5-Day Black & White Photo Challenge, Day 5

MAY 20, 2015 IN GENERAL, PHOTO CHALLENGE

I would be remiss in listing local “must sees” if I did not mention one of my favorite places on the PLANET: Oglebay Park on the outskirts of Wheeling, West Virginia. The park began with a moneyed family’s summer home (now on the National Historic Register) and has become a premier park system, unique in the United States. Its 1600+ acres sprawl across hills and valleys, ponds and a lake.  

Everyone and anyone can find something to do at Oglebay. There are three golf courses (a Par 3, a nine-hole and a championship 18-hole;) the Mansion Museum; a pool; tennis courts; Schrader Environmental Education Center; Good Zoo; a planetarium; a ski slope; Schenk Lake with paddle boats and fishing; picnic areas; an amphitheater; and miles of trails around the lake and all over the hills.

Wilson Lodge Resort & Conference Center has more than 270 rooms, a spa, conference center and two restaurants. There are also various sized cottages for rent.  

Special seasonal events include a huge Festival of Lights driving tour Nov to Jan; Fort Henry Days in Sept; OglebayFest in Oct (arts and crafts;) a Maple Syrup Festival in March.

When I was in college at nearby West Liberty, friends and I spent many a day picnicking and skiing and just hanging out in the sun at Oglebay. I love walking the trails around the lake, and it’s rare when I don’t see various kinds of wildlife: deer grazing, turtles sunning, Canadian geese paddling around a pond; ducks in the lake; dragonflies; cranes.

Regarding the next challenge nominee, one is not able to do it, and I should hear from another any time now.  Thanks so much for allowing me to participate—it was FUN!

Happy trails and safe travels…

Playing Favorites

APRIL 19, 2015 IN GENERAL

In 2013 I spent nearly every Saturday morning walking some of the trails at Oglebay Park, just about an hour’s drive away. Last year, not so much because I was working on my parents’ house. This year I hope to get back on track, so to speak, and I definitely wanted to get some photos of the tulip gardens around the Mansion buildings--so beautiful and featuring one of my very favorite types of flower. This morning I was able to scoot over from Shadyside early, before the rain. Visitors come from all over to see the flowers and grounds, and—pleasant surprise—I bumped into the Ebbert family strolling through the amazing tulip displays, too. If you aren’t able to make it before the season ends, this will hopefully inspire you to visit Oglebay next April.

Instameet in Wheeling

MARCH 25, 2015 IN INSTAMEET

Sunday, March 22, I had the opportunity to participate in an InstaMeet in Wheeling. Photographers/Instagrammers from the region gathered at Wheeling's Heritage Park on the riverfront, picked up the list of subjects, and took off throughout downtown with phones and cameras. Subjects included Rust, Stranger, Doorway, Alley, Faded Building Advertisement, Window and Church, and a couple of others. 

If you'd like to see what everyone posted, go to Instagram and search #wwim11_WheelingWV. There are a few from yours truly there with other shooters' takes on the town. If you'd like to see my other Instagram work, check out my IG account, @g.valenti.photo. 

Farm to Table---Wheeling, WV

AUGUST 17, 2014 IN FOOD

No real copy for this post. I'll let the photos tell you about today's Oglebay Institute's fundraiser "Farm to Table," featuring the area's best chefs cooking up fresh local produce and some of those farmers selling said produce to attendees.

Great to see Holly Herbold, who has consolidated with Bluebird Farm--I always go overboard photographing her vegetable displays; Eric Rubel of Crossroads Farm; Chef Matt Welsch and wife Katie of Vagabond Kitchen serving fresh greens with WV-raised herbed roast beefalo; Chef Zach Orban and Avenue Eats owners Lara Graves and Phillip Kendall with their veggie and pork (or tofu) wraps and lavender cupcakes; Chef Mark Glass of West Virginia Northern Community College Culinary Arts program dishing up chicken with beans, a pretty bean and tomato salad, and apple cobbler; Charlie Schlegel of perennial favorite Ye Olde Alpha and his new Cilantro grilling up chorizo sausage served with blue potato chips.

Enjoy!