Category Archives: Art

Taco ‘Bout It: Ames Field Work

July 23, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

This post isn’t a new food adventure. This is a place I’ve eaten at frequently, but I don’t think I mention it enough and I feel like I should put on record that I love me some Rico’s Tacos! Sometimes I take them for granted and I certainly don’t hit it enough. But I’ve started to get it back into my regular rotation since I’ve been working from the Computer Mine for two months or so at this point.

Plus another impetus is that while I love tacos, I often forgot about Taco Tuesday. But in the last few weeks Elizabeth has taken it upon herself to remind me that it is Taco Tuesday. This isn’t because of Rico’s. And may God have mercy on your soul if you think Taco Tuesday means Taco Bell or Taco John’s whichever one of those hellholes does the Taco Tuesday thing. I don’t eat at either of them. Well… to be honest I occasionally (when I’m not eating healthy) will go through Taco John’s for a heaping bowl of Potato Oles. I’m not proud of this fact, but they always give Naima a treat in the drive-thru and if you think that doesn’t count big time in getting me to go to a restaurant you have not been paying attention.

But I digress…

When Elizabeth sends me a message about Taco Tuesday, she is talking about the taco special at Whiskey River. The fact that I have hit up the delicious Whiskey River tacos a few times in recent weeks is not what this food adventure is about. The Whiskey River tacos are great. Rico’s Tacos are better.

So when I went to Rico’s recently, I decided to document it and make a formal endorsement. There isn’t much that I have formally endorsed. I should compile that list some day. I know it goes deeper than Little White Lye Soap, but not much deeper.

Rico’s pictures:

Rico’s is a food truck, but it never moves.

You can get other things from Rico’s but tacos is in the name!

Note the Mango Jarritos.

They give you a beeper that notifies you when your food is ready.

So ready for some tacos!

I went for one azada, one pollo, one adobada, and one chorizo.

So good!

Making me so hungry!

Mango Jarritos is the best and so few places stock it.

I might have licked the container. No shame!

This is an endorsement, so you don’t even need to ask if I would pursue Rico’s Tacos. I pursue them on a consistent basis.

Rico’s Tacos can be found at:

624 East Lincoln Way
Ames, Iowa

They are currently open 11 AM to 8 PM Tuesday through Saturday.

The next food adventure will also involve a food truck.

Art, Boone Art Center, Railroad, Street Photography

Boone Art Center Gallery Three

July 22, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

Time to share a third collection of found art that I’m calling THE BOONE ART CENTER PROJECT. Like the first two galleries, most of these pictures were taken from Old-30 east of Boone of artwork painted on the side of railroad cars. However there are a couple pieces that were not taken there. One was taken in downtown Boone and another was taken southwest of Boone.

I currently don’t have enough found art to make a 4th gallery, but it is surely only a matter of time!

Art, Contests, Monica, Night, Pufferbilly Days, Street Photography, Travel, Work

The Windy City: Day 5

July 21, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

There is one week left to enter the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest. Monica created this sweet social media artwork to post:

Here is the link to the Entry Form:

Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest Entry Form

Thanks again Monica! I hope at least a few of you decide to enter!

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Last week I shared the cell phone pictures I took on Day 5 of my work trip to Chicago for the Big Convention. Now I’m going to share pictures from the “real” camera:

Garrett’s to get popcorn.

Apparently it is where it is at in the popcorn world. I did get some Pecan Caramel Crisp and it was solid.

Yeah, I photographed this thing a lot.

The people that were going to this concert were definitely dressed to party!

Outside the Korean Barbecue.

That night I wandered around near the hotel to do a little street photography.

Co-sign.

I do regret not taking a river cruise.

Watch out for DMB’s Tour Bus!

Bubble People!

Just one more small collection of pictures from Chicago left to share. Then on to other adventures!

Art, Contests, History, Monica, Politics, Pufferbilly Days, Road Trip, Street Photography

Des Moines & Louisa County Aux. – Vol. 2

July 19, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett 2 Comments

Just a reminder that the deadline for the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest is coming up, but there is still time to enter:

Thanks to Monica for making the sweet graphic for social media posts!

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For rules and the entry form, go here:

Time to share a second collection of images from my trip to Des Moines County and Louisa County to harvest their town signs. We start still in Columbus Junction.

Columbus Junction

Fredonia

Back in Columbus Junction

Grandview – Full applause for this sign.

