Great review of "Messy Cities" in the Literary Review of Canada, by @fabulavancouver.bsky.social . With shout-outs to @smkasman.bsky.social and @theurbangeog.bsky.social, among others . And in very distinguished company with Richard Harris's latest book. reviewcanada.ca/magazine/202...

As someone who has written a lot about crosswalks - I think these types of crossings are fine, and a USDOT that is dismantling funding programs for bike and pedestrian infrastructure is in no position to argue this is about safety: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/u...

Private rooms for your phone calls - from a more civilized age.

Impressive use of pooch puns. And I’m glad I read this news or I may have called Toronto Animal Services. My fav park. It’s impressive, whimsical work by Claude Cormier.

Not an urbanist, a 10 year old.

Now this is something else .. www.thestar.com/news/gta/a-g...

A little tree aspiring to add to the canopy along the Danforth

A couple of the hidden art deco friezes in a basement off the Queen Street subway station

This year, I had an essay published in this anthology. I'm biased but I love all the essays. The book was on the non-fiction bestseller list in recent months, so I suppose I'm technically a bestselling author? cc @messyurbanisms.bsky.social chbooks.com/Books/M/Mess...

The Bain Co-op showing its pride on the sidewalk

Love it when people put a bench outside their front yard #sitTO

The introduction to "Messy Cities" opens by describing a desire line - specifically, this one in Withrow Park!

Columnist @graphicmatt.com on finding the balance between messy fun and messy disturbance. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

"Messy Cities" is featured on the @spacing.bsky.social podcast, as co-editors @shebuildscities.bsky.social , @zahraeb.bsky.social and @dylanreid.bsky.social discuss genesis of the book and the ideas behind it with host @glynbowerman.bsky.social spacing.ca/toronto/2025...

The sharp edge of messy urbanism www.thestar.com/news/gta/con...

The world’s longest rainbow path. The 600 metre “Long Walk to Equality” by artist Travis Myers at Hanlan’s Point on Toronto Island … the location of Canada’s first Pride in 1971.

My friend Geoff wouldn’t stop complaining about this abandoned motorcycle, so this morning I decided it should become a garden and this afternoon me and his girlfriend Eva created this Motorcycle Garden Pocket! Thanks to the bike’s neighbour for the broken bike basket—it made for a nice planter.

Kloveniersburgwal, Amsterdam in 1980 and today. Canal side car parking replaced by canal side dining

This iconic Kensington Market mural is finally complete — 43 years after it was painted on a dare www.thestar.com/entertainmen...

this dissonance is most pronounced in Koreatown, where so many of the working class in restaurants, grocery stores, small shops, etc. do not drive but the #1 political issue that makes residents and visitors go crazy alike is the lack of (free street) parking thanks to its high density

Our pop-up spaces on MacLaren, Frank and Florence hosted more than 160 events and drew 2,500 people to downtown Ottawa. Dance lessons, yoga classes, craft nights, street art tours, and chess tournaments — the creativity was endless.

On the vibrancy of mixed, small size independent street retail and the uninviting monotony of large scale "clean and utilitarian" new developments. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...

Sidewalk chalk pink flower

School streets give life. We need repair and nurturing and life-giving initiatives in our cities. We can do this, NYC. We can be a place that is building communities up instead of tearing them down and apart.

We’ve launched! 🚀 The new Churchill Park Rocketship Playground is complete! Plan your next visit to Churchill Park (did we mention the weather this weekend looks beautiful?!) and climb, slide, swing and explore this exciting new play space! 🛝

“Some still insist ‘downtowns will never attract kids and shouldn’t try.’ Then they design downtown to virtually repel kids, and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Vancouver proves the opposite can be true...” Canadians @johnlorinc.bsky.social & @brenttoderian.bsky.social in this Cali article!

How this neglected laneway’s revitalization united an East Toronto neighbourhood www.thestar.com/news/gta/how...

Neighbourhood retail is coming back to the Planning and Housing Committee October 30. Looks like a watered down form, which is annoying but let's win it this time. Send up the urbanist bat signal. @anotherglassbox.bsky.social @shawnmicallef.bsky.social @dylanreid.bsky.social @seanyyz.bsky.social

When one needs to wait for a bus, there is sometimes a chair available. #TTC #topoli

Cabbagetown snaps

7. The most banal thing you can say about NYC, but so true: the diversity -- of races, ethnicities, hair & dress, attitude, gender presentation, behavior -- is just spectacular. I guess this is precisely what scares conservatives about cities, but it fills me with energy & life. Cities, man!

Messy Cities is coming to Queen Books! @zahraeb.bsky.social will be hosting a discussion with contributors Tura Cousins Wilson and Shane Laptiste, and the east-end based editors of the book (@shebuildscities.bsky.social and @dylanreid.bsky.social). www.eventbrite.com/e/talk-messy...

Decorative bike lockups, Cleveland.

I love the reverse angle of this sign, with the faded painted advertisement on the brick. Seen this morning

#Streetart in Schwerin.

In 2012, architect May al-Ibrashy founded the Built Environment Collective-Mogawra organisation, meaning 'adjacent' in Arabic, referring to life alongside long-neglected Islamic monuments that many had come to see as burdens.

Participatory budgeting in Toronto - good to see councillor Moise joining councillor Carroll in trying it out. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

The "Messy Cities" gang is getting back together at the Toronto Reference Library next week to talk about the book. Come and join us! www.eventbrite.ca/e/messy-citi...

Protected construction detour lane for cyclists … nicely done!

Stylish old school convenience store hanging sign. (Hanging signs were once considered "messy" by urban reformers who tried to ban them - see the @spacing.bsky.social book "The Signs that Define Toronto").

Let's give this a try!

Another Daniel 5:5 graffiti

HOLY CATS. Look at all this free public seating on Nicollet Mall right now!!!! I thought it wasn't possible.

Front yard bench provided by homeowner for passersby #sitTO

Toronto changed its bylaws to allow street ball and hockey playing a decade ago, but these signs are still up.

Bad mess

On the value of school streets, by @taras-grescoe.com (gift link) www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/a8faa90...

When messy urbanisms clash.

Pleased "Messy Cities" is still on this bestseller list!

Early Toronto - in particular the suburbs - was often very messy. Harris writes: “At any moment the typical scene was anarchic. Given the way in which lots were purchased and homes were built, no two dwellings were alike. … Every house is unique in size, style, and setback” bsky.app/profile/spac...