and romance in a place you left."
                                   ~ author David Guterson, born 1956

Diners ... a favorite of locals and weary travelers, sharing their
joys and sorrows over a steaming cup of coffee. Diners are
a comforting haven, a slice of nostalgia to go with that slice
of cherry pie, especially on a rainy evening.

Here, the Hamilton Family Restaurant (known as the "Ham Fam"),
a '50s era landmark in the West End of Allentown, Pennsylvania, beams
it's retro neon welcome during a rainy September twilight. 

A Fair To Remember...

"Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it."
                                                  ~ L.M. Montgomery
                                                                        ~ 1874-1942

Sometimes life whirls by so fast it's a bit of a blur,
so it's good to remember the simple joys, like going to the fair
on a sweet summer night.

This high contrast monochrome shot captures the ferris wheel
spinning on the September opening of the 163rd Great Allentown Fair,
Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Coloring In The Circles ...

"I see nothing in space as promising
as the view from a Ferris Wheel."
                                       ~ E.B. White
                                               ~ 1899-1985

The Ferris Wheel whirls in tandem with 
a smaller spinning wheel, coloring the sky over
the Midway with happiness on a warm September
evening, the opening of the 163rd Great Allentown Fair,
Allentown, Pennsylvania.

The Winter's Dance Video ...

Stevie Wonder's beautiful and melancholy "All In Love Is Fair" sets
the mood for this reflection of winter showcased by my original photos.
My greatest joy as a photographer is harmonizing my favorite original
photos to music to create a lingering snapshot of the season. Enjoy!
Also on my YouTube channel at

  https://youtu.be/YeqEKF4HqVU

Trimmed In Twilight ...

"Sweet memories of ... twilights trimmed in purple haze
And laughing eyes and simple ways
And quiet nights and gentle days with you
Memories, pressed between the pages of
my mind ..."

                       ~ "Memories"
                   ~ recorded by the great Elvis Presley
                                                                                                                    ~ 1968

Twilight trims the spring sky over Easton, Pennsylvania as viewed from across the Delaware River in Phillipsburg, New Jersey next to the historic Northampton Street Bridge, commonly called The Free Bridge.

The bridge that spans the states was completed in 1896 and survived massive flooding from Hurricane Diane in 1955. 

It underwent a thorough restoration in 1990 and is one of my very favorite places to photograph.

                                         

                

Moon Over Tiffany's ...

"Moon river, wider than a mile
I'm crossing you in style some day
Oh dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you're going, I'm going your way

Two drifters, off to see the world
There's such a lot of world to see
We're after the same rainbow's end, waiting, round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me."
                                                                  ~ "Moon River"
                                                         ~composed by Henry Mancini, lyrics by Johnny Mercer
                                                                     ~ "Breakfast At Tiffany's"
                                                                                                     ~ 1961

In this artistic, stardust moment, the full moon of May 3, 2015
rises over "Breakfast At Tiffany's" on the marquee of
The Nineteenth Street Theatre, Allentown, Pennsylvania. 
The Nineteenth Street/Civic Theatre is an historic community center that hosts
theatre, arts education and film. It is the oldest cinema in Allentown, opening
September 17, 1928. In July 1957, the property was purchased by Allentown's
Civic Little Theatre. It is located in the heart of the quaint 
West End Theatre District.

Maybe It's Maybellene ...

"Maybellene, why can't you be true?
Oh Maybellene, why can't you be true?
...The Cadillac lookin' like it's sittin' still
And I caught Maybellene at the top of the hill."
                      
                                           ~ "Maybellene"
                                                              ~ 1955

Maybe it's Maybellene casting a flirty glance
as a summer day reflects in the eye of this
Volkswagen Beetle near a trail in 
Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania!

The Chuck Berry song "Maybellene" was adapted from the 
traditional fiddle tune "Ida Red" that tells the story of a 
hot rod race and a broken romance.  It is considered one of
the pioneering rock and roll singles.

The great Elvis Presley sang it live on "Louisiana Hayride" on 
August 20, 1955. 
                             

Christmastime In The City ...

“Silver bells, silver bells

It’s Christmas time in the city ….”
                    "Silver Bells"

                        ~ composed by Jay Livingston & Ray Evans

                                                            1950

The spirit of Christmas illuminates on the iconic PPL building this

December in downtown Allentown, Pennsylvania.

The PPL Building, formerly the Pennsylvania Power and Light Building,

is a 24-story, art deco/art moderne skyscraper at Ninth and Hamilton Streets.

It is the tallest building in Allentown and the second tallest in the Lehigh Valley, and serves as the headquarters for the electric utility, PPL.

The building is often uniquely illuminated at night, especially during

the Christmas season. During the 1960s, PPL supported the local United Fund community drive program by using the building’s brightly lit windows at night

To spell out the abbreviation “U.F.” to remind area residents to contribute to the fund drive.

The PPL building was built from 1926-1928. The building was designed by architect and skyscraper pioneer Harvey Wiley Corbett, who would later have a hand in designing New York’s Rockefeller Center, and was supervised by his assistant, Wallace Harrison, who would later design Lincoln Center, La Guardia Airport, and the United Nations Headquarters Building. The building has exterior features bas reliefs by Alexander Archipenko. In 1930, the PPL building was named “the best example of a modern office building” by Encyclopedia Britannica, and also featured the world’s fastest elevator.

Stardust Christmas ...

"A Christmas Carol" illuminates the marquee of the historic
Nineteenth Street Theatre on a December night. 
The Nineteenth Street/Civic Theatre is an historic
community center that hosts theatre, arts education
and film. It is the oldest cinema in Allentown, Pennsylvania,
opening September 17, 1928. In July 1957, the property was
purchased by Allentown's Civic Little Theatre. It is located
in the heart of the quaint West End Theatre District.

Neon Spin ...

"Colors must fit together as pieces in a puzzle
or cogs in a wheel."
                                       ~ Hans Hofmann
                                                       1880-1966

The ferris wheel lights up a summer night with spinning neon this week
at the 162nd Great Allentown Fair, Allentown, Pennsylvania. 

Colors Of Main ...

 

The Martin Building colors the corner of South Main and Stockton Streets
in the historic downtown of Phillipsburg, New Jersey on 
a summer evening.
 

Sidewalk Stop ...

 

Thisilldous Eatery provides a great place to stop and sit in the shade on a summer afternoon on Front Street in Belvidere, New Jersey, a charming and historic town on the banks of the
Pequest and Delaware Rivers.

Al Fresco In The City ...

Shanty on 19th, a cool spot on a warm
May afternoon on Nineteenth Street in the
quaint West End Theatre District,
Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Don't Blink!

A car flashes by Blink Optical Boutique and other merchants on a June evening
on Nineteenth Street in the West End Theatre District,
Allentown, Pennsylvania.
The driver likely was going to fast to appreciate the quaint beauty of the area.

City Chat ...

It's almost summer in the city on Memorial Day weekend
on Nineteenth Street in the quaint West End Theatre District,
Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Cherry Sundae ...

 

"Slow down it's Sunday ..."
                           ~ "Sunday In New York"

 Who needs a sundae with a Sunday view as sweet as these
Kwanzan Cherry Trees lining North Ott Street near
Cedar Creek Parkway, Allentown, Pennsylvania
in May.

There are 46 Japanese Flowering Cherry Trees in the
vicinity. The original trees date to the late 1950s
or early 1960s.

As Bobby Darin sang, "Slow down it's Sunday!"