Loving the styles this chilly spring in the shopping areas of Milan. This jacket by MaxMara was a really striking piece.

This dress also showed some nice sensitivity to textile pattern design.

The MaxMara line is probably the best known label owned by the Italian Maramotti family based in Reggio Emilia, a city that gave birth to one of the most progressive childhood education methods.

After 5000 years of tea brewing, I have to wonder if modern design materials speak to the timeless pursuit of tea.

Admittedly, we have taken our shot but at least fascination follows function in our attempts. Keep on steeping…

Vertical Ethiopia

Yesterday in Raleigh, Great Outdoor Provision Company sponsored an event at the Lincoln Theatre. Majka Burhardt spoke and showed slides to introduce her book, Vertical Ethiopia, which is about a climbing expedition 4 women took in Ethiopia.

Not being a climber myself, I went mainly because I wanted to hear about Ethiopia, and see pictures of the landscapes. I was not disappointed. The photography by well known adventure photographer, Gabe Rogel, was absolutely stunning, so stunning in fact, that I now own the book. Beyond the pictures though, the overall story Majka told was entertaining and thought provoking. She was able to weave the thrill and danger of various climbs together with her introduction to Ethiopian culture.

Almost 3 years after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans is still a major renovation zone, and many places have barely been able to begin, even though the trailers are supposedly no longer a living option.

Many areas of New Orleans sustained minor damage due to being on higher ground (like the French Quarter), and some neighborhoods which had only 2-3 feet of standing water (only??) have finally come into the completion phases of their reconstruction. And according to the numbers we heard from locals, close to 70% of the total population is back in one way or another.

The lower ground areas, however, are still struggling for their very survival, especially the neighborhoods of the Lower Ninth Ward. What was once a large and dense series of neighborhoods is now desolate fields.

This is a street in the Upper Ninth Ward, still under major reconstruction efforts. This picture is also an example of what the streets of the Lower Ninth used to look like.

This is what the Lower Ninth Ward looks like as of July 26, 2008.

There is hope! We DID see some new construction.

According to all the locals we talked to, churches, neighborhood groups and other non-profits soliciting volunteer help have been the key to any successful reconstruction efforts. People have come from all over the country to help, and volunteers from within New Orleans have organized, housed, fed and worked alongside these volunteers.

If you wish to help, there are many worthy efforts to donate time or money to. From our research (a few days in New Orleans and talking to lots of locals), we will name 2 we feel confident in recommending:

• Common Ground Relief - They’re not just taking money to help, they are literally stationed right there in the Lower Ninth. They are organizing rebuilding efforts, as well as providing short term relief for victims. Of course, I don’t know this, but my guess is that the moneys donated are actually used immediately to fund reconstruction, rather than sitting in a fund somewhere all wrapped up in red tape.
• Church of the Annunciation Mission – I’m sure there are many churches and missions to work with. We heard about this church in particular as being well organized, providing accommodations, food and volunteer team organizers for those who wish to join the rebuilding effort of New Orleans.

Just spent a few days in Portland, Oregon, and had a great time, but “coveting” is not a pleasant experience, I have to say. Anyway, Portland in July is so beautiful it’s kinda sick. The sun is bright, the air is clean, the breeze is perfect and everything is in full bloom. It’s like walking through a very convincing sales brochure designed to keep you there forever (with no hint of the less than perfect weather of fall/winter/spring).

CITY OF NEIGHBORHOODS: Portland is fairly condensed with it’s famous and smart urban planning. Outside of the downtown area is a whole host of connected neighborhoods, and each of these has a specific feeling and it’s own little commercial district. It’s actually easier to walk or bike than to drive, which makes the streets very active on a human level.

Portlander’s love their gardens in the summer!

LOCAL FRESH FOOD (and coffee!!) CULTURE: You wanna see some people freak out over food? Talk to a Portlander about coffee, or watch them all glaze over when talking about berries in the summer. Chef-owned unique restaurants are everywhere throughout downtown and mixed through the neighborhoods. Almost all of them pride themselves on using local fresh ingredients and tailoring the menu to what’s in season. And the Saturday Farmer’s Market is packed with people! You can even get authentic southern Chicken and Biscuits from fellow Raleighite, Walter Alexander at his Pine State Biscuits stand.

Saturday Farmer’s Market in Portland

TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS: Wow. I’m not a big city girl and figuring out a bus system or mass transit can be a little intimidating to me. Not so in Portland. The city grid itself is very easy to understand and on top of that, there is a great (and free) streetcar system downtown, a light rail system, and a bus system which are all used by the whole population. Cycling is hugely encouraged and supported through bike lanes and paths. There is even a skateboarding/skate route noted throughout downtown. AND they have Zipcar, cars that sit around in convenient places for you to reserve for an hour or longer and then just walk the block or two to where it is, hop in, and get where you wanna go.

Portland Skate Route

Portland Bike Crew watching an anti-Foie Gras protest

PARKS and RECREATION: There are big and small parks all over the city, some celebrate nature and big scenic views, some are restful, or for dogs, or fun for children, or for roses. Whether in the heart of downtown or in larger natural areas within cycling distance of the core, they are all well used. There are also street festivals and markets everywhere all summer long.

Enjoying the rock fountain at Jameson Park

Tanner Springs: quiet urban park with natural grasses and sustainable water features

EMPHASIS ON QUALITY OF LIFE: It’s a different vibe that as an east-coaster, I just find shocking. At least through my rose-colored glasses of a visitor, it seems like in Portland, yer not about “what you do” as much as yer about “what you did last weekend.” The emphasis is different. The competitive feeling is more about what kind of outdoor “gear” you own than your work status.

Green roof in Alberta Arts district

I’ll have a “things to do on your visit” post tomorrow, and then I’ll leave it alone

Driving back from the beach yesterday, we passed Camp Lejeune. For at least 2 miles along the highway the fence along the road was covered with displays of love for the military men and women returning from their tours of duty. It was a very touching sight.

It was like a remake of The Birds on the beach today (we’re at the beach! YEAH!). A giant swarming mass of Cormorants descended on the water.

After being jilted by his wife, a sad sack in Perth, Australia, named Ian Usher has decided to get rid of everything tied to those memories (which is pretty much everything he owns) by selling it in one fell swoop on eBay. You have to buy it all though – the house in Perth, his car, motorcycle, jet ski, furniture, blah blah blah. You even get a trial run at his job to see if it is a good fit for you and the company. And you have access to his friends.

The bidding starts June 22 at the low low price of $1. Go to his website, Alifeforsale.com, for all the details on how to step into someone else’s life.

Kinchou Mosquito Coils – this is my favorite, partially because they chose to use a rooster as the graphic for mosquito coils. Huh?

Ajinomoto Salt – different versions of Panda faces are everywhere in the grocery!

Lamune Soda – and they’re definitely not afraid to make unique and pretty bottle shapes.

Check it all out at Off the Shelf.
via Pushapixel.

USARPS is actually USA RPS, or USA Rock Paper Scissors Tournament.

Sponsored by Bud Light, the USARPS tourney happens in bars across our great land. Worthy competitors are found at each establishment, signed up in NCAA-style bracketing, and then the fun begins. There are strict rules to Rock-Paper-Scissors, including the fact that you “shoot” on the 4th count, not the third. And there are no dynamites or bombs in the official rules, only rock, paper, and of course, scissors.

Winners at each establishment go on to regional tournaments that eventually lead to the national tournament in Las Vegas. The national winner wins $50,000 and goes to the international “olympics” held in Beijing. And it’s harder than it looks. Aly jumped into the competition and was summarily dismissed as he did not win one single “throw” against his opponent.

Excitement.