High-Rise Window-Washers

Not the best job if you suffer from vertigo!

April's Theme: Triangles

I'm a little late to the game for this month's theme topic for City Daily Photo, which is "triangles."

This photo was taken during our visit to Salt Lake City back in 2010. The Mormon/Latter Day Saints (LDS) Conference Center, located to the north of Temple Square in Salt Lake City, was completed in April of 2000. The auditorium in the Conference Center seats 21,000. The building is constructed of granite from the same quarry which provided the granite for the Temple. A semi-annual world general conference is held at the headquarters of the LDS Church at Temple Square and includes music by the famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir in the auditorium.

The builders decided that the roof should not be wasted space, and so designed a rooftop garden with pathways that meander throughout trees, native flowers, and other plantings. A guided tour of the center offers an elevator ride to the roof where you'll have a great view of the city and the mountains beyond.  The pyramid shapes are actually atrium windows channeling natural light into the building below.

Conveniently, this post also fits in with Skywatch Friday - and you can see more posts here.

New Year, New Outlook

This little re-purposed silo is a small chapel that's accessible 24/7 at the nearby Fox River UCC.  I think I've posted it before, a long time ago - but it seemed so lovely against the stark, snowy gray day that I had to take another look.

The outside stained glass window is new. Inside it's a bit chilly, but homey. A little stone bench gives one a place to sit and contemplate or pray. There is a mini-alter that even has a velvet padded kneeler for comfort. And of course, the simple wooden cross to remind us of the chapel's purpose. There is a small, red eternal flame lantern that is suspended below a tiny stained glass window in the corner as well.  The scene shows a dove carrying an olive branch, the symbol of peace.

Autumn in Pettibone Park

The gazebo at Pettibone Park, located on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin, was built sometime in the first half of the 20th century.  It's a popular spot for wedding and senior portrait photographers, and has housed many parties, picnics, and events over the years.

Thatched Roof, Revisited

As promised last March, I am posting a summertime photo of the thatched roof with the goat weathervane from La Crosse's Friendship Gardens.  The hanging flower planter on the side of the shed was both beautiful and fragrant!

One More Door

The final door from our trip to Door County.  While the house appears to need some TLC, I really love the intricate brick design, so indicative of the craftsmanship back in the day before pre-fab houses.

The Doors of Door County

During our trip to Door County, I got up for an early morning jog and took some photos of the picturesque buildings in the Sister Bay area -- specifically, a few of the "doors of Door County!" I will be posting several more photos of the area over the next couple of days, so please come back to visit.

Billowing Clouds

While driving home from work the other day, there were white clouds billowing up in the distance.  Behind me the sky was threatening to storm, and you could see the contrast reflected in the glass towers ahead.

Arts & Crafts Part II

Just down the street from the home posted yesterday is another gorgeous example of Arts & Crafts architecture in suburban Wauwatosa. This one looks like it belongs deep in the forest of a fairy tale.

...Except for the neon flamingos!

Vintage Arts & Crafts

An original Arts & Crafts-style house located on Stickney Avenue in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. There are a number of these beautiful works of art on this street, and throughout the city. This style of architecture flourished in the early part of the 20th century. They just don't build 'em like this anymore.

Garden Arch

The welcoming entrance arch to the "International Friendship Gardens" in La Crosse's Riverside Park.

Dancing with Toulouse

The lobby posters announcing the show "Posters of Paris" at the Milwaukee Art Museum are just as exciting as the vintage ones on display.

Milwaukee Architecture

This view is looking northwest from the outside of the Milwaukee Art Museum over Lincoln Memorial Drive.  Not sure exactly what that large white building is, but I think it may be one of the cities' older posh apartment buildings. In the foreground you can see a kiosk with advertisements for the current museum show, "Posters of Paris."  I will show a few more images over the next day or two from our little jaunt downtown.

Piano Lessons

Wauwatosa is the Native American term for firefly, so many things and places in Tosa have the word "firefly" within them.  This cute piano studio, located in a refurbished house on Harwood Ave., has a rusty water pump out front cleverly sporting the shop's sign.

Peter Piper Bartolotta

Another grand Victorian-Gothic style building in the Village of Wauwatosa houses the esteemed "Ristorante Bartolotta." Built of cream city brick, this is the flagship location for the Bartolotta restaurant group and is hands-down my favorite place for a special meal in the Milwaukee area. Their Pappardelle Braised Duck Ragu is fabulous!

For decades, it was the "Peter Piper Pancake House" - the type of restaurant you might see featured in Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives on the Food Network.  A great story about this place is that it was a local haunt of the old Tosa eccentric, Abe Austin, Jr.!

Ace Hardware

The Ace Hardware store in the village of Wauwatosa is celebrating its 91st year in business in this beautiful old gothic stone building. The inside brings you back to simpler times, and while walking through narrow aisles, the oak plank wooden floors creak with every step. They just don't build 'em like this any more!

Gothic Autumn

As you drive east on Cass Street in downtown La Crosse, toward the Mississippi River Bridge, you will pass this very old gothic mansion. The chill in the air and the changing color of the leaves lent an eerie feel to its presence on this early autumn afternoon. One can almost imagine Norman Bates peaking out from one of the upper windows!

Two Towers Sunset

The reflective glass of the two bank towers on Hwy. 45 and Good Hope Road in Milwaukee often displays a colorful sunset photo opportunity. This was taken as I was leaving work one evening. The Hilton Garden Inn is in the foreground.

Candina's

The austere decor of this small shop in Madison, just across from the Capitol building, belies the delicious truth within its display cases: chocolate truffles locally made in Verona, Wisconsin! Decadent and elegant, Candina's offers decidedly adult varieties, with flavors like champagne, ginger, hazelnut, jasmine, espresso, chai, and elderflower. I bought a small sampler box of the latter, and found it to be a deep chocolate laced with a bright citrusy flavor. Excellent!

Capitol Steps

The state capitol building in Madison, Wisconsin, looms large and lovely on this beautiful late summer morning. Each Saturday, Capitol Square is teeming with vendors and thousands of people searching for the freshest produce and flowers around. Also, being the home to our state government, there are also scores of booths touting any social and political statement you may (or may not) subscribe to!

The photo below shows a close-up of the dome, topped by Daniel Chester French's elegant gilded bronze statue, "Wisconsin."