Just in time for summer’s last hurrah, a list of cities with a reputation for rooftop entertainment.

It’s almost time for a holiday weekend, so how about a little fun in the city?
At Planetizen we love a good rooftop bar, but it’s an idea that’s only really taken off at any scale over the last decade or so in our hometown of Los Angeles. Some cities are ahead of the curve, and some are bringing up the rear on this trend, so luckily the website RoofGnome recently published a ranking of the best cities for rooftop drinking to help identify which cities are which.
Richie Bernardo writes the article and explains the methodology for the rankings. “We compared nearly 300 of the biggest U.S. cities based on a cocktail of 18 metrics. We factored in rooftop bar and lounge access and consumer ratings, stirred with data-driven mixers like affordability and climate.”
As for the rankings, the first three cities read exactly like a list of the most populous cities in the country, with New York City taking the lead, followed by Los Angeles and Chicago. Number four on the list, San Diego, is where we start to see some deviation. Washington, D.C. takes the fifth spot, but click through the link below to see the rest of the rankings.
FULL STORY: 2023’s Best Cities for Rooftop Drinking

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

Commentary: Our Silence Will Not Protect Us
Keeping our heads down and our language inoffensive is not the right response to the times we’re in. Solidarity and courage is.

Good Cause Eviction Policies Don’t Hamper Construction, New Research Shows. Legislators Are Still Concerned.
Multiple states have ongoing pushes for good cause eviction protections. A frequent obstacle: a now disproven claim by developers.

Demise of Entertainment Industry Mirrors Demise of Housing in LA
Making movies has a lot in common with developing real estate: producers = developers; screenwriters = architects; directors = general contractors. The similarities are more than trivial. Both industries are now hurting in L.A.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)