Crowd-Funded Breweries and Community

In an article published yesterday on The Concourse, Will Gordon presents an impassioned, rational and well-argued discourse on the becoming-more-ridiculous-by-the-day world of crowd-based funding, and the potential impact on the beer industry. The foamy, hoppy tidal wave of delicious craft beer in the U.S. has been well documented, particularly with the U.S. hitting the 3,000 brewery mark earlier this month. Because starting a business is difficult, many breweries are turning to the public for funding support (a whole other post could be written about how many o these new breweries should be opening in the first place). Most of these are startup breweries, looking for enough funding to deliver beer to their local community. Others are massive operations looking to expand into new territories like…Europe.

Stone Brewing Company, one of the largest craft brewers in the United States, recently announced expansion plans to build a brewery in Berlin. Part of this project includes a crowd-sourced funding campaign asking for $1 million from the beer-drinking public to expedite construction. Construction that, as Mr. Gordon points out, is going to happen regardless. 

And Mr. Gordon is absolutely correct in his point that “crowd-funding campaigns for established, mainstream commercial operations are bullshit”. Stone doesn’t NEED the $1 million from the public to push this project through. Similar expansions (albeit domestic) by Lagunitas, New Belgium, Sierra Nevada and Oskar Blues were all accomplished without crowd-funding, after all.

The article does a good job of explaining why you should spend your money elsewhere (and why this campaign is bound to succeed anyway). My response here is to suggest that despite the efforts of Stone, I believe that crowd-funding can be an important tool for the right brewery looking to get its start.  

For every giant brewery expanding, there are probably 100 just starting, or in planning. And many of these upstarts are looking for support via crowd-funding sites like Kickstarter. At the time of writing this, I find at least 15 brewery projects on Kickstarter. These are projects I’m more likely to support, allowing crowd-funding to serve more of its true purpose as a community development tool. 

For me, supporting a small brewery (or any other project) on Kickstarter is a chance to build community. You are saying, with your dollars, “I want this in my neighborhood”. Crowd-funding provides a platform for aspiring breweries to introduce themselves to a local community, and establish a meaningful connection with future consumers. It gives consumers a chance to evaluate – is this brewery here for the right reasons? Do they care about beer? Do they care about community? Or are they just capitalizing on a growing trend. 

I’m not here to debate the merits of crowd-funding vs. more traditional capital sources (small business loans, etc). Odds are no brewery is fully funding itself with a $25,000 Kickstarter campaign. So, crowd-funding is simply one of a handful of tools a new brewery might use.

As an example, I recently funded Sketchbook Brewing, a new nanobrewery coming to Evanston, IL in early-fall 2014. I live about 5 miles away in Chicago’s Lincoln Square neighborhood. Their crowd-funding campaign on Kickstarter introduced me to the vision for the brewery, and the people involved. My $15 got me a sticker and a keychain – but also something to look forward to. Because I’m ‘invested’, I’m now following Sketchbook on social media, via their newsletter, etc, and patiently wait for the day I can bike up to Evanston and fill a growler. 

Now, I’m not going to personally help fund every single business that wants to set up shop in my neighborhood. That would be silly, unsustainable, and as Mr. Gordon points out, bad for my liver. But, given the opportunity to fund the projects I’m excited about, and want to see in my city, I’m more than happy to be a part of that. 

A Tale of Two Bikeshare Systems – Chicago and DC

I moved to Chicago from DC less than 2 months ago. Maybe that’s too soon to really have a firm grasp of local transportation systems. And maybe that’s too soon to have formed strong habits, opinions and preferences for how I get around. But, here are the facts: In the 6 weeks I’ve been in Chicago, I’ve used the local bikeshare system, Divvy, with a much greater frequency than I ever did with DC’s Capital Bikeshare.

Multi-jurisdictional bikeshare keys.

What I’m having trouble figuring out, is why? There are a few obvious points I can make – in DC, I often rode my own bike. That same bike was stolen my first week in Chicago (a story for another time).  But, if that had happened in DC, I’m not convinced it would’ve upped my CaBi riding.

Station density is not a problem. In DC, there were probably 4 stations within a 5 minute walk from my apartment. In Chicago, the closest station is at the Western Brown Line stop, about a 9 minute walk (though, this summer’s expansion should bring a station closer to my home).

CaBi near me in Dupont Circle

For me, it comes down to two dominating factors:

1. I really like to walk. If I’m going a mile or less, and the weather is manageable, I’m on foot. DC is a great walking city, and I lived in an extremely walkable neighborhood.

