John R. Bennett
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johnreidbennett.bsky.social
John R. Bennett
@johnreidbennett.bsky.social
1.4K followers 1.1K following 2.9K posts
Assistant professor of public administration, biking and walking advocate, community radio DJ, and bird feeder attendant in Savannah, Georgia.
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johnreidbennett.bsky.social
🚲 + ☕ + 🥯 = Friday
A photograph of the front counter at Waters Cafe on Waters Avenue in Savannah, Georgia. The ceiling is painted black, but the walls are brightly colored. A menu board is behind the counter. A large plant hangs from the ceiling. Two people are eating breakfast and reading books at a table in the back corner.
November 28, 2025 at 3:32 PM
johnreidbennett.bsky.social
Holiday tradition in Savannah: Two Tides Brewing Company Metal Fest on Black Friday.
November 26, 2025 at 10:41 PM
johnreidbennett.bsky.social
Morning walk. It's warm today in Savannah.
A photograph of the Atlantic Avenue Mall in Savannah, Georgia's Ardsley Park - Chatham Crescent Historic District looking south toward Savannah Arts Academy (Formerly Savannah Hight School). Palm trees are on both sides of the central promenade. Sweetgum trees are on the edges of the photo. "The neighborhood known as Ardsley Park is in fact the result of two planned subdivisions that were laid out in 1909 and 1910. This was a time of great growth and prosperity in Savannah and the handsome, substantial houses of the neighborhood reflect this affluence. The developers of Ardsley Park, Savannah-natives Harry Hays Lattimore and William Lattimore, laid out the neighborhood according to a strict grid with one-acre landscaped parks placed in regular intervals and offset along the north-south corridor of Abercorn Street. Like Savannah’s downtown squares, these green spaces serve as central parks for some of the neighborhood's finest houses. Chatham Crescent comprises approximately two-thirds of the neighborhood and features a number of interesting city planning and urban features, such as a grand mall, crescent-shaped avenues, and small circular parks set into a grid of streets and lanes that align with the Ardsley Park neighborhood. This street alignment, along with architectural consistency, make the area appear to be one unified development. The area was developed by civic leader Harvey Granger. Henri Bignault, who trained at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, designed Chatham Crescent, Georgia’s only known example of the City Beautiful movement." — Historic Savannah Foundation
November 26, 2025 at 3:04 PM
johnreidbennett.bsky.social
Bluesky friends, what's your favorite shoe oil? I'm a Huberd's man, myself.
A photograph of a can of Huberd's Shoe Oil. It's a white can with blue letters reading "Original Huberd's Shoe Oil Since 1929. Waterproofs, softens, and preserves leather. Shake before using. Trade Mark Registered. 8 FL Oz. (227.3 ml). The can has a drawing of a boot on it, with an oval cutaway with a man's face on it. (Huberd, presumably). The can is leaning against a pair of Rancort Gilman camp moccasins.
November 25, 2025 at 7:25 PM
johnreidbennett.bsky.social
In my South Georgia town, if you hooked the cable TV coax to your stereo with one of these things, you could listen to WKLS-FM out of Atlanta. Late on Sunday nights, 96 Rock deviated from its standard AOR format and played "weird" music. That's how I heard Radio Free Europe for the first time.
November 25, 2025 at 2:21 PM
johnreidbennett.bsky.social
Over the weekend, I watched an episode of The Lawrence Welk Show on South Carolina Public Television. By doing so, I'm afraid I unwittingly allowed beings from another dimension to enter my home. Example:
November 25, 2025 at 2:07 PM
johnreidbennett.bsky.social
I call this one "Sunrise over a Starcraft Ford E-450 Super Duty 12-passenger shuttle bus." #art
November 23, 2025 at 7:58 PM
johnreidbennett.bsky.social
Finally, a local roofing company that shares my appreciation for the 1970s science fiction show SPACE: 1999.
The insignia for Moonbase Alpha from season 1 of Space: 1999, a British science fiction television program that ran for two series from 1975 to 1977. The image shows the moon being orbited by earth, with the words Alpha Moonbase in all caps. The program, set in the year 1999, follows the 311 inhabitants of Moonbase Alpha, which is hurtling uncontrollably into space due to an explosion of nuclear waste stored on the Moon's far side. A photograph of a yard sign with the words Alpha Roofing Systems in a font similar to that used on the Moonbase Alpha logo.
November 19, 2025 at 1:41 PM
johnreidbennett.bsky.social
Seen on my morning walk: Benches made of reclaimed wood from two giant live oak trees that once stood in Savannah's McCauley Park. Beloved by neighborhood kids, who named them "Spider Web” and “Twister,” the trees came down in 2022 and 2024. The third photo is of one of the trees from June 2022.
