In February, I joined the band Hoots and Hellmouth at the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture’s (PASA) annual conference. More than once, I was asked if I was the group’s new bass player, or maybe their roadie. In fact, I’m the band’s farmer. It’s not a common title, but, when you work with a band
MoreLast winter, after helping our neighbors shovel out of a blizzard, we were rewarded with a lovely pineapple. It got me thinking: “How do these things work?” Unfortunately, it remains a bit of a mystery, as last year’s attempts at pineapple propagation failed, and ditto the efforts to start an avocado tree.
More1 min read
If, like me, you routinely lust after the beautiful bicycles populating our fair city, then chances are you’ve probably coveted one of Stephen Bilenky’s custom creations. My first encounter occurred last spring on a ride with Curtis Anthony, owner of Via Bicycles. We were taking a rest under the cherry blossoms along MLK Drive when
More2 mins read
Thanks to Philly Brownstoner for the heads up on this story detailing planned renovations at City Hall’s Dilworth Plaza, currently one of city’s biggest missed opportunities. From The Architects Newspaper: Designed by Urban Engineers with Kieran Timberlake and landscape architects Olin, the new plaza will displace an underutilized 1960s-era sunken space that does not easily
More1 min read
During the holidays, “It’s the thought that counts” is a sentiment lost on the McLaughlin clan. We’re an Irish family with five siblings and many more nieces and nephews, so the gift-giving gets competitive—it’s the MMA Championship of generosity. We’re always attempting to outdo each other, overlooking our debt/income ratio for the satisfaction of stupefying each other
More2 mins read
The birth of slow food is an inspiring story. In March 1986, McDonald’s opened its first location in Italy, near the Spanish Steps in Rome. The Steps were built in 1725, the neighborhood was home to John Keats in the 19th century and, not too long ago, Bob Dylan wrote a song about them.
More2 mins read
The New York Times has a interesting short feature on efforts by Walgreens in Chicago to address food deserts by stocking produce and fresh food. They’re calling them “food oases.” A drugstore might not seem the obvious venue for solving a grocery-store problem, but Walgreens offered something useful: ubiquity. “That’s the exciting thing about Walgreens, they’re
More1 min read
Last week, the Redevelopment Authority (RDA) released a report on vacant land in Philadelphia, revealing the grand scope and cost of the city's vacant properties, and a new plan to manage the land in a more uniform manner.
Here are some key statistics from the report:
There are currently an estimated 40,000 vacant lots located in neighborhoods
More1 min read
I had a busy week, so it wasn't until the weekend that I was able to catch up on my stories. 30 Rock, which has really been on a roll lately, featured a hilarious—and pointed—storyline dealing with greenwashing (and smug liberal self-satisfaction). It all started with Liz Lemon, a new pair of jeans and a store
More1 min read
Check out Tenaya’s local holiday cheese picks in the latest GridThis coming weekend, Grid superstars Tenaya Darlington and Marisa McClellan are teaming up for a cheese tasting at Quince Fine Foods. Visit Madame Fromage for details, and be sure to check out their contributions to the new Holiday Issue.
More1 min read