*Update*
Quote from the Facebook group: "I know that a few people are bringing more/better sparkly/boomy things to the lot around midnight." Check it out.
*Original post*
Someone over on the Facebook group suggested a bunch of folks with sparklers celebrate tonight at midnight on the lot. Any takers?
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Canoe Social Club
Why did I just now hear about this place?
From their website:
Canoe Social Club provides a social gathering place for artists, arts supporters and science professionals in Seattle who want to:
* Empower and embolden the creative class
* Provide a forum for idea and resource exchange
* Be a hotbed for generative, creative solutions
* Provide gathering space for artists outside the typical mainstream bar culture
Canoe is also an event location for arts and sciences, social and administrative events, figure drawing sessions, culinary events, master classes, open mic nights, staged readings, fundraisers and First Thursday/ArtWalk.
It is a members only club (of which I am not a member, but may apply), with an application process and $20annual per month dues, both of which seem to be in place to maintain a certain level of seriousness. The rules are reasonable and revolve mostly around acting civilized. No throwing up, though (save that for The Ruins!).
Follow them on Twitter and be their friend on Facebook.
From their website:
Canoe Social Club provides a social gathering place for artists, arts supporters and science professionals in Seattle who want to:
* Empower and embolden the creative class
* Provide a forum for idea and resource exchange
* Be a hotbed for generative, creative solutions
* Provide gathering space for artists outside the typical mainstream bar culture
Canoe is also an event location for arts and sciences, social and administrative events, figure drawing sessions, culinary events, master classes, open mic nights, staged readings, fundraisers and First Thursday/ArtWalk.
It is a members only club (of which I am not a member, but may apply), with an application process and $20
Follow them on Twitter and be their friend on Facebook.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Alleycat Acres
I got an early Christmas present this year from Sean at Worldchanging: he sent an email with a link to his new urban farming project, Alleycat Acres. This soon-to-be collective has its sights set on transforming urban yards and vacant lots into productive land, to power these farms by bicycles, and to distribute their produce through sliding scale CSAs and farmers markets.
Sean is based in Ballard and is looking for co-conspirators/visionaries. You can find all the information and contact info over at Alleycat Acres' website and can also follow them on twitter.
[image from Alleycat Acres]
Sean is based in Ballard and is looking for co-conspirators/visionaries. You can find all the information and contact info over at Alleycat Acres' website and can also follow them on twitter.
[image from Alleycat Acres]
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Mini Empire Bakery
I don't make a habit of plugging business ventures unless they are local and outstanding (Spine and Crown, Under Pressure Seltzer Works, etc). With that in mind, I'd like to introduce you to the Mini Empire Bakery, half-owned and operated by Morgan Greenseth, one of the organizers of the Park(ing) Day Central Park back in September. If you came by Park(ing) Day, you might have had a chance to sample one of her baked goods at the yoga and treat park she co-hosted.
[Photo from the Worldchanging Flickr Set]
Just in time for the holidays!
[Photo from the Worldchanging Flickr Set]
Just in time for the holidays!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Essay Proposal for UW Arch Journal, Column 5
The theme of this issue is Mind the Gap.
From Visual Consumption to Social Production
With regard to the built environment, the gap between the former use of a space and its future use is normally physically manifest as an empty space itself: a gap in the urban fabric. However, in the current economic situation, where formerly vibrant (or even formerly empty) spaces have been left as vacant lots, partially-demolished buildings, or open excavations, a new sort of vacant space has been created, a space in limbo between what it was and what it will (or might) be, at some indefinite point in the future. This space exists in the present – that perennial gap between the past and future – and the architect’s renderings for its destiny no longer represent a future project, but a formerly future, now uncertain project. Those confronted with such spaces daily – whether or not they previously used the spaces – read them in one way, while the owners, architects, and engineers likely see them differently. Lefebvre has given us the tools to interpret these spaces from both perspectives with his conceptions of lived and conceived space.
In response to these directly experienced gaps in the landscape, a number of groups have devoted themselves to reactivation campaigns. In Seattle, groups like the Free Sheep Foundation, SuttonBeresCuller, and the organizers of the Burien Interim Art Space (B /IAS) specialize in temporary art installations; a loose-knit group that I started (People’s Parking Lot) has also organized both a community garage sale and a day-long temporary art installation (Park(ing) Day) in one such space on Capitol Hill. Other groups, such as Rebar and raumlaborberlin, specialize in bringing unique social interaction to vacant, disused, and privately-owned public spaces. In my essay, I will investigate such spaces, introduce and apply Lefebvre’s conceptions to them, and present some unique cases where “bottom-up” activism has transformed the consumers of visual space (I’m borrowing here from the philosopher Edward Casey’s concept of visual acquisition) into producers of social space.
From Visual Consumption to Social Production
With regard to the built environment, the gap between the former use of a space and its future use is normally physically manifest as an empty space itself: a gap in the urban fabric. However, in the current economic situation, where formerly vibrant (or even formerly empty) spaces have been left as vacant lots, partially-demolished buildings, or open excavations, a new sort of vacant space has been created, a space in limbo between what it was and what it will (or might) be, at some indefinite point in the future. This space exists in the present – that perennial gap between the past and future – and the architect’s renderings for its destiny no longer represent a future project, but a formerly future, now uncertain project. Those confronted with such spaces daily – whether or not they previously used the spaces – read them in one way, while the owners, architects, and engineers likely see them differently. Lefebvre has given us the tools to interpret these spaces from both perspectives with his conceptions of lived and conceived space.
In response to these directly experienced gaps in the landscape, a number of groups have devoted themselves to reactivation campaigns. In Seattle, groups like the Free Sheep Foundation, SuttonBeresCuller, and the organizers of the Burien Interim Art Space (B /IAS) specialize in temporary art installations; a loose-knit group that I started (People’s Parking Lot) has also organized both a community garage sale and a day-long temporary art installation (Park(ing) Day) in one such space on Capitol Hill. Other groups, such as Rebar and raumlaborberlin, specialize in bringing unique social interaction to vacant, disused, and privately-owned public spaces. In my essay, I will investigate such spaces, introduce and apply Lefebvre’s conceptions to them, and present some unique cases where “bottom-up” activism has transformed the consumers of visual space (I’m borrowing here from the philosopher Edward Casey’s concept of visual acquisition) into producers of social space.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Bits and Pieces, 11/13
First an email from the Howell Collective, the group behind the new park and p-patch at 16th and Howell (no website yet, but I'll share as soon as it's up):
The last month and a half the Howell Collective was waiting to hear the outcome of the Neighborhood Matching Fund grant. The results are in, and we have been awarded a match of 15k towards our garden project on 16th and East Howell! We are still looking to expand our steering committee, as well as seek assistance and advice in many areas! [consulting from a landscape architect, building experience, master gardening experience…]
We will be at the Broadway Farmer’s Market this Sunday, November 15th, to share the news and provide more information to the curious.
Thank you for all of your support.
Howell Collective
Secondly, as you may know, PPL appreciates work that lies at the intersection of politics and art, and especially when it is displayed in public. Hence, this photo:
And lastly, a late autumn shot of the lot:
No big plans right now for events but we have a grant app in for Park(ing) Day 2010 funding. However, lots of ideas are bouncing around, ranging from further work with signaltonoise, to setting up a documentary screening in a disused space, to finding a way to use the now closed T.T. Minor elementary school.
*UPDATE*
I also just received an evite to Feet First's Central District Safe Streets Showcase Event Looks like a good time; you should go.
The last month and a half the Howell Collective was waiting to hear the outcome of the Neighborhood Matching Fund grant. The results are in, and we have been awarded a match of 15k towards our garden project on 16th and East Howell! We are still looking to expand our steering committee, as well as seek assistance and advice in many areas! [consulting from a landscape architect, building experience, master gardening experience…]
We will be at the Broadway Farmer’s Market this Sunday, November 15th, to share the news and provide more information to the curious.
Thank you for all of your support.
Howell Collective
Secondly, as you may know, PPL appreciates work that lies at the intersection of politics and art, and especially when it is displayed in public. Hence, this photo:
And lastly, a late autumn shot of the lot:
No big plans right now for events but we have a grant app in for Park(ing) Day 2010 funding. However, lots of ideas are bouncing around, ranging from further work with signaltonoise, to setting up a documentary screening in a disused space, to finding a way to use the now closed T.T. Minor elementary school.
*UPDATE*
I also just received an evite to Feet First's Central District Safe Streets Showcase Event Looks like a good time; you should go.
Spine and Crown
In case you needed another reason to stop by Spine and Crown on Capitol Hill, here's a comment Kris left on CHS yesterday regarding indie book stores:
First a shout out to the late, lamented Confounded Books (formerly sharing space with Wall of Sound Records.) Zines, indie comics, books, artsy and hipster fodder - no one has filled this niche- it was a place that made Seattle feel more cosmopolitan and so a double loss.
As for the end of book shops (shops dedicated to selling books - not corporate media stores selling a smattering of what's currently in print alongside DVDs, CDs, blank journals, coffee, internet kiosks, tote bags, magazines, etc.), the check is in the mail. I run Spine and Crown, and I can tell you that independent book shops stay open through sheer will power, a very little money, and nothing else. If will or money falter, the shop is gone.
Yes, books will still be around in the future, as will booksellers. But don't confuse the phenomenon of the book shop with the phenomenon of the book trade. The book trade, thanks to the internet, can now continue happily on without shops. I sell a lot online. In fact, I would make more money if I closed my shop. And it's not the economy - my through-the-door trade has rarely ever exceeded my rent and often fell under it. So what keeps it going? Will power. The belief that a book shop has an important role to play in a community. But it won't take many more bumps in the road for us to go the way of Pistil. I often think of them with envy. They travel, and I think I've seen Sean and Amy having fun once or twice. I work 6 days a week and can't afford to get away. (Poor me! Could be unemployed, like everyone else!)
