Category Archives: architecture

A View from the Bridge

Taken from the “bridge” skywalk between the Library and Science Buildings at MSOE following my film studies class tonight. That’s the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist bathed in golden light, and the crane marks the site where one of … Continue reading

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Public Restroom in Black and White

  I liked the lines and decided to go with black and white because in color the brown door was a distraction from what I saw as the main point of the photo. Plus I kind of like how in … Continue reading

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Little Free Library (#9) – Makenna’s Tribute

The Little Free Library movement is huge in Milwaukee. In some neighborhoods you can’t drive more than a few blocks without seeing one of the little book boxes in a front yard. These boxes can be wildly individualistic, which is … Continue reading

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Random Reflections on Malls and Department Stores

Monday’s Wall Street Journal ran an article (read it here) noting the waning days of the department store as anchor in the American shopping mall: “Mall Owners Push Out Department Stores: Fast-fashion chains, restaurants, specialty stores do a better job of driving mall … Continue reading

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Little Free Library (#8) – Matching!

Often Little Free Library boxes match the house they sit in front of. I’ve done a post on one of these before (Little Free Library #2, here) but I didn’t think to include a photo of the house. For today’s … Continue reading

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In an Earlier Era of “Walkable Cities”

If you take a close look at some of Milwaukee’s older neighborhoods, you’ll notice that a hundred years ago (approximately, say 1870-1930) factories were surrounded not only by the modest cottages of workers but also by the mansions of the owners. Today you’d … Continue reading

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Storm Clouds over Mulate’s

We’ve had some thunderstorms this week in New Orleans. Thankfully I was inside during the worst one Monday evening. Incredibly powerful thunder and lightning, and very low in the sky…seemingly right overhead! I took this photo as I left the … Continue reading

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Blue Skies over the MSOE Campus Center / Blatz Brewery Bottle House

It’s been a nose-to-the-grindstone kind of day. Reading lots of student drafts in my two sections of film studies and compiling/composing feedback for the debate teams in my freshman studies class. I got to work shortly after 8:00 this morning and will be … Continue reading

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Ghost Sign

I’m fascinated by old signs that have long outlived their usefulness. The resolution in this photo isn’t very sharp—I took it with my iPhone while sitting at the Juneau and Old World Third Street stoplight—but it pulls together several eras in … Continue reading

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Grohmann Museum Rooftop Garden, February

If I have a small class, I’ll occasionally take my students up to the rooftop sculpture garden on a warm spring day. We carry benches from all corners to sit together for discussion. To keep track of our time, we need merely glance over … Continue reading

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