Photo : Bunch of Bertoias

Since I'm heading to New York City this evening I've got museums on the brain, even though I probably won't visit any on this trip. I've always loved these simple wire chairs by Harry Bertoia, especially when they cast shadows like these.

Museum of Modern Art courtyard, New York City - New York

Photo : MoMA Couryard

I was expecting the courtyard to be in focus rather than the edges but it definitely made for a more interesting photo this way.

Museum of Modern Art courtyard, New York City - New York

Photo : Charleston Graveyard

Unitarian Church of Charleston Graveyard, Charleston - South Carolina

Photo : Broad Street Skyline

Broad Street Skyline, Charleston - South Carolina

Photo : Las Vegas Crystals

I'm back from my week out west and working hard towards finishing my graduate degree. I managed to scan a few photos that I got processed earlier this week, one of which comes from architect Daniel Libeskind's Crystals shopping complex, part of the City Center development.

Crystals - Las Vegas, Nevada

Photo : Hollyhock House

I'm enjoying the sun and company out in California this week. It will be a little while before I can develop and scan the photos I took on this trip, but for now here's a photo I took last year at Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House in Barnsdall Art Park.

Hollyhock House - Los Angeles, California

Photo : Aged Las Vegas Neon

Neon Boneyard - Las Vegas, Nevada

Photo : Meatpacking District

Meatpacking District - New York City, New York

Best of 2009 Travel: Part 9 of 10 - The High Line

The High Line - New York City, New York

I’ve written a lot about The High Line over the past six months for various reasons so I’ll keep this short. Basically, if you find yourself in New York City, you should go. Sure, it’s more enjoyable if the sun is out and the temperatures are balmy, but the elevated rail line cum park is worth seeing in any season. The sinuous path of the park hovers two stories above the street in the Meatpacking District offering a new perspective on the city and what has become the city’s sun porch – where people come to relax, read a book, grab a coffee or chat with friends when the weather’s nice. Diehards have even incorporated The High Line into their running routes. However you choose to use it, it’s worth a stop.

Best of 2009 Travel: Part 7 of 10 - Montreal

Old Town Montreal

It’s hard to encompass the vibe of an entire city in a paragraph or two, particularly one as vibrant as Montreal, so I’ll stick to three highlights of my visit this past autumn.

Getting Around: Montreal’s subway system is an extremely convenient way to get around the city. Beyond its convenience many of the stations are great architectural caliber and public art is plentiful. From tile murals to stained glass portraits to the fanciful light shades there’s something to see at almost every stop. Montreal has also recently begun offering a bikeshare program where you can rent a bike at stations around the city and return it to any other station with an available slot. Old town in particular is nice and compact and perfect for cycling and the numerous parks make biking appealing as well. All in all, I didn’t need to drive anywhere once I arrived in the city.

Architecture: Most visitors know to expect the nice Old World architecture when they come to Montreal, but the city is also home to another important architectural assett, the Canadian Centre for Architecture. The Centre functions largely as a museum but also has archives and other resources invaluable to practicing architects. The rotating exhibitions are of the highest caliber and explore a wide range of up-to-the-minute topics as well as historic retrospectives. It’s not to be missed by anyone with a passing interest in the field.

Outdoor Market: There’s almost no better way to spend a lazy Sunday in Montreal than roaming the Mont Royal Market. The street is closed off to make way for vendors of all kinds – many offering clothing related items. Food is also available from various stands and the mood is relaxed and friendly. It’s a nice break from the tour bus highlights of the city and it’s a nice way to enjoy the weather if it’s agreeable.

Best of 2009 Travel: Part 1 of 10 - The Modern Wing

*To kick off 2010 I've decided to recap my top ten favorite travel adventures of 2009. I had the good fortune to spend time in 24 states and 2 Canadian provinces and visit 36 units of the National Park Service. After such a banner year of traveling I can hardly wait to see what the next year has in store for me. I'll cover one destination each day for the next ten days. Without further delay I present, in no particular order, my top ten favorite travel destinations of 2009.

The Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago - Chicago, Illinois

Italian architect Rezno Piano has been opening museums all over the country in the past few years. Cities from Atlanta to San Francisco to Los Angeles have been graced by Piano’s work with varying results. One of the finest of Piano’s recent designs is the Modern Wing at the Art Institute of Chicago.

The venerable encyclopedic art museum expanded its square footage on the northeast corner of its campus opening up views from the new structure to Millennium Park. A delicate steel footbridge arcs gracefully from the upper level of the expansion down to the park, forging an even stronger connection between the two venues.

The stark white interiors of the addition are a clean palette for the museums stellar modern collection offering a new home to favorite’s like Magritte’s Time Transfixed. My only concern is that the new wing is slightly too segreated from the rest of the museum, encouraging visitors to skip the rest of the treasures that the museum holds.