https://www.hopsafari.com/ Explorations and experiences through photography. https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/astoria.html https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/astoria.html Tue, 18 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Astoria, Oregon feels like a small town, yet there is a lot to do: beaches, breweries, an active shipping channel, historical sites, and more museums than I expected. Photos Travel https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/two-worlds-on-the-mississippi.html https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/two-worlds-on-the-mississippi.html Mon, 29 Sep 2014 12:00:00 +0000 A short walk from the cocktails and the crowds, the Mississippi runs past New Orleans: storms off the Gulf, working ferries, and killing currents. Mississippi River New Orleans Photos https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/the-great-american-beer-festival.html https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/the-great-american-beer-festival.html Sun, 28 Sep 2014 12:00:00 +0000 Black Shirt Brewing builds its own bar, glassware and flight trays in Denver, and brews everything red. Even the porter is red. Beer Breweries CO Denver GABF https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/riding-a-lamborghini-gallardo-on-the-circuit-of-the-americas.html https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/riding-a-lamborghini-gallardo-on-the-circuit-of-the-americas.html Tue, 18 Mar 2014 12:00:00 +0000 Pushing a Lamborghini Gallardo to new limits with triple thrills at Circuit of the Americas. COTA Circuit of the Americas Drive Fast Lamborghini Photos Video https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/varekai.html https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/varekai.html Sat, 01 Mar 2014 12:00:00 +0000 Behind the scenes at Cirque du Soleil's Varekai in Cedar Park: rehearsal, warm-ups, the coaches and riggers, and opening night itself. Cedar Park Cirque du Soleil Photos Varekai cirquedusoleil https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/sunday-drive.html https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/sunday-drive.html Sun, 08 Dec 2013 12:00:00 +0000 In case you thought the Gondola was an impractical tourist contrivance, observe these two gentlemen out for a peaceful Sunday paddle. Photos Travel https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/a-venetian-daily-driver.html https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/a-venetian-daily-driver.html Thu, 06 Jun 2013 12:00:00 +0000 A battered, brightly painted wooden boat moored at Burano, and how every small craft on the Venetian canals is tied to allow for the lagoon's big tides. Photos Travel https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/tipsy-texan-spirits-and-cocktails-from-the-lone-star-state.html https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/tipsy-texan-spirits-and-cocktails-from-the-lone-star-state.html Thu, 30 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000 David Alan, cocktail artist, beverage historian and keeper of a private mixology museum, has written Tipsy Texan. An early look at the book. Cocktails liquor Book https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/floating-dream.html https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/floating-dream.html Fri, 12 Apr 2013 12:00:00 +0000 A colorful little rowboat marina found under a Boston bridge, five minutes from the hotel, shot as a long exposure to soften the water. Photos Travel https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/google-sxsw-photowalk-with-trey-ratcliff.html https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/google-sxsw-photowalk-with-trey-ratcliff.html Sun, 24 Mar 2013 12:00:00 +0000 Three hundred photographers walk Lavaca and 6th during SXSW on Trey Ratcliff's annual photowalk. Werewolves and Darth Vader included. Photos https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/crossing-dark-waters.html https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/crossing-dark-waters.html Sat, 09 Mar 2013 12:00:00 +0000 A photograph made beside Google's San Francisco office, edited until the Bay Bridge fell away and only its lights were left crossing the water. Photos Travel https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/views-of-tedxaustin.html https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/views-of-tedxaustin.html Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:00:00 +0000 TEDxAustin at the Circuit of the Americas, where the audience walked over the main stage to reach their seats. The theme was Fearless. Photos TEDxAustin https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/scraps.html https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/scraps.html Mon, 18 Feb 2013 12:00:00 +0000 Tim Dornon, Paul Qui and Tatsu Aikawa cook a dinner from snapper heads and chicken skins at Ramen Tatsu-ya. Photographs from the Scraps dinner. Food Photos https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/the-lovely-details-of-new-orleans.html https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/the-lovely-details-of-new-orleans.html Mon, 21 Jan 2013 12:00:00 +0000 The tiled street names set into the sidewalks of New Orleans: impractical, easy to steal, and kept anyway because they are lovely. New Orleans Photos Travel https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/journey-to-the-beast-s-castle.html https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/journey-to-the-beast-s-castle.html Mon, 24 Dec 2012 12:00:00 +0000 Hunting for one good meal in the Magic Kingdom, where the food is cursed, and finding it inside Beast's Castle in the new Fantasyland. Disney Food Magic Kingdom Photos https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/two-curves.html https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/two-curves.html Sun, 16 Dec 2012 12:00:00 +0000 A haiku and a photograph: a gnarled branch curving around a dark bridge, and the river running on unimpressed beneath both. Austin Photos https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/the-perils-of-hot-dog-eating-contests.html https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/the-perils-of-hot-dog-eating-contests.html Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:00:00 +0000 Contestants at the Hope Farmer's Market hot dog eating contest do not look like they are enjoying it. The rest of us certainly were. Events Food https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/chef-challenge-paul-petersen-vs-josh-watkins.html https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/chef-challenge-paul-petersen-vs-josh-watkins.html Fri, 23 Nov 2012 12:00:00 +0000 Chefs Paul Petersen and Josh Watkins compete to pair Alaskan Brewing beers at the Central Market Cooking School in Austin, prep work and all. Events Food Beer Pairings Austin https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/glenmorangie-scotch-dinner.html https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/glenmorangie-scotch-dinner.html Sun, 11 Nov 2012 12:00:00 +0000 Pairing Scotch with food at Perry's Steakhouse in Austin. A Glenmorangie dinner, and the pork chop that talked me out of a prejudice. Food Pairings Photos Scotch https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/the-butterfly-evangelist.html https://www.hopsafari.com/essays/the-butterfly-evangelist.html Sat, 10 Nov 2012 12:00:00 +0000 Monika Maeckle of the Texas Butterfly Ranch tags a Monarch at TEDxSanAntonio, in a year she called the worst ever for butterflies. Photos