A few notes about the Convict Road. The first section of concrete road in Iowa was placed in Le Mars in 1904. It was in service until 1968 when it was replaced. The oldest concrete road in Iowa that is still in service in Iowa is The Eddyville Cemetery Road. It was place in 1909. The Convict Road in Fredonia may be the 2nd oldest concrete paved road in Iowa. However, a segment of the Moscow Road might be older. It was placed in 1910. I’m not sure if it still exists. The history of concrete roads in Iowa isn’t as exciting as you might think so many sources seem to be out of date. Which is truly a shame. Most of it seems to link to a report by a Todd D. Hanson that was made in March of 2009.

The first rural paving in Iowa was between Mason City and Clear Lake. This happened in 1915.

The oldest concrete street in America is in Bellefontaine, Ohio. They paved Court Avenue in 1891 and one block of it remains the original concrete.

There is a lot more from my trip to these two counties left to share. But this is all I have on old concrete roads in Iowa.

Art, Baby Got Rack, Black & White, History, Road Trip, Ruins, Still Life, Street Photography

Des Moines & Louisa County Aux. – Vol. 1

July 18, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett 8 Comments

Tuesday has traditionally been the day I share images from Rodan139, but frankly I’m currently out of Rodan139 photos to share. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to take some more. My schedule this week with both work and getting free 3-D sculpted Iowa State artwork and hopefully trying some of Scottie D.’s new butcher paper brisket and the Boone County Fair and work party and little kid party and Movie Night is pretty dang full.

Ahhh… the Boone County Fair… this reminds me that I have yet to make an official announcement about Baby Got Rack. Baby Got Rack is taking the year off from competitive barbecue.

I know… I know… it is very sad. However, there is reason for hope. What I’m going to call Baby Got Rack: The Next Generation will be competing at the Boone County Fair’s barbecue competition this year. I thought about going with Baby Got Rack Jr., actually I’m workshopping both. I’ll let you know when I have decided which one I like better.

But back to the Boone County barbecue competition. While Scottie D. won’t be out their slinging ribs and pizza and the loins, his eldest progeny Austin will be entering the youth competition. He had a practice run at the porkloin on Sunday night and Scottie D. says that he nailed it!

My nephew Logan is also competing on Saturday as well. Logan (I don’t think I’m giving away any secrets) is competing in Pork and Turkey. He has practiced with 5 or 6 different recipes for his ribs alone. He also had a practice run on Sunday and while he wasn’t satisfied, I bet they were probably pretty dang delicious.

I’ll be out there at different times of the day helping both parties with anything they need. So while Baby Got Rack won’t be out there slinging that good meat, the next generation will and you should still come out and support them.

Have no fear, even if Baby Got Rack has retired for good, the barbecue community in Boone County is still in good hands.

Also, I will be out there as I am judging the Boone County Fair Photography Contest. It will be a full day!

(Also: Baby Got Rock Founding Father Scottie D. is in charge of the Pufferbilly Days Barbecue Contest this year. It is like we are slowly taking over the world. BGR 4 Life!)

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Since I don’t have any drone pictures to share, I thought I would start sharing auxiliary images I took while harvesting the town signs of Des Moines County and Louisa County. Both counties have some very interesting things in them. Some things I knew about and some things I did not know about.

Iowa County

Louisa County

Cotter

Columbus City

Columbus Junction

I would love to see a picture of this original bridge.

Love. Ain’t it grand?

When I complete editing and sharing all of the auxiliary images from THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, I will put together an Iowa Bridge Power Rankings. I mean it is pretty obvious what is #1, but there is a pretty stiff battle for #2. The Columbus Junction Swinging Bridge is definitely in the mix for a good ranking!

Art, Boone Art Center, Railroad, Street Photography

Boone Art Center Gallery Two

July 15, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

Time for a second collection of images from THE BOONE ART CENTER GALLERY PROJECT. Once again, all of these images were taken slightly east of Boone on Old-30.

I’m not sure when I will have enough images to share a third gallery, but I bet it won’t be too long.

Art, Kim, Night, Street Photography, Travel, Work

The Windy City: Day 4 & 5 Phone Pictures

July 14, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

I never actually cracked out the “real” camera on Day 4 of my work trip to Chicago. It was the first day of the Big Convention and it was a 13 hour work day. It was also by far the busiest day in the Computer Mine Booth, so I didn’t even take many cell phone pictures. The ones I did aren’t great, but I thought I would share them in case somebody was interested to know what the Big Convention looks like:

The Convention Floor.

