Not only is balcony time returning to my routine, but so is daily walking. I took great effort to find an apartment close enough to my job to incorporate at least 5 days a week of walking. I was very fortunate that when that job ended, my new one was also in walking distance. However,… Continue reading Getting Back to Walking
Month: April 2014
Front Porch Sittin’ Time
I think it is safe to say, that at least in North Carolina, spring has arrived in earnest. It will shock me, but not by much, if we have one more hard freeze before May arrives. Yet, cold was nowhere this weekend, on the patio at Nattys where I had lunch with a few… Continue reading Front Porch Sittin’ Time
The Unbrand of a Citizen
Wikimedia Commons What is it about branding cities that appeals to people so much? Is it not unlike the push to identify oneself? If you are highly in tune with your image and what that image is, then you are constantly doing things to make it better. And that quest to make things better, on… Continue reading The Unbrand of a Citizen
#Throwback Thursday: Urban Design Must Have Heart and Soul
Today, I want to begin celebrating the spirit of Throwback Thursday (#tbt) and bring to you a post from our archives. Each week here on The Black Urbanist, I’m going to bring back one of my favorite essays, for comparison and for your entertainment. This week’s essay is from July 11, 2011. This post was… Continue reading #Throwback Thursday: Urban Design Must Have Heart and Soul
Are Historically-Black Towns History?
Recently, I came across two sets of articles about Historically Black towns in Oklahoma and in Missouri. Part as a means of segregation and part as a means of dignity, self-respect and control of the civic space, African-Americans established or had help establishing their own towns after slavery. Unfortunately, the promises of economic growth and civic engagement… Continue reading Are Historically-Black Towns History?
The Greensboro I Know Now
After writing Friday’s post, I have a few bullets I want to add about the Greensboro I’ve come to know since my return just over five years ago. The Greensboro that I know now: –Has a real downtown. I can go dancing, hear jazz music on Friday nights, play pool, get an authentic Irish pub… Continue reading The Greensboro I Know Now
The Raleigh I Knew
Quite simply, the Raleigh I met when I first went off to college in 2004: –Had yet to air condition the dorm I lived in and introduce on campus apartments for freshmen. –Hadn’t introduced downtown apartments (and student housing) on a mass scale. Now, it seems like a new unit pops up daily on every… Continue reading The Raleigh I Knew
Placebook: Loving the Un-Loveable Building
In honor of returning to my alma mater (the undergraduate one) for our annual PR Day,I wanted to take a moment and talk about its most unusual building. Some of you may think I want to talk about this one. Yes, it’s special. But it’s getting a lot of love and support now. No, the… Continue reading Placebook: Loving the Un-Loveable Building
Placebook: Is North Carolina Ready for A Vehicle Mileage Tax?
Yesterday I linked to an article that mentioned that the NC DOT has decided to study the implementation of a Vehicle Mileage Tax (VMT). I thought it was an April Fools joke. I was wrong. For those of you out of the loop, this is a tax collected by a meter either placed on your… Continue reading Placebook: Is North Carolina Ready for A Vehicle Mileage Tax?
Placebook: Upside Down City
So this is what I woke up to this morning. Happy April Fools right? The city is upside down!!!! You know I’m kidding, but I want to be serious for a moment. There are a lot of cities that are upside down financially, spiritually and even physically. Physically, they look more fallen in, but that… Continue reading Placebook: Upside Down City