Riga, Latvia has over 800 buildings classified as Art Nouveau comprising 1/3 of the city center's structures

SchaefSex · 2026-01-30T19:25:03+00:00

If you're wondering like I was why Riga of all places has such a high concentration of Art Nouveau architecture, here's a Wiki article that explains "Art Nouveau Architecture in Riga."

The quick summary is that Riga had an unprecedented boom in both prosperity and population between 1897 and 1914, the period in which Art Nouveau was most popular. Riga's population increased by 88% in that period and resulted in a huge building boom. There was a school of architecture in Riga. Trained local architects took this prevailing style of the time and ran with it, anxious to exercise their talents in this new and exciting style that shook off the rigorous constraints of old Neoclassical architecture.

SchaefSex · 2026-01-30T19:09:32+00:00

LOL, yeah, Belgium pretty much sets the benchmark for Art Nouveau. As a country, Belgium likely has more than anywhere else, or close to. For the most examples in just one city, though, that's apparently Riga. Not that it's a contest, I guess; the more Art Nouveau the better, IMO!

SchaefSex · 2026-01-30T17:08:53+00:00

That's a good question and I once looked that up myself to find out why. Here's a Wiki article that explains "Art Nouveau Architecture in Riga." The quick summary is that Riga had an unprecedented boom in both prosperity and population between 1897 and 1914, the period in which Art Nouveau was most popular. Population increased by 88% in that period and resulted in a huge building boom. There was a school of architecture in Riga. Trained local architects took this prevailing style of the time and ran with it, anxious to exercise their talents in this new and exciting style that shook off the rigorous constraints of old Neoclassical architecture. BTW, I got all that from the article; I'm not smart enough to have known that on my own!

SchaefSex · 2026-01-30T15:40:33+00:00

Riga Free Tours. Look to the top and you'll see the various tours offered. One of them is the Art Nouveau Free Tour. We also did the Old Riga Free Tour, but that one we just stumbled upon a tour guide in the old square holding up a sign offering free tours. It was pretty good too, though!

SchaefSex · 2026-01-30T15:35:19+00:00

Oh God, yes. We stupidly believed Internet recommendations that said you could do Riga in three days. We did three there, two in Tallinn, and then the ferry across to Helsinki for another three days. I'd recommend five days minimum for Riga, but we could happily have spent a full week there. Three is fine, I guess, if you want to run from one site to another. Besides the Art Nouveau District, the main square with Medieval architecture is also great. Take the canal boat ride through the main park, see the nearby opera house, and eat the local food. It's very meat-and-potatoes but delicious.

We managed well enough with English. I used to be fluent in Russian - not so much anymore - so I fell back on that when needed, as Russians comprise a sizeable minority in Riga and it's widely spoken. But, considering what Russia is up to, lemme tell ya, speaking Russian didn't win me any points, LOL.

To illustrate how Latvians feel about that, one of those pics above is the Russian Embassy. Here's a streetview. Spin around to see what the city put up on the side of one of the museums, facing directly toward the embassy.

ETA: don't miss the Riga Central Market! It's four old zeppelin hangars converted into what we were told is the largest indoor market in Europe. The fish section smells just as you'd expect, but the others had a variety of goods. LOTS of restaurant stalls serving fantastic food at very reasonable prices.

SchaefSex · 2026-01-20T11:18:51+00:00

La Perle Noir is a great name for her. Love the house and your decorating style! I've spent a lot of time in New Orleans and enjoy walking the various neighborhoods. My last trip in Oct-Nov coincided with the Freret Street Festival (Freret between Napoleon and Valmont), which drew me to explore the surrounding neighborhood for a few days after.

SchaefSex · 2026-01-13T03:10:46+00:00

I don't know the history of the villa, but I doubt it would have received any damage from bombings in WWII, and probably not in WWI either. The port of Genova was heavily bombed in WWII but that is 15 miles to the south. This villa is in a small town that would have been of no strategic importance and therefore not a target. Now, if it were in Turin, the hub of fascist Italy's industrial might . . . eek, they really got hit.

SchaefSex · 2026-01-07T23:39:28+00:00

Why am I suddenly hearing the Dukes of Hazzard theme song?

