About the series: Welcome to our ongoing travel series. These are all posts written by planning students and professionals about what to do in a given city when looking for Brunch, a Brew, or a good idea on a Budget. To cap it all off, we include a fun planning fact!
By Jo Kwon
About the visit: At the beginning of this fall, I visited Dublin for the 35th International Geographical Congress conference. I got to present my work and hear about so many different research projects. On top of that, I got to visit new places!
Brunch
Irish Seafood Chowder & Brown bread. Photo: Jo Kwon
Irish brown bread is a traditional staple. The bread is dense and slightly sweet. It pairs with every meal. While in Dublin, don’t miss the opportunity to try the classic combination of Irish brown bread and seafood chowder. This creamy and flavorful soup, typically made with a variety of seafood, is a comforting choice, especially on Dublin’s frequent rainy days.
Brew
Bewley’sGraftonStreet. Photo: Jo Kwon.
While Guinness Brewery might be the top destination for beer lovers, tea is another essential part of the Dublin experience. During my visit, I couldn’t resist trying a traditional Irish tea. I went for the Cream for Two, which came with scones, small cakes, clotted cream, jam, and two kinds of tea. The black tea options, ranging from Irish Breakfast to Afternoon tea, offered a variety of flavors. The warm scones and jam together are a great combination! The warm scones and jam were a great match! The cafe even offers tours on Saturdays because of their art and stained glass.
Budget
Cliffsof Moher. Photo: Jo Kwon.
The Cliffs of Moher are another must-see in Ireland, located about 3.5 hours from Dublin, near the village of Liscannor. This scenic area frequently appears in films that showcase Ireland’s beauty. O’Brien’s Tower offers a chance to go a little higher to enjoy the breathtaking views and experience the strong winds. However, it’s crucial to take photos only in designated areas, as many people have risked their lives or even died while wandering off the trails. It was so windy that I even bumped into a stranger!
Fun Planning Fact
Spire of Dublin (City Center of Dublin). Photo: Jo Kwon
While I was in Dublin, my Uber driver mentioned that traffic was very bad due to a new transportation policy banning private vehicles in the city center, effective August 26, 2024. This policy aims to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. However, certain vehicles, such as taxis and emergency vehicles, may be exempt from the ban.
It’s been a month since the new transportation policy was implemented in Dublin, and the results from this past month have been published. There has been a 60% decrease in private car use on the quays, while public transport usage has increased by 11%. Moreover, foot traffic in the city center has risen compared to last year. However, the impact on retailers has been mixed, as some have experienced increased footfall while others report decreased sales. Retailers and disability groups have expressed concerns about the policy’s effects on business and accessibility.
Featured Image: Dublin’s skyline. Photo: Jo Kwon.
Jo (Joungwon) Kwon is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of City and Regional Planning, driven by a deep interest in exploring the applications of visualizations in planning. Since joining CPJ in 2019, she has worked actively as an editor. With a diverse academic background in Statistics and English Literature, she holds an M.A. in Computational Media from Duke University. In her free time, she enjoys watching indie films, attending live performances, pursuing climbing adventures, and drinking a good cup of coffee.
This is Chapter One of Joan Lyon’s upcoming book Women Moving People. More information on the book and how you can contribute can be found on her website.
Trigger Warnings: Sexual Harassment, Stalking, Depression, Ageism, Sexism, PTSD, Anxiety
Fresh out of the Netherlands, I was ready to solve our nation’s problems when it came to city planning, and design. I applied for jobs everywhere. Washington, D.C., Seattle, Denver, Palo Alto… you name the bigger city, I probably applied to a job there. The search proved to be difficult. The planning and design space in the US context tends to favor degrees from North American planning programs, which I had been told previously, but didn’t realize how difficult it was. I likely applied for over 100 jobs before I found success in Grand County, Colorado.
Having grown up ski racing in the county, I knew I loved the Fraser Valley, and was desperate to find something. The County was looking for a new planner, and I immediately applied and interviewed the following week. I packed all of my bags and took the journey to the Western Slope to live in a rural community for the first time at the ripe age of 22. I had lived alone before, but not in a county of less than 5,000. Because I was familiar with the area after spending every weekend of my childhood here, I wasn’t nervous in the slightest. My first day went well. I met all of the other friendly people I worked with and saw how the public interacted with staff at our planning and building windows. The future looked bright for me!
Day two hit me like a load of bricks.
Our office had an open door policy so that everyone could hear what our community was requesting from the windows for service. On day two, someone requested me by name. My administrative assistant walked into my office and told me that someone wanted to see me, and I figured that that person was someone my family knew or that I grew up ski racing with. But I asked her to go back again and ask the person again for their name since I didn’t recognize it. She returned, and I still was unsure of the individual’s relation to me but walked up to the window. The person was someone I had met once before in my life two years prior in Denver, two and a half hours away from my office. We hadn’t spoken since then, and this person did not tell me they were coming to visit me in my office. In short, I was stalked at my place of employment, and was mortified as my new colleagues listened to the conversation I had with this person.
“Hi Joan, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you, but congratulations on your new job! I saw you got it on LinkedIn, and was in the area, so I figured I’d stop by.”
“Hi there! I’m sorry it took me so long to come out. I didn’t recognize your name, but upon seeing you, I immediately realized who you were. I hope you are doing well.”
