Christmas

People in line at airport security

Holiday Travel Rebounds, Changes Shape

The number of Americans traveling for the winter holidays is expected to come close to pre-pandemic levels, while remote work is leading to more diverse travel schedules.

December 23, 2022 - WJLA

Christmas Lights

The Anti-Urban Streak of Hallmark's Christmas Movies

The culture war episode sparked by a recent commercial aired on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Channel shouldn't surprise anyone who has noticed the anti-urban themes consistent in the channel's Christmas movies.

December 25, 2019 - The Washington Post

Baltimore, Maryland

Christmas Eye Candy: The American Tradition of Christmas Decorations

Decorating for winter celebrations is an ancient tradition. The contemporary American version of the tradition comes in many forms.

December 25, 2019 - National Geographic

Yosemite

2018 Presents for Plannerds: The Gifts of Parks

In his sixth annual list of gift ideas for “plannerds,” park plan-nerd Clement Lau takes a different approach.

December 5, 2018 - UrbDeZine

'Twas the Night Before Christmas and Here's a Reminder About the Meaning of Environmentalism

San Gabriel Valley Tribune reporter Steve Scauzillo turns the words of the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas," by Clement Clarke Moore into an environmental message.

December 24, 2017 - San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Holiday Decorations

Friday Eye Candy: Cities Break Out the Festive Buses for the Holidays

Check out the holiday-themed buses rolling through the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and the Detroit Department of Transportation systems.

December 15, 2017 - Philadelphia

Presents for 'Plannerds'

The fourth annual edition of holiday gift ideas for that "plannerd" in your life, from L.A. County Planner Clement Lau.

December 12, 2016 - UrbDeZine

All the Places to Celebrate Christmas in July

Make a note of these places for tomorrow when you realize Christmas is 364 days away.

December 25, 2015 - CityLab

Christmas Shopping

Holiday Gift Ideas for Plannerds

The third annual edition of holiday gift ideas for that "plannerd" in your life. This year, rather than listing gift ideas, L.A. County Planner Clement Lau describes various sources for buying gifts for urban planners and designers.

December 13, 2015 - UrbDeZine

Mapping America's Toy Manufacturing

All those toys under the Christmas tree came from somewhere.

December 25, 2014 - The Washington Post

Last Minute Gift Ideas for the Plannerd in Your Life

For those searching for gifts for the "plannerds" in their life, Los Angeles County planner Clement Lau comes through with some ideas sure to bring good tidings.

December 22, 2014 - UrbDeZine

Protesting Snowmen

Christmas Funny: Snowmen Protest Global Warming

On this winter holiday, it's important to remind each other of the overlooked victims of global warming: the world's snowmen and snowwomen. Read this classic, but no less relevant, story from the satirical newspaper The Onion.

December 25, 2013 - The Onion

Christmas Light

Where to Find the World's Largest Christmas Light Show

Australia probably isn't the first place that comes to mind when thinking of sleigh rides, reindeer, and winter wonderlands. But according to Guinness World Records, no place can beat one couple's Canberra home for holiday revelry.

December 25, 2013 - Guinness World Records

Paris Metro Gift Wrapped

Holiday Spirit Invades Paris Metro

During the holiday season, cities go to great lengths to turn their streets, homes and businesses into festive places. But underneath the streets, subways tend to look to same day in and day out. French artists have brought the holidays underground.

December 25, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

Medellin Holiday Lights

Colombia's Carbon Neutral Christmas Wonderland

Medellín's spectacular holiday lights display draws thousands of tourists to Colombia's second-largest city every year. Few visitors are likely to realize that the energy intensive displays are carbon neutral.

December 25, 2013 - Next City

Elf House

Icelandic "Elf Lobby" Tries to Halt Highway Project

Concerned that a proposed highway from the Alftanes peninsula to the Reykjavik suburbs will disturb Icelandic elf habitat, an elf lobbying group is joining forces with environmentalists to try to stop the project.

December 25, 2013 - PBS NewsHour

An Edible Urban Winter Wonderland

Now that pesky Thanksgiving Day is nearly over, we can merrily move on to the true focus of the holiday season: Christmas. And what better way to kick off the march to December 25th than to visit the world's largest gingerbread village.

November 28, 2013 - The New York Times

For the Sake of Santa, Please Don't Build Any More Suburbs

Santa is sounding the alarm: "Christmas is in jeopardy.” What's making St. Nick a little less jolly this year? New analysis shows that suburban development patterns are driving up costs at the North Pole, say Paul Knight and Kevin Clark.

December 25, 2012 - paullknight.com

Friday Funny: Residential Snowman Regulations

The planners at Hogle-Ireland have developed a handy set of Holiday Design Guidelines, including Minimum Chimney Access Requirements and Sleigh Parking and Access Standards.

December 23, 2011 - Hogle-Ireland

The Politics of the Public Christmas Tree

Leon Neyfakh of The Boston Globe examines the unexpectedly cohesive political roots of the controversial civic symbol.

December 20, 2011 - The Boston Globe

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.

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.