New Photo Tour Ideas? (Scranton, Bethlehem: middle-class, crime, home)

[ScranBarre]

Well, folks, I'm hitting a bit of a creative slump; I need you all to vote once again for what part of Northeastern Pennsylvania you'd like for me to capture next in a photo tour! I have brand new batteries in my trusty Kodak digital camera, and I'm ready to hit the streets. All of next week I'm working the evening shift and will have mornings free (Class is over), so I can potentially bring you FIVE new photo tours next week! Vote as many times as you'd like, and please feel free to elaborate below in a reply if there's a specific reason you want me to snap a certain area for you or simply to designate what particular area you want if you chose "Other." As always, have a great evening! -Paul

[paintballer1708]

I would like to see some of Wilkes Barre. Seems like such an interesting city. I havent been out that way in about 6 years. I was in Philly just a few weeks ago visiting my brother. Maybe next time im out there i will head up to the Scranton metro.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by paintballer1708

I would like to see some of Wilkes Barre. Seems like such an interesting city. I havent been out that way in about 6 years. I was in Philly just a few weeks ago visiting my brother. Maybe next time im out there i will head up to the Scranton metro.

Wilkes-Barre and Scranton have both changed quite a bit since 2000 (For the better I'm pleased to report). Wilkes-Barre is indeed an interesting, historic, architecturally-diverse, riverside city that garners a worse reputation that what it truly deserves. There have been some crime issues in the Diamond City in recent years, but the downtown is starting to bounce back to life after many years of succumbing to urban sprawl pressures. Retail is still nearly non-existent in Center City (Except for Boscov's Department Store), but nightlife has been springing up left and right in the new "Diamond City Entertainment District," which now includes a Barnes & Noble, Starbuck's, Mardi Gras Nightclub, FUSE Nightclub, Cinema 14, Campus Billiards, and Bart & Urby's Pub. All of these new ventures have sprung up this year, in what may be a turning point in the downtown's history.

1959: The Knox Mine Disaster just upriver claimed several lives and caused the collapse of the local anthracite mining industry, crippling the local economy.
1972: The remnants of Hurricane Agnes stalled out over the Wyoming Valley, submerging most of Wilkes-Barre and its inner suburbs as the Susquehanna River roared over its banks.
Post-1972-2005: Flooding fears sent much of Wilkes-Barre's middle-class fleeing towards newer housing developments in affluent suburban areas such as the Back Mountain and Mountain Top. Downtown businesses followed their consumers out to the suburbs, causing a retail shortage in Center City. Urban decay and rising crime become issues.
June, 2006: There's another close-call on the Susquehanna River, as 200,000 residents are evacuated out of fear that the levee system in Wilkes-Barre and its inner suburbs, erected after the 1972 Agnes Flood, will fail. Thankfully, Binghamton, NY received a lot of flooding, which helped to minimize the impact downriver and spared the much larger Wilkes-Barre area.
June, 2006-Present: Revitalization efforts pick up steam in Center City, and new businesses are beginning to pop up all over town.

[Spankee2]

Hi Wilkes-Barre. How about taking some pictures of Bethlehem, Pa? That would be nice and very much appreciated.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by Spankee2

Hi Wilkes-Barre. How about taking some pictures of Bethlehem, Pa? That would be nice and very much appreciated.

My uncle lives just outside of Bethlehem (Fountain Hill), and used to live right on Second Street in South Side. I've always wanted to head back to the city to snap some photos; if next week isn't too brutally cold or snowy, I'll gladly head down there some day to take some! I've been meaning to hit up the Moravian Bookstore to do some Christmas shopping anyways. The only drawback is that it's about an hour and fifteen minute drive from my home near Scranton; I need to make sure I have an entirely-free day next week.

[ScranBarre]

Twenty-four views and only one vote? C'mon folks! I enjoy taking pictures! If I see that only two people have voted by next week, then why should I even bother driving out of my way to please one person? VOTE EARLY; VOTE OFTEN!

[RADZ]

OK, How about Shickshinny?

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by RADZ

OK, How about Shickshinny?

I could do Shickshinny as long as that waving gorilla doesn't decide to get fresh with me! (If they still have it; I haven't been to town recently!)

[crackhead1620]

my husband and I are relocating from North Carolina to Miner's Mill next month and would like anything anyone can tell us about the neighborhood, thank you all so much

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by crackhead1620

my husband and I are relocating from North Carolina to Miner's Mill next month and would like anything anyone can tell us about the neighborhood, thank you all so much

Hey there Crackhead! (I just love saying that! LOL!) I just responded about Miners Mills in the other post you put out; go check it out! Since it looks as if Bear Creek and Wilkes-Barre are both neck-and-neck in this poll with a whopping four votes each, I'll probably photograph Wilkes-Barre on Monday (or Tuesday if Monday's rainy forecast holds true). I'll snap Downtown and North Wilkes-Barre, which includes Miners Mills.