Restaurants

The Embarcadero

Corporate Cafeterias Survive Proposed Legislation to Zone Them Out of Existence

San Francisco's Planning Commission rejected a bill that would have made it illegal to open new office cafeterias, recommending that legislation be crafted to allow these eateries to be open to the public instead.

November 1, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Balloons and Straws: Where's the Connection?

Think "The Graduate," but now the emphasis in the future of plastics may be on restrictions. California may become the first state to restrict access to plastic straws, and balloons could be next due to the harm they cause the marine environment.

August 26, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Twitter Headquarters

San Francisco Could Zone Out Workplace Cafeterias

Large corporations providing on-site cafeterias are considered a threat to local restaurant business.

July 31, 2018 - San Francisco Examiner

Fast-Food restaurant

Wendy's Smaller Restaurants to Serve Drive-Thru Customers

Wendy's has been updating the look and design of their restaurants since last year, but now a new layout will shrink the footprint and add efficiency to the fast food spot.

May 23, 2018 - Forbes

beach Parking

Guess Who's Disrupting the Parking and Valet Business

Ride hailing reduces the need for parking services, as well as parking spaces, and parking companies are feeling the effects. New data comes from a major U.S. parking management company based in San Diego, thanks to the Union-Tribune.

February 27, 2018 - San Diego Union-Tribune

Restaurant

Restaurant Development Leads to Fear of Oversaturation

A microcosm of development in the United States, a suburban strip near Chicago has seen a proliferation of restaurant development in recent years, fueled by Wall Street.

November 2, 2017 - The New York Times

Taco Bell

Taco Bell Wants You to Walk, Not Drive, to the Border

Is Taco Bell finally prepared to bring to fruition the future predicted in the 1993 movie Demolition Man?

October 5, 2017 - Food & Wine

Tuscany

Seattle Experiments With Fence-Free Sidewalk Cafés

Sidewalk-adjacent eating spaces generally separate diners from pedestrians. By using markers instead of fences, some Seattle eateries are opening their dining areas to the street.

July 4, 2017 - The Urbanist

Food Trucks

Friday Fun: The 50 Best Food Trucks In the U.S.

Feast your eyes on a list by Modern Cities of the 50 best food trucks in the United States.

March 24, 2017 - Modern Cities

Nightlife in Tel Aviv

Debate: Is a 'Restaurant Recession' a Sign of Urban Decline?

Examining both sides of a debate about whether the urban revival's high-water mark is visible in the restaurant sector.

March 15, 2017 - Governing

Taco Bell

Taco Bell Making a Run for the Urban Border

Popular millennial-focused chain plans to open up to 200 locations of a new urban-focused concept serving craft beer and fresh, upscale food.

March 10, 2017 - Modern Cities

Food Trucks

Minneapolis Grapples with Food Truck Regulations

Downtown property owners are clashing with food truck operators over where the latter should park their businesses.

August 23, 2016 - MinnPost

Why the Cereal Killer Café Struck Gentrification's Rawest Nerve in London

Recent controversies over high-priced restaurants and cafes in formerly working class neighborhoods reveal the deep connections between food and cultural identity.

October 6, 2015 - Pacific Standard

Food Trucks

Proposed Boulder Food Park Faces Zoning Challenges

The proposed Boulder Food Park repurposes a decrepit site into usable space for food truck patrons. Since the site is adjacent to a brick-and-mortar restaurant, a zoning exemption may be required.

May 29, 2015 - The Denver Post

Portland, Maine

Friday Funny: Cities Want to Be Cozy

Cities vie for all sorts of distinctions: greenest; friendliest; wealthiest; most innovative. Portland, Maine, is just tickled to bits about topping the "Top-10 Coziest Cities in America." Added bonus: it beat out its regional arch-rival Boston.

February 13, 2015 - Boston.com

New York Skyline Fisheye

Survey Says: What Makes a City Great?

The results of a survey commissioned by Sasaki Associates reveal key insights into what makes cities great for those who love them, as well as where planners and urban designers should focus their efforts in improving the urban experience.

July 29, 2014 - ASLA The Dirt

'Pop-Up Beer Gardens' Hack Pennsylvania's Alcohol License Restrictions

Some restaurants have found ways to circumvent the expense of liquor licenses in Philadelphia by opening pop-up beer gardens operating under a much, much cheaper catering permit. Cue state legislation to curb the practice.

July 24, 2014 - PlanPhilly

Dallas Working to Streamline Approval Process for Sidewalk Cafés

A City Council committee got its first look at a proposed revision of the streetscape licensing process by which restaurants and cafés can acquire sidewalk seating. Councilmembers sent the plan back the drawing board again.

April 22, 2014 - Dallas Observer

In America's Cities, the Better-Off Trade Retail for Restaurants

The replacement of retail establishments with restaurants in America’s urban centers has a demographic slant.

May 19, 2013 - Architect Magazine

Reno: The Biggest Little 'Livable' City in the World

Concerned about becoming a "western Detroit," the city of Reno, built around the gambling industry, seeks to shake off that trademark with new investments in other industries and amenities.

June 21, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

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.