the third place

More Vegetable News

Posted by & filed under Planning, Public spaces.

guest post: Mary Dolan

The hot and humid weather has brought on a problem for the cucumbers and squash vines in the garden. Powdery Mildew, a common problem in this area, has attacked the plants causing the leaves to whiten and die. Some gardeners simply do not plant squash any more due to the heartbreak this disease can cause.

Since we are trying to solve these problems organically, we searched for an answer to our problem and found milk. Yes, spraying a 1 part skim milk to 9 parts water on all leaf surfaces once a week (after removing all infected leaves) is supposed to retard the spreadof the disease. Also, increasing air circulation by removing leaves and/or staking the plants should help.

… Continue reading

A Vegetable Garden Update

Posted by & filed under Planning, Public spaces.

The MRO vegetable garden is thriving, despite record high heat and a watering restriction.

We’ve had a small harvest of herbs and greens and are watching the potatoes, beets, and peppers stretch out.

The garden also has a web page where you can see a video of staff gardeners talking about their goals for the garden.

Legibility (and Dreaming of Vacation)

Posted by & filed under Design, Planning.

A landscape or city is legible when it conveys information about itself. A place is most legible when it conveys information without the obvious devices of communication. Legibility is a kind of follow-your-nose sense that allows you to understand a place from both macro and micro signals.

Manhattan is legible though a grid punctuated by landmarks.

Miami Beach is ever-oriented between ocean and bay.

Most Greek villages run from a port, up the hill to a fort or church that takes the high ground.

The ebb and flow of commercial activity and social life in these places can be anticipated. You can figure out where the main shopping streets are and where people go to relax.

Legibility works in different dimensions–from an … Continue reading

Metro Fare Increase Still Cheaper Than Driving

Posted by & filed under Design.

Metro’s recent fare increase has some people wondering whether it makes economic sense to continue riding the rails. Base fares on Metrorail have increased by $0.20 to $1.95, and $0.25 to $0.45 for Metrobus. A second fare increase is planned for rush hour commuters at stations with heavy ridership traffic.

So is Metro still the smart economic choice for your daily commute? Yes, absolutely, without a doubt. According to Greater Greater Washington, once you factor in the cost of gas, maintenance, and parking the decision becomes a financial no-brainer. A daily rider who drives and parks at Shady Grove Station to commute to Metro Center will realize 50% savings over a driver.

Obviously, there are a few other factors … Continue reading

Old Becomes New in Downtown Silver Spring

Posted by & filed under Architecture, Design.

Guest Post: Scott Whipple

Montgomery County residents of a certain age will recall when the Colesville Road J.C. Penney’s was a back-to-school shopping ritual. Its Art Deco façade, neon signage, and brightly illuminated windows attracted shoppers from across the region. Combined with Hecht’s and Jelleff’s, it contributed to the vibrancy that made Silver Spring Maryland’s second largest shopping destination.

In 1985, the Planning Board recognized the store’s architectural and historical significance, listing it in the Locational Atlas and Index of Historic Sites as part of a historic district in Silver Spring’s Central Business District. But the Locational Atlas provides limited protection for identified resources.  Subsequently, the building’s owners were allowed to demolish the rear of the store but were … Continue reading

Cooper-Hewitt Design Triennial

Posted by & filed under Architecture, Design, Planning.

Every three years, curators at the Cooper-Hewitt (The National Design Museum, the only Smithsonian Museum outside Washington, and the only one you have to pay to visit) gather what designers around the world are pursuing.

This year, much of the work has to do with sustainability. The way the curators sorted it all reminded me of our own Rethink Speakers Series, organized around topics.

The exhibition addresses Energy, Mobility, Community, Materials, Prosperity, Health, Communication, and Simplicity, similar to our own principles of planning sustainability. The products and projects range from high tech efforts like a solar-powered cargo ship to a rattan bike trailer for Indian housewives.

Planners will be interested in the Community projects, ranging from Medellin, Colombia, where the … Continue reading

A panel of more than talking heads.

Posted by & filed under Design.

To see why biking is N.I.C.E. click here.  Hopefully, we can soon tap into the regional bike-sharing network that is starting in DC and Arlington.

And if you ever get around to hoping on a bike, maybe you’ll be lucky enough to perch on one of Kara Ginther‘s seats.  Ah, the joys of synchronicity:  art meets bike news in my inbox.

Sometimes being vegan is no fun…….maybe I can custom order one in pleather.

It Could Be Worse…

Posted by & filed under Design.

For all those cyclists that find the ‘burbs an unfriendly place to bike, you can take comfort that it’s not as bad as it could be. A friend sent this to me under the facetious heading “Finally, a town who’s planning decisions I can get behind,” and it’s just too precious not to share.

It seems the town of Black Hawk, Colorado has thought it wise to prohibit cycling on all public streets. The city claims that “with all the buses, trucks and cars already trying to crowd the historic town’s narrow streets, the addition of bikes is a hazard.” According to officials, the new law has the full support of the citizenry and the local casinos, which happen … Continue reading