volguus zildrohar

After I patent my holographic t-shirt I'm starting on the "Cleveland: Closed". You all get first pick. Thanks for viewing. If sober, we'll see you next time.

There. Toledo's cameo. These are the last of my shots from this summer's road expedition with ColDayMan. The man does indeed know all there is to know about that surprising state. Here are some of the places we didn't spend a whole day in (in all honestly, Cleveland came thisclose to being here). DAYTON Martin Sheen Bartlet-ed here. Bootsy Collins wah-ed here. The Schuster Center and its incredible design elements. Gracias, Mr. Pelli. Dayton Arcade - that this building sits empty is a stark reminder that some people just need to be beaten. SPRINGFIELD In front of one of SOM's first designs. WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB AKRON YELLOW SPRINGS America's most liberal town and where Dave Chappelle fucks yo' couch, nigga. ROADSIDE ODDITIES Mason's "Voice Of America" antenna - suburban Cincinnati's non-liquor or rollercoaster related highlight. In PA, we get Wawa coffee, suckas. It's been a Glory.

Haha, truly only tourists do that. It's the rare native Philadelphian who's actually done that. Thanks for the words, everyone.

That steel is actually there to shore up that building facade. The facade is being preserved and restored to be used as the entrance to a new 33-story condo about to begin construction directly to the rear.

None of this can be new to you. KISS MY ASH. Thanks for taking the time.

Alright, let's do this... You've already made one smart decision: Forgetting the car until you're ready to leave. Since you'll only be in town a day, Center City (downtown) and its environs have more than enough to keep you occupied, entertained and intrigued. For parking your car, I'd suggest finding a hotel not right in the heart of Center City where you can park and go about your business without worrying about a ticket (which, beyond a shadow of any kind of doubt you will receive for any violation). Center City is eminently walkable and is served by nearly every trolley, subway and commuter train that runs in Philadelphia as well as numerous bus lines. Suggestions for hotels where you can park and hoof it are: -Best Western Center City/22nd & Pennsylvania - on The Parkway near the Art Museum just outside downtown (they plan to tear it down and build a 47-story condo on site next year) -Comfort Inn/Penn's Landng - on the waterfront near the historic area. Not terribly ped friendly -Hyatt Penn's Landing - like the Comfort Inn but on the right side of 8-lane Delaware Avenue -Holiday Inn Old City on 4th Street - convenient to Old City and Center City There are other places you can check out but these are some of the closest to Center City and near some type of transit. Once you're here nothing is going to put a big hit on the wallet. You can have a great dining experience for reasonable prices. I don't know what your preferences are but if you're feeling exploratory, I would recommend taking a walk along Walnut Street between 11th and 18th, South Street between Front and Second (here I personally reccommend Mallorca, a Spanish restaurant) and 18th Street between Locust and Market just for starters. The concentration of good restaurants on those particular streets is high. There are other areas I'd reccommend but I don't know how much you like scenesters and crowds, which will occupy a lot of places on a Thursday night. If such people don't bother you South Street between 7th & 2nd and Old City (3rd to Front Streets, Chestnut to Walnut) also offer excellent restaurants and bars. During the day, obviously there the historic attractions: -Liberty Bell -Independence Hall -National Constitution Center -Betsy Ross' House There are numerous art galleries in the area of Old City north of Market Street in addition to the more traditional museums (Philadelphia Museum of Art, PA Academy Of The Fine Arts). The Benjamin Franklin Parkway has many of the city's major museums along its length and opens to Fairmount Park with the Fairmount Waterworks at its gateway along with Kelly Drive, one of the most scenic places in the city - particularly at sunset. For shopping - or browsing - I'd direct you again to Walnut between 11th & 19th and to The Shops at Liberty Place, inside of course Liberty Place - the giant blue skyscrapers on Market Street (which is air conditioned - a definite plus during a Philadelphia August, which can be oppressively hot and humid). I wouldn't reccommend downtown's big mall, The Gallery, to tourists because honestly it doesn't need help - it needs prayer. If you're toting the camera, these are some places that will give you excellent vantage points of the city, the skyline, the streets and the people: -South Street Bridge -Sansom Street between 11th & 18th -The Clothespin sculpture, 15th & Market -LOVE Statue, 16th & JFK Blvd -Broad Street between Spruce and City Hall (an architectural gem you cannot miss - observation deck included) -Steps of The Philadelphia Museum of Art (the Rocky statue is not there and please, please, please don't embarass yourself by imitating the Rocky run:)) -Benjamin Franklin Bridge walkway, 5th & Race These are just a few. For sites not to miss, there's the Reading Terminal Market, 30th Street Station, The Four Squares (parks), City Hall, The Kimmel Center...all places you can stick your head in and check out. Thursday/Friday is a decent time to be out about. If there's anything else you need to know or have questions on send me a PM or e-mail me at [email protected]. Also, as I always do over at SSP when someone says they're coming to town, I offer my services as a freelance guide (ColDayMan can attest as long as we're not driving;)) as Philadelphia really is a lot more interesting when you've got someone who knows the land. And I do it for fun anyway. Hope you enjoy your trip.

