Posts from — August 2008

In 1900 it was estimated that over 3 billion Chestnut trees (Castanea dentata) blanketed the American landscape.

The American Chestnut blight was first noticed on trees in the Bronx Zoo in 1904.

Seven years later it was conservatively estimated to have done $25,000,000 worth of damage.

There are currently fewer than 100 American Chestnut trees over 24″ in diameter in its former native range.

3 billion trees. gone.

Strange how things can fade out so quickly. As the Starbucks, Countrywides, Bear Stearns, and other American institutions crumble I propose we infill them with Chestnut Parks. Slivers of land with an f.a.r. of 1. One layer of native plants reaching crookedly parallel to glass curtain walls, up concrete retaining walls, and inside the decommissioned dirt of failed commerce; places to watch the sun traipse between the cities sight lines and spill pieces of shade on unadvertised surfaces.

When the Chestnut tree comes back it will come back recomposed. When plants come back to the city, they will come back recomposed.

I have been to Chestnut Park in Philadelphia twice and once it was closed. I know nothing about it except what I have read on the plaque and seen on those two occasions. I nonetheless find it to be one of the more elusively beautiful places I have ever been and wish that everyone in every city had a place like this to read, eat, watch, daydream, listen, write, do nothing in.

A grass gripping breeze has, for the moment, triumphed the DC summer… if only one could take over the TV. I am so annoyed with the number of inane commercials I am forced to watch every few minutes during the olympics that I thought I would post one that reminds me that in very rare occasions, advertising is not the devil.

Want to save the world?

Let the Sun grow some sweet corn and peppers; eat them for dinner; store some energy; hop on an old Schwinn; make some pedal power and forget about burning ancient algae at 5 clams a gallon..

I have been recently fascinated with Schwinn bicycles, particularly those made in Chicago in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Since the bikes were mass produced there are many to be found, and the variability of forms and functions, names and numbers, and parts and pieces makes collecting them very appealing.

The fleet is currently counted at 6

Among my favorites is a 1980 Schwinn Twinn in Cardinal Red. Weighing in at 64 pounds, this beast is a force on the mean streets of DC, but nonetheless a stylish and amusingly ridiculous way to get around town with that special someone (poor Kate).

The most recent addition is a 1964 Schwinn Typhoon in Flamboyant Red. A bit sun burned but all original and in cruising condition this bike is nothing but a beautiful floating whale of a ride.

If you’ve got something from the Schwinn Bicycle Company collecting dust is your basement you’ve got a couple options… you can give it to me, or you can fix it up and quit crying about your blazing massive carbon footprint. If you want to turn that Schwinn around here a few tips…

1. unearth the ride.

2. Take the monster apart.

3. electrolysis (1) and coke (2)

(1) electrolysis is very effective at removing rust from steel; google the term and you will find some clear directions

(2) coke and aluminum foil is the best chrome rust remover; just polish the piece with the foil and a little bit of coke

4. sparkle

use a good de-greaser on the rest of the parts and let them sit overnight

6. Put it back together and pray that you don’t have any left over pieces.

If you want to know what you’ve got go here…

If you need to fix something go here…

If you want to learn more about bikes go here…

and if you want to see a serious Schwinn collection go here