While in Brooklyn a few weeks ago, I came across a small city park that I had never heard of in Greenpoint, which was surprising considering its' loveliness,
Monsignor McGorlick Park.
Opened in 1891, the park gained beautiful structures and monuments throughout its' history which attracted my eye.
Designed in 1910 by the architectural firm
Helmle, Huberty and Hudswell who built many impressive structures in Brooklyn, the main building housed M and W bathrooms seperated by a covered curved colonnade.
The beautiful neo-classical detailing of the structure isn't surprising as Helmle received his training at the well known architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White.
The yellow brick and limestone facade also features a beautiful segmented beadboard ceiling with trimwork picked out with yellow paint.
I just think this is such a lovely building, don't you? I wonder what the original light fixtures were (the junction boxes are still in the ceiling)
Located inside the crescent shaped building is a WWI memorial created by noted sculptor Carl Augustus Herber in 1923.
In her left hand Winged Victory holds a laurel for victory and a palm frond for peace in the other.
While I was drawn in by the architecture, I believe the locals simply appreciate the open space and lush green!
McGorlick Park is located between Driggs and Nassau Avenues & Russell and Monitor streets in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. 
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I spent this past long holiday weekend in lovely Philadelphia and while there visited the Rodin Museum.
Designed in 1929 by one of my favorite architects, Paul Cret (Here and Here), the museum and garden were built to house the largest collection of Rodin's work outside of Paris, collected by Jules Mastbaum.
Located right on Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the heart of Philly's City Beautiful movement area, this beaux arts neo-classical styled building graces a lovely green plot and garners quite a lot of attention with Rodin's famous "The Thinker" standing guard!
A replica of the ruined facade of the old Chateau D'Issy graces the front of the garden, providing a gateway into the museum. Rodin had installed the chateau's facade in his own garden in Meudon, France.
Inside the courtyard, gravel paving, fragrant lavendar and shade trees seperate you from the busy parkway outside. 
Shallow steps gracefully bring you up to the recessed entry through Doric columns.
While no longer the main entrance to the museum, Rodin's "Gates of Hell" -originally designed for the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris - still stand outside despite being his most important work of art. 
Rodin worked on this doorway, which incorporates more than 100 separate figures, from 1880 until his death in 1917.
The movement in this piece was really incredible and lifelike.
One of his most famous sculptures was actually a study for this gateway, The Thinker (1880-1882).
Cret included a number of his own sculpted designs such as these bronze lion heads on the entry doors flanking Rodin's gates. 
This was a period in Cret's career where he was transitioning from the Neoclassical design favored by the Beaux Arts into a more streamlined, Art deco style seen in these light fixtures below.
No one did it like Cret in my opinion! Following a discussion with a friend, no great building has a forgotten 'back side'. For example, above is the 'back' of the Rodin museum; better than most front facades, wouldn't you say?
The Rodin museum is currently at the end of an intensive restoration but will be open to the public in the spring of 2012. Until then, the gardens are still open for viewing. 
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artists,
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travel
While in NY this past weekend, I had to run an errand with friends at a Toys R Us and had a pleasant surprise; famous NY buildings in minature built of my favorite childhood toy, legos!
The beloved Chrysler Building was also included.
Even King Kong wasn't forgotten on the top of the Empire State Building!
If you're in NY and find yourself near Times Square (AKA tourist h*ll), stop in Toys R Us at 1514 Broadway to see the sites (or at least stop by candyland for some treats!)
