Busted!

You know, this guy who makes shirts and sells them at the Union Square Market was insistent that I include him in the photograph of his merchandise when I shot him for this blog in late 2009. He said he didn't like people ripping off his stuff.

Well, in a recent perusal of the Saatchi Collection online, I spotted this artwork by Scott King from 2008! Who's ripping off who? Hmmm.

(Scott King. Pink Cher, 2008. Screenprint and paint on canvas, 300 x 200cm. Obviously, picture courtesy of The Saatchi Gallery.)

Speaking of blanks

A segue from the spines to your blank spines to...a blank and decaying billboard in Orange, NJ.

Mr. Softee

Midway signage has become very...um, very!

Our trip to the Sussex County fair this summer yielded this extended sign for Mr. Softee ice cream (with a reflection of a big top).

Be Very Afried

From Funnel Ball to funnel cakes in this case at the Dutchess County Fair,which had a great mix of organic activities such as various 4-H clubs's animals and the awe-inspiring midway.

Spineless

Perhaps more of a stretch than synchronicity, I was struck by the books—some of which had saggy, soggy bindings—in Robert Peary's summer home. I imagine the interiors are still readable. Another thing Arctic-related that struck me was a comment in Miriam MacMillan's book about being part of the crew on Donald MacMillan's schooner. That is, she referred to the considerable library on Arctic matters on the Bowdoin, the 88' long and 21' wide schooner designed for Arctic explorations. Now, the entire library could no doubt fit on a phone (Apple pods trump whale pods?). As for the Arctic, there's much less ice ice baby.

Funnel Ball

The playground near our house has a Funnel Ball setup...I've never played, have you? You throw the ball up in the cup and it will spin around and come out randomly through one of the 4 exits. The holes score points (2, 4, 6, and 8 points).

In any case, it's got some beautiful lettering on it, and has a beautiful shape.

Friendly and delicious

A more subdued message from our friendly Friendly's this time around.

When in Jersey

Before tomato season officially ends here in New Jersey, an enterprising neighbor has put up a sign for business. (Could use a bit of kerning on that E-S)

Spinal blocks

A trip to a well-tended (but overpriced!) used bookstore in Morristown inspired these shots of beautiful old spines.

Drive by bowling

Hilarious synchronicity. I've been trying to get a good shot of the neon bowling sign at East Hanover Lanes...it eludes, since I have to do it out the car window. Here is one of the attempts. But I'm surprised that their website and promotional materials don't exploit this great sign!

Decidedly Retro

I mentioned to Douglas, a scary-good designer, that Pat and I were going to my Dad's hometown of Brunswick, Maine to visit my mother. Douglas replied that his brother and a niece (?) had checked out Bowdoin, the eminent college (and alma mater of famous Maine achievers like Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, Joshua Robert Peary, and Donald MacMillan).

Douglas also noted that his family thought the school was fine, but ! ugh! the town. As much as I love the the place from many happy childhood memories, I must say he sort of has a point. One new / old thing we discovered while in Brunswick was candlepin bowling. Say what? Once a hangout for those good-time guys, the Knights of Columbus, it's now a scene for kiddie parties. Note those great French Canadian lane names.

Found type

Position is everything in life. Is the location of this sign for exceptional painting at ordinary prices a sly and oblique hint? Or is it a mixed message? It's weird to see the signage in Albertus (or a family member).

Found type

Found type noticed while in Maine for my mother's 90th birthday. The book's very appearance at the Orr's Island Library sale makes it likely that the then 96-year-old giftee is no longer enjoying the memories mentioned in the inscription.