2. Chicago, while still a great walking city, is much, much bigger than DC. This means that a lower % of my trips are less than 1 mile.

To illustrate – I reviewed my usage data for Chicago, and my last year in DC. So far in Chicago, over 50% of my trips have been 22 minutes or longer.  In DC, only 10% of all trips (over 3 years as a member) were longer than 22 minutes. 60% of all trips in DC were less than 10 minutes.  This suggests that I am riding longer distances in Chicago, routinely using Divvy for trips that are in the 3-5 mile range.  What I’ll suggest is that in a city of Chicago’s magnitude, Divvy provides a level of accessibility that I didn’t necessarily NEED in DC, because I chose to walk many places.

Divvy near me in Lincoln Square

Topography is also a factor – Chicago is a very flat city. I’ve yet to encounter a hill I would call challenging. DC, however, comes with more contours to navigate. A lazy person (me) might avoid riding to destinations that involve pedaling up a hill.

In both cities, I’ve yet to take a trip longer than 30 minutes, reinforcing the idea of bike sharing more as transportation and less as a recreational activity.  As Chicago finally thaws out following the worst winter on record, it will be interesting to see how widespread the Divvy use is. So far, on the few nice days we’ve had, I’ve yet to notice a critical mass of Divvy riders, compared to what a typical day brings in DC. But, the system is less than a year old, and many people will be discovering it for the first time this summer.

In all, while I certainly used Capital Bikeshare to get around in DC, my early experience in Chicago is that I’m really using the system – as a tool to connect me to neighborhoods that are not within walking distance, or might require a long transit trip. In DC, those connections were more easily made on foot, or with a short bus ride.  This of course doesn’t mean that Divvy is better than Capital Bikeshare. Both are great systems, and add another layer of transit accessibility to cities that already boast robust, connected transportation systems. I’m looking forward to Divvy’s expansion this summer, which will hopefully put a station even closer to my apartment.

 

My Chicago Beer Journey – Episode 1

So far with this blog, I haven’t had the opportunity to write much about beer, and its role in a community. Having recently moved from Washington, DC to Chicago with my girlfriend Kate, I’m hoping to remedy that situation, and share my thoughts as a newcomer to Chicago’s unbelievable craft beer scene. Here is the first of what I hope are weekly updates, celebrating new breweries, bars and beer culture. This first post will catch up on our first 2 weeks in Chicago:

From DC to Chicago

It’s All So Shiny and New!

In the last post I wrote about how we came to select our apartment in Lincoln Square. What I didn’t include was that one of the main reasons Lincoln Square/North Center topped our list of neighborhoods, was its access to beer. I was heavily influenced by this article, perhaps too much so, but I believe in the ‘placemaking’ power of beer. During our apartment search we stopped into Bottles & Cans, a spot which will become a weekly stop, no doubt. I was overwhelmed – SO MANY beers that I did not have access to in DC, and a vibe unlike any I’ve encountered in any east coast bottle shop (chatting with owner Joe, who had a baby in one arm while pouring tastes with the other).

My First Beer Experience as a Chicago Resident

Chicago has been kind to me, early on

After settling into our new home, our first local visit was to Gene’s Sausage Shop. I browsed the (more impressive than I was expecting) beer offerings…unsure of what to buy. Then, I saw the manager walk out of the cooler and hand 2 bottles of 2014 KBS to another customer. In a few moments, I had 2 bottles of my own. And thus, my first Chicago beer experience had me lucking into some Kentucky Breakfast Stout. Also, Gene’s is awesome even without KBS.

These Are The Beer Spots in Your Neighborhood…In Your Neighborhood

It has taken me 3 whole paragraphs to mention Half Acre. Half Acre is the the brewery closest to me (3/4 mile), with a taproom that seems like it was designed just waiting for me to show up. In other words, it feels like home. I may even work out of their tap room on occasion. I value aesthetic and personality in where I choose to drink, and Half Acre strikes a chord with me. It doesn’t hurt that their beer is most-excellent as well. Two weeks in, and I’ve only visited 3 times. I’ve gotta step up my game. Vallejo, Ginger Twin and Akari Shogun are leading the charge.

Saturday night at Half Acrew

Most stops at Half Acre seem to also involve a visit to my early-favorite bar-restaurant, The Bad Apple. I want to eat El Chupacabra every day. Have also tasted some great beers – my firsts from Solemn Oath and Begyle.

