Tag Archives: Tourism

Poundbury a tourist mecca?

A day or so ago there were comments on my post about Venice having too many tourists, which led to the question of whether tourists would press a bit less on places like Venice and Paris if new places were … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Explore the world with AIA

The American Institute of Architects has announced its sponsorship of a new set of tours that even I would be happy to take. They are not the tours I would expect the AIA to host, not with its almost exclusively … Continue reading

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The Great Wall of China

Who knew that it ended at the sea? It does, at the Yellow Sea, just athwart what we now call the Korean Peninsula. It is over 13,000 miles long, running from east to west. I do not know how successful … Continue reading

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Shots of first full WaterFire

Last night was the first full WaterFire of the season here in Providence. I generally visit rather late, when the crowds have drawn down and parking is easy, well, easier. The lead-off photo above, taken by WaterFire volunteer photographer Jim … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Art and design, Books and Culture, Development, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Photography, Preservation, Providence, Urbanism and planning, Video | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

R.I. “Cooler & Warmer,” eh?

The Ocean State’s new slogan, just announced today, is “Rhode Island: Cooler & Warmer.” What does it mean? Is it about our temperature? Our climate? Is it about the waters of our Narragansett Bay? Is it about how our economy … Continue reading

Posted in Art and design, Development, Humor, Providence, Rhode Island | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Craco, abandoned in 1963

This haunting film depicts Craco, Italy, abandoned in 1963 after landslides rendered it uninhabitable. Ancient ruins are, well, ancient ruins, and their mysteries pull on different chords of our hearts. Craco is a city – granted, an ancient one – … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Art and design, Landscape Architecture, Preservation, Urbanism and planning, Video | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

That Providence renaissance

Randal Edgar, deputy editor of the Providence Journal’s editorial pages, has an opinion column today in which he reveals that he is “Still waiting for that R.I. renaissance.” At first I thought he might be writing about the famous Providence … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Art and design, Development, I-195 Redevelopment District, Preservation, Providence Journal, Rhode Island, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Carbuncle Cup antidote

Here are some photos taken just days ago by Michael Gerhardt, former interim director of the Providence Athenaeum and longtime skipper of the Pandion, anchored in Bristol. He and his wife just returned from a holiday in London and sent … Continue reading

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Hurricane season thoughts

As we remember Hurricane Katrina, sigh in relief at Tropical Storm Erika, which took lives in the Caribbean before dissipating south of Florida, worry about Hurricane Fred as it threatens Cape Verde in the Atlantic, and ponder the three hurricanes … Continue reading

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