Even in the midst of a concrete jungle, we can find places like this one where shade spreads overhead, letting in drops of sunshine but keeping everyone comfortable and cool. It’s the perfect spot to gather with a friend to chat or take a midday walk to stretch your legs and people watch. We don’t know why everyone is gathered in one place, but everyone is content to be out together. It’s these little pockets of landscaping and design that have always made life within a city so versatile. We are able to get easily from place to place along roads by car and be productive within our office spaces, but when the desire arises we can also slow things down by chatting with the locals under the cover of carefully planted, well grown trees. These are the spaces where even in today’s society children play, women gossip about the latest things, and men swap shop talk together. On this day, Les likely saw the opportunity for perfect photographic lighting, but what he really captured was a reminder of the simple ways, and the simple spaces, in which we all best connect. A city’s buildings might be the hub of productivity, ingenuity, and revenue but it’s the outdoor spaces like this that are the heart of a city’s community and character.