CHARLOTTETOWN - Like them or not, Hipsters are changing North America. The Maritimes has seen glimpses of this fad but nothing like what is happening around United States and the rest of Canada. On a recent cross-continent excursion, I saw the changes that Hipsters are creating for our transportation system firsthand—and it’s all because their top accessory is the bicycle. Whether it was in Portland, Oregon or Williamsburg, New York, I could plainly see that Hipsters have taken over the streets—literally. Charlottetown, you are next.

CHARLOTTETOWN - A brand new boutique hotel, the Holman Grand, is opening later this month in the city. As the final touches are being added to the rooms, atrium and lobby and exterior, it's causing quite a stir amongst Islanders. It was supposed to look like a heritage restoration of a department store from the 1850s with visually appealing upper floors. Instead, its façade has been muted and the upper floors look like they were built for a government agency in the late 1970s. Overseen by Homburg Development, the project has morphed from conception to delivery. How then, did this come to be? Let the following photos be your guide and decide for yourself.

[caption id="attachment_9621" align="alignnone" width="400" caption=" Map #2 - "Existing Cycling Infrastructure""][/caption] CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI - PEI is well known as a cycling destination. Tourists come from far and wide to bike along the scenic highways that overlook the Atlantic Ocean from the tops of gentle rolling hills. The Confederation Trail, an old railway track now converted to a multi-use trail, is another popular choice. It connects Charlottetown to both the east and west coasts of the island. The Confederation Trail is teeming with wildlife such as foxes and finches which emerge regularly from the adjacent brush. Charlottetown itself is a really pretty city. It charms tourists and delights the locals, with its views of the sprawling harbor, magnificent Victoria Park, daintily outfitted and brightly colored historic homes, trees with branches that overhang the streets and manicured flower beds at every corner. The City of Charlottetown has the aesthetic appeal and the small scale (44 km²), to make it a lovely place to bike around. One could, in one day, take in the harbor vistas, explore the historic buildings, stop for fresh oysters fresh out of Malpeque Bay, do some shopping and take in a theatrical production. In theory, this city has all it could ever need to attract a ton of cyclists. The truth is that cyclists in the downtown area are few and far between. Tourists are not choosing this as a method of exploration. Even locals commuting to work are seen in fewer numbers than you might expect. But why?

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Photo by  Jeff Allen, member of Spacing Atlantic's flickr pool

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Photo by Spacing Magazine

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Photo by Rob Lantz, member of Spacing Atlantic's flickr pool.

ALL OVER - "Jane’s Walk is the street-level celebration of Jane Jacobs’ legacy that combines the simple act of walking with personal observations, urban history and local lore as a way of knitting people together into strong and resourceful communities." Since it's inception in Toronto in 2007, every first weekend of May (to coincide with Jane Jacobs' b-day), Jane's Walk sends swaths of pedestrians out to infiltrate and explore the urban landscape. The walks honour urban activist and writer Jane Jacobs who championed the interests of local residents and pedestrians, ...

CHARLOTTETOWN - The Charlottetown Area Development Corporation is ready to reveal the Eastern Gateway Master Plan that will (we hope) transform the area at the foot of the Hillsborough Bridge, the Red Shores Raceway and the gateway to Charlottetown into a true representation of all that PEI's capital city has to offer. WHAT: Eastern Gateway Waterfront Presentation WHEN: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 WHERE: The Rodd Charlottetown Hotel (75 Kent Street) This is a great opportunity to participate in the landscape of our city. Photo by:  Stephen Desroches