Rue Mouffetard
Paris, France

People's Choice

These are the places we remember most vividly, the places where serendipitous things happen, the places we tell stories about.

Browse through over 600 public spaces to see what makes places great--and why each one is unique. While you're here, you can nominate your own favorites or add to the Hall of Shame.

New Great Places

Brighton Seafront and Pier
Brighton, UK
by: Katie Salay

from the HALL of SHAME:

Huntsman Hall
Philadelphia, PA, USA
by: benji power

Ashuelot River Park:

(07/18/07 by grace jones)

This park needs your help. I live within 500 feet of Ashuelot River Park and walk through it twice a day 365 days per year no matter what the weather is. I see something different everyday- snapping and painted turtles laying their eggs, Canada Geese resting during their migration, beavers gliding through the water, rabbits enjoying the clover, cross country skiers, children learning to ride their bikes, a man riding his unicycle, an amateur astronomer sharing his view of the heavens with passers by. I love Ashuelot River Park and have come to feel very protective of it which is why I am writing this comment. A developer, the Mayo Group out of Boston, owns a vacant parking lot right next to the park. They have proposed in the past to build on it, but it was postponed because of the protests from the community over the traffic it will create on our mostly residential street. Now that they have paid someone to do a traffic study which says there will be no negative impact (ha!), they are proposing to build a FOUR story apartment building which will tower over the park and change our community forever. I am hoping that our city councilors will pull through for us in preventing this, but our planning department has opened the flood gates by changing the zoning to allow this. If anyone has any suggestions, please contact me and start writing your letters to the editor to the Keene Sentinel. "

President Clinton Avenue:

(07/11/07 by Bob Brinkman)

I find it most troubling that "Brother" Anthony Fidelis is listed as being involved with anything to do with charity. The man in question is a con man who has been involved in mail fraud for quite some time and is wholly disavowed by the monastic order he claims membership in. Countless people have been taken in by this man's pretense of piety (he actually has a police record for drunk & disorderly as well as indecent exposure) and his involvement tarnishes this project."

Lombard Square:

(06/04/06 by jordan robert)

I agree that it should be a "scramble" pedestrian intersection; no concrete barricades, and walk across in any direction, maybe enhanced with a big mosaic - one of those compass design thingies to commemorate it as gateway to the northwest perhaps. There's nothing really wrong with the mall itself, for an underground mall. It does have skylights in some areas. The southwest corner (Trizec building?) entrance with the escalators and big fans is really great, incorporating the facade of an old building. I'll bet the mall merchants' business would actually increase if the surface environment was less hostile."

City Hall Plaza:

(06/03/06 by J T)

Grow a space to congregate at lunchtime. Start with solid wi-fi coverage and places to sit down. Bring up connection points for electricity, water, and sewer for mobile vendors. "

Adams Morgan:

(06/01/06 by Catherine M)

I'll agree that it's funky and relatively convienent metro-wise and walking-wise but I shudder to imagine what dealing with the throngs of severely intoxicated underage/barely legal college students (the frat type not the bookish type), assorted interns and young urban professionals on a mission who flock to "the morgue" on a near-nightly basis would be like. I actually know what it's like--and it includes vomit on the sidewalks. Count me out. My neighborhood has all of the Adams Morgan walkability and amenities, a similar metro situation, one of the lowest crime rates in the DC area. Major differences are that it errs more on the "quaint" side rather than "funky" side---but not by much and I don't have to put up with 22 year old drunk guys in polo shirts calling each other "bra"."

Locust Walk:

(05/30/06 by vanessa minnaar)

I spent the summer of 2005 at Penn doing the English Language Program. Locust Walk has fond memories of meeting friends,looking at the beautiful buildings on either side and making my way to the 1920 Dining Hall for meals. It very often offered a serene walk when walking there alone. When I visit Philly again, I will definitely visit Penn to stroll down Locust Walk."

Brighton Seafront and Pier:

(05/28/06 by phil jones)

This is a truly wonderful public space. But I think it's necessary to see it in context. As the article says, Brighton is Britain's most exciting seaside city. It's a tourist city, a university city and a gay / "creative class" city in one. And the seafront is one of a dozen hotspots. By day it's more for day-trippers, but there are 3 or 4 popular nightclubs running all year. And another 5 or 6 close by. There are other places in Britain with comparable architectural "syntax". But it's the mix of people and projects which gives Brighton the special energy which makes this space possible."

Hua Mei Bird Garden:

(05/28/06 by Pat Splendore)

What a magnificent experience on a Sunday morning to find this green oasis. Birds singing, animated Chinese men enjoying themselves, Nature welcoming all concerned. We are indebted to those who have created this harmony and allowed us to share it."

Old Town Square:

(05/26/06 by Katie Salay)

This square and the surrounding churches, buildings and town hall are so stunningly beautiful, they could almost be mistaken as recently-built replicas, if you didn’t know they were constructed centuries ago. Unfortunately, the overwhelming touristy atmosphere of the square somehow managed to detract from this authenticity. At first glance, an Easter Market seemed like a wonderful opportunity to buy interesting souvenirs, maybe some locally made crafts, but every stall sold the same assortment of cheap and cheesy souvenir beer steins, key chains and t-shirts. (Incidentally, the market in Wenceslas Square sold exactly the same items.) But the experience of sitting on a bench in the square, enjoying a beer and kielbasa and watching the world go by, was unbeatable."

O'Connell Street:

(05/26/06 by Rena Lewis)

We moved to Ennis in 1996 and love it. It has it all; music, art, culture, shopping, character, friendliness, not far from the sea and the beautiful Burren and lovely hotels and pubs. What more could you want. Rena Casey Lewis"