Every week or so I like to follow up with my analytics to see where some of my traffic is coming from. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that last Thursday my latest promo for Around the Hat ended up on the Spectator Tribune's website. Based out of Winnipeg, but with regional coverage around the west, their tagline is 'celebrating everything that makes the prairies extraordinary'. If that's not a pretty generous vote of approval, I don't know what is. Check out the post here.
My Around the Hat promo has been going over pretty well actually. Shortly after I posted it last month it was featured on Travel Alberta's facebook page. A few weeks later it was shared on SouthernAlberta.com, and just last week it appeared on the local blog, Mad in the Hat - all of these in addition to the Spectator Tribune (obviously). I not only uploaded this video to my vimeo account, but to my YouTube channel too where it has already surpassed 40,000 views. All of these things are pretty amazing when you consider that I've just been playing explorer in my own backyard. Naturally, it's great to see the project gaining traction and connecting with so many people!
Last Friday, following the news of my Aunt's passing, we gathered at my folks' place and found ourselves reminiscing over our family photo albums. The experience reaffirmed in my mind just how powerful the images we take and share really are. It was such a simple and natural thing to do to explore our past, and the memories really were comforting and uplifting. Recognizing the joy that came out of this spontaneous moment, I couldn't help put snap a few pictures too.
I had the opportunity to explore the interior of this downtown corner block earlier this year, and there were actually a few surprises. I've referred to this location as the Tramps Corner Block, because Tramps, a comic book and video game store, was the last business to use the space. Architecturally, there's really not much interior detail.
This is one of those locations that has been pulled apart, remodeled, and altered numerous times over the decades so its historic value, despite being 100 years old, is difficult to determine. The original boiler is still in the basement, and the original stone foundation can still be seen. The retail spaces sit empty though without much to grab your attention. Upstairs is where I stumbled onto a bit of a surprise.
I wasn't sure what to expect in this location, but when I walked into one of the former apartments and saw stacks of comic books I was blown away. Left over from Tramps, whoever decides to buy this building will acquire hundreds - maybe even a few thousand - comic books along with it. In all honesty, the vast majority are probably only worth a couple of bucks, but who knows what gem might have been left behind? It's certainly a cool leftover from a business that hasn't been there for years. And hey, it's perfect for anyone looking to jump start their comic book collection.
