SAVE THE LIFE OF A HOMELESS PET

IT ONLY COST US ABOUT $100 WORKING WITH CAT NETWORK MIAMI

Daddy holding Dusty the stray cat in Little Havana.
Just a few hours after she got spayed at Meow Mobile by @thecatnetwork
Lots of cuddles and hugs for her first time indoors.

http://thecatnetwork.org/

Wynwood developer targets entire city block

PlusUrbia Design's work featured in Miami Today Newspaper

Miami’s preliminary OK to change zoning and land use in the heart of Wynwood may clear the way to redevelop an entire block, adding multi-family residences and shops. A final decision may come this month.

WestdaleWynwood LLC plans the major mixed-use project between Northwest 30th and 31st streets and Second and Third avenues. The plan is to construct about 171 residences, said attorney Steven Wernick on behalf of the developer.

Mr. Wernick told Miami Today the project will likely include a future mixed-use phase along Northwest Second Avenue under existing zoning, with ground floor neighborhood-oriented services and retail that would enhance the existing commercial corridor.

The properties fronting Second Avenue owned by WestdaleWynwood are already zoned so they could be redeveloped for a mix of commercial, office and residential uses up to five stories, said Mr. Wernick.

The proposed rezoning would accommodate a mix of residential types and sizes, and provide for a reasonable transition in scale since the building height would go from five stories to three on the north part of the block, he said.

--by John Charles Robbins, published Feb. 28, 2018. For full story, click link:

http://www.miamitodaynews.com/2018/02/28/wynwood-developer-targets-entire-city-block/

CAT DADDY WITH HIS BABY

THANKS CAT NETWORK MIAMI

The Cat Network, Inc. (CN) is a 501(c)3, Florida not-for-profit corporation dedicated to humanely reducing cat overpopulation by educating the public about the need to sterilize their pets and strays; providing access to low-cost spay/neuter services for stray, homeless and abandoned cats; helping members in their efforts to place adoptable cats in loving homes; and advocating non-lethal population control and humane public policy.

http://thecatnetwork.org/

THANKS CAT NETWORK

FOR GETTING OUR BABY DUSTY NEUTERED AND HEALTHY

The Cat Network is dedicated to reducing the overpopulation of stray and feral cats in South Florida through the humane practice of sterilization, vaccination, and release. 

Through our membership-based network, thousands of cats and kittens have been spared a life of neglect, cruelty, or euthanization. 

We offer a low cost spay and neuter program and a community of support to help you help homeless cats.

http://thecatnetwork.org/

CAN CARS AND PEDESTRIANS SAFELY SHARE A MIAMI STREET?

WYNWOOD WILL SOON FIND OUT

A rendering of a concept for a woonerf in a new pedestrian friendly zoning district in eastern Hialeah.  PlusUrbia

Can the woonerf concept stand up to the belligerent carelessness of so many Miami motorists? Experts say the devil is in the design details, but woonerfs have proven themselves all over the world, and are increasingly popping up in U.S. cities.

It does require care and alertness by all users, but that’s why the woonerf works, they say. Beyond some basic principles, their design can be tailored to local circumstances.

“There’s no real guidelines for what a woonerf needs to be, so you can be creative,” said Juan Mullerat, principal at Coconut Grove-based urban design firm PlusUrbia, which first came up with the idea for a Wynwood woonerf when it drew up a new zoning plan for the burgeoning hipster district.

 “The idea is slow cars down and provide an equal use of the street.”

--Excerpt from Miami Herald story by Andres Viglucci.

full story here

A CONNOISSEUR'S GUIDE TO CIHANGIR - 19

Courtesy of Cornucopia, The Magazine for Connoisseurs of Turkey

The easiest way to get to Cihangir is to get to Taksim Square and then take the long street next to Istiklal Caddesi called Sıraselviler Caddesi, which takes you to the heart of Cihangir.

Walk along Sıraselviler Caddesi past the kebab shops, past Cihangir’s most popular nightspots and past the German hospital, and you will get to the neighbourhood’s main çay bahçesi (tea garden). 

Turn down the perpendicular Akarsu Caddesi and some of the other side streets away from Istiklal Caddesi and closer to the Bosphorus to find some of the neighbourhood’s treasures. 

