Perla's Seafood and Oyster Bar Austin TX

There is a lot of architecture in the city of Austin that is very interesting.  Many new constructions or renovations in South Austin use a modern approach, with certain touches that draw it back into the style of the region.  Both of my brothers live there so I'm in the city quite often and when I was trying to think of a good example of architecture in Austin I thought about this restaurant.  It was opened five years ago, I've only been there once to eat with one of my friends that recently moved to Austin.

When I went there I actually did not experience the things I like most about this restaurant's architecture.  We went at night, during the winter, so we did not sit on the patio which is the best feature of this restaurant in my opinion.  The patio is very inviting, it's a little oasis shaded by spanish oaks just steps away from one of the busiest streets in Austin, South Congress.  When we went it was winter, they actually had a pavilion constructed around the patio so that it could still be used.


The building's construction is modern, but not in a jarring way, to me it almost complements the trees and the intimate nature of the patio.  The windows let in light, though when I went it was night and the light system is quite dim.  The inside is very classic, with clean colors and little touches throughout.  The design is reminiscent of any seafood restaurant, but a little nicer.  There is a large fish tank in front of the concrete bar.  I think that this restaurant is a very good example of how modern design can be used to complement regional design.

Cain's Ballroom Tulsa OK

I listen to music constantly though out the day, live music is really a passion but it's hard to go to concerts in the Midwest I feel like.  Acts might play in Dallas, but many musicians avoid Oklahoma by the large.  Luckily there is one venue in Oklahoma that actually draws artists to play there, I've been there twice.

The first time I was a freshman at Oklahoma State, I actually went to a concert there with four or five people that were going to OU.  We went to see a band called Ghostland Observatory, the show being great, even though we had not planned the trip out very well.  We ended up staying in a motel for the night, even though we had planned on driving back to Norman after the concert.  I was not overly impressed with the appearance of Cain's, but I've realized at this point that appearances aren't always the deciding factor.

The acoustics in Cain's are great, they have a great sound system and I guess the general layout just works great for music shows.  It's one of the best places to see live music in my opinion, because music just sounds good throughout the whole venue.  One of my friends from Tulsa has mentioned to me that apparently the dance floor is spring loaded and moves up and down. I was skeptical of this being true, but apparently the maple dance floor rests on some Dodge truck springs.

Red Prime Steak Oklahoma City OK

I love to eat, but being a broke college student it's not often that I get to go to fancy places like this.  My mom and some more of my family came to visit me on her birthday, for some reason she decided that's what she wanted to do for her birthday.  I figured it was a good enough excuse to go somewhere nice and one of my friends had told me about this place in OKC so I suggested we try it out before a concert.

I think this place usually books up pretty quick and they are open some weird hours, because we luckily got there right when they were opening so we were able to sit at the bar and eat before everything became reserved.  I think that the experience would have been much cooler if we had gone at night but we had plans.  The design utilizes these red light bars throughout the restaurant that act almost like corridors of light.

I really like how the lights and the "wine rack" are used basically as walls, the restaurant is very open.  There aren't many decorations, though the abundant light use makes the space appear very colorful.  The front is very simply designed, during the day it's not extremely noticeable.  At night it draws the eyes towards it.  Probably my favorite thing about this restaurant's architecture is the "wine rack" that is made of a grid of metal wires, it separates the bar from the rest of the restaurant.

Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman OK

Football is such an integral part of American culture, although I've never been a football player I suppose I can be considered a lifetime fan.  Going to school here at OU, I've been immersed into a culture that is rooted with a strong tradition of football pride.  Few football programs can measure up to the program that OU has, I think that in many ways the stadium reflects that.  Being inside for a game is truly an experience to rival any other football game, the size of the stadium being a large part of that experience.

It's a little odd, being around such a stadium everyday, for such a huge thing to become commonplace.  Driving by the Oklahoma sign everyday makes me think about how weird it will feel when I don't see it daily, or walking by the clock side of the stadium.  It's presence is constant, something I will remember about my college days for my entire life.

On game day the stadium's presence is alive and vibrant, almost every weekend during football season seems to be an event.  Being outside of the stadium is as impressive was being within, though the fervor of a game makes the inside more exciting.

Rosewood Crescent Hotel Dallas TX

For some reason I decided to convince a few of my friends to get a room with me at probably the nicest hotel I've ever stayed at for OU/TX weekend a couple years ago.  I had seen the building a few times throughout the years whenever I was in Dallas, but I was never really sure what I was looking at.  The complex is triangle shaped, the base being a large office building, the tip of the triangle being a fancy shopping center.  Between the two there is a courtyard that is used for parking along with a hotel with the same construction as the office building and shopping center.  The architecture present is different than much American architecture, though I can't personally place it.





The hotel was very impressive, everything about the construction brought about a feeling of luxury, the purpose of such an opulent building.  I liked the feel of a little peace in the midst of one of the busiest areas of Dallas, especially during such a busy weekend as OU/TX.  I did not really look around the shopping center at all, probably because I was broke after renting a room out of my income bracket, but I did enjoy the close proximity to McKinney Ave.  The shopping center is itself a little triangle containing a central courtyard with fountain that I'm sure I'll enjoy the next time I win the lottery.

The room was nice, actually quite spacious, though this hotel was built a few decades ago.  The only noise complaint we received was as soon as we arrived for the weekend, after I felt like we could be thrown out at any moment.  Quite a common occurrence, getting kicked out of your hotel room during OU/TX weekend, I think it had happened to me the year before.  Needless to say, this place was way too nice for us, but we actually had fewer problems than we do with most hotels.  Every room had a french balcony, a wrought iron balcony that was detailed matching the entry gate and other metalwork on the buildings.



