By Insider Staff - Nov 12, 2019 |

Work continues at the School Street parking garage. Courtesy of City of Concord

The Fire Department Communications Center is replacing its 1960's/1970's-era consoles with updated equipment. Courtesy of City of Concord

The city managers office sent out the City Managers Newsletter on Friday. The full newsletter can be found by going to the citys website (concordnh.gov) and clicking the Newsletter button on the home page. Here are some of the highlights from last weeks letter:

School Street parking garage

The contractor has installed water and sewer connections, which will serve a new maintenance room to be constructed on the first floor of the School Street garage. Having water readily available in the garage will improve maintenance efforts and cleanliness. The contractor has also begun concrete repairs on the first floor of the garage, at the Warren Street side of the facility. Repairs will be ongoing for several months. Lastly, most of the steel frame for the new south stair tower has been completed, and concrete for stair treads and landings have been poured. The glass curtain wall for the garage is scheduled to be installed this winter.

Fire department communication center makeover

The Fire Department Communications Center is replacing its 1960s/70s-era consoles with updated equipment. The old consoles have been removed and the main floor of the Communications Center has been cleared of all but one work station for the installation of the new equipment, which will begin this week. On-duty dispatchers are working from the supervisors office and will relocate to the Lakes Region Center in Laconia next week for the final phase of the project. The Communications Center serves two dozen communities and agencies throughout central New Hampshire and generates a significant amount of revenue for the city of Concord.

Road construction updates

Liberty Utilities will be working at the following locations this week:

Broadway (Pillsbury Street to West Street)

Centre Street/Liberty Street (at Roundabout)

Manchester Street (Black Hills Road to Garvin Falls Road)

North State Street (Centre Street to Pleasant Street)

North Pembroke Road (Route 106 to Pembroke line)

Pleasant Street (Spring Street to State Street)

There may be delays, one-lane traffic, possible road closures and encumbrances of parking spaces. Work will generally take place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Monday through Friday).

The State of New Hampshire will be installing new steam lines on Green Street and Park Street through November. Work for this week includes the following:

Green Street (School Street to Capitol Street): The sidewalk and parking on the east side of the road will be closed.

Park Street (between North Main and North State streets): Portions of the sidewalk and parking will be impacted.

School Street (at Green Street): The road will be closed during the day for steam pipe installation. Traffic will be detoured when necessary.

Beaver Meadow end-of-season sale

Beaver Meadow Golf Course is holding its annual End of Season sale.

All in-stock golf clubs: 15% off

All in-stock Titleist golf balls: 20% off

Noodle 15 pack: 2 for $25

Srixon Marathon: 2 for $25

Mens and womens apparel: 30% off

All golf bags and accessories: 25% off

Dont wait sale ends Dec. 1.

Ice skating at Everett Arena

Lace up those skates! Ice skating and stick practice are in full swing at the Douglas N. Everett Arena. Ice skating hours are Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sundays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Ice skating will continue through March 13. Admission is $5 (kids ages 3 and under are free) and skate rentals are available, if needed, for an additional $5 at the arenas pro shop.

Ice skating lessons will be offered at the arena by the Parks & Recreation Department. Session one will be held November through December, and session two will be held January through February. Classes have limited registration that must be completed with Concord Parks & Recreation by mail, fax, online or in person. Registration for skating lessons cannot be done at Everett Arena.

Adult stick practice (ages 14 and up) hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 to 11:20 a.m., with additional hours Monday through Thursday from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. until Nov. 20. Adult stick practice will continue through March 9. Admission is $10 (goalies have free entry). Helmet and gloves are required and full equipment is recommended.

Youth stick practice (ages 13 and under) will continue through Nov. 29. Practice hours are Friday afternoons from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. Admission is $10 (goalies have free entry). Full equipment is required.

Only cash or check are accepted at the arena at this time. An ATM is available in the lobby entrance. Find more information at concordnh.gov/skating.

Chamber events this week

The Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present the following events in the upcoming week for members and the general public:

Business After Hours: Tuesday, Nov. 12, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Hosted by Boys & Girls Clubs of Central NH at their Concord location, 55 Bradley St. Chamber members $7 prepaid or $10 at the door. Register at cca.concordnhchamber.com.

Orr & Reno Legal Breakfast Series The 2019 Legislative Session: A Reprise of the Highlights: Tuesday, Nov. 19, 8 to 9 a.m., at Orr & Reno, 45 S. Main St., 4th Floor. Complimentary admission (includes breakfast). Register at cca.concordnhchamber.com.

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City Manager's Newsletter: Garage update, road construction, Beaver Meadow sale and more - The Concord Insider

STONINGTON A major milestone was marked in Stonington earlier this month during a ceremonial groundbreaking.

While dozens of people looked on, Allegra Griffiths and Denise Easton co-presidents of the Stonington Free Library's board of trustees together raised a shovel to break ground for an addition to the library, the first step in making the building fully accessible and up to date in its technology.

When the addition is complete, the library on High Street will have a new ramp, new entrance, new elevator and new restrooms on both levels, all in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

There will be better access to all areas of the library, including the children's room, which is on the lower floor, said Library DirectorBelinda de Kay, as she walked through the library recently explaining the expansion plans and discussing the necessity and evolution of libraries.

Additionally, she said, thanks to a $58,805 grant from the Connecticut State Library and the Universal Service Schools and Library Program, the library will install a fiber optic connection to help expand digital services, including upgraded high-speed internet.

"It's been a slow process, but a good process," said a smiling de Kay. "It was slow but it's a process that works. It was important getting opinions. We all worked totally together. Everything we're doing came from community focus groups."

"Now, we have growing pains," she added, still smiling. "And they're wonderful growing pains."

