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.
It is time to realize our parks are not free and Oakland residents already pay for them in one form or another. Lake Merritt is no exception. In 2020, the city spent $25,000 week of taxpayer money to maintain Lake Merritt (Devries 2021). It turns out littering has a cost and residents are already picking up the tab. Understandably, there was strong public resistance to installing paid parking along the eastern side of Lake Merritt. No one likes paying for what used to be free. Even though 70% of respondents disapproved of the policy, it is the best compromise for Oakland.
With the current cost of maintaining Lake Merritt at over $1 million annually, the potential value of existing free parking spaces along the lake is too high an opportunity cost. Under the new policy, parking prices will match demand. Weekends will be more expensive to park than weekdays. In the first year, projected revenue from the meters will provide nearly $1.5 million. Paying for parking is an apparent cost for drivers, but the cost of free parking is more nuanced and important to spell out.
Donald Shoup, a professor of urban planning at UCLA, has been railing against the high cost of free parking for decades. Essentially, Shoup points out, cities are arbitrarily giving away valuable real estate in the form of parking with traffic and congestion as a return on investment (Steiner 2013). Since we live in a car-dominated society, Oakland residents see free parking as a mobility right rather than wasted opportunity. Opposition to paid parking is understandable, but the revenue is necessary to use the already scarce parking in a more effective manner.
Intersection adjacent to Lake Merritt, Source: Creative Commons
The Lake Merritt Parking Management plan will change transportation behavior through the framework of Travel Demand Management (TDM). TDM is a set of policies designed to expand the functionality of existing transportation infrastructure rather than relying on increasing the supply of infrastructure to meet changing needs of the community. Multiple commercial centers surrounding Lake Merritt draw large amounts of travel, so it is incredibly ineffective to have a single car carrying a single person occupy a spot for hours on end. For residents wary of the new parking policy, they only need look across the bay at San Francisco for a success story.
In 2017, San Francisco used federal funding to pilot SFpark. The program proved the efficacy of the same variable demand-based parking Oakland recently implemented. In some cases, the cost of parking decreased, and more importantly, parking availability increased (SFMTA). San Francisco is not known for its affordability, so the results are encouraging.
I recommend that Oakland take additional measures for protection against gentrification. For low-income residents, there should be a permitting process to guarantee a discounted parking cost. Additionally, residents with existing parking permits local to Lake Merritt should receive free-parking one weekend per month during the first year of the policy.
Despite the practicality of the policy, not everyone is happy with the results. A comment from a months-long community engagement campaign reads: “To put meters around the lakeshore side of the lake would be a direct act against working class people like myself who would be unable to continue to enjoy our beautiful lake if it meant paying every time that I wanted to walk or hang out there.” (Attachment B: Lake Merritt Parking Management Plan May 17, 2022) This resident has a right to be concerned. A prohibitively high cost for parking limits access to the lake and parking priced too low also limits access by not encouraging enough turnover. Market-based pricing is critical to reach enough turnover so one or two spots are open for each block.
Parking alongside Lake Merritt, Source: Creative Commons
So, it is important to reiterate the new parking policy will increase access to Lake Merritt in the long-term rather than be a barrier. It is also worth noting that there is already an extensive network of paid parking surrounding the lake. Driving is not the only option. Lake Merritt is transit-rich with bus and train stops connecting the park to surrounding neighborhoods. And even walking is an option.
I do think residents are right to hold Oakland accountable. There city needs to be transparent about how it spends revenue from the new parking meters. Oakland should create an easily accessible digital dashboard to show how each dollar is spent. The dashboard would also show the cost of maintenance for Lake Merritt and hopefully dissuade residents from littering. Making spending data public will create a sense of trust in the community. Even though this parking policy is the best compromise for Oakland, there is an inherent cost of political good will for moving ahead with a publicly unpopular policy.
At the end of the day, the maintenance costs of Lake Merritt alone justify the new parking policy. Though the benefits will be indirect, residents will also appreciate less time spent circling the block looking for a spot. Instead, they can pull up and enjoy Lake Merritt.
