Read on Twitter
Ok, so I promised a holiday gift thread last week but 3 deadlines turns out to be a LOT for 1 week. So, without further ado, I present to you our list of 13 awesome gifts for #citylovers hoping they help spread some much needed joy this holiday season... http://bit.ly/CityGifts2020
1) City-making Themed Face Masks
It's a little sad that personalized face masks have been one of my sources of joy this year, but I'll take - and be thankful for - whatever I can get!
I was inspired by these beautiful masks from Diop! https://weardiop.com/
It's a little sad that personalized face masks have been one of my sources of joy this year, but I'll take - and be thankful for - whatever I can get!
I was inspired by these beautiful masks from Diop! https://weardiop.com/
and knew I wanted to feature some city themed masks in our guide this year. So I searched Etsy and found this Sim-City themed one... https://www.etsy.com/listing/851556000/simulation-city-face-mask-sim-game-mouth?ref=hp_rf-4
this downtown themed face mask: https://www.etsy.com/listing/840873177/downtown-city-face-mask-high-rise?frs=1&ref=related-1
and this colorful NYC streetscapes mask: https://www.etsy.com/listing/904088417/best-fit-adjustable-facemask-with?frs=1&ref=internal_similar_listing_bot-4
2) Virtual Travel & Cooking Classes:
The amazing folks @TravelingSpoon have curated a host of cooking classes that will have you traveling from Argentina, to India, to Italy, and heck, even to Chicago (hello, homemade deep dish!) - safely during Covid19! https://www.travelingspoon.com/
The amazing folks @TravelingSpoon have curated a host of cooking classes that will have you traveling from Argentina, to India, to Italy, and heck, even to Chicago (hello, homemade deep dish!) - safely during Covid19! https://www.travelingspoon.com/
3) A Primer on How to be an Anti-racist Citymaker:
Many of you may have seen my open letter to non-black citymakers urging us to listen & learn, to heed & ceed. Thankfully there are myriad powerful books that will help us develop needed radical empathy. https://bit.ly/SoP-BLMGF
Many of you may have seen my open letter to non-black citymakers urging us to listen & learn, to heed & ceed. Thankfully there are myriad powerful books that will help us develop needed radical empathy. https://bit.ly/SoP-BLMGF
3a) First is @andreperryedu 's "Know Your Price," in which he "takes readers on a tour of 6 Black-majority cities...and provides an intimate look at the assets that should be of greater value to residents—and that can be if they demand it." https://www.amazon.com/Know-Your-Price-Property-Americas/dp/0815737270
3b) Next "From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime" by @elizabhinton, who "traces the rise of mass incarceration to an ironic source: the social welfare programs of Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society at the height of the civil rights era." https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674979826
3c) Next @schmangee 's "Right of Way," shows us how "accidents" "are predictable, occurring in stark geographic patterns that tell a story about systemic inequality. These deaths are the forgotten faces of an increasingly urgent public-health crisis..." https://islandpress.org/books/right-way
3d) Next is "The Warmth of Other Suns" by @Isabelwilkerson who "chronicles one of the great untold stories of American history: the decades-long migration of black citizens who fled the South for northern and western cities, in search of a better life." https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/190696/the-warmth-of-other-suns-by-isabel-wilkerson/
3e) Classic "The Color of Law" by Richard Rothstein via @EconomicPolicy, which "offers “the most forceful argument ever published on how federal, state, and local governments gave rise to and reinforced neighborhood segregation.” https://www.amazon.com/Color-Law-Forgotten-Government-Segregated/dp/1631492853
3f) And last but absolutely not least, @DrIbram 's "Stamped from the Beginning" "argues, racist ideas have a long & lingering history, one in which nearly every great American thinker is complicit...and chronicles the...story of anti-black racist ideas..." https://www.amazon.com/Stamped-Beginning-Definitive-History-National/dp/1568585985
4) The Joy of Urban Sketching:
Filled with nearly 300 colored illustrations, this sketchbook provides professional & aspiring citymakers with the skills & techniques to design the spaces of their dreams through an array of cross-disciplinary examples: https://www.amazon.com/Freehand-Drawing-Discovery-Sketching-Designers/dp/1118232100
Filled with nearly 300 colored illustrations, this sketchbook provides professional & aspiring citymakers with the skills & techniques to design the spaces of their dreams through an array of cross-disciplinary examples: https://www.amazon.com/Freehand-Drawing-Discovery-Sketching-Designers/dp/1118232100
5) From the folks at @99piorg, "A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design" showcases the artistry in our built environment and allows readers to explore the anatomy of their favorite urban spaces. https://www.amazon.com/99-Invisible-City-Hidden-Everyday/dp/0358126606
6) @crwolfelaw's Sustaining a City's Culture & Character, featuring some choice quotes from yours truly! "Wolfe & Haas ask one of the biggest questions of our time: What is place?This book is an important guide for anyone designing human-centered places.” https://www.amazon.com/Sustaining-Citys-Culture-Character-Principles/dp/1538133245
7) For those of you who can afford a splurge - and maybe were inspired by the delightfully addictive, "The Queen's Gambit," this Skyline Chess set featuring pieces shaped like NYC's iconic buildings will do just the trick. https://skylinechess.com/products/the-new-york-city-edition
8) For the quirky citymakers in your life (although that might be redundant! 