Even though my colleagues had just met me, they could sense the uncertainty in my voice as we talked. I tried to play it cool, acting as if nothing was wrong, but immediately as I finished and he left, I talked to my female colleagues in the office about the situation.
The questions I kept asking myself were “Why didn’t this person reach out to me to let me know they were coming? Had I done something wrong posting my new job on LinkedIn? Why did this man do this? Should I be concerned for my safety?”
In short, the situation was the start of my welcoming to the male-dominated industry of planning, engineering, and design.
Fast forward to 2021, and I’ve landed a different job managing a team of four at a transportation non-profit in Boulder, had met the love of my life and gotten engaged, and was in the process of moving across the country and planning a wedding. Life was good. I worked with a team of primarily all women, felt supported in my environment and workplace, had a job that let me work primarily from home to have work life balance.
One week before I got married, someone that I had worked closely with at the Colorado Department of Transportation prior to going to grad school was messaging me. The messages were incoherent. At first, I thought this former colleague’s child had taken their phone to send me texts about “loving me”, that I was “cute” and “looked good”. I thought nothing of it and moved on with my day. The following day that person apologized for messaging me, and I realized this person was intoxicated, married with kids, and sending inappropriate messages.
I was devastated.
I respected this person immensely, but never spoke to them again. Tears were shed. I asked myself questions again “why would they do this? Did I do something wrong 4 years prior to make them think I liked them like that? Do they know I’m engaged? Why, why why?”
Beyond these two devastating situations, I’ve experienced blatant ageism, sexism, and seen racism within workplaces. When I reflect on the situations, I feel as if I’ve lived an entire lifetime in the workplace even though I’m only 28. Handling all of the weight of these heavy topics hit me hardest in 2022. I had gone so fast for so long, experienced so much, that it all came crashing down one day. All of the transitions seemed to catch up to me. At first, I thought I was sick. At the time, I was in the process of reading Body Keeps the Score by Dutch author Bessel van der Kolk. I knew at that time that the body presents stress and trauma in a multitude of ways but had never experienced it myself until then.
I was depressed, anxious, and had been diagnosed with PTSD by my therapist. The things that brought me joy normally felt bleak. It was a very dark time in my life – one of the absolute darkest times to date. My conversations with my therapist, Roxanne, normally went somewhere along the lines of this:
“How has your week been Joan? How is work?”
“It’s okay, here’s what is happening at work.”
“It sounds like you are having a fundamental disagreement with the way things are done morally in your industry. Are you sure that this is your career path?”
“I don’t know.”
I would sit in my bedroom and cry for hours after each session. My head would be throbbing in pain from the tears and mental capacity shed. I’d sit and ask myself
“Why am I doing this? Do I really want to be in my industry? Why is this so unbelievably hard? Why can’t I get better? Would people miss me if I died today? How did I even get to this place?”
After months of weekly therapy sessions with Roxanne, we concluded that I needed to channel my frustrations to something bigger, which she had been hinting at this entire time. While I had been changing the structural systems of my industry over time in small ways, I was ready to tackle something bigger.
Since then I’ve secured bipartisan support for funding limitations of transportation projects in North Carolina, identified changes to design standards to make our communities better for all and advocated for them, secured spots on local non-profits in my area, volunteered my time to important causes to me, and more.
I still am challenged every day as a young female in the industry and am constantly fighting to be in the room, and for my seat at the table.
This industry is tough and brutal. It will chew you up and spit you out. But slow down. Reflect. Change the things you see as problems when you have the energy and time for the younger generation. They will thank you along their journey.
End of Chapter Activity:
Journal: What experiences in the workplace have been hard for you? If you don’t work, have you experienced discrimination before in your lifetime? Write down those experiences. Take deep, long breaths as you reflect, and pause to recognize that this can be hard to reflect on. Heal, grieve, and recognize that you cannot change others behavior and mindset. You are doing amazing and thank you for showing up to try this exercise. Sometimes just showing up is enough.
Mentor: Find someone at your work, school, or anywhere you go regularly that reminds you of yourself. Maybe it’s someone younger, maybe it’s someone who is just starting out in your industry that made a career change… If you feel you connect with them, consider meeting up with them regularly to be a mentor. Take the hard things you’ve learned and share your story with them. Find ways you can support them through their hard times. You’ll be surprised how much you likely have in common.
With a passion to improve the infrastructure of cities at the local, regional, national, and international level and implement successful projects, Joan Lyons is a committed certified planner with experience in North Carolina, Colorado, the Netherlands, and Louisiana. Her experience in the profession centers around the fields of transportation (bicycle, pedestrian, multimodal, transit, rail, micro mobility, and Transportation Demand Management (TDM)), affordable housing, accessibility (ADA), social justice, sustainability, climate, historic preservation, and participatory planning in communities. Joan is a Senior Planner at Johnson, Mirmiran, and Thompson (JMT) where she leads planning efforts throughout the Southeast and Colorado. In the Fall of 2023, she served as a Lecturer at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill’s Department of City and Regional Planning, where she taught Planning for Natural Hazards and Climate Risk.
