The Netherlands Architecture Institute (NAi) is both a museum and cultural center. It is the first place we’ll visit inside Rotterdam’s Museumpark.  Designed by Jo Coenen, the NAI is an important library of architectural archives, publications, and exhibits. It is an impressive research facility as well as a forum for lectures and symposiums. It would be awesome to come to work here every …
Work Hard, Play Harder
 There’s a local expression here loosely translated to “you make money in Rotterdam, divide it at the Hague, and spend it in Amsterdam.” Whereas Amsterdam is the cultural epicenter and the Hague more or less a government seat of the Netherlands, Rotterdam is this country’s no-nonsense, worker-bee kind of city. It’s my kind of town. But on this day, when there’s a summer …
Outside Once Inside
 During summer breaks when I was in high school, I would sometimes drive around aimlessly with my little sister. Once in a while, we’d slow down in front of an interesting looking structure and I’d tell her we should go knock on the door just to see what it looked like on the inside.  She’d giggle in a way …
Let’s Skip The Quixotic Chases
 The first time I got to see a windmill up close and in person, it was dark outside and the tavern inside, where we were hoping to get a beer, was closed.  I’d arrived at Le Moulin Defrenne too late. This time, I’m prepared like a Boy Scout. I’ve perused the mill database and concluded that eventually all roads …
Packing 1996 Here And Unpacking 2005 There
 I like to document things. Trips, events, people, especially fashion… stuff that makes life fun and funny, particularly in hindsight.  Before technology became fingertip-available, I’d laminate or Formaldehyde or shadow box whatever I could and keep them in perpetuity. I didn’t want to not have a reminder of everything I ever experienced. But in time all my moves from city …