 It was actually a good experience, though most of the time I felt worried that we were gonna break something expensive.

Oral Roberts University Tulsa OK

I was in junior high school when I attended a church camp put on by a non-denominational church where I grew up.  I attend really more for social reasons than spiritual ones, the church had a lively youth program that put on events throughout the year.  At that age there aren't many options as far as what to do with one's time where I grew up.  We were bused all the way to Tulsa, OK, possibly in my first trip to the state of Oklahoma.  I believe I had driven through the state but never stayed for any period of time, even though my father went to graduate school at OSU.

I'm not particularly familiar with who Oral Roberts is, though I believe he was a business man that was very religious and donated a ton of money to this university because it had some crazy architecture.  Saying that I didn't go there for spiritual reasons, I still found myself overcome with the collective feeling of awe throughout my time there.

We passed these hands on the way in and out.  I felted changed when I left, though I was a very impressionable kid and it would have been hard to not feel something after this whole experience.  In the auditorium there were elaborate worship, shows or gatherings I guess I would say.  I was raised Catholic and Mass and this were worlds apart.

Many of the buildings were designed strikingly, the dorms where we stayed were somewhat similar to the ones at OU, though on a smaller scale.  The Prayer Tower was an incredible building that hosted a flame at its top, constantly.  I think the architecture greatly influenced the feeling of almost being in another world, they were inspiring.

ClayDesta Center Midland TX

This building I spent much of my time in throughout my youth, because my father has worked in this building my whole life.  His job is not very glamourous, but it's in a thriving industry, so a local businessman decided to have a complex of office buildings built. I have never actually been into the other buildings, though one of them is more striking exteriorly. 

The columns that flank the sides are made of stone, but stone not too refined.  There are a few balconies on the sixth floor and overhangs at each entrance.  The inside is really amazing, with an atrium that rises six floors to glass pyramids.  The balconies act as hallways in front of separate business offices.

The bottom floor has a courtyard that is surrounded with planters full of trees and other plants.  A small creek moves around the heavily "forested" part of the atrium, leading to a central pond.  In the pond there are lights and a fountain that shoots up several stories.  There used to be fish in the creek and ducks, though I heard too many duck casualties were caused by the fountain so I think they quit restocking them.

Needless to say I didn't mind accompanying my dad to work, and I spent a lot of time running around this place.  I've brought up broad points, but there is actually an attention to detail in this place that is very impressive.

Jay Pritzer Pavilion Chicago IL

Spending many summers in Chicago has allowed me to see a decent amount of the city, though no where near all of it.  During these past couple decades there have been lots of new architectural additions, especially in public places.  Grant Park has seen many changes and Millennium Park has some of the most interesting architecture that I have had the pleasure of seeing first hand.

The first day of class seeing the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles I thought that I had seen something similar in Chicago.  I don't doubt that that architect that designed the Jay Pritzer Pavilion in Millennium Park drew much influence from the Disney Concert Hall.


I was quite young the first time I visited the Pritzer Pavilion, I believe it had just opened and I wasn't even in high school yet.  I was just starting to really find my own taste and passion for music, I had never dreamed of such a music venue, it was unreal.  The stage itself, with its curling metal reminiscent of a shell or a flower, is quite amazing.  The vast open space in front of the stage is to me a utopian idea, as I believe there are often shows put on at the pavilion that are free to the public.  I'm jealous because I've never actually been there while a show was being played.



This aerial photo is something I had not seen until I was looking for other photos of the Pritzer Pavilion.  The first one I took and being under the spiderweb of metal strands is quite interesting, it does not feel confining at all, though the experience is a little surreal.  The strands house speakers and lights, so that people sitting on the open lawn can hear the musicians playing, which I think is a great way to utilize an inspiring architectural design. It's not only an experience being under the metal web, but the web serves a purpose, to me making it great architecture.

It's still very high up on my list of things to do to attend a concert at this venue, hopefully at night because these photos I've found of it at night make it look truly spectacular.  The fact that it is a public park, and not one that is solely for profitable shows, is something that gives me hope.  I would hope that other cities would look to examples such as this and wish to bring amazing architecture to their citizens.

Saint Mary Cathedral Austin TX

I encountered this cathedral a few times when I was younger, but my oldest brother was recently married here a couple years ago.  There aren't many cathedrals like this in Texas, or at least not many that I have visited and walked through.  Being involved with a wedding there was an interesting experience because it was not a typical Mass experience and I actually walked through some rooms that I may have never visited as a parishioner.  I like the asymmetrical aspect of the front facade with the larger tower on the left that is a little broader than the right tower or turret if you will.  To the left of that larger tower is actually a small courtyard between the main cathedral and other connecting buildings that the church uses.







The inside is really rather overwhelming, but in way that one would want in a church, as people come here to worship and the aura inside is really one of grandeur.  During the ceremony I felt very solemn and impressed, which I'm sure the architect intended for anyone that were to visit this cathedral.


It is hard to tell from the picture, but the rose colored columns were really imposing, though that may have been just me being unused to being at the altar opposed to in a pew.  The acoustics in the cathedral were great, the main chapel being an expansive box with soaring ceilings.  Above the altar there was work on the dome to make an effect similar to a starry sky, as if the heavens were right above it.


Overall, I thought it was a very appropriate place for a ceremony like a marriage.  It made the ceremony feel not just official, but sacred.  The cathedral's effect on the ceremony and everyone present felt heavy, as if the cathedral was an individual presence.