Public space Place

PLACEMAKER Project for Public Space

That's P L A C E MAKER, not PEACEMAKER, nor PACEMAKER. PPS is helping to develop the design of vital public spaces via research, education, and partnership, with the mission to create and sustain public places that build communities. Nine project areas: parks, transportation, markets, downtowns, civic centers, multi-use, campuses, squares, and waterfronts. When was the last time you had fun in such an area?

STREET FESTIVAL Ciclovia: Bogotá, Colombia

Bogotá is a big city, the capital of Colombia. Apparently, every year, 56,000 accidents and 900 deaths occur every year via notoriously bad traffic and congestion. In response, the city has set up a massive, weekly street festival called Ciclovia. Every Sunday, 70 miles of main streets are closed off from 7AM - 2PM for pedestrians, cyclists, and skaters. The city even hosts free exercise classes on aerobics, zumba, and stretching to encourage families to exercise. This simple solution is able to address a whole slew of urban problems all at once: obesity, high stress, unsafe streets, social isolation and fragmentation, pollution, etc. Genius. Cities around the world have adopted similar festivals. Oakland had its first one in June, called Oaklavia, and Los Angeles had its first one last month, called CicLAvia.

VIDEO StreetFilms.org

Ciclovia: Bogotá, Colombia from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

"Documenting livable streets worldwide." See what's going on in the world's major cities! Reminds me of Jane Jacobs, who wrote "The Life and Death of Great American Cities." She was a non-academic writer, considered one of the most influential thinkers in modern day urban planning. I like her! <3

Come On In

GRAND OPENING N o v e m b e r F i f t e e n t h

Next Monday! @ 2440 Bancroft Way near Telegraph Ave.

CLOSING NOTE Blah blah blah

I majored in Society & Environment, a pair that encompasses sort of everything. I took classes that showed me the horrors of social and environmental doom and gloom that eventually led to these tiny concentrated feelings of depression, cynicism, and slight helplessness. I mean, so what if millions of people are suffering from contaminated water and so what if every bite of deliciously seared tuna comes with a bit of mercury? What are you even supposed to do about that?

So I've become inspired by the little stories of people trying to do their best to make things better in their own homes and communities. I don't even think we are truly capable of doing too much more. To care for and find joy in your own home, friends, and family and practicing what you can to do best by them. Starting there, it's hard enough, but I think it's a necessary step. Because from there, practice can be extended to neighbors, new friends, to the greater community, and beyond.

That's why I'm really happy to see the Food Collective open next Monday, before I leave Berkeley. It's served as a model for me, where good-intentioned people who care about stuff can really go a long way, even if what they've created isn't too fancy. This is true of many projects I've been lucky enough to be part of over the past five years. It just has to work, and it doesn't have to make a global impact over night. In fact, I don't think anything can, except maybe a strategically catastrophic string of unexpected natural disasters across the globe...

Anyways, the point is: I hope that people don't loose hope in the things they care for, because then we wouldn't have those groups of people all around the world who care and create and keep us alive in whatever little way they do. I think this is the conclusion I'm gonna leave Berkeley with for now :)

Cezanne and Beyond

EXHIBIT Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cezanne, and Beyond

Van Gogh's Reaper, 1889. I wish I was here.

Post-impressionist exhibit at the de Young Museum of Fine Arts at Golden Gate Park. The exhibit of 120 paintings is being borrowed from the

Musée d’Orsay's permanent collection as they undergo renovations in Paris. The de Young now, or Paris later? $21 for students.

FREE Friday night at the de Young

Nov 5th and Jan 14th

Free admission 5-8:45pm plus music, etc.

[excludes the post-impressionist exhibit, lame!]