Strictly by foot only. 

Wind your way downhill, and end up in Tophane. 

The small, former wooden mosque, the Cihangir Mosque (Pürtelaş Hasan Efendi Mh, Cihangir), can be reached by turning into Soğancı Sokak from Sıraselviler Caddesi and then into Güneşli Sokak.

The mosque is at the bottom of the street. 

Just behind the çay bahçesi (tea garden) – there is a connecting passageway – is the pale-green Firuz Ağa Mosque (Defterdarlık Yokuşu No. 53, Cihangir), surrounded by a square with some popular cafés.

A CONNOISSEUR'S GUIDE TO CIHANGIR - 18

Courtesy of Cornucopia, The Magazine for Connoisseurs of Turkey

Waiters air-kiss the cosmopolitan diners, who cross the room to greet their neighbours.

Smyrna and newcomer Journey are two of the more popular at any time of day. 

Continue straight from Firuz Ağa Mosque and you come out on Boğazkesen Caddesi, above the old Ottoman cannon foundry which gives the district of Tophane its name.

Istanbul Modern is on the Bosphorus shore, across the main road and tram line.

Start in Taksim, easily reached by metro and the funicular from Kabataş, or by taxi to the Cihangir mosque.

From İstiklâl Caddesi, thread your way through the narrow lanes behind Galatasaray Lycée.

A CONNOISSEUR'S GUIDE TO CIHANGIR - 17

Courtesy of Cornucopia, The Magazine for Connoisseurs of Turkey

Çukurcuma is Istanbul’s main antiques district. The meatball shop is on Faik Paşa Caddesi, just downhill from A la Turca, Erkal Aksoy’s museum-like carpet and ceramics shop at number four.

Three stories of town house are filled with fine furniture, rugs and objet d’arts, all displayed with the finesse of an expert interior designer. 

Cornucopia readers can be sure of a warm welcome. 

These days Pamuk lives in Cihangir, due left of the square with the green mosque. 

On Akarsu Caddesi you’ll find the Orhan Kemal Museum, dedicated to another of Turkey’s great writers. 

From there store fronts thin out and the cafes – still plentiful – become more and more local in character.

A CONNOISSEUR'S GUIDE TO CIHANGIR - 16

Courtesy of Cornucopia, The Magazine for Connoisseurs of Turkey

A little further along is Pilot, a pioneering contemporary art space housed in a converted 1970s nightclub. 

Opposite is a square with the pastel-green Firuz Aga Mosque and a few cafés that are always busy, including two where you strictly drink tea, lovingly known to the locals as the Cihangir cay bahcesi. 

Also try Firuez and Kardesler Kebap. 

Opposite these, you’ll find a branch of Selim Usta’s Tarhi Sultanahmet Koftecisi, an Old City institution. 

But for the indigenous equivalent you should turn right into Çukurcuma and the Cukurcuma Koftecesi, where lunch is summarised by our friends at Istanbul Eats as ‘like being part of the live studio audience of a sitcom with meatballs.

Three generations of an unusually tall family run a busy local restaurant with what seems like very little service industry experience but great intentions and strong will. 

Hilarity ensues.’ 

The meatballs are delicious.

A CONNOISSEUR'S GUIDE TO CIHANGIR - 15

Courtesy of Cornucopia, The Magazine for Connoisseurs of Turkey

The crowds flowing from Taksim Square tend to sweep visitors onto İstiklâl Caddesi; the cars and kebab shops that line the top of Sıraselviler Caddesi, one street to the left of the famous pedestrian thoroughfare, don’t exactly draw you in. 

But just out of sight is one of the most attractive parts of Istanbul.

After a couple of minutes’ walk from Taksim, its arrival is heralded by a great old-fashioned Istanbul patisserie, Savoy. 

Across the street and down the stairs is Otto, a fashionable café/bar in a shady tree-filled courtyard.

A CONNOISSEUR'S GUIDE TO CIHANGIR - 14

Courtesy of Cornucopia, The Magazine for Connoisseurs of Turkey

Health nuts can get their fill at the Balya Organik Health Food Store (Batarya Sokak, No. 16, Cihangir), which is quietly situated away from the rest of Cihangir's bustle on the a small side street coming off Defterdar Yokuşu, on the corner where the Witt Istanbul Suites, with stunning views of the Golden Horn and Galata Tower, are located. 

