*Busy Weekend*

Huge THANKS to Maria for seeking out some excellent photo-opportunities for me this weekend. Saturday we went to the Cider Mill at Long's Family Farm (Not sure where that is located...) Sunday we went to Belle Isle for Maria's SCCA Race. I walked about 5 miles weaving around the whole island (Walked from about 7:45 until about 2:45 Non-stop!). I have wanted to get to Belle Isle to take some pictures of the beautiful old structures there for quite a while and I took about 12 gigs of photos - including the photos of the race!

"Ghosts" at Netherland Plaza; Cincinnati, OH

People who know me know that I am into the paranormal - i.e. ghosts. It all started about 4 years ago after I had watched a British show called "Most Haunted". I can honestly say, as a scientist, the appeal of the show was not about believing in actual ghosts or hauntings. If you have ever seen the show you know that it is terribly entertaining. If you believe in ghosts: you love it because they do a great job of making the phenomenon believable. If you think that ghosts are ridiculous: you love to watch it and laugh at it. If you are like me and don't really have strong feelings either way you might love to watch the cast and crew scare the crap out of themselves. Grown, professional, serious people scream: "Bloody Hell!!! That just scared the s%&t out of me!!"

I am not sure why but I find the paranormal and the "evidence" wildly entertaining. I love to watch shows and documentaries about hauntings. Maybe there is part of me that wants to believe...maybe there is part of me that wants a bit of the paranormal to be real...

In any case while I was staying at the Netherland Plaza Hotel in Cincinnati, Ohio this last week I took almost 200 photographs inside of the hotel itself. To understand the following you have to understand a bit about how I photograph. When I am inside I try to never use the flash. This means that if I want a detailed shot I have to use a slower shutter speed and so I need to remain still. I normally take several pictures of the same thing to make sure that I have at least one good picture. Later on I sort them and look for the one that is the best quality. I found the following anomalies in some of the photographs that I took:

Of all of the "Anomalies" this looks the most like camera glare or tricks. You can see the lights reflected in the wood paneling. I believe that this reflection is creating a light effect within my lens somehow.

This "Anomalies" is quite obvious and again looks like some kind of trick with my camera...I think.

This set of images is the creepiest. I really wanted to get a good detailed shot of this wall decoration in the Julep Room on the third floor. For this series of pictures I was not moving - my camera was not moving, I was just snapping picture after picture hoping to get one good shot. Although I was not moving, and the camera was not moving - the light anomaly is moving. Creepy!

The same night I was sorting these photographs, after I spotted this particular anomaly, I was reading the information brochure about the hotel. There is a small side story about the "Lady in Green" that supposedly haunts the hotel. The story states that the lady was married to a man who was killed during the construction of the hotel. There are no details about his death but they mention that his body was never found. Supposedly his widow wanders the halls looking for his body - the lady in green, the same color as all of the light anomalies above.

This is an interesting link if you want to see some more "Haunted Photos".

Netherland Plaza Hotel; Cincinnati, OH

Detail of Swan carvings from Fourth floor foyer area

This strange object is one of many that line the walls in the Pavilion Caprice. The original design of the room was meant to evoke the feeling of being on a luxury cruise-liner or Zeppelin. The lamp is a "Sunburst" design and was meant to give the illusion of sights seen through the porthole. (As an aside - I think that it looks like a giant eye and is terrifying. I would not want to see it while I was drunk...)

Original Elevator sign on Fourth Floor

Detail of wall ornamentation in Julep Room (Formerly the Wedding Chapel)

View looking into far end of Palm Court (Where Jazz Musicians play) from Mezzanine

View of far end of Palm Court from Mezzanine showing detail of railing and view of ceiling

View of Palm Court ceiling facing South

Detail of railing in Palm Court showing Egyptian influence on French Art Deco style

Detail of far end of Palm Court

Far end of the Palm Court where live jazz plays every Saturday night. "The fountain and sun were favorite Art Deco motifs, representing life giving forces, youth and freedom."

The fountain at the far end of the Palm Court: Made in Cincinnati in the world renowned Rookwood studio. The fountain is "ziggurat-shaped with a rams head guarded by two seahorses with lotus crowns." These creatures represent protection and guardianship for travelers.

