With Your Coffee

Dreaming of warmer days and spring trips like those to Quebec City. Seen here: Hotel du Parlement. 

Happy weekend, everyone! Happy April! It’s snowing in Burlington, and, no, that is not an April Fool’s joke. How I wish it were. However, the snow is prettier than the barren trees and patches of brown dirt that are usually here this time of year. I suppose snow is okay for another day. A few reading links for the weekend:

• The last of the Howard Johnson’s restaurants, located in Lake George, NY is for sale. What happened to the ubiquitous restaurant chain? Have you been to one? I cannot recall if I have, though I remember my parents saying on road trips, let’s stay at a HoJo’s! Of course, the time we tried to, the pool was gross + green, which would not do for four young girls.

• Beautiful photographs of Alaska on its 150th anniversary as the 49th state of the United States.

• Brutalist structures should not be painted, and not be white!

• This 12 stall barn was remodeled into a home. How did they do it? Basically, gutting it. While pretty, the new residence does not retain any historic integrity. What do you think? I was hoping they’d keep some of the stalls for something! (A pantry? A closet? A powder room?) And the doors. Sigh.

• Are you an alum of the UVM Historic Preservation Program? If you haven’t heard about the 40th Anniversary Celebration on October 13-15, 2017, be sure to check out uvmhpalum.wordpress.com for the latest updates. It’s the perfect excuse to come back to Burlington for a visit! Spread the word.

• This time of year in Vermont makes me miss North Carolina. Spring is well settled in by now in the south. Vermont has another 3-4 weeks before the leaves start to sprout on the tree branches. I’d say spring comes to Burlington in early May.

I really need a new podcast. Any suggestions?

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With Your Coffee

Burlington’s Moran Plant in winter. The Community Sailing Center uses the yard for boat storage, as the lake is directly to the west (right in this photo). 

Happy Presidents’ Day, everyone! How are you? I’ve been on a semi-blogging break, I guess you could say. Or at least, a blog-writing break. A few [good!] life events and the general avoidance of screens after working at a computer for most every day of the week contribute to this. Also, I’ve been avoiding many forms of social media since November. I’ve deleted Twitter from my phone, and it seems to help my overall sanity, somewhat. However, I’m feeling the pull of the blog again and missing the preservation conversations. To start off, I’ll jump back to the reading lists, because I continue to enjoy good lists from other blogs. Here are some preservation articles.

• The Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act co-sponsored by Senator Collins (ME) needs your help!

• More info from Preservation Forum.

• What is the actual meaning of blight?

• Multi-million dollar views of Manhattan (aka what most of us will never see).

• Doing preservation research? If I were, I’d definitely apply for the 2017 Pocantico Fellowship. Deadline March 31.

• Another reminder: Apply for the Poplar Forest Architectural Restoration Field School. An incredible deal and a wonderful two-week experience. Deadline April 7.

• Signs of Inclusion. Posters that every child (or person) should read. Print these for free.

• 99% Invisible – Read or listen – Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonia.

• Have you read Loving Frank? It’s partial fact, partial fiction, but an entertaining read.

• Have you seen McMansion Hell? It’s highly entertaining for architectural history nerds.

Hope you have a lovely day. And I hope today is a holiday for you.

With Your Coffee

[Summer edition.]

Renewable energy: what do you think?

Hello, friends! How is summer going for you? Too fast? Same here. Less time on the internet (other than work), and more time outside is my motto for this season. For those times when you want something to read, I’ve been gathering good links. Here are some that I’ve found lately: 

• A new podcast, Brave State Vermont, talks about Vermont’s marble and concrete sculptures at interstate rest areas.

• This election brings up a lot of arguments and tension in society. One thing cannot be denied: white, male privilege is a real thing. 

• President Obama is the best, and this is why. 

• Apartment Therapy, I love you, but your teardown disappoints me. 

• Farmers Markets: how they work. 

• The elephant hotel in Coney Island. 

• We talk so much about the health of cities; but, what about rural America? 

• In Brownington, VT, 40 oxen were employed to move a schoolhouse, in 2016. 

• Dollar General: how did it overtake Vermont so quickly? Moral of the story: zoning and regulations, people. 

• Happy 60th Birthday, Interstate Highwat System. You have mixed critics. 