All the usual health food produce can be found there, and there is a pleasant outdoor café serving a small selection of light meals and drinks.

Cihangir is undoubtedly the place to do yoga with a few studios offering classes and tuition in both Turkish and English. 

Try Cihangir Yoga (Meclisi Mebusan Yokuşu No: 15, 4th Floor, Cihangir) and the Yoga Academy (Sıraselviler Caddesi, Soğancı Sokak, İttihad Sigorta Apt. Level 5, No. 17, Cihangir) (I have done a few classes at the first one but not the second one so not sure we should include it).

A CONNOISSEUR'S GUIDE TO CIHANGIR - 13

Courtesy of Cornucopia, The Magazine for Connoisseurs of Turkey

Just on the corner of Sıraselviler Caddesi and Akarsu Caddesi opposite the tea garden is Antre Gourmet Shop (Akarsu Caddesi No. 40, Cihangir).

Its inviting green exterior leads you inside a paradise of charcuterie, a huge selection of cheeses from regions all over Turkey and Europe, olives and olive oils. 

For pickles, Asri Turşucu (Aka Hamamı Sokak No 9A, Cihangir) has all the sour, crunchy and salty cucumbers, cabbage, peppers, garlic, okra, tomato that you may want. 

La Cave (Sıraselviler Caddesi, No. 109, Cihangir) sells fine wine from all over the world and other spirits but the prices are not modest.

A CONNOISSEUR'S GUIDE TO CIHANGIR - 12

Courtesy of Cornucopia, The Magazine for Connoisseurs of Turkey

Do not go to Cihangir for things you can buy on Istiklal Caddesi – Cihangir serves those who have a penchant for something a bit more special: vintage clothing and objects, designer finds, or the finest food and wine. 

For vintage lovers, Leyla Seyhanli (Altıpatlar Sokak No. 6, Cihangir), off Ağa Hamamı Sokak, which is parallel to Sıraselviler Caddesi, has a huge selection of top-quality vintage clothes, costumes, hats and even tapestries.

Berrin Akyüz (Akarsu Caddesi No. 22, Cihangir) offers causal and evening wear in lush fabrics, bold colours and interesting shapes. 

And, Opus 3A (Cihangir Caddesi 3/A, Cihangir) has a large selection of CDs and new records, including a classical music and jazz collection, as well as a collection of 1970s Turkish pop.

A CONNOISSEUR'S GUIDE TO CIHANGIR - 11

Courtesy of Cornucopia, The Magazine for Connoisseurs of Turkey

For a pizza craving, the thin-crust, wood-fired offerings at Miss Pizza (Havyar Sokak No. 7, Cihangir), on a side street off Akarsu Caddesi, should not be missed.

 Kitsch surroundings that call to mind 1970s sitcoms provide the dining area where pizzas served the traditional Italian way (with two to three toppings rather than ten) do not disappoint.

Or for a sweet treat, Mua Gelatieri (Firuzağa Camii Sokak No. 2, Cihangir), next to the mosque, serves authentic Florentine gelato.

The friendly Italian owner will let you taste as many as you like before making your choice.

A CONNOISSEUR'S GUIDE TO CIHANGIR - 10

Courtesy of Cornucopia, The Magazine for Connoisseurs of Turkey

Another great casual café on this street is Journey (Akarsu Caddesi No. 21/A, Cihangir), a two-storey establishment with a communal table on the second floor providing a friendly, buzzing atmosphere. 

Again, the menu, like many things in the neighbourhood, is Turkish-inspired but with a strong European twist. 

The roasted lamb shank, for example, is cooked in honey and served with mashed potato. The lamb pie is cooked in borek (traditional Turkish pastry) pastry with dill and peas inside. 

There are some interesting salads on offer as well, such as the celery and buckwheat (hard to find in Istanbul) salad served with coriander and spinach. 

All the meals are prepared with love.

A CONNOISSEUR'S GUIDE TO CIHANGIR - 9

Courtesy of Cornucopia, The Magazine for Connoisseurs of Turkey

For lunch or dinner, Akarsu Caddesi, perpendicular to Sıraselviler Caddesi, has hotspots such as Smyrna (Akarsu Caddesi No. 29, Cihangir).