Works Cited
Joe DeVries. Agenda Report: Lake Merritt Working Group. City of Oakland Memorandum. Mar 11, 2021.
Oakland Department of Transportation. Attachment B: Lake Merritt Parking Management Plan May 17, 2022. p. 9.
Ruth L. Steiner (2013) A Review of “The High Cost of Free Parking, Updated Edition”, Journal of the American Planning Association, 79:2, 174-175, DOI: 10.1080/01944363.2013.772038
SFMTA. SFpark Pilot Project Evaluation Summary. Project Evaluation, June 2014, p. 11.
Ryan Ford is a Master’s student in the Department of City and Regional Planning at UNC Chapel Hill. He is interested in the intersection of urban design and transportation, specifically around active mobility. Outside of classes, you can find Ryan playing tennis or catching a movie at Varsity Theater.
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.
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 Kathryn Cunningham
About the visit:
I moved to the Bay Area after college for a ten-month fellowship and ended up staying four years. While I worked in San Francisco, I lived across the bay in Oakland and was immediately enchanted by the city’s beauty, culture, and history. I returned to Oakland in March to see old friends and visit old haunts. Here is a sampling of the area’s brunch, brew, and budget scene:
Brunch
Shihan Ful at Alem’s Coffee 5353 Claremont Avenue, Oakland, CA 94618
Alem’s Coffee is an unassuming café serving incredible East African dishes alongside its strong and reliable coffee beverages. I was recommended the Shihan Ful, a vegetarian stew with fava beans as its base, and it did not disappoint. As a bonus, the dish came with two large loaves of bread, so, as the ingenious planning students that we are, my dining partner and I each saved a loaf and enjoyed them on a picnic later in the day.
Brew
Roses’ Taproom 4930 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609
I love Roses’ dearly. I went four times during my weeklong trip, and my only complaint is that I wish I went more. Roses’ is so great because while it is a bar, it is also a plant-filled, women-owned local hangout with a great outdoor space, yummy food options, and friendly bartenders. I bravely ignored the siren songs of their new merch – but does my willpower count if I already own their hat and t-shirt?
Budget
Point Reyes Lighthouse Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Inverness, CA 94937
If you have time and access to a car, the hour-and-a-half drive to Point Reyes Lighthouse is well worth the trip. Not only is the drive alone stunning as you propel through several distinct biomes, but the view at the destination is unbeatable. We stopped for provisions along the route, so in addition to our bread from the aforementioned Alem’s Coffee, we enjoyed cheese, meat, and chocolate at a picnic bench overlooking the ocean.
Fun Planning Fact
Lake Merritt
Oakland is home to Lake Merritt, a natural saltwater tidal lagoon that is three miles in circumference and 155 acres in land coverage. Although in the middle of the bustling city, Lake Merritt is the oldest protected wildlife refuge in America, having received the designation in 1870. To this day, the lake is home to many different populations of birds allowing for ample bird watching. It also serves as a prime location for a picnic, a run, or a hang out.
Featured Image: View of downtown Oakland. Photo Credit: Kathryn Cunningham
Kathryn is a first year Master’s student with the Department of City and Regional Planning whose interests include climate change adaptation, parks, and public space. She studied Environmental Studies at Williams College, and before coming to graduate school, she was in the San Francisco Bay Area managing sustainability projects for a law school. When not in class, she enjoys reading, running, and checking out all the many concert venues the Research Triangle has to offer.
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 Ian Baltutis
About the visit: My first visit to Delhi was a unique adventure in family, culture, and urban planning. The reason for the trip was primarily to attend a family wedding in Delhi, but we extended our stay to allow for extra sightseeing and urban exploration. After hearing many stories about India, a visit proved them all true and so much more. After beginning my dive into experiencing the vibrant diversity of India, I cannot wait to return again.
