This year, the American Public Health Association Conference had a strong dosage of information about cities, planning, design, and how public health is entwined in all of these disciplines. During the conference I found out about the Conference for the Alliance of Healthy Cities. I’m interested in attending. Has anyone been before? Is it worth buying a plane ticket to South Korea?
I wrote an essay for Grove Project, a Wilmington-based online publication, about the benefit of having chain store in Wilmington’s downtown corridor. Read the full article, Embrace the Chains, and tell me what you think. I’m also interested in other innovative economic developments for cities to encourage consumption, so if you have ideas/suggestions, this is the place to let me know.
It is no secret that food accessibility in urban areas is a nightmare for urban planners, city officials, and public health professionals. This problem is not as critical for smaller/less-dense urban areas because of the prevalence of cars and the hearty supply of suburban shopping centers within driving distance. However, larger urban areas (or smaller urban areas trying to encourage revitalization or gentrification) are now confronted with health-conscious, environmentally-concerned residents who want access to healthy food. More important are the thousands of low-income residents without cars who are deprived of fresh fruits and vegetables because of their foodscape.
Even though this subject has been heavily researched, I am surprised that little efforts have been made to change the way food distribution and food accessibility are monitored. The Center for Urban Pedagogy has made a great video that sheds light on some of the social, economic, and consumer forces that combine to create the foodscape of South Bronx. This half-hour video is a must see for anyone interested in learning about the factors involved in deciding what food is distributed in urban areas.
Sorry, I was unable to embed the video, but you can watch Bodega Down Bronx here.
If these pictures could talk, they would tell you it is very cold.
For the past 12-15 years, I have spent the Holiday Season visiting family in New York. This year my mom broke her foot, so I will be in North Carolina. In honor of Christmases past, I’m scanning a bunch of old pictures of NY. Here are a few.
I was probably 12 years old when I took most these pictures, so ignore the imperfections.
More Philadelphia architecture.
Good evening, special friend.
This day greets you with I found Brian’s Christmas Mix . Though you may not know this about me, I am a well-seasoned mix-maker, so I hope my first mix for a wide audience is a hit! So if you’re tired of having an N’SYNC Christmas or you want to deviate from The Rat Pack Christmas Volume 1-34, download my mix. ‘Tis the season indeed, so rejoice!
First, click here and download Winter Mix, Volume, 1.
Now look at you! You’re in the 21st Century of Christmas. For optimal enjoyment, I suggest you listen to the entire mix all the way through. If you’re at work, put on some good headphones and enjoy 38 minutes of Winter tunes.
1) Run Run Rudolph - Chuck Berry
2) Baby Please Come Home For Christmas - Dion
3) The Christmas Waltz - Nancy Wilson
4) Christmas Kisses - Ray Anthony
5) Jingle Bell Rock - Wayne Newton
6) Little Jack Frost Get Lost - Frankie Carle & His Orchestra
7) Winter Wonderland - Peggy Lee
8)Snowfall / Snowfall Cha-Cha (Medley) - George Shearing/Billy May
9) Jingle Bells - Johnny Mercer
10) I’ll Be Home For Christmas - Bob Dylan
11) I Bought You Violets - Renzo Cesana
12) Just Like Christmas - Low
13) Baby It’s Cold Outside/I’ll Be Home For Christmas - Jackie Gleason And Jack Marshall
14) The Christmas Song - Ella Fitzgerlad
15) The Merriest - June Christy
16) Auld Lang Syne - Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians
Have you ever wondered what one of the most impoverished cities in America looks like? Now you can. I grew up in a small country town not far from Rocky Mount, NC, and I was not surprised in the slightest to learn that Rocky Mount was recently named one of America’s top 10 impoverished cities by Forbes Magazine. I recently took a stroll down Main Street… ya know, just to see how things were doing. I walked down Main St. for three blocks, and in my fifteen minute walk, I took a picture of almost every building I passed. Here are just a few. To see more pictures of Rocky Mount, click here.
Triangle Life Science Center
Abandoned Buildings RTP: Triangle Life Science Center.
Click the image below to view more pictures: