Berderp®

:: UrbEx Series : Rispin Mansion pt 2 ::

2009-01-08T08:47:00.000-08:00

today we continue (click here for part 1) our journey through the eerie history of an abandoned home known as Rispin Mansion.

The Rispin mansion was also used during the 1970's as a place for police dog training. It was told by various Santa Cruz natives in stories I read online that the sounds of barking dogs in the house could be heard long after the police training had stopped.

Later in the house's history a man fell through the rotting floors, became injured and wound up dying of thirst before he was found. Years later these cries for help were also reported by many.

Even if these stories aren't true, its foreboding presence, and the fact people died at the house, thrown in with the discovery of hidden passages and secret rooms, just provides a rich and spooky history.

the massive column with bay windows that face Soquel Creek

an aerial view from mid-20th century, plus a host of really old images you can see here.

and finally..

In this photo above I want you to focus on the main window above the steps -- in this same window, in a 1931 picture appears the ghost of the Lady in Black -- Click here for that image and see if you spot her. In that picture people say the Lady in Black is clearly visible with even bible in hand. Stories abound of her ghost roaming halls, unlocking heavily bolted doors and windows. Furthermore, other stories of a man in glasses near the fireplace were also passed down through the years.

Will the current plans for turning this lot into a sparkling Inn & Spa ever materialize? After all the plans have changed over the years a few times, and the length of the project has stretched over the last decade. Now coupled with economic cut backs and recesssion pains in the city, I just wonder at the fate of these ruins.

:: UrbEx Series :: Rispin Mansion :: part 1

2009-01-07T09:21:00.000-08:00

it had been a lengthy passage of time since the last UrbEx series before yesterday's "shell" posting - so let's keep the ball rollin' with an intro to Rispin Mansion. This abandoned structure sits on the banks of Soquel Creek in Capitola on 6.5 acres. It was built out of 500 tons of solid cement.

When F. A Hihn died in 1913 his daughter put the estate up for sale. Rispin comes along (actually a rich San Franciscan) at the end of WW1 and buys it up. It features 4 stories and 22 rooms.

Clearly he had opulent and sumptious plans for this "Capitola-by-the-Sea", but by 1928 he was flat broke.

He lost the mansion and pretty much all of his assets over the next 3 years.

Next a millionaire from Burlingame, Rober Hays Smith, bought the home, but the family ran into financial hardship during the Great Depression (duh) and wound up abdicating the estate in 1939. He never even lived there.

From there it was sold to the Catholic Church and was used as a convent until the nuns left in the late '50s. They left because of reported cold spots in the house and the flurry of unwanted visitors.. and whether or not that includes the several reputed ghosts is vague.

But apparently it hosted generations of keg parties and even some hippie squatters who lived there for a few years in the 60's with a heard of goats on the top floor. It's been slated to become an Inn & Spa but the project length seems very protracted.

more pics and the "Lady in Black" tomorrow on part 2

:: UrbEx Series :: Shells ::

2009-01-06T00:04:00.000-08:00

not seashells... but building shells

the picture above illustrates whats left of the congregational area of the church we looked at during part 2 and part 3 of the Alabama Back Roads Series

if you enjoy abandoned stuff.. click here.

:: Alabama Back Roads pt 3 ::

2009-01-05T07:30:00.000-08:00

In part 2 of this series, we saw a severely damaged church ... these next 3 pictures were taken in the back quarters of the building.

before you start jumpin' to conclusions, let me interject a crucial piece of humility and customs here. This outhouse is for show (duh), but traditionally the outhouse would be placed behind the house, not out front as this is.

:: Alabama Back Roads pt 2 ::

2009-01-04T10:04:00.000-08:00

We think arson or a bomb occured here. Although the new church has been constructed about 30 - 40 yards to the right of this damaged old church, clearly razing and removing the debris hasn't made it onto the "To Do List" yet.

