Welcome to Pearl to Moon Photography

      When I first moved to Burlington a little less than three years ago, someone asked me where my apartment was located. After telling them I live on School Street, they emphatically responded by saying, "Oh, that's right by North Street! Don't ever walk around north of North Street at night, it can be scary!" And, as much as I hate to admit it, I usually take people's words to heart, even if they are some half-witted chain-smoking Shaggy from "Scoopy Doo" looking hipster. If someone tells me not to, I usually won't. Just ask my mother, I was the best behaved kid on our block. Of course, once I got tired of walk around Church Street and the waterfront, I had no other choice but to venture into the North End and see what really made all these white Vermonter's shake in their Carhartt overalls.

The truth is, the North End of Burlington is one of very few nooks of this town that has character. The Pearl to Moon office was first started in a two bedroom apartment on Church Street, so my staff and I are all too familiar with that part of town. Although there are some great places located on the market street, we could only shake our collective heads each summer walking through the hoards of tourists and locals alike that stand and wait for over an hour to sit and eat at Sweet Waters (the most overrated, bland restaurant this side of New England). In the North End, however, there is color and flavor not seen in most parts of Burlington.

It is filled with most, if not all, of the ethnic grocery shops, which says something about the people who live in the north end. It is no surprise that there is a large immigrant population, given the less built up houses and structures that make up the neighborhood. But what the Old North End lacks in flash it more than makes up for in the roots that are growing there.

There is a calm about the neighborhood that reeks of family and friends, two things every in coming Vermont resident should be frightened of. The streets may not be as well lit as they are downtown, but all you have to do is look into a few houses and really know what is at work here.

Families that are putting a lot of work into their living space, even if it is just a rented two bedroom apartment. Others are older Burlington natives that can find peace from the noise of the college campuses in a small street off of North Winooski.  And you can't walk more than a few blocks without seeing one of Stu McGowen's eclectically painted houses. I once talked with Stu about seeing one of his apartments, and he told me that he honestly believes that the Old North End (O.N.E) is on the rise and has more potential than any other neighborhood in Vermont. Once you walk around, you'll know why.

So if you find yourself with an extra hour this fall, go take a walk around the O.N.E. As I write this to you, we here that are still left in the office can hear a group of college kids out on the street arguing over whether they should, "Go to Red Square or just find a Kegger, brah." We find this reason enough that if we keep Pearl to Moon located in Burlington for years to come, we will have to find a new space in the Old North End where we can develop and print in peace and be surrounded by those who share a common purpose of progress and, well, good eateries and coffee shops.

This is Pearl to Moon Photography's CEO Ryan P signing off, and wishing you a happy weekend!