Author Archive
Is this a bar, cafe or restaurant?: All of the above. This is ‘Clocks’ in Athens, GA. We’re become
In Athens, indie restaurants thrive over McDonald’s and Subway downtown: It’s true. There are over a hundred retail venues in downtown Athens,
The secret to Athens’ vibe?: The people. Period. The built environment, music, sense of community and progressiveness
What makes Athens, Georgia so darn unique?: So of course, tonight we asked the University of Georgia students, especially
Every retail-entertainment district needs a great venue developer: The biggest criticism to the idea of revitalizing and building neighborhoods and
Where would one find Madison’s creative class?: Just like in Cambridge, Madison’s creative class has left the national chain-infiltrating
Madison’s outdoor ‘third places: Every town needs third places away from home and the workplace. These
Madison’s leaders help set the standard: In continuing yesterday’s experience with Madison’s fervent belief that the car takes
Madison, Wisconsin – Where pedestrians truly come first: Madison, Wisconsin regularly tops the Best Places to Live list, and even
Davis Square: Creative, healthy, and fun: While Harvard and MIT each have excellent town centers nearby, the neighboring
Inman Square: Isolated, but homey, simple: Inman Square is for the ‘quiet creatives’, those who want a slower
Central Square: Great venues, so-so urban design: The live music hangout in Cambridge, MA is in Central Square, the
Harvard Square: Great place-making, but the creatives are long-gone: Harvard Square is a visual wonder – the streets are alive with
Every neighborhood should have its day: This is my neighborhood and this is its day – Adams Morgan
First two CoolTown tour stops: Cambridge MA and Madison WI: Next week CoolTown Studios tour will be documenting Cambridge, MA, and how
2000 steps to health?: That’s the magic number according to Dr. James Hill, keynote speaker at
The 5-town CoolTown tour: Over the next five weeks, CoolTown Studios will be visiting five of
What’s with all those dollar bills on the walls?: The great thing about independent business owners is that you’re often in
What are two of the greatest trends in shopping?: From Governing Magazine, “The two greatest trends in shopping, it seems, are
Why are cities infatuated with Starbucks and Cheesecake Factory’s?: The more they are, the less you’ll see one-of-a-kind places like this
Why are CoolTowners so fit?: They’re ‘intrinsic exercisers’ – that is, they exercise because that want to,
What is the coming demand for walkable communities?: 30-55%. That’s the projected demand by 2010 for denser, more walkable neighborhoods
Beware the national housing survey!: Here’s another reason why new communities are often so undesirable: opportunistic surveys
Why are communities so ill-designed? Credentialing vs. Educating: Why don’t we design and build places like this anymore? Listen up,
The CoolTown satellite office: What is a satellite office? One definition: A type of telecommute using