Elsewhere

Mapping Things Out: our friend Chris has just updated the handy map of Northside, the Cincinnati neighborhood in which he lives.

Cincinnati Gentrified at One of Nation’s Fastest Rates Immediately Following Housing Boom: a cause for celebration, for some.

AD Classics: North Christian Church / Eero Saarinen: I’ve mentioned before that a trip to Columbis, IN is well worth your while; here’s a close look at one of its iconic buildings.

For Punk Music, Gentrification Is the New Ronald Reagan: an update on gentrification and the punk scene in DC.

A Tale of Two Brooklyns: There’s More to My Borough Than Hipsters and Coffee: just that.

The Town That Went Underground: the town in question is Coober Pedy, deep in the South Australian desert, and it really did go underground.

‘Poison Garden’ Showcases the Darker Side of Botany: weirdness!

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Elsewhere

Designs Worth Discovering: Rookwood Pottery Tile: my friend Becky wrote this amazing article about Rookwood Pottery, and I contributed photos of Carew Tower and Union Terminal in Cincinnati, Guardian Building in Detroit, and Grand Central Terminal in NYC.

Six Small Cities with Big Food Scenes: Cincinnati made the list.

David Grohl Alley: in Warren, OH, complete with the world’s largest drumstick.

Panoramic Views of Columbus, Indiana’s Modernist Landmarks: Cincinnati’s own Thomas R. Schiff tackles the iconic architecture of Columbus, IN in lovely photos.

M-1 Rail Groundbreaking Nears amid Hopes for a Broader Regional System: in the Motor City, work is starting to seriously add to its public transit system.

5 Pointz Supporters Drape Building In “Gentrification In Progress” Banner: 5Pointz, the recently whitewashed graffiti mecca in Queens, was the subject of a pretty awesome bit of street art this week.

The Innovation Ecosystem Built on Pittsburgh’s Steel Skeleton: tech in the new Steel City.

VisuaLingual 2013 Gift Guide

It’s time for the annual VL Gift Guide and, as always, the focus is on the talented independent designers whose work we admire. If you’re looking for gifts this holiday season, here are some unique ideas.

VisuaLingual at Craftin’ Outlaws

We’re really excited to make our debut at Craftin’ Outlaws in Columbus, OH this Saturday. The daylong event will feature 90 design and craft vendors from all over the Midwest, plus concessions, giveaways and DIY stations.

Elsewhere

Three World-Changing Sustainability Ideas: some love for our 10 Seed Bombs with Slinger.

Why Cincinnati Rocks!: a “collection of tasty tidbits about the Queen City.”

Take a Road Trip to Columbus, a Mid-Century Mecca: Columbus, IN, that is, courtesy of Modern Midwest.

25 Iconic Film Locations in New York City: from Taxi Driver to Annie Hall, before-and-after photos and overlays of sites of famous movie scenes shot in NYC.

Perforated Screen Walls: if, like me, you’re a fan of this sort of Modern decorative feature, usually cast concrete, then you’ll want to check out this seemingly never-ending collection of eye candy.

12 Beautiful Photos of Ridiculous Cell Phone Towers Disguised as Trees: exactly what it sounds like.

Missile Base Properties for Sale: again, self-explanatory [also crazy!].

VisuaLingual 2012 Gift Guide

It’s time for the annual VL Gift Guide and, as before, the focus is on some of the many amazing independent designers whose work we admire. Three Sheets 2 the Wind in Georgetown, KY specializes in simple, almost childlike screenprints on fine linen, including these sweet canvases above, which would be perfect for a kid’s room.

Elsewhere

VisuaLingual in Martha Stewart’s American Made Competition: 5chw4r7z wants you to vote for us!

Something Worth Fighting For: Cincinnatians, support the Anna Louise Inn today at 4pm.

Visionaries and Voices Presents Its Contemporary Art Coloring Book: love for our V&V coloring book exhibition catalog from the Trend Hunter.

Columbus, Ind.: A Midwestern Mecca Of Architecture: Modern architectural marvels in Columbus.

Everyday Genius: Karen Lillis: 13 50-word stories about NYC.

Regret Project: turning your life’s regrets into street art.

When the Straw Hat Riots Rocked 1920s New York: in 1922, a riot broke out over a fashion rule forbidding the wearing of straw hats past September 15.

Elsewhere

Close to Columbus: Over-the-Rhine: Columbus Underground checks out OTR!

my3CDC: Taking Back the Center City!: a response to 3CDC.

A New Park in LA Takes the City Back to Its Natural Roots: transforming an old bus yard into the city’s largest urban wetland.

It’s Not a Fairytale: Seattle to Build Nation’s First Food Forest: just that.

New York Water Tanks to Be Transformed into Works of Art: I’m excited to see what participants Ed Ruscha and Lawrence Weiner do with this, but why exactly is Jay-Z involved?

An “Empathetic Observer” of 1950s New York: the recently discovered work of street photographer Oscar Larson.

Map On, Map Off: crazy self-folding map!

Elsewhere

Charley Harper: an excellent overview of Charley Harper‘s excellent retrospective exhibit.

West Fifteenth St. and Vine St., Cincinnati, Ohio, May 1, 1974: fascinating essay about a photograph taken by Stephen Shore.

Pedal Powered Vegetable Cart For Urban Gardening Program: this Kickstarter campaign for OTR-based Permaganic Co. has just a few days to go; please help this great cause.

Five Design Challenge 2012: interesting Cincinnati-based competition seeks ideas for underutilized spaces.

NYC Phone Booths Turned into Free Mini Libraries by Architect John Locke: speaking of underutilized spaces, there’s this cool idea.

Guerrilla Wayfinding in Raleigh: “tactical urbanism at its best: a fly-by-night citizen-led escapade whose whimsy could ultimately prompt real improvements to city amenities.”

There Is a Thing in Brooklyn Called a Babyccino: OMG.

VisuaLingual 2011 Gift Guide

If you’re in the midst of holiday shopping right now, give the gift of independent design! Here are my favorite gift picks from the various corners of the VL microcosm: friends, friends of friends, neighbors, all of them amazing, hard-working people who love what they do.