The Sidewalk Ballet Field Guide

The Sidewalk Ballet Field Guide is a growing collection of people, organizations, projects, books, ideas and ongoing conversations about cities and the people who shape them. It grows out of the podcast, but extends well beyond it—connecting the people doing the work, the places where it’s happening, and the ideas, experiments and resources worth carrying forward. Think of it as part reference library, part trail of breadcrumbs: a way to follow the conversation wherever it leads.

Explore by type, browse alphabetically or by date, or search for something specific. Follow the tags to discover connections—or explore the map to see where the people, projects and ideas in the Field Guide take us.

Chip Chip 8/25/26 Chip Chip 8/25/26

Uchimizu

Uchimizu (打ち水) is a traditional Japanese practice of sprinkling water on streets, sidewalks, and other outdoor surfaces to cool the surrounding area. As the water evaporates, it draws heat from the pavement and air, offering a simple, low-tech response to hot weather. Historically, the practice has also been associated with suppressing dust and welcoming guests.

Chip Chip 8/18/26 Chip Chip 8/18/26

Malabar Hill Forest Trail

The Malabar Hill Forest Trail is an elevated nature trail winding through a wooded hillside in one of Mumbai’s densest neighborhoods. Designed by IMK Architects, the project creates public access to an overlooked urban ecosystem while minimizing disturbance to the forest floor.

Chip Chip 4/28/26 Chip Chip 4/28/26

SF Slow - Janes Walk SF

SF Slow is a Jane’s Walk created by BIG Creative exploring the ways San Francisco tells its story through streets, buildings, public spaces, memory, and change. Part walking tour and part conversation, it invites participants to slow down and read the city together.

Chip Chip 2/10/26 Chip Chip 2/10/26

London Loo Tours

London Loo Tours turns the humble toilet into a lens for exploring urban history. The walking-tour company leads visitors through London’s public conveniences, sanitation infrastructure, social customs, and wonderfully peculiar restroom stories—revealing how something every city needs can tell surprisingly rich stories about the city around it.