an unexpected tranquil sanctuary
The entrance to the cloister of San Francesco Church in Gargnano on Lake Garda.
The San Francesco Church and Cloister in Gargnano on Lake Garda. Recently I wrote about the monks of the San Francesco Monastery introducing lemons to the Lake Garda area in northern Italy during the thirteenth century. But what I forgot to mention in that post was that their monastery and church, which were built in 1289, still exist today, and it was a happy accident when I stumbled upon them. For more photos of this peaceful sanctuary, click on the link below.
Tags: Gargnano > Lake Garda > San Francesco Church and Cloister
a south beach hotel circa 1958
A Hole in the Head (1959) is a comedy film directed by Frank Capra, featuring Frank Sinatra, Edward G. Robinson, Eleanor Parker, and Carolyn Jones. For me, the real star was the down-in-the-heels hotel located on South Beach’s Ocean Drive. Unfortunately, the interior scenes were sets, but the exteriors belonged to the very real Cardozo Hotel, which is now owned by Gloria Estefan and her husband. To continue on and see more captured film stills, click on the link below.
Tags: A Hole in the Head > Cardozo Hotel > Carolyn Jones > Edward G. Robinson > Eleanor Parker > Frank Capra > Frank Sinatra > Gloria Estefan > Miami > Ocean Drive > South Beach
i am love (architecture & interiors)
After renting the newly released dvd, I Am Love, and watching the film twice, I slipped it into my computer and captured a gazillion frames which I will be sharing with you over the next two days. Today’s post will be focusing on Villa Necchi Campiglio’s architecture and interiors. By using stills from the film and comparing them to photos of the house today, I hope to give you a complete picture. Friday’s post will be about the characters’ lifestyles, which includes their clothing, accessories, and other lifescapes.
Tags: I Am Love > Villa Necchi Campiglio
an old building survives
The Ladies’ Clubhouse at Little Sandy Hunting and Fishing Club in East Texas is one of those hidden time warps. To walk through its rooms and recognize that time has stopped is like some eerie dream. And it’s very important that I tread quietly so not to wake it, because the last thing I want is for it to follow me into my century.
Several years ago, I worked with John Crow Miller on a 400 page historical book for Little Sandy written to celebrate a century of seasons at the club (it had just celebrated its 100 year anniversary). And at that time, there was talk that the clubhouse would have to be demolished. But now, John has written to me to say that there has been a change of heart. He also included a bit of its history.
“The Ladies’ Clubhouse was constructed in 1927, as a facility to house families visiting the club, including women. Juxtaposed against the Men’s Clubhouse, which was constructed in 1910, the Ladies’ Clubhouse contained modern conveniences like hot water and later, gas heat and air conditioning. When the Men’s Clubhouse was demolished in 1967, the Ladies’ Clubhouse was maintained as general quarters for families who did not own a cottage and for members’ overflow of guests. Time and the annual southern melodrama of oppressive summers caused white paint and green trim to fade, floors to buckle and stairs to creak, but through a series of construction band-aides that began in the 1950s, the old building continued to survive. In 2009, the club confirmed the historical importance of the building by applying significant capital funds to restore the foundation, windows, roof and interiors. While the building was never intended to be a showcase of Little Sandy’s charms, it continues to provide functional lodging that reflects the club’s pioneer spirit.”
Tags: East Texas > ladies' clubhouse > Little Sandy Hunting and Fishing Club > preservation > restoration