Western-inspired cuisine is served in a former antique shop which has kept its antique furniture and bohemian charm (and is another great place to spot Cihangir’s famous faces).

Meyra (Akarsu Caddesi No. 36, Cihangir) – formerly Leyla and also popular with the city’s literati – which serves satisfying food all day long and does a mean breakfast.

A CONNOISSEUR'S GUIDE TO CIHANGIR - 8

Courtesy of Cornucopia, The Magazine for Connoisseurs of Turkey

For breakfast, pick up a delicious pastry at Savoy Pestanesi (Sıraselviler Caddesi, No. 181/183A, Cihangir).

Or stop for a longer meal at Van Kahvaltı Evi (Defterdar Yokuşu No. 52/A, Cihangir) after Sıraselviler Caddesi turns into Defterdar Yokuşu.

One of the most popular breakfast places in the city, not just Cihangir, Van Kahvalti Evi serves unbeatable kahvaltı tabagi (breakfast plates) using produce they source from local farmers. 

Some interesting options such as eggplant pancakes and kavut (roasted wheat flour with honey and walnuts) will add flair to your breakfast.

A CONNOISSEUR'S GUIDE TO CIHANGIR - 7

Courtesy of Cornucopia, The Magazine for Connoisseurs of Turkey

As you are walking along Sıraselviler Caddesi, you will come across many great food options.

If you’re in the mood for breakfast or brunch, lots of cafés serve these all day to accommodate their artist and expat community which sometimes don’t make it out of bed before 15.00. 

There are also lovely lunch spots and casual dinner eateries where you can enjoy a nice glass of wine.

A CONNOISSEUR'S GUIDE TO CIHANGIR - 6

Courtesy of Cornucopia, The Magazine for Connoisseurs of Turkey

There is also 5. Kat (Soğancı Sokak No: 7, Level 5, Cihangir), a restaurant and bar on the fifth floor (thus the name.)

During the day and evening (the view onto the Bosphorus is stupendous) with a modest but fantastic international menu (the meat and seafood dinner dishes are standouts).

On the weekends, however, 5. Kat also hosts special events and international DJs. 

Booking are a must for dinner. 

And, there’s Münferit (Yeni Çarşı Caddesi No. 19, Beyoğlu), also in neighbouring Çukurcuma, which turns from a meyhane (a modern Turkish tavern) serving yummy mezes to a cosy dance floor. 

It is always packed so reservations are also recommended.

A CONNOISSEUR'S GUIDE TO CIHANGIR - 5

Courtesy of Cornucopia, The Magazine for Connoisseurs of Turkey

Cihangir is also home to some of the city’s busiest nightlife spots catering to the young and cool crowd. 

Start your evening at the beer terrace, easily missed, down the steps on Sıraselviler Caddesi where the lively vibe will get you in the mood for the rest of the night. 

Then, head back down Sıraselviler Caddesi towards Taksim Square to the über-cool Kiki (Sıraselviler Caddesi No. 42, Cihangir), a gastro pub known for its house vodka cocktails (mastic and pomegranate are two flavours) and the dancing which kicks off from 23.30 on most nights.

The nearby Roxy Club (Sıraselviler Cd Arslanyatağı Sokak, No. 7, Cihangir) is a proper nightclub and live music venue for the serious party-goer. 

A CONNOISSEUR'S GUIDE TO CIHANGIR - 4

Courtesy of Cornucopia, The Magazine for Connoisseurs of Turkey

Actors and actresses can be spotted reading scripts at Cihangir’s packed sidewalk patios every afternoon, including at the neighbourhood’s most popular çay bahçesi(tea garden, at the corner of Sıraselviler Caddesi and Akarsu Caddesi). 

Two establishments share the space here which is full to capacity from about midday until late into the night.

This is a favourite hangout of culinary writer and journalist Anya von Bremzen who says in her article ‘The Soul of a City’ published in Saveur magazine in 2009: ‘Like other Istanbullus, I develop a stubborn, irrational devotion to particular joints and food rituals. 

