Saturday was an exciting day in our house. My husband went to commencement and I went on an adventure with the one and only Birchie!!
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She was in town nearby to do a couple of tours of Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) places and I tagged along. We met up at a coffee shop where I got a large iced decaf americano (and you should immediately hear the dum dum dum ominous music in your head).
Stop #1: Burnham Block - Milwaukee
FLW designed these American System-Built duplexes and bungalows as affordable housing in stark contrast to a lot of the other expensive private homes he designed. One of the bungalows has been completely renovated to period specs and one of the duplexes is in the process of renovation. I am not a FLW tour expert like Birchie, so I'll leave it up to her to tell you her own rating.
Pros: It's cool to see so many buildings in one location. Some of them are in private hands and have things like aluminum siding on them (the horror!), so it's really cool to see the bones of the design in different arrangements. I saw a dog.
Cons: The docent was really hard to hear most of the time, especially for the parts on the very loud city street.
The Story of How I Did Not Adult Well: As soon as we sat down for the introductory bit of the tour, I realized that I was like one of Elisabeth's children and I had not planned my coffee well. I asked if there was a public restroom having a memory of Birchie saying that most FLW tours did not have one. This one was no different and the volunteers were very apologetic as one of them led me to the renovated bungalow and let me use the bathroom there. Whew!
Stop #2: Lunch - The Vanguard - Milwaukee
Kim had hung out with Birchie the previous day and recommended this place for lunch. It was sort of a weird vibe with old skool WWF wrestling from the 1980s playing on the television screens and a giant poster of two wrestlers (boxers?) dominating the space, but we had excellent brats and some poutine. There were lots of vegetarian and vegan options here, if that's something that interests you.
Stop #3: SC Johnson - Racine
Then we drove over to Racine to do the tour of SC Johnson. The tour is free, but you have to go through multiple buildings that aren't FLW buildings and listen to a guide talk about how a chemical company does good things for the environment and conveniently skips over the destruction of rainforests and cultural appropriation. Don't dwell on that, though!
From the website:
I mean, it's technically true that the corporate headquarters is still on this site, but neither FLW building is in use today. Weird language on the website. (The plane(s) did not touch my heart. I am cold-hearted, obviously.)
Pros: The FLW buildings were so cool. The Administration building was amazing. FLW used these glass tubes instead of windows and I wish I could describe the inside of it using actual architectural terms, but it was just so open and beautiful. The Research Tower was sort of unbelievable. It's this crazy tower built on the cantilever principle and it's shocking that the whole weight of the tower is supported by a structure only thirteen feet across at its narrowest. Also, when I looked up at the tower, it gave me vertigo, which was kind of cool because the vertigo stopped as soon as I looked away.
Cons: Corporate marketing is uncool.
Story About How We Were "Reminded" Not to Take Photos of Corporate Secrets: We were only allowed to take photos outside, which is fine. But then we were taking a selfie outside and the docent reminded us that we were not supposed to take photos of inside stuff. I don't know? Here's the photo. If you can find a corporate secret to start insider trading with, DO IT.
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| Nonsense. You can't even see us clearly. |
And then Birchie headed off to her AirBNB and I went home to eat dinner. But I left my house!
Thanks, Birchie, for a fabulous day out!
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| Birchie is mostly anonymous online. I don't want to out her! |
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Have you ever been to a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building? Would you ever go on one of these tours?
so fun!
ReplyDeleteIt was fun!
Delete1. J.E.A.L.O.U.S.
ReplyDelete2. I had to chuckle that my children's bathroom escapades are so highly regarded. Sigh. Doesn't the world know WE NEED BATHROOMS EVERY 100 YARDS??? Is this too much to ask?
3. It looks like a fabulous day was had by two of my favourite bloggers. Love it <3
4. J.E.A.L.O.U.S.
Bathrooms are the bane of our existence, aren't they? It was a lovely day!
Delete"one of Elisabeth's children" - lolololol!!!!
ReplyDeleteWow, this is so fun! I'm so excited you two got to have some fun together!
Yes, you should know that hanging out with me is like hanging out with a tween!
DeleteI have been to places where they were fussy about interior photos. One was at an outdoor but still somewhat hidden Shakespearian stage where they were sorely afraid that someone might copy it. Seriously?!
ReplyDeleteAnd what if they did copy it? It's just so weird to me. It seems like they could get more awareness/knowledge of it if they allowed for photos, but I guess everyone has their reasons.
DeleteAww so glad you guys could meet up! I was in the general vicinity that day (but for a swim meet)) and was hoping to possibly meet up with Birchie too, but the timing was just off, unfortunately. Next time!!!