Huge Victorian house in Red Level, AL a tiny dot on the map to which we set off in search of fabled wooden sidewalks; turns out we were probably 150 years too late. It's possible my source was wrong, but also entirely plausible there was a tiny remnant of the wooden sidewalks in the town somewhere -- however, we weren't going to search for that needle that afternoon.

pecan orchard

:: Alabama Back Roads pt 1 ::

2009-01-03T00:27:00.001-08:00

I casually make references to the Southeast section of the United States often in a joking manner e.g...Dirty Dirty, but in all seriousness, the Southeast has seen it's intricately woven landscape slowly deteriorated over the last several decades.

With traditions that stood stoic and proud for so many people for so long, this area has finally started creeping into the shadows of modernization, concentrating on urban development often to revitalize sagging economy.

Don't be fooled, there is LOTS and LOTS of old $$$ in the Southeast; afterall this area was starting to see settlement in the early 1700's, and early profiteers in the cotton industry really banked. One of my WAY earlier posts reflects on this "white gold" trade.

Sugar Cane press

sidewalks in Atmore

The point of this "Alabama Back Roads" series is to just illustrate a glimpse of fading past and focus on some scenes and images you would only see on true Alabama back roads.

Grain silo's and Purina Chow emblem... back in the day it was called the "Checker-board Store" where you could get feed for your horse that perhaps you had rode into town for school; the horse would get tied up at a nearby stable and after class you rode it home. horsey gotta eat. Checkboard Store is there for your feed needs.

:: Magnolia Cemetery ::

2009-01-02T10:13:00.001-08:00

Early January 2008, I featured some pictures of the famous Church Street Graveyard, today we turn our attention to Mobile's 3rd oldest municipal graveyard: Magnolia Cemetery

Originally established in 1836 on 36 acres of land, now spreads over 100 acres and contains nearly 100,000 burials. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, Magnolia Cemetery is the final resting place for interments dating back to the early 19th century.

Magnolia Cemetery features very ornate, resplendent architectural and artistic assets that heavily revolves around Neoclassical revivalism, but also features Egyptian and Victorian influences.

Situated across from Magnolia Cemetery is the National Cemetery where over 5000 fallen veterans of past conflicts are laid to rest. Here you can find over 800 Civil War dead, including 2 relatives of Geronimo and several other Apache Indians.

Additionally, I have also taken a few pics of Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago which you can view here.

If you are ever in Mobile I highly suggest stopping by this sprawling necropolis

:: Mobile Moon Pie and Mardi Gras ::

2009-01-01T10:59:00.000-08:00

Mobile's historical associations with Carnival and Mardi Gras is steeped in tradition that spans over 300 years. Of course now an integral part of this celebration is the sugary Moon pie which became the centerpiece (and somewhat controversial topic) for this year's New Years Eve celebration. Unfortunately, I was not able to make it to downtown's New Year's Eve bash, but I was able to get an early sneak peek at it which you see above.

This 12 foot, 600lb Moon Pie was spear headed by Councilman Fred Richardson in order to bring attention and raise awareness of Mobile's unique cultural standings with its heritage. Richardson main reasons for launching this project:

"It cuts across economic status. It cuts across race. The Moon Pie brings people together," he said.

Since Fat Tuesday isn't that far away, I figured I would go ahead and give a shout to Joe Cain and Mobile Mardi Gras.

Mardi Gras was first observed in the New World in 1703 near "Twenty-Seven Mile Bluff" which is technically Old Mobile, 27 miles up the Mobile River.

Joe Cain was responsible for bringing Mardi Gras back to Mobile in 1866, which had died out in 1855 due to rowdy violent krewes in the parades.

Mobile Carnival Museum headquarters on Government Blvd.

:: spider at dusk ::

2008-12-31T12:16:00.000-08:00

:: Clear Well ::

2008-12-30T18:29:00.000-08:00

jump on in.. the water is fine

:: OG Wintzell's ::

2008-12-29T07:51:00.000-08:00

If you are wandering the enamoring streets of Mobile and you stop to ask anyone where to get the best oysters in town invariably they will steer you towards Wintzell's Oyster House.

