A BOUTIQUE HOTEL IN A TALL BUILDING - GENIUS ON THE PRAIRIE

This Is What Happens When A Willing Visionary Meets an Unabashed Genius

  

I have often wondered what an entire city, region or country would be like if it were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. I think it would raise the human spirit because of his obsessive search for beauty and meaning in the built environment. I also think that it would be exasperating in practical terms, because it would often ignore the practical for the artful, creating unending problems for visitor and owner alike. From oddly shaped, tight spaces to chronic maintenance problems, leaking roofs and other never ending practical concerns, I think it would require the patience of Job and the appreciation of art no matter what the cost to own a Frank Lloyd Wright building.

The Price Tower is the only "skyscraper" ever designed and built by America's greatest architect. And without the ultimate benefactor, Harold C. Price, an entrepreneur and risk taker in the oil pipeline business, this one of a kind building would never have been realized. As with all great architecture, it always takes two to tango. And, in the case of the Price Tower, America's most gifted architect collaborated with the perfect client, who had the money, the spirit and the willingness to see it through. The Inn at Price Tower in Bartlesville, Oklahoma was originally designed as an office building with apartments for tenants.
 

 

Like many great mid-century buildings, the Price Tower fell victim to the vagaries of uninformed, insensitive owners, the impact of exposure to the elements and the technical and cultural changes that inevitably cause a building to fall into obsolescence and, ultimately, into disrepair. And, as one would expect, the history of exactly how this unusual building came to be is convoluted and complicated. For a detailed timeline and "inside baseball" account of the tower, you can read  Prairie Skyscraper on the tower website.

Saving such a building usually involves people with great passion for the art they want to preserve and tons and tons of money. After years of misuse and decline, Phillips Petroleum donated the building to The Price Tower Arts Center. Through their efforts and many benefactors, as well as the very sensitive design efforts by architect Wendy Evans Joseph, this great little tall building has been repurposed as a nineteen room boutique hotel, which makes the trip to Bartlesville worth at least one night's stay for  design seeking Nomads.

 

Bartlesville, Oklahoma - You Can't Get There From Here

 

For the uninitiated - Bartlesville is NOT a destination. About an hours drive from Tulsa, this prairie town of 36,000 has nothing to offer vagabonds looking for excitement, unless you are really interested in Phillips Petroleum or its wealthy founder, Frank Phillips, and the wild animal preserve Woolaroc. The oil giant, now headquartered in Houston, was founded in Bartlesville. No boutique spas or five star restaurants greet the Nomad looking for a good time in this small enclave not far from the southern border of Kansas.

 

However, if you want to experience the intense design quality of one of Frank Lloyd Wright's most innovative structures which has become a striking boutique  hotel in the only skyscraper ever designed and built by America's most egomaniacal architectural genius, Bartlesville is the place to go.

Sleeping In "The Tree That Escaped The Crowded Forest" -

 

As was his tendency, Wright referred to his one and only built skyscraper in poetic "organic" terms. And it is organic and its is poetic. The building, particularly the interiors,  "reads" mostly like Joyce Kilmer, with some William S. Burroughs thrown in to keep you on your toes, literally. First and foremost, the interiors of the hotel have been restored almost to perfection. Fortunately, the interior design by Architect Joseph complements Wright's mastery of space, without simply copying him. The finishes, the furniture and the accessories are thoroughly modern and enhance the experience of the spacial dynamics of the original design.

It has been well established that Wright based much of the scale of his interiors on himself. He was only about 5'6". It makes perfect sense that a narcissist of the first order like Wright would dimension his buildings to "fit" himself. This practice is very evident in most of his buildings. However, in his defense, he also utilized this design slight of hand as a device to enhance the experience of "exploding" larger and more grand spaces, like the two story suite we stayed in. I highly recommend this room type when you stay. Not only is the bed to die for, but, the interior space is truly a delight and the view out over the town and prairie beyond through two story glass is worth the few extra dollars.
 

Some areas of the hotel, particularly the unit stairs, doors and other access ways are very tight, forcing one to deal with Wright's obsessive adherence to the angular geometry established as part of the basic design. And, in the interest of full disclosure, the air conditioning was on the fritz the night we were there. To their credit, the management offered to refund our money and set us up in a nearby hotel, but, being very tough nomads, we rejected that offer. As I told the concierge -  What's a little heat when you're enjoying Wright up close and personal? And once the sun went down, it was more than comfortable. This was our forty first anniversary trip and we did not want to spend it in a Holiday Inn Express! We were more than rewarded for our unwillingness to settle with the great views out over the town and prairie with the Oklahoma sun  setting in the west.

The hotel has Copper, a  bar and restaurant on the fifteenth floor with outdoor terraces to enjoy the food and more views. However, we were there on a Monday and, alas, Copper was closed. However, we were able to enjoy a nice continental breakfast on one of the outdoor terraces. Decent food and, again, outstanding views. Just know that the elevators that take you to this floor will only hold 2-3 people. Very European in a mid-century modern kind of way. And finally, the docent led behind the scenes tour of the building is well worth the nominal ten dollar fee. It opens with a short documentary film, after which the docent takes you through many of the spaces not open to the public. Our docent, a transplant from I forgot where was informative and at times utterly hilarious. Her knowledge of the men,  the building and the many myths about both was fascinating.

After the building tour, I recommend spending about two hours driving around Bartlesville to see some of the eccentric houses designed by Oklahoma's most famous architect, Bruce Goff. Like Wright, Goff, who designed his first building as a teenager and later became the head of the school of architecture at The University of Oklahoma, was also an adherent of organic architecture. His houses are worth seeing for those of you who want to see organic design at its edgiest. Just ask the concierge for the list and search them out with your I-phone. Great way to spend an afternoon in the metropolis of Bartlesville.

As we loaded the car for the next leg of our road trip, I felt like the vagabond that had found yet another gem. I realized, once again, that Frank Lloyd Wright, who was called many things during and after his controversy filled life, was, after all is said and done, a truly great architect. And, I was thankful that someone had the vision, the passion and the money to ensure that this building in this place is still here in all of its imperfect glory.

 

On The Road Again

D.L. Stafford
thenomadARCHITECT

Travel Quote of The Week - "Give me the luxuries of life and I will willingly do without the necessities." - Frank Lloyd Wright. Don't tell me old Frank was not a vagabond at heart!

Video Artist of The Week - Alabama Shakes - Purveyors of "Roots Rock" - This edgy group, yes they are from Alabama, lays down some great grooves, combining, folk, rock and country for a completely unique sound.


