The Deleted Scenes - New and Old #109
Recovering the Lost Art of Mixed-Use Development, Strong Towns, Edward Erfurt, December 2, 2022
But today, zoning assumes “that an office will forever be an office and a retail store will forever be a retail store. The result is single-use development without the ability to adapt over time.” Erfurt describes this old pattern as an “art.” It’s not a top-down plan; it’s something that is first permitted, and then happens largely on its own. It is important to understand that this is not an approach to building cities; it is building cities. When we build today, we are mostly doing something different. At a fancy Japanese restaurant recently, my wife and I had white king salmon. King is the finest of the Alaskan wild salmons, and typically it looks like regular salmon: pinkish or orange-ish. But this one was a pale, slightly translucent white, looking more like haddock or snapper, say, than salmon. I thought it also tasted meatier and milder, somewhere between salmon and tuna. I had to look up what, exactly, it was. I assumed—since salmon get their trademark color from their diet of tiny shrimp and crustaceans—that these salmons were from a particular area where their diet differed. But that’s not it. They have the same diet! It’s genetic:
Maybe next time I have expensive sushi I’ll learn something else! Are all Dixie Highway small towns in Indiana alike?, Down the Road, Jim Grey, June 21, 2012
It is kind of funny to see these photos of town after town that look almost the same. The two- and three-story downtown buildings of the 19th century were very much “the same,” but it was a useful, adaptable sameness, and one we still find pleasing today. Unfortunately, many of these towns are shells of their former selves. But the shells are still there, waiting for new life. From the comments, I also found this neat project documenting Indiana’s courthouse and town squares. And there’s also this interesting comment: “I’m not sure what came before these brick buildings. Obviously, we lack reconstruction this far north [another commenter noted many Southern towns were destroyed in the Civil War] so I don’t have a preconceived notion of ‘what came before’ in these towns.” That raises a point I’ve made a lot: that when we see a village or town or small city, we’re really seeing an urban settlement at a particular level or stage of development. So to see what came “before” in a small town, you can probably find a tiny village, perhaps with old wooden buildings. That’s how many of these towns will have started. Catkins, can we eat them?, Wild Harvests, T. Abe Lloyd, February 16, 2012 Upon learning that the spindly, pollen-y strings covering our yard were flowers from our oak tree, called “catkins,” I did some reading about them. They’re apparently good for homemade mulch. And, apparently, they are edible. I read this with fascination, having just recently done a couple of foraging/identification nature walks. This blogger tried preparing catkins from a number of different trees. This is just one:
I always wonder if there are edible hidden gems out there, or if there are good reasons so little of this stuff is regularly foraged and eaten. I think there probably are, but I’m willing to be convinced otherwise! Related Reading: Thank you for reading! Please consider upgrading to a paid subscription to help support this newsletter. You’ll get a weekly subscribers-only post, plus full access to the archive: over 600 posts and growing. And you’ll help ensure more material like this! You're currently a free subscriber to The Deleted Scenes. For the full experience, upgrade your subscription. |
Key phrases
Older messages
Quasi-Urban Block
Friday, May 12, 2023
What Do You Think You're Looking At? #109
Prices Aren't Metaphysics
Friday, May 12, 2023
Market signals, not revelations
Beyond Bed Bath & Beyond, To What?
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
We'll miss the category killer when it's gone
If You Love Something, Let It Grow
Monday, May 8, 2023
NIMBYism is a denial of the natural order of the built environment
Multigenerational Suburbia
Saturday, May 6, 2023
When most Americans have never lived in a city
You Might Also Like
The Ultimate Workouts for Men Over 40 💪
Saturday, May 11, 2024
Build Muscle At Age 40+ With Our Best Selling Program Men's Health Shop logo Build a Stronger, Fitter Body in Your 40s and Beyond. Build a Stronger, Fitter Body in Your 40s and Beyond. View in
Everything We Know About Prime Day 2024 (So Far)
Saturday, May 11, 2024
Best TV Channels You Can Stream for Free. When Prime Day 2024 will take place, and what deals you can expect. Not displaying correctly? View this newsletter online. TODAY'S FEATURED STORY
Weekend: Charging Friends for Dinner Parties 💸
Saturday, May 11, 2024
But first: don't let money mess with your marriage — Check out what we Skimm'd for you today Subscribe Read in browser May 11, 2024 Daily Skimm Header Image Together with new york life But
Trolling Alone
Saturday, May 11, 2024
Or, unfortunately, together ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
The Week in Review
Saturday, May 11, 2024
Week of May 6 — Homeownership Hampered, Claims climb, Mortgage manacles ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
"Songs to the Peonies Sung to the Air: 'Peaceful Brightness'" by Li Bai, translated by Florence Wheelock Ayscough
Saturday, May 11, 2024
The many-coloured clouds make me think of her upper garments, Facebook Twitter Instagram Poem-a-Day is reader-supported. Your gift today will help the Academy of American Poets continue to publish the
Capri Pants Are Back For 2024 & We're Obsessed
Saturday, May 11, 2024
They're more elevated than ever.
How to Block Companies From Tracking You Online
Friday, May 10, 2024
The Best (and Safest) Way to Slice a Bagel. Services like TikTok and Facebook can track you even if you don't have an account with them. Here's how to see what they're up to. Not displaying
16 Delightfully Cringey Wedding Horror Stories
Friday, May 10, 2024
Plus, your horoscope for Friday, May 10.
I’m Not a Cheater — I’m a ‘Cake Eater’
Friday, May 10, 2024
What's new today on the Cut — covering style, self, culture, and power, plus interviews, profiles, columns, and commentary from our editors. Brand Logo FRIDAY, MAY 10 RELATIONSHIPS I'm Not a