Mixed Bag O' Pix

While more weighty things are in the works, Plaintalker is offering some images to ponder.

Above is a copy of the oldest map of the city. Note the small number of dwellings before the railroad came along and caused a population boom. The map is part of the new decor in City Clerk Abubakar Jalloh's office at City Hall.

Weeks after Hurricane Irene, this tree segment with a steel cable embedded is still at Park & Eighth and the cable is sometimes in the way of traffic.

This pristine road is Roosevelt Avenue just north of East Front Street, part of the attenuated road repair plan that is in what, Year 3 of a 5-year plan dating back to 2005. Or maybe it's Phase III. Whatever.

Who is stretched out on the radiator? Why, it's MauCat SquareButt, dreaming of starring in a cartoon show.

If trees could sing, this one would have been warbling "Don't Fence Me In" a few years ago. Now tree and fence are one.

When we saw this shiny new gate going up on Park Avenue, we thought maybe it heralded replacement of the fence that loiterers love to hang on. But no, soon Block 832's first food truck was parked in the lot, adding arepas with various fillings to Park & Seventh's already vast array of take-out. The business is called "O' Mai Guuuness," according to signage on the ruck.

So there you have it. A glimpse into the city through the lens of Plaintalker's trusty Canon PowerShot SD750.

Don't forget, the next City Council meeting is 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Municipal Court, when Plaintalker will trade the camera for a notebook and pen, perhaps the Uni-ball Signo Bit 0.18.

--Bernice