One of the highlights of my last trip to Kansas City was a visit to the Stray Cat Film Center. Stray Cat describes itself as "an artist-run, non-profit microcinema and community space". It's located in downtown KC's historic Crossroads neighborhood which is host to numerous breweries and arts venues (and potential future home of the … Continue reading City Scenes: KC’s Stray Cat Film Center
A “Cycle-delic” playlist
This coming April 19th marks the 81st anniversary of "Bicycle Day," recognized as the date of the first intentional acid trip when Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann ingested LSD before riding his bicycle home from his laboratory. The day has become a bit of a holiday in counterculture circles, and the date lines up nicely with … Continue reading A “Cycle-delic” playlist
City Scenes: “MVP” Pitt baseball game
Since 2019 I've made it a point to attend the Pittsburgh Pirates home opener of each new baseball season (pandemic-affected seasons aside, of course). This year, however, I had the opportunity to mark the home opener with a Pitt Panthers baseball game thanks to the "Most Valuable Professor" program. This initiative from Pitt athletics lets … Continue reading City Scenes: “MVP” Pitt baseball game
Milk crates (& bike baskets) of Amsterdam
During my European travels this past summer I had a four hour layover in Amsterdam while en route from Florence to Prague. It was a long enough stop to warrant getting out of the airport to briefly explore the city. I had my Mom with me and in an attempt to make the trip as … Continue reading Milk crates (& bike baskets) of Amsterdam
City Scenes: KC’s Kauffman Stadium
This past August while visiting Kansas City I got the chance to catch a Royals game at Kauffman Stadium, or "The K". While I've visited Kansas City several times I had only been to The K once before, for an off-season tour of the stadium on a brisk November day. During that previous off-season visit … Continue reading City Scenes: KC’s Kauffman Stadium
“The Master Plan” play in Toronto
In October 2022 I traveled to Toronto to interview folks who had been involved in challenging Google's proposed "smart city" redevelopment on the city's Waterfront. Early on in these discussions my interlocutors began asking if I had read "Sideways," a recently published book by journalist Josh O'Kane that chronicles the contentious history of the project. … Continue reading “The Master Plan” play in Toronto
A “Positive Affirmation” playlist
This past week I was talking with a loved one about the efficacy of "positive affirmations" for self-care and general maintenance of mental health: Do they really work? Aren't they kind of childish? How are you supposed to overcome immanent mental blocks and the realities of daily life in order to "buy in" to this … Continue reading A “Positive Affirmation” playlist
Milk Crates of Florence
This past July I was able to travel to Florence, Italy for a 20th anniversary reunion with a group of study abroad alumni. The trip involved a potent mix of nostalgic recollection and eye-opening discovery of how much the seemingly timeless city had changed since my last visit. One of the internal changes that colored … Continue reading Milk Crates of Florence
City Scenes: Jeff Rosenstock at Nashville’s Eastside Bowl
With the first three weeks of the Fall semester having faded into the rearview mirror with nary a road bump or pit stop, I figured the coast was clear for a quick getaway. So with a jetsetter whimsy entirely at odds with my actual socioeconomic station I caught a Friday flight from Pittsburgh to Nashville … Continue reading City Scenes: Jeff Rosenstock at Nashville’s Eastside Bowl
A “September Sax” playlist
It’s September, which everyone knows is prime saxophone season. So to mark the month here’s a little playlist to celebrate the sax. Things kick off with an imaginative mash up of The Stranglers and the Dave Brubeck Quartet, go on to sample some contemporary artists, and also include a block of some personal favorites selected … Continue reading A “September Sax” playlist