De Kay said that the project began in earnest about four years ago and involved soliciting opinions from patrons of the library and Stonington residents and involving them in the strategic planning. The exercise, in "self-assessment and community engagement," was enlightening, de Kay said, and gave library leaders a blueprint for how to most effectively serve the people of Stonington.

More than 600 people responded to a survey and more than 100 attended six focus groups for in-depth discussions. Throughout that process, library leaders learned that the library "along with the helpful, welcoming staff, is much-loved, and essential to their quality of life."

They also learned that residents wanted and needed more from their library.

Easton said, "The community wanted more access to everything, more programs, services and hours." It turns out, she added, "we are valued now more than ever."

"We are dependent on and grateful for this community," Easton said. "I think about that every day."

De Kay said, "It's been wonderful getting to know people," and wonderful, too, learning how much the library means to people. "In a way we've become a library without walls," she said. "With our wonderful website people have 24 / 7 access, and we have a branch library at the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center and [one] at Stonington Human Services."

"It's areally nice outreach to our neighbors and a popular volunteer opportunity," de Kay said. "We alsomaintain four Little Free Libraries in and around the Borough, another collaboration with the Stonington Village Association."

Although libraries have changed enormously over the years, de Kay explained as she greeted a regular patron who was seated in a leather chair reading a newspaper in a quiet corner, some things have remained the same.

Yes, people want a place to plug in their laptops so they can sit and work in peace, she said, but there are plenty of people who come to read magazines, books and newspapers, and many more who come to check books out.

"We have a well-cultivated new book collection," de Kay said in her pleasant British accent. "And a 'Golden Oldies' section too."

"The really, really important thing about libraries," she said, "is that all people are welcome here. As long as you don't disturb others, you are welcome and you are treated with respect."

Construction of the addition, on the east side of the building, should take about six months, de Kay said, followed by the refurbishment and renovation of the interior.

G. Donovan Associates Inc., of Lebanon, Conn., is the general contractor, and the architect and interior designer is a West Hartford firm, dewright design LLC.

The interior work, Easton said, will free up an additional 525 square feet of floor space in the existing building, for a total of 1,250 square feet of new usable space. "More flexible" contemporary furniture will also be installed furniture that can be easily folded up to make space for meetings and gatherings.

"I'm very keen on the idea of the second phase and the repurposing part," said de Kay, explaining that the changes will "open it all up." After all, she added, the library is a space open to everyone, and everyone should feel at home.

Although people can become anxious about construction projects and change, de Kay said, they can rest easy about the new addition. "The architect has designed the addition so it will look as if it's always been there."

Easton concurred: "Six months from now, nobody will even notice."

Griffiths, who describes the library as "a lovely place to be involved" said she was thrilled to see tangible signs of progress.

George Sylvestre,who serves as co-chair of the building committee, along with Easton, said, "As a former trustee and past president of the board I am thrilled to see this project becoming a reality."

"It's long overdue," said Micayla Hall, the library's assistant director. "It will help open up the space we have and make us more flexible for the community. Just what a library is for."

"We're just so grateful to everyone for all the collaboration," she added.

"The work being undertaken now will insure that it will be able to welcome anyone who wishes to take advantage of its many offerings, regardless of physical limitations," added Sylvestre.

"And now, we'll have an accessible elevator and new ramp and a new elevator," saidde Kay, "all to improve access for all members of the community."

"It's amazing what you can do," she added. "When you have all sorts of wonderful people working together."

nbfusaro@thewesterlysun.com

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Stonington Free Library expansion aims to satisfy the need for 'more' - The Westerly Sun

What does the worlds most expensive hotel room looklike? Located at the Palms Casino Resort in LasVegas, the Empathy Suite, which is perched 34 floors above the Vegas Strip, is designed by world-renowned British contemporary artist Damien Hirst and overlooks the American citys famous boulevard. The residential masterpiece is reserved exclusively for million-dollar casino rollers for a minimum of two nights at a princely sum of US$200,000.

From bespoke indoor furniture to wall decals sporting the iconic butterfly motif from Hirsts debut exhibition in London in 1991, the hotel room is home to six of the artists signature installations, each showcasing his eclectic exploration of death as a central theme. One of which is Winner/Loser, a white tank with two suspended bull sharks. An installation from his most prominent series, it features animal carcasses in formaldehyde-filled tanks. Set seamlessly into the wall, the artwork is placed behind a brightly coloured pool table in the game room, greeting guests as they enter the space.

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Inside The Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas' Empathy SuiteThe World's Most Expensive Hotel Room - Thailand Tatler

AN has assembled another collection of exhibitions, lectures, and conferences in the coming week that feature artists, architects, policymakers, and thinkers reflecting on aesthetic, social, ecological, and design strategies for the modern world. If youre in or around New York City, stop by and enrich yourself.

Check out the events below:

Rashid Johnson, The Hikers at Hauser + Wirth

Installation view of Rashid Johnsons The Hikers (Thomas Barratt)

Hauser & Wirth New York, 22nd StreetOpening reception: November 12, 6:00 8:00 p.m.November 12 through January 25, 2020

Rashid Johnsons The Hikers show includes ceramic tile mosaics, collaged paintings, a large-scale bronze sculpture sprouting plants, and an installation of his latest film shot in Colorado, using the combination of mountain landscapes and body movement to express the psychological consequences and challenges of the modern world and its injustices. Johnson asks: What are the movements like when a black man is walking past a police officer? Or when a black man is suffering from agoraphobia?

Urban Thinkers Campus: Accelerating the SDGs in Cities

A conference at Columbia calls attention to the Paris Climate Accords Sustainable Development Goals (Courtesy Columbia University)

Kellogg Center, Columbia University, SIPA 15th FloorNovember 13, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

GSAPP, Wood Auditorium, 1st Floor420 West 118th Street, Room 1501November 14, 10:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m.

