My Kind of Hero

In a nice little moment captured by Pat, this Metro Mobility driver got out of his bus to shovel his elderly passenger's sidewalk so she wouldn't slip and fall. What a great guy. That's my kind of hero!

Sunday Style!

Driving through downtown this afternoon I saw this guy in front of the Albany, and he was so interesting I had to drive around the block and find him again so I could get a picture. I took this through my windshield, so if it looks a little blurry, that's why. He was probably in the middle of a drug deal but hey, that outfit is supa fly. 😉

The Sobriety Dance (Or Not?)

This guy can almost always be found in the median at the intersection of Uintah and Cascade, dancing while holding up a sign. I've noticed him there many times over the last few months (he's kind of hard to miss). Although it doesn't look like it in this photo, that's actually a busy intersection with queues of cars perpetually waiting for the light to change color, so I just assumed the sign had something to do with panhandling, since he always has a captive audience. But while getting this photo ready to post, I could see that it actually reads "Dancing to make you smile while you wait awhile - 4 years sober." Hm. Part of me says, "Good for you, buddy!" And the cynic in me thanks fat chance, he just takes the handouts he receives and gets loaded. Who knows? At any rate, he's one of the more eccentric characters to land downtown lately.

Fannie Mae Duncan

A statue in front of the Pikes Peak Center honoring beloved Colorado Springs resident Fannie Mae Duncan, who was the proprietor of the Cotton Club, as well as an activist and philanthropist. She deserves the honor! If you'd like to know more about this fascinating, trailblazing woman, please click HERE to read the Wiki on her.

Well Here's Something You Don't See Every Day

There I was, sitting in Mollica's enjoying a sandwich and minding my own business, when I glanced out the window and saw a guy trundling down Garden of the Gods Road on a unicycle while sipping a Big Gulp. What?!? It took me a sec to register this odd sight, then I grabbed my camera and clicked off three frames, one of which is reasonably in focus. Talk about random!

Sunday Style!

I went gallery hopping with a couple of friends on First Friday, and ran into this stylish lady at our first stop. Her name is Ethne (I hope I didn't murder that) and she told me the story behind her cool glasses: she had a friend in high school who later became an artist, and he had a great sense of style, as many artists do. She remembered particularly an outfit he once wore in the 1970s, which included a snazzy houndstooth jacket and these very glasses. When he passed away, his partner gifted Ethne with both the jacket and the glasses as a memento of her old friend. She told me that she gets comments all the time when she wears these frames. They are really cool, don't you agree? Thanks for the photo and the story, Ethne!

Big, Big Bird

No, your eyes aren't deceiving you. Yes, that is an emu. This lady is named Billie Sue, and her emu is called Dennis. (Dennis! Gaaah! So cute!) They've become minor celebrities of sorts in Manitou. I've had a friend or two post pictures of Dennis on Facebook and I wondered who the big bird belonged to. Now I know! She told me that he's two and-a-half years old and she's had him since he was a chick. I've never met an emu before. He was extremely mellow. And very, very big, with rather prehistoric looking, three toed feet. He likes to be petted in a particular spot on his side. Oh and Dennis is very attached to his human. People, this is why I will not eat an animal. You think birds don't feel love and affection? Think again. Just look at how he hugs her back with his long neck when she hugs him. It's adorable!

Dennis is taller than Billie Sue!

Dennis prefers to be petted right next to his name.

When she hugs him, he hugs her right back. They are obviously bonded as much as a human and a dog or cat I think that's incredibly sweet.

Everyone is charmed by Dennis! Look at the facial expression of the lady holding the purple bag.

Giant dog meets giant bird. Everyone behaved admirably.

Sunday Style!

The perfect outfit to wear while walking your pet emu on a 90°+ degree day in Manitou Springs. Cute! (Stay tuned for more on this fun lady and her unorthodox pet tomorrow.)

Sunday Style!

