Kevin Irvine
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kevinirvine.bsky.social
Kevin Irvine
@kevinirvine.bsky.social
490 followers 590 following 99 posts
transit & disability inclusion geek. flâneur. Rush Univ. Medical Ctr. disabilities recruiter, in Chicago. Docs w/ Disabilities Initiative adv. committee. Active Transportation Alliance & Illinois Workforce Innovation Board member. 55 y.o. HIV+ bleeder
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kevinirvine.bsky.social
Edison Service on the winter solstice, in Chicago, for #ManholeCoverMonday 🌞
@giegerj.bsky.social @jillthewheel.bsky.social @robertloerzel.bsky.social @jjtindall.bsky.social @sparrersway.bsky.social @rogersparkman.bsky.social @slucy.bsky.social @robinross.bsky.social @jlempieri.bsky.social
Monochrome photo. Rectangular iron utility cover in the sidewalk in the foreground, a street lined with decorative fencing and light posts in the background, all lit by a very intense late-afternoon sun, low in the sky.
December 22, 2025 at 3:14 PM
kevinirvine.bsky.social
From my archive, a trio of covers from Melrose, Massachusetts, for #ManholeCoverMonday
1&2. M.E. Co., Union Foundry Co., Fitchburg, Mass
3. M.E. Co.
4. Electric ⚡️ Service
@robertloerzel.bsky.social @sparrersway.bsky.social @rogersparkman.bsky.social @sparrersway.bsky.social @ironcovers.bsky.social
Close up of a round iron cover with “M.E. Co.” in a serif typeface and the the foundry’s name and town in a sans serif type. Words are surrounded by concentric circles. round iron cover with “M.E. Co.” in a serif typeface and the the foundry’s name and town in a sans serif type. Words are surrounded by concentric circles. Round iron cover with a pattern of hash marks and the letters “M. E. Co.” Round iron cover with the word ELECTRIC over the word SERVICE, with a horizontal lightning bolt in between the words.
December 8, 2025 at 11:29 PM
kevinirvine.bsky.social
Happy #ManholeCoverMonday from snowy Chicago, featuring the @chicagocta.bsky.social Holiday Bus!
@robertloerzel.bsky.social @rogersparkman.bsky.social @sparrersway.bsky.social @jjtindall.bsky.social @jlempieri.bsky.social @jillthewheel.bsky.social @dmercer.bsky.social @willpunctuate.bsky.social
December 1, 2025 at 3:30 PM
kevinirvine.bsky.social
A EJIW cover in front of a house in Providence, Rhode Island, where I stayed for a couple months over the summer of 1990. Some friends had an apartment on the 2nd floor. #ManholeCoverMonday
@robertloerzel.bsky.social @jlempieri.bsky.social @jjtindall.bsky.social @sparrersway.bsky.social
Round iron utility cover with a diamond pattern and a box in the middle with the words “City of Providence.” Round iron utility cover in the street in the foreground. White, wooden three story house with a front patio in the background, plus another house, power lines and blue sky. street in the foreground. White, wooden three story house with a front patio in the background, plus another house, power lines, trees and blue sky.
November 24, 2025 at 2:33 PM
kevinirvine.bsky.social
Monochrome and somewhat abstract of leaves and sky as viewed through the cracked window of a CTA rail car in Chicago.
November 7, 2025 at 10:34 PM
kevinirvine.bsky.social
Ready for Halloween, in Chicago’s West Lawn neighborhood, on #ManholeCoverMonday
@emb-cit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy @robertloerzel.bsky.social @jjtindall.bsky.social @rogersparkman.bsky.social @willpunctuate.bsky.social @sparrersway.bsky.social @dmercer.bsky.social @jamesfinngarner.bsky.social
Round iron Chicago Sewer cover in the intersection of a residential neighborhood. In the background are houses with Halloween decorations on them. It’s daytime and the skies are overcast. Halloween decorations on the corner, between the sidewalk and the street, composed of a family of skeletons, some sitting in chairs, some standing, some are humans and others are small domestic animals. The standing human skeletons are wearing silver and black capes and black top hats. One holds a trumpet, the other a saxophone.
October 27, 2025 at 8:49 PM
kevinirvine.bsky.social
How many marchers have walked (or rolled) over these downtown Chicago covers? #ManholeCoverMonday #NoKings
@robertloerzel.bsky.social @giegerj.bsky.social @jjtindall.bsky.social @sparrersway.bsky.social @rogersparkman.bsky.social @willpunctuate.bsky.social @dmercer.bsky.social @slucy.bsky.social
October 20, 2025 at 4:22 PM
kevinirvine.bsky.social
Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District, Wisconsin, for #ManholeCoverMonday
@jamesfinngarner.bsky.social @robertloerzel.bsky.social @dmercer.bsky.social @jjtindall.bsky.social @jlempieri.bsky.social @rogersparkman.bsky.social @sparrersway.bsky.social @jillinois606.bsky.social @slucy.bsky.social
Old round iron cover surrounded by dead grass. It’s got a pattern of raised round studs and a hole at its center.
