City Scenes: Chicago Factories by David Harmantas

Over the weekend I put together a post for a Design Milk “Friday Five” column that features furniture designer Jason Lewis‘ inspirations. One of the Chicago-based designer’s pics is the U.S. Adhesives building in an industrial neighborhood near his studio. I was quite taken with the photograph and how it evokes the country’s industrial roots. The photographer, David Harmantas, posted the series, taken on Chicago’s Kinzie Street industrial corridor, on his blog, Inexorable Solitude: The Cycle the Ghost Round. There were also similar images on his Flickr photostream.

Photos by David Harmantas

ARTmonday: My Impressions from the Acela

I’ve taken a lot of trips to New York this spring. I always ride the Amtrak Acela from Back Bay Station, Boston. It’s a route I love. Rhode Island is picturesque, but I most look forward to seeing the Connecticut landscape.  As the little harbors of boats meld across the state line, we soon ramble by the pair of steel truss bridges that span the Connecticut River from Groton to New London. It’s the first recognizable reminder of college: drives to Mystic, dinner at Paul’s Pasta starting with the peanut butter pie. Then it’s past the New London City Pier, with the ferry docks, where we used to catch the first of a trio of ferries to the Hamptons, or the train to New York City. Then it’s onto the small towns. In Niantic, the tracks are basically on the beach. Soon we pull past Old Saybrook, a town of my childhood (I grew up in the next one over), where the train station has since been rehabilitated. Eventually we make it to New Haven, and then a whole other world of Fairfield County, right through the town where my in-laws live.

Inspired a bit by the memories, a bit by the almost industrial scenes interspersed with scenes, one after the next, of seaside charm, and a bit by my predilection for blurred photographic images, I pulled out my iPhone to see what I could capture. Mostly I used Instagram, though I didn’t always fuss with its editing options. These are the photos I think are most evocative. I’d love to know if you like any of them.

Style Muse: Fresh Faced, With Lipstick

These images of Gwyneth and Blake are perfectly polished summer looks. Sure, Blake’s got some serious pink lipstick going on, but her hair is tousled. Gwyn looks to be bare-faced, but her hair is silky and sleek. Both are balanced.

 

Sunday Bouquet: Peony and Daisies on the Windowsill in Truro

StyleCarrot

Saturday Say It: Summer Mantra

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Print by Mae Chevrette
$42, Etsy