The Urban Thinkers Campus is a UN Habitat framework for critical exchange between stakeholders and partners to promote sustainable urbanization. Columbia Universitys Center for Sustainable Urban Development is hosting Accelerating the SDGs in Cities, promoting the Paris Climate Agreements Sustainable Development Goals as a tool to evaluate projects on the basis of the 193-nation agreement. Emphasizing the urgency of meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals, it shepherds academics, professionals, and participants of civil society to generate ideas for action and methodologies to expedite action on the SDGs. The event will also include a complementary gallery of 100 local projects from more than 30 countries, considered according to how they meet the goals.

The Great Hall, Cooper UnionNovember 14 through 16, various timesKickoff Event: November 14, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.LOLA, 169 Avenue A, New York

The tenth Creative Time Summit, Speaking Truth, continues the public art organizations discussion of social, political, and aesthetic questions through keynote presentations, group discussions, workshops, and performances. Traveling to DC, Toronto, and Miami in recent years, it returns to New York City to the Great Hall at Cooper Union and sites around the East Village, asking whether the long-time activist cliche of speaking truth to power can rescue us from disillusionment. Maybe not, but some of the usual suspects of socially engaged art will be mixed with new faces to challenge whether art can be more than another sideshow of collapsing civic life, politics, and media culture.

Francis Kr: Work Report

Francis Kr (Astrid Eckert/TU Muenchen)

Yale ArchitectureHastings Hall, 180 York Street, Basement Level, New Haven, CTNovember 14, 6:30 p.m.

Krs lecture at Yale promises an update on his recent projects, with an emphasis on his communal approach to design and commitment to sustainable materials and modes of construction, drawing on the social and physical particularities of localities. Based in Berlin, Kr Architectures current work includes the Burkina Faso National Assembly, the Lyce Schorge Secondary School, the Lo Surgical Clinic & Health Centre, the 2017 Serpentine Pavilion, and Xylem, the recently opened pavilion for Tippet Rise Art Center.

The Green New Deal: A Public Assembly

Queens MuseumNew York City Building, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, QueensNovember 17, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Advocates, organizers, and elected officialsincluding a rumored appearance by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in her districtwill gather for this conference jointly organized by the Buell Center at Columbia GSAPP with the Queens Museum, AIA New York, the Architecture Lobby, Francisco J. Casablanca (Quin Nos Representa?), and Green New Deal organizer and architect Gabriel Hernndez Solano. Following the drafting of a set of general principles for how to equitably redress climate crisis in House Resolution 109 and Senate Resolution 59, The Green New Deal: A Public Assembly includes morning workshops and an afternoon series of discussions to encourage invited guests and the public to think systemically and across scales.

Alphonso Lingis, Irrevocable

Alphonso Lingis (Courtesy the New School)

The New SchoolGIDEST Lab at 63 Fifth Avenue, Room 411November 22, 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.

The philosopher Alphonso Lingis lectures on the irrevocable at the GIDEST Seminar, the New Schools weekly discussion at the Graduate Institute for Design, Ethnography & Social Thought. Author of a series of books on places of alterity and social cohesion, including The Community of Those Who Have Nothing in Common, The Imperative, Dangerous Emotions, Trust, and Violence and Splendor,Lingiss work draws from continental philosophy, phenomenology, and engages in philosophical-ethnographic travel meditations, often focused on bodily experience.

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Here are fall's hottest architecture, sustainability, and social theory events on the East Coast - The Architect's Newspaper

In the years opposite its juried biennial, the Center for Maine Contemporary Art is mounting curated shows on a theme. Temporality | The Process of Time is the second in the series. It addresses current themes in contemporary art, following 2017s Materiality | The Matter of Matter.

Once again, the CMCA proves it has the purview and curatorial patience this time under the hand of CMCA Associate Curator Bethany Engstrom to go deep among contemporary art of the region. Temporality makes for a conceptually compelling and handsome show.

Engstrom chose an impressive list of many of the leading contemporary artists in Maine. She doesnt pretend to be comprehensive, so it is no insult to any artist not included in the show. What she delivers, however, is an introduction to the idea that practice has a counterpart in experience. Let me let Engstrom illustrate.

Gideon Bok often paints in his Rockland studio, a huge space that is a place for friends, art tools, musical instruments, and so on. But Bok paints what he sees: If Joe sits on the couch, Bok paints him. If Joe leaves after a few minutes, then we only see some part of Joe. When Joe alights elsewhere, we see him elsewhere as well. What were experiencing is Boks subjective, painterly experience of a place, the fleetingness of human interaction.

Grace DeGennaro has long been one of my favorite painters in the country. She often paints large canvases with dots built from simple notions, like a diamond shape welling from the center of the canvas. What we see, however, is a blend of her skill and the impossibility that human sensibilities will line up with geometrical ideals. The result is that DeGennaros surfaces writhe with an organic sensuality like a cloth pulled taut in the wind. Her work quivers and we can practically feel its sensual frisson.

Next to DeGennaro, we have Deborah Wing-Sprouls Anonymous Biography, featuring a stack of (very small) blankets and photographs of a figure attempting to coil within them. We can sense the reach across stacking the blankets, making the photographs and creating the installation. On the other side of DeGennaros work is a suite of pieces by Carly Glovinski in which the artists drawing gestures mimic the woven gestures of the works she makes. Her huge paper work spilling off the wall to the floor also plays to the logic of a large fiber piece, and thus hints that the process included its foldable presentation all along.

This main gallery also features the work of Danica Phelps, whose drawings include bookkeeping logic of positive and negative expenditures through the years of her art making. Instead of red and black, however, her look matches the grids of efficient CPU use and she connects different systems by means of threads running below the group.

