Urban Design cards

This was a final project for a course I took last semester. Our task was to create cards that synthesized what we learned over the course of the semester. Lots of people made playing cards in the interest of compartmentalization, but I took a different approach. Because urban design is so place-based, all my cards centered around a city I know well. Emma gets love for helping me create a screen print for the backings of all the cards.

resurected!

I'm making it a goal to post projects I've completed, or at least pieces of them. Stuff I'm thinking about.

In the last few days, I've recommitted to work. Thursday was the midterm critiques of the architecture and urban design programs. I wasn't included in this one, but it got my wheels spinning and focused. Meeting a couple new people that are interested in this stuff helps too.

Friday I went into Detroit to tour some of the neighborhoods I've been working in. It many ways, Detroit is like the moon, compared to Alaska. But, in the same way that Alaska is a rural frontier, Detroit is an urban frontier. I'm excited to live in this city this summer and explore it the way I need to. On bike, with camera.

I did this (<---) for my design class. We were doing architectural character studies of Census block groups. This one is dog walking territory from last year, between Miller and Huron, 7th and Westwood. From concept to final project, 2 day lapse.

file under 'who funded this?!'

Flensmark J.

Is there an association between the use of heeled footwear and schizophrenia?

Med Hypotheses. 2004;63(4):740-7.

PMID: 15325026 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


i hope not.

unrelated to New York, but found this and needed to share. For those of you that think this is crazy, this is what life is like where i grew up. Craigslist love.

Originally Posted: Thu, 8 May 10:33 AKDT

Dead Moose

---

Date: 2008-05-08, 10:33AM AKDT


I have a dead moose free for the taking.

It died yesterday, apparently of natural causes. I called Fish & Game to come and get it. Apparently, moose are a natural resource and belong to everybody, until they die, then they belong to whoevers property they die on. So, according to Fish & Game, the moose now belongs to me. Sweet!!

So, if you want a free moose, please come and get it before the bears do.

You could use it for dog food, or stuff it and put it your front yard, bear bait, whatever. If you live in the lower 48, this might be your best opportunity to get a free Alaska moose. I dont really care, I just want it out of my yard.

Please reply via email, I dont need all the animal rights folks calling me, its dead, and according to Fish & Game, its got no more rights...

• Location: Anchorage
• it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

PostingID: 673017049

Philadelphia, why are you so good to me?

Today I checked off two items on my list to get. i'm most of the way to a bike- found a frame on craigslist and bought it. Also, Tom and Kyle cleared me on a set of frames for my new glasses. We went to visit the rainman of glasses in Philly. His first of many choices for Tom were the ones he liked best, the same was true for me. Kyle has decided his next purchase will be a new pair.

I haven't spent much time with the kid, but he took me down to meet Tim with the bike frame. We subwayed down there together and had a good conversation- he's good people and as far as I can tell, Tom will keep him around for a while.

I took so many pictures of intersections and mixed use and third places that my camera battery died. They'll get on here soon enough.

Food with Tom and Kyle was crepes and then a stop at a raw bar for oysters and clams. Oh, that was after we spent 30 minutes at the italian open air market, trying every cheese I could fathom and trying to decide between us if we wanted to eat python, rabbit, or regular alligator tomorrow night. Seriously, this place is the bomb. Maybe a summer 2009 spot for Emma and Carrick? I already checked out the planned parenthood- it's huge and legit.

These are my new toys.

the answer to this week's puzzler=cupholders

Work has been slow the last few days. Kathy had a proposal due Thursday, so she hasn't been available to give me feedback or direction. I'm in that limbo stage where I'm waiting for the go ahead for data clearance so I can start doing my analysis, but everyone around me is dragging their feet and has other irons in the fire. As a result, I'm obsessively checking craigslist for bikes and other free gear. I've have the opportunity to read more about NE bike culture, and I'm so overdue to getting out and riding. I'm not sure which will give first, my standards in bikes or my wallet.

I split town yesterday for Philadelphia to visit Tom and Kyle. I took the Chinatown bus, the lowball offer, and while it was a valuable experience (mostly in how to ride public transportation in a super dicey area and not having a clue what was going on), I may opt for the rail lines next time. I was the last one on the bus, and ended up in (of course) the worst seat on the bus. For the nonbusriders, this is on the bench seat closest to the bathroom. You know, the one that the woman is sleeping on, so one has to poke at her for a good half mile before she wakes up. She was nice enough about it, at least. Beyond the suboptimal placement, the ride was fine. Came away with some nice photos of Chinatown. Look for those soon.

Tom and Kyle live in a terrific part of Philly. Again, pictures to come. Tom met me at the station and we took a nice walk around the old town area of the city. Liberty bell, Independence Hall... dot dot dot. Whatever. This city is on my short list of ones I think I'd be happy in. The historic district has some really interesting examples in rezoned residential. Again, pictures to come. The city has a huge bike culture, it's young and creative. It's on its way up, and reminds me of Portland before indie rock found it. I'm excited about Emma coming to see it. I want to know what she thinks. Somewhere between Detroit, Milwaukee and Portland. OK, I need to not romanticize the place too much. AND The Next American City is based here. The boys live in a amazing space, too. The facebook pictures don't really give it justice. All of the things I like- track lighting, exposed brick, granite countertops, hardwood floors.

For most of you reading this, you can stop now. The whining will begin. now.

Visits to Tom and Kyle always make me think about my own quality of life. I know I'm one to lowball most things in my life, for the sake of cost. I'm a disposable goods person who treats things like they're not disposable. Many things, low quality. I recognize this about myself and want to change it. I've admired this about people in my life for a long time. I want to learn to spend on quality goods, but fewer of them. Simpler, maybe. It's true, I don't need much. Sometimes I catch glimpses of me being the person I want to be, but largely, I'm stuck in habits. Part of being in NY is sudden, rapid lifestyle changes- but this is counterintuitive here because I'm living short term and don't want to be bothered with duplication. I don't want to buy something I already have at home. Ugh. growing up is dumb. I'd feel better about all this if I were in a more stable financial situation. Grad school/upward trajectory is rough. Personal growth, here we come.

catch you up!


ok, so Columbia has something like 14 graduation ceremonies, and tomorrow is the biggun'. Virginia is supposedly in town to see brother graduate, but I haven't heard from her yet.

This picture shows not even Columbia phds are too cool to ride the subway











this is the landscape in which they graduate. pretty stunning. for today's graduation proceedings though, it was crazy rainstormy. and yes, they did it outside.




sipa, the society for international and public affairs, celebrate their graduates and impede my way home.











these are the grads lining up at 8:45.








i made crazy good chili. i'm still eating it











this is to commemorate my 4 hour trip to trader joes. the store? fine. the line? heinous. the wait for the N train to come back on a sunday? 65 minutes. could have been worse, a woman could have been in labor next to me.











this is my favorite shot of the day.










another shot of a side street in astoria. someday, this will have some real substance.

got word today emma's giving (begrudgingly) her right ovary to the university of michigan. so, i'm flying home next wednesday for a few days and coach her through it. it'll be nice to be back in easy living for a few days, even if it is under less than great circumstances.


also, nina b-mq added me as a friend on facebook. we're going to be grand friends, you'll see. and, i'm still deskless at work.
oh, and my bike estimate? came in at $550. sweet. jimmy came through for me, it only took him.... 3 1/2 weeks.