Accolades:
During her time in the profession, she has been recognized for her work by the Women in Transportation Seminar (WTS) and received the Activist/Community Organizer Award in 2022, and received the Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) 40 Under 40 Award in 2020. She currently serves on the Oaks and Spokes Board of Directors, Alliance for Disability Advocates Board of Directors, and Skate Raleigh Advisory Board.
About the series: Welcome to our ongoing travel series. These are all posts written by planning students and professionals about what to do in a given city when looking for Brunch, a Brew, or a good idea on a Budget. To cap it all off, we include a fun planning fact!
By Jo Kwon
About the visit: Cruising has become a vibrant cultural phenomenon for coastal towns. I took a Christmas cruise this winter for the first time and experienced the suite days on deck. The crisp sea breeze and the holiday festivities created a unique and unforgettable atmosphere. Here are some of my favorite experiences and top recommendations:
Brunch
Lox at the Dining Hall. Photo Credit: Jo Kwon
Every morning, brunch options abound. Choices are available in the dining hall, buffet, and the Blue Iguana Cantina with delicious breakfast burritos. The dining hall provides a variety of foods, and brunches encompass appetizers, mains, and desserts! You can even enjoy multiple appetizers, mains, and desserts. I highly recommend trying the lox for its crisp bagel and incredible smoked salmon.
Brew
Shirley Temple with a Candy Straw. Photo Credit: Jo Kwon
There is a range of drink packages available, such as Cheers! and Bottomless Bubbles. The Cheers! package provides unlimited alcohol, while Bottomless Bubbles offers unlimited soda. Nevertheless, individuals can still order drinks without a package throughout the cruise. As a non-drinker, my favorite choice has been Shirley Temples, and the sustainable sweet candy straw adds a great touch to the experience.
Budget
Midnight Pizza. Photo Credit: Jo Kwon
The best part of cruises is that food is always offered. My personal favorite was indulging in pizza at any time, even until 4 am, with a particular fondness for midnight snacks. However, lines can get quite long around that time. There were four different types of pizza available, and my go-to choice was always the Quattro Formaggi.
Fun Planning Fact
The Main Lounge of the Cruise. Photo Credit: Jo Kwon
Cruises are like miniature, mobile cities. They offer distinct zones dedicated to housing, businesses like food and retail, and entertainment. Larger cruises even have medical centers and educational institutions. Furthermore, their design prioritizes pedestrians, creating a truly walkable and enjoyable experience. These marvels of engineering take 12 to 18 months to build, depending on their size. If you are curious and want to know more about how cruises work, The Secret Life of the Cruise (2018) is a great documentary to watch.
Featured Image: Carnival Sunshine Cruise (Photo Credit: Jo Kwon)
About the Author: Jo (Joungwon) Kwon is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of City and Regional Planning, driven by a deep interest in exploring the applications of visualizations in planning. Since joining CPJ in 2019, she has worked actively as an editor. With a diverse academic background in Statistics and English Literature, she holds an M.A. in Computational Media from Duke University. In her free time, she enjoys watching indie films, attending live performances, pursuing climbing adventures, and drinking a good cup of coffee.
Perspective 1: Interning at the Biltmore By Sam Hayes
My fascination with the Biltmore Estate began during a family trip when I was in first grade. Little did my parents know how deeply I would fall in love with this remarkable place. Since the first visit, it was always my dream to one day work at the Biltmore – a dream that became a reality this past summer.
For context, the Biltmore Estate, located near Asheville, NC, was built in 1895 by George Vanderbilt, an heir to a portion of the Vanderbilt fortune. Today the Estate is owned by descendants of George Vanderbilt and is run as a tourist attraction that welcomes over a million visitors every year.
The Estate is 8,000 acres and includes the historic house designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt, gardens and grounds designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, several operational farms, a winery, dozens of residences, a company run police force, and a modern “village” with hotels, restaurants, and shops. The Biltmore Company, which owns Biltmore Estate and several other subsidiary companies, employs over 2,000 people in Asheville. Needless to say, the Estate operates like a small city.
Biltmore Estate, Source: Sam Hayes
During my time at the Biltmore, I was given free range to explore the Estate and engage with those responsible for its operations. My supervisor, Parker Andes, is the head of estate planning and is a wealth of knowledge. He oversees all construction projects on the Estate, and having dedicated two decades to the Biltmore, he has seen the evolution of the Estate.
The mission of the Biltmore company is “The preservation of Biltmore as a privately owned, profitable, working estate.” Historic preservation is an important part of the work done on the Estate. As I delved deeper into the workings of the company, I discovered that there are many different reasons why preservation is valued at the company. Some employees find pride in safeguarding such a monumental piece of history. In contrast, higher-ups in the company emphasize the financial incentives as a primary driver for ongoing preservation efforts.
Archive Room in the Biltmore Estate, Source: Sam Hayes
The Biltmore holds the distinction of being a National Historic Landmark, the highest designation from the federal government for historic sites. To retain the historic landmark status, elements of the Estate cannot be altered without approval from the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office, and ultimately, the National Parks Service. Maintaining this National Historic Landmark Status is a key priority for the Biltmore Company because it allows them to obtain tax credits for certain historic rehabilitation projects done on the Estate. Though this is just one element of a broader rationale for preservation, I think that this shows that as long as there is a financial reason for the Biltmore Company to maintain the historic integrity of the Estate, it will continue to be preserved.