 

WELL HELLO DALI - IT'S SO NICE TO SEE YOU RIGHT WHERE YOU BELONG

Finding A Good Hotel In The Land of Snowbirds Proved To Be A Bit Of A Challenge

Dateline - Saint Petersburg, Florida. Back in the day, like so much of old Florida, Saint Pete, where I lived and worked for five years in the early 2000's, was getting long in the tooth. Then, in the early 1990's, a renaissance began and brought this small enclave of condos, marinas and foot friendly parks and walkways into the twenty first century. When we lived there, we enjoyed the weather, great music and entertainment venues and the best airport on the planet.

 

Living in God's Country here in North Florida gets very tedious around January and February. Overcast skies, rain, cold and absolutely nothing to do makes one antsy at best and ornery at worst. So, it's only natural that any vagabond worth his or her salt would long for warmer climes and something - anything - to do. For some time now, we have talked about revisiting one of the few places we have lived to see the new DALI Museum and, this time of year, enjoy the always great weather in the little city by the bay. So, we decided to pack a few things and head south to our old stomping grounds for a little culture, some great food and warmer temperatures. The three day road trip did not disappoint.

As I started planning our trip to see the father of surrealism, eat some great food and bask in the warmth of the Florida sun, finding a hotel became a challenge. First, this time of year is very busy due to the snowbirds, with money to burn, coming south from Minneapolis, Newark and Buffalo to enjoy spring baseball and great weather. People from that part of the country are a demanding lot and tend to play a significant role in the cultural clash between know it all "Yankees" and people who just don't get in much of a hurry. One guest in the lobby of our hotel could not understand why the parking valet did not automatically take his one bag to his room. Kind of pushy and kind of a pain. As Georgia native Lewis Grizzard, the author of such classics as "Elvis is Dead and I'm Not Feelin' Too Good Myself" said - "We don't mind you eating our food or dating our women, we just don't wanna to know how you do it in Cleveland". Second, while Saint Pete is a beautiful small city, complete with repurposed buildings of many vintages, many green spaces and parks and numerous great restaurants, its selection of hotels leaves a bit to be desired.

My original plan was to stay in the renovated Vinoy, a Mediterranean Revival hotel originally built in 1925 and completely renovated in the 1990's for the princely sum of $93 million. It is now a Marriott property. However, when I went to check for reservations, I was stunned at the price of $369 per night. As a true vagabond and lover of small hotels, I just couldn't bring myself to pay that much for a room at a Marriott. So, I kept looking and found a much more reasonable room at - close your ears - the Downtown Hampton Inn. That's right, this blogger of all things great and small in hotels - this loather of chains - actually stayed in the Hampton Inn on Beach Boulevard in little ole Saint Pete. Before you say shame on me, consider this - the Hampton is Trip Advisor's No. 1  rated hotel in Saint Pete. In addition, it is in a great location with 40-50 restaurants within easy walking distance and, with 92 rooms, it has all the things you expect in a high quality, small hotel. A decent, well outfitted lobby greets guests. Our room boasted a nice subtle interior color scheme, an ample sitting area with a small couch and easy chair, a small in-room bar with sink and fridge, a great bed and a  balcony to enjoy the weather. The staff was excellent and the price was not earth shattering. One exception - chain food is chain food. We just couldn't bring ourselves to chow down on the corporate microwaved munchies at breakfast.

 Nomads Must Have Great Food To Make A Thing Go Right

 

Not only does Saint Pete have fabulous weather, it also has more quality restaurants per capita than any small city I have ever lived in or visited. Seafood, steaks, fusion, Italian - even tapas - you name it - Saint Pete has something for every taste and pocketbook. For serious foodies, the following places will get you started on the road to culinary delights:

Moscato's Bella Cucina: Very diverse menu and a great wine list. It was packed on a Sunday night! This place is a keeper for Italian food lovers.

Cassis American Brassiere and Bakery: Great breakfast, great bakery and ridiculous gourmet ice cream. The peach will set you free!

Ceviche Tapas Bar & Restaurant: A great way to test your palette with a menu of everything. Excellent choices for munching dozens of different foods from egg plant to stuffed pork. The interior is elegant old school too with excellent tile work and metal sculpture.

Saint Pete Has Always Had Great Weather - Now It Has A World Class Museum

The primary reason for our sojourn to Saint Pete was the newly constructed Salvador Dali Museum. Since our hotel was centrally located, we walked the few blocks to the building which houses the largest collection of works by the famed surrealist outside of his native Spain. The story of how the City of Saint Petersburg came to be the gate keeper of this large collection of Dali paintings is one of the most improbable in the world of fine art.

 

The story goes that A. Reynolds and Eleanor R. Morse, from Cleveland, Ohio, bought their first Dali in 1943 and continued buying works over a forty year period, amassing an impressive collection of over 1,400 works by the father of surrealism, which they displayed in their home. By the late 1970s, realizing that the collection needed a more permanent home, they decided to donate the collection to a museum. The only caveat was that individual works could never be sold and the entire collection had to remain intact. This stipulation caused many museums to take a pass. However, the City of Saint Petersburg saw the possibilities of housing this great collection of world class art and renovated a warehouse to house the collection. How's that for vision? The collection remained there until January, 2011, when it was moved into new digs and is now permanently housed in an amazing building worthy of one of the most visionary artists of the twentieth century. According to the museum's web site, the building is indeed an architectural tribute to the master:

 

"Designed by architect Yann Weymouth of HOK, the new building combines the rational with the fantastical: a simple rectangle with 18-inch thick hurricane-proof walls out of which erupts a large free-form geodesic glass bubble known as the "enigma". The "enigma", which is made up of 1,062 triangular pieces of glass, stands 75 feet at its tallest point, a twenty-first century homage to the dome that adorns Dali's museum in Spain. Inside, the Dali houses another unique architectural feature - a helical staircase - recalling Dali's obsession with spirals and the double helical shape of the DNA molecule."

 

The Dali, a cutting edge building housing some of the most thought provoking, masterfully created paintings, sketches and water colors ever created, reminds us of the life enhancing power of great architecture, the mother art, and other great works of art. From the massive Hallucinogenic Toreador, full of personal symbolism, to the religious vision of St. James of Compostela to the many smaller works by this master surrealist technician, you realize why we must have the true creative adventurers lead us to make our own vision brighter and more profound. In addition to the great works of Dali, the museum also featured a small show of works by Andy Warhol, proving that modest talent, great marketing and timing can take you places in the art world.  If Warhol had been a pop song writer instead of a pop artist, he would have been know for having "great hooks", lyrics and music that pull you into a song, but, don't necessarily affect you on any meaningful level. I don't care how many varieties of soup cans Warhol painted, Dali he aint'!! But it was an interesting counterpoint to the genius displayed in the main galleries.

