Newest downtown lighting

London, like so many places, cannot makes up its mind when it comes to streetlighting. When I moved to London the downtown had these big, rectangular affairs with four illuminated globes at the top. Then the city decided to go with an antique looking light, one that encouraged thoughts of gas lamps in that other London in the 1880s.

Now, those lamps are being phased out and these modern looking globes installed. The main light illuminates the street and every so often there is an extra globe extended out and over the sidewalk. I like these latest streetlights. I hope they stay in favour for a while.

Inflatable Christmas Decorations

When I was a kid it was a few painted wooden reindeer on the lawn, if you were really upscale. Then strings of electric lights started appearing on homes and shrubs.

First the lights were multi-coloured. Then there were years when all blue lights were cool, and years when every light had to be white.

Then there were the icicle lights that  were hung from the eves all around the home. Then global warming hit and LED lights made their appearance.

This year the growing trend in my neighbourhood is inflatable lawn decorations. In coming days I'll try and find some beautifully and carefully lit homes and post them, letting the world know what other approaches to holiday decorating is common in London, Ontario.

Holy literature, Batman!

Holy literature Batman, the University of Western Ontario is now Bat 'U'. They've acquired most of the Eddy Smet comic book collection!

Eddy Smet, a former math professor, who retired in 2006 after a 30-year career is making a gift of a significant portion of his 10,000-plus comic book and original graphic novel collection to the Western Archives.

But the best part of the Smet collection, if you're Canadian, is the inclusion of the first 14 issues of Captain Canuck, "arguably Canada's most popular and important superhero comic," according to the UWO.

The donation will form part of the Dr. Eddy Smet and Alexander Norman Comic Book Collections.

Soho Artist Peter Karas

Peter Karas, and his wife Corinne Garlick, opened their home-studio in Soho, the area south of Horton Avenue, to the public a few weekends ago. Today's photo was taken at that open house and shows one of Peter Karas's pieces. (The colours in my picture are not accurate. If you want accurate, maybe you should contact Karas and buy the piece; If it hasn't been sold already.) 

The Soho neighbourhood is presently on the rebound. It's heritage properties are finally being recognized for the valuable architectural treasures that they are, and it is residents like Karas and his wife, two people any neighbourhood would treasure, who are supplying the energy powering the save Soho movement.

Soho artist

I'll be posting more on this but for now this is today's picture out of London, Ontario, Canada. It was taken in the London, Ontario, neighbourhood of Soho at an artists' open house.

Other blogs have me busy but I don't want to let the international "daily photo" organizations down.

Why?

Really, what is the point? Vandals spray paint everything from walls to bridges to mailboxes. 

When you stop to consider how often you see the same graffiti, some of these vandals have made ruining the look of the city a full-time job. 

Yet, the presence of the parked car seems to say this secluded spot is not dangerous; It's just vandalized.

Road Hocky is Back

Road hockey is back. Two dozen kids and their dads filled the court in a London, Ontario, suburb. With two nets set up at opposite ends of the paved circle the game was on.

It was a fast and furious affair with one player retiring with a bloody nose but what called the game was pizza.