So. Bookselling will always exist (catering to an ever smaller, aging market), and book shops may always exist - but very few will in cities. Not unless rents come down (around the time pigs fly) or we find landlords more concerned with culture than profit (not unheard of, but rare as hen's teeth.) Book shops will NEVER be able to pay Starbucks money for a retail space. Given the prospects, I see running a book shop primarily as a big middle finger aimed at all the trends in society worth opposing. But it's mostly that: an impotent gesture.
And while I'm at it, what no one wants to acknowledge, but that booksellers seem to understand well is that few people actually seem to LIKE reading anymore. I cater to the hardcore reader, the person who would buy books even if it meant they'd go hungry. There used to be a lot more of these people. Most of the money in the book trade today is made selling middle of the road, middle-brow stuff to a sleepy majority who read half a dozen books individually per year. These people can take or leave reading. They'd be just as happy on their xbox or watching a movie. Happier, even. Business-wise, I don't care about those people. I don't care about their books.
A way of life is passing - for better or worse- and most people won't notice until it's all over. Shoe repair used to be a really common business, back when shoes weren't disposable. One in every neighborhood. There are still a few around, so people, if they ever think of the topic, don't lament the widespread loss of these shops. The shoe repair trade is only vastly diminished, not extinct. It's not considered a tragedy because circumstances simply changed - shoe repair became mostly unnecessary. Welcome to the future of book shops.
*UPDATE*
I put this post up in a hurry without relating my connection to the store. Kris came to the Capitol Hill Garage Sale at the lot back in June and was totally psyched that we had organized it. On the spot he offered his store as a meeting place if we needed a place to talk about future events. He also donated a stack of books on gardening and green living as a prize for Park(ing) Day, plus came by to hang out for while. So while he may not carry the latest volume of Sue Grafton's work, but he more than likely has something on his shelves that you want to read (or, at least, should read).
First a shout out to the late, lamented Confounded Books (formerly sharing space with Wall of Sound Records.) Zines, indie comics, books, artsy and hipster fodder - no one has filled this niche- it was a place that made Seattle feel more cosmopolitan and so a double loss.
As for the end of book shops (shops dedicated to selling books - not corporate media stores selling a smattering of what's currently in print alongside DVDs, CDs, blank journals, coffee, internet kiosks, tote bags, magazines, etc.), the check is in the mail. I run Spine and Crown, and I can tell you that independent book shops stay open through sheer will power, a very little money, and nothing else. If will or money falter, the shop is gone.
Yes, books will still be around in the future, as will booksellers. But don't confuse the phenomenon of the book shop with the phenomenon of the book trade. The book trade, thanks to the internet, can now continue happily on without shops. I sell a lot online. In fact, I would make more money if I closed my shop. And it's not the economy - my through-the-door trade has rarely ever exceeded my rent and often fell under it. So what keeps it going? Will power. The belief that a book shop has an important role to play in a community. But it won't take many more bumps in the road for us to go the way of Pistil. I often think of them with envy. They travel, and I think I've seen Sean and Amy having fun once or twice. I work 6 days a week and can't afford to get away. (Poor me! Could be unemployed, like everyone else!)
So. Bookselling will always exist (catering to an ever smaller, aging market), and book shops may always exist - but very few will in cities. Not unless rents come down (around the time pigs fly) or we find landlords more concerned with culture than profit (not unheard of, but rare as hen's teeth.) Book shops will NEVER be able to pay Starbucks money for a retail space. Given the prospects, I see running a book shop primarily as a big middle finger aimed at all the trends in society worth opposing. But it's mostly that: an impotent gesture.
And while I'm at it, what no one wants to acknowledge, but that booksellers seem to understand well is that few people actually seem to LIKE reading anymore. I cater to the hardcore reader, the person who would buy books even if it meant they'd go hungry. There used to be a lot more of these people. Most of the money in the book trade today is made selling middle of the road, middle-brow stuff to a sleepy majority who read half a dozen books individually per year. These people can take or leave reading. They'd be just as happy on their xbox or watching a movie. Happier, even. Business-wise, I don't care about those people. I don't care about their books.
A way of life is passing - for better or worse- and most people won't notice until it's all over. Shoe repair used to be a really common business, back when shoes weren't disposable. One in every neighborhood. There are still a few around, so people, if they ever think of the topic, don't lament the widespread loss of these shops. The shoe repair trade is only vastly diminished, not extinct. It's not considered a tragedy because circumstances simply changed - shoe repair became mostly unnecessary. Welcome to the future of book shops.
*UPDATE*
I put this post up in a hurry without relating my connection to the store. Kris came to the Capitol Hill Garage Sale at the lot back in June and was totally psyched that we had organized it. On the spot he offered his store as a meeting place if we needed a place to talk about future events. He also donated a stack of books on gardening and green living as a prize for Park(ing) Day, plus came by to hang out for while. So while he may not carry the latest volume of Sue Grafton's work, but he more than likely has something on his shelves that you want to read (or, at least, should read).
Friday, November 6, 2009
Reminder: Alex Steffen and Skillet, 11/11 and 11/12
Reminder that Alex Steffen of Worldchanging will be speaking at Town Hall next Wednesday and Thursday. Come hungry because Skillet will be there too!
Here is the facebook invitation if you're in to that sort of thing.
Here is the facebook invitation if you're in to that sort of thing.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Halloween in Cap Hill Parking Lots
As CHS reports, there are quite a few Halloween activities occurring on Capitol Hill tomorrow night, two of which will take place in parking lots (or spaces that at least look like parking lots).
For starters, the hard-partying cap to the hill bloggers are throwing another bash in the Havana parking lot. There's a $10 cover charge -- you can purchase tickets through the fabulous brown paper tickets -- but unlike their last party, an invitation isn't required. On that note, here's the facebook event page. There will be bands, DJs, and even a photobooth.
Or perhaps you're a laser-light show type, someone who prefers Pink Floyd to Kid Sister? Here's the event for you, a laser light show in the asphalt lot that will house the Broadway Light Rail Station in a few years. This looks like something signaltonoise might put together if someone gave them a big check.
For starters, the hard-partying cap to the hill bloggers are throwing another bash in the Havana parking lot. There's a $10 cover charge -- you can purchase tickets through the fabulous brown paper tickets -- but unlike their last party, an invitation isn't required. On that note, here's the facebook event page. There will be bands, DJs, and even a photobooth.
Or perhaps you're a laser-light show type, someone who prefers Pink Floyd to Kid Sister? Here's the event for you, a laser light show in the asphalt lot that will house the Broadway Light Rail Station in a few years. This looks like something signaltonoise might put together if someone gave them a big check.
Donations Made Easy
As an Associated Program with Shunpike, People's Parking Lot is now able to accept donations from the good people of the internet. Our events are all planned and executed by volunteers so every dollar counts. So if you're feeling generous and would like to put a few dollars toward next year's Park(ing) Day (for insurance, sod, supplies, etc.), it would be greatly appreciated!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Mission Statement
In filling out the forms for a Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs grant, I was required to provide a mission statement, which I'm sharing here for your reading pleasure:
The mission of People's Parking Lot can quite simply be stated as "activating vacant spaces." Such a broad definition allows us to pursue diverse projects at multiple scales, such as organizing outdoor community garage sales to participating in international performance art events like Park(ing) Day. We locate ourselves at the intersection of public art, activism, and community-building, seeking to engage the public in culturally enriching activities while simultaneously maintaining a critical stance toward the way urban spaces develop.
The mission of People's Parking Lot can quite simply be stated as "activating vacant spaces." Such a broad definition allows us to pursue diverse projects at multiple scales, such as organizing outdoor community garage sales to participating in international performance art events like Park(ing) Day. We locate ourselves at the intersection of public art, activism, and community-building, seeking to engage the public in culturally enriching activities while simultaneously maintaining a critical stance toward the way urban spaces develop.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Couch Film Festival
Anyone know of an empty, abandoned, disused, or neglected space in Fremont, Wallingford, Green Lake or the U-District? People's Parking Lot is searching them out in hopes of serving as a living room for the second annual Couch Film Festival on November 7th.
Given the rain and the need for electricity, an indoor location would likely be the best. However, we're open to outdoor spaces too (a parking garage comes to mind...).
(Image from Oregonlive.com)
Given the rain and the need for electricity, an indoor location would likely be the best. However, we're open to outdoor spaces too (a parking garage comes to mind...).
(Image from Oregonlive.com)
McGinn Event Saturday
For those of you unable to make it to McGinn's Built Environment and Sustainability fundraiser on Monday, I offer you another chance to play a more active role in the mayoral election. The suggested donation is just $20 and that gets you cajun food and beverages. Moreover, bring a blank t-shirt and screen print your own McGinn propaganda. I received my ballot yesterday, as I'm sure you did, so now is the time to contribute what money or time you have to the candidate who shares your ideals.
McGINN FUNDRAISER at home of Cleveland Stockmeyer
SAT. OCT. 17 2009 6:30 UNTIL?
8056 SUNNSYIDE AVE N. (at Sunnyside and 82d)
SPONSORED BY CLEVE STOCKMEYER, JEANNE LEGAULT, CHARLES REDMOND AND ANDREW CENCINI
$20 suggested minimum donation but greater amounts appreciated. Bring checks/credit card, no cash accepted.
Cajun food (best to arrive 6:30-8:00 for food !) & beverages provided.
Bring a blank tee shirt to get it silk screened with McGinn logo.
Children and polar bears welcome!
