Monastery at Large

From the Notebook

  • Fall in the Mountains

    A foggy fall morning at Cades Cove, Tennessee
    A foggy fall morning at Cades Cove, Tennessee
    Fall color on the Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
    Fall color on the Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
    A foggy fall morning at Cades Cove, Tennessee
    A foggy fall morning at Cades Cove, Tennessee
    Early fall color on the Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
    Early fall color on the Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
    Looking northeast on Judaculla Road, Cullowhee, North Carolina
    Looking northeast on Judaculla Road, Cullowhee, North Carolina
    Taking a picture of the fall color on the Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
    Taking a picture of the fall color on the Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
    A foggy fall morning at Cades Cove, Tennessee
    A foggy fall morning at Cades Cove, Tennessee
    Post-peak color on the Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
    Post-peak color on the Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
    Colorful trees outside Gatlinburg, Tennessee
    Colorful trees outside Gatlinburg, Tennessee
    Fall color on Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina
    Fall color on Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina
    Looking at the mountains outside Gatlinburg, Tennessee
    Looking at the mountains outside Gatlinburg, Tennessee
    A small waterfall outside Gatlinburg, Tennessee
    A small waterfall outside Gatlinburg, Tennessee
    Looking at Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina
    Looking at Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina

  • Postcards from the South: Regency Square Mall, Jacksonville, Florida

    Postcard view of Regency Square Mall, Jacksonville, Florida

    The postcard pictured here depicts the interior of the Regency Square Mall in Jacksonville, Florida, designed by Joseph Amisano of Toombs, Amisano & Wells of Atlanta.1 2

    Regency Square opened in March 1967 as “the Southeast’s largest enclosed mall-type shopping center,”3 surpassing Atlanta’s Greenbriar Mall,4 which opened in 1965.5

    Location of Regency Square Mall

    I generally admire Amisano’s work, but judging from this photograph, the mall’s interior was hideous, even for the 1960s: dull brick, drab tile flooring, and a color scheme evocative of urine.

    If you look closely, you can see the mall’s centerpiece: an “inverted fountain” that was touted as “novel” when the center opened.6 I’ll take their word for it.

    I’m more interested in the well-tailored bitch glaring icily at the photographer. If looks could kill, darlin’.

    This undated postcard was published by the Duval News Company of Jacksonville, and included the following description on the back:

    THE AIR-CONDITIONED MALL
    REGENCY SQUARE SHOPPING CENTER
    JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA

    Amisano was undoubtedly hired to design Regency Square because of his work on Lenox Square in Atlanta, which was touted as the largest shopping center in the Southeast at its opening,7 a title it still claimed in 1966,8 although it wasn’t enclosed until 1973.9

    Lenox still survives—and thrives—as an Atlanta retail institution, but Regency Square hasn’t fared so well in Jacksonville. After years of steady decline, demolition of the mall began in September 2026.10 11

    Another mall bites the dust.

    References

    1. Erxleben, Al. “Huge $12 Million Shopping Mall Slated on Arlington Expressway”. The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville, Florida), August 17, 1965, p. 1. ↩︎
    2. “Shopping Mall Ceremony Set”. Jacksonville Journal (Jacksonville, Florida), January 4, 1966, p. 15. ↩︎
    3. “Regency Square At a Glance”. The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville, Florida), March 1, 1967, p. R-29. ↩︎
    4. “Carillon Bells to Toll Holiday Season”. The Atlanta Constitution, November 23, 1966, p. 19. ↩︎
    5. The Atlanta Constitution, September 23, 1965, Greenbriar Section G. ↩︎
    6. “All Roads Lead To Regency Square…” The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville, Florida), March 1, 1967, p. R-2. ↩︎
    7. Moore, Charles. “Lenox Square–City Within City”. The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution, August 2, 1959, p. 1-C. ↩︎
    8. Wells, Frank. “Atlanta Speaks—U.S. Listens”. The Atlanta Constitution, November 14, 1966, p. 8. ↩︎
    9. The Atlanta Journal, January 17, 1973, Lenox Square Section ↩︎
    10. Regency Square Mall demolition erases 60 years of shopping – jacksonville.com | The Florida Times-Union ↩︎
    11. Demolition begins on Regency Square Mall | Jacksonville Today ↩︎

