Oh wow—it’s great now that the flowers are fully in bloom here in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The air is fresh and warm. People are smiling and content.
Music wafts from downtown streets, played by old-timey dudes who wink and smile and invite you to sing along. These same streets are humming with amazing people, on their way to crazy-good enterprises and…
It’s all…amazing. It’s also—
—April Fools.
The best thing about April? It’s not March. Worst? It’s not May.
The reality: March 30, 2022, and in Minneapolis it’s freezing rain and snow. Clouds for days. No songs, no flowers, no smiles—except the ones you can imagine in your heart.
And I guess, isn’t that all that really matters? (It’s a moot question.)
Still, I’m in the mood to play…
And even more sobering, I’m reminded this week of new Substack friend Jo Petroni’s mention of Christopher Alexander’s passing, which I just read about in Wednesday’s New York Times:
Which also reminded me that I did a collection of Medium pieces tying my late architect father’s Architectural Design Standards book with drawings of my own, back in 2015 when I was looking for work. You can start digging into those crazy posts here.
Furthermore, I need to reach out to Jo to schedule an interview for the StoryShed Substack about her thoughts on Alexander and what I’m loosely titling “Daytalking in Your Favorite Spaces.” Here’s hoping we can make this happen and share it with you all soon!
For now, let’s get In the Sandbox. It’s a breeze, baby.
Based on last week’s final integration essay about Daytalking, Nightwalking, and Stargazing, I’d like a quick poll from everyone:
What new features would you like to see on this Substack and, if there’s more than one, how would you rate the order you’d like to see them launched?
Thanks as always for being a subscriber, and have a wonderful April!
Number one feature? I guess you’re doing it. Interviews! Oh and maybe you could share part of your interview with a certain organist who played with some Minnesota rocker whose name I can’t remember. Bob something.
Folks, there'll be NO weekend essay since fellow Substacker Jo Petroni and I are working on an interview feature to be published probably this coming first full week of April. Hoping to also rope in @MikeSowden for another interview later this spring. Enjoy your weekend! Best, Mike