Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

While there has always been a kinship between the fashion and the home industries, the two have only grown closer this year during the pandemic. (Hello, cashmere loungewear.) But it was months before COVID-19 hit that Kym Gold, co-founder of denim brand True Religion, made the decision to step away from clothing retail to launch Style Union Home, a Los Angelesbased pottery and lifestyle brand.

Kym GoldCourtesy of Style Union Home

Golds interest in ceramics began last year when her son took her to a pottery class for her birthday. I started throwing and I thought, This is so much fun, she says. I had a studio space, and [decided] to make this a business. My son said, Mom, why cant it just be a hobby? Thats just not me!

The shift from designer denim to ceramics isnt quite as big of a leap as it seems. A seasoned entrepreneur, this is the sixth company Gold has founded, albeit the first outside of the fashion industry. (Her most recent venture, Babakul, sold bohemian clothing until the label dissolved in 2014.) But all the while, shes also had a foot in the world of interiors and real estate: For years, Gold has been designing and staging, including flipping a number of properties. Along the way, she struggled to find a brand that produced both high-style tabletop pieces and practical home accessories like pet food bowls or entry baskets that matched her taste. Her solution? If I dont find something, Ill just make it, she says.

The resulting ceramics reflect a streamlined cool, with a refined palette of bisque, black or a color-blocked combination of the two; some pieces are also available in teal, orange or a sunny yellow. The brands two place settings reflect the companys range: the restrained Legacy (a simple pair of plates and a bowl with a spout-like notch) and the more freewheeling Malibu (with irregular, undulating edges on all three pieces); the collection also features a dash of humor, with personalized pet bowls and three playful labeled serving pieces (napkins, chips and guac) that resemble crumpled cloth bags.

Creating a brand with what Gold calls whole-home cohesiveness (a quality that stems from a shared material language and design sensibility) is one of her primary goalsand it makes the collection attractive not only to homeowners, but also to hospitality groups and stagers. Im working with Soho House in London, stagers, interior [designers], and a lot of bridal, explains Gold of her current clientele. When I was staging my own homes that I built, it was really difficult to find something like a basket that would go with the sculpture so that the pieces werent jumping out at youthat they had an easy flow. Thats hard [to achieve] when you have so many other vendors that you get to pick from.

A table setting using pieces from the Legacy collectionCourtesy of Style Union Home

Still, Gold is bringing some lessons from fashion along. For starters, she has chosen to have the Style Union Home production cycle sync up with the fall/spring fashion calendar. Shes also adopting a personal approach to product testing she learned from fashion: Anything I ever designed or made, I would wear it to make sure it fit perfectly and that there were no issues, says Gold. In the same way, everybody eats on my plates, the pieces are all in my house.

Like everything else, the pandemic affected Golds plans. In January, she was purchasing equipment and developing design concepts. In early March, she started hiring. Then came COVID-19. Challenge No. 1 is doing everything yourself; challenge No. 2 is trying to build a team, but having everybody working remotely when youre working with a hands-on product, she says.

Despite that hurdle, Gold was able to assemble her team and develop a modern-day cottage industry, giving the potters wheels to take home; the pieces are then dropped off at her house for firing and glazing. Her goal was to build up shippable stock before launching. From my business background, I knew that I needed to gear up for inventoryI knew I was going to have buyers that wanted the product right away, she says.

One unique aspect about Style Union Home: Gold has been building the company with the intention of being acquired. Its not about the money, she says. Im a woman, I hire a lot of women, and [Im] dividing shares for their futuretheres the excitement of leaving a legacy for the people who work with me. Its a team. Giving back underpins the business in other ways, too; Gold donates 5 percent of all sales from her Unity collection to Black Women for Wellness, a Los Angelesbased nonprofit that is committed to the health and well-being of Black women through education, empowerment and advocacy.

