Now that I have my shiny new Nikon D300s, I need to get out and shoot with it. After lunch the other day I just decided to walk around downtown and get some shots of the blossoming trees. It had been snowing earlier in the morning – big puffy flakes – but by noon the snow had melted and the sun had come out.
Peeling Paint
This was cross-posted at DukeCityFix.
If you’ve been by the corner of Gold and 3rd downtown anytime since January, you’ve probably noticed the corner shop (formerly Ooh-Aah jewelry and before that Ruby Shoesday) undergoing some major changes.
A new French bistro – “P’tit Louis” – is opening today after much anticipation. This is John Phinizy’s first restaurant, and he’s brought with him the brilliant minds behind Scalo and Brasserie La Provence. If their menu is any indication, this is going to be quite the fancy little downtown hot spot, with daily specials including a Râgout du Jour and a Quiche du Jour.
The interior alone is really something. The folks at P’tit Louis have really poured a lot into making into an authentic bistro, with fresh cut flowers, honeycomb flooring, dark wood bar and wainscoting, and vintage photos and posters on the wall. French music happily bubbles over into the space.
P’tit Louis opens today, and if things are successful, expect to see a few more open up around town.
They’re on the corner of 3rd and Gold at 228 Gold Ave SW. The phone number is 505-314-1111.
Here are a few more photos from Fall 2009, in Gallup and Albuquerque. These were taken with a Nikon FE using Kodak Gold 400 film.
Hot air balloons can only be so exciting to those left on the ground, so the event coordinators plan as many interesting spectacles as possible. The vendors selling cheap trinkets and overpriced “food” from their makeshift stalls are thankful.
One of the popular events is the Night Glow, where the balloons inflate with their burning propane tanks and light up like ornaments. The hissing of nearly a thousand gas tanks is just as much a part of the experience as the visual.
Despite their infinite combinations of colors and patterns, teardrop-shaped balloons lose the attention of the audience to the Special Shapes balloons. Bees, Witches, Dragons – if someone has the creativity to imagine a shape and the know-how (and financial backing) to put it together, you’ll see it a the Balloon Fiesta.
This particular balloon is one of which many Albuquerque natives are proud. Bueno Foods parades its famous Chile Ristra through the skies of the town. The Ristra is a decorative element seen all over the state – dried chiles are strung up to soak up the sun, presumably to be taken down and cooked (although most I’ve seen have gathered far too much dust and mold).
This balloon bears a very traditional icon seen everywhere in the Southwest. Kokopelli, an iconic figure in Native American mythology, represents an entire gamut of concepts, from music to fertility.
Colors and patterns abound. Many balloons have the logos of their corporate sponsors emblazoned across their surface, while others opt for a more traditional approach.
Another event with more of a practical purpose is the Dawn Patrol. A series of balloons are sent up an hour before dawn to test wind conditions at various altitudes. Hot air balloons are incredibly sensitive to changes in the weather, and sending a thousand into the air – surrounded by 10,000 spectators – requires a few precautions.
