Then & Now

I've been slacking lately but I have vacation next week so I will probably have plenty of time for some photographing.


In the meantime, a new book is available on Monday, August 3rd, called "Portland" and it is part of the "Then & Now" series by Arcadia Publishing (well known for their wonderful "Images of America" series). It's by John Moon and is a good read with lots of great before and after style pictures with some interesting facts along the way.






Check it out here on the Arcadia site, buy it from your local bookstore, or snag it from Barnes & Noble for cheap.


Portland by John Moon, Then & Now Series
96 pages softcover, $21.99
Arcadia Publishing

Fisherman and the Bridge

This is underneath the bridge that carries I-295 over the Fore River, by Thompson's Point and the Airport. I wouldn't eat any fish from these waters but it's a good catch-and-release place I suppose.

Looking into the Past: Thomas Block

A looking-into-the-past of Thomas Block on Portland's Commercial Street. I should have gotten both the cut-out and the actual scene in focus but it gets the point across, I think.

Old Photo Source

Looking into the Past Flickr Group

Health Care Rally

One week ago today was a health care rally in Monument Square. I posted these on my flickr earlier in the week but I will go ahead and share them here now. A brief summary of the event can be found here on the Boston Globe website.

I enjoy seeing Monument Square being used like this, since it really is a prime public space and is the 'heart' of Maine's largest and most visible city.

Museum of Art

Just a picture from the main lobby of the Museum of Art. Free every Friday!

El Rayo

An exterior shot of El Rayo Taqueria on the corner of York and High Streets. I hear good things but have yet to dine there.

Roof Tan

I would set up a nice little patio set and a grill up there.

Fort Williams Watching

A couple enjoying the sun at Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth this past weekend.

Sitting on a park bench

Tickets!

This statue (for lack of better words) is outside of Hadlock Field, where the Sea Dogs baseball team plays their home games.

It was unveiled last year and I still find it disappointing. There was some rumbling in the arts community (see here) that, according the public arts committee "... the statues, which depict a traditional family of four on the way to a baseball game, would be too large, display the team logo and fail to reflect the modern diversity of Portland, both in its people and its artwork."

Those are all valid points.

My point is that the father figure in the statue is clearly trying to scalp the tickets. It looks like he loaded up the wife and kids in the minivan, clearly promising to treat them to America's past-time, and then started yelling "TICKETS FOR SALE HERE!" as they approached the entrance. What a jerk.

Fields and Skylines

Near the same area as yesterday's post:

North Street Garden

I shared a photo of the North Street Community Garden long ago (here), but here are some pictures from this year's crop. Portland has several of these community gardens, but I still say that this one has the best view! Here is the city's description of this garden:

The North Street Garden is located on the Eastern Promenade across from the East End School on Munjoy Hill neighborhood. North Street Garden was expanded by 16 plots in 2008 for a total of 45 plots. The East End School – Educational Garden is located adjacent to North Street Gardens.