Aside from Boks, these are all in the CMCAs main gallery, where every work is by a woman. The entire gallery practically quivers with brilliance and craftsmanship. Is there a feminine element to the space? I think so, and I think the entire show benefits from this.

Temporality also features several strong male artists, in addition to Bok. Clint Fulkersons front wall mural features the artists now-quite-familiar systems logic weaving drawings, but with a dash of mathematical presence that looks to the map logic of Dan Mills recent CMCA show by including 10 dots per walled-in space. My favorite work in the show might be Jesse Pots electronic works that feature an ancient-seeming shovel spinning on its axis in a slow, circular earth-like orbit on its pedestal and a group of flat maps rock-ground by metal arms shifting stones over topographical maps.

Amy Stacey Curtiss Clock II, a shelf of 50 or so black-and-white blocks, includes orders/permission for the viewers to shift the blocks at the start of each minute. Curtis is Maines doyenne of recipe-oriented installations and few of her many works have ever appealed so well to her strengths as this quite likely the conceptually strongest work in Temporality.

By far the most entertaining work in the show is Robin Mandels (2019) Entertaining Illusion, which features a long table, wine glasses, reflecting window glass and a couple projectors. Employing an illusion called Peppers Ghost (named after the English scientist John Henry Pepper, 18211900), Mandel presents the viewer with glasses of wine at the far end of a long, slender table that appear as various times as filled, or not filled. Its an age-old technique, but Mandels presentation feels fresh and fun. Its a piece that happens in real time, with the theatrical filling of the glass by a ghostly hand, but its also a tip of the hat to history. For these qualities combined with the elegant table setting, it is one of the most satisfying installations to have ever been mounted at the CMCA.

Temporality not only hints at the real-time presence of the viewers and the process-heavy efforts of the makers, but the experience of anyone encountering the work. In this sense, the show is a particularly excellent experience for anyone seeking to grow with their visits to art exhibitions. CMCA itself is growing, and here we are witnessing another giant step forward.

Freelance writer Daniel Kany is an art historian who lives in Cumberland. He can be contacted at:

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Art review: CMCA takes on the theme of time in series' latest show - Press Herald

What to see, do and experience in London, from the sustainable and very boozy Ketel One pop-up garden at the Bourne & Hollingsworth buildings (oh so Instagrammable) to the cabaret-focussed exhibition now showing at the Barbican sharing life in front and behind the glamorous cabaret curtain.

Look at some artwork by an infamous British sculptor: Antony Gormley has taken over the Main Galleries at the Royal Academy and shows work from his 45-year career, punctuated with major new installations. Theres an exploration of Gormleys materiality fromiron and steel to hand-beaten lead, seawater and clay. Then theres his rarely-seen early works from the 70s and 80s, some of which led to Gormley using his own body as a tool to create work.

Throughout the series of experiential installations, visitors are invited to slow down and become aware of their own bodies. Highlights includeClearing VII, an immersive drawing in space made from kilometres of coiled, flexible metal, andLost Horizon I, 24 life-size cast iron figures set at different orientations on the walls, floor and ceiling which is aimed to challenge perceptions of which way is up. Catch the exhibition before it closes on December 3 1019.

Antony Gormley,Lost Horizon I, 2008.Installation view, Antony Gormley, Royal Academy of Arts, ... [+] London, 21 September to 3 December 2019. PinchukArtCentre, Kiev, Ukraine.24 cast iron bodyforms, each 189 x 53 x 29 cm. the Artist.

Drink Talisker whiskey in an igloo: The Aviary is back with a festive bang in the form of theirrenowned rooftopigloos,and this year sees the introduction of theSkye-lineIgloos featuring theaward-winning spiritTaliskerWhiskyfrom the Isle of Skye.

Drink Talisker whiskey in an igloo

Aviary, which is elevated 10 floors above The City on Finsbury Square offers an immersive experience in ode ofTaliskers Scottish homeland, providing an inner-city escape overlookingLondon. Expect amenu of wild whiskey cocktails including the spicy and citrusy Scotch Mist and the fruity, smokey Northern Lights that can besipped in the cosyigloosunder the stars.

Drink Talisker whiskey in an igloo

Take in an exhibition dedicated to Greek mythology: Cerberus is Mark Bradfords debut exhibition at Hauser & Wirth in London. The show, which is made up of new works includes the film, Dancing in the Street (2019) and it sees Bradford return to ancient mythology, a source of inspiration for him.

Frostbite by Mark Bradford (2019)

Take part in a chocolate tasting experience held by Rococo: Join the chocolate experts at Rococo for a tasting experience at their store in the heart of Belgravia. Youll have a chance to try 15 different chocolates, from their classic bars to deluxe ganaches and truffles and their chocolatier is there to guide you on the look, feel and taste of each. A relaxed, informative and delicious way to learn more about the variety of chocolate.

Take part in a chocolate tasting experience held by Rococo

Learn about cabaret through art: Step inside the stylish and debaucherous world of cabaret thanks to the Barbican. Here you can explore the history of worlds most iconic cabarets, cafs and clubs in modern art through the lens of pioneering artists.

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 03: An installation view of 'Into The Night: Cabarets and Clubs in Modern ... [+] Art' at Barbican Art Gallery on October 03, 2019 in London, England. A recreation of the bar at the Cabaret Fledermaus, originally designed by Josef Hoffman (1907) The exhibition will run from 4th October 2019 until 19th January 2020. (Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Barbican Art Gallery)

Ranging from 1880s to the 1960s,Into the Nightcelebrates the creative spaces where artists gathered and pushed the boundaries of artistic expression via the clubs of Berlin to the Harlem jazz scene through to the the vibrant context of the Mbari clubs in 1960s Nigeria.