 

So, if you need a breather from the low temps, unending rain or snow and boredom of late winter, head down I-75 to Tampa Bay and check out the cool little city of Saint Petersburg, the Dali and one of the truly great collections of art in the world. You will be a Blue Nomad No More.

 

Best Get Busy My Fellow Vagabonds - Time Is Slip, Sliding Away

 

 

Me encanta el arte

 

d.l.stafford

thenomadarchitect

 

 

 

 

 

 

Travel Quote of The Week - "One certainty when you travel is the moment you arrive in a foreign country, the American dollar will fall like a stone". Erma Bombeck

 

Video Artist of The Week -  Hot Chicks Playing Hot Strings - BOND. This quartet of classically trained fiddlers brings a new approach to classical music with infusions of rock, jazz and pop. I saw this unique group perform at the famous Mahaffey Theatre in Saint Pete, considered by many to be Florida's most acoustically perfect performance venue. Another good reason to visit the little city by the bay.

 

 

THE KNIFE

Since we are moving into late fall, travel tends to take a back seat for many Vagabonds. Although, I must admit, we have many places on our Travel Bucket List that we must see before someone puts our coffee can of ashes next to our BFF under our favorite rock. I still want to see Rockefeller Center when they light the tree, see a real bullfight in Andalucía and listen to Beethoven's Fifth in the Musikverein Vienna, to name a few.  In addition, this time of year, many travel to see family and/or friends they haven't seen since the last time they all gathered in one place. Depending on your point of view, your annul travel over the river and through the woods can be a delight or another exercise in overeating and the long road back. But I say we need to enjoy these connections more. In the bizzaro world we currently live in, we need to draw as close as possible to blood, even if we find Uncle Ed a bit tedious or Aunt Louise a tad scary.

So I thought I would share a quick story from our travel escapades that may, at first glance, seem rather pedestrian, but, upon closer inspection, lends meaning to the connections we make through travel.

We had started our trip to Provence in the great city of Paris three days earlier. After a cloud like train trip on the high speed TGV, we arrived in the former city of popes - Avignon - picked up a car, got lost several times and arrived in mid afternoon at the utterly delightful and creatively repurposed manor house Lumani. After settling in, we decided to take a stroll in the old town center and purchase some cheese and bread, wine and fruit for a late afternoon snack. In addition, we had to purchase a knife to cut our locally produced goodies. The Lumani is designed around an immense, yet intimate courtyard complete with sculpture, comfortable chairs and tables and a small fountain. In addition, it gave us protection from the famous mistral winds that blow during certain times of the year in Provence. As we enjoyed our afternoon meal and talked in broken English and French with the artist wife of the duo that owned this fascinating little hotel, the travel of the day finally caught up with us and we retired early to our well appointed room for a long night's sleep.

The important part of this story, of course, is the knife. Even now, some years later, this rather unimpressive kitchen implement plays a roll in our daily lives. It's not what one would expect to find interesting. It has a black plastic handle with a small serrated blade. We use it daily to cut everything from tomatoes to last night's left over sirloin for a homemade steak salad. But here's the point (pardon the pun) - Every time I pick up this little utilitarian kitchen utensil, purchased in the romantic city of Avignon, I think about that afternoon in the courtyard with the winds outside, the artwork, the comfortable table and the conversations with one of the people that created this small enclave of design elegance next to the original fortress wall in one of the most fascinating cities in Europe. Though mundane in every sense of the word, it provides the same sensory connection to the joys of travel that any work of art or other, more refined, artifact from another faraway place.

Call me weird, if you like, but this small daily reminder of the joys of travel and the uniqueness of a culture somehow doesn't seem weird, but seems completely relevant. So next time you look at some something that you picked up in Madagascar or San Jose, allow those memories of travel to rush back into your consciousness. If nothing else it will take you to a place that you just know you need to go  - and soon.

Here's to You and Yours Having a Happy Thanksgiving,

d.l.stafford
thenomadARCHITECT

Road Trip - Beach Trip - The Art of Packing for The Art of Doing Nothing

And We're Off!! Again

It's summer man. Gotta go. But don't wanna   go  where the view is ruined  by  all  those

people from Ohio, Minnesota, Oregon or Washington trying to find their place in the sun. If one of my favorite crime shows, "The Killing", is to be believed, the sun NEVER shines in Seattle. Of course I know it does. At least it did when we were there one August a couple of years back. I recently talked with a Florida native who was transplanted to Seattle about twenty five years ago and she still hates it. Says she's coming back to God's Country as soon as possible. I listened to her laments and understood completely her heart's desire to return to the giant oaks, slower pace and unique people of North Florida.

 

Well, not only is this part of Florida the place of my childhood, but I am constantly drawn to another place of my youth over and over. That's right - The World;s Most Famous Beach - Daytona. The cars, the girls, the life guards trying to pick up girls, the first Steak & Shake in Florida, the Boardwalk and the beach food all made Daytona THE place to be in summer. With hotels and motels like The Castaways, The Americano, The Lido and The Sea Dip, it was THE place in the fifties for the very best summer had to offer. Unfortunately, that was indeed the good old days, and it doesn't appear that they will be returning anytime soon. Condos rule the day in the New Millennium in Dayton Beach proper and most of those iconic hotels are no more. Kids have moved on to more hip destinations in Florida and elsewhere and families drive for hours with the kids in tow to pay insane prices and see the make believe Florida of Disney, Universal and other mega tourist destinations. 

However, there is hope my fellow vagabonds. Just head south on I-95 and hang a left at State Road 40 (Granada Boulevard) for a few more miles then right onto South Atlantic Avenue to one of the coolest little boutique numbers on the east coast of Florida - The Lotus Boutique Inn & Suites in Ormond Beach. Some view Ormond as Daytona's uppity cousin. I just like it because of this great little hotel (this is our third visit) and enough great restaurants to satisfy even the most discriminating foodie. If you want to read about our first stay when we discovered The Lotus check out my post - The World's Most Famous Beach and The Lotus - Sweet!! .  Ah yes. The World's Most Famous Beach indeed. There is none like it for people who have read the book and love to practice the art of doing absolutely nothing.