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about my experience at the Biltmore. It was a unique opportunity and I don’t regret doing it, but I also realized that I do not want to work for a private company. I need a broader mission behind what I’m doing – something that makes me excited to get up in the morning. Regardless, the Biltmore continues to have a special place in my heart.
Perspective 2: Vacationing at the Biltmore By Abby Cover
This summer, I spent three days in Asheville, specifically staying at the Inn at Biltmore. The Biltmore Estate itself is only a small part of the total grounds, which total about 8,000 acres, and the Inn is located toward the far end of the grounds. From the entrance of the grounds, it takes about 10 minutes to drive to the Inn. This makes the Inn very secluded, but also makes you dependent on The Biltmore for such things as food and entertainment. Surprisingly, there is little in terms of trails accessible at the Inn (to my knowledge), so you are definitely meant to stay inside the Inn (or go to the nearby Antler Village) to entertain yourself. Antler Village at The Biltmore is a hotel and a clustering of restaurants and shops that opened in 2010, located down the hill from The Inn.
Front of Biltmore Estate, Source: Abby Cover
The Inn at the Biltmore is intended to be more of a resort than a hotel, but there are not many amenities besides a beautiful view keeping you at the “resort.” I was disappointed by the lack of ability to walk around the Biltmore grounds while staying at the Inn – there are trails, but they need to be driven to, or are not clearly marked as walkable from the Inn. Antler Village does have some activities similar to a historical town, such as a woodworking and weaving, which is interesting if you are there at the right time. Also, the Village has outdoor activities scheduled such as sheepdog herding (which I was disappointed to have missed). There are additional activities that can be purchased according to a little slip of paper given to us, along with general Biltmore and Asheville information, upon check in. Eating at the Inn requires sitting down and being waited on in the hotel restaurant, which I personally was not used to for breakfast in particular. Sometimes you (I) just want a continental breakfast! The facilities themselves were lovely, and the hotel staff were helpful and kind. Also, you get a free coffee table book about the history of the Estate, which is very cool!
Biltmore Estate Gardens, Source: Abby Cover
The Estate itself was enormous and beautiful – the self-guided walking tour took about two hours! Definitely a workout if you’re not prepared; you have to climb the basement stairs and then go all the way to the top! There is a well-organized line for the self-guided tours that is very reminiscent of the lines in theme parks, like Disney World. I was impressed at how efficient the line was, though it was not in the shade and Asheville is hot in the summer. Very sweaty. Once in the Estate itself, it is undeniably beautiful. However, for myself, it’s frankly unbelievable and sometimes a little uncomfortable being around such blatant demonstrations of wealth. You could probably do both the house tour and explore the gardens of the Estate in one day, but it would be a very full day. However, to explore the full 8,000 acres, there is absolutely no way to do that in one day. Pre-planning is definitely needed in order to explore the full Biltmore grounds.
Overall, I enjoyed my stay at the Biltmore Inn, but think it is not necessary if you want to explore the Biltmore grounds or Estate! The grounds are so enormous and well maintained, and the house is truly extraordinary, and I am glad I visited.
Sam Hayes is a second-year master’s student in the City and Regional Planning program at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. At UNC-CH, he specializes in housing and community development with an emphasis on how historic preservation can be used as an anti-gentrification tactic in changing communities. Sam loves hiking, reading, and spending time exploring cool historic buildings. When not in Chapel Hill, you will probably find Sam in Hendersonville, NC with his boyfriend Kane, dog Canyon, and cat Lucille.
Abby is in her second year of the City and Regional Planning Master’s Program, and is looking forward to sharing all she has learned with her future employers. She previously studied Sociology and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. Before coming to UNC, Abby could be found galivanting through her native Philadelphia (Go Birds!). Her planning interests include climate adaptations, sustainable development, and fostering community engagement. Outside of planning you can find her grabbing a bagel sandwich, watching horror movies, and wishing for better public transit.
About the series: Welcome to our ongoing travel series. These are all posts written by planning students and professionals about what to do in a given city when looking for Brunch, a Brew, or a good idea on a Budget. To cap it all off, we include a fun planning fact!
By Rachel Auerbach
About the visit: Minneapolis holds a special place in my heart. I first experienced the magic of the Twin Cities while attending Macalester College in St. Paul, and briefly lived across the river in Minneapolis after graduating. Although I haven’t lived there in several years, visiting friends in Minneapolis this summer felt like coming home. Minneapolis’s unique food, lively arts scene, and accessible multimodal transit system make it well worth a visit, especially since APA’s National Planning Conference will be held there this spring. It was tough to choose, but here are some of my favorite places to visit in Minneapolis (with a few St. Paul spots sprinkled in for fun!).
Brunch
Delicious pastries at Savory Bakehouse (Photo Credit: Rachel Auerbach)
On my most recent visit to Minneapolis, I tried out Savory Bakehouse, a tiny bakery entirely owned and operated by a local couple. The bakery has limited hours and is only open Friday through Sunday, but if you can squeeze in a visit it will be worth it. With a menu that changes weekly based on what produce is in season, Savory Bakehouse offers an impressive selection of both sweet and savory baked goods. Since there is no seating available at the bakery, I recommend walking, biking, or taking the bus less than a mile east and enjoying your treats on a bench overlooking the Mississippi River.
