I know that images of these two icons have been everywhere the last few days, and rightfully so as the American public can't get enough of the hooplah. First an apology for continuing to up the dosage....but these two posters decorated the rooms of many kids like me back in the day. She must have been my first girl crush, because at age 8 or 9 I made my mother buy me this poster. I thought she was so beautiful. My friend had this Michael Jackson number. The yellow buttercup vest brings back memories that I have not thought of in so long. A lot of laughter and childhood silliness went on in the rooms adorned with images of Farrah and Michael. I remember well. The angel and the thriller...thank you.

East and West

{image When East meets West by CiaoChessa via flickr}

“Today we all speak, if not the same tongue, the same universal language. There is no one center, and time has lost its former coherence: East and West, yesterday and tomorrow exist as a confused jumble in each one of us. Different times and different spaces are combined in a here and now that is everywhere at once.”

Octavio Paz

Green and Harrison

{images of Alexis Grace & Harrison Street Worcester}

The clothing swap that Punky had a few weeks ago prompted a little exploration in the Green Street area, waiting for friends, I went on a little walk taking pictures and enjoying the sun. While dropping my clothing off at the swap, a handsome gent representing Alexis Grace, told me about the vintage shop owned by his wife located right around the corner. With time to kill, I stepped out and found that there was a cute little row of stores on Harrison Street, including the dance studio of Salsa Storm. Green Street now has sunny open places like the Center Bar and Grill, The Banner, owned by Sean McInerney, a former Burncoat alum, Block 5 and the beer garden at The Dive Bar. Have you heard about Secret Society? Right around the corner on Water Street is Jeff Jemma's new digs....looks pretty cool from the outside.

The Canal District is thriving. I have a vision of this area becoming a central cultural area for Worcester. If I called the shots, I would shut down Green on Saturday and Sunday and make it pedestrian only. I would also put out a call to artists, musicians and street performers. Tables would be set up all the way down Green, a festival of umbrellas. Seating areas would be serviced by the respective establishments adjacent to them. I hear music, bustling people, children laughing, parents and grandparents having lunch, coffee, maybe a cocktail in the sun.

I see neighbors greeting each other in the street, visiting the quaint little shops that emerge. See you need the cool little shops to bring foot traffic that spills into restaurants. Does anyone see what I see?

It won't stop raining.

I don't live in London. Although Heather Nova's song is stuck in my head, I don't even live in Seattle. It's been raining for weeks. My tomatoes are swampy and sad. I didn't want to risk the high water table issues that plagued my home grown investments for a few years in a row. This year, I potted the early girls and the rest of the rouge delectables. Mother Nature is torturing me! Yellow leaves are not a good sign... Mr. Sun, please shine on Worcester, Massachusetts.

Enjoy every minute

{images 1941 by Peter Stackpole via Life}

Patti McCarty and Betty Brooks return to hotel after a day of fun to rest up for dinner. Betty Brooks and Patti McCarty motor boating at Catalina Island.

These ladies make me remember that fun and the moments that you are fully engaged, taking it in completely, letting go of all seriousness and pretty much acting like a child, can make the best memories. I like to do this, often.

Have a great weekend

{image via them things via ffffound}
It must be warm somewhere in the states.

Angelina Jolie: Releases PSA for World Refugee Day (6/20)

{image of angelina via the examiner}

Angelina Jolie: Releases PSA for World Refugee Day (6/20)
Angeliana is a long time outspoken advocate and UNHCR Goodwill ambassador who again will be speaking out for refugees worldwide on the 20th. Pay attention. There are alot of people in your communities that may have been once, a refugee. It could be someone next to you in the market, or someone you work with everyday, like this man, Dan William.

{Dan William of Worcester, Massachusetts by way of Sudan}

Not the usual voice of my everyday posts, but close to my heart. If you would like to know more about how you can support or open your mind to African refugees and their stories, enlightened by my friend Dan William, please take a moment to click the link and read about one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, who found refuge and peace finally in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Posted using ShareThis

Pecha Kucha Worcester #1...unbelievable!

{John Herman ~ New-Media Guru / Inspiration through Collaboration}

{standing room only~that's me on the far left with my co~hosts Scott Zoback, center sitting and Cynthia Woerhle on the far right. Also in this photo is Scott Erb of Erb Photo, sitting left,
and Paul Dalpe of Point Source Media, back center}

{guests @ Bocado}

{Schedule of presenters/graphix by Todd Rawley}

{Megan Mcintosh~ Freestyle Slalom Skating / Aspects of Freestyle}

{Adoniram Sides ~ Photographer / Quiet Spaces and the Way of Inspiration}

All images in this post by Andreea Waters, who was also one of the presenters,
Art Director / Life By Design

The Brand Gap

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

The Brand Gap

View more Microsoft Word documents from coolstuff.

