spring in south bethlehem

This giant south Bethlehem street party used to be called "Spring on 4th, What's on Third". But now it covers a lot more ground and the chili cook-off is not the start of the show. Now you need to buy the chili cook-off tickets ahead of time!

I decided to skip the Greenway, which was probably a mistake, festival wise.  But what the hell. Make lemons out of lemonade.

I walked straight down Fourth, past Hayes, toward Donegan. There was a Ghost sign I wanted to take a picture of. Turns out it's a double. Be still my heart.

As I was climbing the Fourth Street hill, I saw St. Thomas cemetery. Of course I knew it was there, I've passed it a zillion times. But this time I was on foot. So I headed to the main gate. It was padlocked several times.

They weren't carrying coffins up those front stairs. There had to be another way in. I walked backed down the hill, and hiked up State Street to the entrance road.  I found the "back door". This one wasn't padlocked. Who'd walk up that hill to do anything but honor the dead.

You may ask, why this cemetery, this day? I decided to have my Walker Evans moment. Who is Walker Evans? A WPA era photographer who took this famous photo:

But I didn't have the reference photo with me.  And there are tons of tall crosses in the cemetery. I was way too far over. I could have sworn State Street was not in the photo. I tried to avoid it. But the cross is actually blocking State Street.

 Here's four of the many I took. Too high up the hill. To far east. Epic fail.

I soon discovered why the front gate was padlocked. It makes my blood boil.

I found a way out of the cemetery without going back down State Street.  Then it was further up the hill to take the photo that started this adventure.

After getting my bearings I found a way down to the Greenway and back to ArtsQuest and teh festivities on Third. The children's tent was at NCC southside. The Wellness Expo at the charter school, and chili everywhere.

There was a lot of art and entertainment at the Banana Factory.  I took pics of some of the art. But not the entertainment. It's way to tough to shot with a phone.

Then it was a quick stop at the store and home. The walk was just shy of 6 miles.