If you’re craving something other than baked goods, you can’t go wrong with a visit to the Midtown Global Market, a lively food hall with a variety of food from around the world. Celebrating the Twin Cities’ diverse and global community, Midtown Global Market boasts many unique flavors and dishes. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a music or dance performance in the market during your visit.
Brew
Squeaky cheese curds at the Groveland Tap (Photo Credit: Rachel Auerbach)
This was a tough decision, because there are so many fun bars and breweries in the Twin Cities (see the ”Land of 10,000 Drinks” map). After much deliberation, I decided that I would be remiss if I didn’t recommend the Groveland Tap, a homey neighborhood dive bar across the river in St. Paul. The Tap, as locals lovingly call it, is known for its crispy, salty, and perfectly squeaky fried cheese curds– once you’ve tried them you can never go back. They also have an excellent selection of burgers and beer, and great happy hour deals almost every day of the week.
Alternatively, if you’re feeling extra adventurous and want a truly unique experience, rent a kayak using the Mississippi River Paddle Share program (think bike share, but for kayaks) and grab a drink at one of the bars accessible via the river.
Budget
Bde Maka Ska, meaning “Lake White Earth” in the Dakota language (Photo Credit: Meet Minneapolis)
One of my favorite (free!) summertime activities in the Twin Cities is spending a day at the lake. Bde Maka Ska, the largest of Minneapolis’s lakes, is part of the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes Regional Park and has several swimming beaches as well as trails for walking, running, or biking. In 2018, after a long legal battle, the Department of Natural Resources changed the lake’s official name to Bde Maka Ska to honor the area’s indigenous Dakota residents who originally named the lake. Wear lots of sunscreen, bring a good book, and get ready for a day of swimming, people-watching, and sunshine. Kayaks, canoes, bikes, and paddleboards are available to rent, and if you need a bite to eat, there are several cafes and restaurants nearby.
Fun Planning Fact
Minneapolis is home to miles of skyways connecting buildings from above (Photo Credit: Ben Ganje)
If you find yourself visiting the Twin Cities during the frigid winter months, you may experience the vast network of skyways running throughout the city. Minneapolis has the largest contiguous skyway system in the world, with skyways connecting 80 city blocks using 9.5 miles of climate-controlled covered bridges. The skyways connect restaurants, offices, apartment buildings, entertainment venues, sports stadiums, and other destinations, allowing residents and visitors to move throughout the city without having to deal with harsh weather.
Featured Image: The Stone Arch Bridge, a historic railroad (now pedestrian) bridge crossing the Mississippi River in Minneapolis (Photo Credit: East Isles Neighborhood Association)
About the Author: Rachel is a third-year master’s student in the dual degree City and Regional Planning and Public Health programs at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. At UNC, she studies the intersections of health equity and the built environment. In her free time, she enjoys exploring new places by bike, attempting to keep her sourdough starter alive, and hanging out with other people’s dogs.
This summer, Carolina Planning Master’s students participated in a range of in-person and remote opportunities across the country. This week, we are sharing highlights and reflections from four students.
Jasmine Davidson – MCRP 2024, Land Use & Environmental Planning
Planning Intern, Clarion Associates Chapel Hill, North Carolina
I began my planning internship at Clarion Associates this summer, where I have worked on a variety of planning and zoning projects. I got to see the many stages of the planning process: from early stakeholder meetings, to comprehensive plan drafting, to incorporating a client’s feedback into the final product. For one of these projects, I collected case studies of rural and suburban communities in North Carolina and Virginia that are implementing the types of changes we were recommending for our client — changes like supporting a range of housing options in growth areas, facilitating building re-use, and connecting street networks. It was a cool project, and a good reminder that plenty of good and interesting planning is happening in small communities — it’s not just the big cities! My experience at Clarion has also been shaped by its size — Clarion is a small firm, so I was able to build strong interpersonal relationships with coworkers at all levels, which has been gratifying. I’m excited to continue working for Clarion this fall!
Jen Farris – MCRP & MPH 2024, Transportation
Public Health Practicum Student & Research Assistant, Orange County Home Preservation Coalition & UNC CH Highway Safety Research Center Virtual/Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Orange County Home Preservation Coalition: For my public health practicum, I worked with Dr. Ryan Lavalley to conduct a program evaluation for the Orange County Home Preservation Coalition (OCHPC). OCHPC is made up of a group of partner organizations that work together to preserve, repair, and modify homes so homeowners can continue living in them comfortably and safely. The program evaluation will include researching the impacts of weatherization and HVAC retrofits on homeowner health, surveying Coalition service recipients and Coalition partners to understand program strengths and challenges, and integrating a racial equity lens throughout the evaluation.
Highway Safety Research Center: I am supporting a research project exploring nighttime pedestrian injuries and fatalities on urban arterial roadways. This summer, I have been conducting a lit review for who is most at risk of experiencing a serious or fatal pedestrian crash at night.
Lauren Caffe – MCRP 2024, Land Use & Environmental Planning
Project Assistant, FB Environmental Associates Portland/Camden, Maine
FB Environmental is facilitating a citizen’s advisory committee in Camden, Maine that is working on making recommendations to help with resilience of the local watershed. My role as Project Assistant is to help with public outreach and community engagement by interviewing people in the area to ask what they know or don’t know about the project, their concerns, what they value and would like to see happen, and help explain what the advisory committee is doing. I’ve also been attending the Town and Committee meetings, creating outreach materials such as the monthly newsletter and newspaper releases, organizing events, and helping the Project Managers through this exciting, challenging, and interesting project!