Erna Schmidt-Caroll, Chansonette (1928)

Pick up an advent calendar by Fortnum & Mason: Enjoy a spot of early Christmas shopping at London most-loved store, Fortnums and while youre at it pick up one of their advent calendars before they sell out. The Fortnum's Feasting Advent Calendar is the perfect pressie for a foodie, with delicious treats hidden behind every door from Breakfast Blend Coffee to Strawberry & Champagne Preserve.

Pick up an advent calendar by Fortnum & Mason

Check out artwork by the original girl gang: 170 years after the first pictures were exhibited by the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in 1849,Pre-Raphaelite Sisters which is held by the National Portrait Gallery, explores the overlooked contribution of twelve women to this iconic artistic movement. On show is unseen works from both public and private collections and it gives a genuine insight into the women behind the pictures and their creative roles in Pre-Raphaelites successive phases between 1850 and 1900.

Properly trained Night and Sleep by Evelyn De Morgan

Take part in a boozy sustainable pop-up: This month Ketel One Vodka has collaborated with the team at Bourne & Hollingsworth and theyve got all green fingered for a sustainability-focused, month-long pop-up. Here theyll offer different ways to reuse and recycle their coffee grounds, as they will be turning the spent coffee from their Ketel One Espresso Martinis into compost for the indoor garden.

The Ketel One Espresso Martini Garden Bar at Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings

Masterclasses will be hosted by Julius Roberts, not only giving practical advice to repurpose but also showing you how to make sustainable cocktails that will impress guests at home, right in time for the party season.

Ketel One Espresso Martini

Mark Thanksgiving in London: Theres plenty of places taking part in Thanksgiving - mark it in your diary, 28 November. And lucky lucky us as Bulleit Whiskey (delicious) has joined forces with East London based HIX Restaurant, Tramshed and theyre throwing one hell of a Thanksgiving Feast.

The ticketed event will take place on the mezzanine at Tramshed and each course of the American style menu will be paired with a Bulleit Whiskey cocktail including the Sweet Potato Whiskey Sour and a Fennel Iced Tea. Be sure to leave room for pud, as theres a bourbon and pecan tart with Neals Yard clotted cream, alongside an expertly paired Bulleit and Guinness Old Fashioned. Thank you, thank you.

Bourbon and pecan tart with Neals Yard clotted cream & Bulleit and Guinness Old Fashioned

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London's November Culture Crush: What To See And Do In The Capital - Forbes

News & FeaturesFlathead Avalanche Centers three stations will fill a forecasting void in the Flathead Valley

By Maggie Dresser // Nov 13, 2019

When the wind howls and the snow falls in the Flathead and Swan mountain ranges, the weather conditions are a guessing game. In those remote mountain peaks, theres nowhere to obtain records and no way to collect data.

But thats about to change. The Flathead Avalanche Center (FAC) installed a wind sensor on Mount Aeneas in the Swan Range this fall and plans to install two weather stations on Tunnel Ridge in the Middle Fork in the Flathead Range next summer.

While the Mount Aeneas station will exclusively monitor wind speed and wind direction, the two separate Tunnel Ridge stations will provide additional data.

Situated on an exposed ridgeline, the Tunnel wind stations sensors will monitor wind speed, wind direction, temperature and relative humidity. The Tunnel snow station will be installed in a protected basin below the ridge, attached to solar panels that will charge the batteries and communicate data through free wave radio to Essex. The snow stations sensors will measure snow depth, temperature and relative humidity, FAC Director Zach Guy said.

Officials are currently troubleshooting power issues on Mount Aeneas sensor, but it should be operational in the coming weeks, according to Guy.

The stations will help the avalanche center collect wind and weather data in the two ranges where theres historically been an absence. The data will give forecasters more information to understand the snowpack and avalanche conditions, allowing them to write more accurate forecasts.

We dont have any idea how much it snows in the mountains after a storm, Guy said. Sometimes its a swing and a miss.

With the new stations, weather data will now be available on a daily and hourly basis, Guy said, creating more accurate and up-to-date records.

To understand whats happening up there remotely is huge, Guy said.

Despite the new weather stations, forecasters will still continue their same day-to-day operations, just with an added tool in the tool belt.

We still run the same show, just more accurate to start with, Guy said.

During the season, forecasters start at about 4 a.m. to produce a morning forecast, which is posted at 7 a.m. every day. Even with their new data-collecting tool, forecasters will continue going out into the field to make observations. Their observations will typically validate the forecast.

In some ways were going into the field after weve got the product, Guy said. It all goes into the big picture. Well have more data to support our forecast.

In addition to the avalanche center, the weather stations will also benefit aviation operations like Two Bear Air Rescue and fire management teams who rely on the weather to operate safely and predict fire activity.

Between fundraising, donations, a $5,000 grant from Flathead Electric Cooperative and $10,000 from BNSF Railway, FAC and Friends of the Flathead Avalanche Center were able to fund the roughly $35,000 project.

Other weather stations include sensors on Big Mountain, owned by Friends of the Flathead Avalanche Center and maintained by Whitefish Mountain Resort ski patrol, several stations on the floor of John F. Stevens Canyon and multiple sensors in Glacier National Park.

This fills a huge void in our forecasting uncertainty and will significantly improve our forecast accuracy, Guy said.

maggie@flatheadbeacon.com

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New Weather Stations Arriving in Swan and Flathead Ranges - Flathead Beacon

Serious fans of vinyl and audiophiles who want the ability to listen to records tend to avoid all-in-one record players like the plague. These systems are very popular. They combine a turntable, amplifier, speakers and additional features like Bluetooth wireless in a single wooden cabinet. The vintage appeal and compact size (compared to separate components) keeps them flying off shelves. However... With prices typically $200 or less, no-one is going to mistake these systems for a premium offering. The wood is usually fake, the audio output is tinny, the record player often exhibits distortion from the speakers, and the inexpensive stylus used in many of these systems can actually damage records.

