MERCHANDISE MART

Yesterday a friend and I went to the Merchandise Mart, an easy walk from the train stations, on the north side of the river at Orleans St. Apart from what's in it, this is quite the impressive Art Deco building. Just to stroll its immenseness, to take in the ceilings, the exquisite bronze work on the doors and elevators, to walk the beautifully patterned floors, is a tour all by itself. It is in wonderful shape.

But we went for two things there now, the Buckminster Fuller exhibit, and the Dream Home rooms, both free. The Fuller exhibit is right inside the south door; you can't miss it. In case you don't know who Buckminster Fuller is, he was the man who designed all those geodesic domes as houses. My friend even knew of one in a Minneapolis suburb.

This one Fuller called "Fly's Eye Dome" because it does indeed resemble the compound lenses of a fly's eyes, as you can see. This is synthetic, stands 24 feet tall, made of 50 fiberglass sections, weighs 3,500 pounds, and is held together by about 1,050 stainless steel bolts, very visible. White outside, dark blue on the interior. These were supposed to be affordable, prefab homes, but I can't imagine living in one, although my friend said the one she knew was much larger. The huge holes are supposed to be filled with fiberglass windows. I suppose in a very private rural setting it might work.

But you can simply take it in for what it is here, a piece of sculpture. And walk inside if you want. Architecture and art.

As for the Dream Home rooms, the idea that anybody in their right mind would actually consider living in any one of these I find absurd. Over the top is an understatement. Although the bathroom was not toooo bad, I guess. All black and beige and ecru and bland, blah blah. Not to my taste at all. But like I said, it's free, and if you go, the woman at the door will give you a pass to many of the upper showroom floors, so you can browse them too. One floor was all it took for us, same-o, same-o. Although one item did catch our eye, a magnificent desk for the artist, architect, designer, to the tune of $14,000.

I can recommend Blue Fin, the restaurant right across the lobby from those rooms. We lingered there for some hours. Great food.