Birchmere Hallway

Alexandria, Virginia's Birchmere has hosted musicians of just about every type and at every stage in their careers. Fans love the possibility of seeing someone who may go on to make it really, really big. Big names relish the opportunity to perform in a more intimate venue. Every hallway is crammed with photos and posters of those who have visited the Birchmere. It's a Who's Who of Blues, Rock, Bluegrass, Country and Folk. Every time, I marvel at this intricate jigsaw puzzle, a survey of design styles in about 50 yards of wall space. My big question is this: who rearranges all of it when they decide to add new posters?

Carousel Riders

The usual carnival-style music beckoned us into the pavilion in Smale Riverfront Park that houses Carol Ann's Carousel. On first sight, it looks like a traditional carousel. But every animal and painted medallion represents something about Cincinnati. Children can ride a UC Bearcat or one of the zoo's white tigers. I don't know why there is a grasshopper but am quite sure that some sort of  law was passed years ago stating that a flying pig must be included in any new project built within the city's borders. Who says carousels are just for children? All the sign says is that riders must be at least 42 inches tall.

Fun In the Fountains

Smale Riverfront Park is quickly becoming a favorite new playground for Cincinnati's children. Along with gardens, bike paths and river views, the many ingeniously designed playgrounds are keeping them happy and active. On a hot day, the water features are the most popular. We watched children run, splash, dance, and hop in and out of an allee of bubbling fountains right near the Reds baseball park. It's been a long time since kids had a reason to look forward to spending the day downtown, but now they will be begging to do so.

Drink Me?

Every part of Orvieto, Italy exude history. It is thrilling to imagine Etruscans and Romans walking down these same streets. When colors are limited to the subtle differences of walls and cobblestones, pattern, texture and the play of light become the stars. This fountain has a magical look to it, but no, you will not be seeing me filling my water bottle here. 

Green Web

A construction crew is finishing some new townhouses near the local post office. In the grass beyond the sidewalk, I noticed a shade of green that looked too green for this time of year. The cast-off plastic netting must have been lounging in this spot for quite a while, giving the weeds plenty of time to grown up through it. The delicate, overlapping layers of netting remind me of spider webs. Plastic and plants are tangled up together, temporarily coexisting on this patch of earth. At the moment, I think the weeds are winning.