Category Archives: Providence

Buffing the downtown fabric

Posted on March 4, 2015 by David Brussat

The expected purchase by Arnold C. “Buff” Chace of the Providence Journal’s headquarter’s building – not the old Journal building of 1906 but the “new” one of 1934, designed by noted Motor City architect Albert Kahn – is extraordinarily good … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Development, Preservation, Providence, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Sketching my mom of moms

Posted on February 28, 2015 by David Brussat

Here’s the column I wrote in 2004 about the annual meeting in Providence of the American Society of Architectural Illustrators. I was going to write it mainly about the work of a sort of sketchy illustrator from San Francisco in … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art and design, Blast from past, Books and Culture, Providence, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Pawtucket! Woonsocket!

Posted on February 27, 2015 by David Brussat

With Pawtucket apparently about to lose its ball team, the city’s name is in the news, and it has caused me to marvel at the wonderful names cities in Rhode Island have. Pawtucket has a frankly puckish character. It’s nickname … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Books and Culture, Humor, Providence, Rhode Island | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

PawSox to Providence?

Posted on February 25, 2015 by David Brussat

There once was a team in Pawtucket. To consider the merits of moving the Boston Red Sox Triple-A team to Providence, one must first swallow the vile pill of stealing the team from neighboring Pawtucket, which needs economic stimulus more … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art and design, Development, Providence, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Snow graces Providence

Posted on February 9, 2015 by David Brussat

Here are a few shots I’ve taken over the years during and after snowstorms in downtown Providence. To read the text accompanying the photos, please visit my slide show at GoLocalProv.com, entitled “Dr. Downtown’s Snowy Providence.” I’m not sure I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art and design, Photography, Providence | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Nuff said at Kennedy Plaza

Posted on February 8, 2015 by David Brussat

Above are the bicycle stands chosen for and installed at the “new” Kennedy Plaza, in Providence. Below are the bicycle stands approved (but not yet funded) for the city of Charleston. Which design represents the more advanced aesthetic?

Posted in Architecture, Art and design, Providence, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Better lights for Providence

Posted on February 6, 2015 by David Brussat

Not long after starting to write about architecture in 1990 I would occasionally hector the city fathers in Providence to use sodium vapor bulbs in downtown’s historic lamps, as was and still is done on Benefit Street. That, I thought, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art and design, Providence, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , | 22 Comments

Stan Aronson, RIP

Posted on January 28, 2015 by David Brussat

Rhode Island has lost one of its longtime leading lights. Stanley M. Aronson, M.D., a giant of medicine in the Ocean State, a founder of the Brown University medical school, and a contributor of commentaries to the Providence Journal’s oped … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Culture, Providence, Rhode Island | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ode to snow in Providence

Posted on January 27, 2015 by David Brussat

Here is a column written in anticipation of what the weatherman assured us would be on the ground in time for its publication in the Journal a week and 15 years ago today: Ode to winter in Providence A FRESH … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art and design, Blast from past, Providence | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Kennedy Plaza reopens

Posted on January 20, 2015 by David Brussat

Kennedy Plaza reopened this morning. Bus passengers are waiting in the newly sanitized bus hub. The view above shows the blank sterility achieved by its redesign. Wind-swept vastnesses of unused space greet us now, no longer the elegant Art Nouveau … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art and design, Development, Providence, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments