Hello, one and all. The story now staring you in the face is part of a long-running, whimsical project I haven’t lost interest in at all, one I hope I’ll continue to pursue for as long as Yeah, Another Blogger remains an active enterprise. Yes, I barely can believe I’ve now published accounts of seventeen Art On Wheels expeditions. Just goes to show you what can happen when you’re having fun.
For the uninitiated, let me explain that Art On Wheels stories detail my outdoor searches for artistically adorned wheeled objects. I photograph the ones I spot. Trucks and vans comprise the vast majority of the specimens whose portraits I’ve taken. Food carts have made appearances on these pages too, as has a heavy-construction vehicle. In the early and middle eras of Art On Wheels I sought my prey in various suburbs of Philadelphia (I reside in those burbs). For a number of years now, though, I’ve dealt strictly with Philadelphia itself.
My previous AOW ventures in Philly took place in downtown and near-downtown areas of the city. For number seventeen, however, I decided to go far afield by paying a visit to Philadelphia’s Mayfair neighborhood, which is part of the absolutely huge city sub-section known as Northeast Philadelphia. I did the deed two Thursdays ago.
Mayfair is a working-class community located about nine miles from downtown Philly. There’s nothing fancy about Mayfair. And it’s congested as hell, loaded with rowhouses and small businesses of all kinds. From the looks of things, a fair number of those businesses are having a pretty hard time of it. In that respect, they have company all over the world.
I have a connection to Mayfair. My periodontist, whose services, other than occasional checkups, I haven’t needed in many years, has been in business there for decades. About 30 years ago he successfully performed extensive and intensive surgeries on my gums and teeth, so besieged was I by periodontal disease. What bloody messes those frigging procedures were. While doing my AOW thing, I was tempted to drop in on him. “Hi, doctor,” I’d have said. “How about slicing open, cleaning, and re-attaching my gums again, just for old time’s sake? I mean, I’m in the mood.” He would have responded, perhaps, by saying to me, “Great idea, Neil! I specialize in catering to masochists. Ease yourself into this chair and let’s get started.”
Okay, then. I walked for an hour and a half in Mayfair, mostly on Frankford Avenue, which is the main business drag. And I had good success. I wasn’t surprised about that, seeing that I noticed a gorgeous truck parked on Leon Street when I was in my car looking for a parking spot two minutes before my on-foot adventure began. The truck, belonging to FreshPoint, a produce distributor, was still there when I exited my car a block and a half away. The truck smiled innocently when I approached to take its picture.
Photos of what I deem to be the top five wheeled objects I encountered are on this page. Do you have a favorite, or favorites? As luscious as FreshPoint is, I like best the FritoLay chips truck. It pulled into a Wawa convenience store’s parking lot a few seconds after a Future Finish van was pulling out. I waited till the FritoLay driver/delivery guy wheeled his load of boxes of chips into the store. Then I photographed the vehicle. Its mural’s color choices — dreamy shades of gold and orange — startle me, but in a gentle way. And, intriguingly, the product names seem to be afloat, inviting us to loosen up and allow our minds to take wing. I’m down with that message. It is excellent advice.
Boys and girls, I believe that’s a wrap. I am all Mayfaired out. It’s time for this old boy to get his beauty rest. On second thought, screw that! I think I’ll have a beer instead. Adios till next time!
Yeah, Another Blogger 
The Fresh Point truck truly stands out above all the rest for me
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Hi. That truck is a beauty, for sure.
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Five excellent candidates, to be sure, and though I agree with you about the Fritos truck, I’m going with the one beneath it, which looks a bit like a mosaic. Plus, I love a good food truck and I’m a bit hungry as I’m reading!!
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Hey there, Michele. It’s a great-looking food truck. Nobody was inside it, though. Maybe its owner was sick that day.
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Did you actually leave the dental office? A General Anesthesia can unconsciously take patients to many places. 💤
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AOC, you have brought up a very interesting possibility!
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Nothing can keep an ardent spectator down, as.. a hallucinatory dose of general anesthesia. 😖
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hope you enjoyed the beer as much as I enjoyed this post!
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Thanks for the kind words. I appreciate it a lot.
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always a pleasure! x
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Not sure how I missed this post, Neil, but another eclectic selection of photos, and I think for me, the last photo of the food truck is best. Cheers, Nilla
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Hi, Nilla. The food truck has gotten a bunch of votes. I like the layout of its artwork. There’s a lot going on there.
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I prefer the food cart. This is my first detailed look at AOW. I have some catching up to do. I did breeze through some and will go into more detail.
At the risk of giving you overload, have you considered railcars?
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Hi, Paul. I would have a tough time tracking down railcars. But I’ll keep the idea in mind.
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of course I love the chicken and gyros truck best, but that’s my stomach talking.
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That food truck/cart has gotten a lot of votes. I didn’t think it would be so popular. Shows what I know!
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I am a fan of all your selections in the Art on Wheels series. My two favorite today are the first (freshpoint) and last (the food truck/cart). I am not sure exactly why but that is how Art works!
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Hi Geoff. You’ve got good taste!
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While I share your appreciation of the warm vibrant oranges of the Frito-Lay truck, I’d have to vote for the Fresh Point. Maybe it’s just the longing for fruit in supermarkets again that isn’t heavily coated in pesticides and rotten by Day 2. It’s getting hard to eat healthy. Though there are numerous farms just outside my small city, the fruit we get at the store always seems to come from Peru, which research tells me is known to be lax, very lax, about its own pesticides in agriculture laws. LOL, am I giving a seminar here? Sorry. Anyway, it’s Fresh Point for me, and if you’ve got any IPAs, I’ll have a brew!
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Amy, I don’t have any IPAs on hand at the moment. But I have some bottles of this one, which currently is one of my favorite brews. I’m passing along the bottles to you, virtually.
https://northcoastbrewing.com/beers/year-round-beers/red-seal-ale/:
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Thanks, Neil! While I do love a good IPA. when push comes to shove, I’m not all that picky!
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Art on wheels? I like the idea. I’ll keep an eye open…
Cheers
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During my Art On Wheels treks, I’ve hoped to find artistically adorned bicycles. So far, no luck.
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Bicycles… Hmmm. Haven’t seen any anywhere. Probably too catchy and easy to steal… We were in Belgium last year. Lots of bikes, but rather standard. I’ll check my pix…
Cheers.
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Cheers 😍
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Hi Christie. Thanks for stopping by.
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I’d probably chase the Frito-Lay truck at least a block or two.
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Their products are addictive, for sure.
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The most attractive to me is the FreshPoint truck.
The most attractive to my stomach is the Frito Lay truck. LOL
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Hi Lynne. My wife is a major fan of Baked Lays potato chips. They’re healthier than regular potato chips. I like them a lot too.
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I love your Art on Wheels series idea and my favourite is the 100% electric truck for its message. ☺️
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Thumbs up to that. 👍
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