I was visiting a friend on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and as I was walking down his street towards his apartment, saw this face glaring at me. This wasn’t on my friend’s building, but can you imagine having this face greet you every day when you come home? Here’s a stepped-back look at … Read more
One of the things I like visually about Pittsburgh is the yellow bridges; there’s a variety of suggested reasons for them all being the same color. One, for safety and visibility, as they stand out in fog and rain. Two, for maintenance ease, as it’s easier to spot flaws on a light surface. Three, for … Read more
On my first full morning in Mexico City (my second day in the country), I decided to wander out from my Airbnb in search of some coffee. I found some right down the street, but then decided to wander around a little bit with my hot coffee in hand, checking out the local streets. Technically … Read more
While I got sick during my trip to Mexico, I was able to get out and walk around a little bit each of the days I was sick … and while wandering the streets of Roma Norte, I saw this home with what I might describe as “racing stripes.” I mean, who thinks to paint … Read more
My first night in Madrid, despite a full day of exploring, I was still energized to keep walking the streets and taking in as many sights as I could. At one point, I was in the Cortes neighborhood, which is just south of the famous Calle Gran Via, and walking along Calle de Alcala. This … Read more
I drove up to Wurtsboro, NY yesterday to see an open house that seemed too good to be true: the listing describes “Nestled on over eleven acres of serene, wooded land in a peaceful Sullivan County community, this classic six bedroom, one bath Victorian stands as a testament to timeless architecture.” A reasonable price with … Read more
I decided to take some action about that property with the awesome longhorn skull painted over the front gate … I reached out to the real estate agent whose name was on the front sign. It turns out it’s being packaged with the property next door; two buildings, the one I liked used to be … Read more
If you like the Southwestern vibe, as I do, wouldn’t you love to have a home with an entrance like this? This adobe wall with the painted longhorn skull over a weathered turquoise door makes for a very cool front entrance to a property on West Rodeo Road in Santa Fe. Of course all I … Read more
I’m struggling with a decision. I’m doing my best to convince myself that a rural estate upstate with a cool Mission Revival style house, old barn, and 2nd house (and a few sheds thrown in) is a bad decision, as there’s so much expensive work that would need to be done, renovation-wise. And it’s far … Read more
I’m considering the purchase of an old house, and the phrase “this old house” came to mind, which I see is a television show on PBS that perhaps I should start watching. You can see my back-and-forth debates with myself as to whether this is a a good idea or not here. I’m still in … Read more