Skip to main content

Posts

Restaurant Inspection Scores Source: City of Austin
Cool Logo Stuff From New Orleans Public Library I have a deep fondness for libraries and you gotta dig library themed clothing.
Thinking Outside the Big Box The recent uptick in big-box projects and proposals in the Crescent City, fueled by tax subsidies and other costly giveaways, has left owners of smaller home-grown businesses in related industries gritting their teeth and bracing for hard times. They might not have a champion in City Hall, but an Emmy Award-winning journalist is working to shine a light on their situation with his documentary film-in-progress, "Independent America: Rising from the Ruins." The final feature-length documentary is scheduled to be ready for national broadcast by early fall. Dig It
Film Preview: Rising from Ruins "Independent America filmmaker takes to the road again in search for the story behind the recovery of New Orleans in “Independent America: Rising From Ruins” Independent film director and Emmy Award-winning journalist, Hanson Hosein, leaves behind his pregnant wife and travel partner in Seattle as he takes to the regional roads for a 3,000 mile journey to investigate how Mom and Pop businesses are doing in post-Katrina New Orleans." Powerful stuff from people I'm proud to know. dig it
Moose in the Marigny One of my old conspirators from Critical Mass days, Moose, is having an art party at Mimi's in the Marigny on April 9. You should go.
A Blast from the Past A found a stack of these while cleaning out some clutter the other day. I am so proud that the organization is alive and well and in great hands.

building scenarios v1

building scenarios v1 Originally uploaded by Edward Melendez From Art of the Long View
momovelo, you are missed As I was admiring a fine commuter bike I saw on the street yesterday, I was reminded of the late, great momovelo. momovelo was a bike shop in Berkeley run by a guy named Kai and it was one of the most clever niche retailers I have ever seen. Kai put together bicycles to suit the flaneur crowd. momovelo used well made and unique components but had a classic quality; these weren't the showy, gadgety bikes you see the masses riding around in. These were objects of utility and beauty simultaneously. Kai's website featured pictures of them in urban settings – one bike, a spartan looking city bike in robin's egg blue was pictured with some type of squash attached by bungie cords to its rack, as though its owner was returning with an impromptu purchase from a farmer's market or roadside stand. Great stuff for those of us who see bikes as some cross between work tools and slightly mystical objects. His retail shop was a stylishly decorated bouti...
The Subtle Beauty of Lunch Hour Walks

An Excuse to go to Gingerman and Stay Too Long

alex at gingerman Originally uploaded by Edward Melendez Alex came to visit his brother, who's working here in Austin. Sure, it's no NYC, but Gingerman sure has a lot of beer.
I'm Not Crazy, I'm a Relentless Innovator It just occurred to me how to describe myself. Of course, it took someone smarter than me to help me put the words together. I just finished reading Don Berwick's funny, intriguing and enlightening piece "Sauerkraut, Sobriety and the Spread of Change" from his collection of speeches entitled Escape Fire , which, by the way, may possibly be the most accessible and brilliant book EVER about how to improve healthcare quality in the US. But that's another review. In my LinkedIn profile I used to identify myself as a "Social Entrepreneur and Technologist." I think the first half of that is right, or at least the right spirit. But the second half, "Technologist," isn't. While I do have a love of technology and a personal fetish for electronic gadgetry and assorted gizmos, I don't love technology for its own sake in organizations. In fact, from my business development experience in the inte...