), these Housing Tarot Cards - which let you explore and find meaning in the housing in your community - are perfect! Get them via @thegamecrafter https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/the-housing-tarot
), these Housing Tarot Cards - which let you explore and find meaning in the housing in your community - are perfect! Get them via @thegamecrafter https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/the-housing-tarot
9) A Blueprint Bowtie!
I love this super cute bow tie, perfect for any playful city-maker! It’s understated yet so obviously nerdy. It’s perfect! You can get this gem on Etsy in a variety of colors! https://www.etsy.com/listing/108389506/navy-blue-architecture-blueprint-bow-tie?frs=1&ref=hp_rf-1
I love this super cute bow tie, perfect for any playful city-maker! It’s understated yet so obviously nerdy. It’s perfect! You can get this gem on Etsy in a variety of colors! https://www.etsy.com/listing/108389506/navy-blue-architecture-blueprint-bow-tie?frs=1&ref=hp_rf-1
10) City Map Coloring Books by @PetersonGIS !!
Coloring isn’t just for kids! This adult coloring book features 44 maps of cities around the world to help you soothe your anxieties and temporarily travel to - and get lost in - other worlds! https://www.amazon.com/City-Maps-coloring-book-adults/dp/0692670939
Coloring isn’t just for kids! This adult coloring book features 44 maps of cities around the world to help you soothe your anxieties and temporarily travel to - and get lost in - other worlds! https://www.amazon.com/City-Maps-coloring-book-adults/dp/0692670939
11) The Ultimate Citymaking Shero Poster - Jane Jacobs
This is perfect for your budding planner and for us who are only young at heart! ;) They have a ton more awesome Shero posters, like Michelle Obama, Jane Goodall & RBG! https://www.etsy.com/listing/636172313/sheroes-collection-jane-jacobs-8x10-art?ref=hp_rf-2
This is perfect for your budding planner and for us who are only young at heart! ;) They have a ton more awesome Shero posters, like Michelle Obama, Jane Goodall & RBG! https://www.etsy.com/listing/636172313/sheroes-collection-jane-jacobs-8x10-art?ref=hp_rf-2
12) For the kiddos, check out this Kids' Travel Journal
With 96 pages of writing & drawing space, activities, & creative templates, this journal will keep your littles busy, engaged, & appreciative of all the amazing places they get to experience! https://www.amazon.com/Travel-Journal-Interactive-Diary-Notebook/dp/1441318143
With 96 pages of writing & drawing space, activities, & creative templates, this journal will keep your littles busy, engaged, & appreciative of all the amazing places they get to experience! https://www.amazon.com/Travel-Journal-Interactive-Diary-Notebook/dp/1441318143
13) And finally (I think this made our list last year too...and come on, it's not just for kiddos either): these 4D Cityscape Puzzles are awesome. https://shop.pbs.org/HL1242.html
Hope you've found something on here to inspire you, uplift you, bring you joy - or rather, allow you to inspire, uplift, and bring joy to your loved ones, especially during this year. Feel free to check out previous years' lists for extra inspiration... http://bit.ly/SoPGift2019
