I'm back to being on the road again for 360 shoots. This time I got to shoot Ball State in Muncie, Indiana. That was just the start since I had three shoots lined up in Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois over five days.
After my first day of shooting I got dinner at Twin Archer Brew Pub and got a Philly Cheesesteak of course. I eat way too many cheesesteaks.
And then I explored Downtown Muncie and thereabouts.
Muncie has some great old buildings, but there's quite a bit of vacant storefronts. I'd have thought that Ball State would've buoyed the downtown more than it does.
To the east of downtown is the Emily Kimbrough Historic District.
East Main was a mishmash of well-kempt houses and derelict properties.
This distressed duplex could be something. With hardly any paint left on the siding it's surprising it was still standing.
A block to the north on East Washington the homes were in generally better state of repair.
I mean look at this stunner.
This is someone's house??
Yes.
I could imagine how the Kimbrough Historic District once felt like a natural extension of downtown. Like so many mid-sized cities the periphery of downtown was hollowed out for parking lots.
With the odd stately public library interspersed.
After another half-day of shooting at Ball State I had to get down to Appalachian Kentucky for my next shoot, but first I got lunch at Muncie's Dairy Bar.
I got the comically large Indiana classic, a tenderloin sandwich, and their take on a blizzard. Everything was just alright.
I also got an up close encounter with this strange Jeep.
My drive down from Indiana took me down to the Indiana-Kentucky-Ohio tristate area and then a scenic drive east past Lexington through horse country. Endless bluegrass ranches with stone hedgerows as far as the eye could see.
After dropping my stuff off at my motel in Slade, Kentucky I took the short drive out to Daniel Boone National Forest and the Sky Bridge Arch.
The trail is less than a mile and totally worth the drive. This was just one of a number of scenic hikes in the 30,000 acre Red River Gorge Geological Area.
The trail did in fact cross right over the arch.
Appalachia is so underrated.
One of my favorite things about Appalachian hikes is the familiar trees (see Hemlocks) interspersed with local undergrowth that almost feels tropical.
I wish I could've brought Brooke and the kids along for this work trip. We'll have to come back someday for a road trip.
I spent the next day photographing Kentucky Mountain Bible College. This was the farm next door. I could've spent the whole weekend out here and my hosts at the college couldn't have been nicer.
I had to fly to Chicago in the morning and ended up needing to drive up to Cincinnati. At this point if you've read about my previous work trips to the Queen City, you know I love this place.
After settling in at my suburban Kentucky hotel I drove up to downtown Cincy with the intent of taking in Over the Rhine once again. I happened to park right across from city hall.
I wanted to go check out The Lubecker and the adjoining beer garden.
Not sure if there's a lovelier place to spend a Friday evening in the US of A then Over the Rhine.
A jazz festival was going on in the park that was once half parking lot. Black Cincy was out in droves. In fact one of the loveliest aspects of OTR is the fact that you see black and white folks rubbing shoulder to shoulder.
I can't get enough of this place.
Just meander the streets whenever you get a chance to come to Cincy. If you love brick and Italianate architecture you'll feel right at home.
I'd never explored downtown proper so I headed that direction before going back to the burbs.
The old St. Louis Church has to be one of the most unique Catholic Churches I've ever seen.
It closed in 2020 and soon will be office space.
Fountain Square had the same impeccable vibes as Washington Park. Cincinnati seems to be doing something right with its classic urban spaces.
Until next time Cincy.
I only had a night in Cincy, but no worries, I had a full Saturday to explore Chicago and a bit of the Northwest inner ring burbs.
Since prices were astronomical in Chicago proper I stayed at the nice enough Comfort Suites out by O'Hare. Just down the block was Frannie's Beef.
Not a better sandwich in America.
After a perfect lunch I decided to explore some of the North Side. I'd never been to Portage Park before, so why not go for a little walk.
Three-flats were of course present.
But many a bungalow lined the neighborhood's streets.
A quaint amalgamation of Chicago residential architecture.
I walked and walked mirroring Milwaukee Ave, though I never did quite get as far south as Logan Square.
A few of the post-WWII two-flats dotted these Northwest Chicago neighborhoods.
I decided it had been too long since I'd been in Roscoe Village and Wrigleyville.
Much of these neighborhoods had been gentrified, but there were a few outliers left behind.
I remember this very building from walks with my sister when she lived a bit north up in Ravenswood.
This is pure Chicago even with all of the change in the neighborhood interiors.
Southport was bit more upscale than I had remembered.
Wrigley Field and the neighborhood will always feel special, but where's that crappy Taco Bell?
Back when my sister lived up here we'd also stop by Burrito House.
When I'm back in Chicago I just have to make an effort to get up here for their grilled take on a burrito.
Roscoe Village was hopping on a Saturday night. Brooke and I always wanted to move down to Chicago. It'll always feel like a second home. A place both my siblings called their city.
My brother had just moved a couple months back and then I got sent to Chicago to photography a private school just down the block form his old place. Bad timing, you could say.
After the shoot I ended up at a very empty Zayna Mediterranean Grill. Everyone needs to chill on the Uber Eats and go fill up these restaurants.
While I love my brothers old neighborhood, I was on a quest to explore new places in the Windy City.
Next up Humboldt Park.
It seems like a new neighborhood is always at the edge of change.
There were rows of these simpler takes on the standard Chicago two-flat.
But it still felt quintessentially Chicago.
The lot size in any given city is so central to the character a city exudes. In Chicago the houses have a small set back on narrow lots. Each home separated by an alley large enough for you to pass through.
As you get further west the boulevards broaden. North Avenue in Humboldt Parks feels more imposing than the streets to the east.
But then you happen upon Chicago's oldest bakery, where, oddly enough, I got the homemade ice cream.
There's something about old school places like Roeser's Bakery in
Chicago. Prices that push you into decades past. Neon signs that
haven't changed for who knows how long. And those bay windows lovingly
painted to match.
See you later Chicago, Cincy, Kentucky and Muncie.
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