ReplyDeleteI do hope we get to catch up with you next time!
DeleteIt was an epic day - and the FLW stuff was pretty cool as well. I was so hungry at lunch that I forgot to take photos so folks will have to take my word for it, but I'm still day dreaming about the poutine.
ReplyDeleteShoot I did not read the "instructions" so I didn't know that the planes were supposed to touch my heart. Oh well. Sigh I also can't find the big corporate secret in our illicit photo but someone else is going to see what we missed and will make millions from it.
I can't believe the planes didn't touch your heart, either. What kind of ice-cold people are we anyway? I hope someone makes millions from that blurry photo - more power to them!
DeleteWhat kind of monsters are you that PLANES cannot touch your hearts?! I mean, come ON--PLANES, for heaven's sake! The next thing I know, you'll be telling me that buses and trains don't give you the goosebumps.
ReplyDeleteHonestly.
(Probably I'd have more of a Spiritual Awakening because of the poutine.)
The poutine was GOOD. I had some at Harvey's in Toronto and it was NOT good, so I had some residual fear that maybe I didn't actually like poutine, but it turns out I do!
DeleteHow fun that you got to meet up for real! I don't know if any of the cool bloggers will ever come to southwest Florida but I would love to meet up with anyone who does. We could go to Everglades City to take the boat ride in the national park, which is really cool, and have a very "atmospheric" lunch at the Rod and Gun Club. Gator nuggets, anyone?
ReplyDeleteThey really overpromised with the line about the planes touching your heart! I would have gone into it determined not to be touched by any story. I'm contrary that way.
If I am ever in southwest Florida, I'll take you up on that expedition! I enjoyed that Birchie came here and she had planned everything and ordered tickets and I just showed up. LOL. I am not a planner.
DeleteThis looks like a lot of fun. A meet up with Birchie - awesome. The corporate secrets photo is very tempting, too bad I cannot find anything that might lead to something illegal or what have you. Fun fact, my dad used to work in Racine, Wisconsin and we lived in a suburb of Northern Illinois when I was in high school and college. Also, I've gotten a speeding ticked in Racine. All that to say, I feel like we are practically neighbors.
ReplyDeleteWell, we are neighbors!
DeleteHow fast were going? I want more details on this speeding ticket!
What a fun day! You did leave your house AND you got to see lots of FLW places. Birchie sounds delightful, and I'm glad you got to meet.
ReplyDeleteI was so glad to meet Birchie! Fun times!!
DeleteBirchie!!!! Woot woot!!!! Aside from the lack of heart-touching, it sounds like a fantastic day, especially since they DID find you a bathroom (the lack of a bathroom is my NIGHTMARE). Also, you gotta love corporations who "curate" the "facts" they share with you. Love the photos you got to take, lack of corporate secrets notwithstanding. So happy you got to spend time together, IN PERSON. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteI was so HAPPY they found me a bathroom. I honestly thought they were going to tell me about a gas station three blocks away or something. But I got to use the FLW-designed bathroom in the fancy renovated bungalow!!
DeleteYay for meeting Birchie. She's such a gem!
Stealing corporate secrets now! What a wonderfully unexpected admission. 😉
ReplyDeleteHave you ever been to a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building? I have and it was a building with doctors practices in it now. Not quite FLW's most famous work, but interesting in its own way.
If I get busted for corporate secrets, you all will know that evidence they have on me is on this blog.
DeleteI do think FLW non-home designs are interesting. Like...the tower was supposed to be a lab and it's gorgeous and interesting, but not very good for actual lab work? I think those can be interesting places to go!
We passed by the Johnson and Johnson building last weekend on our way to a restaurant in downtown Racine! So funny. I don't believe I've been inside any FLW buildings. I think I learned that he was an ass, cheated, or there was murder. There is a dark history in one of his homes that I need to uncover...but that isn't why I've never been inside anything FLW. It's just a fun fact. (Not like murder is fun. God, I'm messing this all up) Anyway, I just found out about Burnham Block on Top Chef Wisconsin. I'd like to visit it this summer.
ReplyDeleteYeah, FLW personal life was a bit messy. I think when Birchie comes back later this summer we're going to Spring Green and will visit the site of the murder and fire and craziness. Will report back!
DeleteI have not yet been to any FLW buildings, but if Birchie were here, I'd totally be up for it. I'd go anywhere with you guys. Ask Nance, her friend took us to a (now defunct) place where they film porn. He was trying to shock her I think. On the same trip, I took her to a botanical garden. I was NOT trying to shock her. He was much younger, so probably that is why. HA! ANYWAY, it looks like a wonderful time was had, and if either of you ever decide to come to the Bay Area in NorCal, I will happily take you to the FLWs around here!
