Students who have been admitted through portfolio agencies, students who have not used portfolio agencies, portfolio tutors who teach at portfolio agencies, owners of portfolio agencies, and professors in the architecture schools are all invited to talk about their opinions on this issue.

On a grey Wednesday afternoon, Carol-Anne and I, Ana, took the bus down Mt Auburn St into Watertown, to visit Tabrizi Bakery owned by Mohammad Tabrizi. The store is famous for its Persian cookies. We tasted nazok, papion, zaban, and rice flour cookies, among others. They all have a subtle, soft sweetness with hints of cardamon.

Five miles east in Somerville is The Neighborhood Restaurant. On a sunny summer afternoon, I sat down in the vine-covered outdoor patio that defines the restaurant’s dining experience. Before even sitting down with me, the owner, Sheila Borges, served me a bowl of The Neighborhood’s famous cream of wheat. It’s a warm, sweet and creamy porridge with a rich taste of cinnamon.

Now, what does it really take to juggle two pre-pubescent teenage boys and maintain a full-time job? Diana’s dreams follows the story of a mother, who despite constant calls, errands, and drives to soccer practice, started her own company for a flexible work-from-home job.

In the tenth and final episode of WIP-ish, I take an introspective look at the introspective work that has been my thesis: Having recently completed my SMArchS degree, I trace back the origins of work that deals with an ongoing pandemic, a certain dissatisfaction with architectural education, a need to connect with family, and a love for writing stories.

Ever wonder what it’s like to fully operate a woodshop from home? Kurt, carpenter in Somerville, speaks to his experience of working out of his garage. We learn about the importance and trade-off between attracting customers and having enough space to produce his products; virtual marketplaces have a hidden urbanization pull, and must be addressed with appropriate urban governance.

“I will remember you.”

“in so many ways the collaboration is amazing because no one is going to get what they want”