Directions:
8056 sunnyside ave. n. is at 82d and sunnyside ave. north, an intersection 3 blocks north of Green Lake and and just west of I 5. Nearby buses include 16, 48, 316, 66 or any bus going to 85th and Wallingford. Driving, take I 5 north to 85th, go left on wallingford, go left on 82d and go a few blocks to to sunnyside & 82d. Or using Aurora, go north on Aurora & take a right on 80th, just before I 5 take a left on sunnyside, and go one block to 82d and sunnyside. Enter house from 82d and please do not block access to alley
McGINN FUNDRAISER at home of Cleveland Stockmeyer
SAT. OCT. 17 2009 6:30 UNTIL?
8056 SUNNSYIDE AVE N. (at Sunnyside and 82d)
SPONSORED BY CLEVE STOCKMEYER, JEANNE LEGAULT, CHARLES REDMOND AND ANDREW CENCINI
$20 suggested minimum donation but greater amounts appreciated. Bring checks/credit card, no cash accepted.
Cajun food (best to arrive 6:30-8:00 for food !) & beverages provided.
Bring a blank tee shirt to get it silk screened with McGinn logo.
Children and polar bears welcome!
Directions:
8056 sunnyside ave. n. is at 82d and sunnyside ave. north, an intersection 3 blocks north of Green Lake and and just west of I 5. Nearby buses include 16, 48, 316, 66 or any bus going to 85th and Wallingford. Driving, take I 5 north to 85th, go left on wallingford, go left on 82d and go a few blocks to to sunnyside & 82d. Or using Aurora, go north on Aurora & take a right on 80th, just before I 5 take a left on sunnyside, and go one block to 82d and sunnyside. Enter house from 82d and please do not block access to alley
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Alex Steffen at Town Hall
Worldchanging.com Press Release.
World Renowned Green Futurist and Sustainability Expert to Speak in Seattle in November
This fall presents a rare opportunity to see Worldchanging.com's Alex Steffen in person at Town Hall Seattle on Nov. 11 and 12. As a world expert on bright green futurism, Alex spends much of his time traveling and speaking with leading businesses and governments from Norway to New Zealand; he rarely speaks at home in Seattle. But for two nights this November, he'll take the stage at Town Hall and share the latest thinking about how we here in the Emerald City can confront our planetary boundaries and how Seattle citizens can become leading innovators in a sustainable economy.
The future is unfolding as far more dangerous and chaotic than we hoped... and more full of opportunity and reasons for optimism than we imagined. As we lead up to the Copenhagen Climate Summit, a new global consensus is emerging that problems like population, global health, poverty, urbanization, climate change and environmental decline are not separate issues, but symptoms of one giant planetary challenge. The answer to that challenge must be a new kind of prosperity, one that allows billions of people to achieve a better life without destroying the planet.
At the same time, new tools and innovations are redefining the possible and changing what we thought we knew about sustainability. We're seeing potential revolutions everywhere in how we build, eat, move, work, shop and communicate. In this new world of possibilities, Seattle has a unique opportunity to transform itself into a model of sustainable prosperity and to again become a global leader in the process.
Want to know what the future holds for your career and your community? Don't miss this one-time opportunity to explore some of the most important trends shaping our lives, with one of the most sought-after green futurists working today. Alex will share Worldchanging's latest thoughts about the planetary challenges we face and his cutting edge ideas about bright green solutions, sustainability and urban innovation. And after the talks, you'll also get a chance to meet other Worldchangers, make connections and share ideas.
A New Global Future – November 11 - Alex Steffen, introduced by TBA
Nine billion people on a straining planet is a recipe either for catastrophe or transformation. Which future we get - tragic disaster or sustainable prosperity - will depend largely on the choices we here in the developed world make. What is possible for billions of people rising out of poverty will be determined largely by the shape of the economy we create in places like Seattle. How do we understand what a bright green future looks like and how do we propel our region toward it? This first night will explore the breakthroughs in renewable energy, green building, clean technology, smart infrastructure and sustainable design that can enable the Pacific Northwest to not only help lead the planet away from catastrophe, but to become an economic power house.
Seattle's Bright Green Moment – November 12 - Alex Steffen, introduced by Mike McGinn
Cities are the engines of a bright green economy. A new urban way of life is emerging that is not only ecologically frugal, but wealthier, healthier, and more enjoyable. At the same time, smart cities are becoming the hothouses of sustainable innovation, growing the designs, technologies, policies, and start up companies that will thrive in the new global economy. Learn how leading urban regions like London, Copenhagen, Melbourne and Seoul are scrambling to rebuild themselves on bright green lines in order to lead in the economy of tomorrow. Join the conversation on how we can use cutting edge practices such as innovation networks, metropolitan coalitions, and government 2.0 to break through the logjams blocking our region's progress to build a more vital, sustainable and prosperous home.
Both talks will be in the Great Hall at Town Hall Seattle (townhallseattle.org), and start 7:30 p.m. (doors at 7:00 p.m.). Each talk is 90 minutes, no intermission. Presented by Town Hall’s Center for Civic Life. Tickets are $5.00 and the event is expected to sell out.
Purchase tickets at:
November 11: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/85709
November 12: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/85713
About Alex Steffen:
Alex Steffen co-founded Worldchanging in 2003. He is the editor of the site and it's bestselling book Worldchanging: A User's Guide to the 21st Century (Abrams). A sought-after speaker, Alex has taken the stage at leading educational institutions (including Harvard, Yale, and Oxford), international businesses (including IDEO, Nike, Arup) and the world's premier ideas conferences (including TED, Poptech and Design Indaba). Alex has been profiled in the New York Times Magazine and was the subject of a CNN-International documentary. His commentary and writing have appeared in Wired, BusinessWeek, Marketplace, Der Spiegel, the BBC and elsewhere, and he has been profiled or interviewed by hundreds of publications and programs around the world, from the Yomiuri Shimbun, Haaretz and the Times of India to National Public Radio, the Wall Street Journal and the Seattle Times. He is a past president of Allied Arts of Seattle, was co-founder of the Livable Communities Coalition and has served on numerous local boards and committees.
About Worldchanging:
Worldchanging.com is a nonprofit media organization headquartered in Seattle, WA, that comprises a global network of independent journalists, designers and thinkers. Through its multiple-award-winning website, the organization covers the world’s most innovative solutions to the planet’s problems, and inspires its global readers with stories of new models and ideas for building a bright green future. In the six years since its founding, Worldchanging has produced more than 10,500 visionary articles. Worldchanging's book, a winner of the Green Prize for Sustainable Literature, has been translated into French, German, and Korean (with other languages forthcoming). The website and book (with a foreword by Al Gore), have become a new generation's go-to sources for forward thinking, solutions-based journalism that takes a big-picture approach to sustainability. This approach has garnered Worldchanging a large global audience; Nielson Online ranked Worldchanging.com the second-largest sustainability website on the planet in its most recent assessment of the field.
What Others say about Worldchanging:
“Vitally important… not only shows what is already possible but also helps all of us imagine what might be.”
– Al Gore
"This book is the essential guide to creating sustainable solutions for today’s problems."
- Gwyneth Paltrow
"[Worldchanging is] the Whole Earth Catalog retooled for the iPod generation ... a compendium of everything a younger generation of environmental activists has to offer: creativity, digital dexterity, networking ability, an Internet-era optimism about the future, and a deep concern about not only green issues but related questions of human rights, poverty, and social justice."
– Bill McKibben New York Review of Books
"Worldchanging might well be the most complete, compelling articulation of the possible look and feel and actual operation of a sustainable society ever written."
– Denis Hayes, Bullitt Foundation
“The most important website on the planet”
– Bruce Sterling, Wired
World Renowned Green Futurist and Sustainability Expert to Speak in Seattle in November
This fall presents a rare opportunity to see Worldchanging.com's Alex Steffen in person at Town Hall Seattle on Nov. 11 and 12. As a world expert on bright green futurism, Alex spends much of his time traveling and speaking with leading businesses and governments from Norway to New Zealand; he rarely speaks at home in Seattle. But for two nights this November, he'll take the stage at Town Hall and share the latest thinking about how we here in the Emerald City can confront our planetary boundaries and how Seattle citizens can become leading innovators in a sustainable economy.
The future is unfolding as far more dangerous and chaotic than we hoped... and more full of opportunity and reasons for optimism than we imagined. As we lead up to the Copenhagen Climate Summit, a new global consensus is emerging that problems like population, global health, poverty, urbanization, climate change and environmental decline are not separate issues, but symptoms of one giant planetary challenge. The answer to that challenge must be a new kind of prosperity, one that allows billions of people to achieve a better life without destroying the planet.
At the same time, new tools and innovations are redefining the possible and changing what we thought we knew about sustainability. We're seeing potential revolutions everywhere in how we build, eat, move, work, shop and communicate. In this new world of possibilities, Seattle has a unique opportunity to transform itself into a model of sustainable prosperity and to again become a global leader in the process.
Want to know what the future holds for your career and your community? Don't miss this one-time opportunity to explore some of the most important trends shaping our lives, with one of the most sought-after green futurists working today. Alex will share Worldchanging's latest thoughts about the planetary challenges we face and his cutting edge ideas about bright green solutions, sustainability and urban innovation. And after the talks, you'll also get a chance to meet other Worldchangers, make connections and share ideas.
A New Global Future – November 11 - Alex Steffen, introduced by TBA
Nine billion people on a straining planet is a recipe either for catastrophe or transformation. Which future we get - tragic disaster or sustainable prosperity - will depend largely on the choices we here in the developed world make. What is possible for billions of people rising out of poverty will be determined largely by the shape of the economy we create in places like Seattle. How do we understand what a bright green future looks like and how do we propel our region toward it? This first night will explore the breakthroughs in renewable energy, green building, clean technology, smart infrastructure and sustainable design that can enable the Pacific Northwest to not only help lead the planet away from catastrophe, but to become an economic power house.