ReplyDeleteFilm porn? Huh. I wonder if it's different from a regular film set? I don't know that I'd take ANYONE to a place like that - good for you and Nance to go and now you have a "lovely" memory.
DeleteThe idea of a company opening their corporate offices up for public tours is so odd to me - i wonder if many companies do this? Though I suppose if you have a FLW building it might make sense...? I have never been to any FLW buildings - he certainly designed a wide range of buildings!
ReplyDeleteI mean, we never saw inside any offices or anything like that and we had these fobs on us the whole time that tracked where we were going. I think they only have tours during non-working hours, so hopefully the tours don't disturb the actual goings on of the business.
DeleteThis is so cool - AND you got to meet and hang out with Birchie for the day?! I am the most jealous.
ReplyDeleteI have located the corporate secrets and will be selling them to the highest bidder!!!!
YES!! Please let us know what you do with your insider trading profits!
DeleteThat sounds like a really fun outing, plus meeting up with Birchie is awesome! I am so glad that you guys made the effort to make that happen, as I think meeting blogger friends IRL is priceless!
ReplyDeleteIt is crazy how meeting IRL with bloggers is so smooth. You don't need to do any of the small talk stuff like what do you do, etc. You can talk about other stuff because you already know so much!
DeleteOMG, the weird wrestling stuff at the Vanguard. They've had that playing for the last 5 years! I forget about it until I go there.
ReplyDeleteAluminum siding on a FLW bungalow?! AHHH!!!!
LOLing at corporate secrets in that photo. Ha. It sounds like you two had a really fun day, yay!
I've been to several FLW homes. My FiL is obsessed and it makes me feel really burned out on him, so I don't really go anymore.
Yeah, when those historical homes go into private hands and they aren't on any historic registers, crazy things can happen.
DeleteSo many corporate secrets here! We know them all!
Seeing Fallingwater is on my bucket list. I keep googling how far all my blog friends are from where Angus is going to be and mostly they're a PERFECT TRIANGLE, which is not helpful at all. Yes, I am very bad at geography.
ReplyDeleteCanada and the US are such large countries. Why can't we all just live within three hours driving distance from each other?
DeleteI'm very envious that you got to hang with Birchie! When I went to Tallahassee last summer, I had plans to see a FLW house there but then found out it would cost $75 (WHAT.) So I didn't go. But that would be a fun way to see them- with the FLW queen herself!
ReplyDelete$75!!! That's crazy. The ones here were much more affordable. Come to WI - we'll treat you right!
DeleteOh fun! I love FLW! I have only seen his home and studio in Chicago. If you haven't done that tour, I highly recommend it. There are a lot of homes designed by him in the area, too (Oak Park) so you can walk around and take that all in as well. I would love to visit Taliesin at some point. This season of Top Chef (one of my fave shows) is set in Wisconsin and they featured some FLW building on one of the initial episodes. FLW was a jerky jerk jerk but he was such a talented architect. Have you read "Loving Frank"? I read it years ago and finished the book while waiting at a gate to board my plane and OMG I ugly cried... so it is not something to read in public. I don't cry often when reading books but when I do, boy do I cry.
ReplyDeleteHow fun to spend a day with Birchie, though!! I'm envious!!
Yes, I did a tour in Oak Park a long time ago. I could probably stand to do it again as a refresher. I haven't read Loving Frank, but I am going to add to my TBR now! I could use a good ugly cry!
DeleteThis looks like the kind of tour I would love. FLW is a fascinating character. I've only been to a few of his houses but all have intrigued me with their design. Plus, doing this with a good friend? What's not to ove!
ReplyDeleteFLW is an interesting character indeed. He did have some pretty clever architectural ideas. It was so much fun to go with someone else who enjoyed it!
DeleteMy aunt bought us a gift certificate to Taliesen, so we'll probably do that this summer. I am also intrigued by the Burnham Block after seeing it on Top Chef.
ReplyDeleteThe Burnham Block is pretty interesting. Such a high concentration of buildings in one spot!
DeleteYOU GOT TO MEET UP WITH BIRCHIE!!!
ReplyDeleteWhy are you guys all living so far away from me. I want to meet you all.
Come visit the midwest, San!! You'll get to meet all of us!!
DeleteI am so, so bummed I had school stuff and missed out on this adventure. But! I cannot wait for the next one! I am noting all of the vegan restaurants in MKE. I must get in a trip there this summer (for reasons beyond the restaurants, LOL).
ReplyDeleteMore Birchie adventures to come!!
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