Capitalism. For 15 years I lived in a little town in the west of England. Butcher, grocery, pub, pub, post office, mechanic, Indian restaurant, hardware, pool, tennis courts, doctors office. All walking less than 1/4 mile. You don't really get that here anymore. Maybe a few places. Not many. I'm kind of solitary, but kind of knew everyone anyway. My wife is social and got stopped in the street every time we walked. My wife cursed the weather couldn't wait to get back. Now she misses it. I do too.
90% of what you saw is not even Orlando and outside of city limits. Try visiting the areas north of the 528 which is in the city limits before writing such a silly piece devoid of any research, intellect, and sense.
Chris, I’m a little embarrassed by my earlier comment because I knew nothing of your personal backstory, your story on Orlando had been sent to me by a friend, so I just wrongfully assumed you were just some talented blogger that deserved some much earned praise. I wanted to make sure you continue to do what you do so well, I can see now from your level of dedication to photography and writing that of course that concern is irrelevant. Keep up the outstanding work, I’m just now checking out your work on Flickr and hope to see your recent book as well, best of luck and stay safe.
I would like to send you a modest contribution as you are enabling me to experience places I would love to see, but as way leads on to way, I probably won't. Consider it buying you a few beers on your next walk. Email for details.
It’s always refreshing to see someone find the beauty in what might more often than not be called Urban Blight. Your photographs are beautiful as well as heartbreaking in their own way, for what they represent, human beings/corporations leaving their imprint on this place, usually for the worse rather than the better. Reading your post reminds me that there’s a genuine adventure lurking almost everywhere, if you’re just willing to make a little effort to get out and look around. Thanks for taking me along on this one, it was very illuminating to say the least.
Another great article, Chris. If you decide to walk across Waterbury or Bridgeport let me know. That’s my neck of the woods. I’ll join you for beers after. :)
To be an Orlando-native is to be perennially surprised when an outsider remarks on the weirdness of your homeland.
Great essay though (like all your writing). If you ever come back, the Orlando ‘burbs (especially in Seminole County) might be more your style. Still lots of working class people, immigrants etc., but also morel easily identifiable artifacts of organic community (especially churches).
Not far over from OBT you would’ve seen the Pulse memorial, memorializing an event that defined a piece of Orlando and intersects multiple unique communities.
You also weren’t far from the Vietnamese neighborhood off Colonial- a close-knit community (and authentic pho).
Puerto Rican community all up Semoran Rd.
The city stays young bc a top five largest university in the country is here.
There’s a lot of character in Thornton Park, College Park, winter park, and Windermere though not the back row you were seeking.
You walked through the convention center part of town then up OBT. You’re going to see things catering to convention-goers/tourists and johns respectively.
I have spent too many miserable days and nights in "Convention-Center-Land". I think Chris gives it too much credit. It's much worse than he describes.
I think I attended 10 to 15 or more conventions there (I lost count and have tried to put it out of my memory), and Orlando is easily the worst place to be for a convention in the United States.
I have been all around Florida, and I will NEVER go back there again voluntarily. I know people like to go there because of the weather, but that is is one of the reasons I hate it there.
The humidity is off the charts. On the hot days (which is most of the time) it feels like you are in a sauna, where the temp goes up by the hour, regulated by some lunatic until you feel like you are in a pot of boiling water.
In the afternoon, there is a thunderstorm, that you think will make it feel better, but it does the opposite as you devolve into a puddle of sweat, bugs and sunburn.
The only good memory I have of Orlando is when arriving for convention in my rental car, the day of a Shuttle launch, I could see the liftoff from Cape Canaveral 55 mils away. I pulled to the side of the road near my Convention-Center-Land hotel, mouth agape.
Yet another great read Chris. Kind of reminds me of the setting for a George Saunders short story, CivilWarLand in bad decline? It could be worse than having Buffalo Wild Wings mainlined into my arteries.
Have you seen the Stroads video by Not Just Bikes on Youtube?
Damn, boy...solid, depressing stuff. Makes me feel VERY good about our decision as parents never to go to a Disney property.
Before calling someone's home soulless maybe look up the walking trails in Orlando before doing your walking tour of our city?
