La King's
I have a sweet tooth. I will not deny this. In fact, I probably have a whole mouthful of them. A piece of candy is like a little ray of sunshine; it's instant joy. Aside from what the dentist might have to say, it's also something I rarely feel guilty about, since life deserves treats in moderation.
Big Top
This love of the occasional burst of sugar is something else I inherited from the same person who passed on the love of photography. It's funny what can get carried over in DNA. If there's a candy receptor gene, it runs strong in my family. . . . since I seem to have also passed it down to one blond haired girl who fortunately is honest enough to be trusted with a bowl of sweets within her reach. The policy in my house is you have to ask before you take, otherwise the bowl disappears (and is put somewhere only mama can find it).
Big Top: two generations
As much fun as candy is to eat, shopping for it can be even better, if you are lucky enough to have access to an old fashioned pick & mix style candy store. I am a sucker (pun intended) for these places, especially since the interior is often as much of a treat for the eyes as the goodies for sale. Walking in to one of these shops might give people an instant sugar high, but it also makes me hop up and down a little for the photographic possibilities. When I tell someone about a place I am visiting, and they mention "old historic candy store," you had better believe that will be one of my stops, even above the local museum.
Big Top
La King's
Big Top
At this moment, I have two favorites, both located in places I love: one in Austin, one in Galveston. Big Top on South Congress is as good of an excuse as any to go downtown for some street photography. They have chocolates and ice cream and basically anything you need to have you peeling your children off the ceiling at bedtime. La King's in Galveston takes it to another level, with in-house candy making, including a taffy-pulling demo that means free fresh samples thrown out to the crowd in abundance. La King's also has delicious coffee, so there's something to get the adults jittery even if they don't care for or can't eat sweets.
La King's
Both places sell old fashioned sodas, and I have tried these at neither, which means of course I have an excellent excuse to go back.
La King's
Big Top
"Age is something that doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese." Luis Bunuel
Big Top
Big Top
The La King's Master Candy Maker at work (it was strawberry that day).
If there's a special candy shop in your town, please let me know. I'll bring the family, and my camera, for a visit. Life is sweet! Savor each bite.
(All photographs 35mm film, either Kodak Tri-X or Ilford HP5, made with either Nikon F or Canon P except for the multi-generational photography, which is Kodak Tri-X and Hasselblad 500cm).
La King's
