Author: Ms. R.

The Clarendon Gorge Bridge, also called the “Bob Brugmann Memorial Bridge” or simply the “swinging bridge” was built in the summer of 1975. It replaced an earlier bridge that had been built in 1957 and spanned the gorge at the same spot. (That bridge, also a cable-suspension type bridge, replaced a covered bridge which was built circa 1906.) On June 30, 1973, heavy rains had raised the level of the Mill River and washed the 1958 bridge away. On……

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Colorful stained-glass versions of some of Vincent Van Gogh’s most famous works decorate the walls of this church, telling the story of the artist who began his painting career in this town many years ago. It wasn’t in Amsterdam, London, or Paris where one of the most famous artists in history began his career. At 28 years of age, after many travels and attempts at other jobs, Vincent van Gogh returned to his parental home in Etten-Leur to dedicate himself to……

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The history of this Milwaukee space dates back to the early 1900s. The building was Italian-owned and in the 1910s housed an anarchist book club, whose name roughly translates to “The Dramatic Lovers Social Study Club.” Later during prohibition tunnels were formed between neighboring businesses to run liquor. Though the tunnels have since been filled with concrete, a secret door in the basement hides a few remnants and relics of the past.   In the 1950s, Cliff and Alice Rose……

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The grand Portuguese tradition of azulejo, hand-painted, glazed ceramic tilework depicting scenes, dates back hundreds of years. Artwork made with these ornamental tiles can be found everywhere from churches and palaces to schools and train stations. These tiles have even become a part of the history of Pan-American World Airway (1927-1991) advertising. In Portugal, tile art has been regularly used in advertising since the 1850s, mainly in the facades of shops and factories. In the 20th century, big billboards……

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On the north side of the bridge that crosses the Ortega River in Jacksonville, Florida, a curved concrete wall hides 23,000 square feet of narrow corridors and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that make up the Chamblin Bookmine. This treasure trove of printed material is mined daily by loyal customers Monday through Saturday. The Bookmine has also served as the flagship bookstore in the region over the last three decades. Inside, a maze of narrow corridors allows patrons to mine for books……

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Rita Leistner admits to having nightmares about planting trees. For almost 10 years she worked as a tree planter in the forests of British Columbia, and now she’s the creative force behind Forest for the Trees, a photo book and documentary about the intrepid souls who take on this arduous, relentless, and ultimately rewarding job. In the opening lines of her film she explains how those bad dreams have recurred every six months or so for the last 20……

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The Nott Memorial is the centerpiece of Union College, the second oldest college in New York State. Construction began on the 16-sided memorial in 1858 and was completed in 1879. The building was dedicated to Eliphalet Nott who served as Union’s president for 62 years, from 1804-1866. It was designed by Nott’s grandson Edward Tuckerman Potter. The interior of the Nott is entirely open, with views from the ground floor straight up to the vaulted dome ceiling dotted with over……

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Kilcoan Gardens located on the Islandmagee peninsula in East Antrim is one of seven public and private gardens in County Antrim. A few are well known like the Antrim Castle Gardens and Carnfunnock Country Park, but others such as the Kilcoan Gardens are hidden gems.  Kilcoan Gardens was the winner of Britain’s Bee Friendliest Gardens in 2012 by the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Kilcoan Gardens is comprised of acres of prime farmland and young woodland complete with amazing views of……

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Every year around April and early May, the waters of Toyama Bay, a fishing port in central Japan, glow an otherworldly blue. Though the dazzling phosphorescent display resembles the celestial constellations of the night sky, its source comes from the depths of the oceans. Watasenia scintillans, also known as firefly squid, or hotaru ika in Japanese, emit a mesmerizing light courtesy of a network of thousands of photophores situated all over their 3-inch bodies. While most sea creatures, like……

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