  • Carpenters’ Hall (1773) – Philadelphia

    Robert Smith. Carpenters' Hall (1773). Center City, Philadelphia.
    Robert Smith. Carpenters’ Hall (1773). Center City, Philadelphia.1 2
    Second-floor windows and false balustrade on the facade of Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia
    Second-floor windows and false balustrade on the facade of Carpenters’ Hall, Philadelphia
    Cornice, eaves, and second-floor window on the facade of Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia
    Cornice, eaves, and second-floor window on the facade of Carpenters’ Hall, Philadelphia
    Doric columns and fanlight on the entrance of Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia
    Doric columns and fanlight on the entrance of Carpenters’ Hall, Philadelphia
    Cupola and weathervane on Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia
    Cupola and weathervane on Carpenters’ Hall, Philadelphia
    Second-floor window, stringcourses, and false balustrade on the facade of Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia
    Second-floor window, stringcourses, and false balustrade on the facade of Carpenters’ Hall, Philadelphia
    Shuttered first-floor window on Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia
    Shuttered first-floor window on Carpenters’ Hall, Philadelphia
    Second-floor window and false balustrade on the facade of Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia
    Second-floor window and false balustrade on the facade of Carpenters’ Hall, Philadelphia
    Greek fret cornice, cupola roof, and weathervane on Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia
    Greek fret cornice, cupola roof, and weathervane on Carpenters’ Hall, Philadelphia

    References

    1. The Pennsylvania Journal and the Weekly Advertiser (Philadelphia), April 7, 1773, p. 3. ↩︎
    2. National Register of Historic Places – Nomination Form: Carpenters’ Hall ↩︎

  • Fear

    You delight in fear
    And place your full trust in it.

    You feed on fear daily,
    Enchanted under its dark spell.

    You’re thrilled with fear’s ease:
    It dictates your choices for you.

    Fear comforts and nurtures you—
    It shrinks your world to a manageable size.

    You love that fear quenches your light:
    God knows, you’re too cowardly to shine.

    You’ve yielded to fear’s constriction
    And it has made you passive and weak.

    Fear now consumes and smothers you:
    It has rendered you stupid and boring.

    You’ve abandoned your soul to fear;
    Cloaked yourself in its claustrophobic snare.

    It’s made you small and inconsequential.
    What a fucking waste of life.

  • Henry B. Tompkins Residence (1922) – Atlanta

    Neel Reid of Hentz, Reid & Adler. Henry B. Tompkins Residence (1922). Peachtree Heights West, Buckhead, Atlanta.1

    References

    1. Sibley, Celestine. “The Elegant World of Neel Reid”. The Atlanta Journal and Constitution Magazine, October 14, 1973, pp. 23-24. ↩︎

  • Piedmont Natives: River oats

    River oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)
    River oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)

    River oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) are one of my favorite plants that grow throughout the Piedmont region, and it’s a sure sign of autumn’s arrival when their seed heads begin turning brown.

    The seeds typically drop by late November, and rain disperses them throughout the winter months, ensuring that bright, new clumps will appear in early spring.

    River oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)
    River oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)

    River oats prefer at least some shade and are often found in low, moist areas, but they’re tough little bastards that thrive practically anywhere—even in harsh urban conditions.

    On my first visit to Philadelphia, I was happy to see them growing in abundance along the sidewalks. This is where I’m supposed to be, I remember thinking. Nature shows the way.