High-gloss meets a matte finish in the Laurie dinner plate for a sophisticated place setting.Courtesy of Style Union Home

Gold sees an eventual acquisition as a necessary next step to grow Style Union Homeadditional capital that would give her the freedom to expand her team and bring on a strategic partner, in addition to the purchasing power that would go toward additional pottery equipment. Im finding that companies like West Elm and Restoration Hardware are going to want to acquire a company like mine [because] its very difficult to go overseas right now, she says.

Since launching Style Union Home in August, Gold has been filling orders daily, bolstered in part through Zoom-based collaborations with companies like Girls Night In, but also through her fashion network. On December 1, the brand will launch a collection with Kim Chi Avocado, the lifestyle brand started by Fred Segal Couture partner Yunnie Kim Morena. Golds tabletop pieces will also show at NY Now and Shoppe Object next year, albeit virtuallywith a few pandemic-borne workarounds to help along the way, from videos on her website to sending out tile samples to editors and showrooms.

For the time being, Style Union Home will continue to focus on ceramics, but in the coming seasons, napkins, pillows and other lifestyle pieces will make their way into the brands portfolio. Its still a new medium for me, which is a challenge, but clay is exciting[and] Im getting orders every day, says Gold. Im excited to be waking up with a new passion, and its not fashionits passion for the home.

Homepage image: The Jill Candle in three sizes, by Style Union Home | Courtesy of Style Union Home

See the rest here:
This fashion entrepreneur is giving home a spin - Business of Home

Netflixs Holiday Home Makeover with Mr. Christmas follows Mr. Christmas himself, interior designer Benjamin Bradley, as he teams up with his most trusty elves to transform his clients loved spaces and help them welcome the holiday season with a bang. He takes the dull and dreary out of the everyday setting and turns it into a warm and pleasant place to ensure that everyone can feel the genuine merriment of the festival. Benjamin usually only designs homes and relatively small spaces, but as we saw in the second episode, he took on a Fire Department at the behest of Jeffrey Kempf Jr., whose story just had to be highlighted.

A native of West Islip, Long Island, New York, Jeffrey Kempf Jr. is a volunteer firefighter who followed his father and grandfathers footsteps when it came to his career. Because his father, Jeffrey Jacko Kempf Sr., was the Chief at the West Islip Fire Department, Jeffrey Jr., or Jeff, basically grew up there, visiting him after school and helping out wherever he could. Unfortunately, though, last year, in August, at the age of 60, Jeffrey Sr. passed away after losing his battle with cancer.

Jeffrey Sr.s death obviously crushed his family, but because of his nature and his loud, loving, and caring personality, the whole community of West Islip felt the loss. Thus, to continue on his path, keep up the tradition of celebrating Christmas in the over-the-top way that he loved to, and to keep his memories alive, Jeff Kempf Jr. contacted Benjamin Bradley and his team for help. Subsequently, together the team, Jeff, and many of the volunteer firefighters, along with their family members decorated the Department in such a way that it would have made Jeffrey Sr. proud.

Jeffrey Kempf Jr. still resides in West Islip, New York, with his wife, Samantha Kempf, and their only child, a now three-year-old son named Jeffrey Kempf III. And according to records, along with being a maintenance worker at the North Patchogue Fire District, Jeff is also a part-time Fire and Rescue dispatcher at the West Islip Fire District, holding the position of a Captain.

Jeffs place of work as the Captain is the West Islip Fire Department Mohawk Engine Company #5, stationed on Union Boulevard, which houses three engines. Even though he is a volunteer, Jeff still prides himself on the fact that he is a trained firefighter thanks to regular sessions at the Suffolk County Fire Academy as well as weekly ones within the Department itself.

The best part of it all for Jeff, it seems like, is that his son, Jeffrey III, has started taking an interest in his work as well, showing up for visits and walking around with a radio in hand, just like he himself used to when he was a little kid.

Read More: How to Hire Mr. Christmas? How Much Does He Cost?

