The Road Less Traveled - Fifth Ward And The East End

[jfre81]

OK, so I've shown some of the prettier, trendier parts of Houston.

Let's try something new this time. Being that it's a new year and all.

Welcome to Fifth Ward, "The Nickel." I don't think I've ever seen this part of Houston in a SSP thread.

The historic Evergreen Negro Cemetery.

Some memories of the more recent past can be found around here too.

Always look up. Never look down. Unless a pigeon is flying overhead.

We know of streets like Montrose Boulevard and Westheimer and I've shown them a time or two, but Clinton Drive is the Main Street of industrial Houston.

The ride on the 27 crosstown bus took longer than I had wanted, and the sun was already on its way down, so I kept things north-south for the most part. So no picture of the former headquarters of KBR, or of the port. Besides, somebody would probably come out wondering why I'm taking pictures. Damn this terrorism mess.

Crossing Buffalo Bayou on Lockwood Drive.

Some new ordinance went into effect, I think as of New Year's Day, that banned giant inflatable things like the muscle guy atop Winston Fitness on South Shepherd at Richmond. I guess Ronald McDonald here gets an exemption?

We've crossed over into Second Ward and the East End now, where you can be delivered from evil...

...via FedEx.

Compared to the aroma downwind from the port on the other side of the bayou, the taco truck smelled downright good.

Ready or not...

...here it comes.

Here's an antique for you. They banned leaded gasoline a long time ago.

I should've cleaned my lens before heading out here, or maybe it accumulated during the walk. Oh well. Lends a distinctive look to this shoot.

Light started being highly unfriendly to me right about now. Anything looking west is blown out looking.

Hurricane preparedness is a year-round exercise.

Darkness falls as I go up Milby Street and then onto Jefferson and then Leeland toward downtown. Not much usable came out of this.

Anyway, thanks for viewing.

[LTAWACS]

Nice shots. Thanks for sharing.

[crunchtastic]

cool, you rode right through the middle of my hood. And even got a pic of the cat porch around the corner from me.

[AtticaFlinch]

cool, you rode right through the middle of my hood. And even got a pic of the cat porch around the corner from me.

Is that near Harrisburg and Lockwood? There's a house over there, behind the bodyshop, with a porch shared equally by cats and nutria rats.

[crunchtastic]

Is that near Harrisburg and Lockwood? There's a house over there, behind the bodyshop, with a porch shared equally by cats and nutria rats.

Nutria?? Sounds like dinner! No wonder Niche likes it over here.

The cat porch in the pic is going toward Polk, but I know the place you mean at the Harrisburg corner.

I'm just off Lockwood. Been driving past that Metro sign for a year, wondering when exactly 'soon' is.

[TheNiche]

Nutria?? Sounds like dinner! No wonder Niche likes it over here.

The cat porch in the pic is going toward Polk, but I know the place you mean at the Harrisburg corner.

I'm just off Lockwood. Been driving past that Metro sign for a year, wondering when exactly 'soon' is.

I hadn't seen any nutria in Eastwood. They tend to like water, but Eastwood is high and dry until east of Dumble. I have seen opossums and have heard reports of raccoons beating up on the local feline population. Seriously, though, if anybody is having problems with such creatures, please let me know. I'd be interested in some culinary experimentation.

[ricco67]

I hadn't seen any nutria in Eastwood. They tend to like water, but Eastwood is high and dry until east of Dumble. I have seen opossums and have heard reports of raccoons beating up on the local feline population. Seriously, though, if anybody is having problems with such creatures, please let me know. I'd be interested in some culinary experimentation.

I'd pay money to say that.

TV's newest show: "Urban cooking adventures, with TheNiche."

Piss off, Iron Chef.

[TheNiche]

I'd pay money to say that.

TV's newest show: "Urban cooking adventures, with TheNiche."

Piss off, Iron Chef.

