A couple months back when visiting the home front, my dad and I popped into the excellent New Albanian brewhouse for dinner and microbrews. Sitting outside, I watched various of the Bearded Ones parade in and out with their growlers and thought to myself that hipster culture had invaded even the most blue collar precincts of small city Indiana. Great beer, beards, and tattoos no longer define Portland or any other "cool" city. They are now ubiquitous, which is to say that they are as distinguishing for your city as McDonald's. (That doesn't … [Read more...]
Archives for June 2012
Regarding Black Urbanism by Pete Saunders
[ Pete Saunders is an urban planner, and an articulate and insightful writer on cities. He also happens to be black. The writings on his blog Corner Side Yard are a mix of great thoughts on general urbanism, and some of the applications to the black urban experience. In the piece below, Saunders asks where the black participation is in the urbanism movement today. Definitely check out his blog where he has some subsequent installments that flesh out his thoughts on the matter - Aaron. ] African Americans have been perhaps the most urban … [Read more...]
State of Chicago: The Decline and Rise
This article is part of the State of Chicago. I've had it in my head for over a year now to do an in-depth exploration of Chicago, a project I've called "State of Chicago." Today I want to kick that off as a series of posts that expand on the themes in my recent article "The Second-Rate City?" First, I'd like to list three reasons why I wrote that piece: 1. To bring to the attention of Chicago the very poor statistical performance of the city on basic demographic and economic measures. 2. To write a corrective to the many … [Read more...]
Religion and the City
Note: This post originally appeared on November 7, 2010. Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare. - Jeremiah 29:7 Religion is another one of those topics seldom discussed in urbanist circles. Though Christianity was originally an urban religion, modern Christianity has always had a bit of a problem with cities, with their licentious ways, anonymity, and the little bit of Babylon and Sodom they all contain. The religious in the US are … [Read more...]