Depending on how you count them, Philadelphia has 30,000 to 40,000 vacant lots. Next week–August 8th-11th—Public Workshop will be setting up shop on one of them in North Philadelphia and working with neighborhood #teendesignheroes from the Village For Arts and Humanities to prototype ideas, and structures that could start to fill up some of these […]
A travesty? Wheelchair and crutch bound children everywhere, and lawsuits galore? An unappealing jumble of bent nails and ill cut wood? A blight on the neighborhood? Certainly not. Balderdash. No way. Quite the contrary. The Kolle 37 bauspielplatz in the Prenzlauer Berg neighborhood of Berlin is a wonderland. A place of imagination and exploration that […]
Holy cow. We couldn’t be more pleased to learn that we won the DIY division of the Playable International Playground Design Competition. Apparently the judges really liked our entry even though it is much more of a how-to for developing a youth-led culture of civic ‘doing’; public space testing, exploration and innovation; and playground building […]
Ride a moustache while you wait for your tacos? Okay there are few things more joyfully absurd than this see-saw, err moustache and its accompanying over sized spectacles. In fact, when our friend Lauren mentioned that she had ridden a moustache see-saw while waiting for her tacos at the ever tasty El Chilito in Austin, […]
Imagine thirty people standing on the edge of a street in Austin, Texas intently building a six foot long chocolate cake master plan of a largely unknown creek corridor hidden in the midst of their Downtown. Eight of the builders were supposed to be there, the rest, baffled AND excited by the scene before them, […]
And Brainstorming And Then Eating The Cake Too. Oh my goodness. Last weekend was one the most amazing design-build adventures I’ve ever been a part of. Mind you, it was cake and we didn’t get to do any sort of ‘built’ imagining of possibility on the cake itself but: 1.The number of people who participated […]
Local governments are the largest industry in the world without an r + d function. What happens if you create an informal r + d unit for a city, bringing together a carefully chosen group of people who are doing great but very different things in the world to re-imagine issues of civic importance where […]
Can a massive foam sword fight in the crosswalk of a busy street change the street-use culture of a community? This Friday University of Texas School of Architecture students are hosting their once a semester Foam Sword Friday at 12.30 at the crosswalk on Guadalupe between 21st and 23rd Streets. How does it work? Simple, […]
Waller Creek Is For Beasts And Diorama Making that challenges people’s perceptions of what happens in Waller Creek, AND gets them to look a bit closer at all of the fantastic things found in the Creek. Here are some more pictures from last weekend’s endeavors. You can also check out the group’s flickr stream and […]
Changing a place by talking about someone’s mom and playing games? Dominoes and Talking Smack? What could be better on a Sunday afternoon at a brand spanking new time (4 pm) in a shiny new (as in we haven’t tried it) domino-themed place? Dust off your best momma jokes, bone up on your dot counting […]
What if you and your neighbors decided one day to turn your street into grassed- over park, replete with pony rides, an oompah band and vegetable gardens? When presented with such a possibility, most would laugh derisively or mention something along the lines of, ‘Have you lost your ever-loving mind?!’. In many respects, this is […]
Waller Creek Is For Croquet, Crumpets And Cucumber Sandwiches? Victrolas, Records, Six Inch Fish, Cooling Off With Your Shoes Off, Giddy Wading? Exploring With Friends, Heading Up Stream To Try The Red Swing Another Time, Lemon Shortbread, Sun Dresses And Brainstorming New Waller Creek Adventures? Enticing and perhaps unbelievable but oh so very true. It […]
What: Tea Party Attire: Tea Party Necessary Accoutrements: Snooty accent, your own tea cup, parasol, something to sit on (no, you may not sit on the crumpets), an impressive entourage of only the most witty and delightful creek-admirers and beast-hunters. Provided for you: Tea, croquet wickets, a table, jovial conversation and conviviality. When: Saturday, September […]
Waller Creek Is For Egg Salad And Red Swings? For looking for beasts and eating Mexican cookies? For eating brunch in the creek bed and walking around barefoot with lots of friends? That’s right. Check out the full report (here). And stay tuned for info on the Waller Creek Is For Lovers Action And Adventure […]
I’m an individual coming alone, what should you bring? Twist the arm of at least one friend, neighbor or random person on the street. A chair for yourself- fancy or folding optional. A keen eye for possibility . A brunch treat/beverage of your choosing and the necessary utensils/tools for consuming said offering. Your best […]
Waller Creek is for muffins and tacos and Saturday brunch? Heck yeah. The Waller Creek Is For Lovers Action And Adventure Society had a fantastic brunch last Saturday just south of 6th Street on Waller Creek. Have you ever stopped and lingered there? Had a apple turnover and talked with friends? Noticed the turtles floating […]
August 5, 2011
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