Glad you enjoyed our little town and I apologize for you having to endure The Phillies. City Hall Observation Deck, which you visited, is the only public observatory in the city for now. A 70 story building planned for the waterfron would add another as Comcast is currently keeping all the good views to itself in their new building.

Yes, ColDayMan demonstrated himself a credit to his state showing me about. I now find myself telling people about beaches along Lake Erie and Dayton style chicken:) Thanks for the comments, people. I try my best.

So where is home for you? Philadelphia, PA. I thought my sunny disposition would have given it away:) Thanks for the kindness everyone.

Thanks a ton, y'all. People back home were surprised of my accounts of Ohio in general (one person thought Columbus:(T)OSU as State College:Penn State. He didn't believe it was an....actual city. eastvillage, that fish was sho' nuff in the pond at Goodale Park. I have witnesses:) kingfish, nobody ever wants to be first to comment on the nipplies. Brewmaster, I use a Sony CDMavica. My model was the very last of the CD-writing line for good reason - it's a horrible concept.

Pleasantly surpised was I by Ohio's capital. Despite the rain and the state capitol building designed liked a botched circumcision, the day of the Columbus meet was filled with all sorts of mirth, merry and LOVE. And here twas.

Thanks, all. RiverViewer, he ain't my kid but he was in the right place at the right time. gold, I'll give a quick line for each: Columbus - A college town meets a progressive big city. I dug it. Akron - The little town that could. Cleveland - Do something about those acres of parking downtown and we'll talk. I liked a lot of what I saw but admittedly much was on the periphery. Dayton - Damn good chicken. A lively downtown and nice neighborhoods - where they existed;) Yellow Springs - Too many goddamn liberals.:) Cincinnati - Met all my expectations, which were high. Please believe I'm returning when Fountain Square is finished. That was Number 1 on my list. And no one was exaggerating about Over-The-Rhine...Christ. Covington, KY - The suburb that kicks other suburbs' asses. Toledo - We drove over it quickly. From what I saw that was probably best. Detroit, MI - Not as bad as people think it is. It just needs an ad campaign, a spitshine and $400 billion in housing development. That may sound flip but I honestly did like Detroit. Windsor, ON, Canada - It's Canada. Next. Gary, IN - See Toledo Chicago, IL - If Chicago asked me to have its baby I would. I'd leave yo momma for Chicago. Indianapolis, IN - Amazingly well-appointed downtown. I was awestruck by the canal. And dumbstruck by the bail bonds district. Springfield - Saw it at night but it's a treasure trove of architectural gems. One of those "Whoda Thunk It?" kinda places.

I'll be putting up some material next week. But editing my photos from Chicago last week I cam across one I forgot I took that I really liked. From the 96th floor of the John Hancock Center:

I know some of you people. Some of you I don't. I'll sort you out when I get there.

Not a long drive for anyone in the state...