Guaranteed washout

Severe thunderstorms, scattered thunderstorms and isolated thunderstorms until Sunday. After that it'll probably just rain until Labor Day.


Bonus: it's pouring so hard I can't even see the pool!

Of course...

Photos from first day of summer 2011, the longest day, the solstice. We never know what kind of weather we'll have here on June 21. This year it's warm, humid and buggy. And what's that I hear this morning? Thunder? More than likely because the pool is finally open.


Which means it will storm for at least the next four days. Guaranteed.

La Jolla Art

La Jolla isn't just about the ground squirrels, harbor seals and delicious food. It also has one of the best small contemporary art museums-the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego located in a prime spot overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The exhibitions are always interesting but on a perfect California day you could just wander through the grounds admiring the sculpture, smelling the flowers and, of course, spotting those seals from the garden wall.

San Diego: A day at the beach

Despite the "June gloom" a day at the beach in San Diego is always beautiful. Hazy, lazy and laid back California beachlife has lots to look at. The expected:


Pelicans,


seagulls


and seals


and the unexpected: Squirrels



squirrels


and more squirrels. Enjoy!

Valuing our Heritage

The Andrew Geller Architectural Archive Preservation and Film project gives us a unique opportunity to document and preserve the catalog of a significant contributor to America's architectural heritage. The value of this undertaking as a future resource for research into architecture, social history and design should not be underestimated. Although it reached its kickstarter goal a few days ago the cost of cataloging the archive and making a documentary about Andrew Geller's work will be much higher than the $3000 raised so far. There is still time to pledge a donation and receive a corresponding award, so click on over to Kickstarter to see how you can be part of this exciting initiative.

I heart San Diego

Heart shapes everywhere


Tree roots


Palms


Sweetheart! Quinceañera photos on the patio at The Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego.

Pied a terre Bruxelles

In the two weeks since we returned from our last trip to Brussels inspired by this apartment, I've been searching the interwebs for a little place we could escape the brutal New York winters-and summers-and enjoy some truly delicious food.


A sparkily decorated newly renovated apartment on the far outreaches of Brussels' commune near the Blvd de l"Abattoir


A three bedroom duplex in the happening St. Gery neighborhood


Or my coup de coeur, a two bedroom loft in the former warehouse Tour et Taxis district of the capital.
All that stands between me and my dream is that winning combination on the lottery.

Soupy

This weather would be fabulous if I was lying on the beach, in a bikini, under an umbrella with a a constant supply of fruity cocktails. I'm not. I'm just hot and grumpy.
In year's past, on days like this I'd walk the dogs to the beach and go straight to the pool, shedding clothes and dog leashes on the way. If the neighbors were lucky I'd have remembered to wear a swimsuit under my clothes. If I were truly prepared I'd have laid out a towel before I set out.
This year, what with one thing and another we would be away more than we were home until the actual start of summer so we decided not to open the pool until mid-June. Every other year this wouldn't have mattered, it's generally not really warm here in late spring. But sod's law makes idiots of us once again. Temperatures in the 90s since end May and the stickies to boot. Typical tch! moment.

BXL en tout sens

Maybe it was the weather, blue skies and warm temperatures, so different from what I expected or remember from the years I lived in Belgium where it is supposed to rain 220 days out of 365. Maybe it was seeing the renovated hotel that we always use as our base had upholstered the bedroom chair in the same fabric I used for the blinds in my office.


Perhaps it was the food: Carpaccio d'ananas with coco caviar at Parnasse; Soupe de Poissons with Rouille at Tot Bon; a delicious trio of Brussels' specialities at Skievelat that included a single meatball in an exquisite Gueuze sauce,



the artisinal beer making & tasting at Castillon Brewery


or chocolate sampling at Zaabar.


Maybe it was the generally friendly and polite people, including those who directed us to the apple store -not the greengrocers, the one that sells not apples or macs but les Macintoshes-which, should you need an accessory for your ipad is called Cami, located at Ma Campagne.


Or simply hanging out with old friends in the city, at restaurants, cafes and making new friends at the Jazz Marathon, talking and laughing in a bar while Barcelona slaughtered Man Utd 3-1 in the Champions League.


Whatever the reason Brussels felt once again like home.


And when we toured this light and airy penthouse apartment I wanted to kick the present tenants out and move right in.


The cat, of course, would stay.

Random Photos: European Capital

I've been sitting at this cafe for fifteen years watching the world go by,


the architecture change,


critiquing the art installations


but some things never change...

A word of warning - should you stay near here the taxis no longer pick you up at your hotel. Instead you must cross the cobbled streets and sidewalks of the Square Luxembourg to the taxi rank. Beware: Stilettos and cobblestones are not a good mix even in dry conditions!

Random Photos: Brussels

Place de Jamblinne de Meaux, Brussels, Belgium

Random Photos: London

View from the hotel room: Chancery Court Hotel, Holborn formerly the neoclassical Pearl Assurance Building, designed by H Percy Monckton, 1912.