The exact date when the building housing the St. Regis Hotel and Tavern was built is unknown. What is known is the building has been a combination hotel and tavern since 1883. The present name, St. Regis, goes back 91 years to 1931.
Sadly, a business that survived the Great Depression could not beat COVID. The St. Regis closed two years ago in mid March 2020. From the looks of it today, it seems rather doubtful that it will ever reopen.
When I was a boy, planters for the home were often quite plain, simple fired red clay, or outrageously fancy—decorated with scenes of Jason seeking the golden fleece. Today, many planters are a source of whimsey. The planters at our local garden centre encourage smiles and not discussions of the Greek classics.
Garden centres need more than just a good selection of plants to attract customers. Featuring something to delight the children is always a good way to get the kids in the family on side. The unicorn tapiary at the entrance to the garden centre in the northwest part of London does an admirable job of pleasing the children and most everyone else for that matter.
It's called metal garden art but it isn't art. It is craft. And this is the time these durable garden ornaments begin appearing on neighbourhood lawns and gardens. Some are new but many are simply reappearing after winter storage.
These metal pieces are often made offshore in place like China, India or Bangladesh but sometimes they are locally made. Wherever these are made they are cranked out in vast numbers. It is not unusual to come across the same piece in three, four or more garden centres.
Still, people love 'em. I'm embarrassed to admit it but the cat pictured above almost found a home on my lawn.
The proscenium arch in front of the stage at the Grand Theatre is one of the highlights of the heritage theatre.
East London is in a word—sad. Yet, as an architect recently remarked on viewing the once vibrant core street, some of the buildings clearly have good bones. With work, and a bit of money, these buildings could be revived. These could be handsome structures once again.
