Summer of Farmers Markets

One last look back at a California summer, which included a lot of Saturday mornings at Farmer's Markets. This memorable haul of blueberries, strawberries, lettuce, almonds, oranges, tomatoes, onions zucchini and garlic was so lovely I couldn't resist with the camera. Now, looking back, it's a wonderful memory. 

Farmers Markets are among the great places becoming more and more common in the last few years. Among them is a new one in downtown Fremont, Ohio, the county seat where I grew up shopping at Woolworth's, Kresge and Montgomery Ward. My brother sent me a "Dancing in the Streets" flash mob video shot at the market as a publicity stunt. Pretty funny. Anyway, here's to good design and good food!

Civic Amenities, Public Art

This is one of my favorite public art pieces in downtown Sacramento. It's a fountain that also serves as a traffic divider in front of the Sacramento Convention Center.  (Check out the stealth fashionable "hipster doofus" glasses). Cheerful antidote to all the serious policy discussions going on in buildings all around this art.

Soups in the City

I was out walking at lunchtime, turned a corner and came upon an advertisement for chicken soup. A true testament to the elegant nature of simplicity.

Autumn Light

After a long summer in California, autumn is here with the sun low on the horizon and the light soft and special. For several days now in late October, I've noticed the 5 p.m. twilight shades of Blessed Sacrament Cathedral as I come through the trees walking toward Regional Transit's Cathedral Square light rail stop. Simultaneously, the bell tower chimes five times, creating a sense of well being and beauty in the city at the end of another day in the office.

The cathedral is an historical gem in downtown Sacramento, built by Irish Bishop Patrick Manogue who had worked as a laborer in the mines of the Gold Rush. He built a treasure within shouting distance of the state Capitol building, which is a beauty in itself. 

I was a bit early for my Meadowview-bound train so I took some shots of Blessed Sacrament while I waited. I've talked before in this blog about church designs often being symbolic of our highest aspirations. This classic example of California's cathedrals proves it well.