Humor

Anti-Urban Presidential Candidate Now Anti-Suburban, Too

After bemoaning cities as the domain of Democrats, GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum tries to appeal to his party by extending his criticism to suburbs, calling them "too close to cities."

April 1, 2012 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

Pop-Up Store Qualifies for Historic Preservation Protection

Bluto's Artisanal Olives has only been open for three weeks, but historic preservation officials in San Francisco have rallied to include it in the city's official list of historic places.

April 1, 2012 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

Lacking Funds for Bike-Sharing, City Launches Bike-Stealing Program

City leaders in Cleveland had hoped to build a bike-sharing program throughout the downtown area. But with unexpected reductions in the budget, the bike rental plan has been altered to a theft-based system.

April 1, 2012 - Planetizen April 1st Edition

Friday Funny: HUD Gets the Rodney Dangerfield Treatment

The satirical newspaper the Onion reports on efforts by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to boost their brand recognition.

March 30, 2012 - The Onion

How to Disappear Completely - In the Middle of a City

Kelly Chan shares some delightful photos of Chinese artist Liu Bolin's efforts to make himself completely invisible in different urban settings.

March 27, 2012 - Architizer

Friday Funny: March Mobility Madness

This weekend, the Final Four of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament will be decided on courts in cities across the country. Earlier this week, however, Kaid Benfield crowned his own champion - based on walkability.

March 23, 2012 - Switchboard

Guinness Goes Green

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, Kaid Benfield profiles the sustainable practices of the most Irish of emblems, Guinness Beer.

March 17, 2012 - Switchboard

Friday Funny: Accessorizing Your City's New Hot Ride

John Metcalfe has "designed" what he thinks could be the "Ultimate Municipal Supertruck of the Future."

March 16, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

The Importance of Gateway Experiences to Punk Rock & Urbanism

Dan Reed cautions against an elitist aversion to sterile and inauthentic "town centers" – for all their supposed faults, they offer a stepping stone for the uninitiated masses to get interested in "true" urbanism.

March 16, 2012 - Greater Greater Washington

A Look at the Country's Worst Municipal Branding Campaigns

Grist has asked its readers to help it compile some of the country's "most craptastic urban rebranding efforts ever." And boy have they delivered.

March 12, 2012 - Grist

Friday Funny: The "Shut Up" Gun

Ever wanted to silence aggressive cell phone talkers or that intractable opponent speaking out against your brilliant redevelopment plan? Well researchers in Japan have developed just the product for you, reports Mark Hachman.

March 9, 2012 - PCMag.com

Friday Funny: Introducing the Cast of Your Neighborhood Email List

Emily Badger has produced a thoroughly researched article on "The 20 Characters You'll Meet on Every Neighborhood Email List." We think you might recognize a few of these folks.

March 2, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Top Planning Trends of 2011-2012

February 27, 2012 - Jonathan Nettler

Friday Funny: What People Think I Do

The "What People Think I Do" meme has been spreading across the web like wildfire in recent weeks. Some enterprising individuals have created their own versions for Planners.

February 24, 2012 - Cyburbia

Friday Funny: Using Classical Music to Deter Transit Crime

Pat Doyle reports on a new effort to reduce nuisances at a Minneapolis area light-rail station by using offensive music -- classical music in this case -- as a deterrent.

February 17, 2012 - Star Tribune

City Titles That Are Up For Grabs

As cities across the country compete to see who will win the title of 'Most Bicycle-Friendly', Emily Badger looks at what other titles may be worth pursuing.

February 16, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Friday Funny: Smellvertising, Coming to a Bus Stop Near You

John Metcalfe reports on an advertising campaign appearing at bus stops across the UK featuring a fiberglass potato sculpture and a mysterious odor emitting button.

February 10, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

The Most Frangrant Cities In The World

Chalder Burr, GQ's scent critic ranks the top ten most fragrant cities in the world.

February 5, 2012 - Gentlemens Quarterley

Friday Funny: New York vs Boston, Which is the Better Sports Town?

On the eve of the Super Bowl, Richard Florida attempts to answer one of the most critical debates concerning metropolitan vitality today -- which is the superior sports town: Boston or New York?

February 3, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

Friday Funny: Take the Kids to Napoleonland

A new theme park dedicated to all things Napoleon has been proposed for the area south of Paris by former French minister and history buff Yves Jégo, and is being touted as a rival to Disneyland, reports Henry Samuel.

January 27, 2012 - The Telegraph

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.