Presbyterian on Rye?

Even Calvin Would Be Speechless!

I saw this in Washington Heights last month, while walking one Saturday with my co-worker Matthew. I'm not even sure how to respond to such a cultural delicacy as this. Though, my only real guess is that there is a committee running the place. Or else they accept laminated pages of the Institutes as legal tender.

Anyone for a little General Assembly with that pastrami?

Subway Preacher

Book in Hand, God in Mouth

Another preacher on the street...or more accurately, in the subway. I caught this one as I was heading home one day. They often congregate by the Port Authority and other high density pedestrian areas. This subway preacher was reading loudly from the Bible (in hand), as the throngs of people came and went.

Night Time Street Preacher in NY

Preaching God at Night

I'm not sure what this fellow was actually preaching, because he wasn't very easy to understand, but he did have this look in his eye like he was possessed, while shouting something like "God will heal you!" It was loud, erratic, and staccato'd in its delivery. He carried a book, which looked like a Bible. And when I stopped near him, he had a blank stare, as if he were blind....or possessed! He then handed me a pamphlet about alcoholism, and then continued his walk and shouts of godliness.

A Curious Bodega: Open or God?

Are You Open? Sorry, We're God!

I had to share this unusual shop sign, which I passed by last month in the upstate town of Troy, NY. I was walking around the downtown area and spotted this little bodega, which was closed. But instead of there being a "CLOSED" sign, there was this crudely made sign right smack in the middle of the door that read "YHWH." I'm not even sure what kind of social commentary to add here, because this totally surprised me. "YHWH?" I mean, if you weren't expecting it, and couldn't read Hebrew, my guess is that you might think it reads "CLOSED" in another language. But I'm sure there is some deep theology going on here, but it is clearly esoteric, and cannot be had by us mortals in our quotidian rummaging in upstate cities.

I know that Augustine said something about God's hiddenness and presence being wrapped up into one. But clearly, God...or YHWH is not hidden here, for our bodega friends. Maybe this is some sort of anti-theft device: "Yeah, we're closed, but guess what? There's a God of the Hebrew Bible hiding inside, watching you!" Maybe the sign is supposed to read like a "Beware of Dog!" sign. Except...yes, I'm sorry to say... it's really "Beware of God!"

It's your call, readers.

Adventures in French Canada: Book Shops and Libraries

A Photo-Essay of French Canada

I thought I'd share a few more images from the trip I mentioned in the previous post--some of the variety found in French Canada. The first is from Montreal, the next ones from Quebec City, and the last two photos are from the public library in Rimouski, on the Gaspe peninsula.

Muse'e de la Gaspesie Centre d'archives

A Curious Place in the Wilderness

This summer I had the opportunity to do some research in a part of the world that is not commonly known to most Americans--the Gaspe Peninsula. Though it is quite far away, roughly a good day's drive northeast from Quebec City, it is a place that is rich with French Canadian, Native-First Peoples, and other cultures. Very few people, whom I encountered, spoke English, and I met no Americans. But the place of Gaspe in history is rich in many ways, including being the location of Marconi's first maritime transmitting station (at Pointe-a-la-Renommee).

The people were very friendly, and the cuisine was a fine blend of wilderness, seafood, and continental fare, all with a suitable touch of French cooking magic. The museums and the Centre d'archives were quite interesting and held many unique materials pertaining to the area. There was even a great book store selling cookbooks with cuisine gaspesienne. The land, the sea, the mountains, the fields--all of the natural space of Gaspe is a wonderful experience. I don't recall when I first came across this land on some maps, but I know that a few years ago, I discovered an old book at some shop or thrift store entitled "Away To Gaspe," by Gordon Brinley and illustrated by his partner, Putnam Brinley.

Traveling north to the great Peninsula in the depths of the Great Depression, the Brinleys went from the White Mountains up into Quebec, and stopped at some of the places that I eventually saw. In their book, they write about such places as St. Edouard-des-Mechins, Cap Chat, Petite Madeleine, Perce, and Bonaventure Island. Perce is one of the most intriguing and amazing places in North America, far away from any large city, even though there is a growing crowd during the summer. And Forillon Park, which is a few hours drive north of Perce, is one of the most incredible geological sights (and sites) I've ever seen--something like a Yosemite in the sea! Its perilous cliffs shoot up hundreds of feet, almost bending backward like an arching cupcake, but far more beautiful and stunning when seen from across the north bay at sundown or sunrise.

If anyone is adventurous and interested in exploring the far north, this is surely a place to visit. And I think you will be most surprised and delighted to find both a bounty of natural beauty and a rich culture in a state of wilderness.

Books on the D&H Canal

Hidden in the Woods

One of the interesting things about American history, especially topographical American history and American transportation history, is that many of the remnants of these histories are buried in unseen places, by roadsides, under brush, in the woods. The D&H canal, originally designed and built to transport new types of coal from the hinterlands of 19th century Pennsylvania to New York City, via the Hudson River, was a vital link between various worlds of the young United States. From 1828-1898 the 108-miles of waterway operated and served a large and growing population. Once it closed, the canal fell into disrepair, and was forgotten by many. It was 68-years later that the D&H Canal Historical Society was formed and steps were taken to help preserve and bring the canal back to life (to some extent).

There is a fine museum that now accompanies the canal, in High Falls, NY. It is a wonderful little museum, which I encourage all to visit and support. In it there are various maps, artifacts related to the canal, photographs, and tools, among other objects and items. There are also several books and even a book shop.

The last two photos below are part of the canal itself: a stone "post" where ropes ran along, the barge itself being pulled by donkeys or other means. The final photo is a remaining portion of the canal, which now terminates in the center of High Falls itself.