Seattle's Bright Green Moment – November 12 - Alex Steffen, introduced by Mike McGinn
Cities are the engines of a bright green economy. A new urban way of life is emerging that is not only ecologically frugal, but wealthier, healthier, and more enjoyable. At the same time, smart cities are becoming the hothouses of sustainable innovation, growing the designs, technologies, policies, and start up companies that will thrive in the new global economy. Learn how leading urban regions like London, Copenhagen, Melbourne and Seoul are scrambling to rebuild themselves on bright green lines in order to lead in the economy of tomorrow. Join the conversation on how we can use cutting edge practices such as innovation networks, metropolitan coalitions, and government 2.0 to break through the logjams blocking our region's progress to build a more vital, sustainable and prosperous home.
Both talks will be in the Great Hall at Town Hall Seattle (townhallseattle.org), and start 7:30 p.m. (doors at 7:00 p.m.). Each talk is 90 minutes, no intermission. Presented by Town Hall’s Center for Civic Life. Tickets are $5.00 and the event is expected to sell out.
Purchase tickets at:
November 11: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/85709
November 12: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/85713
About Alex Steffen:
Alex Steffen co-founded Worldchanging in 2003. He is the editor of the site and it's bestselling book Worldchanging: A User's Guide to the 21st Century (Abrams). A sought-after speaker, Alex has taken the stage at leading educational institutions (including Harvard, Yale, and Oxford), international businesses (including IDEO, Nike, Arup) and the world's premier ideas conferences (including TED, Poptech and Design Indaba). Alex has been profiled in the New York Times Magazine and was the subject of a CNN-International documentary. His commentary and writing have appeared in Wired, BusinessWeek, Marketplace, Der Spiegel, the BBC and elsewhere, and he has been profiled or interviewed by hundreds of publications and programs around the world, from the Yomiuri Shimbun, Haaretz and the Times of India to National Public Radio, the Wall Street Journal and the Seattle Times. He is a past president of Allied Arts of Seattle, was co-founder of the Livable Communities Coalition and has served on numerous local boards and committees.
About Worldchanging:
Worldchanging.com is a nonprofit media organization headquartered in Seattle, WA, that comprises a global network of independent journalists, designers and thinkers. Through its multiple-award-winning website, the organization covers the world’s most innovative solutions to the planet’s problems, and inspires its global readers with stories of new models and ideas for building a bright green future. In the six years since its founding, Worldchanging has produced more than 10,500 visionary articles. Worldchanging's book, a winner of the Green Prize for Sustainable Literature, has been translated into French, German, and Korean (with other languages forthcoming). The website and book (with a foreword by Al Gore), have become a new generation's go-to sources for forward thinking, solutions-based journalism that takes a big-picture approach to sustainability. This approach has garnered Worldchanging a large global audience; Nielson Online ranked Worldchanging.com the second-largest sustainability website on the planet in its most recent assessment of the field.
What Others say about Worldchanging:
“Vitally important… not only shows what is already possible but also helps all of us imagine what might be.”
– Al Gore
"This book is the essential guide to creating sustainable solutions for today’s problems."
- Gwyneth Paltrow
"[Worldchanging is] the Whole Earth Catalog retooled for the iPod generation ... a compendium of everything a younger generation of environmental activists has to offer: creativity, digital dexterity, networking ability, an Internet-era optimism about the future, and a deep concern about not only green issues but related questions of human rights, poverty, and social justice."
– Bill McKibben New York Review of Books
"Worldchanging might well be the most complete, compelling articulation of the possible look and feel and actual operation of a sustainable society ever written."
– Denis Hayes, Bullitt Foundation
“The most important website on the planet”
– Bruce Sterling, Wired
Monday, October 5, 2009
People's Parking Lot Has a Cold and a New Job*
So for the next week or so, the updates will likely be rare. However, two things are coming up in the next week that are relevant, both of which have already been mentioned.
Chronologically:
1) Wednesday night is the orientation meeting with Shunpike. As a fiscal sponsor, they will be able to offer People's Parking Lot annual insurance coverage for events like Park(ing) Day, at a rate less than we paid for the single-event policy. What does this mean? More events without worrying as much about money, of course.
2) Next Monday is the big Mike Mcginn fundraiser that focuses on sustainability and the Built Environment. You should come. More info here. Have a crush on Dan Bertolet or Alex Steffen? They'll both be there.
* The new job I speak of is a teaching assistantship at UW. My return to academia is very interesting but has resulted in lots of reading and this cold.
Chronologically:
1) Wednesday night is the orientation meeting with Shunpike. As a fiscal sponsor, they will be able to offer People's Parking Lot annual insurance coverage for events like Park(ing) Day, at a rate less than we paid for the single-event policy. What does this mean? More events without worrying as much about money, of course.
2) Next Monday is the big Mike Mcginn fundraiser that focuses on sustainability and the Built Environment. You should come. More info here. Have a crush on Dan Bertolet or Alex Steffen? They'll both be there.
* The new job I speak of is a teaching assistantship at UW. My return to academia is very interesting but has resulted in lots of reading and this cold.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Shunpike Partner Artist!
I received an email yesterday from Shunpike accepting People's Parking Lot as a Partner Artist, should we choose to accept. This would give us access to very reasonably priced insurance -- we had to pay $477 for the Park(ing) Day policy -- to put on such events as the Park(ing) Day Central Park, as well as other sorts of activist/community art installations/events. I'm very excited about this development and will share details as they develop!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Negative Space Write-Up
Brite Collective just posted a write-up on their Park(ing) Day charette, Negative Space.
[image from Ladies and Gentleman]
[image from Ladies and Gentleman]
Friday, September 25, 2009
McGinn Sustainability and Built Environment Fundraiser, 10/12
While this blog typically focuses on one small part of Seattle's urban fabric, it's worthwhile to step back from time to time and consider the political and economic context in which this half-acre of "prime real estate" has been left vacant.
As you might know, my interest in the lot arose not out of nostalgia for the bars and restaurants that once occupied the space -- I didn't spend much time there -- but, rather, the fact that such a popular and vibrant strip was being changed for, in my opinion, the worst (meaning a condo project that would cater to an entirely different demographic). Now the economic situation has paused the previous development trajectory and we here at PPL are trying to make the best of the situation (and perhaps find a way to influence what happens here in the future?).
Meanwhile, there's a mayoral election coming up, and one of the candidates' platform addresses many of PPL's concerns, namely a vibrant, livable, and sustainable urban environment. Of course I'm talking about Mike McGinn and am honored to be one of the hosts for his Sustainability and Built Environment fundraiser that's coming up on October 12th.
You should come; here's the facebook invitation.
As you might know, my interest in the lot arose not out of nostalgia for the bars and restaurants that once occupied the space -- I didn't spend much time there -- but, rather, the fact that such a popular and vibrant strip was being changed for, in my opinion, the worst (meaning a condo project that would cater to an entirely different demographic). Now the economic situation has paused the previous development trajectory and we here at PPL are trying to make the best of the situation (and perhaps find a way to influence what happens here in the future?).
Meanwhile, there's a mayoral election coming up, and one of the candidates' platform addresses many of PPL's concerns, namely a vibrant, livable, and sustainable urban environment. Of course I'm talking about Mike McGinn and am honored to be one of the hosts for his Sustainability and Built Environment fundraiser that's coming up on October 12th.
You should come; here's the facebook invitation.
More Park(ing) Day Photos
Thanks to Sean at Worldchanging for this gallery, as well as links to photos of Capitol Hill Parks here, and a few downtown here.
[Photo by Sean Conroe. This neighborhood needs more kids -- Keith]
[Photo by Sean Conroe. This neighborhood needs more kids -- Keith]
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Park(ing) Day Photos
I'm running a bit behind but here is a small gallery of photos from various photographers that came to the Park(ing) Day Central Park. Beneath their photos you will find links to their sites.
An Office Nomad shows his poetic side at the Seattle Arts and Lectures park (photo from the SAL Flickr set.)
A gentleman (I believe this is Michael Seiwerath, a longtime contributor to the cultural life of Seattle) participates in SAL's group painting (photo from the SAL Flickr set.)
A pair of neighborhood folks utilizes SVR's very popular ping-pong table.
Signage for Brite Collective's biographical field sketch, Negative Space.
A quick game of turtle tag after nightfall.
Beware, this man will play your confessions on Hollow Earth Radio (image from Cojourn).
Yours truly reads a bit of, um, literature in his Suburban Backyard (yes, that's whitebread and a jug of Carlo Rossi you see; there's a Will Smith CD too) (image from Cojourn).
My favorite photo of all, thanks to Scott at Cojourn, is of Susan from Office Nomads barely missing a three-point bean bag shot in my aforementioned Suburban Backyard.
Members of the grand prize winners, Signal to Noise, display their trophy from within their park, air.stream.
Capitol Hill Community Council President Jen Power and City Council candidate Mike O'Brien chat in Unpaving Paradise's park (image from Cojourn)
A true gentleman, Web Crowell, offering up sodas from his seltzer upstart, Under Pressure Seltzer Works.
And finally, a photo of the mobile DJ, 12 Hr Notice who was on his feet for most of the day, keeping the music going (photo by Beth Hamby)
There is also a gallery over on CHS by Lucas Anderson for your viewing pleasure here.
An Office Nomad shows his poetic side at the Seattle Arts and Lectures park (photo from the SAL Flickr set.)
A gentleman (I believe this is Michael Seiwerath, a longtime contributor to the cultural life of Seattle) participates in SAL's group painting (photo from the SAL Flickr set.)
A pair of neighborhood folks utilizes SVR's very popular ping-pong table.
Signage for Brite Collective's biographical field sketch, Negative Space.
A quick game of turtle tag after nightfall.
Beware, this man will play your confessions on Hollow Earth Radio (image from Cojourn).