Unequivocably Wintzell's is the OG oyster house on the Gulf Coast, where their "fried, stewed & nude" fare has been serving up the masses for the past 70 years.

What originally started as just a 6-stool oyster bar by J. Oliver Wintzell in 1938, the first location has maintained its initial presence on Lower Dauphin street throughout the years.

One of the unique characteristics of the location are the plain and unrefined sayings that plaster the walls.

people love them some sweet tea in the South.

:: Backyard Camellias ::

2008-12-26T09:27:00.000-08:00

The Camellia has been associated with a plethora of different real and fictional characters over the years. Additionally, somewhere between 100 - 250 different species of this plant have been classified by taxonomist.

I see these and Azalea's all over the South.

:: yall eat eggs ::

2008-12-23T10:59:00.000-08:00

and the question is... 'ya'll eat eggs??'

:: back to the dirty dirty ::

2008-12-22T18:00:00.001-08:00

its that time of the year again, and the annual pilgrimage to the dirty dirty commenced on Thursday. So this year we'll get our fill of Southern cultural delights, quirkiness and some down-home charm. Stay tuned

Catfish mailbox!

see that beehive?? what a unique nugget to stumble across. You thought these were extinct didn't you. they're not. they are very much alive and thriving.

..and......the ribs were aight.

:: Holiday Reds ::

2008-12-18T13:06:00.000-08:00

:: reflection ::

2008-12-15T20:37:00.000-08:00

taken recently at Conservatory of Flowers

:: SantaCon 2008 ::

2008-12-13T21:13:00.001-08:00

Today was the ~~14th~~ 15th!! anniversary of Santacon, originally sponsored by the San Francisco Cacophony Society, and at least 1000 Santas took over 3 areas of town today: The "Ho on Haight" covered Haight Street, "Mastrobation" focused on Mission and Castro, and finally the Klassik Kringle track which covers Fishermans Wharf and North Beach.

(Santas flask is big... gotta keep warm on the sleigh!)

I figured I would go where there would be maximum tourist shock factor and off to the Wharf I sprang this morning.

What can be said about Santacon? There's lots & lots of Santas.

Departing Fishermans Wharf

sometimes as far as I can see ...i just see Santa's

Santas from above

Nothing can stop the RED TIDE! Ultimately this is split into 3 routes but merges later in the day -- tonight at least close to 1000 Santiii converged into Yerba Buena Garden -- (SFSanta tweets report terrorizing Westfield Mall and the Powell Street Cable car turnaround area)

Santa's Agent force was definitely instrumental in keeping the Santa swarm from spilling into traffic, they assisted at crosswalks, and helped keep Santacon revelers from straggling off course.

Santa traffic helpers

Santas agents surround Mr. Chu -- getting a briefing on the galaxies.

Santa agent helps maintain orderly conduct

Santa agent on guard at Pier 39

Santacon also has musical talent flowing abundantly through out it we found.

Banjo Santa

Santa Clarinet

ho-ho-hope

naughty and nice list

Santa Franklin

Santa has to break sometime ... "ohhh yehhhh right here behind this tree where no one can see me"

Santa Dodgeball .. some eggnog will take away the sting Santa.

Santa was even spotted in trees

Santa be pimpin'

da ho tag

Could it be Sa-a-a-a-atan

rowdy santa!

Ninja Santa

I caught Miss Claus choking the chicken

Santa got ice!! and gold apparently.

Santacon invades Hooters

"not quite sure what to make of it are yah?" -- yeh us either.

hooters girl and Tranny Santa discuss some wings

more of Santa's agents

Reindeer dawgie!

Tranny Santa

Santa Elves

Flickr set here.

:: Cansei de Ser Sexy ::

2008-12-12T11:50:00.000-08:00

Tonight, Friday December 12th, Cansei de Ser Sexy aka CSS, laid down their bouncy electro indie pop for a full house at Bimbos 365. I can't figure out why I don't see more shows there -- the venue is great.