Pecha Kucha Worcester #1

{Adoniram Sides speaks about the philosphy of space showing "Fruit on Plate No. 75"}

{Derek Ring speaks about relationships between monsters and girls and boys}

{this image of Megan McIntosh inline skating champ, learn about her here, taken by Cynthia Woehrle at PKN Worcester #1 @ Bocado}

Pecha Kucha Night is the brain child of Klein Dytham Architecture, Japan. We are so ecstatic to have brought it to Worcester Massachusetts, the 169th city of over 205 cities in the world. Visit our Pecha Kucha Worcester flickr group and upload your photos.

"When there is nothing else to burn, you have to set yourself on fire!"
{image via ffffound}

Insane handlettering skills at work. Nice. Right in line with...........
Pecha Kucha Night Worcester #1!
Sunday. 7:20 drinks . 8:20 presentations begin.
20 slides X 20 seconds each
8 presenters
Bocado

Details

Don't forget...the ones you love

{via ffffound. i heart ffffound}

If You Forget Me ~Pablo Neruda I want you to know one thing. You know how this is: if I look at the crystal moon, at the red branch of the slow autumn at my window, if I touch near the fire the impalpable ash or the wrinkled body of the log, everything carries me to you, as if everything that exists, aromas, light, metals, were little boats that sail toward those isles of yours that wait for me. Well, now, if little by little you stop loving me I shall stop loving you little by little. If suddenly you forget me do not look for me, for I shall already have forgotten you. If you think it long and mad, the wind of banners that passes through my life, and you decide to leave me at the shore of the heart where I have roots, remember that on that day, at that hour, I shall lift my arms and my roots will set off to seek another land. But if each day, each hour, you feel that you are destined for me with implacable sweetness, if each day a flower climbs up to your lips to seek me, ah my love, ah my own, in me all that fire is repeated, in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten, my love feeds on your love, beloved, and as long as you live it will be in your arms without leaving mine. Probably one of the most famous by Neruda and saddest poems about love.

make a statement

{images via ffffound}

PKN in WO MAG

Pecha Kucha Night
Written by Doreen Manning
Wednesday, 10 June 2009

Cutting through the chatter

By Doreen Manning

When artists get together to mull over their craft, one could call it idle chit chat. But when artists present their work in an organized, fluid and productive way that inspires creative action, that’s called Pecha Kucha Night.

Roughly translated from Japanese for the sound of conversation, this event for creative professionals was started in 2003 by Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham of Japan-based Klein Dytham architecture as a place for young designers to meet, network, and show their work.

The Worcester segment kicks off June 14 at Bocado Tapas Wine Bar (82 Winter St.). The format is simple. A select group of creative types is chosen beforehand. Each will present 20 slides of his or her work, with 20 seconds allowed per slide, culminating in 6 minutes 40 seconds. Inspiration and discussion then follow.

When Cynthia Woehrle posted her idea on worcesterite.com to host a Pecha Kucha Night here in Worcester, fellow artist Michelle May — who had also expressed interest in hosting a PKN a few months earlier on the same blog — jumped on board. First step for the duo: research. “I was determined to find out as much as I could about this organization,” says Woehrle. Contacting other area cities like Boston and Portland that had already hosted a PKN event, and receiving great feedback, Woehrle then contacted Japan to find out how she and May could bring the event to Worcester. “We were hopeful that we could get approved and invited (Worcester Magazine News Editor) Scott Zoback to collaborate on this project; he loved the idea and signed up to help.” After a six-week wait, approval from Klein Dytham arrived and Worcester was officially added as the 196 cities in the PKN network.

Drinks and greetings begin at 7:20 p.m. followed by artists’ presentations at 8:20 p.m. (“20” is the PKN theme, as if you couldn’t tell). Name tags keep the name-game stress at bay, and a directory of speakers complete with photo profiles will be at the entrance. An MC will keep the presentation flowing, and each presenter will stand with his or her work and guide the viewer quickly through the progression of images.