What have you been reading lately? Any good preservation adventures? Hope you have a fabulous, fun weekend! 

With Your Coffee {Tuesday Edition}

Shard Villa in Salisbury, VT

Hello preservationists and friends! It’s time for an unconventional Tuesday “With Your Coffee” post because it’s good to switch it up once in a while. How’s it going by you? Work and life have been busy around here, but in a good way with challenging work projects, more daylight, and many good reasons to get outside. Here are a few inspiring and fun links that I’ve come across lately, some preservation, some design, etc. What about you? Fill me in!

• Forget tent camping or RV camping; how cool is this Cricket trailer?

• The architecture of Vermont’s churches (good podcast episode from Vermont Public Radio).

• Sign up for the Amazing Preservation Race in San Antonio, TX!

• I love when obscure everyday items are in the news, like manhole covers.

• Before grocery stores were commonplace, they were connected to gas stations, meaning they catered to people who could afford a car.

• Do sororities now equate to feminism?

• This couple went into serious debt to rehabilitate a house. Would you?

• I am not super into Harry Potter, but this sign made me laugh.

• You can rent Julia Child’s house. Talk about inspiring!

• Raina’s photos continue to be my favorite.

Have a great day! Let me know if any of these stories spark a conversation. Cheers!

With Your Coffee

Traveling this weekend? Feels like spring. Have fun! Seen here: Vermont I-89.

Hello preservation friends and happy weekend! How goes it? Big successes to share? Are you simply glad to have made it through the week (preservation and life can do that to you once in a while. You are not alone)? What are you working on these days? Have you watched House of Cards yet? I’m super psyched to do some binge-watching. Here are a few links from around the web if you’re looking for something to read this weekend.

• Happy Birthday to Vermont! A well-lived 225 years!

• Once upon a time, there was a proposal for a National Park in Vermont.

• Visiting California and seeing the sequoias is high on life list.

• Saying goodbye to Harper Lee.

• Have you taken the National Trust’s “What Kind of Preservationist are You?” quiz? What did you get? I’m a CLASSIC preservationist.

• How the Federal Housing Administration has impeded our preservationist urge to maintain and create mixed used building on our Main Streets.

• Kind of a fair point. If you want dense living and urban transit, relocate to where it exists.

• Did you listen to an 99% Invisible podcasts? If you listened to Miss Manhattan, you’ll want to read this about Audrey Munson.

• This makes me laugh because I’ve had many fat cats in my life.

What have you been reading lately?

Coffee cheers! 🙂

 

With Your Coffee {Monday Edition}

Hackett’s Orchard in South Hero, VT

And, it’s back! With Your Coffee took a break {a coffee break…ha, ha, ha}, but now that fall is in full swing, it’s time to focus on work and writing again and sharing the news. What better way to start than on a Monday?

On that note, hello! How are you? How have you been? Been reading lots lately? The weather has been gorgeous in Vermont and we’re in a stretch of good weekends. Apple picking, foliage, hot coffee, hot chocolate, chili, good stuff. Here are few stories from around the internet, some recent and some I’ve been saving to share.

• Read an excerpt from Prof. Robert McCullough’s latest book, Good Roads and Good Sidepaths. If you’re in the Burlington, VT area, come here Bob’s lecture about the book on Wednesday October 21 at 5:30pm in the Bailey-Howe Library at UVM. He is the best lecturer!

• Have you seen Bernice Radle’s HGTV show, American Rehab Buffalo? Or read this article? Congrats, Bernice! You’re an inspiration to us all! 

• Is the tiny house the American Dream? (I’d bet on certain areas, but certainly not everywhere.)

• From Preservation Action: Tell Congress to support the reauthorization of the Historic Preservation Fund. 

• While you’re on a good preservationist kick, nominate a place to the SCA’s Falling by the Wayside: North America’s Most Endangered Roadside Places. 

• Remember those colorful clamshell Macbooks? (Rory Gilmore had one that I coveted). Well, this will make some of us feel old: one is now in the Cooper Hewitt Museum. 

Coffee cheers!

With Your Coffee

The barn at Goodsell Ridge in Isle La Motte, VT. It’s undergoing a restoration project under the work of the Isle La Motte Preservation Trust.