 

Packing for A Road Trip To The Beach - It's Hip To Be Square
 

Packing. Every architect worth his or her salt is, by the nature of their training and their very DNA, an expert in the world of packing. We have been trained to  get more in less space than other people. The holy grail of all architects is the design of a space so perfect, so minimal in nature that nothing is wasted. As an architect and vagabond, I apply that same concept to packing. To some, packing is just getting it all in the car. Pathetic!!! No - Packing is something that demands and deserves intense  creative thought and planning, as if you were sketching the next masterpiece worthy of the Pritsker Prize. On occasion, I have witnessed  the slovenly stowing of gear by travelers who take no pride in the process of planning and organizing their "stuff" for a trip, road or otherwise. It is simply unnatural!

 

Great packers, like great architects, combine innate design skills  with intensive  training  and  the study of  great packers before them, usually a father figure of some sort. I remember watching my father get an insane amount of everything in the trunk of his 1958 Cadillac for our annual trip to the beach or the mountains. The osmosis of that experience gave me the basic understanding of the art of packing that has allowed me to hone my skills as a world class packer through the years. Sorry ladies, when it comes to the task of packing, it is entirely too important to leave  to women and children. No sir, packing is a man thing! And packing goes far beyond the admonition "A place for everything and everything in its place". Much like design, packing requires the proper tools, skills and motivation to achieve the goal of the perfect packing job. Today's post is specifically about packing for a road trip. Airline packing is an entirely different process that must only be entrusted to the most seasoned veterans of the airline baggage wars. So, some thoughts on packing for your next road trip:

• Luggage. Buy good luggage. My Hartman bag looks like the day I bought it fifteen years ago. And its been a bazillion miles. For road trips, of course, you also need those other support containers for the long list of items needed for the perfect trip.
• Planning. Good packers make lists of items. They plan the packing the night before. And they simply do not allow last minute distractions to keep them from their goal of the orderly organization of all items necessary for quality travel.
• Take Charge. Packing is not a group activity. It is a singular and focused activity of one individual who knows where he/she is going and why.
• Be Organized. It goes without saying, you must have everything in the proper containers and have knowledge of how those containers will interact once packed. Otherwise, it will look like you don't know what you are doing.
• Know Your Destination. This is critical. If you are just going to grandma;'s house, you can throw a few things together. But, if you are going to the beach, well, let's just say, you have to know how to take it to the next level. Beach chairs, coolers, extra large towels, groceries, beach clothes, night life clothes, eating utensils, etc. etc. etc. The list of stuff you take to the beach is very, very long. Packing of this much paraphernalia in the trunk of the smaller cars of today is simply not for amateurs. 
• Clean Car. No self respecting Nomad can leave the driveway in a dirty car. It is bad form and utterly lacking in style. So make sure the car is clean.
• Getting It All In. This is the final step of the planning, the packing and the organization. So don't screw it up! Take your time. Make sure that it all fits properly and make your old dad proud.

 

Of course there are other factors that impact the perfect road trip. The perfect little place helps of course and the one your with is obviously critical. My one and only and I have been to so many places that we are very much like peas and carrots, travel wise. And its even better when the kids are along. If you are, indeed, one of the rare breed of de'excellentes emballeuer, having the kids around will afford you an opportunity to teach them the finer points of getting a lot of stuff into a small space.

 

And one last thing. I mentioned earlier my desire for the perfect place that isn't overrun with tourists at the height of tourist season in the most tourist infested state in the good old USA. That is accomplished by finding places that tourists don't usually go, like a small fifty room boutique hotel in the less populated part of a very popular area and not going on the weekend, if possible, when places, particularly the beach tend to be much busier. All I know is, that by this time tomorrow, I will be continuing my quest for the perfection of the art of doing absolutely nothing.

 

In My Room

 

d.l. stafford

thenomadARCHITECT

Tavel Quote of The Week - When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money - Susan Heller

 

Video Artist of The Week -  Delbert McClinton, one of the truly original Texas songwriters, singers and  harmonica player on the original Beatles tune "Love, Love Me Do", is this week's video artist. How's that for trivia? The video below, "Too Much Stuff", with support from legends Lyle Lovett and John Prine, brings it all home for this week's post.

 

 

RANDOM VAGABOND ALERT - A HIGH DESIGN BOUTIQUE HOTEL IN LOW COUNTRY HAS A DEAL YOU CAN'T REFUSE

My first Random Vagabond Alert  Post (January 10, 2013) was about a very sweet deal at a very cool little boutique inn on the Ashley River a mere twenty minutes outside of Charleston. We spent three days at this one of kind place on our thirty ninth anniversary in 2012. Well, Living Social is at it again. If you are looking for a little romance in a cutting edge, modern, award winning hotel, located on the grounds of an immaculately groomed plantation, Living Social indeed has a deal you can't refuse. As I stated in the original post, I don't find particularly interesting places on Living Social or Groupon, but, I highly recommend checking this one out. The deal, similar to last year, gives you a great price ($334) for two nights in a river front room, a decent "healthy start" breakfast, a little wine and cheese in the afternoon, free bike rentals and admission to the oldest established landscaped gardens in the US at The Middleton Plantation. Plus, you are a quick twenty minute drive to Charleston, a mecca for all serious foodies. If you want to read about our visit to The Middleton and Charleston back in  2012, just check out my post  - Modern Meets Southern Vernacular at The Inn at Middleton Place.

So - surprise the one you love with a very cool road trip to one of the coolest Nomad Sleep Overs in the Southland. There are only twelve days left before the deal is gone and it only has fifty five rooms so don't delay. Trust me, with the prices of hotels going through the roof everywhere, this is a deal you  can't let pass. 

Gettin' Road Ready from The Nomad Bunker,

D.L. Stafford

thenomadARCHITECT

 

How To Get Away From The Day To Day - Make It All About You & Them

Travel Helps Disprove The Theory - Life Sucks & Then You Die

 

You may find yourself living in a shotgun shack / You may find yourself in another part of the world / You may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile / You may find yourself in a beautiful house with a beautiful wife / You may ask yourself, well, how did I get here? / Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down / Letting the days go by, water flowing underground...

In the  tune Once In A Lifetime,  David Byrne & The Talking Heads capture the humdrum of one's existence in one of New Wave Rock's most  iconic tributes to the banality of life and one's submission to that banality. Some may argue my interpretation, but for the purposes of today's post, that's my take.

The Apocalypse Draweth Nigh

I have a  friend who sends me doomsday articles, You Tubes of "brilliant" economists telling us where the next domino in the world is going to fall and other incontrovertible evidence that we are all blindly staring into a black hole of soon to come desolation. It's not a matter of if, but when, we all will be holding a bowl and a big spoon waiting on our next meal. And let's be honest. For those of us who grew up in the fifties, life was pretty good. Post war America was a time of unprecedented optimism and economic explosion. Then we became teenagers and young adults (oxymoron) in the sixties and that's when things began to get a tad squirrely. As Dr. Phil would say - How's that love the one your with and if it feels nice don't think twice workin' out for ya? Fifty two percent of all babies are born out of wedlock, 6.8 million kids are on prescription ADHD drugs and almost fifty million Americans are on food stamps. And, if you have been to the grocery store lately, well, that's another post on another blog on another planet. Now, for the first time in a generation, a majority of people with an opinion don't think their kids will have it better than they did. Imagine that!