Yours truly reads a bit of, um, literature in his Suburban Backyard (yes, that's whitebread and a jug of Carlo Rossi you see; there's a Will Smith CD too) (image from Cojourn).
My favorite photo of all, thanks to Scott at Cojourn, is of Susan from Office Nomads barely missing a three-point bean bag shot in my aforementioned Suburban Backyard.
Members of the grand prize winners, Signal to Noise, display their trophy from within their park, air.stream.
Capitol Hill Community Council President Jen Power and City Council candidate Mike O'Brien chat in Unpaving Paradise's park (image from Cojourn)
A true gentleman, Web Crowell, offering up sodas from his seltzer upstart, Under Pressure Seltzer Works.
And finally, a photo of the mobile DJ, 12 Hr Notice who was on his feet for most of the day, keeping the music going (photo by Beth Hamby)
There is also a gallery over on CHS by Lucas Anderson for your viewing pleasure here.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Thanks and Congratulations
First off, thanks to everyone that came by the Park(ing) Day Central Park on Friday, whether you built a park or just stopped in. In addition to the expected guest, Sally Bagshaw and Kery Murakami both stopped by, as did KOMO News. There was Twister, Connect Four, and Ping Pong, that were all surprises and hits, not to mention a bit of "turtle tag" on the grass dropped of by SAM and TPL, spearheaded by the five year-old daughter of a Madison Market employee named Adam.
Also a big congratulations to the winners of the awards!
Tastiest prize: Zen Cakes and Zines (Central Park, Bluebird gift certificate)
Most Multi-Modal: Bike Works (Columbia City, Zip Car gift certificate
Most Playful: 4-PLAY (Central Park, games from Gamma Ray and Bucephalus)
Greenest Park: Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (Wallingford, Eco books from Spine and Crown)
Best Execution: Park N Play by Perkins + Will (Downtown, Victrola coffee and shirt)
Most Original (Grand Prize): air.stream by Signal to Noise (Central Park, $200 and custom trophy)
Scott at cojourn.net talked to Signal to Noise as they put their park together here (he has some photos too).
Another big thanks to our judges, Justin, Katy, Rich, and Jen!
And speaking of photos, I took a few which I have yet to upload, but you can find more on cojourn, as well as CHS and Flickr.
Also a big congratulations to the winners of the awards!
Tastiest prize: Zen Cakes and Zines (Central Park, Bluebird gift certificate)
Most Multi-Modal: Bike Works (Columbia City, Zip Car gift certificate
Most Playful: 4-PLAY (Central Park, games from Gamma Ray and Bucephalus)
Greenest Park: Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (Wallingford, Eco books from Spine and Crown)
Best Execution: Park N Play by Perkins + Will (Downtown, Victrola coffee and shirt)
Most Original (Grand Prize): air.stream by Signal to Noise (Central Park, $200 and custom trophy)
Scott at cojourn.net talked to Signal to Noise as they put their park together here (he has some photos too).
Another big thanks to our judges, Justin, Katy, Rich, and Jen!
And speaking of photos, I took a few which I have yet to upload, but you can find more on cojourn, as well as CHS and Flickr.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Big Thanks: Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs
Just a quick reminder that our Park(ing) Day Central Park was largely made possible by the generosity of the smART Ventures program of the Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs. The major expense behind this event was the purchase of insurance, which the grant more than covered, and for that we are very grateful.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Thanks, Seattle Weekly!!
Turn to page 68 of the Fall Arts Issue of Seattle Weekly and you'll notice the ad below, which was printed gratis. Our budget was very tight for this event -- most of it was spent on insurance -- so we really appreciate the donation!
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Central Park Grill
Len Davis, the gentleman behind Pangeality Park, will be bringing a grill to the festivities tomorrow. So please, bring something along that cooks well in an outdoor setting, and bring enough to share. (I'm thinking veggie kabobs).
Park #15, Hollow Earth Radio
A few hours ago the application form for Hollow Earth Radio's Urban Confessions park graced my inbox. A decorated tent will be set up and visitors may enter the hollow earth and record an anonymous confession that will be broadcast on a future radio show. Their plans evoke PostSecret and the veil of anonymity is a great way to encourage participation, which is what this website and event are all about. I'm very pleased to have them in attendance.
Park(ing) Day Central Park Events
Here's a rundown of the scheduled events:
9:00 AM: All parks open
11:30 AM - 2:00 PM: Negative Space Charette
12:00 PM: Mike O'Brien stops by
2:00 - 4:00 PM: Capitol Hill Housing reviews Broadway Station Charette (informal; may be updated)
4:00 - 5:00 PM: Toy Box Trio performs
5:00 - 6:00 PM: Work in Progress...Ice cream social maybe?
6:00 - 7:00 PM: Awards "ceremony"
8:00 PM: Disappear
George from Seattle Gay News will also be tabling for support of Referendum 71, and I hear he might have cookies.
And last not but not least, 12 hr notice will be in attendance, performing when he is inspired.
Plus there will be activities at many of the mini-parks on the lot.
9:00 AM: All parks open
11:30 AM - 2:00 PM: Negative Space Charette
12:00 PM: Mike O'Brien stops by
2:00 - 4:00 PM: Capitol Hill Housing reviews Broadway Station Charette (informal; may be updated)
4:00 - 5:00 PM: Toy Box Trio performs
5:00 - 6:00 PM: Work in Progress...Ice cream social maybe?
6:00 - 7:00 PM: Awards "ceremony"
8:00 PM: Disappear
George from Seattle Gay News will also be tabling for support of Referendum 71, and I hear he might have cookies.
And last not but not least, 12 hr notice will be in attendance, performing when he is inspired.
Plus there will be activities at many of the mini-parks on the lot.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Let's Talk About Parks
Half an hour from the eve of Park(ing) Day, it looks like our Day Central Park is going to consist of 14 mini-parks, plus quite a few other activities (music, presentations, awards, seltzer, charettes, a grunge rocker, candidates, ballot measures, etc). This post is just a list with links back to the original description of the park.
1) SVR Design
2) Unnamed Landscape Architects From Portland
3) Capitol Hill Housing
4) Office Nomads Co-working Park
5) Michael Smith from Castanes Architecture
6) Seattle Arts and Lectures' Words Matter
7) Zen Cakes and Zines
8) Flash Volunteer's Viva Volunteerism
9) Unpaving Paradise's Paradise Unpaved
10) People's Parking Lot's embarrassingly undesigned space that will at least have a bean bag toss
11) Pangeality Park
12) Signal to Noise's air.stream
13) Under Pressure Seltzer Works
14) Blitz et al's Art Park
However, it's not too late to sign up for a space! A post on the activities portion of the day is forthcoming.
1) SVR Design
2) Unnamed Landscape Architects From Portland
3) Capitol Hill Housing
4) Office Nomads Co-working Park
5) Michael Smith from Castanes Architecture
6) Seattle Arts and Lectures' Words Matter
7) Zen Cakes and Zines
8) Flash Volunteer's Viva Volunteerism
9) Unpaving Paradise's Paradise Unpaved
10) People's Parking Lot's embarrassingly undesigned space that will at least have a bean bag toss
11) Pangeality Park
12) Signal to Noise's air.stream
13) Under Pressure Seltzer Works
14) Blitz et al's Art Park
However, it's not too late to sign up for a space! A post on the activities portion of the day is forthcoming.
Park #14, Art Park
Jeanine Anderson and Lee Richmond are bringing the Art Park to the Park(ing) Day Central Park on Friday. It is possible thanks to in-kind donations from Blitz Capitol Hill Arts Walk, Babeland, and Lifelong AIDs Alliance. Following is a description of the Art Park by Jeanine:
The Art Park on Friday is part of a larger project we're working on to encourage more play and art in public spaces: the idea that you don't need to be an Artist with a capitol "A" to create visually interesting and creative vignettes in our urban environment.
The Art Park mini park provides a space for create, and for artists (big "A" and little "a") to donate sketches or artwork, or stickers, or other works. Items donated (or created and left behind) on Friday at the Art Park will become part of a one-night only guerrilla street art installation we'll hang on the hill for the October Capitol Hill Arts Walk (10/8/09).
At the Art Park mini park we'll have tables, art supplies, craft supplies and space to hang out. Folks can create and take, or create and leave behind, or stop by and donate works, or just hang out and visit. Works left behind will become part of the installation.
Please come by the Art Park and hang out and visit, or work or create, or donate some artwork.
Sounds great. Come by and demonstrate your artistry and leave something for the October Blitz Capitol Hill Arts Walk.
The Art Park on Friday is part of a larger project we're working on to encourage more play and art in public spaces: the idea that you don't need to be an Artist with a capitol "A" to create visually interesting and creative vignettes in our urban environment.
The Art Park mini park provides a space for create, and for artists (big "A" and little "a") to donate sketches or artwork, or stickers, or other works. Items donated (or created and left behind) on Friday at the Art Park will become part of a one-night only guerrilla street art installation we'll hang on the hill for the October Capitol Hill Arts Walk (10/8/09).
At the Art Park mini park we'll have tables, art supplies, craft supplies and space to hang out. Folks can create and take, or create and leave behind, or stop by and donate works, or just hang out and visit. Works left behind will become part of the installation.
Please come by the Art Park and hang out and visit, or work or create, or donate some artwork.
Sounds great. Come by and demonstrate your artistry and leave something for the October Blitz Capitol Hill Arts Walk.
Park #13, Under Pressure Seltzer Works
A guest post below by Web Crowell, one of the organizers of the Park(ing) Day Central Park and the soon-to-be singular Seltzerman of Capitol Hill:
Before people had the bright idea to make Everything disposable, you drank soda at a shop, or you had a Seltzerman - Like a milkman, exchanging empty bottles for full ones every week. 4 major US Cities still have seltzer services, Seattle once had 130, now it's getting one back.