This woman was a standout at the supermarket last weekend. She had a cool style, but  more than that she had presence!

Biking Across America for Multiple Sclerosis

I was driving north on Nevada Avenue yesterday when I saw this cyclist with an interesting mission, so I sped up and pulled my car over several blocks up, then got ready to fire off a few frames when he caught up and passed me. I think he must be part of THIS organization, and what a worthy cause! If you look at their routes, there's one that goes right smack through Colorado Springs. There is a page on their site where you can make a donation.

Running Rampant

I really have no idea what is going on in this picture. Last Thursday I had a personal errand on Weber Street, and afterward I came across a large number of young people (I assume CC students) wearing kooky costumes and running around in groups, seemingly at random. It was very odd. I managed to capture these two groups running toward each other from opposite sides of Uintah Street. It definitely looked like everyone was having a blast!

Let the Games Begin

I often see these LARPers in Palmer Park on Saturdays when the weather is nice, and it always looks like they're having a great time engaging in this unconventional hobby. A while back I made a mental note to stop, introduce myself and ask for a few pictures the next time I saw them, had a few spare minutes, and had a camera handy. That day was today. I chatted with them a bit and stuck around just long enough to feel satisfied that I had gotten some decent pictures, then left them to their role playing. What fun. I think LARPing requires a nearly complete abandonment of inhibition, and I admire anyone who doesn't give a second thought to that! I told them I'd be back someday with a longer lens and a little more time on my hands. Until then, enjoy these fun pictures I got during my brief encounter with them today.

Sunday Style!

If you want to see interestingly dressed people, just go to any art opening! Here's a shot from December 2nd at the Kreuser Gallery. It was a chilly evening and this colorful sweater dress was perfect for both the occasion and the weather.

Sunday Style!

What happens at Camp John Waters stays at Camp John Waters, that is unless you have permission from someone to share a snap of them on your blog! These ladies are just a sampling of the absolute fun of it all. There were tons of interesting people wearing everything you could imagine. Great stuff!

Sunday Style!

I'm back! (Again. These prolonged absences from the blog are getting old.) I took a vacation to Connecticut last month to attend Camp John Waters -- you can google that if you're curious. The way I've  been explaining it to people is that it's kind of a kooky, over the top summer camp for grownups. If you know who John Waters is, you can just imagine the shenanigans. Anyway, all kinds of fun people go to Camp John Waters, most (or all) of them completely free spirits. I chatted with this fun attendee as everyone was leaving at the end of it all. I think she said her name was Nicole and that she lives in Brooklyn. I had been admiring her style all weekend, so I was glad that I got a minute to chat with her and get a couple of snapshots before everyone went their separate ways.

Sunday Style!

A cool guy I met last month in Manitou. I can't remember his name, only that his personality suited those groovy sunglasses. He even struck an interesting post for me.

Strange Tableau

I came across this strangely adorable tableau at Nancy Lewis Park the other day. This pair never moved from their positions the entire time I was there. In fact, they didn't move, period. She sat in the shade and scrolled through her phone, he napped on the ground in the heat of the sun. They never looked at each other or spoke. I encountered them on the way in and again on the way out, and it was like they were statues.

Untitled

A client of mine who's an artist has this painted on the door to her garage. Basically every surface of her home has some sort of fun paint or embellishment. It's a unique, fun home.

Twinkies

I spied these two hiking in the Garden of the Gods today wearing matching Adidas jackets. I wonder if they always dress to match.

Sunday Style!

A couple of weekends ago, as I was doing a photo shoot in Arts Alley downtown, I ran into my friend Lauren, who planned on doing some Christmas busking with her friend Harriett if I would just get out of the damn way. 😉 I thought Harriett looked pretty cool in her all black ensemble, so I took a snapshot of her before I skedaddled. Below is a picture of the two of them hard at work in front of Lauren's art gallery, the ModBo, which sadly just mounted its final show. It's the end of an era!