Brunch
Delicious Indian estate-grown coffee and decadent pastries at Blue Tokai Coffee
If you love great coffee, India is your heaven. The growing regions of the south provide a perfect place for the beans to develop, and Blue Tokai expertly crafts their light roasts to display the full bouquet of fruit and floral notes. Dive into a darker roast to enjoy the richer flavors of chocolate and cocoa. I love pairing all their roasts with their wide selection of homemade pastries and cakes. This brunch is the perfect way to start your morning and have plenty of pep to keep you going as you take in the sights and sounds of Delhi. Blue Tokai shares space with an art gallery and is a quick walk from the Qutub Minar tower, which is a great place to start your tour of Delhi’s rich selection of historical sights.
Brew
Craft beer is still new to India
Budget
South Asia is famous for their lagers that pair nicely with the rich blends of flavors and cool the searing spicy heat of meals. But just like so many counties, craft beer, and its brewpub culture are showing up across India. Effingut is one of the early pioneer breweries and offers a wide selection of quality craft beer. Their hip pubs feature live music and good food, plus their brewery merchandise is spot-on if you are like me and love collecting pint glasses. After you have tired of Kingfisher lagers, pop over to Effingut pub and enjoy a more robust pint of ale.
The best deal in Delhi is fresh fruit, and it is everywhere you look
Fun Planning Fact
India’s climate is perfect for all different types of amazing fruits to grow. Many of these delightful delicacies will be entirely foreign to most American shoppers. My advice is to be bold and try them all! Sand apples are one of my favorites. With a rich sweetness, these soft fruits have a slightly grainy texture when they melt in your mouth. If your visit spans March through August, then you will have the opportunity to try the dozens of different types of mangos as they are picked fresh daily. With so many local varieties of these juicy treats, you will find new shapes and sizes appearing every week at fruit stands around the city. And for the best budget snack, snag a coconut for about $0.25. Vendors will gladly chop a straw hole for you to enjoy the refreshing coconut water before they split it open and leave you with a satisfying bag of coconut cream to munch on as you keep exploring.
Delhi has one of the newest and easiest-to-use Metros in the world
I am a transportation nerd, so my favorite part of traveling is checking out all the different types of mobility in a city. You need to ride in an auto-rickshaw when you visit, but the easiest and cheapest way to get around is the Delhi metro. The city is continuing to add and extend lines all across the metropolitan area. As the rise of car culture snarls streets, the Metro’s new trains are an open, airy, and quiet way to take in the Delhi sights from high above on elevated viaducts. Skip the Uber and the carsickness that driving in Delhi is sure to elicit. Toss a few rupees in the vending machine, grab a slick RFID metro token, and take in all that Delhi has to offer.
Featured Image: Visitors to Delhi enter a colorful and diverse world of sights, sounds, smells, and urban mobility.Photo Credit: Ian Baltutis.
Ian is an inventor, serial entrepreneur, planner, and Master’s student at UNC DCRP. After founding Burlington Beer Works, the first co-operatively owned brewery and restaurant in NC he made the jump into public service when he was elected Mayor of the City of Burlington, NC in 2015. He served 3 terms leading the launch and expansion of the city’s Link Transit bus system, construction of a greenway network, and modernization of planning, zoning, and development ordinances. He is passionate about place-making, walkable communities, and trains. He loves riding trains and visiting railroad museums all around the world.
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 Nik Reasor
About the visit:
I first visited Seattle in my undergraduate years when I was invited to box for UNC at the Washington Athletic Conference’s annual fight named “The Main Event” in 2020. I finally returned three years later after being invited to the same event as an assistant coach for UNC. I had always wanted to come back and truly explore what Seattle had to offer. After a weekend of wandering around, these were some of my favorite experiences and places in the perpetually rainy Emerald City:
Brunch
An E.L.T. Bagel from Bagel Bop in Pike’s Place.
My favorite place to grab breakfast is in Pikes Place at a stall called Bagel Bop. It’s a very small location along the main entrance and can be easy to miss in the hustle and bustle. I recommend the E.L.T., Egg, Lox, and Tomato sandwich, but honestly, everything here is phenomenal. The lox is amazing, the vegetables are stunningly fresh, and the bagels are some of the best I’ve ever had!
Brew
The Starbucks Roastery on Pike Steet.