I first had Seltzer while traveling, it seemed like a great project for a Luddite with a green stripe and a fondness for a good bar. It took 2 years to assemble the parts of a tiny operation - bottles from retired Seltzermen all over the world and an elusive century old filling machine. Delivery begins soon to destinations on Capitol Hill via the worlds first Seltzerbike!
Friday I'm bringing a few flavors and maybe some Bluebird ice cream to mix soda for anyone who stops by with a container.
http://www.seltzerup.com
Before people had the bright idea to make Everything disposable, you drank soda at a shop, or you had a Seltzerman - Like a milkman, exchanging empty bottles for full ones every week. 4 major US Cities still have seltzer services, Seattle once had 130, now it's getting one back.
I first had Seltzer while traveling, it seemed like a great project for a Luddite with a green stripe and a fondness for a good bar. It took 2 years to assemble the parts of a tiny operation - bottles from retired Seltzermen all over the world and an elusive century old filling machine. Delivery begins soon to destinations on Capitol Hill via the worlds first Seltzerbike!
Friday I'm bringing a few flavors and maybe some Bluebird ice cream to mix soda for anyone who stops by with a container.
http://www.seltzerup.com
Park(ing) Day Awards
So we've been advertising a prize for the best park but haven't really explained the contest in detail. This post is an attempt to remedy that.
There will be four judges on Park(ing) Day that will visit all the parks in Central Park, three of which will cruising around town in the car donated by Zipcar between 10:00 AM and noon, to include other parks in the design competition. We will be holding our awards ceremony at 6:00 PM and participants from all parks are invited to attend, as is everyone else who reads this post. Some downtown parks will be bringing up their used sod so there should be some nice grassy places to sit!
Awards are as follows:
Grand Prize: A unique custom trophy and $200 cash
Runner-up Prizes:
$100 Zipcar Gift Certificate
Coffee and a t-shirt from Victrola
Five green living books from Spine and Crown
Two gardening board games from Gamma Ray and Bucephalus Games.
There are also two other potential prizes which will be announced as they are confirmed.
There will be four judges on Park(ing) Day that will visit all the parks in Central Park, three of which will cruising around town in the car donated by Zipcar between 10:00 AM and noon, to include other parks in the design competition. We will be holding our awards ceremony at 6:00 PM and participants from all parks are invited to attend, as is everyone else who reads this post. Some downtown parks will be bringing up their used sod so there should be some nice grassy places to sit!
Awards are as follows:
Grand Prize: A unique custom trophy and $200 cash
Runner-up Prizes:
$100 Zipcar Gift Certificate
Coffee and a t-shirt from Victrola
Five green living books from Spine and Crown
Two gardening board games from Gamma Ray and Bucephalus Games.
There are also two other potential prizes which will be announced as they are confirmed.
Park(ing) Day Wifi & Cojourn
A few folks have expressed interest in Park(ing) Day but, unlike me, have a paying job that requires them to work during the day. I'd like to take this opportunity to remind people in this situation that your friendly neighborhood co-working space, Office Nomads, will in fact be providing wi-fi access in their co-working park. Thanks to Scott Sands, the manager of the adjacent apartment building, for providing electricity and also for the coverage he's giving the event on his news website, Cojourn.net.
Parks All Over
Here is a map showing all the participants of Park(ing) Day for Friday. If you can't make it up to the Central Park, make sure to visit one of these. For some reason it is not displaying properly on blogger so you'll need to download it to see it in its fully glory.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
NEGATIVE SPACE: a biographical field sketch
One of the most interesting activities planned for the day:
In conjunction with PARK(ING) DAY September 18th, 2009 - CENTRAL PARK/ CAPITOL HILL
britecollective presents...
NEGATIVE SPACE: a biographical field sketch
1-hour interpretive walk along the Pike / Pine corridor (West of Broadway). We will explore, examine and share our collective memories that identify this place.
As we walk, we will discover new ways of viewing familiar places. Participants will receive a field journal to help guide and record their unique experience.
SCHEDULE:
11:30 – 12:30PM
INTRO & COGNITIVE MAPPING (Hub Pavilion – central park @ pike & summit)
12:30 – 1:15PM
SELF GUIDED WALK/ FIELD SKETCH (field map available@ Hub Pavilion)
1:15 – 1:45PM
REVIEW & DISCUSS (Hub Pavilion – central park @ pike & summit)
*please feel free to join in any three of the above activities individually or as a whole
EVENT MAP
link to Central Park map - HUB PAVILION
http://www.worldchanging.com/local/seattle/archives/010399.html
LOCATION
CENTRAL PARK is located on SW end of Capitol Hill (Pike/ Pine)
On Pine Street between Summit & Boylston Ave. (West of Broadway)
BRITE’s mission: is to create an open forum for designers & non-designers.
Which includes a series of spontaneous and fun design events to stimulate, inspire, and unite the Seattle design community.
Brite on Facebook
In conjunction with PARK(ING) DAY September 18th, 2009 - CENTRAL PARK/ CAPITOL HILL
britecollective presents...
NEGATIVE SPACE: a biographical field sketch
1-hour interpretive walk along the Pike / Pine corridor (West of Broadway). We will explore, examine and share our collective memories that identify this place.
As we walk, we will discover new ways of viewing familiar places. Participants will receive a field journal to help guide and record their unique experience.
SCHEDULE:
11:30 – 12:30PM
INTRO & COGNITIVE MAPPING (Hub Pavilion – central park @ pike & summit)
12:30 – 1:15PM
SELF GUIDED WALK/ FIELD SKETCH (field map available@ Hub Pavilion)
1:15 – 1:45PM
REVIEW & DISCUSS (Hub Pavilion – central park @ pike & summit)
*please feel free to join in any three of the above activities individually or as a whole
EVENT MAP
link to Central Park map - HUB PAVILION
http://www.worldchanging.com/local/seattle/archives/010399.html
LOCATION
CENTRAL PARK is located on SW end of Capitol Hill (Pike/ Pine)
On Pine Street between Summit & Boylston Ave. (West of Broadway)
BRITE’s mission: is to create an open forum for designers & non-designers.
Which includes a series of spontaneous and fun design events to stimulate, inspire, and unite the Seattle design community.
Brite on Facebook
Thanks, Zipcar!
A big thanks is owed to Zipcar for donating both a membership and a car for our Park(ing) Day Central Park judges panel to drive to parks outside of Capitol Hill, so as to include them in our park competition. We were going to make them walk, but given the spread of parks from Ballard to Columbia City, and the fact that they are donating their time, we figured carpooling would be an acceptable activity, even on Park(ing) Day.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Informational Tonight!
Interested in participating in the Park(ing) Day Central Park but have questions? Does a few drinks, some porn-ish art, and the company of fellow participants sound nice?
We'll be meeting at Grey Gallery this evening at 6:30 to talk last minute details. No RSVP necessary, just come by.
We'll be meeting at Grey Gallery this evening at 6:30 to talk last minute details. No RSVP necessary, just come by.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Toy Box Trio @ 4 pm on Friday
Toy Box Trio will now be performing from 4:00 to 5:00 pm. Here is the updated post announcing their appearance. Go ahead and tell the boss you'll be leaving even earlier than usual on Friday.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Installation (updated)
Please let me know if you see this falling down or if all the small flyers are gone and I'll fix it up.
Update: got a text this morning saying the sign was kicked down. I went down there hoping to find it so I could put it back up, but it seems to have disappeared completely. Was it a homeless person in need of a bed? Was it the wind? Or was it just a jackass? Regardless, it lasted at least fifteen hours and looked might fine if I do say so.
Update: got a text this morning saying the sign was kicked down. I went down there hoping to find it so I could put it back up, but it seems to have disappeared completely. Was it a homeless person in need of a bed? Was it the wind? Or was it just a jackass? Regardless, it lasted at least fifteen hours and looked might fine if I do say so.
Propaganda
Inclement weather and drunken vandalism withstanding, this will (hopefully) be posted on the corner of Pine and Belmont throughout the week. I'll attach a few smaller flyers to the bottom so interested folks can take one to go.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Park #12, Signal to Noise
Signal to Noise, a new design group consisting of Sarah Durkee (a landscape architect from LMN), and the designers Tosh Drake, Jonathan Zegers, Animish Kudalkar, and Jeffrey Goupil will be building our twelfth park, entitled air.stream. I've heard a little about their installation but the only way to do it justice is to come by and see it in person. Their website is under construction but I will post a link when it is completed.
Mike O'Brien at Park(ing) Day
At high noon next Friday, September 18th, city council candidate Mike O'Brien will be making an appearance at the Park(ing) Day central park. His platform includes issues that are relevant to Capitol Hill as well the entire city of Seattle: increasing density, opposing the deep-bore tunnel (along with mayoral candidate Mike McGinn -- we're politicking, trying to get him to come by, like he did for the garage sale), investing in sustainability and education, and providing affordable housing and efficient mass transportation. Read more about his platform and the Sierra Club's endorsement, and come with questions!
He also be visiting Park(ing) Day participants in Greenwood earlier that day. Visit his website for more information on his schedule.
He also be visiting Park(ing) Day participants in Greenwood earlier that day. Visit his website for more information on his schedule.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Park #11, Pangeality Productions
I'm a few days late with posting this one, but it's a gem nonetheless. Leonard Davis of Pangeality Productions read about our central park in the Worldchanging article that was posted last week. His park registration form is one of the most interesting we have seen so far and I'm excited to see what he puts together. (Hint: bang trim, anyone?)
Monday, September 7, 2009
Facebook Invitation to Park(ing) Day
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Central Park Flyer
So, here it is, the flyer for Park(ing) Day Central Park. Print 'em big and post them or print 'em small and hand them out, leave at the coffee shop, etc.
We could also use a little help with copies since we've essentially exhausted our small budget. Have access to a copying machine at work and morals flexible enough to run some copies? That would be fantastic!