Those who know better stick to a high quality turntable connected to decent audio components.

That leaves a big gap in the market, though. A turntable plus components takes up a lot of physical space and requires multiple unsightly wires to connect everything. In a small space like an apartment or a den, a traditional setup isnt always an option. The +RECORD PLAYER from +AUDIO was designed to address this gap.

The +RECORD PLAYER in walnut.

Its an all-in-one record player, but one with a modern take on the classic wood cabinet design and audio performance that will impress even the audiophile crowd. The +AUDIO team that spent over three years working on the +RECORD PLAYER includes engineers with decades of experience at some of the worlds leading audio brands (including JBL and Cambridge SoundWorks) along with an accomplished furniture designer. The end result is a beautiful all-in-one record player with premium touches including real wood veneer and aluminum trim, and high quality audio components throughout starting with a European-made Pro-Ject Debut III turntable nested into the top of the cabinet.

Premium Components + Advanced Design

The team at +AUDIO is very proud of the components and design that went into the +RECORD PLAYER, and its worth talking about these because they are key to designing an all-in-one system thats not compromised.

As mentioned, the turntable isnt just any old record player stuck on top, its a highly regarded Pro-Ject Debut III. This two speed belt-drive turntable is equipped with a 24 pole synchronous motor with crystal stabilized digital electronic speed controller for minimal wow and flutter. An Ortofon OM10 MM cartridge is pre-mounted (an upgrade from the OM5e typically found on this turntable). I have this cartridge installed on several of my turntables, and its a solid performer with excellent tracking and high quality audio.

The +RECORD PLAYER, top view of the integrated Pro-Ject Debut III turntable.

The two stage phono pre-amp uses passive equalization to deliver superior accuracy. You can flip a switch on the back of the system to bypass the internal speakers and instead output via Line Out to powered speakers or an amplifier, but the +RECORD PLAYER sounds fantastic without external components. The turntable sits atop a base that does double duty as the speaker enclosure an arrangement that leads to distortion in most systems. In this case, careful design has gone into producing a cabinet that allows for decent bass (low frequency output down to 55Hz) while isolating the turntable from speaker feedback and vibration, even at high volume.

The drivers themselves are custom units, a pair of 3.5-inch high excursion long throw aluminum cone woofers and a pair of 1-inch soft dome tweeters. Each is driven by its own Class D digital amplifier (35W to each of the woofers and 15W to each of the tweeters for 100W total). According to +AUDIO, the team spent weeks with male and female listeners ranging in ages from 18 to 70, optimizing the output of the DSP to deliver an ideal audio experience in a typical living space. This includes a Wide sound mode, which does a very good job of producing expansive audio with a wide soundstage, replicating what youd get with a pair of speakers.

Assembly

The +RECORD PLAYER comes in several pieces, but assembly is straightforward. The Pro-Ject turntable arrives with the cartridge pre-mounted and adjusted. Connecting it to the base is a matter of plugging in a power cable, and a pair of RCA output cables (both of which are then hidden from view), then aligning the turntables feet up with four cutouts on the base top. The drive belt is then placed over the inner platter and pulley, followed by placing the platter over the spindle. The tonearm needs to be balanced, the tracking force set and the anti-skate set. Then the clear cover is slipped onto the pre-installed hinges.

The +RECORD PLAYER interior, prior to turntable installation.

Excellent instructions are included in the box, and the entire operation should take less then half an hour.

The Pro-Ject Debut III turntable prior to installation and setup.

Positioning is important with this system. Its recommended that you keep at least one foot of clear space on either side of the +RECORD PLAYER, and avoid enclosed cabinets. Not having space will interfere with speakers performance, especially in Wide mode. Fortunately, the system has a footprint little larger than just a turntable, at 17.6 x 13.9 inches.

The turntable is connected to the base (two RCA jacks plus a power cable) then lowered into ... [+] position.

Performance

Ive reviewed several mainstream all-in-one record players over the years, and I keep an assortment of sacrificial test records for use with those theres no way I would play vinyl from my own collection on any of them. And the sound is always pretty terrible. Like listening to a record played over a cheap mono speaker, muddied by being wrapped in layers of foam...

I was really looking forward to how the +RECORD PLAYER would sound. The system looks sleek and modern, and if the sound matched the premium appearance it was going to be something special. I wasnt disappointed.

The +RECORD PLAYER is equipped with a high quality Pro-Ject turntable and Ortofon OM10 MM ... [+] cartridge.

I had no concerns about playing my records on the +RECORD PLAYERs Pro-Ject turntable. Initial testing took place in my office, which is a fairly small room. It still sounded fantastic, with respectable bass, solid midrange and clear highs. I played through albums from bands representing a wide range of genres Simple Minds, Talking Heads, Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan and it was always impressive. I was unable to detect any issue with the speakers impacting record playback, even when volume was cranked up on bass-heavy tracks. But the real test was moving from my office to the main floor of the house after a week, once the stylus and speakers had a chance to be broken in.

Ive always wanted to set up a turntable on this floor so I could listen to records in the living room and kitchen, but there just isnt enough free space for a turntable, amplifier and speakers.

The +RECORD PLAYER is compact, and shines when set up in an open space.

This is a scenario where the +RECORD PLAYER absolutely shines. Its entire footprint is roughly the size of a turntable and it was easy to clear a little space on the top of a cabinet. In Wide mode in the open concept space, vinyl sounded nearly as good as the traditional stereo setup in my office. There is a real sense of depth, and plenty of power on tap to fill an open space with high quality audio. This system would be ideal in an apartment or condo.

