Years ago, in what now seems like another life, I used to live above a bicycle store in Toronto on Queen Street West. Dot, my large deaf white cat, used to break into people’s apartments through open windows, stealing all manner of socks, which she would lay out on the deck like trophies. She would also make her way from the back over the roof of a nearby one story building to perch outside my studio window (much to the consternation of pedestrians on the sidewalk below).

I received word that Duke’s Cycle burnt to the ground in a 6 alarm fire earlier today. You can view more photos of the devastation here.

Photos from Kevin Steele and Martinho.

Photos from TheNextPicture, Jon.- and LalliSig.

Chinese the world over celebrate Chinese New Year. Life comes to a grinding halt as people make their way back home to spend time with family and friends. Two of the most recognizable symbols of the new year are mandarin oranges and red packets.

The mandarin oranges are given to family and friends as a sign of good fortune. In Cantonese, the humble mandarin orange is known as “kum” which sounds just like the word for gold. So in essence, we’re giving wealth when we give the fruit.

And the red packets are what children look forward to. They receive them from their elders. Inside each packet is money, usually in even denominations. Tradition says that elders and married couples should give red packets to singles, no matter their age, which often leads to the question of “When are you getting married?” when giving out the hong pow or ang pao as they are also called.

In Southeast Asia, unique foods not eaten elsewhere are part of the celebrations. There are pineapple tarts with more pineapple than tart and coconut biscuits called kueh bangkit that melt in your mouth. In Malaysia and Singapore, the most famous dish is Yu Sheng. It’s a colorful salad made of paper-thin slices of raw fish, finely grated cucumbers, carrots and other crunchy veggies, then garnished with candied melon and topped with crackers, red and white pickled ginger, pomelo sacs, sesame seeds, jellyfish and peanuts. All this is drizzled with a sweet plum sauce.

The family stands around the Yu Sheng and with chopsticks, start to toss the ingredients as high as they can, calling out their wishes for the new year as they do so. It’s messy. It’s fun. It’s delicious. It’s too bad we get to play with our food only once a year.

Photos from WE IS, w_yvr, lynac and su-lin.

Photos: Jördis!, Liberoliber, Henný G, Pink Sherbet Photography.

If you listened very closely, you might have been able to hear the gasp of horror that rippled through the Flickrverse on Friday. The cause? Polaroid has announced that they’re ceasing the production of instant film. I can’t imagine a world without Polaroid film and given its popularity on Flickr, I’m sure that’s a sentiment felt by many of my fellow members.

Polaroid groups on Flickr: polaroid, Polaroid -B&W, Polaroid Addiction Monkey, POLAROID EDGE, Polaroid SX 70, Polaroid 55, Polaroid Land Camera, Polaroid SX-70 Manipulation, Polaroid Abuse, Polaroid Transfers, and even more Polaroid groups or view photos in our Polaroid clusters.

Photos from sx70manipulator, dachuan_sheng, fitzhughfella and APES!!!.

We’re getting our ducks in a row for our annual birthday celebration.

If you’re in or around San Francisco, please save the evening of Saturday, March 15th for us. If you’re not round these parts, don’t fret. We’re working on an online event too! More info when we have it on the blog and on Upcoming (where you can RSVP).

Photos from stechico.

To most Asians, Chinese New Year is the most important festival within the year. We can definitely feel the joy and share the cheers with the Chinese community around the world.

We wish you all the best in the Year of the Rat and please don’t forget to share your fabulous New Year photos with us! Kung Hei Fat Choi (a traditional way to greet during the Chinese New Year)!

Photos from pseudofiles﹐ colleeninhawaii﹐tommyajohansson﹐ maiapapaya﹐ and papayahs.

The 2008 Beijing Olympics are coming up this summer, and those of us interested in architecture have been watching as the Chinese Organizers have commissioned and built two genuinely bold, interesting and signature buildings for the host city. The Chinese Capitol is undergoing some big changes that go beyond the Games, and express the aspirations of a newly confident world power.

Photos from tschaut and chrisbosse.

Thanks to A Daily Dose of Architecture for the suggestion.

James Horan Shoots People has photographed this year’s Ash Wednesday blessing ceremony in Dublin. (Me? I’m researching Hot Cross Bun recipes.)

“February 1984, WInston-Salem, NC. This was probably the first story I worked on with Keith Lawrence, a writer who also went on to work at the Baton Rouge paper with me. It was a long and fruitful pairing that resulted in many good features. The only thing I recall from this story was when Kazer referred to the long pole with the noose at the end as “the long arm of the law.” But I never got a good picture of him using it.” — ReyGuy

Photos from ReyGuy in Deputy Sheriff Ed Kazer: Dog catcher.