Our first two weeks in Chicago also included stops at the Map Room, The Publican and Rockwell’s Neighborhood Grill. Good times had at all 3, and I particularly loved the neighborhood feel of Rockwell’s.

Filling the Fridge With Staples

So far, the fridge has been stocked with Revolution Anti-Hero (which seems poised to replace Two Hearted as my everyday IPA), Surly Bender and some New Glarus Fat Squirrel delivered by a friend from Madison.

All in all, not a bad first couple weeks. We look forward to continuing the exploration, getting to know more people in our neighborhood, and seeking out good times around Chicago.

 

Trading a Little Density for a Lot of Space (and Sunlight)

Less than 2 weeks ago, Kater and I packed up our life in DC, and moved west to Chicago. What follows is an account of how location, transportation and lifestyle factored into our apartment search.

Although we have long talked about moving back to the Midwest, the actual move came about somewhat suddenly. Thus, our apartment search was limited to a 48-hour weekend trip to Chicago in early March. We scrambled to learn Chicago’s neighborhoods as best we could – and struggled to comprehend the vastness of city. Even with both of us regularly visiting the Windy City in our college years, the sheer size of Chicago compared to DC makes for a difficult translation. Things are just bigger here.

The WIndy City via kayak.

We realized that this move would be about trade-offs. Given the nature of DC’s rental market, we had been paying far too much for an apartment far too small, and far too basementy (lack of sunlight = year round Seasonal Affective Disorder). But the location in east Dupont Circle was unbeatable. Mere minutes away – by foot – from multiple transit lines, multiple grocery stores and and endless supply of restaurants, bars and other amenities. For the previous 2+ years, trading space for location had been mostly worth it.

It’s good to have options.

Coming to Chicago, we took a different approach. Our priorities shifted. We considered what was most important to us:

Comfort – we were ready for an ‘adult’ apartment, with space for us, for guests and for (eventually) babies.

Personality – we still greatly value density and walkability, but I worked hard to consider ‘useful’ density. Our neighborhood in DC, while dense with options, held limited appeal for us, as we found the ‘3rd places’ we identified with most to be in other neighborhoods. Chicago gave us an opportunity to find amenities that suit our personality, and settle around them, even if that means opting for a less dense location overall.

My new 2nd home, Half Acre Brewery

Transportation – living without a car, as we did in DC, means that we rely heavily on transit and bike infrastructure. We were insistent upon being near an El station, within a 12 or so minute walk (our walk in DC was 7 minutes).

Community – for me, a I never felt like I was ‘part’ of our neighborhood in DC. We did not know many of our neighborhoods. I don’t know if that is the location, or if it was us. In our new location, I’m very interested in finding a sense of community – festivals, farmer’s markets, neighborhood events.

And so, we ended up in Lincoln Square, a neighborhood on Chicago’s far north side. It checks our boxes, and gives us the comfort, space and sunlight we desperately wanted. Our new neighborhood has the amenities we crave – good restaurants, beer bars (Half Acre!), groceries, coffee shops, a movie theater and a bowling alley. Our Walkscore is 91. We are a 9 minute walk to the El, 3 blocks from bikeshare. We are now part of a great community full of progressive dinners, 5ks and block parties.

The gateway to our new neighborhood

So where is the trade-off?  We are a 40-50 minute trip away from downtown Chicago, compared to being able to get just about anywhere in DC in less than 30 minutes. Commutes will be longer. We notice more children and strollers than we used to. It is quieter. Getting to ‘trendy’ neighborhoods will require a little more planning and strategy. And that’s all ok.

We are excited for our new life in Chicago, and the lifestyle our new apartment will provide. We will miss the density, I’m sure. But the heartbeat of the city is only a short train, bus or bike ride away.

 

 

 

 

Snow Day – My Top 3 Movies About* Transportation

I’m currently enjoying yet another snow day in DC. I’ve gotten my work done, shoveled the sidewalk and consumed more coffee than on a typical Monday morning. Now, its time for some fun.

Last week the Rosslyn, VA Business Improvement District (@rosslynva) posted on Twitter asking for theme recommendations for their summer outdoor movie series. In the midst of easily the worst winter (yet, still mild by Midwest standards!) since I moved to DC 4 years ago, the thought of laying on a blanket with a cold drink on a warm summer evening sounds just about like the best thing I can think of.

