Couple of Links

A few links that I think a few of you might find interesting:

• Some beautiful black and white photos of New York, originally passed along by my Grandma Welsh


• Fellow Pittsburgher (at heart), Umphrey's bassist Ryan Stasik gives his thoughts on the upcoming Pittsburgh Pirates season


• A glowing review of the restuarant that I worked at while in high school and college, the Hyeholde (working there taught me quite a lot, I should admit, about dining and good food)


• Snow doughnuts?

Happy Bithday, Wim

I just wanted to take up some space to wish my better half a Happy 32nd Birthday. Not a cloud in the sky here in Manhattan today (not that I can take credit for that . . . ). I hope you have a wonderful day. Olives.

My Pedestrian Checklist

Speaking of walking, I have begun to notice some changes in how I walk down a city street. For one, I get it in my mind that there are particular places I need to be and I have to continue walking. It doesn't mean I am rude if I push past someone or if I walk through a crowd of upward-looking tourists strolling across 43rd on the way to the Hard Rock -- I just need to get to the subway to go home. I am still not going to push too hard on a sardine-like subway car, so I am not completely converted. I just realize that most of us simply need to be somewhere at some particular time, and it is understood by everyone.

It also seems like I am thinking a bit more about my walks. With a one-way grid, as it relates to most of Manhattan, you get into a rhythm of decision making when walking. What side of the street you should be on to arrive at your destination; when you cross the street, is it at an intersection or halfway down a block; what street you are on and whether you have to look left or right for traffic, if you are crossing one of the two-way streets. It doesn't seem like much, but this checklist of options and decisions has seem to materialized in my mind as we are approaching a year here in New York. I guess you just arm yourself with ways to cope with life here in New York, and this is just a little one . . .

Fifty-three Blocks

A few Fridays ago, we met up with Nick and Jen for some tasty Italian at a place called Arezzo on 22nd, between 5th and 6th. I had to work late and run something to FedEx so I took the bus down from the Public Library to meet everyone. After a nice dinner, we headed out without any strong plans. As it was a beautiful evening -- just a tease of spring, mind you, as the St. Patty's Day storm still had to arrive -- and we just started to meander. We walked up to 23rd, and then doubled-back, heading east along the southern edge of Madison Square Park. By that point, I started playing with the idea of walking home. It was only 10:00 pm, beautiful outside, and we had yet to walk that far home. So, the four of us tossed the idea around as we approached park, and as we made the left-hand turn north, we were resolved to finish the walk. And for the next hour-and-a-half, we strolled up Park Avenue until we reached 73rd (where we turned east, wanting to see some great carriage houses).

There is no better way to see a city than walk its streets. I learned this while studying in Rome, strolling the cobbled vias of the Centro with Jeffrey Blanchard, listening and taking notes and sketching, pulling together architecture, history, and politics. After walking mile after mile of ancient Rome, I do not think I know a city better (except for my hometown of Pittsburgh).

This walk a few Fridays ago took us through the restaurants, shops, and bars of the 20s; the bit of quiet and a few hotels in the 30s; the amazing built environment known as Grand Central Terminal and its surrounding blocks; the higher-end business and offices of the 50s and low 60s; and the eerily silent and quiet apartments in the higher 60s and 70s. You can't help but observe elements of scale and material, how each building meets the street, how the built environment welcomes -- or ignores -- the pedestrian realm.

We walked two miles an hour that night. A perfect speed to "learn" a city . . .

Happy St. Patty's Day

Just wanted to say Happy St. Patty's Day, even if it is a little late. We woke up this morning, saw that the weather had stopped and the sun was peaking out, so we made our way out to 5th Avenue to watch some of the Parade. We were out for over an hour, trying to stay warm as we listened to countless Emerald Societies and their loads of bagpipes. We even saw a marching troop of accordian players mixed in with the shivering dancers and rosey-cheeked men in their corded, woolen sweaters. An observation: as we stood on the corner of 73rd and 5th, I noticed the placement of tattoos on a number of the marchers -- men in kilts, with their socks pulled up, have this small patch of skin on the outside of their legs where shamrocks and other patches of green ink can go. Kind of interesting . . . We left after we saw the (relegated) NYFD marchers.

We made our way downtown to Paddy Reilly's (2nd and 29th). We heard it was one of the only bars anywhere that had only Guiness on tap. Well, it was packed, didn't serve food, and had a cover. So, we headed back up town for a few pints and some great corned beef at the cozy Finnegan's Wake on 2nd and 73rd. We veg'd for a bit, watching the end of Four Weddings and a Funeral and Wallace & Gromit: Curse Of The Were-Rabbit. Sufficiently hungry, we headed out one more time to be among the maddening -- well, at least loud and drunk -- crowd.