Hmmm...a TV show that featured me stalking, hunting, trapping, cleaning, and cooking squirrels, nutria, opossums, raccoons, pigeons, doves, fish, gar, turtles, alligators, toads, ants, roaches, and grasshoppers in an urban setting. I could travel around the country and feature (and eat) local wildlife, effectively bringing back the notion of regional cuisine to a national culture that has had its regional specialties subverted by globalism. And maybe BryanS can show us how to build his 'improved' grass huts that he believes we'll all be living in before long.

Nah, not really my style. But an amusing concept.

I mostly just want to experiment with new ingredients because I think that we as a culture are too apt to overlooking potentially-scrumptious delights that have been hiding right under our noses.

[RustyB]

Another cool little adventure in pictures! Awesome!

Ironically, Sukos burger and Kozy Kitchen are on my list of places to try out this week...just waiting for that next paycheck!

[TheNiche]

Ironically, Sukos burger and Kozy Kitchen are on my list of places to try out this week...just waiting for that next paycheck!

Don't bother with Sukos Burger. I don't know how they stay in business, honestly.

[RustyB]

Don't bother with Sukos Burger. I don't know how they stay in business, honestly.

I kinda figured the name said it all. I guess that's why I want to go...just so I can Yelp about it...good or bad. Then again...I'm a po' bastid and a connoisseur of cheap food from questionable establishments. My favorite restaurant in the whole world (or my little world) is Kim Tai's. Even the Taco Keto stand makes my mouth water thinking about it.

[jfre81]

lol, I got a chuckle as I passed by Sukos. I was like "so, is this 'suck-os" or "soo-kows?" Maybe it's Greek or something.

Man, the SSP crowd freakin' loved this. "OMG THIS IS DEPLORABLE" "HOW COULD A LARGE CITY BE LIKE THIS" and more. I've never had more reaction to any one shoot I did.

So, where to next? Waiting for this weather to clear up. I'm tired of shooting on cloudy days.

[samagon]

Great set jfre81!

where to next? how about farther out east down Harrisburg, some more stuff you would never expect to see in the 3rd/4th largest country in the USA.

Don't bother with Sukos Burger. I don't know how they stay in business, honestly.

you had it a bit earlier, nutria burgers aren't quite as tasty as buffalo burgers.

possum on a stick on the other hand, amazing with the right BBQ rub.

[sevfiv]

Next to the north side - Jensen from Tidwell on down!

[crunchtastic]

lol, I got a chuckle as I passed by Sukos. I was like "so, is this 'suck-os" or "soo-kows?" Maybe it's Greek or something.

Man, the SSP crowd freakin' loved this. "OMG THIS IS DEPLORABLE" "HOW COULD A LARGE CITY BE LIKE THIS" and more. I've never had more reaction to any one shoot I did.

So, where to next? Waiting for this weather to clear up. I'm tired of shooting on cloudy days.

Heh, this tells me all I need to know about the SSP forum. This is EXACTLY what a big city is all about. It's the ugly and the

industrial and ramshackle doing the dirty work, so theorists can draw pictures of tall shiny things ( which few people can

afford to build, much less live in).

Since you've opened the door to the east end, I agree that going further down Harrisburg and surrounds is a great idea. Looking forward to your next installment!

[Specwriter]

Heh, this tells me all I need to know about the SSP forum. This is EXACTLY what a big city is all about. It's the ugly and the

industrial and ramshackle doing the dirty work, so theorists can draw pictures of tall shiny things ( which few people can

afford to build, much less live in).

Great photos. Thanks for posting. I think there is beauty in the fact that neighborhoods thrive even in the midst of decay. We decry the loss of some of the charming buildings in West U, The Heights, and other neighborhoods but in the East End, many similar structures (though in need of maintenance and repair) are still there waiting for more enlightened owners to preserve them. In the meantime they are being used as well as they might. If you want to see true urbanism in Houston drive, or better walk, down Harrisburg Avenue on a Saturday. The place is alive with activity.