Astonishing Smith. It’s the full name of a young lady that a fellow photographer met on assignment. I really could see the adjective + lastname movement taking off; just think of the stereotyping possibilities! I told the photographer that I could call him Disappointing Zalaznik. He may have declined.

Enter Barnes & Noble on Saturday night. I fully intend to sit in the café with other literati sipping on burned coffee, but settle for Peorians gabbing on cell phones with their enormous frappuccinos topped in several inches of whipped cream. Even the fiction aisles are a disappointment, empty of people except for the “summer reads” section. It’s all chick-lit and David Sedaris.

But there’s hope yet. A shady dive a few blocks from work, Te-J’s, is hosting a few bands with no cover and cheap drinks. Just look for the smiling shark on the side of the building. Good enough! I take my newly arrived Olympus rangefinder and enjoy a smokey, loud set of music that I would probably never listen to in my own home. But isn’t that the point of live music?

Photos soon… need to finish this roll.