Baths of Caracalla – Rome, Italy

Isaac Kremer/ September 5, 2025/ garden, museum, Physical, preservation, Social/ 0 comments

The Baths of Caracalla (Terme di Caracalla), are an ancient Roman public bath complex in Rome, Italy. The baths are located near the ancient Appian Way, south of the Circus Maximus in Rome. Construction of the vast complex began around 212 AD under Emperor Septimius Severus and was completed by his son Caracalla in 216 AD. They were the second-largest

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Busch Gardens – Williamsburg, Virginia

Isaac Kremer/ June 17, 2025/ beer, Economic, Field Notes, garden, Physical, placemaking, plaza, public art, streetscape/ 0 comments

This is the 50th year anniversary of Busch Gardens. While some people enjoy fast rides I am one who keeps my feet planted firmly on the ground. While walking around I could not help but appreciate the thought and effort that went into the scenery, art, and visitor experience. Entrance gater to the parking garage sets the tone for the

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Downtown – Occoquan, Virginia

Isaac Kremer/ August 29, 2024/ downtown, Field Notes, garden, Physical, preservation, storefront, Writing/ 0 comments

This cast concrete block building on the edge of town makes use of this distinctive building material. Upon entering town this skinny vernacular cottage caught our attention for the detailed spindle work. The town of Occoquan originated in 1758 when John Ballentine built his home Rockledge. Grist mills, a foundry, and tobacco warehouses predominates. During the Civil War, Gen Wade

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Waterloo Village – Stanhope, New Jersey

Isaac Kremer/ August 4, 2024/ Field Notes, garden, Physical, preservation/ 0 comments

Waterloo Village is a site with a cluster of historic buildings in various stages of revitalization. One is greeted by a gateway and information building at the entrance just off of the parking lot. Among the first buildings is a compact New England church with round arched sash windows and a bell tower with spire. Smith’s Store is a one-and-a-half

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Downtown – Cranford, New Jersey

Isaac Kremer/ June 9, 2024/ Civic, downtown, Field Notes, garden, Physical, placemaking, plaza, storefront, Writing/ 0 comments

Cleveland Plaza is a level of architectural intervention unusual for an older building. The canopy on steel and reinforced concrete armature gives a neat hat atop this structure. I was fortunate to get a peek into St. Michaels church down the block. The stained glass, while narrow and compact, had themes and coloration that made them stand out. Religious statuary

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Kremer Family Garden – 2023

Isaac Kremer/ March 3, 2023/ family, garden, Writing/ 0 comments

Note: the story of how our family garden came to be is here. Below are brief updates from the garden. 2023-Feb-26: We started a new grow operation with approximately 300 seeds of 12 different varieties. These included favorites that we re-plant from seeds collected, year after year. There were also at least three new varieties of tomatoes – one is

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Old City – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Isaac Kremer/ January 15, 2023/ downtown, garden, museum, plaza, preservation/ 0 comments

Museum of the American Revolution Crucial moments in the American Revolution are told through artifacts and interpretive text. Of particular interest to us as people living in New Jersey was the section documenting Washington’s retreat from November 1776. Washington wrote that he had “not above 3,000 men, and they very much broken and dispirted.” The numbers continued to dwindly with

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