+Day+Poster_Web.jpg)
[Image by Brett Wiseman, Flyer by Web Crowell]
We could also use a little help with copies since we've essentially exhausted our small budget. Have access to a copying machine at work and morals flexible enough to run some copies? That would be fantastic!
+Day+Poster_Web.jpg)
[Image by Brett Wiseman, Flyer by Web Crowell]
Friday, September 4, 2009
Parks #9 & #10, Unpaving Paradise and People's Parking Lot (plus a few more details)
Park #9 will be hosted by Park(ing) Day veterans Unpaving Paradise and will be entitled Paradise Unpaved. Jen and Hong split their time as the driving force behind this group, as well as the President and Vice-President of the Capitol Hill Community Council, not to mention that they have been instrumental in planning this event.
Park #10 will be hosted by yours truly. The working title right now is People's Park, after the Berkeley park that inspired this blog. Will I bring a pickax and remove some pavement? You'll have to come by and see.
We have verbal confirmation from the nascent organization Howell Collective, as well as from the design journal ARCADE. I'm harassing Dan from Hugeasscity, Pb Elemental, some folks from LMN and Atelier Jones, but have yet to receive confirmation (if you're reading this and know people at these firms, feel free to harass them for me!).
We also have two special interactive charrettes that will be hosted by Capitol Hill Housing and Worldchanging.com + Brite Collective. More details and a schedule will be posted next week so that, if interested, you can plan to come by for these activities (they both sound great so far).
Park #10 will be hosted by yours truly. The working title right now is People's Park, after the Berkeley park that inspired this blog. Will I bring a pickax and remove some pavement? You'll have to come by and see.
We have verbal confirmation from the nascent organization Howell Collective, as well as from the design journal ARCADE. I'm harassing Dan from Hugeasscity, Pb Elemental, some folks from LMN and Atelier Jones, but have yet to receive confirmation (if you're reading this and know people at these firms, feel free to harass them for me!).
We also have two special interactive charrettes that will be hosted by Capitol Hill Housing and Worldchanging.com + Brite Collective. More details and a schedule will be posted next week so that, if interested, you can plan to come by for these activities (they both sound great so far).
Worldchanging Article
Thanks to Worldchanging.com for publishing this article on Thursday. One of the highlights of Park(ing) Day will likely be an interactive presentation about activating vacant space that one of their editors is currently organizing. More details as they develop...
Park #8, Flash Volunteer
An unexpected completed registration form arrived a few minutes ago from Brad Wilke, the Executive Director of Flash Volunteer, a great independent filmmaker, and a gentleman with whom I used to volunteer at 826 Seattle. Viva Volunteerism is the name of their park and I'm certain it will mesh nicely with the other parks on the lot. I can't wait to see what they put together.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Park #7, Zen-Cakes and Zines
Park #7, Zen-Cakes and Zines, sent in their registration form last night. The hosts are Morgan Greenseth and Sarah Kuck, of Worldchanging.com, as well as two of the organizers behind the central park. Come by and see what these lovely ladies have planned for their park.
Park(ing) Day Music (updated)
The first confirmed musical act for Park(ing) Day is Toy Box Trio. Self-described as "new classical music with a carnival flair," the trio will perform from 5:00 to 6:00 4:00 to 5:00 at the Park(ing) Day Central Park.
[photo by Neusüss Studio]
We still have room for a few acts. If you can perform without electricity, or can bring your own, we'd like to have you.
[photo by Neusüss Studio]
We still have room for a few acts. If you can perform without electricity, or can bring your own, we'd like to have you.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Park #6, Seattle Arts and Lectures
Words Matter, a temporary park by Seattle Arts and Lectures is the sixth park that will be installed on the People's Parking Lot two weeks from Friday. I've heard rumors about the activities will be taking place in their space, but you'll have to come by and see for yourself (rest assured, they will be literary and refined). It's great to see another group outside of the design industry taking part in Park(ing) Day!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
More Artwork
Another image for Park(ing) Day in Seattle, this time courtesy of Brett Wiseman. Watch for a version of this great graphic as a poster around Capitol Hill in the coming weeks.
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Sunday, August 30, 2009
Central Park Poster and Awards
Look for this poster or a version of it in print and around Capitol Hill in the coming weeks! Counting the organizers behind the event, we currently have ten parks registered (profiles coming soon) and have lots of emails out trying to find more participants. If you're interested, let us know.
.jpg)
[image by morgan greenseth]
And if occupying the lot for a day isn't good enough, what about the chance to win a super-secret trophy AND $200 as the grand prize? Gifts donated by local businesses such as Gamma Ray Games, Spine and Crown, and Victrola (and more...) will be awarded to runner up parks around the city.
.jpg)
[image by morgan greenseth]
And if occupying the lot for a day isn't good enough, what about the chance to win a super-secret trophy AND $200 as the grand prize? Gifts donated by local businesses such as Gamma Ray Games, Spine and Crown, and Victrola (and more...) will be awarded to runner up parks around the city.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Park #5, Michael Smith of Castanes Architecture
Thanks to Michael Smith of Castanes Architects for submitting his registration form to be the fifth park in the Park(ing) Day central park. His firm is known for quality architecture ranging from hand-twisted iron fences (I live in this building), to high-visibility remodels, to beautiful stand-alone houses, and we're excited to see what Mike does with his park!
Park #4, Office Nomads
Office Nomads sent in their registration form last night, making them the fourth park confirmed for Park(ing) Day. If you've never been to their great co-working space, I suggest you check it out; the co-working park they're creating for Park(ing) Day will give you an idea of what their small business is all about. Already work in an office? Well, that's okay, because Sustainable Capitol Hill often meets there and is open to everyone.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Park #3, Capitol Hill Housing
Earlier today I received a completed registration form for our third Park(ing) Day park from Capitol Hill Housing. I probably don't need to explain what they do but I'll borrow a quote from their website just in case you haven't heard of them:
Capitol Hill Housing is an affordable housing provider that has been in existence for 33 years. We now own 42 buildings in Seattle concentrated mostly in the diverse and vibrant Capitol Hill neighborhood.
We are dedicated to providing clean and affordable apartments where individuals and families can comfortably exist in an increasingly cost prohibitive urban environment.
I'm very glad to have them as participants in our central park!
Capitol Hill Housing is an affordable housing provider that has been in existence for 33 years. We now own 42 buildings in Seattle concentrated mostly in the diverse and vibrant Capitol Hill neighborhood.
We are dedicated to providing clean and affordable apartments where individuals and families can comfortably exist in an increasingly cost prohibitive urban environment.
I'm very glad to have them as participants in our central park!
The Parking Lots Were Alive!
At 15th and Pine, Gert's made its first showing, a few months after I first heard the lot owners were interested in street food vendors.
Unfortunately, this spot is a bit off the beaten path but I was happy to see some folks stopping in. I also understand that Marination Mobile had considered setting up on this lot but decided against it, in part because of its location. Perhaps Gert's reputation for excellent barbeque will be enough to get people to walk a little further than usual?
Next up is Cap to the Hill's 500 E Pine Party. I snapped the quick photo below but you can see some better ones by Matt Hickey on Line Out (as well as some commentary about the actual event).
And speaking of the actual event, I went down but the line was crazy so I just took a few photos over the fence. The projected photo of the old block was great:
And the inconveniently long line that turned at least five people, including myself, away.
The turnout inside Havana looked great; lots of people, some of them dancing. The part outside that was supposed to be the old block was a little less active but it probably livened up after I left: the line was still long and people were hopping the fence to get in.
Unfortunately, the real 500 block of E Pine still looked like this earlier today:
Unfortunately, this spot is a bit off the beaten path but I was happy to see some folks stopping in. I also understand that Marination Mobile had considered setting up on this lot but decided against it, in part because of its location. Perhaps Gert's reputation for excellent barbeque will be enough to get people to walk a little further than usual?
Next up is Cap to the Hill's 500 E Pine Party. I snapped the quick photo below but you can see some better ones by Matt Hickey on Line Out (as well as some commentary about the actual event).
And speaking of the actual event, I went down but the line was crazy so I just took a few photos over the fence. The projected photo of the old block was great:
And the inconveniently long line that turned at least five people, including myself, away.
The turnout inside Havana looked great; lots of people, some of them dancing. The part outside that was supposed to be the old block was a little less active but it probably livened up after I left: the line was still long and people were hopping the fence to get in.
Unfortunately, the real 500 block of E Pine still looked like this earlier today:
Second Park Confirmed
Thursday, August 20, 2009
First Park Confirmed
SVR Design, a local integrated design service that specializes in civil engineering, landscape architecture, planning, and environmental restoration, is the first group to return their Park(ing) Day Application. We are happy to have representatives from a firm with a reputation for commitment to innovation and sustainability!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Park(ing) Day Central Park Registration!
Click the links below to download forms for registering your park.
Registration Form
Map of Site (you should check this out whether or not you're participating)
Ten Easy Park Ideas
Registration Form
Map of Site (you should check this out whether or not you're participating)
Ten Easy Park Ideas
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Official Park(ing) Day Posters and Hillebrity Judges
Or, if you prefer, PDF versions of are posted here. A really good place to post a few (read, a ton) of these would probably be 11th and Pine.
View Larger Map
The deadline to sign up for a space on the street is this coming Thursday, August 20th. Email Elaine [at] feetfirst [dot] info to sign up. As always, more parks are welcome on the lot, just email and let us know you want a space. We have fifteen parks confirmed so it should be a good time.
