Urban Life

Neighborhood nature walks are the MVP when it comes to living in the city and maintaining a strong connection to nature.

Make time and space for play without even leaving the block with these practical tips from Marijn, an urban planner and mother living in the Netherlands. Play can happen everywhere!

Homogenous communities aren’t my thing. I want a sidewalk and a falafel shop and anti-racist housing policies, please and thank you.

Dig in to the story and history of your neighborhood this weekend. It’s not just nerdy, it’s the first step to truly understanding your city and finding ways to give back. 💙🏙

This summer will be different, but it doesn’t mean we have to skimp on fun. We gathered a ton of ideas for getting the most out of Summer 2020, even if you have to stay distant from your friends. ☀️

Cities everywhere are closing streets to through car traffic to make room for pedestrians and bikes as we continue to practice physical distancing. It’s a great opportunity for urban families!

The pandemic is pushing some people out of cities. Sometimes it’s unavoidable but sometimes we can wait it out. Here’s some encouragement to stay.

Brittany is a bookseller and mother who lives in Chinatown, NYC. She wrote this piece for us about reading habits during quarantine—turns out it’s not quite as straightforward as reading during healthier times, but still offers a chance for escape and new perspectives. And isn’t that what we’re all looking for?

Coronavirus has stolen so much of what makes us feel human. But not forever.

Spread rainbows, not coronavirus! 🌈 Paint a rainbow on your window as a sign of solidarity and hope to your neighbors—and yourself—while you’re stuck inside. Then go on a rainbow hunt with the kids!

Everything you need to pack (and nothing you don’t) for a day in the city. Find the balance between being prepared and packing light with our guide—then get out and explore your beautiful city!

It can be hard to break out of your normal routine and find ways to explore your own city but we think it’s worth it. Here are some simple ways to plan a city adventure—try one this weekend!

Winter is inescapable but that doesn’t mean we have to live in denial or enter survival mode to get through it. A mindset shift and adopting ideas from some hardy northern cities is all it takes to actually enjoy wintertime!

What do picking up litter, ID-ing butterflies at the park, and searching the night skies for constellations have in common? They’re all citizen science projects perfect for city kids. Learn how to find a project near you and join in!

Think experiences rather than things and give something that lasts longer than that package of batteries in the bottom of your stocking.

The Sidewalk Club Gift Guide is the best collection of gifts for city kids and their parents! More than 200 books, toys, games, t-shirts, gear, and other things that celebrate city life. Happy scrolling.

Hardly a day goes by when we aren’t enjoying a public space in our city. Knowing that the unpredictability of these spaces can lead to conflict, how do we handle those moments when parenting in shared public spaces leaves us feeling strained or shaken?

We couldn’t click fast enough after seeing the headline of a recent Vox article: The Case for Raising Kids in the City. The more we read, the more excited we became; the author was saying everything we wanted to say! Cities are often overlooked as great places to raise kids, and anytime we come across […]

It might be drizzly outside but chin up! With the right perspective and good waterproof gear, even rainy days in the city can be happy ones. ☔

Our handbook for train travel with kids walks you through everything you need to know, from making sense of train lines to booking tickets to locating the bathrooms on board. Bookmark it for your next family vacation!

You don’t have to bike with your kids to be a fantastic urban parent and raise kind, curious kids in the city. But if you’ve ever wanted to know a little more about urban family biking, you’ve come to the right place!

We interviewed six families from Santa Cruz to Manhattan about their experiences biking with kids. There may be some potholes and infrastructure issues to contend with but these families have no regrets!

We’re fans of the weird, wonderful, and hilarious stuff New York Nico finds in his city and we suspect his way of seeing humans isn’t limited to the five boroughs.

Beautiful books that love city life as much as we do. Check them out at your library and find a new family favorite! 💙🏙📘

We’ve met new friends, shared picnic dinners, learned manners, and are continuing to grow up, all under the gentle protection of our playground. It’s home.

There may be a particular flavor to the loneliness of the city, but it’s also a beautiful place to have deep, lasting relationships. Fight the isolation with simple ways to make connections with other city families.

A master list of meetup groups, event calendars, city clubs, and other resources for city families. 📇 Hope you love it!

We’re not advocating that you take your kids to every single dining experience, but you don’t always have to leave them at home either. Here are some time-tested tips for eating out with kids. Just add bacon.

Staycations are underrated. SPOILER: with a little planning they can be as much fun as a full-fledged vacation, minus the price tag and the extra stress.

As the weather grows colder, the needs of our cities become more visible. It can be tough to know how to help – here are a few simple ways your family can work together to spread warmth in your city!

No playing cards, no screens, no pen and paper required; only your imagination. Play hard, but don’t miss your bus stop!

The perfectly curated activity list for your family. Your city is your oyster!

Ever have the feeling that you’re a seamless part of your city? Ever feel like something is out of whack? It’s not just in your head!

Green thumb or not, gardening is possible in your urban space. Our friends at Urban Gardeners Republic dished out expert advice for rooftop, balcony, indoor, and backyard green spaces in the city. Just add dirt!

Give-away boxes have become a household name and permanent fixture in our family with the help of two services that make donation effortless: Give Back Box and thredUp.

The “real world” of purchasing “real art” seemed so untouchable before I talked with Katharine, founder of Mason Lane Art Advisory Service. She shared her goal of making the process accessible to clients and talked about what it’s like to be a small business owner in Brooklyn.

Being a regular at the laundromat may never be a trending status, but follow these tips and you’ll probably win Most Efficient Launderer. Providing your laundromat gives out awards, of course.

Real reasons that real families love living in the city. #cityfamilysolidarity at its finest!

Think a family museum visit is just too much to ask? Melissa Tanner of the Art Institute of Chicago says it’s actually possible to enjoy the art museum with your children and gave some pro tips for doing just that.

The arrival of snow brings a special kind of magic to the city and a special case for extending a hand to our neighbors.

We were so excited to hear about this new campaign to give all Americans a park within 10 minutes from home. Count us in!

We created the Sidewalk Club because we think it really is possible to raise a family in the city. Keep coming back for a regular dose of #cityfamilysolidarity.