The Urbanologist

I had a great time talking with new friends and travel enthusiasts at my talk in Kansas this past Sunday, and I got to meet the winners of the writing contest I sponsored for my visit to the Johnson County Library
I received over 30 entries, and the people of Johnson County took on my challenge [...]

We’re standing out in the very hot, very humid Missouri sun when our guide stops to narrate another moment in prison life. The scene as it is described is set in a television room for prisoners, and even those who are devoid of imagination can picture what might happen next (Hint: It’s not a Tupperware [...]

This week finds me visiting Kansas City (MO) and I’m also giving a talk at the Johnson County Library in Overland Park, Kansas. Of course, since the Southwest Chief comes down through KC on its way to LA, that’s how I rolled down to the Show Me State from the Windiest, Hot-Dog-ing-est, Urbs-in-Horto-ing-est City of [...]

As part of the research for my new book, I have been carrying around the Federal Writers Guide to Massachusetts from 1937 with me as a form of inspiration and lodestone for my various wanderings around the Boston area.
Recently, the guidebook (and the MBTA) took me to Newton, Mass. On page 301, the book offered [...]

I had a great time talking with the patrons of the Lyons Public Library this past Wednesday. What, pray tell, did we talk about?
Here’s a partial list:
-The cheapest way to get out on the Chicago River (Hint: It doesn’t involve jumping off the Wells Street Bridge)
-Free walking tours of Chicago, courtesy of the city of  [...]

The challenge of cooking Chicago-style hot dogs in Boston is that, well, some ingredients are only available in Chicago! So, in a quick supermarket run, I made some executive decisions No Vienna beef? I’m using Nathan’s all-beef dogs.
My ingredients:

Step One:
<a href=”http://deliciousdawn.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/img_4146.jpg”><img title=”IMG_4146″ src=”http://deliciousdawn.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/img_4146.jpg” alt=”” width=”500″ height=”463″ /></a>
Step Two: A crisp garlic pickle spear
<a [...]

I drove over to the Derby Neck Library last night from New Haven to give a talk, and I was immediately amazed at the beauty of the Housatonic River. I remember seeing it on a map when I first started traveling around New England, and this was my first up-close-and-personal contact with the actual river. [...]

Hi all-
Frommer’s has created a nice slideshow based on one of the walking tours from my last book. Take a look here to check out works by Louise Nevelson, Marc Chagall, and Pablo Picasso, all located in Chicago’s Loop.

Last night I gave a talk at the Harry Bennett Branch of the Ferguson Library in Stamford, CT. We had a great turnout, and as usual, I learned a great deal about the region from audience members who shared stories of the area’s industrial past and the legacy of urban renewal plans (including the construction [...]

Recently, the Guardian asked me for my favorite off-the-beaten road trips in the US. After finishing up this piece, I thought it would be fun to also chime in with a few more, along with offering up some other details,  such as my favorite album for each journey, etc.
Without further ado, here are my top [...]