Monday, March 24, 2008

Happy Easter from Wantage, New Jersey!

I spent Easter with family in Wantage, New Jersey; we saw vultures, a badger, and a pheasant. We spent most of our time in a nice house and also watching dozens of kids search a hill for hidden Easter eggs, but this barn caught our attention when we drove in:



Sunday, March 16, 2008

Return to the Bronx County Courthouse

This last week, I had the opportunity to serve jury duty in the South Bronx. During lunch hour, I walked across town to the Bronx Borough Courthouse, the site of last April's Ars Subterranea event The House of the Marble Mistress. (Truth be told, I was partially visiting the Courthouse and partially frequenting the Caribbean and Soul Food restaurant across the street from it.)

What a difference a year makes; the front entrance wasn't even visible due to the large green fencing and the construction going on in the 'hood. Abandoned since 1978, there are finally plans for the grand building; according to New York 1 News, a charter school will open at the site in September. New (since April) "For Rent" signs were still on the building's exterior on Tuesday, but I hope that this news is accurate. The owner told Ars Subterranea last year that the desired tenant was a school or library (not retail), and it seems like this wish will become reality.

Below is a video that Gothamist.com ran of Ars Subterranea's House of the Marble Mistress event:



There are also a few pictures on my Flickr.