Kumbha Mela

Anyone who's visited West Ridge knows that our Devon Avenue offers the experience of a trip to the Subcontinent, minus the inconvenience of an international flight. And, as we've mentioned before, the word "bungalow" has deeps roots in India: in Gujarati it's known as bangalo, from Hindi, bangla is a "low, thatched house," and the term "Bengalese," is used to describe a "house in the Bengal style."

On Friday I was the guest of members of our local Indo American Heritage Museum at the opening event for this wonderful photography exhibit:

Sacred Waters: India’s Great Kumbha Mela Pilgrimage, March 6 — July 19, 2009

Journey to India with photographer Jean-Marc Giboux, and discover the creativity and splendor of the largest human gathering on earth, the Kumbha Mela pilgrimage.

Four times every 12 years, for just a few weeks, enormous and vibrant communities form at rivers believed to transform into divine nectar. Witness these fleeting, joyful gatherings, and discover their dazzling processions, theatrical performances, and the athletic and devotional practices of holy men. Then, proceed with the pilgrims to the culmination of their journey—a bath in sacred waters.

Through photographer Giboux's arresting images, glimpse the diversity of India and the complexities of Hindu religious life, on display at The Field Museum.

On another note, only vaugely related to bungalows (see November 11, 2008 post), while at this event I was excited to see Maria Pinto, Mrs. Obama's couturier of choice, looking every bit the designer in a fab, fitted green suit.

Bungalow of shame

The Ravenswood home of Governor Rod Blagojevich. Nice house. Despicable behavior. Normally I try to keep politics out of this blog, but today's news is just too disgusting to ignore.

All I can say is thank you, Patrick Fitzgerald. Keep working your way down that list.

A glimpse into the past

At the corner of Talman and Albion is a lovely, large bungalow built for the Malones by the Rance family of developers in the 1920s. Today it sits abandoned and covered by overgrown shrubs, with many of the original features remarkably intact.

If anyone knows who owns this place, please show them this photo. Perhaps they'll be inspired.

A realtor's view of West Ridge Bungalows

Here's a link to a relator who is highlighting West Ridge Bungalows on her website. It has some nice panoramic photos, you'll recognize some of your neighbor's homes.

Our Indian Roots

A bungalow (Gujarati: બંગલો baṅglo, Hindi: बंगला baṅglā) is a type of single-story house. The word derives from the Gujarati word baṅglo, which in turn came from Hindi baṅglā. It means "Bengali", used elliptically for a "house in the Bengal style".[1] Such houses were traditionally small, only one story, thatched and had a wide veranda.[2] Bungalows today are a type of house that is usually single story or one and a half stories, and can be quite large.
In India, the term bungalow refers to any single-family unit (i.e., a house), as opposed to an apartment building, which is the norm for Indian middle-class city living. The Indian usage is different from the North American usage insofar as a bungalow can be a quite large, multi-storied building which houses a single extended family. In India, owning a bungalow is a highly significant status symbol.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

View photos of vintage bungalows in India here: http://www.homestayz.com/index.html

Colorado bungalows...who knew?

I just returned from a trip to Colorado and while there stumbled upon some great bungalows in the towns of Boulder and Loveland. One of the homeowners I talked to thought that many of the frame versions were Sears kit homes. After a visit to The Tattered Cover (a fine bookstore in Denver, check it out if you're there) I now own a copy of Small Houses of the Twenties, The Sears and Roebuck 1926 House Catalog. Watch for an upcoming WRBN meeting featuring photos of these bungalows with (hopefully) side-by-side comparisons of their catalog listings.

WRBN enters the blogosphere

Greetings Bungalow Neighbors! After a very inspirational meeting with our friends from House in Progress, we've decided to join them and share the various bits and pieces of bungalow trivia that we gather via this blog. We'll also use this space to announce meetings, provide updates on projects, and generally keep you abreast of all things bungalow.