UnDutchable

I visited the Dutch city of Groningen (the "Gro" is pronounced with a sound more guttural than you'd like to hear) a few days ago for an international conference called "Silence and Religion in Film" at the University of Groningen. While I lived in the Netherlands from 2000 to 2004 to do doctoral studies at the Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen (now Radboud University), I never had the chance to visit this northern Dutch city. From what I know, it's considered rather far flung as compared to the more popular cities such as Amsterdam, the Hague, Utrecht, Rotterdam, and Nijmegen. But I have to say, the city center is quite beautiful; the main landmark is the 15th Century Martinitoren ("Martini Tower," right photo), the tallest steeple in Groningen at 318.24 feet. 

How's this for contrast. 

Canal writing shack, anyone?   

Groningen is known as "World Biking City" with 

bicycles making up 57% of its total transportation. 

The Dutch are said to be bike riders from birth.

Some scenes from the Vismarkt or Fish Market. I really enjoyed eating Gebakken Mosselen and Kibbeling (fried mussels and cod) from the fish carts like I used to when I was a student. The vendor was mortified that I ate my Kibbeling with sambal (Indonesian chili sauce) instead of the customary mayo-based remoulade!

The best of bold Dutch humor: an engaged young man put

himself in a guillotine pillory with a banner that says, 
"This young man is getting married, kiss him quick!" 
As you see in the second pic, some guy gamely obliged. 

Per my request, long-time Dutch friend Patrick 

took me out to the Pannenkoekenschip (pancake ship) 

for a Dutch pancake dinner. Normally, pancakes are 

lunch fare.

Apple-and-Cheese Pancakes with molasses. 

Lekker!

At a pub called Drie Gezusters (Three Sisters). 

It had hundreds of beer selections, none of which 

I could sample because of my allergy to anything 

alcoholic. I kid you not.

But what's this I see lurking in the shadows... 

why it's an Olivetti Lexikon 80! So not 

all was lost in my alcohol-free nightlife.

The colorful and quirky Groninger Museum. It would've been criminal to post this in black and white.

* Post title borrowed from the book The UnDutchables by Colin White and Laurie Boucke. Check here.

Re-visiting Polt

Richard Polt's work space at Xavier University in Cincinnati is a seamless admixture of academic office and typewriter workshop. As you can see, typewriters are happily wedded to books.    

One of Richard's latest acquisitions is a handsome antique
Stoewer Record standard, which you see parked behind the
smaller but equally fetching Stoewer Elite. I decided not
to post my other shots of the Record so as not to pre-empt
Richard's upcoming post about it. Both are vintage 1920's
German machines.  

No shortage of eye candy here, including a

pink(!) Triumph De-Jur and the understated 

hispano Andina Especial.

I had mixed feelings about the chrome
Olivetti Studio 44 Richard snagged from
Berkeley Typewriter. It's cool and
unique for sure, but the chroming does
not quite harmonize with the charcoal 
gray plastic keys.

I expected the worst from the brand new Royal Scrittore- 
it definitely gets an "F" for precision -but to be fair, 
it doesn't feel flimsy and the typing action has a pleasant 
spring to it.

Of course, I had to do the mandatory visit to Spitzfaden Office Supply where I conveniently swiped all the Olivetti ribbons left in stock. Yay! And below is the Royal HH Richard scored for WordPlay's Urban Legend gift shop; you see it here parked in the car trunk in its sorry pre-makeover state. For the Before and After story, check Eraserhead.

You haven't seen the last of me, Richard Polt, I'll be back (yet again)!

*  See my previous Polt visit in Typewriter Masterclass with the Jedi Master

* I've been getting an awful lot of spam so please bear with word verification. Thanks.

The Urban Legend and the Typewriter Doctor

The iconic image of Burmese freedom fighter and Nobel laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as street art, that was the vivid and appropriate image that welcomed me to The Urban Legend Institute, the newly opened store of WordPlay. The latter is a Cincinnati-based non-profit "dedicated to helping children find their voices through literacy and creative expression;" the former is its gift shop envisioned to be a fun and creative outlet for folkloric art and curios. 

I was lucky to get the chance to visit a couple of days ago, thanks to the typosphere's own "legend" Richard Polt and executive director Libby Hunter, who obliged to show me around a couple of hours prior to opening time. 

WordPlay immediately struck me as a special place. With its gestalt of artful vintage pieces matched by Libby's charisma and infectious energy (you have to meet her in person, she's awesome), I sensed magic in the air; this is a haven for creativity and possibility. 

I was happy to see my old friend, Olivetti Studio 46,
now a certified WordPlay resident

Importantly, Urban Legend is also a place to score typewriters that
have been refurbed by an officially designated in-house typewriter
doctor by the name of Richard Polt. As evidenced by the framed ad below,
typewriter repair is Richard's real calling; teaching Philosophy is
just a hobby.

This handsome Halda was spoken for. It sold for
$70, quite reasonable for a relatively rare
machine that was serviced by the typewriter doc.

My typing moment with the typewriter doc. The difference in scale
between us is not due to the camera angle, it's pretty accurate. I am
5'9" and Richard is 6'7". 

Many thanks to Richard and Libby for the warmth and inspiration. On my next visit, I hope to catch the kids in action.

You wouldn't think I'd pass up the chance to check out Richard's updated collection, would you? We'll save that for Part 2.

On another note, it's funny that Richard and I are both attending academic conferences in a few days but as of Monday, neither of us had completed prep for our respective presentations. As you see, we've been busy with more urgent matters. ( :

* See Richard's post on WordPlay's Word Jam and Type-a-Thon and Wordplay's official site.

Olivetti Typeraker

Critical dystopia akin to Bradbury/Truffaut 
book-burning scenes in Fahrenheit 451

Michael Kerbow's art 

ignites social commentary... 

Pile says it all. It's part of a series
called "Consumption."

Graveyard of cars in the apocalyptic piece The Witching Hour.

* The riveting artwork of Michael Kerbow here.
* Typecast via Montgomery Ward Escort 55/Olivetti Lettera 32.