Archive for November 2007
:: Rollin’ in the Big Easy ::
Tonight I was on the phone with a friend reminiscing about hanging out in nawleans, and I started perusing through some old pics. Being from the Gulf Coast my home town, Mobile, and New Orleans were both founded by two brothers, Iberville and Bienville, who had set out on a journey from France in 1698 to do some exploring. Bienville was actually the French Governor of Louisiana and they collectively founded Mobile in 1702.
Nevertheless, having been raised only a 2 hour drive from N.O. I spent a LOT of time there. I actually haven’t been since January of 2004, but have no doubt been to that city over a 100x.
Most people don’t know that Mobile started Mardi Gras — first Mardi Gras party went down in 1703 — which is really just a shoot off of Carnival. So there’s been some celebrations going on for 300+ years in the Gulf Coast area.
You can find scandalous party pics of the Big Sleasy at many spots on the web.. but here are just a few shots of the French Quarter primarily — although other neighborhoods in that city are culturally very rich.
:: UrbEx Series : Chapter 2: Tuna Cannery Graffiti ::
:: UrbEx Series : Chapter 1: Tuna Cannery ::
This particular factory was closed down in 1963 after two botulism related deaths induced a nation-wide scare on tuna. Its shell has been sitting in this Bay Area location now ever since.
[note: today will just focus on the building. tomorrow, the graffiti inside]
:: UrbEx Series ::
Recently my friend decided that he would try his hand at some Urban Exploring, and decided to corral some of his friends into hopefully joining him. I admit. I was the first one to actively take the bait. Stepping a few feet back it is a questionable arguement (based on perspective) of the type of activities engaged herein. Innocuous? sure. Pernicious? not really. Risky? yep. Worth it? undoubtedly. Ramifications if discovered? hmmmm…
Before we begin, let me outline the agenda of these events moving forward; it’s quite simple and three-fold:
- Get secure and safe access
- take great photographs
- leave unnoticed and unscathed
The rise and development of certain urban zones (retail, shipping, financial, industrial) is always characterized by a few steadfast rules; one of these principles painstakingly calls out for the removal and eradication of defunct, unproductive, or process impeding objects and/or obstacles. What does this mean? These targets are very likely in the cross-hairs of local commercial developers looking to bolster areas of the city that have yet to be glossed over.
Thus.. I present:
“the UrbEx Series”
:: BerDerp™ :: 
