The Water Tower = Bar in Oaks

Source:Facebook

Late last year I noticed an advertisement on my Facebook page for a new bar in the Market Place at Oaks complex. There aren't many bars in Oaks or within a four mile radius of the complex. So I was eager to check out this new opportunity.

The Water Tower is located next to Arnold's Family Fun Center.

 You are able to walk indoors from one to the other. 

Upon entering the bar, through the doors seen in the above photograph, I seemed to be in a vestibule to a bowling alley. The vestibule ran along the front of the building. I turned to the right and walked to the far end where I found two pool tables and some kind of four player air hockey table. 

There was an arch at that far end that led to several bowling alleys, illuminated by ultraviolet light (black light) and rotating disco-like color lights. Atop the pins were large screens upon which were projected 80's music videos. I think the disco lights and the projected moving images would be distracting. To me, anyway. I am old, you know.

Source:FaceBook

Source:FaceBook

I turned left and passed what was an area that separated the black light lit alleys from normally lit alleys. That area was a stage and dance floor where there was a seemingly successful New Year's Eve Party with The Sofa Kings band.

Just a few steps farther were the second set of alleys. There were still the large screens with projected music videos but the lighting was much closer to normal.

Most of the new decor is geared towards black light and doesn't show any signs of wear.

I tore my mesmerized eyes away from the bowling action turning to my left. Finally, there was the Water Tower. Lit with moose themed ceiling lights and black lights under the liquor bottles and splashing down under the bar on corrugated sheet metal. It was a square shaped bar with five stools on each of three sides. Not what you would call a huge bar. It wasn't the kind of bar with dark low ceilings that are comforting. It was more like a bar in the basement of Knights of Columbus I know in Roxborough - hard, noisy and without much thought to decorating. I take that back. There were the moose ceiling lights and the corrugated sheet metal under the bar.

Did I mention the red bicycle hanging over the bar?


©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Oaks Gardens Gone - The Face of Oaks Is Changing

Oaks Gardens, the garden market at the intersection of Egypt and Mill Roads, has closed their doors forever. As of the first day of January 2013 their lease expired. 

On Wednesday 2 January 2013 the final remaining items were being gleaned by the owners. 

Source - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Limerick-Gift-and-Garden/314524315320821

Everything being moved to thier new location at +Limerick Gift and Garden, in Limerick, PA.

The buildings that once cast shade upon the tuberous begonias and impatiens stood bare, mere structures without flesh, without a heartbeat.

A few pieces of pottery were still to be collected for the move.

Not far away slept freezing behemoth brooms soon to sweep the floor clean. A new year and a new beginning for this old patch of earth.

It is rumored in the spring, from this earth will sprout a crop of commercial properties that will include a bank, +Wawa, +Wendy's, +Buffalo Hot Wings, a drug store and several other stores yet to find lessees.

The complex will extend to Black Rock Road where there is already construction in progress on a +Chicago Grill and possibly a Chili's.

Speaking of eateries, there is a already a new bar at +Arnold's Family Fun Center, called +The Water Tower. I expect to wander over there real soon. +Cheeburger, Cheeburger is opening later this month in the once Dolce Restaurant location behind Max and Erma's famous for their own hamburgers. There is also a rumor of a Golden Corral to open within walking distance of the +Expo Center.

I guess all the food groups will be covered soon - hamburgers, beer, pizza, beer, cheeseburgers, wings, beer, sushi, hot dogs, hot peppers, beer, soft serve, liquor and chocolate fountain.

Even with all the eatery choices I still see room for an Asian buffet, Indian tandoori, Korean bar-b-que, Irish pub, Brazilian grill, Medieval feast and tournament, Roman food orgy and an all night steak sandwich window service.

The face of Oaks, PA is ever changing. I can only wait and hope.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Bird Feeder as Snow Fell 12/29/12

Snow began to fall about 11:20 on Saturday, December, 29. The temperature hovered ± 3ºF freezing. The snow accumulated at a rate of 1" / 25mm per hour for the first two hours.

Several species of birds visited the feeder. Of course the squirrels had their nosed in there, too.


©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Bird Feeder First Anniversary

January 2012

Christmas day it was one year since I hung my new hopper bird feeder with integrated suet cages. I've placed close to 120 lbs/ 54.4kg of sunflower seed chips into that feeder over the last year. 

December 2012

Plus the +/- 8lbs/ 3.6kg black nyjer seeds I put out just for the goldfinches and the few suet cakes for the woodpeckers. In total I probably spent in excess of $300 in bird seed. A small price for the wonder of such beautiful creatures.

source:American Museum of Natural History

Besides, they are my closest link to dinosaurs. 