Bluetooth and USB

You can use the +RECORD PLAYER as a Bluetooth speaker to stream audio from your smartphone. Connectivity is easy theres a Bluetooth button on the front panel and audio is decent, although a definite step down from what the turntable can deliver and not at the quality you would get from Wi-Fi streaming (more on that shortly). With the system volume at maximum, theres a noticeable hum between tracks and as a result Ive been keeping system volume around 75% when using Bluetooth. That means music cant get quite as loud as when playing a record, but its still sufficient to nicely fill a medium-sized space.

+RECORD PLAYER inputs and outputs.

The back panel has inputs for 3.5mm AUX, Line in and optical sources, but youll also find a USB port. This can be used to output audio to a PC or Mac for digitizing vinyl tracks, and can also be used to power a connected USB device.

+RECORD PLAYER Key Specs (as tested):

What About Wi-Fi and Streaming Audio?

When I spoke to the +RECORD PLAYER team, they said one of the objectives of this system was to avoid complexity. There was also some concern during the design phase about the rapid changes in streaming audio technology and the potential risk of obsolescence. So there is no integrated Wi-Fi connectivity, and that means no onboard support for streaming services like Spotify. However, Bluetooth connectivity is there for those who want to stream music from their smartphone.

That being said, the system includes multiple inputs and +AUDIO says a signal sensing circuit will automatically detect a streamer like an Amazon Echo Dot connected to the AUX input, and will switch to that source automatically. In other words, you can add the Wi-Fi streaming music source of your choice by connecting an inexpensive accessory.

I have an Apple Airport Express on order and will update this review when received to reflect how well the +RECORD PLAYER worked with AirPlay streaming...

Quibbles

There really wasnt much to find fault with here. The turntable platter immediately starts spinning when powered on, not when the tonearm is cued, and remains on until put in standby mode. That took a little adjusting to get used to. The good news is that unlike most Pro-Ject turntables Ive used, this one automatically switches between 45 and 33-1/3 rpm instead of requiring you to manually move the belt up and down on the spindle.

The red LED volume level lights which are activated when you adjust volume seemed to have a life of their own sometimes several presses would move the lights up one level, sometimes a single press would advance the lights two levels but that had no effect on the actual volume adjustments.

Thats about it... The +RECORD PLAYER is a well-designed, and well-built audio system. Wi-Fi streaming would be high on my wish list, but thats easily taken care of.

Recommendation

The +RECORD PLAYER delivers premium quality vinyl playback in a modern, all-in-one cabinet.

Theres no getting around the fact that at over $1,300 the +RECORD PLAYER is an expensive product. However, if youre a vinyl fan in the market for an all-in-one record player with audio performance that would put many bookshelf turntable + amplifier + speaker systems to shame the +RECORD PLAYER is a standout option.

With its natural wood veneer and aluminum trim, the +RECORD PLAYER looks modern, the integrated Pro-Ject turntable with Ortofon OM 10 cartridge ensures your records sound their best, and the custom 100W speaker system delivers premium quality audio with detailed and expansive sound. The two-year warranty (with extended 10-year coverage) offered by +AUDIO, which is significantly better than the industry standard single year, is another big win.

If you want to take the vinyl listening experience up a notch, +AUDIO offers a Special Edition version. An additional $200 gets you an upgrade to a carbon fiber tonearm, and an Ortofon 2M Red cartridge.

Disclosure: +AUDIO provided a +RECORD PLAYER for evaluation but had no input into this review.

Read the original:
Review: The +RECORD PLAYER, A Compact All-In-One Audio System With A Pro-Ject Turntable And Killer Sound - Forbes

Pace launches its inaugural Pace Live performance programming this month, with events staged by Moroccan artist Yto Barrada and New Yorks Torkwase Dyson, two women of color who address themes of political divisions and black cultural creation.

It kicks off this Friday, November 15, with a movie night organized by Barrada, dubbed Cinmathque de Tanger, also the name of a theater she founded in Morocco. On Tuesday and Friday of next week, Dyson presents a performance and sculptural installation that incorporates numerous collaborators. It all takes place on the seventh floor of the mega-gallerys new mega-facility on 25th Street in Manhattan, which seats 150. RSVP for Barrada here; for Dyson on November 19 here, and for November 22 here.

The programming is organized by a duo, Mark Beasley and Andria Hickey, both hired away from museums last year for newly created posts. These are two artists Im very much interested in because of their collaborative spirit, Beasley told Artnet News. Using a metaphor for their belief in the artists, he said that Its just that good ingredients makes for fast cooking.

Yto Barrada.

The gallery, which turns sixty next year, makes this bet on performance among a dramatic rise in attention to the ephemeral art form by museums and biennials, as well as other galleries. Anne Imhofs edgy performance was a smash hit at the 2017 Venice Biennale, which went on to integrate more performance art in its current edition; museums have been renovating and expanding with large spaces devoted to the art form. (Its not all ephemeral; taking place in a commercial gallery as it does, the inaugural Pace Live does incorporate some salable objects.)

Barradas contribution will consist of a presentation of ten short films by Middle Eastern and North African filmmakers.The films come from the collection of her Tangier movie house, which she and a group of other artists launched in 2007 with the mission of bringing international cinema to her hometown while helping popularize Moroccan filmmakers abroad. Its holdings comprise feature films, documentaries, and experimental works. (The movie house, which also serves as an interdisciplinary cultural hub, was created in the wake of 9/11, when Middle Easterners and North Africans found their access to Europe increasingly curtailed.)

The seventh floor at Paces new Chelsea home will host Pace Live performances.

