Category: Urban Life

The annual World Happiness Report has once again crowned Finland as the happiest country in the world, followed closely by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and the Netherlands. While the report evaluates GDP per capita, social support, life expectancy, and other key indicators, one major factor behind these nations’ high rankings is their investment in urban livability—putting…

Read More “The Top Countries on the World Happiness Report Love Riding Bicycles” »

In a recent video, “Savor the Harvest,” I taste test my two fig varieties, plum liqueur, a hot chili from Sicily, harvest calyxes from roselle hibiscus and much more. It is a video I hope you will watch, like and share. I share this newspaper clipping of my mother, who is going downhill fast. Her…

Read More “Savor the Harvest! – Late Bloomer Show : Late Bloomer Show” »

Squirrel deterrents are necessary for your garden. Keeping them out of the garden is something every urban farmer faces. In our house, they’re almost a curse word–I’ve begun referring to them as the “s-word” to keep my blood pressure in check. These furry little devils constantly threaten my front-yard garden and are readily finding new…

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Ignored- framed is about the forgotten textile mills of Mumbai, that became disused and non-functional after the Great Bombay Mill Strikes of the 1980s. Occupying more than 6 acres in the heart if the city, Shakti Mills was allowed to degenerate for more than 35 years, a span of time that devolved it into a…

Read More “Revitalising Mumbai Mills – Hashtag Urbanism” »

Brian Haw (1949-2011) was one of the most prominent peace campaigners of our time, known for his unwavering commitment to advocating for peace through protest. Beginning in June 2001, he set up his peace camp at Parliament Square in Westminster, where he remained for nearly a decade, drawing attention to the human suffering caused by…

Read More “Amanda Ward’s Permanent Statue as a Lasting Symbol of Peace in London” »

To mark the publication of new contributions to our Cambridge Elements in Global Urban History series, we will feature interviews with authors and share short excerpts from their work. Here, GUHP Blog associate editor Maytal Mark interviews Katherine Zubovich, the author of Making Cities Socialist. Katherine Zubovich is Associate Professor of History at the University…

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After two years of webinars and online meetings, 2022 is building up to be the year of reconnecting in 3D. In early June, I joined in on the fun and participated in the Urban Future Conference, which staged their comeback in Helsingborg, Sweden. An extra pull to attend was that the urbanist rally coincided with…

Read More “Seven Takeaways from the Urban Future Conference” »

 Conrad Punta de Mita, Mexico’s luxury resort located along the breathtaking Riviera Nayarit coastline, announces Casa 5, the ultimate retreat for up to 36 guests to reconnect in total exclusivity with personalized services and experiences. This launch arrives at a time when group and multigenerational travel is experiencing significant growth, with families and friends seeking…

Read More “Conrad Punta De Mita Unveils Casa 5 – For Urban Women” »

I found my hedgehog frozen, shivering in the vast produce section of Fei Long Market, on 8th Avenue in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park neighborhood. Tiny crystals of frost nestled between the prickles. It joined my bag of bitter melons and mustard hearts and stem lettuce.  At home, I banished the durian to the cold terrace overnight,…

Read More “66 Square Feet (Plus): Durian Ice Cream: First, Catch Your Hedgehog” »

The Georgetown ‘Exorcist Steps’ It’s October, which means only two things: Halloween, and horror films. Within the genre of horror, cities play an active role as settings, characters, and themes. In William Friedkin’s ‘The Exorcist’ (1973), Georgetown, Washington (DC) is the setting of a demonic possession. But the city takes on a greater role, as…

Read More “Scary Cities: The Urban as Protagonist / Antagonist in Horror Films” »