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.
The New Urban Order
Every week, this newsletter explores the future of cities. Topics include housing, climate, urban tech, post-pandemic downtowns, and more. Through this content and occasional subscriber events, I’m hoping to build a community of urban enthusiasts and people who are professionally engaged in city-making.
Metropolis
What I loved about Metropolis is that it doesn’t offer simple answers or romanticize the past. Instead, it offers something more useful: perspective. It reminds us that cities have always been unfinished—shaped by conflict, compromise, bold ideas, and the people stubborn enough to keep making them better.
For anyone drawn to the beauty and complexity of urban life, this book is an endlessly rewarding companion.
Kimberly Bares
Kimberly Bares is President and CEO of The Magnificent Mile Association, representing businesses, property owners, institutions, and attractions along Chicago’s iconic North Michigan Avenue. Her work focuses on economic vitality, placemaking, advocacy, public realm improvements, and strengthening the Magnificent Mile as a vibrant destination for Chicagoans and visitors alike.
Chicago Loop Alliance
Chicago Loop Alliance represents the vibrant community and businesses that energize the Loop, making it a thriving neighborhood for all who visit, live, or work here.
Through programs, cultural initiatives, and partnerships, Chicago Loop Alliance brings people, investment, and opportunity to the Loop. As a member-based organization, we connect leaders, innovators, and changemakers shaping the nation’s largest central business district outside of Midtown Manhattan. Together with our affiliate, Chicago Loop Alliance Foundation, we create free cultural experiences that bring the neighborhood to life.