Round Museum

The story of the Dowager Empress crystal sphere has been as circuitous as it is mysterious. This pure quartz crystal dates from the Qing Dynasty in late 19th century China, and is supposedly a treasure of the Empress Dowager Cixi, though there is no evidence connecting it to her. The impressive 25.4 cm diameter and 50 pound weight was shaped through years of constant turning in abrasive powder and water, but it's not clear who made it and when.

Walking the carriage-ways winding through the green oasis of The Woodlands in West Philadelphia, you will come across many elaborate and highly individualized Victorian funerary monuments. This floral ironwork covers an exterior wall with crackly, weathered ornamentation. William Hamilton built the estate on land he inherited in the late 1700s, and in 1840 it was transformed into a cemetery that is still active today. The 54-acre site was named a National Historic Landmark in 2006.

The Woodlands
Philadelphia, PA

02.16.21

Heads? When this quarter lands heads side up, old George Washington stares off to the left in his wig. Today is his day, so he can do whatever he wants. "Washington's Birthday" is a federal holiday originally established in 1879 to honor his birthday on February 22nd. Over the years the government moved it to be the third Monday of February and advertisers have broadened the interpretation to become colloquially known as "President's Day" since it floats somewhere between Abraham Lincoln's on February 12th. Tails?

02.15.21

In a crumbly, flaky shell, a generous dollop of lemon curd and a blackberry comes together in a sweet and tarty marriage. You can't eat just one...

02.13.21

Five bright, golden orbs bring health, beauty and energy to any bowl. Oranges are considered a symbol of good fortune in many cultures. In mandarin, the word sounds similar to the word “wealth” and it is believed that the presence (and not just the consumption) of citrus fruits can ward off bad luck. But for full feng shui effect, you'll need four more in the bowl. Nine is the lucky number.

02.12.21

Grown in tropical paradises like Costa Rica, Brazil and Hawaii, pollinated by hummingbirds and bats, and formed by an inflorescence of up to 200 spirally arranged flowers, the pineapple is a fruity hand grenade full of juicy, yellow, delicious, Fibonacci helixes. Have it for breakfast with whipped cream or put it on a pizza. Very versatile. On the upside down side, here's where the fruit meets the stem.

02.11.21

In the equation of our current pandemic world, being safe in interior spaces requires a filtration system or two for the air you inhabit.

02.10.21

A gose is a warm fermented style of beer originating from Goslar, Germany, and typically using malted wheat and salty water. Craft breweries have modified the recipe in a variety of ways to achieve citrusy sourness, herbal overtones, or in the case of this Bowie Blitz at the Attic Brewing Company in Philadelphia, a tart fruity blackberry with a bright magenta color.

02.09.21

A feathery February snowfall transforms patio furniture into fondant covered wedding cakes, and planters into snow cones. The only thing missing from this ice cold treat is a generous coating of blue raspberry syrup. The crunch inside is a little suspicious, though. That is ice, idn't?

02.08.21

A proper grilled cheese is a work of art. First, you must aggressively butter the bread. And the pan, too. Stack the bread with an array of cheeses -- white and yellow cheddar, Gruyère and Parmesan. Add a tomato, bacon, or spinach, if you want, though technically that would make it a "melt". Sneak a peek underneath and check the bread color before flipping. The perfect moment of crispy golden brown doneness can come quickly. And, oh yeah.... add more butter.

02.07.21