October 14, 2025 at 2:12 AM
kevinirvine.bsky.social
From Chicago’s Riot Fest, in Douglass Park, a sewer cover underfoot and Bad Religion playing their 1988 record, “Suffer,” for #ManholeCoverMonday
@robertloerzel.bsky.social @rogersparkman.bsky.social @jjtindall.bsky.social @sparrersway.bsky.social @jlempieri.bsky.social @willpunctuate.bsky.social
October 7, 2025 at 2:52 AM
kevinirvine.bsky.social
On the rails to Chicago for #ManholeCoverMonday
@robertloerzel.bsky.social @rogersparkman.bsky.social @jlempieri.bsky.social @jjtindall.bsky.social @willpunctuate.bsky.social @dmercer.bsky.social @sparrersway.bsky.social @slucy.bsky.social @jillthewheel.bsky.social @jillinois606.bsky.social
Round grate cover sits by some railroad tracks that lead to the Chicago skyline in the distance, miles away, on a clear sunny day.
September 30, 2025 at 1:15 AM
kevinirvine.bsky.social
Happy #ManholeCoverMonday from Chicago’s Ravenswood Art Walk and the www.joelpaterson.com trio
@robertloerzel.bsky.social @emb-cit.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy @rogersparkman.bsky.social @sparrersway.bsky.social @willpunctuate.bsky.social @jjtindall.bsky.social @jillthewheel.bsky.social
September 15, 2025 at 1:44 PM
kevinirvine.bsky.social
Chicago’s “Sundays on State” soundtracked by @chicagosinfonietta.bsky.social for #ManholeCoverMonday
@rogersparkman.bsky.social @robertloerzel.bsky.social @jlempieri.bsky.social @sparrersway.bsky.social @jjtindall.bsky.social @giegerj.bsky.social @slucy.bsky.social @jillinois606.bsky.social
September 8, 2025 at 1:11 PM
kevinirvine.bsky.social
“TEL. Co.” - AKA branding opportunity - from Temecula, California, for #ManholeCoverMonday
@robertloerzel.bsky.social @jlempieri.bsky.social @jjtindall.bsky.social @rogersparkman.bsky.social @sparrersway.bsky.social @willpunctuate.bsky.social @slucy.bsky.social @jillinois606.bsky.social
Round iron utility cover with a hexagon pattern and the words TEL. Co. in its center.
September 2, 2025 at 1:22 AM
kevinirvine.bsky.social
When I spotted this "VIW" (Vulcan Iron Works?) cover at Chicago's Bohemian National Cemetery, I thought it was dated 1896. Close-up, it looks more like an "S" than an "8." #ManholeCoverMonday
@robertloerzel.bsky.social @rogersparkman.bsky.social @sparrersway.bsky.social @jjtindall.bsky.social
Round drain cover with concentric rings of round and oval-shaped holes and round, raised studs. In the background is a Renaissance Revival crematorium, with red tiled round roofs and granite columns, plus some trees and dramatic puffy clouds in a blue sky. Close up of a drain cover with concentric rings of round and oval-shaped holes and round, raised studs. In the center are the characters, "V I W 1S96"
August 25, 2025 at 4:08 PM
kevinirvine.bsky.social
From Taste of Chicago - Albany Park, it’s #ManholeCoverMonday, #TouchOfEvil edition, feat. Los Gaiteros de Pueblo Santo. Eat your heart out, Orson Welles!
@robertloerzel.bsky.social @rogersparkman.bsky.social @sparrersway.bsky.social @jjtindall.bsky.social @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social
August 11, 2025 at 1:44 PM
kevinirvine.bsky.social
The Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. started in 1906 in San Francisco, but this cover was found in Seattle, for #ManholeCoverMonday
@robertloerzel.bsky.social @rogersparkman.bsky.social @jjtindall.bsky.social @jlempieri.bsky.social @willpunctuate.bsky.social @sparrersway.bsky.social
Round iron cover with a hashmark pattern, a ring of circles over the marks, concentric rings around a hole at its center and a ring of letters, “T P T & T Co.” Vintage sign for The Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. has a bell-shaped logo at its center has these words on it, “Local and Long Distance Telephone” and below that, the words “Bell System.”
August 4, 2025 at 2:21 PM
kevinirvine.bsky.social
From Seattle, Washington, a sewer cover near a monkey puzzle tree (best tree name ever!) for #ManholeCoverMonday
@jamesfinngarner.bsky.social @robertloerzel.bsky.social @rogersparkman.bsky.social @sparrersway.bsky.social @jjtindall.bsky.social @jillthewheel.bsky.social @jlempieri.bsky.social
Foreground is a round iron sewer cover with a hash mark pattern in a residential intersection. In the background is a light blue house adjacent to a massive evergreen tree with wavy branches covered with thousands of spiky leaves. Closer up pic of the monkey puzzle tree in the front yard of a residential corner lot, with a cute light blue house with white trim behind it.
July 15, 2025 at 12:48 AM
kevinirvine.bsky.social
That was a fantastic set! Great to bump into you here, Robert!