In true transportation-nerd fashion, I quickly responded with transportation as a theme. At that point, I hadn’t even thought about what movies that would include. Until today. And so, for your snow-day enjoyment, my top 3 movies involving* transportation:

 

3. The Great Muppet Caper. Muppets. On bikes. Also known to travel by bus.

2. National Lampoon’s Vacation. Yes, it takes place in a car. At least they are carpooling. Too funny to ignore. Fun supporting fact: I’ve modeled most of my life on the teachings of Clark W. Griswold.

1. Planes, Trains & Automobiles. No explanation needed.

*Ok, so maybe the entire movie isn’t about transportation. But many key scenes are.

Cities on Tap – Placemaking with Craft Beer

I told you that at some point, this blog would discuss craft beer. Well, that time has come. I came up with the term “Brew Urbanism” to describe my collective thoughts and attitudes towards craft beer as a way to evaluate or highlight the livability of a particular city or neighborhood. Really, though, beer could be replaced with a number of things in this concept – coffee shops, yoga studios – places that create a happy environment, supported by a vibrant and passionate culture. Beer, quite simply is an economic development tool.

Over the last couple years, the craft beer industry has exploded, spreading throughout the country like, well, a spilled beer (forgive me). To illustrate, some stats from the Craft Brewer’s Association:

• In 2011, there were a total of 2,027 breweries operating in the U.S. By June of 2013, there were 2,538.
• Craft brewers currently provide more than 108,000 jobs in the U.S.

A lot has been written about whether or not we are nearing a craft beer bubble. For example, DC Brau, the first production brewery in DC since prohibition opened in 2011. Today, there are 8 breweries operating in DC, with several more being planned. How many breweries in the U.S. can we sustain? How many can a city like DC support? If my recent outings are any indication, there’s still plenty of room for more.

My favorite aspect of craft beer, and the one that drives my passion for it, is the community that surrounds it. The craft beer industry is creative, collaborative, inclusive and social in ways that I have not seen from other industries. It is also uniquely local, and loyal. Most breweries understand the role that they play in building a local community or neighborhood, and work hard to become positive forces in their cities. Cities, too, rally around the beer scene. Here in DC, DCBeer.com provides regular updates on local beer options, information about new breweries, new ideas and new spaces to enjoy beer in the city. 

With craft beer, you often have a business that creates jobs, brings people to an area, contributes to the character of a neighborhood and (in the best cases) provides a community gathering space. These qualities alone, provided the brewery makes quality beer (easier said than done), are enough to understand why beer has grown so popular, and is being embraced by cities throughout the U.S. 

Some cities are doing better than others. Several, such as Asheville, NC, Grand Rapids, MI are integrating beer-friendliness into their branding, leveraging beer’s economic potential to lure tourists. Other cities, perhaps including DC are struggling to find the right mix of zoning and incentives to create a truly ‘Brew Urbanist’ culture.

Kate (dear girlfriend) and I regularly incorporate beer into our travel. We find that when exploring a new city, diving into the local beer scene helps us get a sense of the culture of a place, and sets us in the direction of the types of people and experiences we hope to encounter. So, as a way to wrap up this post, and to tee up future discussion of Brew Urbanism, here are the top 5 cities I’ve experienced via craft beer.

1. Portland, ME

The walkable streets of my favorite beer-city, Portland, ME. Photo by author.

2. Chicago, IL

3. Madison, WI

4. Asheville, NC

In Asheville, they truly understand how to make a welcoming taproom. Photo by author.

5. Washington, DC

 

 

An open letter to HGTV’s House Hunters…

Dear HGTV,

First time writer, long-time watcher. My darling girlfriend and I love House Hunters. Since we started cohabitating 2+ years ago, your fine network has replaced ESPN as the default channel at our apartment. Over the last several years, I’ve watched many, many episodes of House Hunters. Too many, probably. And, while the show is very enjoyable, I am an unapologetic urbanist, and I think you can do better.

Let me caveat the approaching criticism by acknowledging a few things. First, I absolutely, 100% understand that this show was created as entertainment, and in many ways is not representative of a true house search. Often, the home buyers featured have already purchased the home they end up choosing. Stories are created to heighten the contrast between individuals and create interest, and the housing options shown to the customer are whittled down to create a array of easily distinguished and diverse options. Also, a housing search is ultimately about giving people what they want (or at least, what they say they want).

This isn’t so bad, is it?

Still, House Hunters is an incredibly popular show – with a huge audience of people who will potentially purchase their own homes at some point. Too often I notice a tendency to lead the customer on a journey that results in choosing the least-sustainable choice. Many of the same practices that (in my opinion) were painfully highlighted during the Great Recession are still readily evident on your show. What I’m suggesting here, is that House Hunters promotes urban sprawl.