Each morning I practically sleepwalk to my local çay bahçesi (tea garden), where Cihangir's intellectuals crowd around tables laid out beneath tree branches and grape arbours, all shadowed by our green neighbourhood mosque. 

At a çay bahçesi, you order your tulip-shaped glass of sweet çay (black tea) and are free to linger forever.

I usually take along a breakfast of feta, cucumbers, olives, and simit, a sesame-crusted, ring-shaped bread sold as a snack by street vendors all over the city. 

Two hours later, when the wood-burning oven is fired up at the corner dive, I'm back at the tea garden with my midmorning lahmacun: a pliant, smoke-tinged oval of dough topped with a faintly spicy smear of ground meat, sprinkled with lemon juice, and rolled around parsley sprigs and tomato slices.’

A CONNOISSEUR'S GUIDE TO CIHANGIR - 3

Courtesy of Cornucopia, The Magazine for Connoisseurs of Turkey

Cihangir’s most famous resident, novelist and Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk made the neighbourhood his home after spending his childhood in Nisantasi. 

His Museum of Innocence, which he established in 2012, displays the real-life artefacts collected by the protagonist and narrator of his 2008 novel of the same name and, in this way, traces the love story of the novel's central characters. 

The eventual aim of the collection is to grow into an exhibit of everyday life in Istanbul in the second half of the 20th century.

The Orhan Kemal Museum celebrates another famous literary figure Orhan Kemal, at No 30 Akarsu Caddesi.

He was most known for his realist novels telling the stories of the poor and disadvantaged in early 20th-century Turkey.

A CONNOISSEUR'S GUIDE TO CIHANGIR - 2

Courtesy of Cornucopia, The Magazine for Connoisseurs of Turkey

The name, Cihangir, comes from Suleiman the Magnificent’s son, Cihangir, who favoured the area when it was still a forested hunting ground. 

After Cihangir’s death, Suleiman commissioned Mimar Sinan to build a wooden mosque that commemorates his son.

Rebuilt since, Cihangir Mosque has one of the best views of the Bosphorus. 

As the influx of Europeans into Istanbul in the late 19th century drove up real estate prices in Pera where the Europeans originally settled, the new arrivals made their base in surrounding areas such as Cihangir.

The tradition continues in this residential neighbourhood, and there are just as many expats as artists in newly-renovated apartment blocks with pink, yellow and pale green façades. 

Apart from galleries, there are also many restaurants, bars and cafés serving great coffee, international cuisines and of course, cocktails.

A CONNOISSEUR'S GUIDE TO CIHANGIR - 1

Courtesy of Cornucopia, The Magazine for Connoisseurs of Turkey

The stomping ground for artists, writers and intellectuals since the 1970s, Cihangir, a neighbourhood in Beyoglu, is easily likened to districts such as Le Marais in Paris or Williamsburg in New York. 

The bohemian lifestyle hangs thick in the air amid the neighbourhood’s narrow streets shrouded in greenery, great street cafés, and wonderful clothes and food boutiques. 

The area is one of the prettiest in the city – a stark contrast to the madness of Taksim and Istiklal Caddesi – and to keep the neighbourhood looking attractive, the clever use of small concrete slabs lining the streets has been employed to prevent cars driving whenever they please. 

After all, this is Istanbul.

PERILS FOR PEDESTRIANS -- A GREAT SITE FIGHTING FOR OUR SAFETY

VISIT JOHN WETMORE'S INFORMATIVE SITE AT WWW.PEDESTRIANS.ORG

The image above shows that while sidewalk cafes are great, they can encroach on the mobility for a people with a disability.

John Wetmore has dedicated countless hours to documenting the insanity that engineers, architects, planners and public works officials create for people just trying to go about their lives on foot.

His YouTube Channel shows far too many intersections where the car is king and the pedestrian must have a death wish to cross -- even with the protection of a red light for traffic and a "walk" sign for peds.

The tide has seemed to turn in favor of pedestrian, bike and wheelchair mobility.  But it will take decades for cities, counties and states to redesign streetscapes to give pedestrians a fighting chance against the almighty speeding vehicle.

John Wetmore is working daily to make life better.  His understanding of all the obstructions, lack of maintenance and fuzzy design that prevents wheelchair users from enjoying the barrier-free mobility that they deserve on our sidewalks, especially in urban areas.

http://www.pedestrians.org/

The images shows how poorly maintained sidewalks -- maybe the city should have gone with cement instead of hard-to-replace and maintain pavers -- can spell doom for a blind or visually impaired person.

