FAMILY IS EVERYTHING:

... I cannot take credit though - I sniped it from here:

http://www.joe-stone.co.uk/portfolio/familytree.html

PEACE,

B.

WATER BEATS BRIDGE...

... And Rock beats Scissors.

Sheesh:

http://gizmodo.com/lead-designer-of-sf-bay-bridges-new-span-is-worried-its-1734702179

So, In Case You have Not Seen It - Here is the New Bay Bridge at Night:

... And here the Bridge is a Little Later in a Day Shot with the Original Bay Bridge Being Demolished in the Background:

Nature finds a way I suppose...
B.

THE DAVID WRIGHT HOUSE:

... You know, I stumbled across this restoration project on Instagram last month and was actually a little disappointed in myself for not having the slightest clue that The David Wright House even existed.

BUT ... First, a little background: I lived in the Valley - Scottsdale, actually - For eight months after graduating College from The University of Arizona with my Bachelors Degree in Architecture with an Option in Design in 2002. Prior to leaving Tucson for Scottsdale I spent the eight months after graduation working full-time for the same Architectural Firm I had Interned part-time for while going to school...It was a good time for me - I was learning a lot, making my own money, living by myself for the first time ever and spending every waking minute with my friends on the weekend.

Good times.

... So, I guess you could say I was pretty familiar with the Grand Canyon State having lived there for seven years before bailing for Northern California in 2004...AND...Tuscon, as an aside, is a simple hour and a half away from this Frank Lloyd Wright designed home - So, with all the times my peers and I went back and forth up the I-10 Corridor to the greater Phoenix Metro-area we could have simply driven by this property.

It would have been a nice photo opportunity at the absolute very least...

I am nothing if not self-aware I guess.

Yes, I have been to Taliesin West - It was great and a must for any Architect that is in the area and has the time - BUT...I never knew that the David Wright House - The home Frank Lloyd Wright designed for his Son, in tribute to and as a means to represent, how America should live in the Southwest - even existed until last month. Yes, the David Wright House sits in the Arcadia Neighborhood, a quick drive away from my old Office in Scottsdale - In fact, having driven through the Arcadia Neighborhood several times when living in the Valley and since when going back to visit I am sure I have sped right past it.

Again, I am nothing if not self-aware.

Whatever.

... Regardless, here is a nice write up on AZ Central about the Home and the restoration process as well as some of the push-back the new owners are receiving from the Arcadia Neighborhood Residents:

http://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/editorial/2015/11/17/wright-house-phoenix/75928944/?hootPostID=bd7260872973582de38903f71995ecdf

I have cherry-picked some of the better photos from the article and posted them below for your viewing pleasure.

Enjoy:

Pretty cool, huh? - I am not a huge Wright Apologist - America's Architect was a notorious womanizer and excellent at his practice of infidelity...All why preaching the American Family ideal and the importance of the Hearth in the home - AND - Essentially stealing his Intern's ideas, concepts and creativity while never giving credit or a cent of pay...Whatever I suppose.

History is written by Historians and that translates to Architectural History is written by Architects.

Whatever.

Still though...Pretty cool House; glad it is not going to be bulldozed.

Finally, I will leave you with their Website: http://davidwrighthouse.org/

... And for good measure, also their Social Networking Accounts:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidwrighthouse?_rdr=p

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidwrighthouse/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wrighthouseaz

Cheers...B.

CAPONE'S MIAMI MANSION:

... Any of you Trash Canners in the market for a Miami Mansion on Palm Island? - Slightly used with a period remodel and a little bit of Mob History??? Well, if you were then you would be in luck then as Al Capone's former home is back on the market and up for grabs.

You can check out a brief article and several photos here:

https://www.yahoo.com/realestate/al-capone-miami-home-where-061159854/photo-capone-s-miami-mansion-during-1447352321325.html

BUT...Here are three of the better photos - For brevity's sake:

In case you are curious, no, it is not haunted - Well according to the listing it is not haunted anyway - But it does have a Grotto...So, I guess that is pretty cool.

Call me for the House Warming Party...I will bring the Ruffles - After all, they not only have ridges but they go great with dip.

PEACE,

Hot Mama

SOMETIMES...

SHE SPEAKS THE TRUTH, MY LORD:

BULLS ON PARADE, 2015-2016:

... Well the new Bulls was unveiled tonight for their Regular Season opener at the United Center against LeBum and the Cavaliers - The NBA is back, all.

Here is a write-up on www.nba.com - Cheers:

http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/chicago-bulls-unveil-new-court-design

And here is the image for good measure - I think this nods-back to the court design at "The Old Barn," a little bit actually:

LOVE the Stars...Absolutely LOVE the stars. A nice touch for the locals - I for one have always love the Chicago Flag:

You can find the old court design here:

http://lostarchitectsunite.blogspot.com/2014/10/all-thirty-nba-courts-ranked.html

I think all-in-all it is an upgrade - Especially losing the odd block font at each end of the court behind the hoops - But I will always have a soft-spot in my heart for this Center Court Logo - ICONIC - Hard to think that when they debuted it I hated the ball; oh how time distorts things:

#GoBulls

#SeeRed

B.