Happy Monday, friends. Let’s ease into the work week and get the neurons firing again. If you’re like me, you’ve become skilled at avoiding emailing and computer screens on the weekend. It’s a good feeling. Social media can wait – for the most part – until the normal week resumes. Sometimes the news gets me down; there is so much sadness out there. Hopefully these “With Your Coffee” posts provide an antidote to that, at least by giving you good preservation-related topics to consider (and some tangents, too). Here are a few articles from around the internet over the past few weeks.

• The age of hyper-gentrification. Yikes. People move for the “charm” and that causes mom & pop to go out of business.

• Las Vegas is on board with historic preservation?!

• I’m starting to understand why people love mid-century architecture. Clean, smart, open, refreshing.

• Finally, I know why I’m always cold inside office buildings.

• At the beach? Learn how to build the perfect sandcastle. Or be the like O’Shea girls, and just dig a giant hole in the sand. It was always a good time.

• Bike lanes + pedestrians = increased retail sales. Obviously.

• Happy birthday to the first electric traffic light installation in America (August 5, 1914). It was installed in Cleveland, if you’re wondering.

• Playground love from the NTHP.

Have a great week! Cheers!

With Your Coffee

Ongoing rehabilitation is always good to see. South Champlain Street, Burlington, VT.

Happy Monday, friends. Okay, fine, Mondays aren’t as good as Fridays or Saturdays, but a new week is always a good thing. I hope your summers continue to be filled with sunny days, iced coffee, explorations, and your favorite diversions.  Here are a few links from around the web. Read anything good lately? Please share!

• This is my new summer camping goal.

• Would you replace a fence or keep the wall as a bench? 

• A village abandoned, by choice. 

• Yes! Love for old windows in the NYTimes. 

• You know I love playgrounds. Soon, this will be the world’s tallest slide. Add it to the list! 

• Ever hear of the ghost town, Picher, Oklahoma? 

• Instagrammer of the week: @southern_explorer85

Have a lovely week. Anything fun planned? Make the most of the summer daylight! Coffee cheers!

With Your Coffee

A view from the North Congregational Church in St. Johnsbury, VT

It’s the With Your Coffee Monday edition, as the weekends are much too nice to spend time in front of a computer screen. Wouldn’t you agree? I hope you had a fabulous weekend. My weekend took me to/from central Vermont and north/south on the Island Line bike path in gorgeous weather, both with historic site explorations. What about you? Here are some reads to start off your week:

• Warning: this rehabilitation will make you want to buy and live in a church. More photos here.

• This bookstore in Brooklyn makes millions … but it’s not a bookstore anymore.

• Good question. When did the rent get too damn high?

• Did you love To Kill a Mockingbird? Harper Lee is an interesting character, indeed.

• The constant battle of “there’s nowhere to park” described in Greenburg, PA.

• Thinking about living in a tiny house? You can try it out 2 hours north of Boston, MA!

• Literary road trips. Which one would you choose?

Cheers! Have a great week. 🙂

With Your Coffee

An Adirondack view, cell service not included.

{Operator error: this did not publish Saturday as it was supposed to. I hope you can enjoy it with your coffee on Monday. Hope you had a great weekend.}  Happy Monday! How was your weekend? Who wants to do his/her weekend all over again? Pine trees, fresh air, campfires, yes, please. Was it sunny and beautiful? What is the best part of your town/region in the summertime? Do you stay where you are, or escape somewhere for summertime enjoyment? I’d love to know. Coffee cheers!

• It’s true; Amtrak stations are some of the saddest looking places. Why would anyone want to take the train and wait in or be greeted by some of these? 

• Travelers, stop listening to YELP. It’s like reading comments in your local paper: scams or entirely uninformed. Make your own judgments.

• Like any preservationist, I love a good rehab success story. But, where are the before photos in this article? That is what I want to see!

•  Katonah, NY, standing up for its identify against big-box stores. You go, Katonah! Hold your ground. It’s your town.

•  Have you read The Belt, an online magazine about Rust Belt cities? 

•  We take a lot of photographs as preservationists. Do you paint? Would you want your house painted?

•  Also, Paint for Preservation. 

• Remember the story of drive-ins being forced to switch to expensive digital projectors? Talk about a hardship for businesses that make very little money as it is. It caused the St. Albans Drive-In to close. To add to the sadness, there’s a new(ish) Walmart across the street.

Have a great week, everyone!