APA Planning Magazine: Inclusive Mobility

THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT, PLUS URBIA DESIGN

PlusUrbia Design Communications Leader Steve Wright, and his wife: Americans with Disabilities Act expert Heidi Johnson-Wright, co-authored the Planning Magazine February Cover story. 

Inclusive Mobility the title of the article on applying Universal Design to every aspect of mobility – from complete streets to commuter rail to buses and safe sidewalks.

The article interviewed a half dozen experts and shared best practices for delivering seamless barrier-free mobility to the nearly 57 million Americans who have some kind of disability.

Planning, the publication of the American Planning Association, has previously published the Wright’s guide to better urban design of public spaces for people who use wheelchairs, canes, crutches, walkers and other assistive mobility devices.

Johnson-Wright, an attorney by training and longtime advocate for people with disabilities, has used a wheelchair for her mobility for four decades.

Wright, an award-winning journalist, blogs daily on urban design, travel, human rights and related issues.

https://www.planning.org/planning/2018/feb/inclusivemobility

HEALTH MONITOR GUIDE TO LIVING WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

FIND SERENITY!

By Heidi Johnson-Wright, attorney, adjunct faculty in architecture school, and RA veteran from Miami

Don’t neglect your emotional self.

“I had been dealing with RA for many years when I learned how chronic pain makes you more susceptible to anxiety and depression,” says Heidi. “And anxiety, in turn, intensifies your pain severity.”

She suggests asking yourself if you’re more depressed or anxious than you were before your RA diagnosis. “Since I realized, I’ve been in and out of talk therapy, which helps,” she says. “RA fatigue drains you, and the more you’re drained, the more you hurtle toward depression.” Try mindfulness meditation. “I put on headphones and listen to a meditation exercise as I’m going to bed,” says Heidi.

“I’ve been doing this for three years now and find it’s great for those nights I’m not feeling quite comfortable enough to fall asleep. It helps me focus on my breathing and distracts me from the discomfort.”

Make life easy on yourself. “Get past the idea that assistive devices are just for the elderly,” urges Heidi, who says that being able to function is important to her well-being. “I keep a reacher stick in every room and use them for everything.”

She also makes sure everything in her house is accessible. “Before I buy anything for my home, I do research online and find out the heights of shelves and where the knobs, buttons and doors are. I keep stuff on my level. In my fridge, I have all the items that only I consume in places I can reach.

And I put the cat’s food on a high level of her cat tower.” She uses remotes for her lamps and low-profile box springs to put her mattress at the right height. Heidi also relies on a grocery delivery service (ordering multiples of items when they’re on sale) and a home health aide twice a week to do light housework and help with personal care.

GOLDEN HORN METRO BRIDGE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The Golden Horn Metro Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge along the M2 line of the Istanbul Metro, spanning the Golen Horn in Istanbul, Turkey.

It connects the Beyoglu and Fatish districts on the European side of Istanbul, and is located between the GalataBridge and Ataturk Bridge, approximately 200 m (660 ft) east of the latter.

The bridge enables a direct connection between the Hacıosman metro station in the Sariyer district (at the northern end of the M2 line), with the Yenikapi transport hub in the Fatih district (at the southern end of the M2 line.

--Wiki

THE LIGHT OF ISTANBUL

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Savvy photographers start lining up about an hour from sundown along the Galata Bridge.

They aim toward the northwest to photograph the amazing light show -- in red, orange, yellow and purple -- that the sun makes setting over mosques, bridges and water.

FENER AND BALAT

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Although tourists are still only trickling into the area, Sari says his customers are mostly foreign.

And his staff hail from Greece, Italy and Holland.

“It’s a little bit international,” says Sari – just like the new Fener-Balat.

--The Guardian

FENER AND BALAT

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Balat’s Agora Meyhane, is a 125-year-old restaurant reopened by Istanbul film director Ezel Akay.

Serving meze and meals from Anatolia, the Balkans and the Middle East, it was listed by Travel+Leisure as one of the world’s best new restaurants.

--The Guardian