Author Archives: Joe

La Luna

Technically, the moon was full two nights ago but I took these last night when it was waning (it still looked pretty full to me). I have always been drawn to a full moon…not sure why, it just fascinates me looming so large in the sky. Anyhow, last night I was out on the MundoContinue reading “La Luna”

Stay Wild

I know it’s a couple weeks past the fact, and I also don’t keep too many New Years resolutions these days, but I came across these today and thought I’d pass them on. I originally stumbled upon them at the lovely blog, Let’s Go Ride a Bike, but they originated at The Resolve Project. It’sContinue reading “Stay Wild”

Isaac’s Mexican Shrimp Recipe

My teenage son came to me and asked how to make a Mexican shrimp recipe the other day. I was a bit surprised…he was, after all, not simply asking what there is to eat (or why there’s “nothing” in the fridge) or what time dinner is ready. I’m joking, of course, I feel blessed toContinue reading “Isaac’s Mexican Shrimp Recipe”

A Few NYC Photos

I thought I’d share a few photos from my recent trip to NYC. The above and the bottom are two of my favorites. When I was a child and would run through the house my mom would sometimes yell, “Slow down…whad’ya think this is, Grand Central Station?” I never knew what she meant until IContinue reading “A Few NYC Photos”

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#387)

A half-gallon of orange juice, a half gallon of milk, a dozen eggs, a gym bag full of clothes, and a small box of tissues. Urban Simplicity.

Tacos con Carnitas de Pollo…and a few comments on Ezekiel Bread

Pictured above is one of the tacos I made for my son and I for dinner tonight, before it was rolled up of course. Buried under the vegetables and sour cream are the carnitas…delicious. But more on that in a minute. First I have a couple unrelated comments. Between urbansimplicity.com and urbansimplicty.wordpress.com there are nearlyContinue reading “Tacos con Carnitas de Pollo…and a few comments on Ezekiel Bread”

More Interesting Bikes

I came across these bikes on east 10th Street last evening while looking for the former residence of Kahlil Gibran (more on that in a later post). For those of you reading this that happen to live in a large metropolis (or a small one that is “bicycle progressive”) seeing bikes like this parked curbsideContinue reading “More Interesting Bikes”

Interesting Old Bike

I love old bikes…especially those that are still in use. This is an example; I came across it locked to a stand in Greenwich Village last night. In a city like New York you see plenty of old bike leaning around (probably less likely to get stolen than a shiny new one), but what caughtContinue reading “Interesting Old Bike”

The Journey is Sometimes as Important as the Destination (and how to eat on a train)

Because of modern technology I am typedthese words—and subsequently uploaded them to this blog—as Ibarreled down train tracks at 60 mph on my way to NYC. This is one ofmy favorite train trips (from Buffalo to New York). It’s about 500miles and take just about the same time as it would to drive. Infact, itContinue reading “The Journey is Sometimes as Important as the Destination (and how to eat on a train)”

A Few Pictures from a Cold Grey Day

This winter has been exceedingly mild and warm (did someone say global warming?)…by this time we–in Western New York–are usually buried under a couple feet of snow resulting from our second or third snow storm. As I type these words there is a mere glazing of snow on the ground. I’m not complaining (it’s greatContinue reading “A Few Pictures from a Cold Grey Day”

Rural Complexity

I’ve seen this short clip in the past and just recently came across it again. The only thing it has in common with Urban Simplicity is that it highlights bicycles. It’s a hair-raising adventure of biking down the Garnitzenklamm Gorge in Austria. Personally, I don’t think I could walk down that path let alone rideContinue reading “Rural Complexity”

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#386)

A cardboard box containing three loaves of just-baked and still-warm Ezekiel Bread (I let them cool off on the ride home…9F/-12C outside as I rode home). Two plastic dough rising buckets (one my way to work this morning one held the bubbling Ezekiel biga and the other its autolyse). For Ezekiel Bread Recipes, or forContinue reading “Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#386)”

Cargo Trikes of Shanghai

Photo Credit: Alain Delorme I came across these photos recently at The Daily Beast. They are photographs of cargo trikes in Shanghai by photographer Alain Delorme. Incredible, right? They are so crisp they almost look like paintings. You can see 6 or 7 others by the same photographer at this site. After I saw theseContinue reading “Cargo Trikes of Shanghai”

Woody Gutheire’s New Years Resolutions 1942

Courtesy Boing Boing  It’s interesting to come across someone’s notes like this…70 years after the fact. Not only was Woody Guthrie an incredibly moving and entertaining musician/performer, and a talented artist, he seems to have had quite the sense of humor as well. Click the iimage for a slightly larger view. Urban Simplicity.

A Few Pics (during semi-delirium)

These are a few photos I took during the day and then just as the sun was going down. The reason I wrote the pics were taken “in a semi-delirium” is my current physical state…nothing major, just the common cold. But it’s one I’ve been fighting for about the past week or so, and I’mContinue reading “A Few Pics (during semi-delirium)”

Spiced Brown Rice and Beans with Venison and Broccoli

I remember hearing the statement–and I’m paraphrasing, I’m sure–that if you teach a person to play a song they can play that song, but teach them to play the instrument and they can play many songs. The reason I mention this is that this is just another example of an endless number of dishes thatContinue reading “Spiced Brown Rice and Beans with Venison and Broccoli”

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#385)

A shiny 8-quart colander that I recycled from someone’s front yard (i.e. garbage picked) on my way home from church this morning. Urban Simplicity.

Things That Can be Carried on a Bike (#384)

A new but inexpensive ceiling light for the kitchen, 4 lbs. of dog food, and $67.22 in groceries, sundries, and cold medications (yes, I have a slight cold for the new year) from 4 separate stores in three plastic soda crates. Urban Simplicity.