As far as coffee is concerned, Seattle is a must-visit city. Of course, one of the quintessential visits is the Starbucks Roastery, where they showcase some of the best coffee the multi-national company has to offer, as well as an in-depth look into how coffee is their unique blends are roasted and prepared. The décor is wonderful, the ambiance is unique, and the sights and smells are phenomenal. I heavily recommend the dark chocolate mocha with oat milk, which perfectly cut through the cold drizzle that the city is known for.
Budget
Pikes Place Market: One of the oldest continually running markets in the country at 116 years old!
Pikes Place is famous worldwide for a reason, and its incredibly easily to spend an entire morning or afternoon wandering it. You’ll find everything and anything you could ever want within the numerous shops that line the crowded space, from some of the freshest fruit you’ve ever seen to the best salmon you’ll ever have. You can even snag some free samples if the sellers are in a good mood! The lower levels have some cheap bits if you do get hungry, and it’s the perfect place to take a moment and watch the ferries move in and out of Elliot Bay and plan out the rest of the day!
Fun Planning Fact
Seattle’s Urban Growth Secrets.
One of the earliest trends you learn in planning school is the general decline of downtown areas in recent decades. Seattle bucks this trend completely through the creation of the Urban Village Strategy, which was implemented in the 1990s to curb sprawl on the city’s borders and direct new growth into its downtown. This was a massive success, and Seattle is now one of the only major metropolitan cities in the US that has had a consistently growing downtown area. However, much work needs to be done to revitalize these areas and ensure their success, as well as open them up for issues such as affordable housing!
Featured Image: The Starbucks Roastery on Pike Steet. Photo Credit: Nik Reasor.
Nik Reasor is a first-year Master’s student in the Department of City and Regional Planning at Chapel Hill where he specializes in Land Use and Environmental Policy. In particular, Nik is interested in climate change adaptation and how to best help disadvantaged communities survive the challenges the future presents. Previously, Nik earned his BA in Sociocultural Anthropology, Medieval studies, and Urban Planning at UNC. You can usually catch him around Chapel Hill biking to local cafes to catch up on work or at the gym coaching UNC’s boxing team.
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 Kathryn Cunningham
About the visit:
Fanwood is a small suburb in Central Jersey (yes, Central Jersey does exist) that is not exactly the most interesting destination in the world. It is, however, where my family lives, and where I call home. I went home for winter break and was reminded of the small town’s charm and lovability. Through the 36 Hours series, I hope to transport you all to this small enclave in the often sneered-upon state of New Jersey that is only a mere 30 miles outside of New York City. Here are a few of my favorite spots:
Brunch
Fanwood Bagels & Deli
Fanwood Bagels & Deli, known affectionally in town as Fanwood Bagel, is THE place to get your bagel fix in the local area. It is also the place to run into the town mayor, your best friend from 3rd grade, or the nice librarian who always recommends you the perfect book. It is a fixture in town. I recommend the sausage, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel – but you cannot go wrong with any combination.
Brew
Sheelen’s Crossing: Bistro & Irish Pub
Sheelen’s Crossing is Fanwood’s neighborhood pub, and when you enter, you are immediately embraced by the bar’s convivial and good-natured atmosphere. And while it has an authentic Ireland-pub feel to it, it is also brimming with Fanwood pride. As a bonus, it has great burgers, large salads, and fresh seafood.
Budget
Fanwood-Scotch Plains Service League Thrift Shop
This thrift shop is technically in Scotch Plains (Fanwood’s next-door neighbor), but it is too good of a find to not include. Like many thrift stores, you need to walk in with the right attitude and prepare to scrounge. If you put time into it, however, you will walk out with some gems. Some CHEAP gems!
Fanwood won the Smart Growth Award in 2014 for its downtown growth strategy. The award is put on by New Jersey Future, a nonprofit that promotes responsible land-use strategies and policies. The town’s downtown is not large by any measure, but it is inspiring to see how a small suburban town can inject liveliness and add walkability through smart and collaborative design.
