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Museums & Historic Sites

(Photograph by author)

Bromo Seltzer & Baltimore

Earlier this month, I visited an old friend in Baltimore ostensibly to lend him a hand with his cozy 1850s rowhouse. In between projects, he introduced me to a few (of the many) high points of Charm City. Knowing our shared passion for architectural, industrial, and local history, my friend prominently included a tour of…

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Keeping Cities Weird

Recently, I visited “To Fast to Live, Too Young to Die,” an exhibit showcasing the graphic art of the early punk scenes in New York and London, at the Museum of Art and Design. The exhibit captured a raw, wild creative moment in New York.

Plaque at St. Mark's Church In-The-Bowery. Notice the Lorillard name. (Photography by author)

A Lorillard Sighting

While recently visiting cultural and historic institutions in the East Village in New York, I noticed a plaque outside the storied St. Mark’s Church In-The-Bowery. The plaque noted that St. Mark’s is the oldest physical site of worship in New York, dating back to the days of New Amsterdam. Additionally, it listed some of the more…

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Trees Grow in Brooklyn

Last week, I ventured from my cozy nest in Jersey City to Brooklyn, the epicenter of the contemporary creative world in New York. I didn’t seek out live music, funky cafes, eclectic bookshops, or farm-to-table restaurants. I rode the subway to Brooklyn to enjoy nature. Yes, nature.

Perfume Professor standing on Winslow Homer's second-story porch. (Photograph by author).

Winslow Homer’s Atlantic Home

This past October, my wife and I shared a wonderful vacation in Portland, Maine. Not surprising to anyone acquainted with us, we visited several historic homes. The American artist Winslow Homer lived and worked in Maine for nearly thirty years. His studio was a must-see. Coincidentally, we signed up for the final tour of the…

Halloween is Coming! An October Event

Recently, I’ve hinted at researching Washington Irving for a hitherto unnamed event. Now, it’s official!

(Courtesy of Preservation New Jersey)

The Apple Tree House: Jersey City’s Salon

Last week, I attended an entertaining and fascinating lecture on the Lenape Indians, the indigenous people inhabiting the New York metropolitan region and the entire Garden State prior to European exploration and colonization. Where might you ask? At the Apple Tree House. Right in Jersey City.

Art & Imagination: Paintings from the Whitney Museum

During the past several months, I’ve made a concerted effort to take full advantage of the rich, world-class, and often free cultural amenities in the New York metropolitan region. Recently, I continued this resolution by visiting the Whitney Museum of American Art.

Escape the City (from within the City): The Cloisters

For the majority of my adult life, I’ve worked and lived in major East Coast cities. I enjoy city life. Much like many city dwellers, I occasionally find myself overwhelmed by the crowds and the noise and need to touch a quieter life. More so these days.

BK Painting

The Urban Pastoral

After recently enjoying the David Bowie Is exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum, I wandered through the building’s American wing. Whenever I visit this particular museum, I seek out my favorite work in its collection, Winter Scene in Brooklyn by Francis Guy.