Graffiti Wanderings

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Urban Renewal in Halifax 1959 - 1969 #urban planning #halifax

Urban Renewal in Halifax 1959 – 1969 #urban planning #halifax

I had meant to share this great link with my last post, over 4,000 images of the Halifax peninsula before the massive urban renewal projects of the 1960s. These images show Halifax before Scotia Square, and the Cogswell Interchange (which is set to be redeveloped). http://www.halifax.ca/Archives/urbanrenewalphotographs.php    

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Streetcars in Halifax, We had them Way Back When #halifax #development #transportation

Streetcars in Halifax, We had them Way Back When #halifax #development #transportation

I have been looking at old pictures of Halifax quite a bit lately. As new development are built and more announced my mind has been thinking about transportation in the city. There is the ever present debate about commuter rail, which could make travel into the city core much more efficient if done properly. What happens when we get downtown? Currently, we have a mess of buses going down…

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I seem to pause now and then when it comes to posting in my blog but this week I had the urge to talk about Halifax. There is a great deal of new development happening across the city, much of it in the urban centre. This is a fantastic change since most of the development in years past has happened in the suburban areas, creating too much sprawl for a city this size and enforcing car dependency.

Halifax is a lovely small city and the focus on building an urban centre where people can live, work and play is very much needed. But this brings up lots of new questions and challenges on how to really make the city livable. For years new residential and office towers were built off the peninsula, in new neighborhoods that didn’t have good transit access and were accompanied by wide roads and strip malls. I am not going to get into the urban/suburban debate about what is aesthetically pleasing but these developments have come at a cost. New roads to maintain and no link to the core of the city except highways and traffic. Don’t get me wrong, I understand everyone doesn’t want to live downtown but it makes no sense to create dense apartment buildings in a suburban area with poor transportation links and zero walk ability.

Sprawling Roads

Strip Malls

Dense apartments in the suburbs with almost zero walk ability

The video below shows how Vancouver has created a city where transportation is not focused on cars but on the needs of people. With a similar geography Halifax could take some of these ideas to build an even greater city. The city can grow with a focus on building along transportation lines and link the city together. We have started building bike lanes and talked the talk but an investment needs to be made in the future of the city. A real strategy of separated bike lanes, bus only lanes and streets, increased bus frequency and real alternatives to car dependency. We need affordable and frequent transportation options. Public transit should be quicker then car travel during rush hour, leaving cars behind and changing the mindset of commuters.

Development and Transit in Halifax I seem to pause now and then when it comes to posting in my blog but this week I had the urge to talk about Halifax.

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The Automobile Inherits the Earth #perspective #animation It has been a while since I have posted anything on my blog. Though I do have a reserve of graffiti pics lined up for posting.

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Oh the New Year! As January hits mid-month and February is quickly approaching, I find myself dreaming of the Spring, Fall, Summer months. Really any season except for the cold, snowy, wind-swept Winter season.

My wanderings have changed from long bike rides, along wooded trails, city streets and paths with beautiful harbour views. To quick jaunts down the road to get a coffee, or evenings at the pub drinking beverages that help you forget about the cold outside.

I will say so far I have done one winter activity that has been on my list for quite some time in Halifax, a trip to skate on the oval in the Commons. This is one public expenditure that the city of Halifax has made in recent memory that has truly benefited all in the community.

Until the cold wind stops blowing and the ground begins to thaw, I will be thinking of wanderings yet to come. New adventures, places to explore and long bike rides in new places.

Winter Wanderings, Summer Longing #biking #graffiti #sunshine Oh the New Year! As January hits mid-month and February is quickly approaching, I find myself dreaming of the Spring, Fall, Summer months.

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Great Article/Book Review "The Art of Encouraging Graffiti" #graffiti #streetart I haven't posted anything for quite some time but came across this book review on CITYLAB…

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Summer has began to slip by very quickly without me even noticing it was here. For me September tends to be a month of reflection, mainly because it is my birthday month, and this year it would appear that I have a great deal to think about. That is not necessarily a bad thing but to be honest I wish that I was looking back at a Summer of delight rather then one of changes and paths forward.

The National – 29 Years 

There were some wonderful things that happened that I should focus on as there is always glimmers of wonderful in the middle of cloudy change:

I became an uncle for a second time. My lovely sister had her first child.

I bought a new bike and have been enjoying the rides as often as I can.

Sometimes another persons smile is the most wonderful thing you can experience.

The people I care about have been enjoying lots of happiness, which is something important to celebrate.

I have realized something important internally that even though it hurts makes me happy I can still feel something very powerful, that I thought was lost.

Sometimes other peoples happiness is more important then our own, selfishness isn’t something I want to have on my agenda.

I have discovered beautiful things in unexpected places.

So we always do have things that are fantastic and should be cherished, you just need to search and discover what is really important. I don’t really want my blog post to just be something personal so I have included some new Summer pics, of streetscapes, Graffiti and of course my new Bike.

