STL DPB ON THE ROAD - OUTREACH

 

This has turned out to be a disappointing visit to my favorite place in the world for street photography due to Thursday night’s restaurant disaster. Still, there are opportunities. We saw this on 42nd Street, under the viaduct where Park Avenue goes up and around Grand Central Terminal. The person was still there when we came back the other way a couple of hours later. Sadly common in America and likely to get worse.              

An Unusual Soccer Tournament

Who knew? There are street soccer leagues for homeless and formerly homeless people and they have regional tournaments. One of them was put on yesterday by Sts. Peter and Paul Church in our Soulard neighborhood. P&P is a major provider of services to the homeless. Street soccer, in this sense, involves four person teams in 14 minute games that are fast and high high scoring.

It was literally to be in the street, Morgan Ford Road south of Tower Grove Park. When a downpour started it was moved to an indoor soccer club in the suburbs. Odd, to say the least. People were welcoming, the scene was off beat and the action, eventually, was fast.

I'd like to propose a caption contest for the second photo. Any ideas?
                                      

Willis

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I met Willis when I was wandering around the bleak area north of the Arch as sunset approached. He struck up a conversation, asking me about my heavy photo equipment and what I was doing. He told me that he sleeps in a cardboard lean-to between garages in the nearby entertainment area, Laclede's Landing. I asked him if the cops hassled him and he said, no, they know he doesn't cause any trouble. Not surprisingly, he asked if I could help him out to get something to eat. I did, knowing that such donations do not always turn into solid nourishment.

My intent was to shoot this entrance to the riverfront bike and walking trail in front of an old power plant. Willis asked if I would like to take his picture and of course I said sure, if I could use it on the web. He seemed flattered by this but a little confused about what he should do. A short time later I drove home. He walked.

O Canada

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This was lying in the pavement in Kiener Plaza near my office. It may have fallen off the apparently homeless man sleeping on a bench a couple of steps away, surrounded by a few plastic bags with his possessions. If he were in Canada, would there be less chance of him sleeping on a park bench?

It's an appropriate theme, though, because Mrs. C and I are flying to the great city of Toronto tomorrow for a few days of fun. We'll be there on Wednesday, July 1, which is Canada Day, the national holiday. It's sort of like the Fourth of July in the US but a lot less militaristic. And more welcoming, since almost half of Torontonians were born in other countries. There's a huge fireworks show over Lake Ontario and we'll be in the bleachers (don't forget the tripod!). Then on to northern New Jersey, near NYC, where the Crowes gather over the Fourth of July weekend - more fireworks!

BUT today is St. Louis' annual Pridefest Parade and Fest, where I've gotten some of my very best pictures in past years. Check back TOMORROW.

Another Side of New York

One last picture from New York City. As we walked up Lafayette Street through SoHo, we passed this person tucked beneath the scaffolding of a building being rehabbed. Note the small placard on the cart that says Smart Way. The paper handbills in the upper right advertise Mama's Food Shop.

Back to St. Louis tomorrow: Fifty-9