>James the Ice Creamcycle Dude

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Photo culled from the Ice Creamcycle Dude’s facebook page

I see this guy riding everywhere…pedaling about a mile and hour, dinging his bell, and always smiling. It always makes me smile when I see him pedaling merrily by. Such a simple concept, one may think…buy a trike with a refrigerated compartment, get a permit, load it with stuff and pedal around selling it…think again. It is beyond the thought process of my brain why the bureaucracy of city hall in the Queen City would give this guy such a hard time. They’re always trying to bring more people into the city and create a new urban community…if this isn’t about sustainability and urban community I don’t know what is. Maybe they’re a little intimidated by the simplicity of it. To read an article about his struggles with city hall in the Buffalo News click here, to read a similar article in Buffalo Rising click here, and to visit him on facebook click here. Ride on creamcycle dude, ride on.

David Byrne Is A Bike Advocate

I just learned that David Byrne, front man for the Talking Heads, is a life-long bicycle advocate. How cool is that. I always liked their music, now I can appreciate him as a person even more. My favorite album by the Talking Heads is More Songs About Buildings and Food (not that you asked)…it is truly unique, and in my opinion, was one of the (many) sounds that ushered in the new music in the 1980’s…some of the young musicians today could learn a few things from the sparseness and simplicity of their songs. Anyhow, Byrne, I’ve read is also an artist (not surprising) and he has designed a series of bicycle racks which are displayed in and around NYC (I’m going to be there later this month and look forward to seeing them). Below are a few line drawings of them. If you want to see the locations of the racks click here. The video of Byrne and a journalist visiting his racks being made is also pretty good…it’s only 3 minutes and worth your time.

>David Byrne Is A Bike Advocate

>I just learned that David Byrne, front man for the Talking Heads, is a life-long bicycle advocate. How cool is that. I always liked their music, now I can appreciate him as a person even more. My favorite album by the Talking Heads is More Songs About Buildings and Food (not that you asked)…it is truly unique, and in my opinion, was one of the (many) sounds that ushered in the new music in the 1980’s…some of the young musicians today could learn a few things from the sparseness and simplicity of their songs. Anyhow, Byrne, I’ve read is also an artist (not surprising) and he has designed a series of bicycle racks which are displayed in and around NYC (I’m going to be there later this month and look forward to seeing them). Below are a few line drawings of them. If you want to see the locations of the racks click here. The video of Byrne and a journalist visiting his racks being made is also pretty good…it’s only 3 minutes and worth your time.

Inappropriate Car Behavior

Photo courtesy of sustrans

Like many neighborhoods, the one in which I live was built before the invention of the automobile…many of the streets are narrow and crowded, and for that reason cars sometimes feel out of place (to me)…sometimes the streets simply are not wide enough. Anyhow, I was on my way to work this morning riding the Mundo…going about two miles an hour as usual (even though I was late for work). I had just passed this intersection when I heard a crunching sound followed by glass hitting the pavement. I turn to look and it was a van making a right turn, and it had turned too soon (or quickly) and tore the side view mirror off another van that was parked there. I slowed to a stop and watched (because I thought they were going to keep going). They did stop ( I think because they saw me watching them) and observed the damage. I heard them mutter a few expletives then head back to their vehicle; I assumed they were getting something to write a note on. I started pedaling again. Then to my amazement, as I looked back (they were a block behind me now), they got back in the van and took off. I really do think that driving, particularly in an urban setting, makes people a little crazy at times. I know that when I’m behind the wheel and I hit traffic light after traffic light I immediately become annoyed, and if someone cuts me off it makes the hair on the back of my neck bristle…but I never feel that way when I’m on one of my bikes (or walking). I’ll be the first to admit that I am far from car free, but I ride or walk as much as possible…and when I walk or ride it makes me feel good, not mad. I’m fully convinced that walking and riding bikes are good for a person’s psyche…not just their physical health but mental as well…when is the last time you witnessed bike rage.