Featured Image: Photo of Fanwood’s train station with the Victorian station house built in 1874 in the background. Photo Credit: Kathryn Cunningham
Kathryn is a first year Master’s student with the Department of City and Regional Planning whose interests include climate change adaptation, parks, and public space. She studied Environmental Studies at Williams College, and before coming to graduate school, she was in the San Francisco Bay Area managing sustainability projects for a law school. When not in class, she enjoys reading, running, and checking out all the many concert venues the Research Triangle has to offer.
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, Managing Editor
About the visit: I recently visited Toulouse, also known as “La ville rose (the pink city),” and had the opportunity to appreciate the pink terracotta bricks, Christmas Market, cathedrals, and amazing food.
Brunch
Petit Déjeuner
Petit déjeuner, breakfast, is common in cafes in France. It usually includes a croissant or pain au chocolat, orange juice, and espresso. The prices are in a wide range, but this cafe offered it for four euros. The espresso in France never seems to be bitter.
Brew
Vin Chaud at the Christmas Market
Vin chaud, also known as mulled wine, is a famous winter drink in France. It is made with red wine, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, star anise, sugar, orange, and others. The Christmas market at Place du Capitole has many vendors selling vin chaud with great prices, so don’t miss out the chance for warm wine!
Budget
Christmas Market at Place du Capitole
Christmas in France is a magical time. Toulouse has a large Christmas market in front of the Place du Capitole. In front of the market, you can see a long line of people, a large Christmas tree ride, and many vendors selling balloons and crepes. The Place du Capitole also has huge projections on the building showing snow constantly falling down. It is a great place to have a free experience with cheap street food.
Fun Planning Fact
The View of the Pink City from the Place Saint-Étienne
Some European countries started Ecological Zones to lower emissions in cities. In 2017, Toulouse reinforced this ecological zone, ZFE-m (Zone à Faibles Emissions Mobilité), which requires drivers of all vehicles except electrical vehicles to purchase certificates to enter the city. If drivers fail to purchase certificates before entering the city, they can be penalized €68! The city has a red circle as a prohibition sign showing that it is a green zone, and Google Maps also notifies the driver beforehand. However, if you come from another country, such as Spain, you may not know this information. If you are driving in Europe, downloading the Green Zones app will be a wise move to be prepared. The app allows you to find specific information about your vehicle in the different zones.
Featured Image: Pont Saint-Pierre. Photo Credit: Jo Kwon
Jo (Joungwon) Kwon is a fourth-year Ph.D. student in the Department of City and Regional Planning. She is interested in using visuals in plans, specifically in environmental planning. She has been a part of CPJ since 2019. With a background in Statistics and English Literature, she received her M.A. in Computational Media at Duke University. In her free time, she enjoys watching indie films, going to live performances, climbing, and drinking coffee.
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 Daniel Liu
About the visit: After recently graduating, I moved from the Research Triangle Area in NC to Dallas. Historically known as the place where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, there is a museum and plaza dedicated to him. Dallas itself has a population of 1.29 million but most people refer to the overall area with our neighboring city, Fort Worth, as DFW. There are many great food spots and you can find almost anything (aside from Uniqlo sadly) within a 20 minute driving distance.
Brunch
The Lowkey Poke Joint + Ssong’s Hotdog and R&B Tea.
My favorite place to grab lunch is at The Lowkey Poke Joint. The restaurant has a great selection and you can even get your poke in a burrito form! In the same area is a great bubble tea shop I often pair with my lunch. My favorite is their stormy series, which is a blended ice drink with cheese cream. In addition, this R&B location also sells Korean hotdogs!
Brew
La La Land Kind Cafe.
I don’t drink much coffee (I’m team tea) but this place was a great cafe with a meaningful mission! The cafe hires foster youths and provides guidance in its program to help the youths learn new skills and decide on what they could be passionate about. On its website, the cafe quotes:
“We set out to bring La La Land to life. A place where you walk in and feel a true sense of joy for life. A place where you are loved for who you are. A place that brings together all human beings. A place where kindness is priority.”
As a bonus, the cafe even has a great outside area, where you can work while enjoying their delicious matcha series!
Budget
Daiso.