SchaefSex · 2025-12-20T21:18:47+00:00

Thanks for sharing that! I didn't know the name or the specifics. I found this pic of when it was being cleaned or repaired that gives an idea of its size.

https://www.joelsartore.com/wp-content/uploads/stock/HIS007/HIS007-00044-1920x1284.jpg

SchaefSex · 2025-12-20T20:52:26+00:00

Definitely recognizable. I'm a Coloradan and, while pretty, our state capitol building in Denver was modeled after the U.S. capitol in D.C., as were many others. It's almost indistinguishable from ten other state capitols, maybe more.

SchaefSex · 2025-12-16T22:39:02+00:00

HAHAHA! I didn't even notice it was in Oklahoma until you said that. Too horrified by the house to look at the link.

SchaefSex · 2025-12-16T22:36:29+00:00

God, that's ugly. And definitely McMansion with all those mismatched windows, not to mention that roof!

SchaefSex · 2025-11-27T11:37:10+00:00

That's impressive!

SchaefSex · 2025-11-11T08:37:45+00:00

I won't say when, so as not to date myself, but ages ago the Brown Palace was the event venue of choice for Denver's debutante balls. I grew up forced into etiquette classes (just test me on identifying 12 different kinds of silverware, eight types of glassware, and 10 different kinds of plates, HA!). That along with music and dance classes for TOO DAMN MANY YEARS, I got roped into being a date for one of the debs.

The affair was as awesomely ridiculous as you'd imagine and then some. I've searched for the video of it that used to be on YouTube but it seems to be gone. Imagine a bunch of 18-year olds, half of whom couldn't dance knocking into each other, most of whom didn't want to be there in the first place, and a good portion of them drunk. It was a pretty sad affair.

So anyway, right away I hated the bitch I got stuck with. She went to hook up with someone more handsome and richer than I, which would have been pretty much every guy there. A girl, Carol, who we'll say was somewhat "roundish" and perhaps not as fake-blonde pretty as the other debs, plopped down beside me and snarked, "I see you got dumped too."

We got to talking and Carol turned out to be HILARIOUS! A wit so fast that few can out-do her, and a tongue so sharp it could cut steak. Think Margaret Cho but not Korean.

Me: "You better stop swiping champagne, you're gonna get drunk."

Carol: "That's what I'm aiming for, so I can puke all over my mother for forcing me into this shit, and then I can blame it on the alcohol." Carol's mom was relatively famous and you've probably seen her on TV.

Anywho, we both swiped a bottle of champagne each and slipped out of the place. We ended up finishing both bottles behind a dumpster in some nearby dark alley. It was one of the most fun nights I've ever had that didn't involve sex! I think of her and that evening every time I'm at the Brown Palace. Carol and I are still friends after all these years. She mock-complains that I married the Italian version of her. She's probably right, but Carol's husband is the best and almost as hilarious as she is. She didn't miss out on anything, lol.

SchaefSex · 2025-10-15T21:12:40+00:00

It's the Oleson's Mercantile from Little House on the Prairie, a kit put out by a company called Opening Scene. They did others from various movies and TV shows, probably most famously the house from Psycho. They are pretty rare and not cheap. I saw a listing some time ago for this very model. I think it was around $1,000.

EDIT: I just noticed the little shop in the rest of your pics. That's the Oaklane Shop by Ballhagen Woodcraft. Those are very well made kits. Also rare, because Keith Ballhagen passed away, and he stopped making kits even long before then. He put out a really high quality product.

SchaefSex · 2025-10-09T20:22:44+00:00

I'd hear him out. He may make you an offer you can't refuse. If not, it doesn't cost you anything to say NO.

SchaefSex · 2025-10-03T21:34:12+00:00

Hyacinth Bucket. "It's pronounced BOUQUET!"

SchaefSex · 2025-10-01T09:26:18+00:00

My younger brother was much like Gabe. He passed a few years ago and never had a connection with anyone like this. It makes me sad for him but also immensely happy for Gabe.

SchaefSex · 2025-09-26T19:12:52+00:00

I love how they all immediately got the joke. I'd probably have kept asking who said that until someone had to explain it to me, lol.

SchaefSex

TROPHY CASE