Andrew Nelson

The Sears Tower opened in May 1973 not in the 1940s.

Ah! Gotcha. So the real action will be reductions in installation costs (humans, nuts and bolts) plus regulatory red tape (a real issue here in California they're beginning to streamline) Thank you, JC. Best to you, your family and the geese

Stunning stat. Will it get even cheaper?

What accounted for their appearance in the 1st Century? Was there a technological breakthrough? What region was known for glass-making or was knowledge dispersed throughout the empire and when did glass production begin to decline? You're much nicer to ask than ChatGPT!

Restaurants, cafes and bars manage to whet both appetites and curiosity. New Orleans is so good at public / private place making. Such a joy to have lived there. Then there's the porch culture ... so many great memories

Exactly! You can't see a city from behind a wheel. You need to walk it. I think so much that has gone wrong in urban planning happened when people were no longer on foot to see the legions of mistakes made by zoning, architects and city officials.

I respectfully disagree. I'm a travel writer. To try to get a fast sense of a place, I often hop a bus that threads through a town. I note places filled with people, architecture or interesting spaces. The next day I return to explore those neighborhoods on foot. I enjoy learning from you. Thanks!

One of the most intriguing and profoundly American places I have visited. Thank you for pinning this and sharing with all of us.

Who is the painter and the name of the painting? Thanks!

Government contractors. Of course! Thank you for taking the time to answer me, Chapps. I always learn something from your posts. Your depth of knowledge and sly wit are delights!

Given the same locale and the similarity of their poses, could the artist be referencing one to paint the portrait of the other? Was it the same artist, or even two sisters? Lastly: was a baker a good way to make some dough? Sorry. Couldn't resist but my question is earnest --were they wealthy?

Sung to the tune of the Smiths "Girlfriend in a Coma"

Shithead in a Tesla, I know
I know, you're tedious
Shithead in a Telsa, I know
I know, you're really speed-ious

Will give it a go! Missing Italy atm

Why you should visit Calgary, Alberta instead of Denver Calgary is the ultimate travel option to the Mile High City with more days of sunshine, close proximity to outdoor adventures in the Rockies, and more.

Want to discover a Western city with lots of moxie, Mounties and the inventor of Canada's national cocktail? Visit Calgary, Alberta. Part of my "Here Not There" series for National Geographic. www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/artic...

Thank you for sharing -- the rendering of the leopard's musculature is amazing and the seahorses sure are spooked! Do you think such painters carried a compendium of animal sketches/references when on the job in someone's house?

Czeched Out? Don’t Miss Slovenia's Compact Capital The Slovenian capital exudes a similar European charm and café culture as its Czech counterpart but with half the tourists.

Feeling Czeched out of Prague? Try Ljubljana, instead. Slovenia's capital offers lots of similar charm but without the crowds. My latest in National Geographic Travel:
www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/artic...

The USA imports 80 percent of its cut flowers from Colombia. A 25-to-50% tariff will impact 31,000 American florists and their 65,000 employees. Valentine's Day is two weeks away. Will costs rise?

Dang. Was just at a freezing Manhattan travel summit and missed it. I'm back home in sunny Palm Springs. Hoping your curiosity brings you to this desert one day, Cristoph - you would appreciate its beauty, lunacy and glamour!

Screens and screams for Timothée Chalamet at the surprising feisty Palm Springs Film Festival awards gala. It didn’t bore.

A tour de force of exuberant Art Deco Favorite bit: the brilliant state map of 1920s Michigan to tell a story of Wolverine progress and ambition

A Tricksters' Restaurant Revolt in London Locals are sick of tourists and influencers crowding their favorite restaurants—and are turning to ingenious means to lead them astray.

A sly, oh-so British rebellion against over-tourism: posting glowing reviews of sub-par restaurants, thereby sending social influencers and tourists to them thereby keeping one's treasured local eatery safe from the gluttonous hordes:

Hello! And a pleasure to be planted in Palm Springs, I believe it's in what is called Southern California, or SoCal, like an oil company

Looking forward to watching ... on Valentine's eve!

Thank you Dr. Platts! I'll see if I can find a pic of L's impluvium

Love seeing a mosaic I've not seen before. Unusual? How frequently did the Romans incorporate favorite structures into their mosaics?

I went for a walk last night in Palm Springs. It's a "dark-skies city" which means it favors stargazing over street lights and keeps the illumination at a minimum. This creates some moody, David Lynch-ian contrasts.

It's an amazing town - with Playhouse Square the largest collection of theaters west of the Hudson River. I loved exploring and writing about Cleveland and welcome any opportunity to return
.

Here not There: Long shadows. Palm Springs.

Here Not There - what are destination dupes that you think good fits? Colorado's hot springs vs Iceland's? Fall colors in Scotland not Vermont? The Statue of Liberty in Paris not New York City (there's more than one). On the prowl for good pairings if you have any.

That's good to know. I fear that such housing only becomes the preserve of the well-to-do and not the average person who can most benefit