We found the Oak Ridge Park for a New Year’s Day hike. While getting our steps in we ran across this distinctive gambrel roofed house. While clearly in need of some preservation, the house has a distinctive form. A two-story gabled extension projects from the main mass of the house. A bay window projects from the gabled extension. Viewed from
Belle Mara is both a brewery and a distillery, serving their own beer and spirits in separate buildings. We visited during their Christmas Market when there were a number of craft vendors and food trucks, in addition to tasting of the spirits that they are known for. Hand painted signs on their building is a nice touch. It makes the
The Cross Country Trail has a number of Native American archaeological sites. In Wakefield Park many of the hill and ridgetops contain sites. Native Americans utilized the available quartz outcrops, shaping the stone into knives, spear and arrow points, and other tools. They camped on high and well drained land, as it would provide lines of site for hunting and
Sometimes the most non-descript of plazas can be home to special businesses. That is the case with Johnny Tequilas. We sought it out to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Their happy hour had good reviews. What we found was a warm, welcoming, and friendly business with great food and drinks.
Blade signs are designed to make stores more visible to pedestrians from 20 feet or more. When walking along a sidewalk in a downtown it is hard to see a business until you are right upon it. The blade sign by being visible from a further distance gives a landmark to shoot for and makes the walk more interesting. An
We drove from New Jersey for a chance to see one of the three Great American Main Street Award winners for that year. My colleague Hannah Davis joined me to give a tour of Florence to me and my two kids who were travelling with me. Right away we were struck by the presence of large institutions like this one,
The City of Atlanta Department of Aviation Art Program Artist – Steve Waldeck As you approach “Flight Paths”, you may notice the rich colors of a lush forest from above. The sculptural tree canopy filters layers of light, while sound and animation shelter the space. It is our hope that as you take a 450-foot multisensory walk through our simulated
Utility boxes are among those necessary features of modern life that add little to the built environment – in most cases. Some have been painted, others have been wrapped. They can convert a message artistically or philosophically. In Seattle the boxes were used for neighborhood branding and wayfinding. Recently when I was visiting New Brunswick, New Jersey, I found a
Over the last few years I observed how the next town over from where I live has been trying to jumpstart revitalization efforts. The town is Edison and the neighborhood is called Clara Barton. There are a few multi-story buildings but most are single story and spaced out typical of a suburban neighborhood commerical district. In years past planters were
Never underestimate what some green astroturf and timbers can do to activate an empty or underutilized public space. We loved stumbling across this pop-up bocce court in Millburn, New Jersey. Something else they got right was clustering movable furniture, planters, and public art elements. Altogether it made a nice unexpected outdoor gathering space. Only thing lacking is to get the