We would also like to announce that Justin of the CHS Blog and Jen Graves of the Stranger are our first two judges for the best park. More details on the judges, prizes, etc. as they develop.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Arbitrary Art Grant Photos
A few photos for your viewing pleasure; I think it's pretty obvious how the winner was selected:
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Artwork for Tonight
Below you can see a fine piece of art that I will be donning for the Arbitrary Art Grant at 6 pm on the lot. It is photo documentation of my desk after attempting to create a spectacular, original, and unique work using pennies, scrabble tiles, fabric, advertisements from an IKEA catalog and used car magazine from 7-11, and some engineering drawings on colored cardstock...a cacophony of materials that I could not arrange into anything coherent.
Instead, I took a digital photo of the mess, printed it out six times at Bartell's and affixed it to my cardboard and shoestring frame. Hope to see you all there.
I also encourage anyone with an interest in cityscapes to head to Grey Gallery for the opening of Rachel Maxi's exhibit, Lay of the Land.
Instead, I took a digital photo of the mess, printed it out six times at Bartell's and affixed it to my cardboard and shoestring frame. Hope to see you all there.
I also encourage anyone with an interest in cityscapes to head to Grey Gallery for the opening of Rachel Maxi's exhibit, Lay of the Land.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Arbitrary Art Grant
The interwebs are abuzz about the arbitrary art grant proceedings on the lot this Thursday. Marination Mobile will be making its debut on the lot as well so the evening promises to be interesting. See you there.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Congrats Marination Mobile!
Congrats to Marination Mobile for negotiating a lease with Murray Franklyn, to park Big Blue on the lot Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and serve up tasty treats. PPL is happy and proud to have put them in touch with the right folks at Murray Franklyn!
Unfortunately, logistics (read, getting their vehicle on the lot) have delayed their debut until Thursday, 8/13. Bummer but it's worth the wait.
Follow them on twitter here.
Unfortunately, logistics (read, getting their vehicle on the lot) have delayed their debut until Thursday, 8/13. Bummer but it's worth the wait.
Follow them on twitter here.
Small Biz at Park(ing) Day/After Hours Park(ing)
Received word from Rebar, the creators of Park(ing) Day, that it's okay for small businesses to host parks in our central park, and to display their names (in a tasteful fashion, of course). The main restriction is that there may be no commercial activity (buying and selling, distributing coupons, etc.). So if you're a small biz and would like to participate, please get in touch.
So far, interested small businesses include:
Spine and Crown
Office Nomads
Madison Market (mobile park)
Wall of Sound
Gamma Ray Games
Blue Bottle
Additionally, representatives from some architecture and design firms will be setting up parks. I'll refrain from posting their names at present because I am unclear as to whether the firms themselves are sponsoring the parks, or if the employees are participating separately.
So, if your a small biz and you consider any of the aforementioned businesses your peers, you're welcome to join the roster. If you're an architecture or design group interested in participating, rest assured that you will not be the only one (there are three at present). And of course, community groups and neighbors are also invited.
Already planning a Capitol Hill park, on the street somewhere? Great! Wonderful! Please proceed as planned! We would love to have you on the lot, of course, but since the backbone of Park(ing) Day is parks on the street, we do not want to pull anyone out of such spaces.
Also, per city rules, all parks on streets must close down at 3 pm; we are inviting all participants to come and join central park at this time because we feel this is a bit early. More details to come.
So far, interested small businesses include:
Spine and Crown
Office Nomads
Madison Market (mobile park)
Wall of Sound
Gamma Ray Games
Blue Bottle
Additionally, representatives from some architecture and design firms will be setting up parks. I'll refrain from posting their names at present because I am unclear as to whether the firms themselves are sponsoring the parks, or if the employees are participating separately.
So, if your a small biz and you consider any of the aforementioned businesses your peers, you're welcome to join the roster. If you're an architecture or design group interested in participating, rest assured that you will not be the only one (there are three at present). And of course, community groups and neighbors are also invited.
Already planning a Capitol Hill park, on the street somewhere? Great! Wonderful! Please proceed as planned! We would love to have you on the lot, of course, but since the backbone of Park(ing) Day is parks on the street, we do not want to pull anyone out of such spaces.
Also, per city rules, all parks on streets must close down at 3 pm; we are inviting all participants to come and join central park at this time because we feel this is a bit early. More details to come.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
CH /IAS
How would you like to see "The Passage" on Capitol Hill?
(Photo borrowed from hugeasscity)
I recently spoke with the team behind B /IAS and this might be an option. Of course, organizing such a space would be a huge endeavor, and one that I'm not able to undertake on my own (in case you didn't know: I'm unemployed and have been since before I started this blog; I'm starting a PhD program at UW in the fall and will therefore have less time). Evidently the city of Seattle is very interested in such a project, and the folks behind B /IAS have set a precedent, received international praise their accomplishment, and are willing to serve as guides for a Capitol Hill incarnation.
(Photo borrowed from hugeasscity)
I recently spoke with the team behind B /IAS and this might be an option. Of course, organizing such a space would be a huge endeavor, and one that I'm not able to undertake on my own (in case you didn't know: I'm unemployed and have been since before I started this blog; I'm starting a PhD program at UW in the fall and will therefore have less time). Evidently the city of Seattle is very interested in such a project, and the folks behind B /IAS have set a precedent, received international praise their accomplishment, and are willing to serve as guides for a Capitol Hill incarnation.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Big Money for Park(ing) Day
Big thanks to Web Crowell and Unpaving Paradise -- a division of the Capitol Hill Community Council -- for helping us win a $750 smART ventures grant from the Seattle Arts Commission. With this money, we can afford insurance coverage for the Park(ing) Day Central Park and can pay for traditional advertising. We had hoped to us a portion of the grant as cash awards for the best parks but, per the grant guidelines, are not allowed. No matter though, we are very appreciative of the award and are seeking alternative ways to raise a little money for awards.
For anyone that is interested in participating in the event, whether on the People's Parking Lot or elsewhere, take note that an informational meeting is scheduled for next week:
Thursday, 8/6.
6:30 to 7:30 PM at the Officer's Club in the Armory at Lake Union Park,
860 Terry Ave N
Second Floor
From the informational email:
We will discuss how to get involved with PARKing Day, how to set up
your spot, including information on permits, rules and how to decorate
your park.
If you are interested in coming along then please drop me an email to
confirm. (elaine@feetfirst.info)
I will also be in attendance to share our plan for the central park and connection to other Capitol Hill parks. As of now, eight parks are confirmed for our space and we hope for many more. If you'd like to set up on the site, please send an email and let us know. Also, if you are an acoustic or self-powered musician, and are interested in performing, get in touch.
For anyone that is interested in participating in the event, whether on the People's Parking Lot or elsewhere, take note that an informational meeting is scheduled for next week:
Thursday, 8/6.
6:30 to 7:30 PM at the Officer's Club in the Armory at Lake Union Park,
860 Terry Ave N
Second Floor
From the informational email:
We will discuss how to get involved with PARKing Day, how to set up
your spot, including information on permits, rules and how to decorate
your park.
If you are interested in coming along then please drop me an email to
confirm. (elaine@feetfirst.info)
I will also be in attendance to share our plan for the central park and connection to other Capitol Hill parks. As of now, eight parks are confirmed for our space and we hope for many more. If you'd like to set up on the site, please send an email and let us know. Also, if you are an acoustic or self-powered musician, and are interested in performing, get in touch.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Portable Production/Design Charette
Not an hour after meeting Jay Standish -- the gentleman behind the design charette for Seattle's HUB, which will be held at our Park(ing) Day event -- I found myself in front of Madison Market, witnessing solar-powered sewing machine art being produced.
I connect the two events because Jay had mentioned the possibility of using solar power as an energy source for the design charette; P. Nosa, the Tucson-based artist, had already made it work. He told me his panel was manufactured by Kyocera, but I didn't ask which model he used. Nevertheless, as we at PPL explore ways to activate vacant space, the availability of electricity -- or lack thereof -- always comes up.
Returning to this morning's conversation with Jay: the design charette sounds splendid. A firm believer in place-making, he plans to set up a sort of pavilion in the back corner of the lot, where the ground is level. This space -- or place, rather -- will be covered and surrounded by furniture and objects that make it a ideal for discussion: comfortable seating, rugs, plants, bookshelves, etc. And though the charette will only take place for a portion of the day, the pavilion will be available as a meeting place throughout the day, similar to the function of the building we will be designing.
If you are interested in the charette from an organizational, layout, or participation level, please get in touch and I'll connect you with Jay. He's an intelligent and energetic individual that I'm confident will facilitate an engaging event within our event.
And if you're interested in seeing P.Nosa in action -- which I highly recommend -- he may be lurking around the Capitol Hill Block Party or Seattle Center today and tomorrow, and will set up at the Fremont Sunday Market before heading to Portland on Monday.
I connect the two events because Jay had mentioned the possibility of using solar power as an energy source for the design charette; P. Nosa, the Tucson-based artist, had already made it work. He told me his panel was manufactured by Kyocera, but I didn't ask which model he used. Nevertheless, as we at PPL explore ways to activate vacant space, the availability of electricity -- or lack thereof -- always comes up.
Returning to this morning's conversation with Jay: the design charette sounds splendid. A firm believer in place-making, he plans to set up a sort of pavilion in the back corner of the lot, where the ground is level. This space -- or place, rather -- will be covered and surrounded by furniture and objects that make it a ideal for discussion: comfortable seating, rugs, plants, bookshelves, etc. And though the charette will only take place for a portion of the day, the pavilion will be available as a meeting place throughout the day, similar to the function of the building we will be designing.
If you are interested in the charette from an organizational, layout, or participation level, please get in touch and I'll connect you with Jay. He's an intelligent and energetic individual that I'm confident will facilitate an engaging event within our event.
And if you're interested in seeing P.Nosa in action -- which I highly recommend -- he may be lurking around the Capitol Hill Block Party or Seattle Center today and tomorrow, and will set up at the Fremont Sunday Market before heading to Portland on Monday.
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