Old Nassau

I think I've shown Nassau Hall in almost every season except winter (most recent glimpse was autumn). This was the last of a late afternoon photo-walk. The sun was already fading.

Enjoy your weekend. I'll be taking a break because of work travel and visitors. Be well, see you soon!

Late afternoon III

Hurrying from yesterday's traffic, you'll soon see another dormitory at the edge of the university. Our tiny train (the 'Dinky') once stopped right out front (causing great disturbance to the students!).

Late afternoon II

Rush hour in Princeton (all those cars are headed into town) is brief but intense. That's Holder Tower, modeled after Canterbury Cathedral in Kent UK, and part of Princeton's burst of dormitory construction in 1909 - continuing into the First World War - for a growing student population.

Late afternoon

Henry Moore's Oval with Points (inspired by an elephant skull) glows in the sun. Just before I left for Cambridge, Massachusetts, I caught a few sunny afternoon moments. I'm glad I did as it's been rather grey since.

Weekend explorations: Pedal power

On the streets of Philadelphia... the pedal-powered pubcrawler. Imbibe, work out, and see the sights! Designated drivers (in St. Patrick's Day green) included.

Postcard from Cambridge, Mass.: A tiny tour II

Through the looking glass at Harvard's Science Center. Just a few blocks beyond are (below) the blue plaques of Irving Street, marking the home of psychologist William James (#95) and birthplace of poet e e cummings (across the street). A few doors over is the grey home of American culinary icon Julia Child, who lived and worked for 40 years at #103, broadcasting her shows from its kitchen (now housed at a Smithsonian Museum). Enjoy your weekend!

Postcard from Cambridge, Mass.: A tiny tour

Fun sights: Meerschaums at 127-year-old tobacco shop, Leavitt & Peirce. Below (clockwise from top left), sign for the most expensive sandwich in Harvard Square - $100 caviar "Catherine the Great" (sold here), mini ice rink, thoughtful public bike repair stand, free street corner 'library', and a lovely independent used bookseller (dying breed).

Postcard from Cambridge, Mass.: Whispering arches

Of Sever Hall, Harvard Yard (next to yesterday's library). If you whisper directly into the bricks on one side of the arched doorway, you can hear it on the other side of the arch, 12 feet away.

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Fun Sever story: Writer Gertrude Stein once took a class from psychologist William James (Henry's brother) and during a final exam in Sever, wrote in her exam book: "Dear Professor James, I am so sorry but really I do not feel like an examination paper in philosophy today.” She received a response the next day: “Dear Miss Stein, I understand perfectly how you feel. I often feel like that myself.” James gave her the highest mark in the class.

Postcard from Cambridge, Mass.: Widener Library

Harvard Yard: Walk through yesterday's photo and say hello to 'the mothership' of Harvard's enormous library system, named after a student who died on the Titanic. There's a Gutenberg Bible in there + 57 miles of bookshelves so labyrinthine you could put a minotaur in the middle and no one would notice.

Postcard from Cambridge, Mass.: Enter to grow in wisdom

On a winter's day last week: One of many gates leading into Harvard Yard (where a few years back, one professor exercised his 200-year-old right to graze cows). The arched walkway runs under a freshman dormitory, Wigglesworth, once home to Leonard Bernstein and other famed former students.