Humor

Fast Food

Locals Organize a Protest to Save the Wrigleyville Taco Bell

The protest isn't likely to work, but some locals will miss a fast-food joint that they say serves as a democratic oasis in the neighborhood.

August 2, 2017 - Chicago Tribune

Trump Sign

Pigs Will Not Fly at the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago

The city denied an application for an art installation that would have tethered giant golden pigs to a barge on the Chicago River, temporarily interrupting the view of the sign on the infamous Trump sign.

July 29, 2017 - The Architect's Newspaper

Surfing

Friday Funny: An Artist Makes Climate Change 'Look Awesome'

This kind of satire burns.

July 28, 2017 - Clickhole

Pothole

Friday Funny: Infrastructure Woes Cause National Case of Insomnia

Actually-fake-news site The Onion got a few burns on the world of planning this week. One article satirized the nation's inaction over the state of its infrastructure. The other hit the Brookings Institute where it hurts: the policy recommendations.

July 21, 2017 - The Onion

Seattle Center

The Poetic Grid Maps the Lyrics of Place

There's only one requirement to qualify for Seattle's Poetic Grid project: write a poem about a specific place.

July 16, 2017 - Next City

Queen Elizabeth

A Comprehensive Plan for Westeros? Same Issues, More Swordplay

Game of Thrones provides way more sex, blood, and dragons than your typical comprehensive planning project, but the dynamics can be instructive, particularly in places where demand for the high-quality amenities of urbanism out-paces the supply.

July 13, 2017 - PlaceShakers

San Diego Rail

Could San Diego and Imperial Counties Split from California?

If one of the efforts to divide up California into smaller states became reality, San Diego and Imperial County would thrive, according to land use consultant Wayne Raffesberger.

July 1, 2017 - UrbDeZine

Hotel California

Friday Funny: The Onion Deconstructs the 'Gig Economy'

Satirical news site The Onion lambastes (in familiar fashion) the gig economy—i.e., the euphemism applied to the side jobs and revenue sources offered by transportation network companies like Uber and short-term rental companies like Airbnb.

June 30, 2017 - The Onion

MariCar

Friday Fun: A Mario Kart Tour of Japan

Foreign tourists are taking to the streets of Japan dressed as Mario, Luigi, and more of their friends from the Nintendo universe.

June 23, 2017 - The Wall Street Journal

Train

Friday Funny: A 'Manspreader' for Every Month

If a new online cartoon for The New Yorker were a real calendar, we'd expect it would sell more copies than Playgirl and find itself spread across dart boards in all five boroughs.

June 16, 2017 - The New Yorker

Norba, ancient roman town in Lazio, Italy

Friday Eye Candy: Ancient Rome's Maps, Reimagined as a Transit System

There are surprisingly few maps of ancient Roman roads, and many fewer maps of ancient Roman roads that resemble big-city subway maps. An intrepid student has improved upon that situation, however.

June 9, 2017 - CityLab

A private club located in Florida

Friday Funny: Onion Satire Pits Preservationists Against Trump's Childhood Home

A totally fake news story from the fake news site The Onion reports the fake news that the National Trust for Historic Preservation is leading an effort to demolish Donald Trump's boyhood home.

June 2, 2017 - The Onion

Kids Biking

Friday Fun: Toddlers Take to the Race Track

The hot new wheels of choice for little ones to learn how to ride bikes are called balance bikes. "Welcome to the Tour de France of Toddler Racing," says the Wall Street Journal.

May 26, 2017 - The Wall Street Journal

Rent

All We Need to Do: Call BS

Ben Brown calls BS on a number of city planning and gentrification points.

May 25, 2017 - PlaceShakers

Capitol Reflecting Pool

Ramps to Help Ducks in and out of the Capitol Reflecting Pool Make a Big Splash

There was a tiny bit of cuteness to emerge from the news in Washington, D.C. this week. Partisan bickering soon followed.

May 18, 2017 - Greater Greater Washington

WHITE HOUSE EASTER EGG ROLLS

Friday Funny: New Transit Mode: White House Briefing Room Podium

TIL that there are no podium helmet laws in New York City.

May 12, 2017 - Vox

Funny Girl

Friday Fun: A Playlist of Transit Oriented Tunes

This one's for the straphangers.

May 12, 2017 - CityLab

Beer

Friday Funny: The Onion Likens Gentrification to a Butterfly's Metamorphosis

The satirical website takes on the darling of community and economic development: the local craft brew industry.

May 5, 2017 - The Onion

Chattanooga

Friday Funny: Chattanooga Says it's 'Literally Perfect'

City branding got jokes.

April 14, 2017 - CityLab

Friday Funny: The Transit Rider No One Should Aspire To Be

John Metcalfe introduces the world to Jimmy, the transit riding jerk who will probably seem all-too familiar.

April 7, 2017 - CityLab

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Transportation Planner I

KFH Group Inc.

Director, Strategy and Research

Greater Baltimore Committee

Senior Planner

Eagle County Government

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.