Culture
Cultural facts, history, traditions, events, festivals, foods and more from a location.
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Culture: Churrasco in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
On our last night in Rio we went to one of Brazil’s famous churrasco restaurants for Brazilian BBQ. We came to the conclusion that this type of restaurant would be a vegetarian’s nightmare! We picked a lively spot on the Copacabana, recommended by our hotel. The bright place had a modern interior, filled with tile mirrors and long communal tables. Upbeat dance music played loudly in the background. The place was crowded and it was still early. The instance we sat down, the food started pouring out of the kitchen, plate after plate. First up was some light appetizers – hearts of palm, cheese, olives, bread, and tomatoes. Then came…
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Time+Place: Keeping WWII History Alive
There are some history buffs that live and breathe WWII stories. They know the strategies, the battles, the heros and sadly, the carnage. Then there are others like myself. I know some facts from history class, and have been lucky to visit the beaches of Normandy, and some of the war torn areas in France, but as time moves forward, the facts are becoming a bit more fuzzy and the stories I’ve been told are harder to recollect. Sadly, I fear my children will have little understanding of the impact that this war had on the world. When a tour of war aircraft and items from WWII came to our…
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Culture: Bouillabaisse in Marseille, France
You never forget your first bowl of true bouillabaisse. It’s a meal experience that will stay with you forever! It was a chilly Spring day in March when we ventured to Miramar Restaurant in the historic Vieux Port of Marseille, France. We had left our then infant daughter with a babysitter, and were going to enjoy an adult-only day out. My parents, who have tasted their share of fine dining throughout Southern France were eager to take us to try the “vrai bouillabaisse.” Excited for the experience, and time away from parenting, we jumped at the chance! We headed to the Vieux-Port (old port), to find the restaurant. This area…
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Type+Place: Las Vegas Neon A to Z
I’ve had an obsession with vintage neon signs for a very long time! During my undergrad, I scoured the Southwest on a road trip photographing dilapidated signs and marquees, stopping even at the most inconvenient time to get a good shot. Well, the obsession continues… With a recent trip to Las Vegas, and a visit to the Neon museum, my love for neon grew once again. This time it wasn’t just the neon that fascinated me, it was also looking more closely at the typography and styles. Once home, I knew what I had to do– an A to Z to honor the wonderful letters that are rusting in the…
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Pattern+Place: Colorful Kente Cloth from Ghana
Known for it’s bright, bold colors and geometric patterns, Kente cloth is one of the most recognizable textiles from Africa. Kente cloth weaving originated from the Ashanti Kingdom and Akan people of Southern Ghana. Historically it was worn by royalty and prestigious people for important occasions. With the advent of commercially woven cloths, it is now seen on everyday clothing and items which some feel has diluted the cultural importance of the art form. Traditional weaving of Kente cloth is done in very long 4″ strips. Then, the strips are then sewn together to make fabric. The pattern and color usage are are highly symbolic. For instance, black represents maturation…
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Culture: Cassoulet in Carcassonne, France
When the late afternoon sun started getting low, and the tourists all began to file out of the fortified city gates, that is when I started to fall in love with Carcassonne. Located in the Languedoc-Roussillon southern region of France, Carcassonne is reminiscent of a scene out of a Disney movie. The walled city sits high upon a hilltop. It’s impenetrable citadel and imposing towers have incredible historic charm, yet the mid-day crowds meandering through the tiny Medieval streets can get a bit overwhelming. I was advised to book a room within the city walls to really experience the town and was definitely not disappointed. There are only a few…
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Palette+Place: Sunsets at Lake Tahoe
This New Year in Lake Tahoe, California we were treated to quite a show. Night after night we were dazzled with pure visual entertainment. Jaw dropping colors magically changed before our eyes and in a matter of minutes it was over. No this wasn’t some marketing stunt put on by a glitzy casino, or a laser light show at the local high school, this was just Nature doing her stuff. With 4 decades of trips to Lake Tahoe, and a 2 year stint living there, I’m convinced Lake Tahoe sunsets are some of the best in the world. Night after night the sun dips behind the Sierras and the sky…
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On Location: Bauhaus Design on a Random Munich Street Corner
Tucked off the main thoroughfare, in a maze of alleys far from foot traffic and cars to admire, three gleaming cylindrical pillars stand tall and proud against the corner of a modern building. They prominently flank the clean lined siding as if performing a function that we should all understand. At the top of each pillar is a black accordion detail, adding another unknown function, yet graphic element to the entire look. In front of the cylinders is a street pole, disseminating important information to anyone who cares to read. Einbahstrasse states the blue arrow pointing right, signaling the start of the one way street. Feuerwehranfahrtzone labels the red x…
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Culture: German Pretzel (Bretzel) Love
And they say it’s just a snack. I’m here to say they are quite wrong. German pretzels (called bretzel in Germany) are definitely a meal. Trust me. There is one in my family who survived several days on bretzels alone while in Munich, Germany. And, who could blame him, they are quite tasty! As in most of my vacations, mealtime usually happens at odd times. My husband and I have been known to skip breakfast, forget about lunch and finally break down in utter hunger and grab the closest food available when exploring. In Munich, although we kept well fed, there were just too many pretzel vendors tempting us as…
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Type+Place: Over 25 Fonts Inspired by Paris
It’s amazing how a typeface can look and feel so much like a famous city such as Paris! In continuing with my font fetish, I’ve gathered up over 25 fonts that exude the City of Lights. These are perfect to use post-travel when you are putting your memories together of your trip or great to use for any design project where you want it to speak of Paris. I have a feeling there will be another Paris-font series to come. It seems like so many fonts didn’t make this list. Be sure to stay tuned for more. Below is a list of links to the fonts used above. Note: These…