More convention floor.

You get the idea.

The area at the top of the picture is the Exhibitor Lounge. It is wear you go to get a break and absolutely terrible iced tea.

This area is the International Lounge.

Privacy, but no roof.

These guys are super annoying. Super. Annoying.

Because there aren’t many, I’m also going to share the cell phone pictures from Day 5 and then combine all the “real” camera pictures from Day 5 and Day 6 and the cell phone pictures from Day 6 into one post. There aren’t many of them. There wasn’t much free time when the Big Convention starts.

Day 5 pictures:

Setting up the booth.

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Kim making friends.

Maybe “friends”.

I believe they are pen pals now.

After the Big Convention concluded for the day, Kim and I went back to Garrett’s so she could bring back popcorn for some people.

The lady working the popcorn stand told us that the popcorn wouldn’t be any good the next day, which made me panic a little bit. I had bought Elizabeth and Scottie D.’s popcorn 2 days before this and it would be 2 more days before I would be able to deliver it at a minimum. But frankly I think she was full of it. Elizabeth didn’t complain about her popcorn. Scottie D. didn’t complain about his.

After the Korean Barbecue place that Kim “loved”.

Kim was cold and had to wait inside.

After getting back dinner I took a short walk around the area to admire the street art.

One last post about my work trip to Chicago! Then we can move on to other trips I’ve been on lately!

Art, Birthdays, Boone Art Center, Jay, Railroad, Street Photography

Boone Art Center Gallery One

July 8, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett 3 Comments

Today is Jay’s birthday, so I need to wish him a happy birthday. Happy birthday Jay!

2006 Iowa State Fair Photography Salon - Portrait of Self Portrait

I hope your birthday is as magical as this photo that was done completely in camera. What am I saying? I know your birthday was magical! You spent a good chunk of the day with me! Which most people will tell you, spending large chunks of time with me is pretty magical.

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Many people asked me when I completed THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT, “so what is your next project?” But usually they said it in a tone that was less supportive and more accusatory. Like “Whatcha gonna do now ya one trick pony?”

While I might be a one trick pony, I did have more than a few ideas up my sleeves. In fact, I had one main idea I wanted to pursue, but that project I haven’t pursued at all. Not even a little bit. Not at all.

However, I have pursued a completely different project that wasn’t on my radar at all. It just sort of came to me, like an epiphany one might say. Kind of the way most of my ideas come to me. Either while I’m sleeping or while I’m driving and every once in awhile, while I’m sleeping while I’m driving. Which I don’t recommend, but I’m a busy guy. Sometimes I need to get places and take a nap at the same time. It’s called multi-tasking and chicks dig it.

This other project is based on the fact that there is a dearth of public art in Boone. While there are numerous talented artists in Boone. “In fact, at least 2 live on my block alone” he said while counting himself as one without a hint of irony. About the public art in Boone is a train mural, a statue of Teddy Roosevelt, and the Freedom Rock. Well turn it up man. Sorry, not that kind of Freedom Rock. But I wish it was that kind of Freedom Rock.

There is also at least one local graffiti artist. At least there is one out there trying real hard. But the best and largest collection of public art in Boone comes rolling in on the Union Pacific railroad line. Choo Choo art lovers! Graffiti from all over the country comes rolling in like a mobile art gallery with extremely limited engagements.

While much of the graffiti isn’t great, there are many that blow the mind. I decided to start capturing “found art” I find in or near the confines of Boone. I’m calling it THE BOONE ART CENTER PROJECT. When I get to about 25 pieces of art or pictures of pieces of art that I like, I will release a collection.

This is the first of those collections:

All of these pictures were taken east of Boone from the shoulder of Old-30, but that doesn’t mean all these “found” art pieces will be taken east of town or even they will all be on the side of railroad cars for that matter. But almost all of them have been up until now.

Not sure when the next collection will be released, but it can’t be too far in the future.

Art, Cathie, Elizabeth, Lowell, Michelle, Scottie D., Street Photography, Travel, Work

The Windy City: Day 3C

July 7, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

I have a confession to make here. When I decided to combine cell phone pictures with the “real” camera pictures into the same posts, I would have made my life a lot easier if I had realized that I hadn’t changed the clock settings on my camera after Daylight Savings ended or began or whatever it does in the spring. For that reason, putting the pictures in chronological order is something that fails me at times.