Abby Cover – MCRP 2024, Land Use & Environmental Planning
Student Researcher, UNC CH Highway Safety Research Center Virtual
This summer I technically worked at two internships: a niche planning internship at a large consulting firm, and student research assistant at HSRC (UNC’s highway safety research center). I made the decision very quickly in my first internship at the consulting firm that I was not a good fit, and began looking for alternatives. The firm’s administrative process was very messy, and the work was so far outside my skillset with minimal support, that I decided I could better spend my time almost anywhere else.
I cold-emailed many places, asking if they had any available internships, since it was already June by the time I decided to leave the large consulting firm. I assumed there would be no more available internships, but I was wrong! I quickly found work with HSRC where I researched the Safe System approach to transit planning, and crafting public facing visualizations.
Everybody at HSRC could not have been nicer, I recommend anybody interested in transportation planning even a little bit reach out to them for work. If I had gone with my original assumptions while at my original internship, I would have never worked at HSRC. I learned most of all to always advocate for yourself, and never assume what you can otherwise confirm. If you are not happy with your internship, you are not stuck!
Featured image: https://planning.unc.edu/visit-us/
About the series: Welcome to our ongoing travel series. These are all posts written by planning students and professionals about what to do in a given city when looking for Brunch, a Brew, or a good idea on a Budget. To cap it all off, we include a fun planning fact!
By Jen Farris
About the visit: Growing up, I spent a portion of my summers on Cape Cod visiting my grandparents and cousins. It has always been one of my favorite places to be and a summer doesn’t feel complete without a trip there. This year, I had the opportunity to spend a few weeks working remotely from the Cape. I am excited to share with you some of my favorite spots to visit:
Brunch
Pie in the Sky Bakery & Cafe
One of my favorite breakfast spots is Pie in the Sky. Located in Woods Hole, MA, this cafe is conveniently located near the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard. Be prepared for long lines on weekends, but it is worth the wait. At Pie in the Sky, they roast their own coffee and bake their pastries in-house. As a self-proclaimed croissant enthusiast, I was pleased with their options.
Pro-tip: The best way to get here is by bike or bus! Extend your multi-modal journey by hopping on the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard.
Brew
The Lobster Trap Restaurant
This classic New England seafood shack is a local favorite. Grab a beer or cocktail and relax on their porch overlooking the Black River. They are rumored to have the best Mudslides in the area, but I am partial to a local brew. If you’re trying to eat as well as drink, I recommend either the fish and chips or the crab cake.
Budget
Section of the bikeway adjacent to the Vineyard Sound
This was the first time I biked along the Shining Sea Bikeway and the trail certainly lived up to the hype. This ~11 mile bidirectional rail-trail multi-use path features scenic views of marshes, rivers, and the ocean at various portions of the ride. Plus, I saw a fantastic selection of dogs riding in their human’s bike baskets and trailers. One pup was even wearing a neon yellow visor!
I parked my car at the head of the trail in North Falmouth before bicycling south to Woods Hole for a pastry stop (see Brunch section above!). Afterwards, I continued back to Falmouth for a ~22 mile round trip. One thing I liked about this trail was that it felt accessible to people of different ages and abilities. The bikeway was very flat, had multiple entry points, and had benches placed along the path, which allows folks to customize their desired distance and intensity level. The trail is a bit narrow (only ~8ft), so on the weekend when the trail gets busy it is best to start early to avoid traffic.
There are several nearby bike rental shops if you are interested in exploring the path on two wheels.
Fun Planning Fact
Proposed Trail Connection: The Bourne Rail Trail
After bicycling along the Shining Sea Bikeway, I learned of a proposal to extend the Shining Sea Bikeway to the Cape Cod Canal bike path. This proposed 6.5-mile shared-use path is one of many trail projects across the state that appear on the Priority Trails Network vision map released by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s (MassDOT) Massachusetts Trail Team.
According to the MassTrails webpage, the majority of MassTrails grants in recent years have been dedicated to extending and linking existing trails to create a cohesive trail network. Their interactive map highlights existing, under construction, and proposed trails across the state.
Jen is a third-year MCRP/MPH student at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in the Department of City and Regional Planning and Gillings School of Global Public Health. At UNC, she specializes in transportation and health behavior and is interested in how the built environment can shape community health outcomes. In her free time, she enjoys baking and befriending the neighborhood cats and chickens.
About the series: Welcome to our ongoing travel series. These are all posts written by planning students and professionals about what to do in a given city when looking for Brunch, a Brew, or a good idea on a Budget. To cap it all off, we include a fun planning fact!
By Yue Zhang
About the visit: When people ask me where my hometown is, I would usually describe it as a city located near Hong Kong. One stereotype is that China only has three major cities: Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. However, Guangzhou is the largest city in Southern China and has a history of more than 2,200 years! During the summertime, I went home and had a really lovely time. Through the 36 Hours series, I hope you all can have an immersive experience of this beautiful modern city. Here are some of my favorite spots:
Brunch
Har Gow (Chinese shrimp dumplings) at Tao Tao Ju.
