Click to enlarge. Photo for thegazz.com by Walker DeVille

A new cool nip in the air seems to come instantly each year when Augut 31 transforms into Sept. 1. The alteration between hot afternoons and cool mornings generates some painterly atmospheric effects, as the cloud cover and river fog react to the seasonal changing of the guard. This is a view looking up the Kanawha River toward the Capitol Complex. Can you figure out where it was shot? This is not a pedestrian question.

Click to enlarge. Photo for thegazz.com by Walker DeVille

West Virginia’s state Capitol Dome has many impressive vantage points. But one of my favorites is the Dome seen from the Kanawha River side of the Capitol Complex. Plus, you get to witness that lovely, moody sculpture of Lincoln walking at midnight. The sculpture’s proportions seem all off — Lincoln was taller than that, partly due to a suspected case of Marfan Syndrome, so some speculizing goes. Still, it’s an inspiring statue which recalls a time the White House was inhabited by a man who thought and felt deeply, and could conjure wisdom in terrible times. We surely could use some Lincoln now, n’est pas?

Click to enlarge. Photo for thegazz.com by Walker DeVille

Charleston’s downtown has few enough sun-splashed restaurant interiors. That’s why a visit to Ellen’s Homemade Ice Cream shop on Capitol Street on a bright day brightens the spirit. That, and a strawberry smoothie with a banana whipped into it (we aver her smoothies are the best in town). It’s about that time of year, too, when Ellen starts serving up homemade pumpkin ice cream, a seasonal curiosity that is worth sampling.

Photo for thegazz.com by Walker Deville. Click to enlarge

My co-gazzbloggers at “There’s a Blog in my Soup” have issued a Cazon challenge, regarding a recent meal review at the recently opened downtown restaurant on Capitol Street. I am just heureux comme un porc there is another dining opportunity downtown. But isn’t it taking a long time for ye olde Mikonos Greek restaurant to be transformed into a Bellacino’s chain stop next door to Cazon’s? I’ve sampled Bellacino’s wares at the Merrit’s Creek mall near Huntington, and the tuna salad sandwich in fresh-baked buns is above average for that sort of thing. Indifferent service by distracted teens and 20somethings, alas, but that is often the bane of eating at chains. Let’s hope the cheery, attentive sort of young help gets hired at the new downtown locale.

Click to enlarge. Photo for thegazz.com by Walker DeVille

The Masonic Temple along Virginia Street is one of my favorite buildings downtown. Like certain significant others in one’s life, it looks especially lovely in the morning, golden light splashing off its ornate detailing.

Click to enlarge. Photo for thegazz.m by Walker DeVille

Sometimes, you just get the blues. It helps, when you have the blues, that you also have a slider called ‘hue and saturation’ and a button named ‘colorize’ in your trusty Photoshop Elements program. On the web, the blues are always at hand. In this case, we have blue-i-fied Kanawha Boulevard at Haddad Riverfront Park, looking east toward the Union Building.

Click to enlarge. Photo for thegazz.comby Walker DeVille

Mornings along the Kanawha River are some of the most peaceful, scenic moments in urban Charleston life. Here, a tugboat ambles north toward the city, up the river.

Click to enlarge. Photo for thegazz.com by Walker DeVille

It looks like teenagers aren’t the only tall, gangly things who suffer from acne. For the last few months, the Chase bank building along Virginia Street has been exhibiting several zits on each of its facing sides. Perhaps the bank is going through hormonal growth changes?

Click to enlarge. Photo for thegazz.com by Walker DeVille

In the interstate and airplane age, we often forget the primacy the railroad held for important river towns like Charleston and Huntington. Then, you hear a whistle in the night or the chuffing of the Amtrak on its now-only occasional weekly transit of the city. And you recall the train trips you’ve taken across the countryside. And wish you could climb aboard and head on out of Dodge. Naturellement, one must head to the dining car for a glass of chardonnay first. This is the C&O train station near Laury’s restaurant beside MaCorkle Avenue.

Click to enlarge. Photo for thegazz.com by Walker DeVille

You, of course, are now sensible teetotalers who have seen the wisdom of your wayward ways and no longer hang out in bars like Sam’s Uptown Cafe on Capitol Street. And if some still-wayward friend drags you in there, you order Sprite or — pushing your limits — Red Bull, correct? No? I’ve always thought the brightly colored Sam’s porch recalled some joint you’d find in a college town. Charleston needs an infusion, a spritz, of more university energy, so that’s just fine avec moi.