Borders Bowing Out

The Scranton Borders Store

It seems impossible, but when the Scranton Borders store closes its doors for good in the very near future, there will not be any full-sized, dedicated bookstore left in this city of 76,089 people.  People in search of the book-browsing and latte sipping experience will need to drive twenty minutes or so to neighboring Wilkes-Barre to visit a Barnes and Noble.  Truly, this will be a sad milestone of life in the Electric City in the twenty-first century.

Nature Love's Her Little Surprises

So I'm driving down a city street in an urban state of mind when I come around the corner, and boom!  To borrow some words from Joe Walsh, "It comes without warning, nature loves her little surprises."  This Shrek billboard promoting U.S. forests brought a big smile to my face and shifted my thoughts to a Pocono Mountains state of mind.  (Much better than an urban state of mind.)

Get Your Java

This sign at a downtown Scranton parking garage is an effective attention getter because it hooks your curiosity.  You can't read it immediately, so you have to tilt your head and give it real attention to find out what it says.  So, get in your car and drive straight to the Center Street Coffeehouse and live large on Java!

Subaru as Sign

 This Nordica Subaru is a regular rolling neon sign that shouts out, "Look at me!"   I think it is a refreshing counterpoint to all of the drab colored vehicles droning down our roads. 

Billboard Bus

Regardless of the picture on this bus-as-billboard depicting the classic plumber's pose, anyone willing to wield some hand tools can benefit from cheap auto parts at Harry's U-Pull-It.

What Time Is It, Scranton?

Time to buy a lottery ticket.

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Hot Yoga in Scranton

  Hot Yoga!  If you know little about yoga you might be thinking tight outfits and sexy poses.  Or, you might think it has something to do with the temperature on the thermometer at the top of the sign.  Unlikely, given it was actually 35 degrees out.  But hot yoga, formally known as Bikram Yoga, is a form practiced in a hot environment that is ideally 105 degrees.  The idea behind the heat is to increase flexibility and reduce stress, tension and injury.  I imagine a lot of cleansing through sweating also takes place during the typical 90 minute session.  

  After a session of hot yoga at Scranton's Steamtown Hot Yoga, thirsty and hungry practitioners can indulge in good fruit.  Much better than bad fruit.

University of Scranton Motto

The University of Scranton is a Jesuit university founded in 1888 by the Most Reverend  William O'Hara, the first bishop of Scranton.  My language skills are pretty much limited to English, but I'm guessing a loose translation would read something like, " Religion results in culture."  Or,  "Religion accounts for culture."  Whatever it means, it is a pretty interesting emblem.

Scranton Police K9 Unit 5K Run

This billboard for the Scranton Police K9 Unit 5K Run is still up a week after the event.    I'm glad I had a chance to see the sign because it is good for a chuckle.  I'm assuming the picture represents a police dog chasing a bad guy.  Or is this how they planned to motivate the 5K runners?  

National Physical Therapy Month

It was a good thing I had the opportunity to walk through the University of Scranton campus. Otherwise, I would not have seen this banner and I would have continued to be completely oblivious to the fact that October is National Physical Therapy Month.  I will sleep better tonight secure in my new knowledge.

America.  Land of the free.  Home of the brave...

...and T's Corner News and Laundromat!

Spoiled Plans

"Sorry, kids!  Put the shovels back in the car.  I know it won't be as much fun, but we'll just have to play baseball today."

Scranton's Historic Iron Furnaces

Orange Sign in the Poconos

This shot was taken just outside of Scranton while mountain biking in a State forest in the Poconos.  I'm not sure what the sign meant.  Ten more miles of road?  Scenic view ahead that scores a "10"?  Road number 10?  Maybe it doesn't mean anything and was put there by a state employee with a sense of humor, knowing people like me would tie our brains in knots pondering the possibilities.

Nay Aug Park Banner

Scranton is a city that loves banners.  This one shows an electrifying view of Nay Aug Gorge.

Hockey Time

Scranton is a very generous city.  Not only does The Electric City share its minor league baseball team with The Diamond City, it also shares its minor league hockey team.  The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are affiliated with the NHL's Pittsburg Penguins.  I went to a game once and found myself watching a scene from the Paul Newman classic "Slapshot" as the fists were flying.   The Hanson brothers would have been right at home on that ice.

A Sign With Blue Moonlight

"Barbara, look!  More blue moonlight over the city!"

Coney Island Texas Lunch?

Coney Island Texas Lunch?  The imagination runs wild.