The other day some of my friends asked me why I love America so much.  I think the answer lies in the pictures above.  We are in such an eclectic country where the working man often wins.  That’s about the last time I talk about the Protestant Work Ethic, but I think it’s why I love the USA.  I love everything americana and how simple and elegant it can be, contrasted to all of Europe where gold plating and tall ceilings showed your wealth.  People back home, I think, are wealthy in their expressions.  My friend Danielle said that she is sick of Europe because everyone is the same, everyone wears one of three neutral colors and complains when it is 55 degrees out.  I love America because the summers are humid where I am, and dry where my friends are, I love that we were the renegade country that is now constantly in the spotlight and I love that it’s perfectly acceptable for two adults to swing on a swing in an expansive backyard.  I love that we can be happy and we can tap into our past without it being pretentious.  I will be home in less than two months and I’m getting excited.

The NYT, via ginny branch

The other is that the “Butt Ugly Building” on the North side of I-84 will be knocked down. I don’t know the date. Do you think this is a good thing? Do you think it would be better in the long run to turn this into an ArtSpace or some sort of apartments or mixed use building? I am usually in favor of saving buildings if the condition is good enough. I just can’t help but think that Hartford thinks that a demolition is the quick and dirty way to do something and Hartford also thinks that everything will be better with a quick fix. Could it be better to do something with the existing building? Will it be better (aesthetically or otherwise) for the neighborhood in 20 years? What I really don’t understand is, who are all these people complaining about this building. I don’t think driving by on the highway everyday qualifies each passerby an opinion that should be listened to.

Hi Everyone, I’m in a sleepy little southern town called Starke until Saturday.  Posts will be light.  Enjoy the summer days while they’re here.

This is my favorite (although unedited) photo of the swings that I took from my trip to Coney Island last Monday.  This could possibly be my favorite photo that I’ve ever taken.  You aren’t able to see how high up these are – definitely not what I’m used to!  The swings had to be 50 feet in the air!  It was a perfect day and I’m so proud to be able to say that I rode on the Wonder Wheel before it is demolished.

To read more about Coney Island visit its Wikipedia page or Amusing the Zillion.

Hello, hello! I just got back from Cape Cod – the drive home was hellish, but when does construction make anything any easier?  I know that this post strays away from the typical architecture, but these photos really encapsulate my feelings of the trip, happy and beautiful.  These are some of my favorite pictures from the trip, mainly from Orleans and Provincetown.  I love “The Little Store” and its interior from Ptown (first two on the bottom).

These two movie theaters are at opposite ends of the United States – The Clyde Theater (top in Langley, Whidbey Island, Washington) and The Florida Twin Theater (Bottom in Starke, Florida).  They are perfect because they are small and in quaint towns where there shouldn’t be massive AMCs or Cinema Studios.  The Florida Theater is a two screen movie house showing big budget films whereas The Clyde is an independent movie theater showing independent films and even musical guests on their stage.