I hate to post yet another review of something, but creation is simply not on the plate right now. I promise something original soon.

In the meantime, I recently bought Owen Pallett’s latest album entitled Heartland. If you haven’t heard his music, check it out! He was previously performing under the name “Final Fantasy”, but has since decided to use his own name.

Heartland is a combination of orchestral sounds, synth, and his violin and voice. The result is spectacular. There is a lot of heart in this cd. The music is well mixed, well produced, and builds upon his previous work. I’ve never gotten to hear him live, but I’m told it’s great. The music here reminds me of 1980’s pop rock, with a heightened sense of taste. I get everything I love: the complex timbres of orchestral instruments, voice, and synth sounds to boot. The background sometimes also reminds of the odd tracks created by Mark Mothersbaugh for Wes Anderson’s films, as well as Jon Brion’s film scores.

I don’t have much more to say about it, other than do check out him and his music. (http://www.dominorecordco.com/artists/owen-pallett/) The new album is on iTunes as well (if you’re into that).

West of Tallahassee lies the Lake Talquin state forest. The area actually includes quite a few hiking trails, but there is a small trail near a recreational area that I decided to explore with a friend.

December 21st, 2009

Driving west on Blountstown highway, you eventually come to a road called Jack Vause Landing. If you follow it down there is a part of Lake Talquin with a big waterfront area, a pavilion, and a short “interpretive trail”. When I see the words “interpretive trail” I naturally think about traipsing through the woods performing interpretive dance, however this is not the intended definition. Nor is the reality, which is usually more along the lines of “This is a really short trail, so you better do a lot of wandering around if you want to be out here for an hour.”

>>>>> read more

Elinor KP has dedicated hiking trails, bike trails, horse trails, mixed trails, and also includes the Forest Meadows sports complex. The trailheads are aligned such that you can cross over into Maclay’s Lake Overstreet trail if you wish (especially useful when biking). There are three main loops with some crossover trails, comprising around 6.5 miles.

November 7th, 2009

My friends and I had a lot of fun hiking in this area. It’s always nice to have dedicated hiker trails, as they’re usually much more interesting. There are many areas where one can wander off the path and explore the trees and creeks and plant life. Like most parks in Florida, water runs all through the forest. Some of the creeks were older and dried up, but others were flowing. The path usually follows along the sides of these creeks, but if you’re not afraid of a little mud you can ease up next to them for a better look.

>>>>> read more

One of the first places outside of Tallahassee that I went hiking. Leon Sinks is an interesting hike that meanders through a series of sinkholes. There are two loops with a crossover trail, comprising around 5 miles of great hiking.

October 18th, 2009

I hiked this trail with my friend and hiking buddy Isaac. Like most of the parks around here, there was a small entry fee per vehicle, but believe me when I say it’s worth it. The trail starts almost immediately presents you with a sinkhole to stare down into. Some of them are shallow, some are deep, some are dry, some are full of rushing water fed by underground springs.

>>>>> read more

I try to go hiking whenever I get the chance. Tallahassee has quite a few trails, but some are better suited for hiking than others. I’ve decided to post some reviews of the trails that I’ve been to.

October 25th, 2009

When I entered the park, I went to a rec area and spotted a “nature trail” and I began there. I met a snake halfway down, but the path was really, really nice, and eventually opened up to a lovely area to view the lake, where I found this pair of underwear on the ground.

I can only hope there is an amazing story to go along with them. Unfortunately, this is also where the trail terminated—a mere 0.4 miles from the beginning. So I had to turn back, get in my car, and find the real trails further down the road. When I got to my car I realized I was covered in little…things. Little red bugs, like the kind you might find in Spanish moss. I had a hell of a time brushing them off.

This area is really beautiful. More Georgia and Carolina looking trees, big lakes and birds and wildlife too. Sadly, this trail was a boring 4.1 miles of hard clay and sand that wore my feet out. The trail starts with a smashing view of some high-voltage power lines, and then you follow some tire tracks to the trailhead. The path has the appearance of being driven over by a truck with a plow every few months. The whole time I was just walking and walking, and the path was just flat and dead. Perfect if you’re a bicycle or a horse (or you are riding one), but for a hiker it wasn’t so great. They label these trails as “multipurpose”, but that’s kind of a stretch I think.

>>>>> read more