Hinton, West Virginia, USA

November expires today. The plates on this pickup expired June 30, 1949. Welcome to a time warp, where you can plop down in The Market and become part of a national historic landmark. That's because, decades ago, Hinton's entire downtown was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. [2021]

New York, New York, USA

Those six candles are for you. (You know who you are!!!) You can't do much better than being feted in the Big Apple, planet Earth's most important city. As we party (or not!): Let's Uplift Cheers And Smiles. [2012]

Snow Hill, Maryland, USA

Here be two elves in the flesh. They may not work at the North Pole, but they do work at Snow Hill, and that can't be far away. Because of its name, we should give Snow Hill a pass on starting Christmas early. As for other places: Please let us celebrate Thanksgiving first! [2021]

Rhyolite, Nevada, USA

Imaginary friends:

   Treat us so nice,

   Give us advice,

   Keep wise words concise.

   Require no sacrifice.

Imaginary friends:

   In our minds must they stay,

   Or, at least far away.

   Lest our real friends do say

   "Don't be cray-cray!"

[2016]

Warsaw, Virginia, USA

Could this be the second time in a row for the Grinch to steal Christmas. Last year Covid forced us to celebrate a low-octane holiday. This year clogged ports may prevent Santa from delivering the presents you want. You're a mean one Mr. Grinch. Maybe next year, the enchanted forest will keep you penned up in that tree. [2021]

Bismarck, North Dakota, USA

You matter. Don't give up. Your mistakes do not define you. Be your own person, your authentic self, your own best friend, and a companion to all. Today is the day to give thanks for who you are, for who who were, and for who you will become. Remember: It's all about you! [2021]

Battambang, Cambodia

From The Gulag Archipelago: "the line separating good and evil passes . . . right through every human heart. . . Inside us, it oscillates with the years. And even within hearts overwhelmed by evil, one small bridgehead of good is retained. And even in the best of all hearts, there remains. . . a small corner of evil." [2016]

Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia

When Subway came to Georgia in 2014, it had to appeal to a new market, one that did not speak English. To fit in, Subway looked to the native Mkhedruli alphabet for signage. Yet, it did not abandon the Latin Alphabet. There are over 40,000 Subway restaurants around the world. [2015]

Seoul, South Korea

When Subway came to South Korea in 1992, it had to appeal to a new market, one that did not speak English. To fit in, Subway looked to the Hangul alphabet for signage. Of course, they also had to adapt to at least some different gustatory preferences: You can order a Korea BBQ or a Beef Bulgogi sub.  [2000]

Tel Aviv, Israel

When Dunkin' Donuts came to Israel in 1996, it had to appeal to a new market, one that did not speak English. To fit in, DD looked to the Hebrew alphabet for signage (read right to left and look for the D sound). Alas, not even the native alphabet could keep the chain afloat in Israel. Dunkin's last donut shop closed in 2001. [2000]

Seoul, South Korea

When Dunkin' Donuts came to Korea in 1992, it had to appeal to a new market, one that did not speak English. To fit in, DD looked to the Hangul alphabet for signage. It must have worked because Korea has been one of the chain's largest international markets. In orange: Deon-Kin. In pink: Do-Neo-Cheu. [2000]

Bandung, Indonesia

"Let a new Asia and a new Africa be born." And, guess which country wanted to emerge as the leader of these aborning realms when the pathbreaking Bandung Conference convened in 1955. Indonesia, of course: the world's fourth most populous country (out of almost 200!). Enjoy what remains of Geography Awareness Week 2021! [2016]

Liverpool, England, UK

World globes are an appropriate motif for Geography Awareness Week and for port cities like Liverpool. Here, dockside, golden yellow continents remind everyone of the prosperity promised by world trade. As for black oceans: maybe symbolic of Liverpool itself. The name refers to a pool of dark water. [2011]

Vienna, Austria

Today is the apex of Geography Awareness Week 2021. Here is Geographically Yours when he was at his apex. From this blue-mesh platform he was recording a YouTube video for his online class even before there were YouTube videos or online classes: all in the interest of geography education. [2004]

Miami, Florida, USA

Paving the way for Geography Awareness Week this year were the Glasgow Climate accords. Yet, the agreement will allow greenhouse gases to rise by 14% over the next nine years even though they need to fall by 45%. Perhaps this memorial in Woodlawn Park Cemetery is destined to be seen as a harbinger of things to come: a graveyard home for our planet. [2014]

Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

What better place to begin Geography Awareness Week than with a 5-story high globe. Inside is the theater of North Carolina's Natural Science Museum. Now, if we could just get it tilted on its axis, geographers would be so much happier. [2018]

Bristol, Virginia and Tennessee, USA

Just as your name is your essence, a community's name is its essence. Make sure the name of the place where you live is conspicuously displayed on the landscape so that it is visible at eye level, from above, and (as here) from below. Had to look up, didn't you? And, now you know that Bristol is "a good place to live." [2016]

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Here is a 'best practice' for building community pride: Get your community's name out there and keep it in circulation. Make sure it can be seen from every angle, even from high above, as here in Charles Center Plaza at the heart of downtown Baltimore. What's the color of Baltimore? Orange, of course! [2021]

Robbinsdale, Minnesota, USA

"The elements that make Robbinsdale special": That's what the the muralist wanted to show when she turned a tabula rasa into a home for the spirits of place. What's the number one element that makes Robbinsdale special? No, not robins (see them?). Every town has robins. It's the place name itself. There is only one Robbinsdale in the whole United States. [2021]

New London, Connecticut, USA

Blue whales can live almost a century. Murals of blue whales are lucky to last a few decades. Wyland's 'whaling wall' in New London was painted in 1993. Look at its condition now: The last ten years seem to have taken an especially hard toll. Take a look at the mural in 2008 (below). Hear Ye, Hear Ye, City Council: Save the Whales! [2021]

Kansas City, Missouri, USA

Most murals are at street level and so in-your-face. Here's one that can't even be seen from the coffee shop over which it presides. Its message is subliminal: If you catch it while driving by, perhaps you will consider a trip to the Kansas City Zoo. [2021]

Lansing, West Virginia, USA

Beams, bents, and bracings must all be inspected annually on the New River Gorge Bridge. When the crossing was completed, it became the longest steel-arch bridge in the world. In only six more years, one of the engineering wonders of the 20th century will celebrate its 50th anniversary. [2021]

Lansing, West Virginia, USA

A troop of bridge monkeys shows up once a year to inspect the New River Gorge Bridge. Looks like fun, doesn't it? Even more fun out there on the girders than on the maintenance walkway that crosses the canyon from one abutment to the other. When the bridge was completed in 1977 it reduced travel time across the gorge from 40 minutes to 1. [2021]

Lansing, West Virginia, USA

Roaring over his head are cars and trucks on Highway 19. Roaring under his feet is the New River, which has cut an impressive canyon into the Appalachian Plateau. Who is he? An engineer on a once-a-year inspection of the bridge. You met two of his companions last month. [2021]

New York, New York, USA

Covid-19 Testing: $0 Cost: Stations like this one are all over New York City. You can't get much cheaper or more convenient. Judging from the prevalence of masks, the people of New York seem to be taking the pandemic seriously. And, whether you're going to a Broadway show or to eat out, prepare to show your vaccination card. [2021]

Providence, Rhode Island, USA

Donations of food arrive on Saturday and are distributed on Sunday morning to feed the needy in downtown Providence. This trunkful came in from East Greenwich. It was gratefully received by the Mathewson Street United Methodist Church, and even more gratefully received by the homeless and hungry. [2021]

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

The Boston Public Garden is part of the Emerald Necklace of open space that curves around Boston's historic core. It was the city's second park, created by in-filling Back Bay, which had become a cesspool of trash and sewage. In the 1870s, Boston hired Frederick Law Olmstead to design a complete park system into which existing parks would be integrated. [2021]

New London, Connecticut, USA

What were the largest whaling ports in the country in the mid-19th century? New Bedford, Nantucket, and New London, ranked by number of voyages. That's why you see one whale after another (or just their tails) all over New London. Today, the ships on the waterfront are likely to be ferries: to Long Island, to Block Island, and to Fishers Island. [2021]

Pierre, South Dakota, USA

Forty-eight of our 50 states were born as singletons. Two were born as twins: South Dakota and North Dakota. They were admitted to the Union on the same day: November 2, 1889, which makes them 132 years old today. Yet, to highlight their different personalities, one gave their capital city a French name, and the other chose a name from Germany. [2021]

Cape Charles, Virginia, USA

Halloween, yesterday, wasn't the holiday. It was the eve of the holiday. Today is the holiday: It's All Saints Day, formerly known as All Hallows Day or Hallowmas. A hallow is a saint, so today is a time for honoring everyone who has found a new home in heaven, while their skeletons (see them?) remain behind. [2020]