No Mean Tagger May 15, 2008

I’m not a big fan of graffiti (mostly repetitive, often self-indulgent, condones tagging)  - but then there’s this:
 

On This Site … September 30, 2007

Story here.

Strolless in Seattle July 9, 2007

Of all the differences between Seattle and Vancouver, one thing is increasingly apparent: there are not many places to go for a stroll in Seattle.
I mean what the Italians call the passeggiata - the evening stroll, a slow walk, to see, to be seen, to eat ice cream.
We’re in Seattle for a weekend, arriving by train [...]

Wake April 13, 2007

I can’t believe that the Jaquar is coming down already!  John Henry’s brilliant red sculpture has dominated the entrance to the city since September 2005 (it’s on the current cover of Price Tags).  But it’s coming down next Wednesday.
You can join the wake, see the de-installation and hear the results of the ‘legacy puchases’ which, [...]

Must See: Herzog at the Art Gallery March 21, 2007

I saw the Fred Herzog show at the VAG last night - and I wasn’t alone.  The place was packed, full of under-30s.  Like those of us old enough to remember some of the places captured by Herzog’s camera, they were amazed at the compositional quality and play of colour in his prints. 
The younger ones came, [...]

A Forum for West Point Grey February 16, 2007

Architect Rick Balfour comes up with more audacious ideas before breakfast than most of us have in a year. (He led the “Outside the Box” workshop at the Affordability by Design conference, results here.)
 And another:

Says Rick:
Looking at the land form on Jericho,-could we need a classical amphitheatre like Epidavras in Greece; big enough for 15 000 [...]

SEATTLE’S HIT January 19, 2007

More praise for “the best public space in Seattle.”

Grand Opening: Seattle’s Olympic Sculpture Park January 15, 2007

I predicted a few months ago that the new sculpture park on the Seattle waterfront may be the next best urban space on the west coast. Maybe.

It’s due to open on January 20th - but the hype is underway. Here’s the latest from the New York Times, along with the picture above. Or [...]

Tram Fever Grips France December 17, 2006

 
Paris is celebrating the opening of the new T3 route as part of its Metro tram network.  Even the Germans are impressed.  (And since Siemen’s invented the technology which made the electric streetcar possible, this is very gracious of them.)  You can read more about it in Spiegel Online:
Now the plan is to supplement the star-shaped métro [...]

Millennium Impressions December 5, 2006

Lis Welch, Vancouverite, visiting Chicago:
We were in Chicago on business last week, made a walking pilgrimage to Millenium Park, and are as enthused as you about the destination.  The Bean, we learned, cost $30 million to construct, was done on site.  You will have marveled at the seamless stainless steel and high quality of reflection:  [...]