Plus 1 to A2

So excited to be at TEDxUofM today! Inspirational updates to come…

This popped up since last night near my place. No idea what it’s all about. The especially weird part is that a cop saw me taking photos, and stopped me to question me about it. Apparently someone called the police to report that someone was taking photos — perhaps suspiciously?

Update 1: Later that afternoon, the artists added “this” to the phrase. What are we supposed to remember?

Update 2: And the following morning, the whole thing was gone. Especially weird.

Spring is coming! First week I’ve seen pussywillows at the farmers market. They almost didn’t make it home since they fell out of my very full pannier biking back.

Happy Purim! 

Last night I attempted to make hamentaschen, the cookie traditionally eaten on the holiday since they’re shaped like the tri-corner hat of Hamen, the bad guy of the story of Purim. Neat triangles are much harder to make out of dough than I expected.

The filling is normally apricot, poppy seed, or dates, but I used a fig-orange mixture, since I had dried figs left over from Tu B’Shvat.

The cookies might be a bit misshapen, but they are far the most yummy hamentaschen I’ve had. Hopefully Devin from Real Good Food and the guests at his potluck agree.

Guess who’s the guest blogger at Concentrate Magazine this week?  Today’s post is on getting around without a car, urban planning, and building community.  Please share your thoughts!

My favourite way to travel. Off to Chicago to judge the Clean Energy Challenge tomorrow!

I’ve grossly neglected writing about my involvement in the Michigan Clean Energy Venture Challenge. Short story is that I’ve been mentoring a team, EVStation, which is building an app to help EV drivers find appropriately located charging stations. They tied for best prototype! More on that later…

Happy 3rd birthday, SELMA Cafe! Gorgeous cake from local pastry chef Sweet Heather Anne, showcased at SELMA’s volunteer party this weekend.

Happy Mardi Gras, Michigan style!

Paczkis (pronounced “punch-kees”?) are a Polish treat, kind of like a doughnut, eaten on Shrove Tuesday as a last-ditch attempt to consume as much fat and sugar as possible before Lent.

Thanks to a couple co-workers for bringing them in!

I admit to preferring pancakes, but didn’t get up early enough to make some. Maybe for dinner instead?

Parsley!

Just before Tu B’Shvat last weekend, an obscure but fun holiday of the Jewish birthday for the trees, I visited the Matthaei Botanical Gardens, where the Jewish Cultural Society hosted a family-friendly event for the occasion.

One of the booths at the event had DIY parley planters.  Mine finally sprouted today! Hopefully they can replace the larger plant that I seem to have neglected…

Thanks to all those who shared in Tu B’Shvat seder I co-hosted! Since the meal revolves around various types of fruit and wines, I was reminded that these holidays are much more fun to celebrate in a Mediterranean climate. We did our best to represent Michigan with some dried cherries and frozen strawberries & blueberries, but please forgive our carbon footprint for the imported citrus, pomegranates, nuts, and bananas.

Win a Valentine from Common Cycle!  Send a love poem for your bike to info@getdowntown.org to win one of these snazzy, homemade spoke cards.

Or, you can be one of the lucky people to have a card delivered straight to you, if your bike is in just the right spot today. I could be tucking one in your spokes soon…. (I didn’t mean for that to sound dirty.)

Happy Valentine’s Day! Here’s some advice if you’re looking for a green idea for your sweetie.