 

So, you may ask - Who is this Nomad Architect, and why is he saying all these terrible things about us, about life, about our times, etc. etc. etc.? Well, after I read or watch some of the never ending barrage of doomsday scenarios postulated by supposedly really smart people, I begin to think of ways to combat the grey cloud of doubt and worry that seems to be prevalent within our culture, especially among those of us who had it so good. So, what to do - something, anything, everything you can possibly do to make yourself a non-believer in the New World Order. I mean, 1984 was twenty eight years ago, and we have made it this far. Now, I am no spendthrift  but, to quote Frank Lloyd Wright, America's greatest architect - Give me the luxuries of life and I will willingly do without the necessities. Such wisdom from an architect AND Nomad should never be dismissed, especially as it relates to travel.

 

So Put the Paper Down , Turn Off  The TV & Hit The Road!

 

Travel for Curious Nomads and Vagabonds is about disproving Thoreau's admonition - Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them - or as the brilliant original Southern Comic Brother Dave Gardner put it - Man cannot live by bread alone, he must have peanut butter.  Sometimes life can be desperately quiet and banal in the modern world we sometimes endure. Nothing can cure those  - Do I eat cereal or a bagel for breakfast blues? like catching a plane, a train or an automobile to parts near and far. When you check into that little place in Umbria, or people watch from a comfy chair in a Paris sidewalk cafe or discover something new about some part of the Good Ole' USA you didn't know before, it can change the way you view the world. It can help you find your song and that much needed peanut butter as well.

And travel, real Nomadic travel is not just about 300 count sheets and rain showers, it's also about discovery. Discovery of new cultures, new people and, ultimately, yourself. As an architect and vagabond in search of that perfect piece of Eden, I can say, without hesitation, that travel has profoundly changed my world view. People everywhere are the same but oh so different in the way they take in their lives. As I pull onto one of the interstates we Americans take for granted, I often wonder  what visitors think of the massive scale of America when they arrive at the Magic Kingdom or ponder the Grand Canyon. I think they are just as taken with the vastness and uniqueness of America as contrasted with their own homeland, as we are when we take a train through the hills of Tuscany  or marvel at the ruins of Rome. It is not in my nature to "go with the flow", but, when in Venice or Paris or  Seattle, I really try to allow myself to be taken in by the unique cultures created by the people and their history. Talking with the artist/architect owners of the Lumani Guesthouse in Avignon about the love they felt for their repurposed place, their art and their lives in this small ancient city in Southeastern France is just one simple experience that convinces me that travel is ultimately about being curious, listening and learning about a world that is different from your own.

 

So, the next time you feel like life is not up to your expectations, don't just sit there, get up and go! And try to boldly go where no man (or woman) and your own significant others have gone before. Travel to parts unknown will lighten your step, sharpen your vision and hone your directional skills as a True Nomad when you come to that next fork in the road. Trust me - You'll know what to do.

 

 

Livin La Vida Loca

 

D.L.Stafford

thenomadARCHITECT

Travel Quote of The Week - Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Video Artist of The Week - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals. The band's really good, but Grace Potter can just flat out sing .

 

RANDOM VAGABOND ALERT - THE LOTUS BECKONS AGAIN

Nothing Cures Beach Fever Like The World's Most Famous

 

We discovered the Lotus Boutique Inn & Suites last year in Ormond Beach, just north of Daytona, on a quick getaway in September. It is very hip, very small and very inexpensive. Perfect for Nomads with beach fever in search of a great place to kick back and still come home with some cash in their pockets. So we are heading out this morning for a little sun, sand and surf. Last year, it had just opened and hit all the right notes with us. Ocean front, great design, giant killer shower and a bed to die for. It even sports a nice little kitchenette for dining in. And its a mere fifty paces from the beach. Best of all, its a cool $159 per night and its almost May!

 

I will always have great memories of Daytona Beach from my childhood through high school with mom, dad and big brother. It was pure heaven. The beach is still just as beautiful and, with little hot spots like the Lotus, maybe The World's Most Famous Beach will one day regain its rank as a top spot for the discriminating beachcomber. As for now, I am amazed that this cool little place in the sun has held on to its unique combination of high design and low prices. And the service is second to none as well. If you want more details, just check out my post from last year - The World's Most Famous Beach & The Lotus - Sweet.

 

I'll check back in a few days to see how  the 2013 edition of this great little hotel is doing.  

 

Headin' South by Southeast from The Bunker

 

d.l. stafford

thenomadarchitect

VAGABOND ALERT NO. 10 - CREATIVE MUNCHIES IN A SMALL SOUTHERN TOWN

We Have To Keep Meeting Like This

 

For various reasons, we have been unable to take any extended trips of late. Funny how life gets in the way of big plans. However, don't ever underestimate the therapeutic value of the day trip. This past Saturday, as we were having our morning coffee, tea and McDonald's sausage biscuit in the bunker - even discriminating Nomads go off the reservation on occasion - we looked outside at the clear sunshine and nice, cool day and asked - What can we do on such a beautiful day here in God's country? Not long ago, Susie - an obsessive reader and crossword aficionado - read about a small, family owned, grass fed, free to run around and enjoy nature group of most happy cows which produce, according to their web site, the most delicate, delicious cheese this side of  the French Alps. So, we decided to take the roughly one hour trip to the south Georgia border town, just north of Tallahassee, to check out the appropriately named Sweet Grass Dairy.

 

After deciding on a destination for the day, we needed to find a place to eat. That's where the Nomad and the laptop come in. I studiously checked out the web for some places to eat without any particular expectations in Thomasville. Only thirty minutes north of the capital city, Thomasville was just a small town we used to go through on our way to Atlanta. Even though Sweet Grass serves lunch, I noticed a couple of other places that sounded interesting. After reading one particular restaurant menu that featured fried green tomatoes, hush puppies and shrimp & grits, I made an executive decision - Jonah's Fish & Grits it would be! One of the truly great things created by the world wide web is the ability of small, local hotels, restaurants and even cheese shops to get the word out to a wider clientele, and, ironically, to remain local and organic in the truest sense of the word. Maybe that think globally and act locally thing is more than just a marketing slogan. Yes my fellow Nomads, its not all Chic-fil-A's and Starbucks. Creative entrepreneurilism is alive and well.

