D.C. Denison, the Boston Globe's technology editor, wrote a story for Make online about the end of a great idea called Sparqs — an "industrial arts club." I hope this idea spreads to other cities, and flourishes.
One large, startling work-in-progress was a "buscycle," a bus that is designed to run entirely on the energy produced by pedaling passengers. Coming together on the bed of a 1989 Dodge box van, now sheared of its top, the buscycle was usually surrounded by a small swarm of artists and bike nuts, welding and twisting wrenches. It occupied the main stage in the shop, except when it was being pushed around the empty parking lot on tentative test runs.
A number of smaller projects were also in residence. Dan Grunberg and son Ted, 14, were leaning into a variety of tools around the edges of the shop. Dan was using the MIG welder and plasma cutter to fashion a firebox for a custom BBQ smoker. So far, he's put about three weeks of free time into the pursuit of this "perfect smoker."
