Veritas et Venustas"Renewing Tradition for the 21st Century." Keywords: architecture, urbanism, classical architecture, traditional urbanism, New Urbanism, Classical Liberalism, ProgressivismThe New Buildings of Coral Gables: In which the Planning Department of the City of Coral Gables negotiates with developers to produce a higher density- November 7, 2006 I'M taking pictures of the architecture and urbanism of Coral Gables while I'm here, and hope to post on these in the future. Coral Gables is rapidly going from 1 and 2 story buildings to 12 and 20 story buildings, and simultaneously emphasizing architectural qualities that make for more walkable...http://massengale.typepad.com/venustas/2006/11/the_new_buildin.html Bucks- November 7, 2006 SURE, Starbucks has played a large role in increasing the quality of coffee in America, and it helped make it possible for local coffee shops to know they could succeed. But why do so many of us favor Starbucks over the local shops In Coral Gables, there's a Starbucks on...http://massengale.typepad.com/venustas/2006/11/bucks.html Chardonnay Shmardonnay Redux- November 6, 2006 Thanks to Kevin for pointing out that there's a good wine store just a few blocks from my temporary apartment in Coral Gables. It's called Wolfe's, and three years ago Food & Wine magazined called it "the best new wine store in America. The owners of the store specialize in...http://massengale.typepad.com/venustas/2006/11/chardonnay_shma.html Michael Blowhard on “one of the half-dozen best books ... for ... first-year architecture students” —- November 5, 2006 "A Theory of Architecture," Nikos Salingaros's new book, is on its most basic level a textbook for architecture students. Slim, witty, and thorough -- as well as sophisticated-yet-accessible (a favorite combo of mine) -- this is one of the half-dozen books it'd be great for all first-year architecture students to...http://massengale.typepad.com/venustas/2006/11/michael_blowhar.html We are the champions, of the world- November 5, 2006 IT'S FUNNY how movies often come out in pairs. Recent releases Marie Antoinette and The Queen are both about European queens at defining moments in their reigns. Helen Mirren is astounding as Queen Elizabeth, who in the movie finds that the death of Princess Diana challenges everything the Queen has...http://massengale.typepad.com/venustas/2006/11/we_are_the_cham.html “The Best Block in New York”- November 5, 2006 Time Out New York is a weekly magazine that lists goings-on about town and that also covers the New York arts and nightlife scenes for a mostly young readership. A couple of weeks ago they had a cover story ... on "The 50 Best Blocks in New York." ... And...http://massengale.typepad.com/venustas/2006/11/best_block_in_n.html |