HappyHappyDonut

If only it were free, it would be for me. Alas it's not the case. The web site seems neat and they have some layouts from the magazine.

Besides a nice article in the NY Times on Chicago's architectural tours (both on foot and on boat), I also found a neat site devoted to beautiful buildings around the world. It's aimed at the casual amateur of architecture. The pictures are mostly taken by amateurs, who also write the texts. Conspicuously absent from the site were any references to buildings in Montreal. I have therefore written the site's owners and offered to help develop a section on Montreal. I'll keep you posted!

These are strange times indeed (my generation's Vietnam ?). Hmm, time will tell.

Some things that I would like to see if I could go back in time would be: the Tiki Gardens in Florida; the New York World's Fairs in 1939 and 1964; the 1967 Expo in Montreal; and the World's Columbian Exhibition in Chicago in 1893.

I recently read a very interesting book by Rem Koolhaas, which discusses a concept known as Manhattanism. In it, a section is devoted to the fantastic Coney Island, the site of such wonders as Luna Park, Dreamland and the Steeple Chase. The descriptions of these places and the electrical lighting set-ups are incredible for the period.

What fun.

Salon magazines reports from the front lines in Los Angeles that the moustache is making a comeback. (Shivers...)

Following some links as I am apt to do, I came across a cool site listing photo blogs. One of the links pointed to a site called ChicagoUncommon.com where there are tons of great pictures of the Windy City aka the City by the Lake aka The City with Broad Shoulders. Yum.

This site features a list of abandoned NYC subway stations- just the kind of thing I like. Though this is one of my favourites. This one seems neat too. This one has even more info about forgotten parts of New York City. And who knew there used to be a railroad underneath Chicago? This last site offer a link to many other sites for urban exploration. This site chronicles the decline of St. Louis.

If you remember the Nike missiles, used to defend American cities during the cold war, you might like this site.

The Los Angeles Times has an article detailing a recent resurgence in residential building in downtown LA. It's about time. I have had occasion to go to downtown LA on three trips (2 business, 1 vacation) and stayed in a hotel in the heart of downtown. What a deserted wasteland, with parking lots as far as the eye can see. For a person who enjoys the hustle and bustle of cities, Los Angeles is a definite downer.

And yet there is so much potential. There are some wonderful old buildings there. Broadway, a former main thoroughfare, has some absolutely gorgeous architecture and beautiful old theaters.

The problem with LA, and the surrounding area (the Southland) is that it is completely balkanized. Nobody in Orange County cares about what happens in LA, etc. I recently read a rather depressing book about LA: The Reluctant Metropolis, which talks in depth about the politics of development in the region. Sad stuff.