Read this article:
Where Is Jeffrey Kempf Jr. Now? Holiday Home Makeover with Mr. Christmas Update - The Cinemaholic

By Katie Boyden The view of the new Westgate and Garlinge housing development looking over at the Dent-de-Lion gatehouse (Image: Millwood Designer Homes)

Controversial plans to build 2,000 homes south of Westgate and Garlinge have been revealed.

Plans for the development on agricultural land in Thanet, Kent have been submitted by Gillings Planning on behalf of applicants Millwood Designer Homes, and the executors of the will of Michael Cotton Garratt.

The homes, seen as overdevelopment of Westgate town by councillors and protesters alike, will infill much of the open land north Shottendane Road and located mainly between Minster Road and Garlinge High Street.

The land was designated for use as housing in the district's Local Plan which was finally approved this summer after years of uncertainty and delays.

The design and access statement submitted alongside the application for 'The Gallops' reads: "The Gallops derives its name from the history of the site which was once a Victorian racecourse.

"This new mixed-use neighbourhood will include up to 2,000 new homes, a primary school, a potential care home, land for a medical facility, and a variety of green spaces that thread through the development.

"A 'village green' preserves the setting of the listed Dent-de-Lion and the framed avenue retains and enhances existing long-range views."

As part of the hybrid application submitted to the district council earlier this month, detailed proposals have been submitted for the first phase of residential development: 120 homes accessed from Garlinge High Street and Dent-de-Lion Road.

The plans could also include a new link road between Shottendane Road and the A28, and will see Shottendane Road widened and roundabouts installed at its junctions with Minster Road and a new road joining Dent-de-Lion Road.

Roughly 600 of the homes provided would be classed as affordable.

So far seven objections have been submitted against the proposals, with one saying there are "so many things on so many levels" that are wrong with the development, and another calling it an "act of wanton vandalism" against Westgate and Garlinge.

View original post here:
Hated plans for 2,000 homes in Westgate have been submitted - In Your Area

The sheer absurdity of listings also makes for engaging content. Its really fun to have a virtually unending supply of very interesting things to look at, Mr. Boner said. Theres always going to be someone with too much money and too much creativity that results in some Frankenstein of a home.

Zillow surfing is especially popular among teenagers. A TikTok meme over the summer consisted of users talking about knowing where the bathrooms were in their friends or crushs house before ever visiting it because they had toured all of their classmates homes on Zillow. Many young people have extensive lists of saved homes and discuss and share listings with friends.

We dont have control over where we live because most of us live in our parents home, Ms. Silva said, so being able to create this world where I pick where I live and what house I live in regardless of price is fun.

After Ariel Norling, 29, a designer in Oakland, made a name for herself on Zillow Twitter by identifying unique, enviable listings around the country, she started a weekly house-hunting newsletter on Substack called I Know A Spot. Ive always been a Zillow scroller, she said, but its been a big activity for me as a part of quarantine. I felt like I was running out of things to do, Zillow felt like a different kind of outlet.

Ali Zaidi, 40, an attorney in Boston, prefers Redfin over Zillow, and has made checking the site part of his morning routine, despite the fact that he has no plans to buy a house. Its part of my morning, he said. I log into my work email, check different media outlets, then one of the websites I open up is always Redfin.

He compared the serotonin rush of seeing beautifully staged homes to checking social media and seeing pictures of peoples private lives. I get the same sort of joy from looking into Redfin as I do on Facebook or Instagram, he said. I find it interesting and almost voyeuristic.

What makes Zillow different from those social networks, though, is the absence of people, the writer Brian Feldman noted in his newsletter, BNet, this summer. It has no engagement loop, no social interactions, no real network effects to speak of, he wrote. It is a giant canvas onto which people project their desires and insecurities, and a constantly evolving document not just of the housing market, but of how people lived.

Though the site hasnt delved into social networking yet, many users have begged Zillow to add a comment section where surfers can connect and bond over listings.

I think for a lot of people, Zillow feels like the opposite of doomscrolling, Ms. Norling said. Youre stuck in your apartment, maybe you cant move, but its easy to look at listings and imagine yourself in a different life. And maybe in that life Covid isnt happening.

