Washington, D.C.’s First Elevated Public Park

With construction set to break ground in 2021 (and be completed in 2023), Washington, DC’s 11th Street Bridge Park will connect Anacostia to Capitol Hill by way of a 1.45-mile-long elevated public park. Envisioned by OMA and OLIN, the park will feature an environmental education center, public plaza, amphitheater, hammock grove and more. Further, the green space aims to be a resource for the residents …

The Resiliency of the Smiley Face

Originally designed by Harvey Ball in 1963, the Smiley Face has become an immediately recognizable symbol the world over. In the early ’70s two Hallmark reps copyrighted the design and later a French journalist claimed it through the Smiley Company—that same company made $420 million in 2017 by licensing the logo, claiming it’s more than an icon, it’s “a spirit and a philosophy.” In recent …

Pompeii’s Unearthed Stash of Ancient Charms and Amulets

When Pompeii met its sudden end more than 2,000 years ago, the city was buried with many treasures intact. With every archaeological dig there, remarkable insight into Roman life is revealed. A recent dig inside the House of the Garden unearthed the remains of 10 people and a collection of gems, beads, shells and amulets—once housed in a wooden box. There are phallic charms oftentimes …