March 26, 2013

Building Evolution: How Biomimicry is Shaping the Nature of our Buildings.

by: Joe Zazzera

Tweet Today’s post is by guest writer Joe Zazzera. Joe is a Biomimicry Specialist, LEED AP ID+C, a Green Roof Professional and Living Wall designer, and he is the founder of Arizona Based Plant Solutions, Inc. When you think of nature as it applies to building design, operation and maintenance, you probably think about the garden atrium in the building, the staged greenery throughout the lobbies or perhaps the views to common areas planted in greenery. However, there is a new “nature” within a building. It is a concept termed biomimicry, which literally means to mimic life. In 1997 biologist and…

March 12, 2013

Why Parallel Parking is the Most Pedestrian-Friendly Solution for the Revitalization of Roosevelt Street in Downtown Phoenix

by: Will Novak

Tweet Today’s post is by contributing writer, Will Novak, an officer of the Thunderdome Neighborhood Association for Non-Auto Mobility. The City of Phoenix Streets Department is finalizing a new design for Roosevelt Street in Downtown Phoenix, between Central Ave and 4th Street, with the goal of making it more pedestrian-friendly. While this ought to be exciting news here in the land of six-lane arterials, the plan the City has shown the community is underwhelming at best. While hundreds of jurisdictions across the country have adopted “Complete Streets” policies to promote walking and biking, Phoenix is being left in the dust…

March 11, 2013

The Story of African Americans and Other Nonwhites in Portland, Part II

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet Yesterday, I attended a wonderful museum bike tour where we visited the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center that displays the history of Japanese internment camps in Portland. And later we visited the Oregon Historical Society, and saw the All Aboard: Railroading and Portland’s Black Community exhibit, which is running through April 21st. As we looked through these exhibits of past acts of discrimination that Oregon committed, including institutionalized segregation, there was some discussion as to how it’s had a ripple effect to today. One person joked that it’s hard to tell that Oregon isn’t segregated today, as Portland is so…

February 24, 2013

The Story of African Americans and Other Nonwhites in Portland, Part I

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet Since I moved here three weeks ago, and even when I visited, I noticed the dirth of ethnic diversity in central Portland and in the close-in neighborhoods. So I decided to investigate why this may be and found a great resource in Carl Abbott’s book, Portland in Three Centuries, the Place and the People, published in 2011. Below is the story of the nonwhite population of Portland, with an emphasis on the African American story, based on Abbot’s book. I will publish it in two parts. This is part I. In the 1860s, Portland’s African American population grew from…

February 13, 2013

In Search for the Perfect Coffee Shop in Portland: Townshend’s Tea House Division St.

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet Today’s post is the fifth installment in my new series Discovering PDX, where I am documenting my experiences as a newcomer to the City of Roses. My mission to find the perfect coffee shop in Portland continues, and though I haven’t found it yet, I am definitely enjoying the search. My friend Luis Till continues to give me good recommendations and he mentioned that there was a Townshend’s in the southeast. When I was in Portland about a month ago apartment hunting, I frequented the Townshend’s on Alberta in the northeast. With excellent teas, friendly service and great wifi, it was…

February 07, 2013

In Search for the Perfect Coffee Shop in Portland: Crema Coffee and Bakery

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet Today’s post is the fourth installment in my new series Discovering PDX, where I am documenting my experiences as a newcomer to the City of Roses. My mission to find the perfect coffee shop in Portland continues. Yesterday, I biked through this awesome street, Ankeny Avenue, and noticed Crema Coffee and Bakery out of the corner of my eye. My friend Luis Till had mentioned Crema as a place I should check out, so I promised myself that would be the next spot I try. What it has going for it: Location: Crema is about a 10 minute bike ride away…

February 06, 2013

In Search for the Perfect Coffee Shop in Portland: Stumptown on Belmont

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet Today’s post is the third installment in my new series Discovering PDX, where I am documenting my experiences as a newcomer to the City of Roses. My mission to find the perfect coffee shop in Portland continues. Today I find myself at the Stumptown Coffee Roasters on Belmont. Stumptown is legendary and has several locations in Portland as well as locations in Seattle, New York and Los Angeles. The coffee is amazing and is served at many fine establishments here in Portland. But as you know, I’m not a coffee drinker, but a tea drinker, and the perfect coffee…

February 05, 2013

In Search for the Perfect Coffee Shop in Portland: Oblique

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet Today’s post is the second installment in my new series Discovering PDX, where I am documenting my experiences as a newcomer to the City of Roses. As you saw from yesterday’s post, I have not yet found the perfect coffee shop in Portland. But my spirits are buoyed after my experience at Oblique Coffee Roasters this morning. Below is my review. (Thanks to Carl Metz for the recommendation.) What it has going for it: A Great Story: In 2006, the owners, Heather and John Chandler saved this 1891 Victorian building from demolition and turned it into their home on the…

February 04, 2013

In Search of the Perfect Coffee Shop in Portland: Sound Grounds

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet I am starting a new series called Discovering PDX, where I will document my experiences as a newcomer to the City of Roses. This is the first installment of the series. My first order of business in Portland is to find the perfect coffee shop that I can work from, hang out and make new friends. To this end, I am on a mission to try different coffee shops until I find the perfect one. I have a point of reference, Lux Coffeebar, which was the perfect coffee shop for me in Phoenix and which ended up having a…

January 24, 2013

7 Best Ethnic Markets in Phoenix!

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet I love ethnic food, especially the Indian, Asian, Middle Eastern and Mexican variety. As such, I often frequent ethnic food markets to find things you couldn’t in your run-of-the-mill grocery store. Below are my 7 favorite ethnic markets in Phoenix. And when I say Phoenix, I mean Phoenix proper and not suburbs like Chandler or Glendale, as there are so many wonderful ethnic markets in those areas that I’m not even aware of! 7. Middle Eastern Bakery 3052 N 16th St Phoenix, AZ 85016‎ – Middle Eastern I frequented the Middle Eastern Bakery a lot while renovating 3 Palms, because it…