32 Comments
May 23Liked by Rob Stephenson

The star of this week’s issue: Jacques Marchais’s husband. We need more people like this!

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author

Harry Klauber was a real mensch! We could use some more Ed Burdges while we're at it.

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May 24Liked by Rob Stephenson

I’ll add Gavin Webster too. Sensual lighthouse works for me😄👍

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May 23Liked by Rob Stephenson

Okay, you win. You got me to google “frunk.”

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author

I was surprised to learn that wankpanzers have frunks.

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May 23Liked by Rob Stephenson

The second star of this issue is the total lack of explanation for the sculpture park photo.

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author

Still looking into that one.

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May 24Liked by Rob Stephenson

Love his answer. That should stop all those prying questions.

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I can't believe Frank Lloyd Wright designed an automobile dealership's showroom!

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author

I had no idea either! It was kind of a precursor to the Guggenheim too with a turntable for the cars that spiraled up.

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May 23Liked by Rob Stephenson

OK Rob, you got me....I've upgraded to paid.

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author

It worked! So nice of you Laurie, thanks!

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oh Rob what a treat, familiar with the Lighthouse, have passed the Frank Lloyd Wright house countless times, have been to the Tibetan Museum.

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author

I imagine you are one of the few! At least who read this newsletter! Hope I did the neighborhood justice.

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May 23Liked by Rob Stephenson

Wait. Gong incident? I'm gonna need to hear about that.

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author

What happens in sound bath, stays in sound bath.

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May 31Liked by Rob Stephenson

The portrait of Jacques is magestic!

One wouldn't expect an elegant woman like that to be the soul of the museum. I was imagine someone of asian descent in humble demeanour. But this is much better and a lot more interesting.

I was laughing at the detailed description of the 'path' to the temple.

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It is an incredible portrait! Life magazine back then had the best photographers though sadly I couldn't figure out who took that one.

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founding
May 28Liked by Rob Stephenson

Lots of great comments already covering many of the things I noted. We've been to the sites of many lighthouses and visited many Wright houses so it was fun to learn about one of each we haven't seen. Great post!

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Thanks Katie! It's a real kill three birds with one stone neighborhood. I've never actually been in a FLW. Would love to visit Fallingwater soon

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founding
Jun 1Liked by Rob Stephenson

Hope you do get to visit Fallingwater. And if you ever venture way over to the other side of NY, check out the Martin House and Graycliff on Lake Erie. Buffalo has lots of interesting architecture...and great beef on weck with truly hot horseradish if you're lucky. 😋

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How many times is a perfectly good walk in the woods ruined by the sight of a dumped baby grand? Now, I’m off to google ‘frunk’.

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author

A frunk would actually be the perfect place to store a baby grand.

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May 24Liked by Rob Stephenson

Another fascinating adventure in geography, enriching and educational, with time travel and good humour.

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author

An inspiring neighborhood, thanks Renato!

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May 24Liked by Rob Stephenson

Love the pictures, the neighborhood looks so tranquil, and like it’s transplanted from another time. Thank you again for the many many trees, always love your trees 🥰

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author

Im glad you love them because I have a ton!

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Jun 14·edited Jun 14

A big chunk of Lighthouse Hill and the surrounding woods would have been destroyed if Robert Moses had his way. He wanted to build a huge expressway interchange right in the middle of those woods linking the Willowbrook Parkway and Richmond Parkway with the Staten Island Expressway a few miles north. Luckily, the residents of Lighthouse Hill and nearby neighborhoods fought Moses and actually won, a rarity at the time. On the Wall Street Journal map above, the Willowbrook Parkway extension is labeled as such, but it was never actually built and is now preserved woodland.

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Thank you for yet another fun, interesting, and I must say enlightening adventure in Lighthouse Hill. Love all the stories in this piece! Was wondering where a leprechaun fit in and there, almost at the bottom scrolling down, is the answer!

You have the patience of Buddha himself to drive up the museum, then drive down, and walk all the way up again. I bow and bid you Amituofo, which means boundless Buddha. (That is an actual greeting/benediction, I googled it, haha) Any chance your spirit found and mated with the divine soul during the sound bath?😆 Sorry couldn’t resist, and apologies to the Dalai Lama the 14th.

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My spirit was close to mating until the gong incident...Amazing that the Dalai Lama actually visited the museum!

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Yeah, heard the gong dropping was really scary😅

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