Essays
Voting
Occasionally people have told me some variation on “What difference does my vote make?” My response is simple. “You vote because you matter. It’s existential.” I think each gesture matters
Some Hope
I could not watch the Trump/Biden debate. The sound of Trump’s voice makes me ill. I was concerned that Biden would fumble. I didn’t need to see this non-debate live.
Sunday
Much of the last few weeks has been spent in bed with the shades down and the sheets up. For over a year, a war of aggression in Ukraine has
House Narratives: One Edgecroft
Growing up, I saw only a few houses that really impacted me. Some were in magazines. Some were real. One small house–One Edgecroft Road–was both. The kitchen and deck renovation
Happy New Year 2023
Happy New Year. I started to gather miscellaneous items for my Best of 2022, but in the end I didn’t pull it together. I have been sad. Not so depressed
Conversations in Tucson
When I first started working at Whisler-Patri Architects in the early 1980s, AI stood for Atelier International.
Monterey Design Conference: The Non-Round-Up
For years, I would attend the AIACC Monterey Design Conference at Asilomar and write a round-up of what I saw and heard.
Leslie Allen Jordan (1955-2022)
I don’t follow celebrity culture very much. We stream British mysteries and police procedurals, not rom coms or sit coms. But Lesle Allen Jordan reached through my computer screen and
January 20, 2021
I was so hopeful at the beginning of the year. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff won the Senate seats in Georgia. A committed leader, Stacey Abrams, had led the charge
Best of 2020
Given how awful 2020 was, it may seem kind of absurd to post a “best of” list. But it’s another way to stay hopeful. Best Stamps The Ruth Asawa stamps
Christmas Tree
In twenty years together, we have only had a few Christmas trees. In the beginning of our relationship I would ask Paul if we should get a tree. He would
Champagne for Everyone!
After a few hours of listening to car horns and trawling the internet, I had to lie down. Saturday was the day for celebrating. “Champagne for everyone!” Bubbles DeVere used
A Note on Buildings and BLM
Most of us who work in the architectural community are motivated by beauty and the idea of good works. And most of us are white. Indeed, only two percent of
Honesty’s Black Hole: A lifetime of watching presidential elections
How did we get to the point of expecting that every single thing the president of the United States utters is a lie? Growing up as a privileged white male,
Hope
Dear Friends. We are not posting any articles this week. Some designers are working hard to help people prepare for returning to the workplace. Some architects are working hard to
Remembering Connie
This is a slightly edited version of my comments at the Celebration of Life service for my sister Connie Caldwell held on December 29, 2019 As I stand here
Constance J. Caldwell, MD: July 9, 1956 – November 19, 2019
My sister, Constance Jeanne Caldwell, M.D., passed away at Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center on November 19, 2019 surrounded by her loving family. Connie was an immensely generous and
All the Stories: John van Duyl 1951–2019
The first time John van Duyl picked me up for lunch, he was driving a recent model Mercedes. He probably took me to Chez Panisse. I thought, “This PR business
Best of 2018
This year’s list skews toward London because we spent the summer there. Best Protest The anti-Trump protest in London. Best Restaurant in London NOPI. Thank you Patty Motzkin
Election Night Notes
I have tried to write about Trump countless times over the past two years. A few days ago, I read a fine essay by SF writer Rebecca Solnit in the
Now SF Means Salesforce
What does Salesforce actually make? A quick search says “Customer Relationship Management” and “Cloud Computing.” Their logo is a cloud. That’s how we sell large numbers of widgets now—through a
Graduating
I almost skipped my high school graduation. There didn’t seem to be any point. During my four years, I got into the novels of James Joyce, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and
The Tiny Tent Town Next Door
After the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, many people moved into tents in Golden Gate Park. Much housing was uninhabitable, and open areas were a safe alternative. Today, people are
Confusing the Barrises: Early Queer Sensibilities from 1960 and 1970s TV
Last year, I noticed that game show producer and host Chuck Barris died. Hardly anybody knows who he was. Of course, I didn’t know him personally, and I don’t think
Best of 2017
At a global level this is one of the worst years on record. The amount of human suffering intensified during Donald Trump’s presidency. It might be the end of the
October 2, 2017 – Las Vegas Prayer
I do not want to leave our apartment this morning. When something goes wrong in the world, I want to be next to Paul in our skynest with the shades