Serge the Concierge

Stomach Churning Bloody Meat Poster by Mathieu Frossard, UK National Vegetarian Week, May 20-26

One of Londoners favorite expression (punctuation) 'Bloody' takes new meaning with stomach churning 'Bloody Meat' Poster created by Mathieu Frossard for Do The Green Thing and on sale on their site.

Will it encourage you to eat more vegetables during UK's National Vegetarian Week (May 20-26, 2013)?

Raw take for Green Day # 251

Previously:

Natural Wine Pop Up hosted by Caves de Pyrene, May 21, at London International Wine Fair 2013

(* Bloody Meat poster image from 'Do the Green Thing' website)

Ferris Wheel on Sunny Day, Toulouse Plages 'Grande Roue' as Seen from Across Garonne

Ferris Wheel on Sunny Day

Toulouse Plages 'Grande Roue' as I saw it from across the Garonne late August 2012.

Vacant Lot Turned Vegetable Garden, Newark, 8th Street and 11th Avenue

On my Monday run, I was going down 8th Street towards Central Avenue in Newark and noticed that a formerly garbage strewn vacant lot on corner of 8th Street and 11th Avenue had become a vegetable garden.

City farming for Green Day # 249

Previously: Organic Grappa, Vino Santo and Olive Oil from Cavalierino near Montepulciano

Golden Summer Moment, Box of Mirabelles at Marche Victor Hugo, Toulouse

Golden Moment

Box of mirabelles captured at Marche Victor Hugo in Toulouse (September 2012)

Butterfly, Kansuke Yamamoto's Surrealist Take, Hiroshi Hamaya's Documentary Style, Photo Exhibit, Getty Museum

Two very different approaches to photography are on display at Getty Museum with Japan's Modern Divide (March 26- August 25, 2013).

Both surrealist influenced Kansuke Yamanoto and documentary style Hiroshi Hamaya "grew up during the brief Taishō era (1912–1926), a period of industrialization and experimentation that ushered in the modern Shōwa era (1926–1989)."

Kansuke Yamamoto was inspired by "Surrealist art from Europe and produced innovative, socially conscious photographs, poems, and other works that advanced the avant-garde movement in Japan."

In contrast, "during this time, between the international Depression and World War II, Hiroshi Hamaya began to document regional traditions and social issues, primarily on the country's rugged "back coast" along the Sea of Japan."

Japan in Black and White for Tokyo Thursdays # 254

Previously: Full Samurai Armor Suit, $5400 via Bureau of Trade 'Japan Rising' Collection

(Photo Credits: Top: Creator(s): Kansuke Yamamoto (Japanese, 1914 - 1987), Title/Date: Butterfly, 1970, Culture: Japanese, Medium: Gelatin silver print print, Dimensions: Image: 16.4 x 11.4 cm (6 7/16 x 4 1/2 in.), Mat: 25.4 x 20.3 cm (10 x 8 in.), Framed: 28.6 x 23.5 cm (11 1/4 x 9 1/4 in.), Accession No. EX.2013.2.190, Copyright: © Toshio Yamamoto, Object Credit: Private collection, entrusted to Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography)

(Photo Credits: Bottom: Creator(s): Hiroshi Hamaya (Japanese, 1915 - 1999), Title/Date: Man in a Traditional Minobashi Raincoat, Niigata Prefecture, 1956...Culture: Japanese, Medium: Gelatin silver print print, Dimensions: Image: 30.6 x 19.8 cm (12 1/16 x 7 13/16 in.), Accession No. 2009.34.18, Copyright: © Keisuke Katano, Object Credit: The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles)

Next Train, Point Pleasant, Old Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal, Jersey City

On a sunny Monday,it is only natural to think of beach season.

Many years ago one could go to the Jersey Shore by taking a train at Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal in Jersey City.

I took this photo of abandoned Point Pleasant departure gate while getting tickets for Liberty Island ferry.

Trio of Laguiole Knives on Display in Toulouse-Minimes Hardware Store

I know that Laguiole now delivers its corkscrews and knives worldwide via FedEx from its Aubrac home yet I was surprised to see a trio of Laguiole knives on display in hardware store on Boulevard des Minimes in Toulouse.

Perfect for picnics to make a fresh sandwich with charcuterie, cheese and bread you bought a couple hours earlier.

Passage Pavé, Rue du Jardinet Paris, Quiet Paved Street, Little Boutiques near Boulevard St Germain

My last day in France before returning to the USA last September was spent in Paris.

While walking around Paris, i caught sight of one of the Passages Pavés that you find here and there around the capital.

They are an oasis of peace a few steps away from the boulevards.

This passage near Boulevard Saint-Germain (6eme Arrondissement) is i believe named Rue du Jardinet (Little Garden Street).

I did not indulge in any of the chocolates or pastries at Patisserie on right or a beer at Brasserie Relais de l'Odeon on left.

Leftover Banknotes Make Good Portraits, 7 Mercenaries by Philippe Petremant

Serge Gainsbourg (in)famously lit up bank notes on French TV 30 years ago.

Rather than destroying money, another French artist turns leftover banknotes into provocative portraits. By folding one note over another and photographing them, Philippe Petremant gives combination another dimension.

English language sites introduce the serie of 7 portraits as 'Magnificent Seven' yet Philippe Petremant told me that it is actually 'The Seven Mercenaries' ('Les Sept Mercenaires'). He 'blames' Google for series name being lost in translation.

It was originally shown at Galerie Le Reverbere in Lyon (where Philippe lives and work) and titled 'That's all folks! les sept mercenaires- Les Contrees Nulles' in 2010.

Contrees Nulles more or less means hopeless countries, places.

Les Sept Mercenaires 'The Seven Mercenaries' series can be seen at Circulations, the festival of young European photography until March 31, 2013.

Circulations 2013 takes place in Parc de Bagatelle, Paris, France.

I discovered Philippe Petremant's work via Phaidon Agenda on March 12 and then asked Philippe for his authorization to share his work here.

(* Top image is 'atchoum elizabeth' and bottom one is 'joyeux mao', both from Circulations Festival site)

Millefleurs and Chestnut Honey Jars from Gers, Captured on Marche, Place du Capitole

I think it was on Saturday morning.

One day before heading to Paris, I captured these Millefleurs and Chestnut Honey Jars from Gers sold by their producer.

It was organic marche day on Place du Capitole in Toulouse, early September 2012.

Honey from apiculteur Olivier Chapelle, 32380, Saint Creac.