The largest monument to a writer in the world, the Scott Monument commemorates Sir Walter Scott, an Edinburgh-born writer famous for his historical novels.
History
Friday photo: Fusiliers’ Arch, St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin (Ireland)
Funded by public subscription and erected in 1907, the Fusiliers’ Arch was dedicated to the officers, non-commissioned officers and enlisted men of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers who fought and died in the Second Boer War (1899-1902).
Friday Photo: Poulnabrone Dolmen, Co. Clare, Ireland
A portal tomb in the Burren in Co. Clare, from between 4,200-2,900 B.C.. For more info click here and if you really want to see it in person I highly recommend taking a bus tour from Galway – Galway Tour Company do a nice one.
Architectural trivia: Albany, NY – Fort Frederick Apartments
Behind a (probably half-empty, I’m guessing) office building on Swan Street in downtown Albany NY is the apartment building that is the subject of one of my favorite “wait, what?” stories in the area. The Fort Frederick apartments were completed in 1917 at the corner of Swan Street and Washington Avenue. In the mid-1920s, when it was determined that a building needed to be built to house New York state government offices that were scattered around the city, the powers that be decided that location conveniently across from the Capitol building would be ideal for a brand-new skyscraper, now known as the Alfred E. Smith building (on the National Register of Historic Places, that building is an interesting Art Deco structure itself). So they did what any reasonable person might immediately think to do: they moved it a block away. According to Albany Architecture: A Guide to the City (ed. Diana S. White, pub. 1993, Mount Ida Press), “J.W. and J.P. Eichleay of Pittsburgh jacked the eight-story structure up two feet and placed it on several hundred steel rollers laid on railroad tracks. It was then gently propelled 350 feet south by two teams of horses and two winches at a rate of seventy feet a day.”. And they didn’t even break a single pane of glass.
Amazing.
The annual Edinburgh-in-August recommendations #edfringe #edbookfest
Even though I haven’t been able to make it to Edinburgh in August in a couple of years now, I just can’t resist perusing the program listings for the Edinburgh Fringe and the Edinburgh International Book Festival and picking out the shows that I would get to if I was going to be in Edinburgh this summer- so, the annual Edinburgh recommendations post is too tempting for me to skip. It being the opening weekend of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, I have to say one thing: even if you don’t get to any of the shows on the schedule, get down to Charlotte Square and hang out in the bookstore. Get a cup of coffee, sit at one of the tables and watch the crowds, and just breathe in the atmosphere. It’s magic.
If you can get to the Book Festival, I personally would check out at least one or two of the following:
Christopher Brookmyre, or Chris Brookmyre, Scottish novelist and creator of the Jack Parlabane novels including “Quite Ugly One Morning”, which won Critics’ First Blood Award for Best First Crime Novel of the Year in 1996, will be speaking on the topic “Does Feminism Have a Dark Side?” on August 21st: https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival/whats-on/chris-brookmyre-1
Thursday August 25th, Louis de Bernières will be speaking about and reading from his second collection of poetry: https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival/whats-on/louis-de-bernieres-2
This Wednesday, August 17th, Daniel Hahn, Charlotte Collins and Deborah Smith will be talking about the key role of translation in bringing international fiction to an English speaking audience https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival/whats-on/charlotte-collins-daniel-hahn-deborah-smith
On August 25th, Irish novelist Cecelia Ahern (best known for her novel P.S. I Love You) and YA novelist Teri Terry will be discussing and challenging our preconceptions of right and wrong, and good and evil: https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival/whats-on/cecelia-ahern-teri-terry-judgement
Be sure to check back with the box office for tickets to see Ian Rankin or Alexander McCall Smith (both currently sold out)- they would be amazing to be at.
I never get to the Edinburgh International Festival itself, but the Edinburgh Fringe is hard to resist.
My first recommendation for the Fringe has to be EPIC BEARD MEN, a.k.a. Sage Francis and B. Dolan, over from Rhode Island for the month to do 20 spoken word shows “Strange Speech, Famous Development” at the Stand. Even if you’re not sure about “spoken word”, believe me – these shows will be fun.
David O’Doherty, purveyor of whimsy with tiny keyboards, will be back at the Fringe (in addition to his event at the Book Festival) with his show “David O’Doherty: Big Time”. Always guaranteed a good laugh and a warm feeling about the world in general (a pretty tall order these days).
Josie Long is a similarly wonderful comedian who I tried never to miss- and she’s doing two shows this year: her “Josie Long: Work in Progress” and “Josie Long and Martin Williams: Investigations”. Both shows run August 16-28.
“Work in Progress” is a popular title this year, as it’s also the title of ever-popular Stephen K. Amos‘s solo show. Always an hour of top-notch comedy sure to make your stomach hurt from laughing. His “Talk Show” is also sure to be well worth the meagre ticket price.
A Dublin friend once called me from Australia to let me know that Andrew Maxwell was in town and planning to do a set in a local (Dublin) comedy club that night so I wouldn’t miss it- that’s how much fun a Maxwell set can be. He’s doing shows in Edinburgh from August 18th through the 28th in the Assembly George Square Theatre- don’t miss it.
Shappi Khorsandi is “celebrating her fortieth year in Britain with a love letter to her adopted land” in the form of her show, “Oh My Country! From Morris Dancing to Morrissey”. Guaranteed to be a good laugh. Continue reading
Brownshill Dolmen, Co. Carlow
previously posted on aroundireland.wordpress.com
This is probably one of the more surprisingly under-visited sites in Ireland. A portal tomb or dolmen dating back to between 4,000 and 3,000 B.C., it has what is believed to be the largest capstone in Europe weighing over one hundred tonnes. Even though it’s as old as Stonehenge, there aren’t the crowds visiting it that throng to Stonehenge- and at Brownshill, you can actually walk over and touch the stones. It’s likely that religious rites and possibly a burial occurred at the Brownshill Dolmen, but as it’s never been excavated little information exists about the history and usage of the site. Situated on a small hill about 3km outside Carlow town on the Hacketstown Road (technically the R726, though no one will know it by the number) on the right-hand side if travelling from Carlow town, it’s well worth a visit.
Time on the water in Boston- Georges Island, in Boston Harbor National Recreational Area
The ferry to Georges Island, one of the thirty-plus Boston Harbor islands, only takes about 45 minutes from Long Wharf, but it could easily be a world away. The ferry itself is a treat- as you watch the skyline of Boston recede, the sea breeze will give you respite from the summer’s heat. As you look out across the harbor, you’ll see the other harbor islands dotting the horizon, and each of them has their own unique and interesting story. You’ll pass Castle Island, which has been the site of a fortification since 1634, and Logan Airport on the opposite side of the harbor. You’ll also pass Spectacle Island, which has been used for a variety of purposes over the years, and currently boasts beautiful walking trails (with spectacular views of the city), picnicking areas, swimming facilities and a weekly clambake on Thursday evenings during the summer. Georges Island hosts Wednesday evening barbecues during the summer months. Continue reading
