Parking Lot Patio

If you know me, it should come as no surprise that I love the way a meal can bring people together.

In the last 6 months, I've been working at Dossier as a Design Research Specialist. With this new post, comes a new desk chair, location and community. We're located in Railtown (in simplest terms, it's the area between a set of railroad tracks and Hastings Street in Vancouver and yes, I have aspirations to brand it as per the subtle identity suggestion), which means there is a beautiful mixture of the industrial, the creative and the social. But we still long for more cafes and restaurants to make the community more communal (like they do, in say, Gastown). Railtown wants more linger. And we want to meet and connect with our neighbours!

But in our neighbourhood, there are a lot of Parking Lots. And with a lot of Parking Lots, we have fewer options to sit outside and linger (and by default, fewer options to connect). So a few of us at Dossier wanted to prototype an outdoor space where food could be shared/consumed and where creative ideas could be exchanged! The parking lot has been paved so what if we brought some paradise back to it?

So in the past month, we've set up a little patio space (aka the Parking Lot Patio) in the No Parking area of our lot at 611 Alexander and have been delighted to have folks from UGM, Dialog and Aritizia join us at the table. In our lunch hour chats, we've discovered a passion for creating community in this neighbourhood (not to mention some aspirations for a future block party) and a desire to make an impact.

The summer has just begun (Vancouver weather hasn't always been as supportive) but we're pleased to be part of testing a new way to do lunch (and if we may suggest) and a new way to change the world.

I got to attend my first TEDxVancouver event and was super impressed by the professionalism and organization that was evident from the moment you entered Kay Meek Centre. Stellar swag, truly tangible interactions and like minded TEDsters made it a day well spent.

These are 5 talks I'd love to revisit:

Josh Fox: Using the banjo to complement a narrative while talking = awesome, skills
Michael Green: Visualizing world housing needs = making information accessible and relevant
FYI: MGB is the firm that made the awesome 5500+ books-changing room space at LYNNsteven
Nardwuar: Crowd surfing to end your talk = using a metaphor to encapsulate your message
Dr. Jack Horner: Science lesson turned into story = reframing education
Rives: Linking history by filtering it through the 4am time slot = brilliant

Bonus track: Mash up by Don Alder and Kyprios

(photo by Kris Krüg)

A few shots to capture the experience that was Dinner With A Side Of Design. Loads more here!
Photos by Danny Chan

I found this in the archives (from a Design21 competition I entered a long time ago). In light of the concept, who would have imagined I'd end up planning this event?

David Suzuki Still Gots It

David Suzuki's tips for saving energy

Green Living

I attended the Green Living Show this weekend. And had some pretty interesting conversations (and a photo op to boot!).

I was eavesdropping a fair bit while at the MetroVancouver booth. When a woman asked, "If I can't do worms, how do I compost?" I had to jump in. I was pleased to be able to participate in her inquiry since this has been of interest to me as I consider how to answer my own questions on green. MV is apparently working on getting community composting units for those of us who dwell in apartments where worms and the like aren't an option. But we're only at the testing stage. Well, at least we know. They had a good laugh when I told them my landlord had threatened eviction if I didn't recycle. Yeah, no jurisdiction, baby.

I also asked many people why they thought their company or organization was green. Many got defensive at first. Until I clarified that I was researching this and not attacking their business. Then they could answer (and some did so quite authentically) about how they do (or do not) fit this green living gusto. One man, who has his product in Walmart (who was also there representin' all its green-ness), said he figures that the corporation is ready for green (because it's in their best interest) but he's not sure the Walmart demographic is quite there yet. Another woman, who works at a travel agency that will offset a portion of all flights booked through them, says she's heard many different opinions from people. Her favorite? That the green movement is just like the Catholic Church: it also requires penance.

I left feeling like I learned something but I wonder if it was because I knew what I was looking for? A quick word with a Hydro employee brought to the surface the idea that sometimes we need a personal experience to change our activities. We see crying children in Africa on television or the web regularly. But do we give? But something happens to us when we go to Africa, see the children and are personally affected by their reality.

So I'm asking: How do you create a private conversion on a public issue?