Detail of Frieze work and Fresco painting looking directly up from hostess podium

Detail of (one of the) Fresco paintings in the Palm Court

View looking East into Carew Tower from Hotel Lobby

Lobby area Coat Check

Detail of Metalwork facing West into Palm Court from South Staircase Landing

Metalwork between South Staircase and Palm Court

Lobby: South staircase

Chandelier above the Grand Staircase that represents the Sun

Elegant floral and frieze work above main entrance grand staircase

Elevator Doors that feature Herons etched as a free-flowing design into the Benedict Metal doors

In 1931 the landscape of America was crippled by depression, organized crime, and the stark reality that sunk in after World War I. When one hears of the cornerstone of a massive and majestic hotel being laid down in 1929 one can not help but wonder how these social and economic events may have played a part in the design and construction of such a building.

In August of 1929 the plans were announced for the construction of two massive skyscrapers that would rise out of the heart of Cincinnati. The Carew Tower and Netherland Plaza hotel were designed to be "a city within a city" where people could work, shop, dine, stay and never have to set a foot on the street. The plans were bold and would require a substantial investment. John Emery, the Cincinnati millionaire behind the plans approached the bank to provide backing for the project but the idea was too new and risky for their interests. "Emery, convinced his project would be a success, sold all of his stocks and securities, despite advice from his financial advisers." In October 1929 the stock market crashed and sent the country plummeting into the Great Depression. All of the country, except Cincinnati, that is.

The plans to build the Carew Tower and the Netherland Plaza were underway when the stock market crashed. Since Emery had removed all of his money from the bank and cashed out his investments he and his money were safe. His project to build a "City within a City" employed more than 1000 men consistently until January 1931.

In 1981 the hotel underwent a massive restoration effort. After removal of old dingy carpets the fabulous marble floors were exposed for the first time in 50 years. Dirt and grime were removed from the beautiful relief carvings and paintings in the Palm Court. Paint that covered the rare Brazilian Rosewood was scraped off. And $28 million dollars later the hotel was returned to its Art Deco glory.

After all of the extensive and careful restoration work the hotel earned National Historic Register and National Landmark status in 1985 and then in 1989 the Netherland Plaza became a charter member of Historic Hotels of America.

As you can see from the photographs the hotel maintains its Art Deco style still today. The stay in this hotel was the best and most memorable part of my Cincinnati experience. There is something magical and transcendent about being here. It reminds me of a time, not unlike our own, when people were struggling but could still come together to create such lasting beauty. Between these walls there exists a hope that we can also create a treasure that will last 80 years and beyond.

Cincinnati Day 5.0 (Final day)

Today was awesome! I got to present my poster materials in a talk which was so cool!! I was a little bit nervous - but I think that it went well. It was a great experience and I am really proud of myself for putting it together with short notice (I am glad I bought my notebook computer!!) and being able to execute it.
I left right after the "Young Scientists Session" and the drive home was OK. I just want to reiterate that it is a ruff drive between Cincinnati and Dayton. After Dayton the drive was relaxing and beautiful. I stopped and got some dinner and gas in Lima and then came home.
This was a great trip that took me to a city I am not sure I would have visited otherwise. I learned a lot and I am grateful to NSF for sending me.

Cincinnati Day 4.0

Today was better than yesterday...! I went to some AM sessions and learned about how the EPA approves methods. I also learned about preparing messy samples and guarding against contamination for super low-level (ppt) analysis. If you are not from NSF this is probably boring you...

I saw some pictures of myself from yesterday and I decided that I hated the pants that I was wearing so I went to the store to get a new / better pair.

I was able to link into the Internet this morning so I looked up some restaurants that would be nearby. It was great to have Maria on the phone with me as I walked around the city looking for a place to eat because she was able to witness the madness. The place I looked up did not actually exist. (At least not where it was supposed to be) I had spotted a Quizzno's while I was looking for the other place so I tried to go there..."This location is CLOSED" Big Surprise. I literally walked right into a Potbelly's so that was the magical fate of my lunch.

I prepared for my poster session, can you really prepare for those things? There were five people that looked at my poster and talked to me. I felt like I did not know enough... The Chair of the conference asked me to give a brief talk tomorrow at the "Young Scientists session". I get the feeling that he is passionate about young people in science so I am going to do it. I hope that I do not embarrass myself...

I still really want to go to the museum so I am not sure how the day will go yet. Since the drive was basically North on 75 I feel confident leaving after 5:00 and the talk will be at 12:00. Maybe I can go to the museum afterward.

Above you will see some pictures from my walk today. I can honestly say that this city intrigues me...I feel like I have Chicago figured out - but this place is still an enigma to me.