View post:
Zillow Surfing Is the Escape We All Need Right Now - The New York Times

When it comes to changing the house's windows, there is only one company that can be relied upon, and that is none other than HomeCraft Windows.

This press release was orginally distributed by ReleaseWire

Raleigh, NC -- (ReleaseWire) -- 11/19/2020 -- Windows are an essential part of the structure of one's house. In various styles and designs, windows have emerged to be a style statement for the contemporary homeowner. So when one window gets broken or damaged, you do not have to live with the same. With HomeCraft Windows available with its big repository of replacement windows, every homeowner can get the worn-out windows replaced quickly and without much hassle. The company has been around for many years, and they are happy to be at their clients' services all the time. Their options in windows range anything from Bay & Bow Windows, Casement Windows, Sliding Windows, Double-Hung Windows, Awning Windows, or Hopper Windows. All the windows are of the highest quality and extremely affordable.

According to the experts handling the window replacement in Cary and Holly Springs, North Carolina it is wise to carry out the old window replacement job at the earliest. Windows that take time to open or close, or have holes in them, or are seen to fall off the hinges are of no good. They are not only an eyesore but are a severe threat to one's safety as well. That is why no time should be lost in getting the windows replaced.

When it comes to picking the right home replacement windows from the lot, the professional window installers at HomeCraft Windows will help. With their years of expertise, it is easy for them to suggest changes and pick the windows to fit their need and budget.

HomeCraft Windows also offers patio doors in Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina.

Call 919-276-5400 for more details.

About HomeCraft WindowsHomeCraft Windows is one of the reliable places to loo for quality patio doors and window replacement in Cary and Holly Springs, North Carolina.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/homecraft-windows-is-the-place-to-shop-for-window-replacement-in-cary-and-holly-springs-north-carolina-1316696.htm

Read the rest here:
HomeCraft Windows Is the Place to Shop for Window Replacement in Cary and Holly Springs, North Carolina - Press Release - Digital Journal

You want to do windows and doors Edmonton replacement projects in your home but your budget is constrained. This means you have to find what replacement or repair will have a big return on your money. Some places that are mostly lucky when it comes to renovations are the kitchen and the bathroom. You want to modify your kitchen and bring in a built-in glass cooktop. Who doesnt want such a kind of a kitchen anyway? When you weigh between the built-in glass cooktop and the most beautiful bathtubs, your budget does not allow you to do all that. These two areas are essential, and after the work is done, you will look at them and feel satisfied that the work was worth your money.

But do you know that these two renovations cannot compare to a door and window replacement? Purchasing new energy-efficient windows and doors Edmonton will not only enhance your homes look but also cut your energy costs. They also give your home a more homely feeling, more lighting, and a comfort. NorthTech Windows and Doors compiled this information to help you decide.

1.How window replacements are a valuable investment

When it comes to windows and doors Edmonton replacement, it might seem like you are spending a lot of money on it, but come to think of it this way. Replacing windows will increase your homes value by up to 80%. So, if you intend to sell your house, that will be a significant advantage to you. Can the built-in glass cooking top get to that value? Probably no.

The amount of money you will spend on replacing your windows will depend on the window types and materials and the kind of window frames. While aluminum is a good conductor of heat, its frames are cheap to buy and install. Fiberglass frames are good insulators and are more expensive to buy than vinyl. The cost of installing a double-hung window is more than that of installing a single-hung window. While wood frames cost more, they are more attractive than the other frames and energy-efficient.

2.How the type of window will affect the cost of replacement

The most affordable windows are the double-hung type of windows. They are also the most common types, and they are characterized by two sashes that open vertically. Single-hung windows can only be opened on one side, and many people do not consider them. This makes them uncommon, and they are also hard to clean. These windows are cheaper compared to the double-hung windows. While casement tends to be expensive, they are better at keeping cold air away. They are also commonly used by many people. Picture windows have a wide pane of glass that gives you an unobstructed view. They have a modern make, and they are expensive.