"Bike Trails - City of Orlando" https://www.orlando.gov/Parking-Transportation/Bike-Trails-and-Paths
Discontent is a luxury of the well-to-do.
Capitalism. For 15 years I lived in a little town in the west of England. Butcher, grocery, pub, pub, post office, mechanic, Indian restaurant, hardware, pool, tennis courts, doctors office. All walking less than 1/4 mile. You don't really get that here anymore. Maybe a few places. Not many. I'm kind of solitary, but kind of knew everyone anyway. My wife is social and got stopped in the street every time we walked. My wife cursed the weather couldn't wait to get back. Now she misses it. I do too.
90% of what you saw is not even Orlando and outside of city limits. Try visiting the areas north of the 528 which is in the city limits before writing such a silly piece devoid of any research, intellect, and sense.
Chris, I’m a little embarrassed by my earlier comment because I knew nothing of your personal backstory, your story on Orlando had been sent to me by a friend, so I just wrongfully assumed you were just some talented blogger that deserved some much earned praise. I wanted to make sure you continue to do what you do so well, I can see now from your level of dedication to photography and writing that of course that concern is irrelevant. Keep up the outstanding work, I’m just now checking out your work on Flickr and hope to see your recent book as well, best of luck and stay safe.
I would like to send you a modest contribution as you are enabling me to experience places I would love to see, but as way leads on to way, I probably won't. Consider it buying you a few beers on your next walk. Email for details.
It’s always refreshing to see someone find the beauty in what might more often than not be called Urban Blight. Your photographs are beautiful as well as heartbreaking in their own way, for what they represent, human beings/corporations leaving their imprint on this place, usually for the worse rather than the better. Reading your post reminds me that there’s a genuine adventure lurking almost everywhere, if you’re just willing to make a little effort to get out and look around. Thanks for taking me along on this one, it was very illuminating to say the least.
Love this content
Another great article, Chris. If you decide to walk across Waterbury or Bridgeport let me know. That’s my neck of the woods. I’ll join you for beers after. :)
You are a national treasure. This series deserves the Pulitzer Prize.
To be an Orlando-native is to be perennially surprised when an outsider remarks on the weirdness of your homeland.
Great essay though (like all your writing). If you ever come back, the Orlando ‘burbs (especially in Seminole County) might be more your style. Still lots of working class people, immigrants etc., but also morel easily identifiable artifacts of organic community (especially churches).
Not far over from OBT you would’ve seen the Pulse memorial, memorializing an event that defined a piece of Orlando and intersects multiple unique communities.
You also weren’t far from the Vietnamese neighborhood off Colonial- a close-knit community (and authentic pho).
Puerto Rican community all up Semoran Rd.
The city stays young bc a top five largest university in the country is here.
There’s a lot of character in Thornton Park, College Park, winter park, and Windermere though not the back row you were seeking.
You walked through the convention center part of town then up OBT. You’re going to see things catering to convention-goers/tourists and johns respectively.
I have spent too many miserable days and nights in "Convention-Center-Land". I think Chris gives it too much credit. It's much worse than he describes.
I think I attended 10 to 15 or more conventions there (I lost count and have tried to put it out of my memory), and Orlando is easily the worst place to be for a convention in the United States.
I have been all around Florida, and I will NEVER go back there again voluntarily. I know people like to go there because of the weather, but that is is one of the reasons I hate it there.
The humidity is off the charts. On the hot days (which is most of the time) it feels like you are in a sauna, where the temp goes up by the hour, regulated by some lunatic until you feel like you are in a pot of boiling water.
In the afternoon, there is a thunderstorm, that you think will make it feel better, but it does the opposite as you devolve into a puddle of sweat, bugs and sunburn.
The only good memory I have of Orlando is when arriving for convention in my rental car, the day of a Shuttle launch, I could see the liftoff from Cape Canaveral 55 mils away. I pulled to the side of the road near my Convention-Center-Land hotel, mouth agape.
It was an amazing sight to see.
Yet another great read Chris. Kind of reminds me of the setting for a George Saunders short story, CivilWarLand in bad decline? It could be worse than having Buffalo Wild Wings mainlined into my arteries.