Talk to strangers IRL and online

Consider this your weekend stranger engagement list.

In the five years leading up to COVID, I was able to give over 50 talks related to urbanism or storytelling. That was a blast because so many were in other cities, which meant I had a chance to wander around and talk to strangers. And just like my experience online, some of those strangers became friends.

I’d make sure to schedule time to get away from whatever event brought me so I could wander the streets with a camera. In the bigger cities, I’d use bike share, a bus, or a rental bike to cover more ground. All day snapping away. A lot of those pictures ended up in photo books next to my desk, digital zines on a website somewhere, and memes on social media.

I’m telling you this because I just started publishing Strangers. You might think of it as the photography sidekick to Urbanism Speakeasy. Pictures and short stories related to humans interacting with each other in the built environment. If you want to opt in, drop your email in the box below.

Alright, pictures aside, let’s get to the words.

I have so many pubs in my Substack inbox (not complaining!) that I sometimes get readers block, so I always like when someone else shares a reading list. I should do that more often. Here are five articles I read recently that you might enjoy over the weekend:

• “CEQ announced a pending interim final rule to remove all of its NEPA implementing regulations.” Rewriting NEPA, by

  Thomas Hochman

• “A collaborative bus stop art installation featuring three local artists who rely on transit.” Waiting for Dignity, by

  Jonathon Stalls

• “Waterfront revitalization in Omaha, Louisville and Milwaukee, a hot housing market in Buffalo, and more.” Midwest Musings, by

  Pete Saunders

• “Advocates are questioning the wisdom of freeway caps, insisting instead on the full removal of urban freeways.” Cover them up or tear them down, by

  Benjamin Schneider

• “Before he became the travel guru, he was a teacher. May his journey in education inspire others like it did for me.” Rick Steves is a Secret Teacher, by

  Ryan M Allen