It's Christmas Time in the City

During this shopping season, - also referred to from time to time, as the Christmas season, I started reflect on the lyrics of the holiday’s standard, - Silver Bells. This 1950 classic popularized by Bing Crosby describes a cityscape during the holidays that’s all but vanishing from most American cities and towns. “…city sidewalks, busy sidewalks…” Since most downtown shopping district have faded-away this holiday vibrancy occurs in all likelihood within the realm of suburbia. An updated version will have to include a line or two describing busy parking lots in lieu of sidewalks and food courts in place of every street corner.

Silver bells, silver bells
it's Christmas time in the city
ring-a-ling, hear them ring
soon it will be Christmas day!

Children laughing, people passing

meeting smile after smile
and on every street corner you'll hear . . .

Silver bells ( silver bells! ) silver bells

( silver bells! )
it's Christmas time in the city
ring-a-ling ( ring-a-ling! ) hear them ring

( hear them ring!! )
soon it will be Christmas day!
Strings of street lights, even stop lights

blink of bright red an' green

as the shoppers rush home with their treasures!

Hear the snow crunch, see the kids bunch

this is Santa's big scene
and above all this bustle you'll hear . . .

Silver bells ( silver bells! ) silver bells

( silver bells! )
it's Christmas time in the city
ring-a-ling ( ring-a-ling! ) hear them ring

( hear them ring!! )
soon it will be Christmas day!

Christmas Time in the City...

Then...

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks

dressed in holiday style

in the air there's a feeling of Christmas!

 

Christmas Season Baltimore- along Howard St. & Lexington Ave.

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks

dressed in holiday style...

Christmas Season 2011

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks

dressed in holiday style

in the air there's a feeling of Christmas?

Happy Exodus

Nothing highlights the severe shift in settlement patterns and the civic bifurcation of the past half-century than the year end holiday season. From Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day the urban landscape experiences an astonishing relocation of citizenry from and to almost every corner of the nation.

Community Involvement

Student from Morgan’s Landscape Architecture Department and Louisiana State, teamed- up with artist from FOSAJ (Fondation Sant D’A Jakmel), a local artist cooperative based in Jacmel, Haiti; with the aim of producing a mural that reflected the laudable history of the city of Jacmel, as well as, re-envisioning the prospects for a new Jacmel that will emerge following the devastating earthquake of January 12, 2010.

The mural, to be exhibited on Morgan State Campus later this year, will showcase the exquisite work of artist from FOSAJ, as well as the spirit of solidarity and cooperation with students from Morgan and LSU. 

Architectural Manifestations Colonial, Indigenous & Neo-Colonial

Cozy, Practical and Pretty Avant-garde

I’m fascinated by this interpretation of a park/plaza. of course, traffic safety and local regulations would probably discourage such spatial application State-side. However, Jacmel is predominantly pedestrian and motor-scooter environment making this a suitable option. This site seem to accommodate different activities throughout the day, chitchat, card playing, hair braiding, people watching…the city’s collective  front porch.   

Tap-Tap

Early morning on board a "Tap-Tap" along the scenic route to Caye Jacmel, observing the road side activity and scooter road etiquette.
Tap-tap the preferred mode of transportation, second only, perhaps, to motor-taxis. These modified  vehicles derive their name from the customary “taps” givento the vehicle body to tell the driver…Arrete !  (Stop !)    

On route to Caye Jacmel

Curbside Benches

Bus Stop seating… or just another opportunity to people watch? The arrangement and location of these benches are a little perplexing; nonetheless, the Haitian flare for craftsmanship is on full display.

Jacmel, Haiti

The virtue of a small city, in a small country, - great originality. This double Decker median/park provides a whimsical respite from the busy street life.

A Beautiful Ghost Town

The city of Charlotte, North Carolina developed along a former Native American trading route to become the epicenter of national and international banking trade. The city center radiates from the intersection of Trade and Tryon, with Tryon serving as the main business districts during weekdays and the essential promenade on weekend. Along this main conduit we experience a sense of southern charm, the many plazas and pocket parks along Tryon recalls the idyllic picture of the cozy southern neighborhood lined with hospitable front porches.
Unfortunately, the underperforming public places dishonor the pulchritude of the urban environment. Relatively low residential density and lack of retail store on Main Street makes this a photo-op backdrop of an urban setting with very little cosmopolitan spirit.

Marshall Park

Is a perpetual empty space in the city’s Second Ward; the saving grace for this urban park is its role as a glorified aviary, Canadian Geese have marked this as their territory as evidence in the attached imeage.