(These should actually be called “redstones.”)

I got into my hotel in Manhattan around 4 PM yesterday after 3 hours sleep the night before, and when my plastic key didn’t work twice, I asked for a different room and could it be up high? Well the angel at the desk gave me a suite on the 26th floor and to my amazement it had a large balcony with deck chairs, best room I’ve ever had here. Thank you lord. The climate is perfect, a bit of rain, shirt sleeve weather, a comfortable 70 degrees. I hit the streets about 6, headed downtown (I’m at 31st & 7th), got some Japanese bubble tea, ran into this wonderful group of people in Union Square doing the Argentine tango, had a great Vietnamese meal at the Saigon Shack (114 MacDougal), cappuccino at Cafe Reggio, wandered shooting pics, watched the last 4 minutes of a great game between the Celtics and Lakers (those guys are so beautiful!), walked into the Bitter End just as a powerful little singer, Sirsy and her band were doing a rock and roll version of Johnny Be Good, and was it good! I listen to mostly blues, also bluegrass, “outlaw country,” 50s R&B, and Vivaldi, but there’s just something about rock and roll. Thrills my soul.

I went uplake with Bill and Bryan after my talk at the school today. Here are some pics. The brilliant colors are the Naniboujou Lodge on the shores of Lake Superior, which was “… was first conceived in the 1920’s as an ultra exclusive private club. Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey and Ring Lardner were among its charter members.…” The fireplace is a stunner, with 20 tons of lake rock. https://www.naniboujou.com

St Francis Xavier Church on outskirts of Grand Marais, built in 1895

Yes, I know. I am, as they say, all over the place. Can’t help it.

Just sorting through my notes from the past few weeks, this is a company in Oakland, California, that designs homes, but also has a series of small buildings (144 sq. ft. and larger) featuring salvaged wood and modular construction

   “RIKYU House blends the elegance and sensitivity of traditional Japanese design with a sincere and holistic commitment to green building. Through a patented building system enabling custom design and the use of standardized parts, RIKYU House is aesthetically beautiful, environmentally conscious, and affordable.”

https://www.joinerystructures.com/