Our first visit to the state of Alabama started out with a bang—of lightning, that is. The whipping wind in Birmingham warned us of the brewing storm. Then, upon our arrival, Tuscaloosa greeted us with a tornado warning. That morning was relatively warm. We had just driven from the University of Georgia in Athens to the Atlanta Breakfast Club in Georgia for a delicious soul food breakfast, followed by a stroll through Centennial Olympic Park and Pemberton Place, and finally a stop at the Georgia Capitol. The skies…

Jubilant students on TV rushed to ring a chapel bell as Georgia beat Alabama in the college football national championship game. A few weeks later, we find ourselves standing at that same bell hanging from within a white trussed tower. A student marches eagerly up to ring the bell with vigor, a tradition first recorded after a tough football game triumph against Auburn in 1894. Today, the landmark Chapel Bell is rung by students after celebrating a Bulldog victory or acing a test.

Just a couple blocks from the South Carolina State House, we enter through one of two openings in the brick “Horseshoe Wall” that once protected the campus from burning during the Civil War. The cozy atmosphere invites us in. A brick path leads us into a tree-lined park setting where two centuries of pastel-colored history surround the Horseshoe, the long, U-shaped green space of the original college. The wintry day is brisk as we wander through a very walkable campus.

Mostly improved, but missing one thing—the restaurant The centerpiece of the 1962 World’s Fair, the futuristic Space Needle got a $100 million renovation-mostly for the better-using 176 tons of glass to achieve a lighter and brighter feel. Although, now something’s missing—actually, replaced. This time around we opted to enjoy the Space Needle from on the ground. Oh…

A Personal Journey—How downsizing upgraded our lives and revealed what’s really important to us, in this moment. It may seem counterintuitive, particularly for an architectural designer amid a pandemic, to sell our house and move into an apartment. But that’s exactly what we did. We let go of the “American dream.” As homeowners for the past 22 years, we grew up thinking success meant accumulating. Progress meant…

A Word of Warning on My Victorian Walk through Kensington — As I poked between the iron gate, I heard a voice warn, “No photos.” I looked up from the estate to see a gentleman emerge from the buildings to kindly deliver his message. I was just there for the architecture. Beautiful details called to me, begging for my admiration. And…

How Tradition Upholds Artistry and High Standards — The dapper barista steamed the milk with precision, poured the creamy froth over the shot of robust espresso in a rhythmic swaying motion, then slid the cappuccino onto the bar with a slight nod. As I sipped the luscious intensity, I tasted Italy. The day officially began. The taste lingered…

A Pre-Covid Tale as the Vatican Reopens after 88 Days of a Second Closure — Corralled beneath ornate ceilings in halls of maps and tapestries, the crowded gallery corridors felt like an elegant livestock chute extending the length of a dozen football fields. From there, we were shoved into a smaller-than-expected chapel packed with tourists. This should have been a moment that forced my mouth…

My life took a detour, years ago, when I settled for a while in one of the world’s most majestic settings. From here I was able to see the forest through the trees—literally and figuratively. I discovered, not only an amazing landscape, but myself in the process, and began a new chapter… in California. — Growing up in Portland, Oregon, Lake Tahoe was not on my radar. It’s funny actually—I spent so many summers on waterways throughout the Northwest, but to me, the mountains meant snowy winter months skiing the slopes of Oregon and Utah. All I really knew of California was its coastline.