3.Energy-efficient windows

When it comes to windows and doors Edmonton replacement, energy efficiency comes first. With energy-efficient windows, your energy bills will be reduced. Also, if you are looking to sell your home, most home buyers consider energy-efficient windows to save on electricity. This means that replacing your windows will add value to your home and increase the chances of getting a buyer. These are the different types of windows you will find from most window manufacturers Edmonton:

a.Single-paned window- they have one glass pane that does not offer insulation. These windows are also leaky, and they might not be suitable for areas that experience strong winds. These windows lose 20% of the heat in your home to the outside and make you spend more money on energy.

b.Double-pane windows- Unlike the single-paned windows, double paned windows have two panes, which help reduce cold leaks. This makes them more energy efficient. They are also filled with air or gas like argon between the panes, which act as heat insulators. However, their price is comparatively higher than that of single-paned windows.

4.Low-Emissivity coating

It is also called a Low-E coating. This coating maintains the heat in the room and reflects heat especially in hot areas from getting into the house. You will find this glass is more expensive compared to others thanks to this property. However if you are buying many, window manufacturers Edmonton can give you a good deal.

View post:
Is Windows and Doors Edmonton Replacement Worthy It? - The African Exponent

The building's leasing agent said the crime shows an increasing number of vagrants and professional beggars in downtown Louisville.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. Just one day after a man was arrested for busting out windows at the Brown & Williamson Tower, the senior vice president for the company leasing the office building said the destruction "points to a much larger problem" in Louisville.

LMPD charged Troy Mercer with criminal mischief after he admitted to breaking windows at the tower with a hammer, causing more than $100,000 worth of damage just days after new windows were installed.

While leasing agent Doug Owen said he was glad someone was arrested, he said the crime shows an increasing number of "vagrants and professional beggars" in the downtown area.

"I, along with many others, have been urging City officials (Metro-Council and the Mayors office) to address the problem of vagrancy and professional begging in our downtown for over a year," Owen said. "Many of the vagrants are aggressive and that is something which can be off-putting to many."

Owen said they decided to remove boards from their windows following guidance from the city, however, leaders "did not listen to the concerns of the business community."

"As downtown struggles to rebuild [following] COVID-19 shutdowns and the damage caused by the riots this summer, we simply must do all we can to create a safe and welcoming environment for all," Owen said.

The leasing agent said he was "disappointed" that the current state of downtown was not a priority, saying it was as vibrant as ever pre-pandemic. Now, Owen said businesses are looking to other locations.

"Aggressive vagrants and boarded up buildings send a poor message to visitors and potential new businesses," Owen said. "I wish the City would see this problem and treat it like the emergency it is."

Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.

Visit link:
Man arrested in connection with damaging recently replaced windows at Brown & Williamson Tower, police say - WHAS11.com

After protests turned into riots Saturday night, downtown businesses are left salvaging through the destruction. Delaware News Journal

The morning after riots broke out in Wilmington following the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota, friends and business partners Jonathan Whitney and Eliza Jarvis came up with an idea as city business owners began the process of cleaning up.

Theywanted to connect young artists with businesses boardingup their windows.

"How can we respond? How can we empoweryoung artists in this moment, not so much as to heal, but to continue this energy into ways that change begins to happen?," Whitney says.

If we can get a few donors and some store owners willing to turn their storefront into a work of art, the duothought, we can transform those blank wooden monuments from painful reminders into powerful messages of justice, love and inclusion.

New Castle artist Jannah Williams, 24, works on a mixed-media piece at Nomad Bar in downtown Wilmington. A new art project is raising money for artists to paint over the boarded up windows left in the aftermath of the spring city riot, which damaged several business following the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota.(Photo: Joe del Tufo/Moonloop Photography)

That morning, they were on the ground on Market Street with fellow project co-founder Arden photographer Joe del Tufoasking business owners what they thought, even though the dazed ownershad only started to absorb what had just happened.

