Travel

The painting, one of the most recognizable and important paintings in the combined collections of the Springfield Museums, will be on display as part of a new exhibit titled American Master: Winslow Homer in the D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts. The Homer exhibit runs concurrently with a display of etchings by James Abbott McNeill Whistler giving visitors an opportunity to view works by two of America’s most influential artists. more »

Rose Madeline Mula writes: Hamlet had it easy. All he had to figure out was whether "to be or not to be?" — a one-time dilemma, at least if he chose "not to be." My soul-searching question, which I am compelled to ask of every item in my closets and drawers, is "to pack or not to pack?" You'd think that it would get easier every time I travel. Wrong. If anything, it seems to get harder.     more »

The Architect of the Capitol began a multi-year project to repair deficiencies, restoring the Dome to its original, inspiring splendor. The Dome has not undergone a complete restoration since 1959-1960 and due to age and weather is now plagued by more than 1,000 cracks and deficiencies. Construction task lighting is visible and 720 LED construction task lights are installed to help workers as they restore the Dome at night. more »

Julia Sneden writes: Surely, I thought, people have observed and learned a lesson from the large urban areas in the northeast and far west — but no, our small cities have replicated the poor planning and nutty zoning that have allowed the destruction of roadside beauty all over the country. We're right up there with the big guys. The roads that lead into our towns and cities are lined with fast-food joints and factories and car dealerships and shopping centers, so that reaching the center of town seems to take forever. more »