With four nights committed to PKN in the coming year, the organizers have high hopes. “Not only will it expose Worcester as a cultural center, it will give us a social media voice all over the world, through the PKN website, Twitter and Facebook,” May says. “This will give artists and designers a chance to meet socially, know faces, and hopefully grow the community here in Worcester and surrounding towns. Fine artists have a forum here in town, but other designers, not so much. PKN is a great opportunity to show a little piece of your universe to Worcester, while getting people fired up. Seeing what inspires others is a very powerful tool.”

Pecha Kucha Night offers an opportunity for practitioners of all types of media — writers, filmmakers, painters, graphic designers, musicians and more — to showcase their work. “I am looking to integrate artists of all types,” shares Woehrle, “and bring them to a format where they can share ideas, projects and inspirations on the same playing field, as well as give the community an opportunity to hear perspectives from creative thinkers.”

For Woehrle, Zoback and May, the goal is the same: to promote that sense of community and foster creative ideas. So stop the chit chat, and start the inspiration.

Worcester Volume #1 at Bocado Tapas Bar, 82 Winter St., Worcester. June 14, 7:20 p.m. Free. Learn more at pecha-kucha.org; pecha-kucha.org/cities/worcester; pechakucha-worcester.blogspot.com.

again, via worcester magazine

A PKN Teaser

Paul Irish

A user experience consultant with Molecular, ajax developer, and eclectic music blogger at Aurgasm.us.

{Me} tooting his horn:
Launched in 2004, Aurgasm has developed into a destination of passionate music lovers around the globe. Its audience includes music mavens, critics, journalists, and bloggers—a highly influential audience. It has been named as one of PC Magazine’s Top 100 Blogs, profiled in The Boston Globe and mentioned on MSNBC.com, BoingBoing, Kottke, del.icio.us, Read/Write Web, Techcrunch, Signal vs Noise, and Digg. Aurgasm specializes in everything not under the American rock umbrella—music such as: downtempo, folk, nu jazz, chanson, scandinavian, jazz, cuban, brazilian, electro, soul, jump blues, bluegrass, film score, and electronica. {oh yeah, me again!}

Topic: Practical design solutions from Japan.

Andreea Waters

Born in Bucharest, Romania, now living in Franklin, MA with husband, Jeff, and son, Max. Work / Psychology major with an art and photography interest. My professional background involves the printing industry, sports marketing, advertising sales and design and finds me as the Marketing / Creative Manager at Expert Satellite in Worcester, MA. My latest project? Developing Facebook Application for referral program. Life / a passionate junky for photography, fashion, music, travel and the creative spirit. Addicted to the buzz, I get lost in the trance of the creative moment. Play / Surrounded by family and friends, dream, experience, taste and dance to the rhythms of life.

Topic: Life by Design / Be provocative, explore boundaries, be more than ordinary...

Adoniram Sides

An incredibly talented image-maker, motion and still, Adoniram, from Westminster and works as lead product photographer at Checkerboard in West Boylston. Commercial photography, land and city scapes alive with life and contemplation come naturally to him. Alive with details and distinction, Adoniram's work is done with passion and articulation.

Summary: Talking about space, how it impacts you emotionally, how it is translated into art. How space creates the foundation of psychological impact in art and in life. How a “quiet space” contains limitless energy and how it translates into creative inspiration.

Topic: Quiet Spaces and the Way of Inspiration
{check him out: AdoniramSides.com, Behance}


Othah Tidbits:
Cindy Woehrle on Pecha Kucha Daily, chatting about Worcester.
{p.s. This vid was filmed early on and Cynthia mentions Kaz Gamble, who has a scheduling conflict and hopefully will be able to do another PKN Worcester.}

New presenter links are alive and kicking on Pecha Kucha Night Worcester

Join us...

In the Garden

{Images from the garden, for Nancy}

The foxglove shot up over the last couple days, as well as the parsley and other herbs getting nice and full. My helper, Soleil and I planted a dozen more tomato plants, sweet 100's and some early girls that we bought at the farm stand last week. We are having fun watering them and watching them grow. The bumblebee visits are also entertaining for a 20 month old.

Deep and Distinctive

{paper seduction via ffffound}

Waquoit Bay?

{image via ffffound}

In the Garden

{mmm, things are starting to grow. the hostas are huge and the herbs are ready...
plus, you see I have help with all the work}

Canal District Clothing Swap

Saturday, the Canal District in Worcester was alive and kickin' with clothing swappers from near and far. It was great to see foot traffic in the city. The group of swappers was diverse and wonderful! Thank you Amylynn Chase for organizing and publicising the swap. Did you see her featured on Chronicle? Check out earlier posts and find the linkage. We can't wait for the next one!!