Anyways, we will begin where we left off last Friday. Lowell and I had walked to Buckingham Fountain, just to see that it wasn’t turned on. After the disappointment we began walking to some restaurant where the sales team hosts everybody for apps and brews at a restaurant as a “thanks” for working the Big Convention.

View from near Buckingham Fountain.

Chicago Rules? This should be a universal rule.

I wish I knew what this sticker said, but I do know that generational wealth is one of the great evils of our time.

I really don’t know what this is.

The Bean again. But this time you had to go through a security checkpoint to see it.

The Bean from farther away.

I had never heard of Garrett Popcorn, but apparently it is where it’s at in the popcorn world.

I was tasked with bringing back popcorn for Elizabeth and for Scottie. D. Elizabeth’s order was more complicated.

I left the “party” to go get the popcorn. But I decided to head back.

On my way back I saw the signs of the houseless situation in Chicago.

Walking back to the hotel with Jodi, Michelle, Michelle, Lowell, and not pictured Cathie.

Remember when I said Lowell’s room had a much better view? I wasn’t foolin’.

That mural is way better than the nachos at the Taco Pub.

Have I mentioned that I love street art?

This mural was on one of the walls of the hotel.

That concludes Day 3 of the work trip to Chicago. Day 4 was like a 13 hour work day. My only pictures are of the Big Convention. So I might combine Day 4 and Day 5. We’ll see where it itches when we get there.

Art, History, Nature, Railroad, Road Trip

Lee & Van Buren County Aux. – Vol. 4

July 5, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

Time to share another collection of images from my road trip to Lee County & Van Buren County to harvest their town signs. All of these pictures are taken in Van Buren County. In the villages of Bonaparte and Bentonsport.

Bonaparte

Bentonsport

So let’s talk a moment about The Mason House Inn. It has had an absolutely fascinating history. From their website (masonhouseinn.com):

The Mason House Inn was built in 1846, originally called the Ashland House, and was owned by William Robinson. It was built as a hotel to serve the steamboat travelers going from St. Louis to Fort Des Moines and Fort Dodge on the Des Moines River. It was built by Mormon craftsmen from Nauvoo, Illinois, who stayed in Bentonsport for several years, working and gathering supplies before making their trek westward to Salt Lake City, Utah. (Several of the brick buildings still in use here in Bentonsport were built by these craftsmen.) In 1857, the Ashland House was purchased by Lewis Mason and his wife, Nancy. They changed the name to the Phoenix Hotel, but the townspeople called the place the “Mason’s House”, and the name stayed. It was Nancy who started the tradition of “a cookie jar in every room”.

Over the years, the Mason House has withstood 6 major floods: 1851, 1903, 1905, 1947 and, most recently, 1993 and 2008. Through it all, this magnificent building remains a stalwart landmark. During the Civil War, the Mason House was used as a “holding hospital” for the wounded soldiers who were waiting for the train or boats to take them to the hospital in Keokuk. It was also a station on the Underground Railroad. For a short time in 1913 the building was used as a tuberculosis sanitarium. But the building was too small for their needs and they moved to Des Moines. From 1920 to 1950, Lewis’ grand-daughter, Fannie Mason Kurtz, ran the hotel as a boarding house for the town doctor and his wife and also the local school teachers. When Fannie died in 1951, the place was rented as a house for the Downing family until 1956.

Here is a little more. Remember last Wednesday when we talked about the Mormons being ran out of Nauvoo, Illinois? They settled in Van Buren County for a time and some built the Mason Inn.

The Mason Inn is considered haunted and for this reason, they ban guns inside of the Inn:

DO NOT BRING ANY GUNS OR FIREARMS OF ANY KIND INTO THE INN! I don’t care if you have a conceal carry permit or not. This is our house. Our rules. Its not that we are anti-gun (we actually have a rifle at our farm) but the ghosts don’t like guns and 2 of the ghosts know how to pull the trigger. One guest brought a hand gun without us knowing. He placed it on the night stand next to his bed. In the morning he found the gun on the dresser, pointed at his head. The clip was out of the gun and on a different dresser across the room. There was still a bullet in the chamber. If the ghosts could do that, they could have just as easily pulled the trigger. This is a true story.

I would love to stay there sometime. Maybe I’ll put it on my list for next year.

There is still one more collection of images to share from this road trip!