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.
Closer with Carol Coletta and Mark Wallace
Closer is a conversation about the strategies that make cities social – and why that’s the smartest investment in the urban toolkit.
Portland Maine Public Restroom Master Plan
Portland Downtown’s Public Restroom Master Plan makes the case that toilets are essential urban infrastructure. Connecting restroom access to walkability, public health, tourism, aging, accessibility, dignity, and inclusion, it lays out a strategy for creating and maintaining a more welcoming downtown.
Placemaking for Children and Youth
Victoria Derr, Louise Chawla, and Mara Mintzer offer a practical guide to involving children and young people in urban planning and design. Drawing on international examples, the book combines principles, case studies, and methods for meaningful, ethical, and inclusive youth participation.
Nichole Aquino
Nichole Aquinois an UX Designer and Researcher with a decade of experience working at the intersection of design, technology, and social impact. She has shaped design and strategy for EdTech and CivicTech products, previously working at Newsela, The Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, and Blue Ridge Labs. She loves solving complex problems creatively and collaboratively, creating meaningful user experiences both on- and offline.