July 14, 2025 at 2:02 AM
kevinirvine.bsky.social
Happy #ManholeCoverMonday from #TwinPeaks country, Snoqualmie & North Bend, Washington! Any of these spots look familiar?
@robertloerzel.bsky.social @jjtindall.bsky.social @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social @rogersparkman.bsky.social @sparrersway.bsky.social @jlempieri.bsky.social @ironcovers.bsky.social
Round iron cover with a depiction of a waterfall at its center, under the words "City of Snoqualmie" and it is encircled by the words "Confined Space - Sewer, Made in USA, EJIW" Foreground is round iron cover with the words "Sanitary Sewer" on it. Background is a street, streetlight and Twede's RR Cafe with patrons walking by. Distant background is a partially tree-covered mountain, Mt. Si, with dark clouds overhead. An old steel railroad bridge converted into a pedestrian bridge over a river, with trees and a small beach lining the riverbank in the background, along with some dark clouds and the massive Mt. Si. Selfie of me, middle-aged white guy wearing sunglasses, with a large waterfall in the background, along with a hotel perched on the rocks to one side of the falls. Huge pine trees line the other side.
July 7, 2025 at 1:36 PM
kevinirvine.bsky.social
Happy LGBTQIA Pride
month from Seattle, #ManholeCoverMonday peeps!
@robertloerzel.bsky.social @rogersparkman.bsky.social @willpunctuate.bsky.social @jjtindall.bsky.social @sparrersway.bsky.social @giegerj.bsky.social @dmercer.bsky.social @jillthewheel.bsky.social @ironcovers.bsky.social
Well worn round iron cover with a C and M design at its center, surrounded by worn raised square studs. In the background, Seattle’s LGBTQ parade is happening, only visible through the crowds of spectators thanks to the rainbow Pride and transgender pride flags waved by parade marchers.
July 1, 2025 at 4:46 AM
kevinirvine.bsky.social
Kerskamp Bros. foundry, Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, found in Kohler, WI, for #ManholeCoverMonday
@robertloerzel.bsky.social @jlempieri.bsky.social @jillthewheel.bsky.social @jjtindall.bsky.social @rogersparkman.bsky.social @giegerj.bsky.social @sparrersway.bsky.social @dmercer.bsky.social
Round iron cover dotted with slightly raised round studs, some of which have drain holes. Also, the words “Kerskamp Bros. Sheboygan Falls, Wis” with some letters obscured by concrete.
June 23, 2025 at 7:38 PM
kevinirvine.bsky.social
(Maybe) Wisconsin Telephone Co., Plymouth, Wis., for #ManholeCoverMonday Founded in 1882, in 1896 they installed the 1st dial telephone system in the US, in Milwaukee.
@robertloerzel.bsky.social @rogersparkman.bsky.social @jjtindall.bsky.social @sparrersway.bsky.social @willpunctuate.bsky.social
Closeup of the letters and number of a Round iron cover that shows significant wear and appears very old. Concentric circles with radiant lines in a bullseye type pattern and at its center the letters “W” “T” a round worn blob that could have been “Co” and in the center a “2” Round iron cover that shows significant wear and appears very old. Concentric circles with radiant lines in a bullseye type pattern and at its center the letters “W” “T” a round worn blob that could have been “Co” and in the center a “2”
June 16, 2025 at 1:31 PM
kevinirvine.bsky.social
To make today’s #ManholeCoverMonday extra-special, I put a bird on it! #pigeon #Chicago
@robertloerzel.bsky.social @willpunctuate.bsky.social @rogersparkman.bsky.social @sparrersway.bsky.social @jjtindall.bsky.social @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social @dmercer.bsky.social @jlempieri.bsky.social
June 9, 2025 at 1:22 PM
kevinirvine.bsky.social
Made a short video, to give you more of today’s vibe.
May 27, 2025 at 2:08 AM
kevinirvine.bsky.social
Today's #ManholeCoverMonday comes from the east bank of the Chicago River, site of a secret Memorial Day popup concert by Midamerican Elevator! @robertloerzel.bsky.social @jillthewheel.bsky.social @rogersparkman.bsky.social @willpunctuate.bsky.social @jjtindall.bsky.social @sparrersway.bsky.social
A round iron cover is on the dry dirt-covered river bank, next to a tree. In the background is a graffiti-festooned concrete bridge, the river, a large concrete piling, and a few people clambering out of a rubber dinghy. A screenshot of an Instagram post showing an indie rock band playing their instruments on a large round concrete piling in the middle of a medium-sized urban river, lined with trees, with the Chicago skyline in the background on a clear day with blue skies streaked with wispy clouds. The water has a smattering of small boats around it, listening to the live music. In the foreground, a crowd of people in the shade of the underside of a bridge over the river. In the background, a 5-piece indie rock band performs on a concrete platform in the Chicago River. There are trees and bushes on the riverbank behind them. Wide-angled, horizontal shot. In the foreground, a crowd of people in the shade of the underside of a bridge over the river. In the background, a 5-piece indie rock band performs on a concrete platform in the Chicago River. There are trees and bushes on the riverbank behind them.
May 27, 2025 at 1:29 AM