GridPhilly, Author at Grid Magazine

#038 June 2012

Recycling Challenge: Sneakers

story by Samantha WittchenFACT: It takes approximately 5,000 pairs of sneakers to create an elementary school playground surface.

PROBLEM: The average lifespan for sneakers is 500 miles. For most people, that means replacing their sneakers every six months to a year, which results in somewhere between 300 and 600 million pairs of sneakers

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May 29, 2012

1 min read

#038 June 2012

Dye, Dye, My Darling: Safe, natural dyes grown in West Philadelphia garden

story by Missy SteinbergWhen Kelli Caldwell heard members of local design and dye house BlueRedYellow speak last summer about the dangers of synthetic dyes, she decided to take action. “It’s all about being aware that your clothing can be just as toxic as the air you breathe,” says Caldwell, a project

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May 29, 2012

1 min read

#038 June 2012

Head of the Class: Congratulations to the School District of Philadelphia and SMP Architects

photo by Barry HalkinAs if the LEED Platinum certification and state-of-the-art design weren’t enough to be proud of, the Kensington High School for the Creative and Performing Arts has a new accolade to add to their list.

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May 27, 2012

1 min read

#038 June 2012

Mood Indigo: Growing blueberries is easy as pie

story by Char VandermeerI once took great pleasure in planning my flowering container garden. My imagination brimmed with bright annuals as I sketched plans and gathered supplies. I spent countless hours paging through seed catalogs, agonizing over varieties and colors, flowering times, watering requirements, height, greenery, grasses, vines and heaven knows

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May 26, 2012

2 mins read

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Littering is Wrong Too: Comical Campaign Hits Philly

More examples of Philly wrong doings can be found on Keep Philadelphia Beautiful’s Facebook page. | Image via http://www.facebook.com/KeepPhiladelphiaBeautifulWhat is a greater faux pas in Philadelphia than calling a hoagie a hero? Questioning the Phillie Phanatic? Ordering crab fries without cheese? How about littering? The national organization Keep America Beautiful has brought their latest anti-littering

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May 24, 2012

1 min read

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Invest in Efficiency: Philly offering small businesses energy efficiency rebates

Greenworks Philadelphia is offering funding to small business owners for energy efficiency projects. | Image via phila.gov/green/greenworksEnergy efficiency improvements can be a major boon to small businesses, lowering energy bills and increasing savings each month. But for many businesses, the high costs of these improvements can put energy efficiency out of reach. Luckily, the Philadelphia

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May 22, 2012

1 min read

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National Bike to Work Day: Join Mayor Nutter in a morning bike commute tomorrow

Mayor Nutter will ride his bike to work with fellow commuters down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway tomorrow. | Image via the Bicycle Coalition of Greater PhiladelphiaSearching for a more invigorating morning commute? Join Mayor Nutter tomorrow for a morning bike ride down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in honor of National Bike to Work Day. The ride

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May 17, 2012

1 min read

#038 June 2012

Open Shop: Co-working “gyms” provide tools and space for beginners and experts alike

story by Liz Pacheco | photo byChristopher LeamanTo describe the warehouse for the future Philadelphia Sculpture Gym as rough would be an understatement. As of March, the 7,500-square-foot, brick-walled space was dark and dingy. There was a long, beat-up wooden table left from the previous owners, and piles of

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May 17, 2012

8 mins read

#038 June 2012

On the Shoulders of Giants: Four people who kick-started the Philadelphia food movement

April 1, 2012, 10:45 a.m. The line outside the Pennsylvania Convention Center was growing. Parents with strollers, young professionals, older couples, eco-conscious hippies and families in Phillies shirts were all patiently waiting for 11 a.m. Apparently the 1,100 pre-sold tickets were no fluke. The Philly Farm & Food Fest was attracting

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May 16, 2012

10 mins read

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Culinary Comedy: Pop-up performance of The Cooking Show at Reading Terminal

Performance artist and playwright Robert Karimi | Image by Jeffery MachtigFor performance artist and playwright Robert Karimi, preventing the growth of the Type 2 diabetes begins with culinary comedy. Joining humor with music, documentary-style video, storytelling, political discussion and live cooking, Karimi’s The Cooking Show engages and educates communities on how their cultural cuisines, stories

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May 14, 2012

1 min read

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