So far, a total of four artists of color have been commissioned for the project.

Spaceboy Clothing on Market Street was the first to give the OK, just a week after clean-up began. The piece was completed not too long after onJune 14 by Wilmington artist James Wyatt.

Next came Blitzen, the Christmas pop-up bar, which had two murals, recently removed for their opening. Those works were by Wilmington artistsErica Jones andJaQuanne LeRoy.

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

The most recent piece, an eye-catching mixed-media work,wascompleted recently at the jazz club NomadBar on Orange Street by 24-year-old artist Jannah Williams, who goes by J the Artist.

At Nomad, Williams worked for several days, creatinga stunning mixed-media piece that usesnewspaper clips andold racist fliers as a base; on top are paintings of the faces of people who matterin this moment.

Erica Jones paints a tribute to 19-year-old Oluwatoyin "Toyin" Salau, a 19-year-old Black Lives Matter activist killed in Florida earlier this year.(Photo: Courtesy of Joe del Tufo/Moonloop Photography)

They include civil rights leaderMartin Luther King, Jr.; the first Black woman elected to theU.S.Congress, Shirley Chisholm;and former President Barack Obama.Ahmaud Arbery, who was shot to death while jogging in Georgia earlier this year,and Breonna Taylor, who killed by police in Kentucky in her home,also are included.

Taylor, wearing a wide smile, is in the center of the biggest project of William's young career. Taylor was two years older than Williams when she was shot six times in a botched policeraid earlier this year.

The piece's titleis scrawledacrossthe top in black letters dripping with red: "All We Want Is A Better World Than This." A message of "Black Lives Matter"and "You Matter" also are included.

"I wanted to show the history of what we're fighting fortoday goes back years and years and years,"says Williams, who studied art at Delaware State University. "And we're still fighting for it in different ways, but history is repeating itself as well."

COMING UP: 'Delayed seat assignments' as 2021 Delaware State Fair announces music acts early

It took about 40 hours to complete, stretched across two weeks and was completed last week.

New Castle artist Jannah Williams , 24, works on a mixed media piece at Nomad Bar in downtown Wilmington. A new art project is raising money for artists to paint over the boarded up windows left in the aftermath of the spring city riot, which damaged several business following the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota.(Photo: Courtesy of Joe del Tufo/Moonloop Photography)

Just like atthe other sites, passersby would stop and watch the artists work, getting a rare look at the process over severaldays. Some even asked artists about their work and whatit means.

"Those are important conversations," says Whitney, who co-foundedFlux Creative Consultingwith Jarvis earlier this year. "When I was at Blitzen andsaw little girls walking by that bigger-than-life painting, [it]is powerful.

"Yes, the panels are a blight. Yes, we wish they weren't there. But let's use them to push a message that we should keep moving forward because there are some great things happening."

Artist JaQuanne LeRoy works on a mural at Blitzen in downtown Wilmington earlier this fall.(Photo: Courtesy of Joe del Tufo/Moonloop Photography)

The project is so scrappy and homegrown that it doesn't even have a name, getting offthe ground withhelp of initial donors: Whitney's brother Benjamin andhis mentor at DuPont, F. Renarde Hill.

"The focus has been on finding ways to make it happen, not a name," says Whitney, also artist-in-residence at downtown'sEpiscopal Church of Saints Andrew and Matthew.

The artists behind the first three works at Spaceboy and Blitzen each received $500. Williams got $650 when more donors stepped up,including Wilmington non-profit Cityfest, whichsolicits sponsorship and grants to help, in part, fundarts programming.

Whitney isstill searching for donors to keep the project going. Donations can be made at Cityfest.com. Make note that it is for the storefront muralproject.

"We wanted top amplify the voices of these artists. A lot of times, finding the canvass and the funds are what keeps them from that and we wanted to take away that barrier," Whitney says. "We wanted to say, 'Go, speak!' "

When the project is complete, organizers hope it will find a home in a museum or another artistic space in or around the city.