The Japanese “Dollar Store” chain has a wide variety of stationeries, home goods, and snacks. A majority of the items in the store are $1.75, with the most expensive usually being around $5. Even with cheap selections from Walmart and Amazon, Daiso products are still lower priced, with better quality.
Fun Planning Fact
Klyde Warren Park.
I visited downtown recently and it really stood out to me. This 5-acre park above the eight-line freeway was designed to create a unique green space in an urban area. The deck is supported by 300 steel beams above the highway beneath it. Concrete slabs span the spaces connecting to the bottoms of the beams and form trenches, which act as plant boxes, allowing the trees to grow within the desired size. This park connects uptown residences to the art district and downtown businesses. Walking around the park, I felt very relaxed amidst the city rush!
Featured Image: Nighttime picture of downtown Dallas from Reunion Tower. Photo Credit: Daniel Liu.
Daniel Liu is a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in the Department of Information Science. He is a UX Designer and Researcher based in Dallas. In his free time, he enjoys rock climbing and watching dramas/anime.
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/Nature, a Brew, or a good idea on a Budget. To cap it all off, we include a fun planning fact!
By Nicholas Stover
About the visit: I visited Iceland as part of an independent study to understand large scale geothermal energy systems and absolutely fell in love with this country. I have not been back since this expedition, but my heart will always remain. Here are some of my favorite haunts and top recommendations:
Nature
Gullfoss Falls.
My favorite place to visit as part of the Golden Circle Tour. Gullfoss Falls, a very accessible trek, is one of Iceland’s most iconic stops. Look closely in the background and you can see some people understand scale. This gorgeous scene was made all the more beautiful by winter’s touch. The Golden Circle tour is a popular option to see some of Iceland’s unique countryside, including one of a handful of places in the world you can see the convergence of the North American and Eurasian plate tectonics above water. Gullfoss is within about a 2-hour drive of most of Iceland’s population including Reykjavik.
Brew
One of Reykjavik’s more unique dives.
Reykjavik is a unique city with a pretty laid-back atmosphere. It has been developing recently in its tourism industry with an eclectic mix of bars and restaurants. My fandom of The Big Lebowski was majorly satisfied when, among numerous pleasant surprises, I came across this watering hole, with great music. Spinning the wheel at the bar is a must. You can pay for a shot at winning up to 6 pints of brew for the cost of one. It is worth it.
Budget
Sundhollin.
The Sundhollin geothermal baths are a must, particularly during winter nights! For 1100 Icelandic Krona, or about 8 bucks, you get hours of enjoyment in 100 degree water under the stars.
The Blue Lagoon, and other similar springs have garnered strong reputations, and the prices that come with it. The Sundhollin geothermal baths are a great way to socialize if you are on a budget. It is an amazing experience to socialize in geothermal wells against the backdrop of freezing winter air, or even just to relax and let your mind wonder. The best part is the location in the middle of Reykjavik. So go out to eat, and then end the evening in a hot spring. There really is not much that can beat that.
Fun Planning Fact
Iceland’s energy grid is powered almost completely by renewable energy sources. The vast majority of generation, 73 percent, comes from hydropower, while just under 27 percent comes from geothermal sources. The reason for this stems from two causes: energy being predominantly imported, and volatility in energy markets roiling the small country during the 1970s. Government-planned development of domestic sources of energy generation led to policies that favored renewables, particularly geothermal and hydropower.
Harpa Concert Hall interior, Reykjavik.
I always love a good concert whether musical or otherwise, but time constraints left me wanting in this case. The expansive Harpa Concert Hall is a positively spectacular venue nestled in the heart of the capital region. It is a flex arena that incorporates shops and conference alcoves in addition to its primary intention as a concert hall. The architecture represents the finest in style and functionality and is a highly recommended stop.
Featured Image: Harpa Concert Hall. Photo Credit: Karitas Kjartansdottir.
Nicholas Stover is a first-year master’s student at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in the Department of City and Regional Planning. At UNC, he concentrates on land use and environmental planning with an interest in the intersection of design and policy. In this area, he is most interested in the effect of policy outcome on resilience in the built environment, and sustainable development. In his free time, he enjoys woodworking, movie going, and drinking good coffee.