A photograph of a park bench on the north side of McCauley Park, Savannah, Georgia's Ardsley Park - Chatham Crescent Historic District. The wood was reclaimed from live oak trees that once stood in the park by Re:Purpose Savannah, a women+ led 501(c)3 nonprofit establishing a sustainable future through the deconstruction, salvage, and reuse of historic buildings. A photograph of a park bench on the west side of McCauley Park, Savannah, Georgia's Ardsley Park - Chatham Crescent Historic District. The wood was reclaimed from live oak trees that once stood in the park by Re:Purpose Savannah, a women+ led 501(c)3 nonprofit establishing a sustainable future through the deconstruction, salvage, and reuse of historic buildings. A photograph of a live oak tree in McCauley Park, Savannah, Georgia's Ardsley Park - Chatham Crescent Historic District. I think this is the one the kids called Twister.
November 18, 2025 at 6:36 PM
johnreidbennett.bsky.social
Watched part of a men talking about college football program on teevee yesterday and I’m unsure what the image visible through the “window” behind the men is supposed to evoke. Looks like an interior view of a collapsing parking garage to me. 🤷‍♂️🏈
November 16, 2025 at 7:17 PM
johnreidbennett.bsky.social
A half marathon was routed through our neighborhood this morning, so we spent some time on the front porch observing how drivers reacted to street closures. I'm pleased to report that most behaved like adults, but some expressed their frustration via their accelerator pedals.
November 15, 2025 at 10:55 PM
johnreidbennett.bsky.social
Arrived early for the honor society induction ceremony this evening, so I got to check out the exhibition by local artist "Panhandle Slim" in the library.
A photograph taken inside the Asa H. Gordon Library on the campus of Savannah State University. Each piece features an illustration of a notable historic figure with a quote from them. They are painted on pieces of plywood.
November 15, 2025 at 12:08 AM
johnreidbennett.bsky.social
Free Item Friday at the neighborhood grocery store is a wild ride. Two weeks ago, it was a gravy mix packet, which usually sells for $0.59. Last week, it was a frozen pizza, which usually sells for $5.99! This week, it's a box of four (4) crayons.
November 14, 2025 at 7:03 PM
johnreidbennett.bsky.social
One of the fun things about welcoming a new robot vacuum into your home is discovering which pieces of furniture absolutely wreck it. This chair is its nemesis.
A photograph of a 1940s cantilever chair in front of a bookshelf. The robot vacuum gets hung up on the cantilever part.
November 14, 2025 at 3:36 PM
johnreidbennett.bsky.social
🚲 + ☕ + 🥯 = Friday
A photograph of Waters Cafe on Waters Avenue in Savannah, Georgia.
November 14, 2025 at 3:09 PM
johnreidbennett.bsky.social
A friend is restoring an old drink machine like this. My wife is designing a vinyl wrap for him so he can rebrand it as a Dr. Nut machine.
November 14, 2025 at 1:41 AM
johnreidbennett.bsky.social
Went to the doctor about my arm pain and it turns out I have a case of ...
A close-up of a macaroni and cheese box with the words "Deluxe Cheddar Elbows."
November 11, 2025 at 5:14 PM
johnreidbennett.bsky.social
The coach of my high school's football team has a great name.
A graphic congratulating Valdosta High School football coach as Coach of the Year. His name is Dr. Shelton Felton.
November 10, 2025 at 4:46 PM
johnreidbennett.bsky.social
For my Superchunk people.
A screenshot of a Mamdani political sign generator referencing the title of Superchunk's second LP, which was released in the year 1991.
November 8, 2025 at 11:17 PM
johnreidbennett.bsky.social
Joe Strummer voice: "Know your rights."
A photograph of a sandwich board sign in front of the Jones Red and White grocery store in Savannah, Georgia. It has a photo of sushi on it and reads: "We make fresh sushi every day. Fresh sushi is not a luxury, it is a right!"
November 8, 2025 at 6:56 PM
johnreidbennett.bsky.social
Clever product packaging at the used art supply store.
A photograph of bags of used pens at the Starlandia art supply store in Savannah, Georgia's Starland District. One bag of pens is labeled "Pens that used Chat GPT to finish their final paper: $3.50." The other is labeled "Pens that only work for gay people: $2.50."
November 8, 2025 at 5:50 PM
johnreidbennett.bsky.social
So many regulars at my falafel spot, they start cooking their orders as soon as they walk in the door. A postal carrier poked his head in for only a moment, saying nothing. The person at the counter saw him and relayed his usual order to the grill man.
A photograph of the front counter and kitchen at the Al Salaam Deli on Habersham Street in Savannah, Georgia.
November 7, 2025 at 7:54 PM
johnreidbennett.bsky.social
🚲 + ☕ + 🥯 = Friday!
A photograph of a bicycle locked to a bike rack in Front of Waters Cafe on Waters Avenue in Savannah, Georgia.
November 7, 2025 at 2:37 PM
johnreidbennett.bsky.social
Today I'm wearing my watch from high school. Yes, that's right, it still fits.
A photograph of a Timex manual watch from the 1980s. It has a white face with Roman numerals, a gold (not real gold) case, and a red and navy grosgrain watch band.
November 6, 2025 at 5:42 PM
johnreidbennett.bsky.social
I was running late this morning so I had to scramble to make it to my precinct and still arrive on campus on time, but I didn’t want to face my American Government class without a sticker.
November 4, 2025 at 6:39 PM