 

As we headed to the big/little city, I placed a call to our beautiful daughter and asked if she wanted to join us for lunch. She did not hesitate. Like the good child we raised, she never turns down quality face time with mom and dad. What is it about eating together that brings out the best in those you love? 

 

Thomasville, We Hardly Knew You

 

As an architect, with an interest in urban design, I have witnessed the slow  disappearance of the small southern town as a viable economic entity. Thomasville appears to be the exception to that trend. I was very much impressed with the downtown area of this small, quintessential southern town. With a varied collection of small restaurants, retail shops and other specialty stores, this town center has maintained its historic character while fostering the growth of new, locally owned businesses. It all has an accretionary, natural quality that only happens when a community embraces the real experiences of true small town commerce for locals and visitors alike.

 

After parking, we made a beeline for Jonah's, gave the young lady our name and decided to wait outside for our daughter. After a few minutes, we were seated in this very busy, hip eatery. A simple former retail space, complete with white walls, 12 foot high ceilings, black vinyl floors, funky chandeliers and half of a small wood fishing skiff  hung unpretentiously from the ceiling, it featured an open view kitchen where all the good stuff gets created.  And the menu featured a veritable smorgasbord of good stuff. I settled on the shrimp and grits, Susie ordered the fish and chips and Lauren decided on the chicken/fried green tomato sandwich. We shared a nice little slice of New York cheese cake for dessert. The two women in my life spoke well of their choices and my  shrimp and grits were a 9.5. I am somewhat of a shrimp and grits expert. I have had this southern culinary creation from the low country of the Carolina's to the Texas panhandle, including some of the best ever made by my very own Sweet Magnolia, and Jonah's had the perfect combination of fresh shrimp, white cheese grits, a light sauce and roasted veggies, with a delicate hush puppy on the side. And of course, this was all accompanied by the southern nectar of the gods - sweet ice tea. Hot damn!

 

After bonding  over the great victuals at Jonah's, we headed around the corner to Sweet Grass Dairy. Finding a vast selection of cheeses from other like minded natural farms and cheese makers as well as Sweet Grass's own, we selected an organic goat cheese from Capriole of Greenville, Indiana and a mild tomme from Sweet Grass. Both proved to be outstanding and well worth the trip and the price. After Sweet Grass, we wandered into another organic establishment, Grassroots Coffee, and picked up a bag of organic home roasted coffee, served by a long bearded twenty something right out of 1967. Not your grandfather's Thomasville  anymore, this still small southern town is alive and kicking with a unique blend of old school  and new ideas for Nomads of every age to enjoy.

 

So, next time the weather is great and you just need to get away for the day, head on over to Thomasville, Georgia for a little mealtime R&R and pick up some of the best cheese around.

 

From Our Little Bunker in Dixie!

 

d.l. stafford

thenomadARCHITECT

 

 

RANDOM VAGABOND ALERT - AN OCEANFRONT CURE FOR THE WINTER BLUES? WE'LL SEE.

Spring Is Only Four Days Away - So What Are Winter Weary Nomads To Do?

Check out an award winning boutique resort and spa on old Jax Beach I found on line about a year ago, that's what. The room is booked, the docent has been advised of our needs - that's right a docent - and the weather has been confirmed. So to the beach we are going for our first 2013 Official US of A  Nomad Architect Road Trip to cure those  Man This Weather Sucks - I Just Wanna Go Somewhere - If I Don't Get Out of This Town I'm Gonna Scream - End of Winter Blues.

 

Generally, I am not too keen on resorts and spas, but my research tells me the One Ocean Resort in Atlantic Beach, Florida is worth a look. My last memory of Jax Beach was an insane New Year's Eve Party at the Holiday Inn On The Beach when I was in college. Probably not a good benchmark for travel advice. Due to a variety of commitments, we have been unable to travel of late and the wanderlust spirit has suffered  as a result. So, when we started talking about a quick getaway, I pulled up the web site for One Ocean  and - viola! 

 

This little trip is going to test my theory about Florida boutique hotels. Though few and far between, they are out there if you look. This past fall, we tested the theory with a visit to The Lotus Inn and Suites in Ormond Beach and - In a word - Brilliant! So, as we head out for our little getaway from the day to day, in addition to enjoying all that One Ocean has to offer, I will be taking copious notes to ensure that Aesthetic Vagabonds everywhere can be in the know on this Forbes Four Star boutique on old Jax Beach.

 

Stay Tuned - From The Underground Loft In God's Country Part B,

 

d.l. stafford

thenomadARCHITECT

The World's Most Famous Beach and The Lotus - Sweet!!

There Simply Is No Beach Like It On Earth

As a kid growing up in the fifties, going to Daytona Beach was an annual summer ritual. Dad, mom, my brother and I  would head to "The World's Most Famous Beach" for two weeks of fun and sun. Daytona Beach was THE place to go in the fifties and sixties before it became a tourist afterthought. And I have great memories of  our times there as a family. I learned to swim there, I saw my first real car race there and I remember buying the best hot dogs, real six ounce cokes and ice cream "nutty buddies" right on the beach. As I grew older, Daytona Beach became party central for spring break. But the coolest thing of all - You could actually drive on the beach!! What more could a kid want? As the MTV generation began to dominate the spring break scene, Daytona became a place to be avoided. The great hotels and motels like the Castaways, the Americana and the Sea Dip became aging relics or disappeared all together. So imagine my surprise, when I stumbled upon a small boutique hotel created from the bones of a 1950's motel in Daytona's more affluent sister beach town, Ormond Beach.

 

This particular getaway was a belated beach trip to celebrate the birthday of my life companion and favorite Nomad, Susie. When she said she wanted to go to the beach back in June, I began to search in earnest for a beach hotel close by that we could celebrate, enjoy the beach and stay in a really cool hotel. I have written before, on this blog, about the dearth of quality boutiques in Florida, due to the infestation of ginormous tourist hotels and Disney. Finding small, intimate well designed hotels or upscale B&B's is challenging in The Sunshine State. However, thanks to my diligence and the internet, I found the perfect place for a three day trip to enjoy the greatest beach in the USA.  The Lotus Boutique Inn & Suites.

 

Design and Details Do Indeed Make A Place

 

Like most old beach towns, Daytona and Ormond have an unending line of mediocre chains and locally owned places that have long since lost their luster. And because the beach is a constant draw for retirees, there are many uninspired high rise condos  interspersed between the litany of  Days Inns and Beach Blanket Bingo Motels strung along A1A. Uninspiring indeed!