Jonathan Whitney (left), Eliza Jarvis (right) and photographer Joe del Tufo are behind a downtown Wilmington art project transforming boarded up windows into pieces of art.(Photo: Joe del Tufo/Moonloop Photography)

But before that,Buccini/Pollin Group will partner with organizersto create a sidewalk art gallery.

It will be located atThe Residences at Midtown Park retail storefronts on NinthStreetbetween Shipley and Orange streets, Buccini/PollinVice Presidentof Design and Marketing Sarah Lamb revealed to Delawareonline/The News Journal.

The muralswill be lit and displayed inside so the public can visit the gallery safely from the outside. A completion date has not yet been announced.

Artist James Wyatt works on a mural at Spaceboy Clothing in downtown Wilmington earlier this fall.(Photo: Courtesy of Joe del Tufo/Moonloop Photography)

We recognize that June of 2020 will go down in history as an important time of civil discourse in our city, and the nation as a whole, she says. "The artwork that emerged after the nationwide protests plays an important role in this narrative, and we at BPG want to ensure that the murals, as well as the celebration of the artists themselves, can continue to engage our community.

For Whitney, theNomad Bar exhibit is especially meaningful.

As a jazz drummer, he has spent many nights with his back against the other side of that boarded up window, playing with his band,The Whitney Project.

He releases his debut album, "Life's Dimensions," on Monday with an in-person album release concert at Wilmington'sChristina Cultural Arts Center on Friday at 7 p.m. It will also be livestreamed as part of the city's Clifford Brown Year-Roundseries.

He couldn't help but think of the old days as Williams painted.

"That's the gathering spot for jazz musicians. And that special place is part of this conversation," he says. "And if Nomad was open, I'd be playing there and doing what she does, just in a different medium."

Got a tip? Contact Ryan Cormier of The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier), Twitter (@ryancormier) and Instagram (@ryancormier).

Read or Share this story: https://www.delawareonline.com/story/life/2020/11/16/artistic-pieces-replacing-boarded-up-windows-across-downtown-wilmington/6247312002/

Excerpt from:
This is the guerrilla team behind the colorful murals covering boarded windows in downtown Wilmington - The News Journal

by Jack Russillo

When Isolynn Ice Dean, the owner of the Central Districts Cortona Cafe, made the decision to close her coffee shop, she wanted the space to continue to be a hub for the community even after she locks the doors for the final time on November 29.

Since November 2009, the cafe has offered more than just Herkimer Coffee and homemade waffles. When Dean took over the cafe from her brother-in-law in 2013, she started filling the space with different gatherings rooted in the community, from open-mic nights to meetings of Africatown and Seattle Neighborhood Greenways. On the corner of 25th Avenue East and East Union Street, the space has been a part of the Central Districts heartbeat, and Dean didnt want to disrupt that when she moves to Georgia in the spring to pursue her agricultural dream of farming mushrooms.

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic affected Cortona, but Dean believes that the cafe could have made it through the winter. Doors were shut in March and havent opened to customers since. Among other adjustments, Dean began serving customers through a streetside window and business was doing well enough to remain open.

My customers are phenomenal, said Dean. My customers, my neighbors, my friends, my family, whatever you want to call them, they are phenomenal. They just showed up and they really pushed us through those first couple of months.

Even with steady numbers, Dean eventually felt the time was right to move on from Cortona and Seattle. In wanting to preserve the character of the space that Cortona had represented for years, Dean specifically chose the replacement for the coffee shop to be Hanan Hassan Diriye and Ambrosia Austin, the founders of Melo Juice and the future operators of Melo Cafe, the next occupant of the coffee shop.

I didnt want to sell it off to whomever, said Dean. The Central District is already gentrified. I was very adamant that I wanted to keep it woman-owned also. I just wanted to leave it in a good space Hanan is the thinker and the creator and Ambrosia is the one that really pushes things along. She provides the space and Hanan fills the space and its really a beautiful combo.