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Woodpeckers at Feeder

I placed a new store bought suet block in the bird feeder on December 2. 17 days later I saw a Red-Bellied Woodpecker at the feeder. I have never ever seen a Red-Bellied Woodpecker up close before. It is a beautiful animal.

What I think attracted the woodpecker was that new suet block. I purchased it at Lowe's along with shelled sunflower seeds that I use in the main hopper of the feeder. I like the shelled seeds because there are no shells blowing around the yard or being tracked into the house on damp shoe soles. I digress. 

I must confess. I didn't actually see the woodpecker with my own eyes. I captured photographs of it on my time lapse camera secured to the inside of my breakfast room window. The Brinno TLC 100 is held onto the window by Fat Gecko suction cup camera mount. Any reflections on the glass are because the camera is mounted inside the house. Last year it was mounted outside and there were no reflection. This year I am lazy. The batteries need to be changed everyday and I don't wish to go outside to do that.

Above you will see several clips of Downy Woodpeckers at the feeder throughout the day. Individual photographs were taken at 5 second intervals and are played back at 50% of full speed. All of the clips on this post were taken on 19 December 2012.

At one point a Downy Woodpecker is feeding at the same time as a squirrel. That is the only bird I have ever seen at the feeder with a squirrel. I think that bird is either brave or hungry.


LINKS
All About Birds - Red-Bellied Woodpecker
All About Birds - Downy Woodpecker
Lowe's Woodpecker Suet



©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Geminid Meteor Showers

©Kevin Adams - kadamsphoto.com

Meteor showers fascinate me. Shooting stars streaking through the sky.  Laying out at night or in the early morning looking up into the heavens. I love it.

In my part of the world, the meteor shower season begins in August. It kind of works out that there is a shower near each of my relatives birthdays. That makes it easy for me to remember when a shower will occur. The next shower happens on my second son's birthday, December 13th. 

I have set my camera on a tripod in my back yard, in the past, to try and capture some images of the streaking particles. However, my suburban community is quite polluted with lights from parking lots and the near by county and state prisons. I need to get away to a light free area like the middle of a desert or high on a mountain top or on a deserted island in the middle of the ocean somewhere. Someday.

With that all out of my system, I was notified via email today of a short lesson on how to photograph meteor showers and I want to pass that on to you. Below is the link. Dress for the cold and get out and enjoy nature's fireworks.

How to photograph meteor showers


©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

A Good Day in Valley Forge Park

I was in Valley Forge Park the other day hoping to capture some images before sunset. When I set outat 16:15, the clouds were dramatically lit, but by the time I reached the park the sun was already below the hills to the west and no direct sunlight reached the ground.

White Tailed Deer  buck checking the wellbeing of his doe downhillAs I drove along South Inner Line Drive, I noticed in my rear view mirror behind me several deer descended the hill, crossed the drive and continued down towards the log huts near PA rte 252. I got out of my car to grab a photo of the fallen tree that I thought was blown down by Super Storm Sandy. Once out of my car the one buck trailing the doe stopped, just behind the fallen tree. Even though it saw me, it didn't flee. It was watching me. It seemed to be guarding his doe. It stayed there for a few minutes, watching, guarding.

At that point in time there were several thoughts going through my head.

1. Don't get too close to this deer with sharp horns on its head
2. It is rutting season and the buck is in a possessive mood
3. It might attack me
4. An attack would cause pain
5. I don't like pain
6. This could be dangerous
7. This is exciting
8. There is no one else around
9. If I were lying on the ground in pain and bleeding could I get to my mobile phone easily
10. If all else fails and I am on the ground in pain and bleeding, the park ranger will find me when he closes the drive after dark
11. My health care is paid up
12. I hope my camera isn't damaged in the impending attack

I turned to find a location along the drive to capture a few photographs of the log huts. A car to two drove past as I had the camera to my eye. When I looked back towards the fallen tree, the buck was gone. I shed no blood and had a few photographs, my camera was still in good condition and the buck had his doe. It was a good day.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

South Inner Line Drive Redoubt

I returned to Valley Forge Park one week after the first appreciable snowfall in the autumn of 2012. A big change. No snow. 

The two log huts are the same buildings I photographed with snow on the ground. This time from a different point of view, looking SSW down from South Inner Line Drive.

The sun was already below the hills to the west as I traveled a little bit down the drive. There I found redoubt #3, as listed on the official Valley Forge National Historical Park map. Near the redoubt were the two cannon seen below.

Looking S from near the redoubt on S Inner Line Drive.

Looking ESE with the redoubt in the near background looking E from the bottom of S Inner Line Drive.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved