10 Great Gift Ideas for Urbanists

Having trouble buying the perfect gift for the urbanist in your life? Here’s a handy gift guide to help you pick the perfect gift to place under the tree:

Photo credit: DaveKav on Flickr

iPad/iPhone: Both apple products are ideal for the urbanist on the go. While the iPad is great for catching up on work (or simply catching up on movies. etc) while on the go, the iPhone offers camera and video for capturing those unique city moments or documenting their urban experience If your urbanist is patient, rumor has it that the iPad 2, due in early 2011, will have a still and video camera, offering the best of both worlds for the connected urbanist.

MUJI’s City in a Bag: Choose from Tokyo, London, Paris or New York and teach the future urbanists in your life about bustling urban metropolises. MUJI’s minimalist aesthetic also makes this a perfect gift for the design conscious urbanist. Better yet, buy a few sets for yourself and create your own wooden metropolis.

Lego Public Transit Set: If you didn’t run out and buy this when I wrote about it a few months ago, nows your chance. another great toy for the young urbanist in your family or, better yet, the young urbanist in us all!
Field Notes: Urbanists are notorious for taking notes while wandering around town. Field Notes offers “an honest memo book, worth fillin’ up with GOOD INFORMATION.” A cheaper, hipper (and less obnoxious) alternative to Moleskines.

PF Flyer Shoes: Urbanists like to walk (a lot), but they are also stylish. PF Flyers are the perfect balance. They offer an orthopedic alternative to Chuck Taylors, while maintaining a hip, urban vibe.

What We See (book): A must read for all Jane Jacobs devotees, and every urbanist has a special place in their heart for the grand dame of urbanism. My review is found here. Another choice (recommended by @khamis) is The Language of Towns & Cities. This would make a great coffee table book.

T-shirts: Urbanists love to wear their city pride on their chests. Here are a few cool places to buy the perfect shirt for your favorite urbanist:
- Phoenix: Holy Pinata’s I ‘Cactus’ Phx t-shirts.
- Vancouver: Street name t-shirts through Sharks and Hammers.
- Lots of other US cities featured here: CityFabric.

Ork’s City Neighborhood Posters: Phoenix isn’t included yet (let them know we want to be), but plenty of other cities are, including LA, Seattle, Minneapolis, DC, New Orléans, Toronto and Vancouver. Another great way for urbanists to show pride in their city or hometown.

Next American City Subscription: Yes the world is going digital, and you can read plenty on the above mentioned iPad/iPhones—not to mention that Kindle that may be under the tree as well, but sometimes it is nice to hold a magazine in your hands. Next American City is a great magazine that is perfect for urbanists to carry with them while commuting by public transit or camped out on a park bench.

Project for Public Space Membership: Give your urbanist the gift of joining the growing movement of professionals and citizens who are rebuilding communities by creating great places. Membership also gives access to the resources, techniques and tools that have made placemaking a success around the world.

These are just ten gift ideas from a multitude of possibilities. I’d be interested in hearing what my fellow urbanists are either looking forward to give or receive this holiday season. Let me know in the comments section.