It's ugly here, so you need New York Festival of Song: "A Goysiche Christmas to You." Many gorgeous favorites by Jewish composers, AND politically correct "Baby It's Cold Outside," Rudolph sung in Yiddish, grandma's deadly cooking, more! THIS Wed. Dec. 14. nyfos.org

Though naysayers push against "woke" business education, Columbia U's new school builds broader world views into its architecture. nytimes.com/2023/01/05/art…

This is so powerful and heartbreaking and brilliant. The contrast with the sordid spectacle in DC is deeply depressing. New Year greetings of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy youtu.be/ANaVkRxDPCI via YouTube

Diller Scofidio + Renfro new business school buildings help Columbia's quest to "reinvent capitalism." Not everyone is on board. nytimes.com/2023/01/05/art…

We're living through the most freakish housing economy ever, though some pundits think it's natural or just local. I describe the dysfunction as succinctly as possible in this post on Medium.medium.com/@james_92039/w…

Steven Blier of NY Festival of Song celebrates 50! years onstage with a banquet of musical loves: Argentina song, American jazz and blues, bel canto and French art song. Only he could assemble such a great cast and program. Be there Feb. 15! nyfos.org/amor/

People are relieved that interest rates may not go up so much but if you think that will make houisng more affordable, think again. medium.com/@james_92039/w…

Maybe we won't have a recession. Maybe interest rates will slip a bit more. But if you think this will fix a freakish housing market, well, sorry: medium.com/@james_92039/w…

With rampant gun violence and kids failing in school, some organizations DO have the answers. And now Brotherhood Sister Sol has an inspiring and effective new home to comprehensively aid needy youth: architecturalrecord.com/articles/16080…

Memorial proposals are everywhere as is a desire to commemorate people and events that have been overlooked or erased. I am honored to moderate a panel of folks who will offer deep insight in a panel for The Cultural Landscape Foundation You'll be glad you tuned in. tclf.org/race-space-con…

TUESDAY at Merkin Hall: MEDITERRANEAN! The concert features the 2023 Schwab Vocal Rising Stars, in the culmination of their weeklong immersive mentorship and training program at Caramoor. Use code SOCIAL for 10% off tickets! Tickets: nyfos.org/mediterranean/

I love NYC's American Museum of Natural History, and Studio Gang has used spectacular architecture to lure kids and family into a deep appreciation of the natural world. There are a few skeletons in those musty closets, though. bloomberg.com/news/features/…

Spectacular architecture and stunning exhibitions in Studio Gang's addition to NYC's Museum of Natural History. Promoting science via delight is the agenda here, though the history of natural history has attitudes to answer for. I dug in for CityLab: bloomberg.com/news/features/…

Why we can't quit glorious concert halls in spite of blown budgets, excruciating delays, and sometimes awful acoustics. For Bloomberg CityLab: bloomberg.com/news/features/…

why cities can't quit glorious concert halls, even when they cost the earth. bloomberg.com/news/features/…

A "sublime ruin" makes a pretty good office building! bloomberg.com/news/features/…

If you want to know how cities combat torrential rains, rising seas, look no farther than rapid cleanup, adaptation of the once super-fetid Gowanus Canal. aiany.org/membership/ocu…

Many college students choose STEM degrees, fear pursuing art aspirations in uncertain economy. Rochester Institute of Technology's SHED unites both through exuberant architecture by William Rawn Associates. bloomberg.com/news/features/…

Baltimore deserves a great replacement for collapsed Frances Scott Key bridge. It will be no slam dunk. Here's why: bloomberg.com/news/features/…

Baltimore deserves an inspiring replacement for the Key Bridge that was destroyed in a ship collision. That is no slam dunk. Here's why: bloomberg.com/news/features/…