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.
Kathleen Rawson
Kathleen Rawson is a place management professional with more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, public space management, placemaking, and hospitality. Rawson currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer for The Hollywood Partnership, the non-profit organization that manages the Hollywood Entertainment District, including the world-renowned Walk of Fame. Before her new role in Hollywood, Rawson served as CEO of Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (DTSM, Inc.) from 1997 to 2022.
The Magnificent Mile Association
The Magnificent Mile Association — A membership organization representing Chicago’s iconic North Michigan Avenue district. The Association brings together businesses, property owners, residents, and civic partners to support the district through advocacy, marketing, events, economic development, and efforts to keep the Magnificent Mile a vibrant destination for Chicagoans and visitors alike.
James Rouse
Developer and planner James Rouse helped reshape American thinking about downtowns, public markets, and urban gathering places. His vision of city life as a kind of ongoing festival—animated by people, food, culture, performance, and encounter—helped inspire projects including Baltimore’s revitalized Inner Harbor.
MJB Consulting
MJB Consulting is a retail planning and real estate consulting firm focused on helping downtowns, commercial districts, developers, and communities understand what makes retail environments work. Based in New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area, the firm approaches retail as more than a collection of shops and restaurants: because it occupies the ground floor and meets people directly at the sidewalk, retail plays an outsized role in how a street, district, or community is experienced.