This blog is all about the constant search for special places. Places that provide unique environments for travelers to kick back and enjoy the show. The Lotus has made a definitive statement that design matters. At fifty five rooms, it is very small by Florida standards. And kudos to the owner with the vision and his architect with the talent and skill to take the bones of a 1950's motel and turn it into a bona fide modern, cool place to sleep and enjoy the sand, sun and water of Ormond Beach. This small little beachfront inn makes a design statement from the moment you pull up to the concierge's lobby. The lobby is a very successful combination of beach chic and European minimalism. With tile and wood striped floors, colored lighted accents , white walls and white furniture, you know that you have arrived at a place where design is integral to the overall concept of a true Nomad's retreat. As the concierge showed us our room to ensure that it met with our approval, I was immediately impressed by the details that render a space with more than just four walls and a sliding glass door. With  sleek black and white furniture set against a bluish grey and white color scheme, simple tile floors and a platform bed, complete with funky sculptural headboard, the designer achieved the perfect space in which to retire after a day at the beach. And  the large rain shower, with some of the finest tile work I have ever seen, provides a well designed personal space to ensure that you enjoy your R&R in style.

 

If One Is To Truly Enjoy The Beach, One Must Have A Proper Terrace

 

At The Lotus, they didn't stop with the interiors. Our suite on the first floor opened onto a large   tiled terrace/patio, providing the perfect spot to enjoy the views of the beach. Each terrace has a private gate that allows you to access the beach and the pool just steps away. In addition to your very own personal outdoor space, the designer spared no expense in creating a well designed exterior environment with innovative paving design, subtle level changes, quality landscaping and a sunken fire "fountain" area adjacent to the beach and pool. With the large terrace/patio and the easy access to the pool and the beach, I highly recommend a first floor suite.

 

And if one has a proper terrace, what does one do with it? Simple. This Nomad and his Nomadess decided to eat every meal and spend early mornings watching the sun come up and late afternoons enjoying great wine and   conversation with the world's greatest beach at our doorstep. We stopped at a Fresh Market on the way to the hotel and picked up essentials, then ordered take out from two excellent local restaurants - Frappes and Stonewood Grill & Tavern. Since the suite  included a well appointed kitchen/prep area with a small fridge, cook top and microwave, we had everything we needed to "eat in". Like the committed Nomads we are, we were able to drop anchor and become serious beach bums for three days. And all of this for a very reasonable $159 a night.

 

So grab your beach stuff and head to Ormond for a stay in a real, honest to goodness boutique hotel on the world's most famous beach. Who knows, maybe a new trend has been started in the small upscale hotel landscape of The Sunshine State, resulting in more cool places for Nomads.  The Lotus is a great beginning.

 

 

Catch A Wave

 

D.L. Stafford

thenomadARCHITECT

Travel Quote of The Week - “You fish, swim, eat, laze around, and everyone's so friendly. It's such simple stuff, but, If I could stop the world and restart life, put the clock back, I think I'd restart it like this. For everyone.”  ― Alex Garland, The Beach

Video Artist of The Week - Jazz rock with an attitude comes to us  from Steely Dan. Donald Fagan, Walter Becker and a plethora of side players created post modern music before there was postmodern music. And everybody knows that only their albums will do when you want to test a new stereo system.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A New Millineum Wedding In God's Country

At This Place - Joy Comes In The Morning, The Afternoon and The Midnight Hour

Sorry I lost a week. It has taken us this long to come down from the good vibrations experienced after three amazing days in the cradle of the confederacy. Participating in a happening that you can only imagine until you are there is an experience that only comes along a few times in one's life. Other than when I married my bride of thirty nine years and when my son and daughter were born, I simply cannot recall any time in my life when I have felt more one with that spiritual thing that only comes when something profound occurs. 

One aspect of being a Nomad is the appreciation of what we call, in the design profession, "context". It's impossible to separate travel from the effects of  history and culture that give a town, region or country its own sense of place . The south, so eloquently captured by Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Margaret Mitchell in the epic story of love and civil war Gone With The Wind, is not just a geographical location but a "place of the imagination". Because of its history and its contribution to American culture through its literature, cookery and music, the region has a unique place in the American consciousness. And Southerners take comfort in the knowledge that they live in places partitioned by the Almighty as ante rooms to the Promised Land. It is the land of milk and honey, or at least, sweet iced tea and peaches. Our destination for the new millennium wedding,  Vinewood Plantation, just outside of Newnan, Georgia, captures both the real and the imagined  old south with a new, vibrant vibe that makes old things  new and history still relevant. If you are going to get married, where better to do it than in one of Heaven's earthly parlors?

A Cool House In A Cool Town Makes for A Very Good Place To Get Together

As we headed for Newnan, the location of most of the events for the weekend, we could feel the pre-wedding jitters begin to build, even though our role was not nearly as involved and complicated as those of the bride and the groom. One thing we learned over the course of the last few months -planning a wedding, especially a "destination" wedding, is the logistical equivalent of a mission to Mars. All of the details, decision making and stress associated with any wedding requires great resolve, intelligence and creativity. Having a seasoned, detail obsessed pro like my niece,  Susan, helps as well. I was not there, but I was told that the negotiations for the wedding hotel would not have happened without her intervention on Tara's behalf. It's always nice to have a fellow Nomad in the family that knows the ropes.

Driving into Newnan, I was struck by its vibrant quality. Having seen so many southern towns fade away in the modern world, it was refreshing to see one that has managed to keep its local, small town character while still remaining new and relevant. One sure sign that Newnan is very comfortable with itself was the presence of an art exhibit in the downtown area. Known as "A Horsey Affair", twenty five brightly painted horses appear in various locations throughout the downtown area. And any town that boasts southern writer and humorist Lewis Grizzard as a native son must be placed on any Nomad's List of  Places To See.

As we pulled up to the Major Long House to drop off the arrangements of giant sunflowers for the rehearsal dinner, we were met by the first of many wonderful people we interfaced with to create the perfect wedding. Georgia Shapiro is a southern woman in every sense of the word. With a casual grace, she is one of those people that always seems to be in complete control of all events in her sphere. With a quick wit and conversational skills that make you feel right at home, she explained the details of how this grand old house came to be the happening place that I was immediately drawn to when I was dispatched several months ago on reconnaissance to find a venue for the rehearsal dinner. As an architect, I always.look for the real thing in a house. With rough pine board floors, exquisite plaster detailing, period wall coverings and hand painted black and white checkerboard floors in the grand parlor, this classic southern house is the perfect place to bring family and friends together for any event. Finally, Susie told Georgia that we needed to go and that, if left unattended, I would be there for the next several hours discussing the history and minutiae of this great old place. The hospitality continued into the next evening at the rehearsal dinner as Georgia, her more than helpful husband and her champion bartender, flower arranger and woman of unlimited party skills assisted us with the details of preparations for the kickoff event.