Drive Till the House is Big Enough

Forget ‘drive till you qualify’. Many episodes of House Hunters center on a couple that is looking for a house in an urban setting, close to jobs and transit, only to end up selecting a house in the suburbs because of the space it offers. Perhaps the show is just set up this way – but most purchasers seem comfortable with the, shall we say, ‘cozier’ urban dwellings – until the realtor introduces the larger house in the suburbs. Suddenly, the space becomes something that the purchaser can’t live without. Often, this space comes at a price point above the stated budget…

What is a Budget, Anyway?

I’ll admit, I’ve never bought a house. I like to think that when we do, the ‘budget’ we set for ourselves will be a reflection of what we can actually afford – and what we, as homeowners will be comfortable paying for. Many times on House Hunters, the purchaser is convinced that a house outside of their stated budget is the one for them, and often this is the result of the realtor giving them ‘more bang for their buck’. Now customers are paying more than they wanted to for a house that is farther away than they wanted to be (but, granite countertops!)

Talk About the True Costs

What’s lost in all this is a real discussion about the trade-offs that come from moving to the suburbs, particularly in larger metropolitan areas. Chicago’s Center for Neighborhood Technology has done some great research on this idea. The added costs of commuting to and from a house in the suburbs are rarely factored in. And, its not just a financial cost, there’s a very real social and mental cost associated with spending a chunk of your day sitting in a vehicle.

The hidden cost of a house in the suburbs.

What I’m suggesting here is that House Hunters, with its huge audience of young couples, singles and empty nesters looking to purchase homes, can do much, much more to promote a sustainable lifestyle. You can still give people what they want, but make sure they understand the trade-offs. Transportation, energy efficiency, water management should be mentioned along with stainless steel appliances, walk-in closets and finished basements.

You don’t really NEED this closet, until someone tells you you can have it.

Choosing a home should be about more than just ‘more space’. It should be about the quality of life that can be offered, and becoming part of a community. Bigger isn’t always better. In many cases, its the exact opposite.

In the meantime, we will keep watching and hoping, applauding the home buyers that choose a walkable, urban or even urban-lite lifestyle. My girlfriend and I realize we will never be on your show – we agree too much on the type of housing we want, and where we want to be to be interesting enough.

Creating Access to (and Through) Transit

A post today on The Atlantic Cities highlighted an important bit of work being undertaken that has the power to re-shape how we think about transportation. Traditionally, when we think of transit access, we primarily talk about time. How long will it take me to get to work? How far will I have to walk to the bus stop?

While these thoughts are still important – particularly to the individual making the journey – some new ideas are finally starting to take hold, rethinking transit as a means of access. Todd Litman (famed author of the Online TDM Encyclopedia) wrote about this shifting paradigm back in 2013, noting an evolving focus from measuring mobility in terms of maximized speed, to a broader goal of providing access to services, amenities and experiences. 

The article in Atlantic Cities today highlights the work of the University of Minnesota’s Accessibility Observatory, which adopts Litman’s concept, and applies it, using Minneapolis as a backdrop. Taking millions of data points regarding transit lines, schedules, transfers and pedestrian routes, Accessibility Laboratory is able to map the accessibility of a given U.S. Census tract to a variety of interests (in this article, jobs). So, instead of an individual selecting a home based on travel time to a specific destination, they might use a map like this to look more holistically at location in terms of transit access to work, schools, food, even entertainment.  

These principles are present in the work I presented in the previous post, with ModeScore. Accessibility is important, not just for commuters, but for destinations as well. For most locations, their accessibility via transit is fixed, based on current transit options and mobility infrastructure that serve the site. However, transportation demand management strategies can help boost this location based accessibility by providing important education, encouragement and incentives to site users. Given the work of Accessibility Laboratory, could the accessibility of a location be enhanced based on the knowledge that 50% of accessible jobs offer a transit benefit, or secure bike parking? Can TDM programs at individual sites improve the way we view accessibility? 

Maximizing Transportation Access with TDM

Back in December, I completed my Master’s degree in Sustainable Urban Planning from The George Washington University. Going to school part-time while working 40 hours a week taught me one important thing = I’d much rather be working than going to school.

A few weeks removed from school, I’m slowly re-introducing myself to friends and family, and discovering new outlets for my newfound spare time (this being one of them). 