>Inappropriate Car Behavior

>

Photo courtesy of sustrans

Like many neighborhoods, the one in which I live was built before the invention of the automobile…many of the streets are narrow and crowded, and for that reason cars sometimes feel out of place (to me)…sometimes the streets simply are not wide enough. Anyhow, I was on my way to work this morning riding the Mundo…going about two miles an hour as usual (even though I was late for work). I had just passed this intersection when I heard a crunching sound followed by glass hitting the pavement. I turn to look and it was a van making a right turn, and it had turned too soon (or quickly) and tore the side view mirror off another van that was parked there. I slowed to a stop and watched (because I thought they were going to keep going). They did stop ( I think because they saw me watching them) and observed the damage. I heard them mutter a few expletives then head back to their vehicle; I assumed they were getting something to write a note on. I started pedaling again. Then to my amazement, as I looked back (they were a block behind me now), they got back in the van and took off. I really do think that driving, particularly in an urban setting, makes people a little crazy at times. I know that when I’m behind the wheel and I hit traffic light after traffic light I immediately become annoyed, and if someone cuts me off it makes the hair on the back of my neck bristle…but I never feel that way when I’m on one of my bikes (or walking). I’ll be the first to admit that I am far from car free, but I ride or walk as much as possible…and when I walk or ride it makes me feel good, not mad. I’m fully convinced that walking and riding bikes are good for a person’s psyche…not just their physical health but mental as well…when is the last time you witnessed bike rage.

An Omelette and a Glass of Wine

Tonight for dinner I was able to pick my first bit of food from the garden (exciting)…mostly herbs, and a few scant leaves of spinach, but food none-the-less. I chopped everything rather coarsely, then sauteed it all in olive oil with garlic…making a sort of cross between sofrito and fines herbs. Then I added the eggs to the pan…the coarse chopped herbs and spinach gave it a sort of rustic look…It was delicious (washed down with a glass of wine); the herbs were bursting with flavor.

While I ate I couldn’t help but think of Elizabeth David, the late English food writer. Her work had a great impact on my cooking style…it still does today. One of her books, a book of essays, bears the same name as the title of this post, An Omelette and a Glass of Wine, but it was her book, A Book of Mediterranean Food, that changed my life…well, OK, it didn’t change my life, but it did change that way I cook. If you would like to read a review I wrote for ChefTalk (about ten years ago) of her book, South Wind Through The Kitchen, click here (then scroll down). If you’d like to read a great article about Elizabeth David in the London Independent, click here.

>An Omelette and a Glass of Wine

>Tonight for dinner I was able to pick my first bit of food from the garden (exciting)…mostly herbs, and a few scant leaves of spinach, but food none-the-less. I chopped everything rather coarsely, then sauteed it all in olive oil with garlic…making a sort of cross between sofrito and fines herbs. Then I added the eggs to the pan…the coarse chopped herbs and spinach gave it a sort of rustic look…It was delicious (washed down with a glass of wine); the herbs were bursting with flavor.

While I ate I couldn’t help but think of Elizabeth David, the late English food writer. Her work had a great impact on my cooking style…it still does today. One of her books, a book of essays, bears the same name as the title of this post, An Omelette and a Glass of Wine, but it was her book, A Book of Mediterranean Food, that changed my life…well, OK, it didn’t change my life, but it did change that way I cook. If you would like to read a review I wrote for ChefTalk (about ten years ago) of her book, South Wind Through The Kitchen, click here (then scroll down). If you’d like to read a great article about Elizabeth David in the London Independent, click here.

Urban Beauty

This morning I woke feeling extremely stressed about various things. I know deep down everything always seems to work out OK, but when I’m stressed it’s as if I have blinders on and can’t see the beauty right in front of me. For that reason, when I went to the gym I chose to walk instead of ride one of my bikes. It was such a beautiful spring morning; I walked slowly and meditatively, being conscious of the natural beauty around me. Anyhow, I thought I’d share a little of what I saw. Some of these plants were wild; some were not. The last photo is from my front yard. One of my favorites is the next to last where it shows a bee with bright yellow pollen-laden legs. It’s amazing what a contemplative walk and a quick “power swim” can do. As I type these words my windows are open and I can here the birds in the background…I don’t believe I noticed them this morning. Click on any photo for a larger view.

“Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.”
Matthew 13:16














>Urban Beauty

>This morning I woke feeling extremely stressed about various things. I know deep down everything always seems to work out OK, but when I’m stressed it’s as if I have blinders on and can’t see the beauty right in front of me. For that reason, when I went to the gym I chose to walk instead of ride one of my bikes. It was such a beautiful spring morning; I walked slowly and meditatively, being conscious of the natural beauty around me. Anyhow, I thought I’d share a little of what I saw. Some of these plants were wild; some were not. The last photo is from my front yard. One of my favorites is the next to last where it shows a bee with bright yellow pollen-laden legs. It’s amazing what a contemplative walk and a quick “power swim” can do. As I type these words my windows are open and I can here the birds in the background…I don’t believe I noticed them this morning. Click on any photo for a larger view.

“Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.”
Matthew 13:16