Also on view at Pace will be Moroccan textiles and Barradas wooden sculptures of defunct Tangier movie houses, which satellite dishes and DVDs largely put out of business, according to the artist. And bring your appetite; Barrada is offering a Moroccan-style family meal after the screening.

Presented in collaboration with the newest edition of performance art biennial Performa, Dysons contribution the following week, I Can Drink the Distance: Plantationocene in 2 Acts, invites black creators like Canadian poet and novelist Dionne Brand; artist Arthur Jafa; and interdisciplinary artist Autumn Knight into the space to engage with Dyson. The collaborations are all based on her theory of black compositional thought, and her guests will work in interaction with a sculpture by the artist, which will remain after the performances and is available to buyers. Some of the performances will involve readings, while some will incorporate music, dance, or audience interaction. Its not entirely clear what will happen, says Beasley, which, he acknowledges, can be terrifying.

This is the story of the moment, said Beasley, leaning into that daunting uncertainty. These are the voices that need to be heard.

Read more:
What Is Pace Planning for Its Hotly Anticipated Live Division? The Inaugural Program Includes a Celebration of Black Creativity - artnet News

News

by Jillian Lopez and Mina Mata Published 17 November, 2019 at 6:00 PM from the October 2019 print issue

Photo by Marco Ricafort

RENOVATIONS ARE underway in certain areas on campus as Vice President for the Loyola Schools (VPLS) Maria Luz Vilches, PhD seeks to improve the Loyola Schools (LS) facilities. These initiatives were pursued in light of campus assessments conducted by the LS administration, which were brought up by the VPLS during the Magtanong sa VP at mga Dekano forum held on September 2.

These major campus improvements include the installation of air conditioning units at the Science Education Complex (SEC) buildings and the Immaculate Conception Chapel, as well as the expansion of the SEC-A building. As discussed in the forum, these additions hope to address issues on heat and the growing student population.

In addition to these plans, a number of projects have recently been completed on campus, such as the Manuel V. Pangilinan Center for Student Leadership (MVP-CSL) landing lounges, the New Rizal Library outdoor cafeteria, and the Office of Student Discipline (OSD) on the ground floor of MVP.

Addressing student needs

The Office of Facilities and Sustainability (OFS), along with the VPLS, will spearhead the renovation of current campus facilities and utilities this academic year.

According to Vilches, air conditioning units powered by solar panels will be installed in the SEC classrooms to improve the learning conditions of students. Due to the limited budget for the current academic year, Vilches said that they will first install units in the SEC-A classrooms, an initiative that the University plans to finish by January 2020.

To accommodate the increasing student population on campus in light of the K-12 program, Vilches stated that SEC-A will be expanded by constructing two more floors with 18 new classrooms by December 2021. She added that the LS administration anticipates around 10,000 students on campus in 2022.

Before they begin constructing the two additional floors, OFS Director Elias Pan said that an assessment of the buildings structural integrity must be done first.

Yung SEC-A kasi ginawa yan [noong] 1998 so wala pa yung [2005 National Building Code of the Philippines]. Ang ginagawa ngayon, iniimbestigahan ang building bago i-design for two floors kung capable pa siya in relation sa [code] (SEC-A was made in 1998 so the 2005 National Building Code of the Philippines did not exist yet. We are currently investigating the building first before adding two floors to see if it adheres to the [code]), he said.

The aforementioned code aims to promote up-to-date and modern technical knowledge on building design, construction, use, occupancy, and maintenance.

Once the necessary requirements are met, Pan said that construction of SEC-A floors will beginhopefully by Intersession of 2020. After the completion of the project, he added that they will assess SEC-B and SEC-C for the possibility of expansion as well.

Completed projects

Aside from these upcoming campus improvements, Vilches added that the LS administration also completed several projects as of late. These were pursued in light of the requests from different LS offices and departments to meet their respective units needs.

Vilches mentioned that among the projects is the new OSD in MVP, which was recently constituted to augment the work done by the Office of Student Services (OSS) regarding student disciplinary complaints. The OSD will spearhead development and restorative justice programs for students, which will require one-on-one meetings.

Vilches explained, We want to create a new face for discipline thats not scary. [Students] say we need a proper office for discipline where its not all about punishment.

Another recent project is the Office of Student Activities new MVP landing lounges, which were constructed to provide students with more comfortable working areas.

It is important to have a space which is conducive for learning. When you create a space, you create the atmosphere as well, explained Vilches.

Additionally, the New Rizal Library outdoor cafeteria was constructed at the request of Rizal Library Director Vernon Totanes in hopes of improving the appearance of the librarys entrance.

He said that the new cafeteria improves the faade of the building and caters to students needs should they feel hungry after studying in the library.

Improving Sanggus response

Although not all student concerns were raised at the September 2 Magtanong sa VP at mga Dekano, Sanggunian President Quiel Quiwa assured that issues about campus facilities raised to the Sanggunian are discussed in small Budget Committee meetings with the administration and forwarded to the offices involved.

We have two representatives at the Loyola Schools Budget Committee to make sure that the budget is consistent with the student demands. This committee is divided into sub-committees that negotiate the budget with different academic departments and offices, he said.

In an effort to address student concerns more efficiently, Sanggunian Vice President Jb Bejarin added that the Sanggunian will begin working with the Student and Administrative Services Cluster (SASC), which is composed of the OFS, the OSS, and the Loyola Schools Office of Guidance and Counseling.

The [SASC] has agreed to streamline existing feedback mechanisms between the students, Sanggu, and the mentioned offices for [a] more efficient and effective response to student concerns, Bejarin said. Sanggu will be working with the SASC through set regular meetings starting this October.

Read more:
Major campus renovations to commence this academic year - The GUIDON