Over the course of a few posts, I’m planning to share the work I did for my capstone project, centered around transportation access at site, or building level. The concept for my stemmed from my work with Arlington Transportation Partners, as a Developer Services manager – I routinely use transportation programs and services to help create better performing buildings. However, what’s missing is a way for buildings to truly leverage these programs in a way that helps improve the marketability of their property. 

The result of my capstone was the creation of a “Multi-Modal Transportation Score” (ModeScore) for a building, that captures the total transportation access by capturing the inherent location-based features of the property, as well as value added transportation demand management strategies from groups like ATP. An excerpt:

In an increasingly competitive world, buildings must take advantage of opportunities to attract and retain tenants/residents, and promote building specific amenities. Multi-Modal Transportation Score (ModeScore) is a metric that seeks to highlight the total accessibility of a given building, taking into account all possible sustainable transportation modes. The goal is for buildings to develop and embrace multi-modal transportation programs that support a variety of options for building users, and create programs to encourage alternative travel modes while taking advantage of inherent location-based mobility options.

ModeScore was developed as a way for buildings to increase their total marketability, and potentially increase value, particularly in the multi-family housing market. Using Arlington County, VA as a laboratory, the development of ModeScore has allowed for a unique comparison between buildings already with rigorous TDM programs, and buildings that are in potentially advantageous locations, but could be doing more to support alternative mobility programs.

My efforts hope to show the effect to which value-added TDM programs can improve access to alternative transportation modes, and help buildings maximize the advantage of positioning themselves in a transit rich location. Further, it demonstrates how buildings further away from transit (particularly Metro) can become ore competitive, and offset those location-based deficiencies by committing to improving access through TDM. 

A recent study by Cushman & Wakefield noted the increased premiums for properties located near Metro stations, citing the fact that just a few blocks can make a large difference. My improving a building’s ModeScore through TDM programs, our hope is that this premium can perhaps be offset.

 

My Origin Story

I’ve always wanted to formally tell the story of how I got into this field. I think its an interesting, and somewhat unlikely one.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away (ok, Des Moines, IA)…

I was once a lifelong Iowan. Born in Waterloo, seasoned in Iowa CIty, and eventually called to the city of Des Moines as a young college graduate. I wasn’t always a passionate car-free urbanist. In fact, nearly the opposite. In Des Moines, it was not beyond me to drive 5 blocks to the grocery store. I most certainly drove every day to work, a commute of 3 miles that took me less than 10 minutes. In 6 years of living in Des Moines, I never once took the bus. And, I rode my bike to work exactly once, in May of 2010, on Bike to Work Day.

I used to live here

 

In Des Moines I worked for Principal Financial Group, in various capaciites supporting the sale of retirement plans. As far as companies go, you could do far worse. It was by all accounts, a great job with a great company, and I still count many former colleagues as close friends.

But, around 2009, the financial crisis struck. Friends were laid off, mortgages were defaulted on, and I started to lose faith in my financial services career. I began noticing things that were happening – friends moving deep into the suburbs, and purchasing houses they didn’t need, and eventually couldn’t afford. I realized how this conflicted with my own ideals – I was starting to explore urbanist buzzwords like ‘walkability’ and ‘smart growth’, and realized these were things that appealed to me.

Eventually, these ideas gained momentum for me, creating a desire to pursue the field of urban planning. My curiosity for city life, and the obvious shortfalls that caused the Recession culminated in a new goal, I set out on a journey to find my way into this field. I never thought that journey would start in Washington, DC. But it did.

I outlined the above narrative in the cover-letter I sent to Arlington Transportation Partners. In August 2010, I moved to Washington, DC, and started my career in transportation demand management.

But now I live here.

I moved to DC with what we could fit in my Dad’s car. To read that another way – I did not bring a car of my own. For me, this was more than just a career change. This was a lifestyle overhaul. I had a chance to live the urban dream I had read so much about. I threw myself in completely, and live quite well without the use of a car to this day (a full 3 and a half years later).

The last 3+ years have been an incredible journey. I’ve been welcomed into the transportation industry by one of the most forward thinking jurisdictions in the entire country, and have had some incredible experiences in the process. Last month, I completed my Master’s degree in Sustainable Urban Planning from The George Washington University. I’ve met a wonderful girl who I will spend the rest of my life with. And, I’ve been 100% validated that I have chosen the right path.

This blog is where I plan to share ideas, thoughts and news based on my experiences with transportation, planning, marketing and placemaking. It’ll also borrow heavily from my passion for the craft beer industry. It’ll hopefully all make sense.