Frank Lloyd Wright in Japan

It was rainy, a good day to change plans and ride a bullet train for 230 miles to visit Meiji Mura, an architecture museum. After coffee in the lobby of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Tokyo Imperial Hotel, we explored many of the 60 buildings. We then rode a bullet back.

Tadao Ando Gallery

Between flights at O’Hare, rode the L Downtown. Finally visited the Tadao Ando gallery at the Institute of Art. This peaceful place, with the 16 permanent pillars, was a refuge for some after 9/11. Next weekend we’ll sleep in a place designed by Ando on the island of Naoshima.

Pre-The Glass Menagerie

Walked across the park to The Guthrie for a pre-theater drink, bracing ourselves for The Glass Menagerie.

Categorized as Arts

Extraordinary Places

Rain made today a good day to indulge my inner dilletante. Walked to the library at the University of Minnesota’s School of Architecture to take my mind to an extraordinary place.

The Shed

Pushed my bicycle through “The Shed” in Nordeast Minneapolis. Over 300 people work 21st century jobs in the surrounding former industrial spaces. The gantry crane nods to the past.

In Praise of Tactile Controls

The Navy will begin reverting destroyers back to a physical throttle and traditional helm control system in the next 18 to 24 months, after the fleet overwhelmingly said they prefer mechanical controls to touchscreen systems in the aftermath of the fatal USS John S. McCain (DDG-56) collision.The investigation into the collision showed that a touchscreen…… Continue reading In Praise of Tactile Controls

Diaphanous Steel

Steel figures became diaphanous as I pushed my bicycle past the Physics and Nanotechnology Building at the University of Minnesota.

Categorized as Arts