Sunday, June 28, 2009

a case of folly


Founder's Hall is an example of absurdity funded with too much money.


Long story short - Stephen Girard, the richest man in the country at the time (1831) left a boatload of money in his will for a school for orphans. White orphans. Eventually the court ruled that it could be opened up to all races (and chicks).


Founder's Hall was commissioned to look like a Grecian temple. There was no allowance in the will for repairs and boy, was this building pricey to repair (ever seen a floating staircase made of marble?). Alas, it was abandoned and new buildings were created and still exist today as the active school. Founder's Hall was the second most expensive building in the country in 1848 (topped only by the US Capital building).


It is bitter sweet to gain access to an amazing space in Philadelphia that has been abandoned, not to mention the neighborhood in which it is situated. I had the same experience when I went on the mural arts tour of West Philly. It's sad to go through the hull of what once was.





column dressings added as a part of a movie being shot here

Saturday, June 20, 2009

what rain?


Emily is a vision of calm before her wedding starts under torrential downpour.



brilliant flowers by Robertson's brightened the day


















those are some serious cupcake faces


gotta move fast to get 'em before they're gone


phew! even cuter ones arrive

Sunday, June 7, 2009

on business or pleasure?

This is when my line of work gets blurred. Last minute wedding request coincided with a pre-existing desire to spend a few days in New York anyway.


it looks like I lit this but it's just a street lamp. How Woody Allen of me.


the cloisters - now I can blame someone for my unicorn obsession at age 8


de Chirico self-portrait @ the Met


central park - who knew?