New Song on The Fratellis New Album – Baby Don’t You Lie to Me (Super Excited to grab it on vinyl)

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The Libertines – Don’t Look Back Into the Sun (Also excited for their new reunion album to drop)

Summer is Slipping Away But I Have Photos Summer has began to slip by very quickly without me even noticing it was here. For me…

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Old/New A funny Short Film for Friday #film #vintage #funny We all need to laugh right? I have been searching for this video for a while and finally found it.

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The Summer in Nova Scotia is wonderful. On a nice day the sun is shining the trees are so lush it almost looks tropical. Sure we do get a bit more rain then I would like but sometimes a sun shower can create a lovely moment where you rush to grab shade under the nearest overhang.

Lately I have been feeling very reflective, every place I go, every picture I take and every moment seems to stir some emotion deep inside me. Sometime the feelings are good, sometimes not-so-much but all in all it is good to feel something. People sometimes push their emotions deep inside them because of fear, insecurity or past experiences. Lesson learned this is not the way to live.

So from now on take a look around you, cherish the moments as they come your way and remember everything appreciating what is was and now is. Lately I have taken a few new graffiti pics and some shots of the city, each filled with some memory, current or past.

Some more Dartmouth Graffiti

Lovely old House in the North End Halifax

Graffiti shots in Downtown Dartmouth

A view of the Halifax Skyline

Fond Memories at the Fair on the Boardwalk in Halifax

Another view of Peggy’s Cove

Fond Memories at the Fair on the Boardwalk in Halifax

The rocks in Peggy’s Cove

Beach House near Bayswater beach. Once owned by Leonard Cohen’s backup singers.

On the road to Peggy’s Cove

Beautiful beach in Nova Scotia Bayswater Beach

Another View of Peggy’s Cove

Boat House in the South Shore

Beautiful Peggy’s Cove

Bike Break in the sun at Point Pleasant Park

A Row House I wanted to buy

Train Graffiti in Dartmouth

New Development in the North End Halifax

My favourite close to work Coffee Shop the NOOK

Summer Thoughts and Pictures #graffiti #beach #streetscapes The Summer in Nova Scotia is wonderful. On a nice day the sun is shining the trees are so lush it almost looks…

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Is this how you sound in meetings? #funnyvideo

Thought I would start the work week off with a bit of humour. It was a long weekend here in Nova Scotia. http://www.fastcompany.com/embed/9ef9df4fb0c9c?rel=1&src=embed&veggiemode=1

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So I asked myself a question the other day, “Are memories an adequate replacement for time travel?”. I know, a weird question but one that has been stuck in my head ever since I thought about it. Long story short I have been having a bit of a rough few weeks, life changing stuff that I didn’t realize could affect we the way it has. You live and you learn, they say, but at my age I had hoped I would stop learning these life lessons. Well I have not. True story!

We all make mistakes in our lives and we hopefully all learn from them, sometimes it does take the best of us a few runs at the same mistakes to really make a life change. So to answer my questions right now memories are not an adequate replacement for time travel but if I have learned a great deal from this round of mistakes and I will never let fear shape my decisions again. I was talking to my wonderful cousin today and she shared the best piece of advice I have had in a long time “There are only two things to remember here, anything people do or say comes from either a place of love or fear, and only love is real. True story!”. Yes she stole my line. True story!

I never like to talk too much about what is going on in my personal life but I thought this vague description of my learning was worth sharing. In order to celebrate the memories over the last year I thought some photos of my best memories might inspire the thought that memories really are important and they shape who we are and who we will be. They inspire both joy and pain, but the painful turns to joyful memories over time.

Below is one of my favourite songs to start the photo tour, “My Heart” by the Perishers

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Next up continuing on the nostalgic route, Band of Horses, “No One’s Gonna Love You”.

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To end things off something a bit more hopeful from Noah and the Whale featuring the lovely Laura Marling, “5 Years Time”.

Looking back in retrospect I have had a lot of really great moments over the last year, so I will change my answer. Memories are not quite as good as time travel but they do bring moments of happiness to us all.

Memories of a good year and photos to remember #photos, So I asked myself a question the other day, "Are memories an adequate replacement for time travel?".

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Another #halifax #stencil scream. @lmailman

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Fixed Gear Bike Choices - Still Dreaming of Sunshine #bikes #music #fixedgear

Fixed Gear Bike Choices – Still Dreaming of Sunshine #bikes #music #fixedgear

As mentioned in my last blog post I am getting a bit of the winter blues. There were a few last storms, but the spring melt has began in Halifax and I am dreaming of bikes and bike rides under the sun and stars in the warm weather that is coming.

Last year I picked up a new mountain bike, a kickass Brodie, and this year I am looking to treat myself to a fixed gear for some nice city biking. As I…

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One last wall shot #graffiti

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Alleyway #graffiti in #halifax

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A bit more #graffiti #halifax

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Alleyway #graffiti North End #halifax