BIKE: Boston Riviera
First thing this morning I had to change my front tire. I've been cycling much more regularly now and the old '85 whitewall that came with the bike is literally threadbare in places, just asking for a catastrophic blowout or something unpleasant. I had a new tire to swap in, and so.
Then off into the city. Rolling through Medford I saw a small Elmo doll faced down in the gutter, right there on main street. It was inexpressibly pitiful :(
Rolled up through Tufts, Davis Sq, Porter Sq (I saw two girls, teenagers, pull a packet stash taped to the back of payphone. It was an itty bitty ziploc baggy of some sort, this observation took less than two seconds, so I dunno more about it. I was passing by.), Harvard Sq, then hit the Charles River. Instead of turning left, I pushed right and went down the Cambridge side to the Arsenal Bridge to cross over. This takes me through a natural preserve bird sanctuary, and that was fun to dip through. Nice and green and cool. Every ten feet or so, a dove would flash by in a panic :D I only caught one spider web across the path, which means people must be using it, which is nice.
Across the bridge and back now along the Boston side. There's this fancy schmancy public wading pool and it was chock full of toddlers and Moms and grandparents, etc. The little park there is a migrating goose resting spot, too. So dodging the crumbsnatchers, human and avian, was charmingly diverting.
The Boston Publick Theatre looks the same usual wreck it always does. Which is odd. It's an outdoor stage with a small seating arena. I've never seen it in use, but it doesn't seem to fall completely apart either. It always looks recently abandoned. Curious. It's one of the cooler deserted places in the city. I'm surprised it's not smothered in graffiti and condoms, etc. Seems to be in perpetual pristine ruination.
Good things about cycling along the Charles:
Guys rowing crew boats.
Also, this elusive tiny woman on a tiny bike with 86 gears in a hurry. She blew past me, and I just could not keep up with her for more than a mile.
Also, closer to Mass Ave, this natural canopy forms over the bike path. Dappled light strobing all around me :) That was nice.
The Esplanade was practically abandoned. It is Monday morning, after all. Some hardcore runners were out. Dogwalkers.
Now, I'm here at the Boston Public Library, cooling off in the main reading room of the old building. This is one of the best spots in this whole city.
I passed one of my old painting teachers on the way in. He was on the way out. He was adjunct and only taught at MassArt for one year before leaving to produce his own illustrated books (He's really good). He didn't recognize me, and I only recognized him after he'd already passed by. To be fair, it's tough remembering a student out of a sophomore class of 37 you only saw for a few hours one semester, four years ago. I'm guessing he was in doing research as I know he paints city scenes of historical Boston. Next semester, I'll be teaching the class he taught me.
Anyway, here I am, about to send out portfolio information to art directors. GIMMIE A JORB PLZ. This place has free wi-fi. And ambiance. There's also an awesome free show of vintage travel posters down by the lobby. If you're in the city and interested, go see!
Then off into the city. Rolling through Medford I saw a small Elmo doll faced down in the gutter, right there on main street. It was inexpressibly pitiful :(
Rolled up through Tufts, Davis Sq, Porter Sq (I saw two girls, teenagers, pull a packet stash taped to the back of payphone. It was an itty bitty ziploc baggy of some sort, this observation took less than two seconds, so I dunno more about it. I was passing by.), Harvard Sq, then hit the Charles River. Instead of turning left, I pushed right and went down the Cambridge side to the Arsenal Bridge to cross over. This takes me through a natural preserve bird sanctuary, and that was fun to dip through. Nice and green and cool. Every ten feet or so, a dove would flash by in a panic :D I only caught one spider web across the path, which means people must be using it, which is nice.
Across the bridge and back now along the Boston side. There's this fancy schmancy public wading pool and it was chock full of toddlers and Moms and grandparents, etc. The little park there is a migrating goose resting spot, too. So dodging the crumbsnatchers, human and avian, was charmingly diverting.
The Boston Publick Theatre looks the same usual wreck it always does. Which is odd. It's an outdoor stage with a small seating arena. I've never seen it in use, but it doesn't seem to fall completely apart either. It always looks recently abandoned. Curious. It's one of the cooler deserted places in the city. I'm surprised it's not smothered in graffiti and condoms, etc. Seems to be in perpetual pristine ruination.
Good things about cycling along the Charles:
Guys rowing crew boats.
Also, this elusive tiny woman on a tiny bike with 86 gears in a hurry. She blew past me, and I just could not keep up with her for more than a mile.
Also, closer to Mass Ave, this natural canopy forms over the bike path. Dappled light strobing all around me :) That was nice.
The Esplanade was practically abandoned. It is Monday morning, after all. Some hardcore runners were out. Dogwalkers.
Now, I'm here at the Boston Public Library, cooling off in the main reading room of the old building. This is one of the best spots in this whole city.
I passed one of my old painting teachers on the way in. He was on the way out. He was adjunct and only taught at MassArt for one year before leaving to produce his own illustrated books (He's really good). He didn't recognize me, and I only recognized him after he'd already passed by. To be fair, it's tough remembering a student out of a sophomore class of 37 you only saw for a few hours one semester, four years ago. I'm guessing he was in doing research as I know he paints city scenes of historical Boston. Next semester, I'll be teaching the class he taught me.
Anyway, here I am, about to send out portfolio information to art directors. GIMMIE A JORB PLZ. This place has free wi-fi. And ambiance. There's also an awesome free show of vintage travel posters down by the lobby. If you're in the city and interested, go see!