And if your going to have something catered, you might as well go with a legend - Sprayberry's Barbecue. Started in 1926 in the back of a gas station, it is simply the best barbecue I have ever tasted. And the reviews of those in attendance confirmed this food critic's opinion. Plus, Alan Jackson waited tables there. A weekend trip to Newnan and Sprayberry's must be added to every Nomad's List of Places To Eat Before You Die. You can thank me later!

Friday morning. The guys headed to Atlanta to pick up rental tuxes. All right thinking men know that weddings are about the bride. That is one of life's immutable truths. That premise is confirmed by the simple fact that the groom and his groomsmen wear rented tuxes or suits that are usually grey and understated, whereas, the bride wears a dress of uncompromising beauty and detail, while her bridesmaids wear dresses that have been painstakingly selected from an endless selection of dresses from Nieman Marcus, Saks or any number of boutiques to ensure just the right coordinated look.  After picking up the tuxes, we all headed over to one of the best burger places in Atlanta - Yeah Burger!! Serving only locally grown, grass fed beef, the burgers are to die for. And as you might expect, while the men were eating burgers, as good as they were, I am told that the burgers didn't compare to the luncheon for the ladies at The Veranda B&B in the nearby community  of Senoia, Georgia. In addition to the excellent food in the dining room of a vintage southern house, the town of Senoia is one of the locations for the hit television series The Walking Dead. The mental image of well appointed ladies enjoying strawberry shortcake, while hordes of flesh eating zombies stroll by is at least an interesting concept to ponder. I was told that all the zombies were kept at bay while the ladies enjoyed their late morning soiree.

We arrived late at the Major Longhouse for the rehearsal dinner. In addition to setting all of the tables and placing the flowers, Georgia and her staff helped us unload the ice and refreshments for the evening and the doors opened on time at 7:00 PM. As the place began to fill with the laughter of numerous friends and members of both families, we began to relax and enjoy the vibe of the first official event of the weekend. The evening went off without a hitch. Great food was had by all and great conversation continued well into the night as people enjoyed the fellowship of each other's company. And I must give kudos to my one and only, Susie. She has spent most of her professional and personal life planning events and telling other people when to show up and be ready, and this event was no different. She is the single most unflappable person I know. And everyone adores her. As I would listen to her questions and directives concerning various details for a party for seventy in a house and town she had never visited until that weekend, I knew all would go well. And it did. 

Another Grand House, a Barn and The Biggest Pecan Tree I Ever Saw

The big day. As I walked to the car from the hotel to get some morning joe at the nearby Starbucks, I pondered the events that were coming our way on the most important day of the lives of my son and soon to be daughter-in-law. There was not a cloud in the sky. This was not surprising, given that Susie had had many one on ones with the Almighty concerning the weather. Weather prayers are a critical component of any wedding that is going to be outside. However, before the main event, there was work to be done. Enter Tara's uncle Cecil. Like Will Rogers, Cecil  never met a man he didn't like.  Without hesitation, he offered himself and his SUV to help load, transport and deliver what seemed like a ton of ice and refreshments for the post ceremony reception. My hat goes off to this southern gentleman for his help and humor.

Because Susie had to go with the bridal party early to prepare for the ceremony, I was left on my own to get dressed and get myself to the wedding on time. As I arrived, the essence of this unique venue became apparent. The main house at Vinewood  is an exquisitely restored example of all that is expected in great vintage residential architecture. And the old pole barn has been lovingly restored as well. As we made last minute preparations and took photographs, I realized that these people at Vinewood know what they are doing. From Jamie, one of the owners, to Maria, the wedding coordinator, everyone seemed to be in more places at more times than you could imagine. As the guests began to take their seats under the waning afternoon sun, it was evident that this special place, on this day, under a blue Georgia sky, in the shade of a massive pecan tree, was the only place on earth for holy nuptials to be expressed by two people ready to begin a new life together.

As the dashing groom came in, followed by his groomsmen, I could see the pride on his mother's face. And then the bridesmaids, dressed in elegant, light blue dresses, including the bride's best friend and bridesmaid, my lovely daughter and resident humorist, Lauren, took their rightful places. Then there she was. Tara. This beautiful, petite, young woman, known to her friends as Munchkin, dressed in a gown meant only for her on this day, walked in the cool grass, accompanied by her proud father and mother, to take her place under the shade of the big tree next to her soon to be husband. As the ceremony began, her father  effortlessly caught her veil as a brief zephyr disengaged it from her beautifully coiffed hair, leaving not a strand out of place. As  the songs were sung and the vows exchanged,  this most sacred  of ceremonies became perfection in God's country.  And I understood, once again, what my mother meant when she told me - One day you will understand. Now I know.

And Let The Good Times Roll

After the post ceremony photographs, it was time to eat, drink and be merry. And when you have food from Taqueria del Sol, one of Atlanta's top purveyors of  southern, mexican and southwestern cuisine, the eating part is all good. And with a band like Rustic Charlie, fronted by lead singer Eric Blackman, nailing great tunes from Rolling In The Deep to old and new R&B, Soul and Dance Music, a great time was had by all. Even The Nomad got in on the act with a knock 'em dead rendition of the classic Wilson Picket tune Mustang Sally, with a little help from his best friend and brother, Errol. And what a crowd! As the party rocked and rolled its way toward closing time, it became apparent that this is what you are supposed to do at a wedding - Rejoice and be Glad!! And where better to do it than under a hot, starry Georgia spring                                                                     

night sky?

And finally, Sunday morning. As the lingering guests came in to enjoy an outstanding breakfast served up by The Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center on another blue skied Georgia day, it was great to share stories and goodbyes with all of the great people that came to be a part of this wonderful event. Looking back on the previous three days, it seemed  that every Nomad there, for a brief period of time, simply dropped anchor and let the good times roll. Now that's the way to travel!

Video Artist of The Week-  The British Folk Rock Indie Band Mumford & Sons . "She Said Yes" is worth a serious listen for a fresh take on love and life.

Travel Quote of The Week -   A first-rate marriage is like a first-rate hotel: expensive, but worth it. -Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966 . Spoken like a true Nomad in love.                   

Love and Kisses

D.L. Stafford

thenomadARCHITECT

 

Photo Credits - Charlotte Fristoe, Susan Stafford & Anonymous.