Posts tagged Books
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What makes a place “walkable”?
DC resident Jeff Speck wrote Suburban Nation, the best-selling book about city planning since Jane Jacobs. His new book, Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time comes out on November 13. Greater Greater Washington is pleased to present 3 weekly excerpts from the book. We’ve known for three decades how to make livable cities—after forgetting… Keep reading…
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New book chronicles Frederick Douglass in DC
A statue of Frederick Douglass (c. 1818-1895), the most famous African-American of the 19th century, will soon be added to or near Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol to represent the District of Columbia. It’s a notable and long overdue recognition for both Douglass and the District. John Muller, a journalist and Greater Greater Washington contributor, has meticulously… Keep reading…
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An attempted murder kindled DC’s first race riot in 1835
The 1830s are not a well-known period in Washington’s history. Too late for L’Enfant and too early for Lincoln, they are a mystery to most residents. But hiding beneath the quiet surface were rising racial tensions, as vividly described in Jefferson Morley’s new book, Snow-Storm in August. Morley brings the 1830s to life with an account of dramatic events… Keep reading…
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New book celebrates Congressional Cemetery’s history
Once listed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of the most endangered historic sites in the country, Congressional Cemetery has come a long way, a shining example of residents taking guardianship of their built environment. A new book, Historic Congressional Cemetery, examines some of the history preserved in the cemetery. “A lot of folks who live right… Keep reading…
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Live chat with Matt Yglesias
Please welcome Matt Yglesias, Slate Moneybox economics blogger, author of The Rent Is Too Damn High, and frequent commentator about how regulations limiting development affect cities. Keep reading…
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Live chat: Matt Yglesias, Wednesday at noon
Are the very policies intended to sustain neighborhoods and preserve affordable housing paradoxically the same ones pushing rents up and families out to the suburbs? That’s case Slate Moneybox economics writer Matt Yglesias makes in his e-book, The Rent is Too Damn High. On Wednesday at noon, Matt will join us to discuss the book and we hope you’ll help us get things… Keep reading…
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Jarrett Walker: Transit’s job is to create freedom
Transportation guru Jarrett Walker had some criticism for the Metrobus map, and cautionary words for planners of the DC Circulator, streetcar, and similar circulators in Tysons Corner, when speaking to audiences last week in DC and Silver Spring. Walker, a native of transit mecca Portland, Oregon, was here to sell his new book, Human Transit: How Clearer Thinking about Public… Keep reading…
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Hear Human Transit’s Jarrett Walker in DC or Silver Spring
Building a successful and attractive transit system takes more than drawing lines on a map and buying snazzy vehicles. In addition to the many technical issues, one of the most important factors is values. Who is the system for, and why will they use it? International transportation consultant Jarrett Walker, who writes the blog Human Transit, has a new book by the same title about… Keep reading…
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Lost Washington, DC brings back great buildings of the past
Where landmarks of commerce, residence, and society once stood, merely an incidental plaque often remains. Each marker conceals colorful memories and dynamic stories waiting to be resurrected and shared. A new work of timely and notable hometown scholarship does just that. John DeFerrari’s Lost Washington, DC (History Press, paperback, $19.95) reanimates lost… Keep reading…
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Dream City panel tonight
Join us tonight for a panel discussion with Dream City authors Harry Jaffe and Tom Sherwood, moderated by Mike DeBonis. The Marion Barry era of Washington, DC political, social, cultural, and economic history ricochets and reverberates throughout today’s city. The vestiges of his political machine still retain influence from Wisconsin Avenue NW to Wheeler Road SE. Keep reading…