Author: DJB

Why architecture matters: I.M. Pei and Henry Cobb’s Hancock Tower

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I’m reading Paul Goldberger’s new book Why Architecture Matters. As you would expect from Paul, it is a smart, well-written work that is designed to help the reader interested in buildings “come to grips with how things feel to us when we stand before them, with how architecture affects us emotionally as well as intellectually.” I’ve already come across numerous passages and examples that resonate, but last evening I was reading his take on I.M. Pei and Henry Cobb’s John Hancock Tower on Copley Square in Boston and was reminded of my last impression of that building when Andrew, Claire and I were visiting the city in March 2008. Paul, a Pulitzer-Prize winning writer and a trustee of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is describing the Hancock Tower in comparison to New York’s Seagram Building and G.M. Building.  All three are postwar American landmarks. It was great fun to introduce Claire and Andrew to Copley Square when we visited Boston in 2008.  We toured the great H.H. Richardson-designed Trinity Church, of course, and took …

Honoring Our Veterans

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On this Veteran’s Day 2009, we honor those who have served and continue to serve in our armed forces.  In my immediate family, that includes my father, a World War II Navy veteran, and my brother Joe, who served in the Navy on a helicopter carrier during the 1980s. I am always proud of their service, but don’t always remember to tell them so except on special days of honor such as this. Both survived their time of service.  But men and women join the military knowing that they may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.  Most expect that if that happens, it will occur on a foreign battlefield.  None expect it to happen on a United States military installation on U.S. soil. President Obama’s short but eloquent tribute yesterday to the 13 men and women who died last week at Fort Hood is a reminder of what their sacrifice means. This is a time of war.  Yet these Americans did not die on a foreign field of battle.  They were killed here, on American …

John Gorka Preview

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I mentioned a week ago that singer/songwriter John Gorka was playing at the historic Avalon Theater in Easton, Maryland on November 20th. Gorka has a way with words and a melody.  One of my favorite John Gorka songs  is Love is Our Cross to Bear. It’s from me, it’s to you For your eyes It’s a weight, a wonder that is wise I am here, you are there Love is our cross to bear I found this really sweet video of Gorka singing Love is Our Cross to Bear from a recent concert in The Netherlands. Let me know if you make it to Easton for the concert.  In any event, enjoy. More to come… DJB

What a Glorious Day…There’s More Baseball to be Played!

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Game Five of the World Series was what we’ve been waiting for and, as a result, there’s more baseball to be played. Hallelujah! As Dave Sheinin wrote in this morning’s Washington Post, “The Yankees still hold a 3-2 edge in the series, but it feels exponentially smaller than it did 24 hours ago.” In his Washington Post column, Tom Boswell has a wonderful piece on how this has turned into an “Old School Series.”  How right he is.  And he nails the landing: Once back in New York, Matsui and Posada will be back in the lineup. Pettitte will be set to pitch a game that might be Exhibit A on his Hall of Fame résumé someday. Utley will take aim at Reggie-Reggie-Reggie. A-Rod has a chance to be MVP and own New York for decades. Girardi won’t sleep for the next 48 hours. Martínez has a chance to reverse the “Daddy” chants for a day and bring baseball a Game 7 that would raise the hair on heads from coast to coast. This is …

Christ Church Lutheran Minneapolis: A Sacred Place Captured in Photos

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I am in Minneapolis/St. Paul for two days of meetings on saving Modernist and Recent Past places.  Minnesota and the Great Lakes region has a strong collection of buildings and landscapes from the Modernist period, so we’re in town to work with and learn from our local partners. Last evening’s opening session was held in a beautiful space:  the Eliel Saarinen designed Christ Church Lutheran sanctuary.  His son Eero designed the adjoining educational wing.  This supreme example of the Modernist movement is Minnesota’s only National Historic Landmark listed for its architectural importance rather than as a site of historic significance. The church – now working with a newly formed Friends of Christ Church Lutheran group – has done a wonderful job of preservation and stewardship of this place.  I spent a great deal of time last evening with Pastor Kristine Carlson, who opened with a moving testimony as to why this place matters.  As I said in my opening remarks, preservation generally happens when people – not necessarily professional preservationists – see the connection between …

Ralph Stanley Memoir: The Man of Constant Sorrow

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An American treasure – Dr. Ralph Stanley – has just released a memoir entitled Man of Constant Sorrow:  My Life and Times. Many people came to know Stanley through his haunting rendition of O Death in the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?.  But longtime bluegrass and old-time music fans know of Stanley from his days with his late brother Carter when they performed some of the most moving music ever heard from the mountains of Virginia. Mother Jones online has a good review of the book.  Here’s an excerpt of Stanley talking about his childhood: “There were no books I can recall, save for the family Bible,” he says of the home place. “There wasn’t much in the way of toys and playthings like children have today. My parents wouldn’t allow even a deck of playing cards in the house, because it could lead to gambling and all kinds of trouble. For Christmas, we’d get an orange, one for Carter and one for me, and a handful of rock candy. Maybe a cap-gun, too. …

Terrific roots music coming to Washington this fall

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We’re into fall here in the Washington region and that means that the acoustic music scene is busy pointing toward those holiday concerts.  But before December arrives, there are a few highlights for lovers of bluegrass, Americana, and roots music in the District of Columbia. This Monday, the Blue Moon Cowgirls and flatpicking champion Orrin Star are featured at the Institute of Musical Traditions concert in Rockville.  I’ve heard Star before, and he’s a treat for those who like the old flat top. Country singer extraordinaire Patty Loveless will be at the Birchmere on November 1st.  She’ll no doubt be featuring tunes from  her new album, Mountain Soul II. The original Mountain Soul was a terrific album, and the follow-up begins with a great version of that old country classic, Busted. (Well the bills are all due and the babies need shoes, we’re busted…) Sure to be a great show. For those who don’t mind a bit of a drive, folksinger John Gorka is playing on November 20th at the historic Avalon Theatre in beautiful …

Don’t Give Up Your Day Job

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We’re back to reality following the National Preservation Conference last week in Nashville. As you saw in earlier posts, I spent some time playing a little old-time and bluegrass music with friends and colleagues.  At one venue,  the playing was captured on video. So click below to see yours truly playing a couple of fiddle tunes.  We picked the key for ease of playing, so the singing’s a little low.  These tunes were performed at the Patrons’ Dinner for the conference sponsors and all seemed to have a good time. Enjoy. More to come… DJB

Sitting In With Off the Wagon

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Earlier this week, fellow preservationist and bluegrass lover David Price came up at the National Preservation Conference and invited me to sit in with his band, Off the Wagon, when they played the Southern Regional Reception on Thursday evening. I jumped on the wagon! Off the Wagon is a good young bluegrass band in Nashville (the next night they were playing at the world-famous Station Inn).  So as you can see from the photos, I enjoyed the chance to sing and play Sitting On Top of the World. Twas in the spring, one sunny day, My good gal left me, Lord, she went away, And now she’s gone, but I don’t worry, “Cause I’m sitting on top of the world. The band helped cover my mistakes (and my lapses in memory) and I had a great time.  Lots of friends and colleagues from our Southern Regional Office and beyond had a chance to enjoy it as well. I’ve inserted a video of Off the Wagon – without the interloper – playing New Camptown Races. Enjoy. …