Yum cha is the traditional brunch including dim sum and Chinese tea in the Canton area. Small portions of steamed or pan-fried dim sum served in bamboo steamers and hot Chinese tea are a perfect match to start your day. One of my must-eat dim sum is har gow. Chopped or entire shrimp, pork fat and bamboo shoots are wrapped by translucent and chewy skin. It has a very rich, umami taste. Each plate costs about 30 RMB which is around 5 dollars. I would also recommend cheung fun (steamed rice noodle rolls) and egg tarts. All of them are very affordable and you could always share them with your friends and family.
Brew
Shuang Pi Nai (the two at the bottom of the picture) at Meigui Desserts
Shuang Pi Nai (double skin milk) is a Cantonese dessert made of milk, egg whites, and sugar. The dessert has two skins: the first skin forms during the cooling of the boiled milk and the second forms when the prepared custard cools. I would prefer to add red beans on it, but you could also add other toppings like mango chunks, sago, etc. It tastes velvety and sweet and only costs 10 RMB which is about 2 dollars!
Budget
The Statue of Five Goats in Yuexiu Park
Guangzhou is also called “City of Five Goats” because of an ancient Chinese mythology. It is said that there were five gods who appeared to give wheat to the people and left five goats to prevent famine and drought. Therefore ancient Guangzhou was able to rebuild. Yuexiu Park is a perfect place to go if you want to explore the history of Guangzhou and explore nature a little bit. You could also find the site of the Ming Dynasty City Wall, Zhenhai Tower, and other cool places to see in the park (it’s free admission)!
Fun Planning Fact
Urban villages in Guangzhou
Guangzhou has nearly 138 urban villages. They are products of the dual-land tenure system which divides the residential areas into household registration agricultural and non-agricultural. The dual-land tenure system was intended to preserve rural areas from being encroached upon but it led to rural-urban migration which increased pressure on urban cities to expand. There are a lot of urban problems like substandard health and building quality as well as higher crime rate in urban villages. The government has decided to regenerate those villages but there is still some controversy..
Featured Image: Canton Tower in Guangzhou.Photo Credit: Yue Zhang
Yue is a first year Master’s student in the Department of City and Regional Planning whose specialization is Land Use and Environmental Policy. She earned her B.E. in Civil Engineering back in China. She enjoys hiking, watching movies and drinking boba in her free time.
This post was originally published on June 22, 2022, but the brunch, brew, and budget options for Durham, North Carolina are still relevant today!
About the series: Welcome to our ongoing travel series. These are all posts written by planning students and professionals about what to do in a given city when looking for Brunch, a Brew, or a good idea on a Budget. To cap it all off, we include a fun planning fact!
By Henry Read
About the visit: I’ve lived in Durham for four and a half years, including my time at UNC-DCRP. It’s a fun town, and it has grown by leaps and bounds even in the short time I’ve been around. Between the diverse population, the acclaimed universities, the expansive parks, and the ever-evolving nightlife, there is a little something for everyone’s taste here. Whether you’re looking for a night out or a place to make a home outside of the Chapel Hill bubble, Durham is worth checking out.
Brunch
Geer Street Garden, all set up for brunch
My preferred brunch spot in Durham is definitely Geer Street Garden. From 11 to 4 on Sundays,this longstanding neighborhood bar and grill eschews its usual menu and serves up an incredible all-you-can-eat buffet featuring all the southern classics, from grits and gravy to deviled eggs to banana pudding. Boozeisn’t included with the meal, but their mimosas are cheap,and their bloody marys are strong and come with a kaleidoscope of garnish options. To top it off Geer Street Garden has one of the nicest patios in town, so you are assured of quality ambiance as you nurse your drink and pick at your third plate of chilaquiles amidst the trumpet vine and honeysuckle at this Old North Durham standby.
Brew
Someone enjoying a brandy flip at the bar at Kingfisher’s
In the latter third of the 20th century, Durham suffered from a reputation as a difficult town to find a drink in. But it is hard to imagine that in 2022; the bar and brewery scene in the contemporary Bull City is varied and ubiquitous.
For beer lovers, Fullsteam Brewing Company is a must-see. They are the oldest operation in the city, and for my money far and away by far from the best. Their core set covers all the major styles of American and European beer from tripels to pilsners, but where Fullsteam REALLY shines are their limited-run foraged beers. These small-batch runs are made with locally sourced fruits and botanicals, and consistently combine creativity and drinkability in remarkable ways – if you are in town in the fall, be sure to pick up a pawpaw IPA.
Cocktail enthusiasts in Durham have a range of excellent options available as well. The Accordion Club is a mainstay of the service industry set in the Geer Street nightlife district and serves heavy pours and legendary loaded fritos to everywhere else’s bartenders on their days off. And for a higher-end experience, Kingfishers has both the ambiance and the artistry to engage even the most jaded pallet. Located right next door to the midcentury masterpiece that is the Durham Hotel, this basement retreat is no dive – the ever-evolving menu of artisanal concoctions is matched perfectly by the luxurious private booths and the truly talented jazz quartet.
Budget
One of the older sections of Duke Gardens in late summer
Despite its rising fortunes in the last few decades, there is still some cheap fun to be had in Durham, if you know where to look. Every Friday night talented young Ddurhamites gather in CCB Plaza for Med City Cypher, an improvisational expression of rap, singing, and beat making. More collaborative than a battle but more polished than an impromptu meetup, this rolling group performance is guaranteed to inspire and is open for all to observe and participate.
