Atlantis Alumni

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Peter Cottontail Loose On Fire Island.

I spotted and photographed a rabbit this afternoon mid-island near the Sunken Forest. Rabbits are very elusive here on Fire Island.

Sunken Forest Fox

Dan spotted and photographed this adult fox during his afternoon walk through the Sunken Forest on Tuesday.

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Anniversary Celebration

Dan and I met 32 years ago on Memorial Day. We have always celebrated our anniversary together during the Memorial Day weekend. Friday evening our good friends Juan and Jimmy, and Ed joined us for a festive dinner out at Le Soir, a French style restaurant in Bayport on Long Island. A nice time was had by all.

Photos by Dan. Top: Ed, Dan and Jim; Bottom: Juan and Jimmy

The Decency Of The Irish: Yes On Marriage Equality

“Féadfaidh beirt, gan beann ar a ngnéas, conradh pósta a dhéanamh de réir dlí.”

From The Irish Times:

The decency of the Irish people was not limited to the liberal leafy suburbs of Dublin, nor the solidarity from the flats, but that decency came from the cliffs of Donegal, the lakes of Cavan, the farmyards of Kildare, the lanes of Kerry.

Friday, May 22, 2015

Wanted: Dead Or Alive...Atlantic Sturgeon

This sign is posted at the entrance to the beach in Sailor's Haven on Fire Island. This is an endangered species that swims in both fresh and salt water. Some can live for 60 years!

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia)

Dan spotted this beautiful male Yellow Warbler near Sailor's Haven during our afternoon walk. This is a male, with reddish streaks on his breast.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Lunch In Oakdale

Had lunch seated next to the beautiful salt water aquarium at Ichiban Japanese restaurant in Oakdale,  NY.

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Monday, May 18, 2015

Beach Plum Blossom Time On Fire Island

The hardy beach plum blossoms for a short time in the Spring. The pure white blossoms almost look like a fresh snowfall on the dunes, until they turn pink and then disappear. The plant bears fruit in the Fall.

Sunday, May 17, 2015

A Trip To Paramus

Last Wednesday Dan and I drove to Paramus, NJ to visit Dan's brother Bill. Bill's longtime companion Bob was also there along with their dog Duffy.

Friday, May 15, 2015

Cruising The Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers

Yesterday we went on a boat trip that went upand down the Schulykill River and then over to the Delaware River--these two surround the city. We'd been on boats on the Schulykill, which is also near the Walk we take, and close to the big Art Museum and Waterworks. But far south of there, before the Schulykill River flows into the Delware, there is a huge refinery (where Jim worked for Gulf Oil for 7 years--he was still a hardhat worker when I met him 32 years ago), then the vast naval yard (no longer used by the Navy), ship works, piers on our side (opposite NJ) and much more. Coffee and cocoa is imported here, too. There are an interesting group of old ships (some of which are museums for tourists) and sites near what's known as Penn's Landing. That's a part of town we didn't know well, so after the tour we walked around and then ate in Old City at Positano, an Italian restaurant in the Olde City section of Philadelphia. - Dan Evans

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Baltimore's Pennsylvania Station

A couple of weeks ago Dan and took Amtrak to Baltimore to visit friends. Penn Station in Baltimore opened in 1911. The massive modern sculpture in front, a relatively recent addition, has caused controversy. From Wiki:
In 2004, the City of Baltimore, through its public arts program, commissioned sculptor Jonathan Borofsky to create a sculpture as the centerpiece of a re-designed plaza in front of Penn Station. His work, a 51-foot (15.5 m)-tall aluminum statue entitled Male/Female, has generated considerable controversy ever since. Its defenders cite the contemporary imagery and artistic expression as complementing an urban landscape, while opponents criticize what they decry as a clash with Penn Station's Beaux-Arts architecture, detracting from its classic lines.

Monday, May 4, 2015

B & O Museum: Ellicott City, MD.

Last week our friends Chad and Franklin took us to the B & O Museum in Ellicott City, Maryland. The museum is housed in the oldest railroad station in the country. Ellicott City is a very quaint little town located in a Baltimore suburb, featuring interesting galleries, shops and restaurants.

Saturday, May 2, 2015