In March, Hassan Diriye started making juices to boost her immune system. Then she started taking orders and Austin helped Dean become one of the earliest customers, consistently buying the first Melo Juice combination, a ginger-flavored beverage with locally-sourced ingredients like echinacea and honey.

The trajectories of the two cafes paired well. The owners believed in each others missions, behind the coffee bar but also around the community.

Ive known [Dean] for years, in various circles, said Hassan Diriye. Shes really well connected and I guess I could say Im well connected in the community from community-building work [Dean] is one of those people that I was really lucky to get to know because shes so great at making people feel warm and at home. And she definitely did that with her space and how she really drives to put community first.

Both of them are deeply involved in the community, said Dean. What [Hassan Diriye] does for the community and just her energy in general draws people in You feel safe around her, so automatically she is creating a safe space. And I think that is my main goal. I just want Cortona to be a safe [space], whatever safety means for you.

From now until the time Cortona closes its doors for good on the final Sunday of November, Austin and Hassan Diriye will be at Cortona on Wednesdays and Sundays to familiarize themselves with the space and the shops regular customers. After Cortonas last day, Dean will help oversee renovations for a few weeks before Melo Cafe opens in early 2021.

Were just so grateful beyond grateful, honestly to have the support and the thought of Isolynn to move forward with the space, said Austin. If you read her Instagram post, shes not selling the business or the space off to the highest bidder. This is a vision for her to build up women, Women of Color, and give it a community feel. It really does tie into the vision of what she sees when shes passing this torch. I honestly couldnt be more grateful.

Once open, Melo Cafe will offer pre-bottled juices, Herkimer coffee, the same homemade waffles currently served at Cortona, and other pastries. New Melo Juice flavors will be released around the time of the cafes opening and any updates will be posted on the Melo Juice Instagram page. Long-term goals for the juice company include adding a covered and heated seating area, sourcing more ingredients from Black-woman-owned farms, providing an outlet for local artists to showcase their work, and hosting community events once health guidelines permit them to do so.

People dont like change nine times out of ten and we just want to continue the feeling of excitement, Austin said. Even though Ice is moving on and pursuing her dream, we want the community to know were here. Were here to honor her legacy, were here to give you something thats going to make you feel good as far as Melo Juice goes, and were also going to maintain the familiarity of what Ice provided for the community.

Jack Russillo has been reporting in Western Washington since 2013. He covers the environment, social justice, and other topics that affect a sustainable and equitable future. He currently lives in Seattles Beacon Hill neighborhood.

Featured image by Jack Russillo.

Like Loading...

See the original post:
Cortona Cafe Will Close at the End of November, to Be Replaced by Melo Cafe - southseattleemerald.com

NEW YORK CITY Classrooms across the city may be under an automatic coronavirus shutdown, but they'll return with 35,000 new students.

That's the number of students who opted into blended learning during a two-week enrollment period, according to city Department of Education data.

The city initially gave parents a rolling chance to opt in, but eventually set a hard deadline to help teachers better schedule classes. The definite in-person enrollment numbers which tally at about 300,000 citywide will give educators a chance to roll out classes in buildings up to five days a week, officials said.

"We know that nothing can replace in-person instruction and blended learning families deserve as much time in the classroom inside their schools as possible," said Katie O'Hanlon, a DOE spokesperson, in a statement. "We will be working with schools to increase the number of days blended learning students are in buildings, and we're excited for these students to join their peers when we reopen."

The new blended learning enrollment numbers follow the closure Thursday of public school buildings citywide.

The shutdown was triggered once the city's average coronavirus positivity rate hit 3 percent.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said officials are crafting a reopening plan in the next few days and hope to get students back to classrooms soon after Thanksgiving.

See the rest here:
35K NYC Students Opt For In-Person Classes, Whenever They Return - Patch.com