Coming home, I found out that the Notre Dame Hockey team beat Fichigan 2 to 1 to win the CCHA championship. With the win, they have probably lined themselves up as a Number One seed heading to the Frozen Four. At least they know how to win with the pressure on . . . Go Irish!

More tomorrow, I hope.

March Madness of a Winter Kind

So, we walked to work this morning in freezing rain and sleet. Now, it has just started to snow a bit out my north-facing windows. I guess it is going to continue like this for the rest of the day. "Snow, sleet or freezing rain this evening." While other areas might get up to eight inches, it seems as though New York City will probably settle for less than two. It seems like more often than not, St. Patrick's Day weekend is winter's last grasp at holding on. Let's hope that's the case this time around as well. I was getting used to temperatures in the high fifties . . .

Jaquelin T. Robertson to receive 2007 Driehaus Prize

The co-founder of my firm, Jaque Robertson, will be honored with the Richard Driehaus Prize on March 30th. This is quite an honor for Jaque and all of us at CRP. And once again, my life in architecture and Notre Dame intersect . . .

Notre Dame's School of Architecture Press Release

It's a Happy Hockey Night in Pittsburgh!

One of the best sentences I have read in a while:

The Pittsburgh Penguins have reached an agreement with state and local officials for construction of a new arena that will keep the team here under a 30-year lease.

This is great news, especially in light of how well they are playing this year. I am among a number of happy hockey fans this morning, that is for sure.

Now I need to find out if my old firm's master plan will be used for the new development. I sure hope that UDA's plan is considered again for this project. Especially due to the fact that it tries to stitch the Hill District back to Downtown -- a connection the Civic Arena completely severed as part of "Urban Renewal" forty years ago.

Some articles:

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
ESPN
another ESPN

Edit:
Another article on the agreement, from the Penguins' website; the first image is from my old office, Urban Design Associates

Pittsburgh

A piece from my brother's last art series that he graciously gave to us for our fifth anniversary.

My Favorite Songs, at 1:47 pm, Monday . . .

A Love Supreme - John Coltrane
Accidentally Like a Martyr - Warren Zevon
Amoreena - Elton John
Andy - Frank Zappa
Couldn't Love You More - John Martyn
In the Light - Led Zeppelin
It's About That Time - Miles Davis
Jealous Guy - John Lennon
Jesus Etc. - Wilco
Piper - Phish
Ruben and Cherise - Jerry Garcia
Scarlattina - Italian Instabile Orchestra
Sitting Here in Limbo - Jimmy Cliff
Sliding Down - Meyer, Marshall, and Fleck
Stage Fright - The Band
Standing On the Moon - The Grateful Dead
Tangled Up in Blue - Bob Dylan

Bein' Busy

I apologize for letting so much time pass between postings. Last weekend, we had the pleasure of hosting my brother, sister, and cousin for the weekend. Needless to say, we got quite busy and weren't in bed before 2:30 each of the nights. It was a wonderful visit with some good food (mmm, Lupa) and a bit of walking, capped off by lots of laughs and smiles. (I miss being in the same City as my brother and sister; hopefully, my cousin will be coming this way, though, for school.) And then on Sunday, we stayed up to watch the long and quite boring Academy Awards.

Here are photos Josh took during their trip to New York.

Once the week started, it became quite constant with work. I am managing a project down in Florida that is on a rather quick schedule. With a few "important" people involved, it feels good to finally be involved with a project that feels that is carries some weight. I guess it just took ten or so months of me being here to build up to it, that is all. The presentation is next week, so we are having quite a push through next Monday.

I hope to get around to posting some thoughts about a lecture given to the Notre Dame Club of New York by an old professor of mine. It was just so invigorating to be in a lecture again. One that you could relate to and understand, that had a direct relationship to your profession. Kind of made me want to go back to school -- without the grades and all the work, of course.

I should also mention I had a blast at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night cheering on my Pittsburgh Penguins as they defeated the New York Rangers in a shoot out. It was great to be there, decked out in my black and gold, cheering on the young and resurgent 'Guins. After being down 2 to nothing, the Penguins scored two short-handed goals to tie the game up. They went down 3-2, but battled back to take the game into overtime. The win was made even sweeter with Syd the Kid scoring the winning shoot-out goal -- after all of the boos and signs calling him a "Princess." While I didn't mind missing the Steelers in Pittsburgh, it is a tough time to be away from the 'Burgh with how well the hockey team is doing. Let's hope they can keep it up through the playoffs . . .