Messy Urbanisms
@messyurbanisms.bsky.social
Images and articles relating to messy urbanism. Posts by @dylanreid
A little tree aspiring to add to the canopy along the Danforth
November 8, 2025 at 2:58 AM
A little tree aspiring to add to the canopy along the Danforth
A couple of the hidden art deco friezes in a basement off the Queen Street subway station
November 8, 2025 at 2:56 AM
A couple of the hidden art deco friezes in a basement off the Queen Street subway station
The Bain Co-op showing its pride on the sidewalk
October 31, 2025 at 10:36 PM
The Bain Co-op showing its pride on the sidewalk
The introduction to "Messy Cities" opens by describing a desire line - specifically, this one in Withrow Park!
October 24, 2025 at 2:58 PM
The introduction to "Messy Cities" opens by describing a desire line - specifically, this one in Withrow Park!
Sidewalk chalk pink flower
October 3, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Sidewalk chalk pink flower
Messy Cities is coming to Queen Books! @zahraeb.bsky.social will be hosting a discussion with contributors Tura Cousins Wilson and Shane Laptiste, and the east-end based editors of the book (@shebuildscities.bsky.social and @dylanreid.bsky.social). www.eventbrite.com/e/talk-messy...
September 23, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Messy Cities is coming to Queen Books! @zahraeb.bsky.social will be hosting a discussion with contributors Tura Cousins Wilson and Shane Laptiste, and the east-end based editors of the book (@shebuildscities.bsky.social and @dylanreid.bsky.social). www.eventbrite.com/e/talk-messy...
Decorative bike lockups, Cleveland.
September 20, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Decorative bike lockups, Cleveland.
Stylish old school convenience store hanging sign. (Hanging signs were once considered "messy" by urban reformers who tried to ban them - see the @spacing.bsky.social book "The Signs that Define Toronto").
September 14, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Stylish old school convenience store hanging sign. (Hanging signs were once considered "messy" by urban reformers who tried to ban them - see the @spacing.bsky.social book "The Signs that Define Toronto").
Can developers generate a "good mess" of varied independent retail in newly built buildings, rather than the same generic chain stores? With quotes from "Messy Cities" contributor Daniel Rotsztain www.thestar.com/real-estate/...
September 1, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Can developers generate a "good mess" of varied independent retail in newly built buildings, rather than the same generic chain stores? With quotes from "Messy Cities" contributor Daniel Rotsztain www.thestar.com/real-estate/...
Got to love an ice cream mobile cart
September 1, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Got to love an ice cream mobile cart
Garage door mural evocative of summer on the lake. #streetart
August 31, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Garage door mural evocative of summer on the lake. #streetart
Creatively messy front yards in Toronto east end: a cosmos flower alley and a natural/native garden, both crossing the sidewalk to the boulevard. And two fairy gardens.
August 31, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Creatively messy front yards in Toronto east end: a cosmos flower alley and a natural/native garden, both crossing the sidewalk to the boulevard. And two fairy gardens.
King William Street pedestrianized for the summer (Sunday noon so not a lot of people)
August 24, 2025 at 9:30 PM
King William Street pedestrianized for the summer (Sunday noon so not a lot of people)
Nifty bench design
August 24, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Nifty bench design
Some messy urbanism in Hamilton, Ontario. 🧵The defunct Hamilton Centre mall (super po-mo!) mall has become a graffiti canvas
August 24, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Some messy urbanism in Hamilton, Ontario. 🧵The defunct Hamilton Centre mall (super po-mo!) mall has become a graffiti canvas
Great to see "Messy Cities" in The City &The City Books in Hamilton!
August 24, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Great to see "Messy Cities" in The City &The City Books in Hamilton!
CafeTO city jazz on the Danforth, complete with sirens.
August 23, 2025 at 1:36 AM
CafeTO city jazz on the Danforth, complete with sirens.
It's not just invasive plants that grow in what Joe Clement calls a "crack garden"! Here's a native milkweed growing in a crack in the curb
August 21, 2025 at 6:45 PM
It's not just invasive plants that grow in what Joe Clement calls a "crack garden"! Here's a native milkweed growing in a crack in the curb
The Community Council for Toronto and East York debated and approved a lemonade stand, over the objections of staff (to be fair, it appears to be one that is long-standing and has become permanent). secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
August 20, 2025 at 11:55 PM
The Community Council for Toronto and East York debated and approved a lemonade stand, over the objections of staff (to be fair, it appears to be one that is long-standing and has become permanent). secure.toronto.ca/council/agen...
A desire line already started in Biidaasinge Park. #desirelines
August 17, 2025 at 5:49 PM
A desire line already started in Biidaasinge Park. #desirelines
Messy Cities event next week - co-editor @zahraeb.bsky.social and contributors @smkasman.bsky.social and Lorraine Johnson will be talking about Kasman's essay on Bloordale Beach at Type Books in the Junction.
August 12, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Messy Cities event next week - co-editor @zahraeb.bsky.social and contributors @smkasman.bsky.social and Lorraine Johnson will be talking about Kasman's essay on Bloordale Beach at Type Books in the Junction.
Gourdon Crossing. Someone has put an absurdist sign up (notice the gourd heads) on an official signpost. I did not call the number. #funnysigns
August 6, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Gourdon Crossing. Someone has put an absurdist sign up (notice the gourd heads) on an official signpost. I did not call the number. #funnysigns
Front yard gnome garden, with oyster shells, dinosaurs, and other critters.
August 6, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Front yard gnome garden, with oyster shells, dinosaurs, and other critters.