One of the fringe benefits of playing host to a world-renowned university like Duke is access to its cultural resources, and Durham has its share. The Sarah P. Duke Botanical Gardens are host to an incredible display of natural beauty from all around the world and are worth a visit in any season; entry is free, though parking is not. For the more artistically inclined, Duke Coffeehouse hosts musical acts from around the country and the world in an extremely intimate setting at the edge of the old campus, always BYOB and usually for under $5 a head. The venue is fully student-run but is funded by the university, attracting, and paying for some truly innovative concerts.
Movieloft cleaves to a similar DIY aesthetic as Duke Coffeehouse, with the additional authenticity of being a completely independent concern. Meeting on the third Thursday of every month in a photography studio at the Ample Storage Center, this underground film club screens cult classics and grindhouse delight unavailable on any streaming service. The festivities start at 7 with a potluck cookout and a DJ set inspired by the evening’s movie. The film rolls around 8, and is free to anyone who can find it within the maze of storage bays. Drinks are provided as well, though only a real jerk would tap the keg without throwing a few bucks in the bin to keep the lights on.
Fun Planning Fact
Brightleaf Square, the Watts and Yuille warehouses, post-redevelopment
Durham was a leader in the now ubiquitous practice of tobacco warehouse renovations into live-work spaces. Beginning with the Watts and Yuille warehouses in 1980,much of the city’s downtown industrial buildings have been converted into shops, offices, and apartments. And it is easy to see why the trend kicked off here; the attention to detail exhibited in the neo-Romanesque brickwork of the 1890s warehouses is an architectural marvel. These renovation projects proved to be agreat economic success as well, and today these once derelict but now vibrant buildings are an essential component of Durham’s urban form.
Featured Image: Durham’s downtown skyline, facing north from the North Carolina Railroad.Photo Credit: Henry Read.
Henry Read graduated from the Department of City and Regional Planning in 2023. He is fascinated with the minutia of development regulation and doesn’t understand why so many people think zoning is boring. He hopes to work in the public sector after graduation and would like to be remembered as the guy who got your town to stop requiring bars to have customer parking and start planting native fruit trees in parks.
About the series: Welcome to our ongoing travel series. These are all posts written by planning students and professionals about what to do in a given city when looking for Brunch, a Brew, or a good idea on a Budget. To cap it all off, we include a fun planning fact!
By Jo Kwon
About the visit: During my seven-year stay in Seoul, I never had the chance to explore the city as a tourist until my friends from Boston visited in May. Wearing Hanbok (traditional Korean clothes) and strolling through the old city with fellow tourists made me truly feel like one. Here are some of my favorite recommendations as a tourist:
Sujebi is a traditional Korean dish. This dish is a type of soup made with hand-torn wheat flour dough, which gives it a rustic and comforting texture. One of the key ingredients in Sujebi is the anchovy broth, which imparts a rich and savory flavor to the dish. This makes it a suitable choice for pescatarians. Among the notable establishments serving this delightful dish, Samcheongdong Sujebi stands out as it has earned a spot in the prestigious Michelin Guide. The price is only 9,000 KRW which is around 7 USD, which is very affordable! According to my friends, this dish was the most memorable culinary experience of their trip to Korea.
Osulloc tea house is renowned in Jeju Island, South Korea, but it is not limited to that location alone. Osulloc tea houses can be found in various cities across Korea. Osulloc green tea is served alongside an hourglass to guide customers on when to pour the tea. Moreover, a delightful traditional Korean dessert is served alongside the tea. Osulloc also presents a range of exquisite green tea desserts, including green tea roll cakes, green tea ice cream, and green tea cheesecake.
Budget
Lantern Festival for Buddha’s Birthday Celebration
The Lantern Festival in front of Gyeongbok Palace during Buddha’s Birthday Celebration in May is a mesmerizing event. Various lanterns show Buddhist symbols and Korean folklore. Many tourists and local residents eagerly capture photos in front of the radiant lanterns, which are only displayed for a few weeks. The event is free to everyone!
Fun Planning Fact
The View of Cheonggyecheon at Night
Originally transformed into a highway in the 1950s to cater to automobiles, Cheonggyecheon underwent a significant transformation in 2003 through the Cheonggyecheon Restoration Project (CRP). Today, it is a must-visit destination for visitors seeking a unique experience. Cheonggyecheon has emerged as a popular hub for various activities, including lantern festivals, vibrant events such as busking performances, and a range of leisurely pursuits. If you are interested in the CRP, read more about the project here:Cheonggyecheon: A Revolution of Environment, Rule, and Interaction within Seoul.
Featured Image: Gyeongbokgung Palace. Photo Credit: Jo Kwon
Jo (Joungwon) Kwon is a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of City and Regional Planning, driven by a deep interest in exploring the applications of visualizations in planning. Since joining CPJ in 2019, she has been actively engaged in her research pursuits. With a diverse academic background in Statistics and English Literature, she holds an M.A. in Computational Media from Duke University. In her free time, she enjoys watching indie films, attending live performances, pursuing climbing adventures, and drinking a good cup of coffee.
