I have lived in Boston, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco but I have never seen anything like Beijing. Over the next two weeks, I'm giving a series of talks at Tsinghua, Peking University and the Lincoln Institute, and the CASS. While I was little surprised to see Mao's face on all of the money and to not be able to access my blog, I have been very impressed with everything I see and I see glimpses of a future "green city".
Cities
The Most Musical Cities in North America
This chart from the Martin Prosperity Institute at the University of Toronto looks at North America's musical epicenters -- cities where the most music is produced.
Creative Class Exchange
Aging Technology and Infrastructure a Threat for Cities
More than 750 traffic signals in Montgomery County, Maryland, were crippled last week after the failure of a piece of electrical equipment that was 37 years old. The old technology and the repercussions are being called a warning to other cities.
The Washington Post
Land and Water Unite in Waterfront Redevelopments
Cities across the globe are rediscovering their waterfronts. As this piece from Places discusses, revitalization of these former industrial areas includes more than just green space.
Places
The World's 'Greenest' City by 2020
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson has announced a ten-point plan to turn his city in the greenest in the world by 2020.
The Vancouver Sun
Urban Affairs and the White House: An Interview with Adolfo Carrion, Jr. - Part One
15:15 minutes (8.74 MB)
Planetizen interviews White House Office of Urban Affairs Director Adolfo Carrion, Jr. about his vision for the office's role in guiding urban policy from the federal level. Read the full transcript, download, or listen.
Urban Affairs and the White House: An Interview with Adolfo Carrion, Jr. - Part Two
9:45 minutes (7.82 MB)
In the second part of a two-part interview, Planetizen talks with White House Office of Urban Affairs Director Adolfo Carrion, Jr. about the federal government's new role in urban policy and the importance of regional planning. Read the full transcript, download, or listen.
Differences in City Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Different cities have different levels of greenhouse gas emissions. A new study looks at how they are different and why.
The Economist
Eight Smart City Innovations
This series of infographics and posts from Good looks at innovations within a variety of world cities that improve city organization and operation -- from traffic to energy production to water conservation.
Good
How Cities Grow Like Brains
Interconnectedness is just as important to brains as it is to cities, according to researchers who've just released a study about the organizational similarities between cities and brains.
Science Daily
Cheapskate Cities
This map from Mint looks at American cities that have spent the least so far in 2009, and those that are also cutting back budgets.
Mint
Sustainability Solutions in the City
This piece from the Guardian looks at a handful of projects and ideas that are emphasizing the importance of sustainable metropolitan areas in an age of diminishing resources and environmental devastation.
Guardian
Growing Pains in Afghanistan's Cities
In Afghanistan, cities are changing. More and more people are leaving behind their agricultural past for city life, and the tide of new urbanites is stressing the fabric of the city.
Forbes
Planning City Love
This week's episode of Smart City features a discussion with planner Larry Beasley about how love can be an economic driver for cities, and how planning around emotions can improve cities.
Smart City
The Importance of the Informal Playground
Unstructured play is a mainstay of childhood. But dense urban areas offer fewer opportunities for free-form playtime, writes Alex Marshall. Kids have to take what they can get, and often it's not much more than an empty parking lot.
Regional Plan Association
American Dream 2.0
From the increase of city living to the decrease in vehicle miles traveled, a "new American Dream" is developing, according to Carol Coletta. But without cohesion, the benefits of these developments aren't likely to make a big impact.
Good
The Most Expensive Cities in the World
This photo slideshow from the Los Angeles Times looks at the 10 most expensive cities in the world.
Los Angeles Times
The Future of the Human Relationship with the City
A recent episode of the Australian radio program Future Tense examines how humans interact with the city and how it will likely change in the future.
Future Tense
Struggling Cities Meet to Brainstorm Survival Strategies
Representatives from a handful of the country's "fastest-dying cities" met recently in Dayton, Ohio to try to figure out how they could revive their economies and reverse the decline that has been slowly strangling them of jobs, money and people.
The Wall Street Journal
Why Portland is Better than Vancouver
Typically at the top of "best cities" lists, Vancouver and Portland are highly coveted places. This piece looks at why Portland is really number one.
The Tyee
Contribute
TECH-320: Advanced SketchUp Webinar
Advanced SketchUp Webinar
Wednesday, December 2, 11am PST/2pm EST
$49.95 (includes 30-day access to video recording)
Learn More:
TECH-320: Advanced SketchUp - Modeling Buildings
- Friday Funny: Chicken Supports Chicken Ordinance
- Class Divide in NY Inclusive Buildings
- Alternative Fuels Won't Change the Expense of Driving
- Not Just About Jobs
- Suburbs See Rise in Kids in Poverty
- Judge Rules Army Corps Responsible for New Orleans Flooding
- BRT PDQ in DF
- Investing in Infrastructure
- The Bowery is Booming (For Better or Worse)
- Are Prefabricated Overpasses the Answer?
Learning from TTI -- Michael Lewyn
Automobility and Freedom: Conflicts and Resolutions -- Todd Litman
Somewhere Between Blight and Gentrification... -- Diana DeRubertis
The Future of American High Speed Rail: Regional and Slow -- Robert Goodspeed
Prisoners of The Village -- Nate Berg
Student Writing Competition - Deadline Extended!
APA Urban Design and Preservation Division
Nov 20, 2009
NEW NCI 2009 Best Practices Report
National Charrette Institute
Nov 19, 2009
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) Request for Proposals
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH)
Nov 19, 2009
Build your expertise in sustainable planning, public participation, urban design or real estate
Rutgers University -- Professional Development Institute
Nov 18, 2009
Call for Nominations
APA Urban Design and Preservation Division
Nov 16, 2009
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