    River oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)
    River oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)

  • Atlantic Yards (2021) – Atlanta

    Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture with Wakefield Beasley Associates. Atlantic Yards. Atlantic Station, Atlanta.
    Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture with Wakefield Beasley Associates. Atlantic Yards (2021). Atlantic Station, Atlanta.1 2 3
    Looking at Atlantic Yards from the east
    Looking at Atlantic Yards from the east
    Looking at Atlantic Yards from the northeast
    Looking at Atlantic Yards from the northeast
    Looking at Atlantic Yards from the southwest
    Looking at Atlantic Yards from the southwest
    Windows and spandrels on the northwest corner of Atlantic Yards, Atlanta
    Windows and spandrels on the northwest corner of Atlantic Yards, Atlanta
    Looking at windows and spandrels on the west elevation of Atlantic Yards, Atlanta
    Looking at windows and spandrels on the west elevation of Atlantic Yards, Atlanta

    References

    1. Trubey, J. Scott. “2 projects planned for Atlantic Station”. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, May 31, 2017, p. A11. ↩︎
    2. Atlantic Yards – Hines ↩︎
    3. Atlantic Yards – Graham Architectural Products ↩︎

  • Invisible Light

    The moment is delicious.

    That thought came to me this morning,
    Delivered, as are all messages from beyond,
    With a tiny prick of light.

    And that is what we each of us is,
    At our core—
    A small speck of luminance.

    No need to overthink it.

    Still, we insist on identifying with our bodies—
    The heavy costumes loaned to us
    For this brief, silly play.

    We weigh our wardrobes down with
    Stupid little stories
    And gibberish beliefs:

    A childish trick to bury our light.

    Yet we are all pinpoints linked to each other
    On a grid we cannot see,
    Much less fathom.

    Those who transmit their light
    Are few and precious—
    And very often despised for it.

    But only they receive the message of the moment.

  • Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry (1906) – Atlanta

    W.F. Denny and Eugene C. Wachendorff. Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry (1906). Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta.
    Willis F. Denny and Eugene C. Wachendorff. Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry (1906). Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta.1 2
    Pilasters and second-floor arch windows on the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, Atlanta
    Pilasters and second-floor arch windows on the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, Atlanta
    Pediment on the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, Atlanta
    Pediment on the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, Atlanta
    Pediment ornamentation on the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, Atlanta
    Pediment ornamentation on the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, Atlanta
    East elevation of the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, Atlanta
    East elevation of the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, Atlanta
    Entrance of the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, Atlanta
    Entrance of the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, Atlanta
    Spandrels, terracotta dripstones, and first-floor windows on the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, Atlanta
    Spandrels, terracotta dripstones, and first-floor windows on the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, Atlanta
    Terracotta dripstone over a first-floor window on the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, Atlanta
    Terracotta keystone on the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, Atlanta
    Terracotta keystone on the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, Atlanta
    Cornerstone on the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, Atlanta
    Cornerstone on the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, Atlanta
    Terracotta ornamentation on the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, Atlanta
    Terracotta ornamentation on the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry, Atlanta

    References

    1. “Will Dedicate The Lyman Hall Laboratory Of Chemistry At Tech”. The Atlanta Journal, November 10, 1905, p. 1. ↩︎
    2. “New Laboratory Ready At Tech”. The Atlanta Constitution, September 9, 1906, p. 5. ↩︎

  • Chas (1972) – Norcross, Georgia

    Dan Jackson. Chas (1972). 4600 Buford Highway, Norcross, Georgia.
    Dan Jackson. Chas (1972). 4600 Buford Highway, Norcross, Georgia.1

    This friendly fella’s name is Chas, and he’s been greeting drivers north of Norcross, Georgia for over 50 years.

    Chas is made of welded iron and was designed by Dan Jackson, who was commissioned to create the sculpture circa 1972 by the owner of R&R Auto Parts,2 later succeeded by GO Pull-It.

    Location of Chas

    Chas was apparently named for Charles Newport, an employee of R&R Auto Parts from 1969 to 1977, although the figure was reportedly modeled after Newport’s brother.3

    Sounds like bullshit, but it makes for a cute yarn.

    When the nearby Buford Highway was widened to four lanes, Chas moved from the ground to the top of the sign,4 where I first met him in October 2024, following a rather muted repaint.

    Chas’ face was originally white, his tongue was red, and his eyes were blue, but that’s too much color for these dreary times, I guess.

    References

    1. Carter, Rochelle. “Like Cobb’s Big Chicken, Chas statue’s a landmark”. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, August 19, 1997, p. J1. ↩︎
    2. Ibid. ↩︎
    3. Ibid. ↩︎
    4. Ibid. ↩︎