The Sidewalk Ballet Field Guide

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

Explore the Field Guide by type, browse alphabetically or by date, or search for something specific. Use the tags to follow connections between people, places, projects, ideas and conversations.

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Setha Low

Anthropologist and urban scholar whose influential work explores public space, culture, access, belonging, and the ways social and political life are embedded in the built environment.

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On the Plaza

In On the Plaza, anthropologist Setha Low explores how culture, politics, history, and everyday social life shape public plazas—and how plazas, in turn, shape the life of cities. Her research centers on Costa Rica while drawing comparisons with public spaces around the world.