CSS got a lot of popularity quick! by being featured in an iPod Touch video, but first they had several songs used in a variety of Brazilian mainstream media, including a song in a Latin American broadcast of The Simple Life.

After signing to SubPop in early 2006, they landed an international tour spot with Diplo and Bonde de Role. What really pushed them up is the iPod video I referenced earlier in which the song Music Is My Hot Sex rose to #63 on the Billboard Charts.

Their last album Donkey was released this past July and is sort of a shift away from electropop and into more guitar-polished-alt rock. Don't get me wrong, I danced my @$$ off. This album and their shows have plenty of danceable frenetic energy.

:: Golden Gate Xpress ::

2008-12-09T07:18:00.000-08:00

The Golden Gate Express is winding through a miniature version of SF set amongst a flora that features some notable city landmarks. This is currently at the Conservatory of Flowers until April 2009 and is only $5 to get in.

:: Hungry Waif 2008 ::

2008-12-08T13:57:00.000-08:00

spotted in Mission (of course) .... piece by ORFN

:: Generic Rascals ::

2008-12-07T18:40:00.000-08:00

do people always check their generic Rascals at the bike rack before hopping on BART?

:: King of the Castle ::

2008-12-05T04:02:00.000-08:00

In 2005 after travelling through Bordeaux with his family, and seeing famous chateaux like Mont Saint Michel, star executive Chef Jean-Francois Houdre set out to create a giant sugar castle. Each year it gets bigger and more eye-catching.

towering at 12 feet, weighing in over 1200lbs, this creation is 100% edible and even features a mini-train and village.

made out of a combination of pastillage, sugar, gingerbread, molasses, flour and candy,

Of course he is known as King of the Castle

:: Mission Street Food meets Dirty South ::

2008-12-04T23:22:00.000-08:00

Tonight, the folks over at Mission Street Food doled out the Dirty Dirty by unleashing some soul food goodies to the insatiable masses. The masterminds behind this, Bar Tartine cook Anthony Myint and crew, have cultivated quite a following that start lining up outside Lung Shan Chinese resto on Mission street, before 6pm.

What originally started as a mobile food truck experiment, back in early October, has steadily grown in numbers, and has now moved indoors (for a number of reasons). They have also started featuring weekly chef's as their guests.

I got there this evening ready to reprezent! but alas, not only was I sooper hungry by the time I got there (admittedly later than I had expected), but there was a 45 minute wait.

I ~~ate~~ inhaled the PBQ-Kurobuta Berkshire Pork belly with Quince-onion sauce, potatoe salad and slaw on a fresh homemade flatbread.

Dirty Rice with rare beef and Smoke Duck beignet

All I can say is, this $6.50 pork belly sandwich (sorry no pic cus I ate it too quick!) is my new fav... the flavor just pervaded my palate and SWOOSH.. I had nothing left but crumbs and a big smile.

the Dirty South menu: butter fried cornbread, 40oz's, mustard greens, Creole Catfish stew, grits, bacon and sweet tea.

past menu items have included brownies with brie, King Trumpet, asian pear slaw, and homemade scallion flatbread

:: gulls at OB ::

2008-12-03T23:57:00.000-08:00

did you know seagulls can drink both fresh water and salt water.

:: Birds and Batteries at Du Nord ::

2008-12-02T23:16:00.000-08:00

so my coworker is a member of local group Birds & Batteries, and I have been itching to catch them live. well.. there was a timing/schedule mixup and I got there too late. The one song I did hear was good but they are playing again soon so I'm looking forward to it. here check them out.

I think this is a good description of them:

Inspired by the sparkle of 70's studio rock (Neil Young, the Eagles, Steely Dan) and driven by the compositional freedom of electronic music (Daft Punk, Hot Chip), the new album further develops B&B's original components of analog and digital, pedal steel and synthesizers, country and city.

then there was the lone Ranger of the dance floor last night

someone has to do it.