Here’s this week’s installment of news and views for urbanists.

• How Storytelling Helped Three Communities Find Their Heart & Soul: Storytelling has long been used to connect people to each other and to celebrate the past, but a handful of communities today see storytelling as the way to a better future. (Engaging Cities)

• The Importance of Place to Sustainability: When you come down to it, there is no sustainability without sustainable places that help limit environmental impacts while also nourishing the human spirit. (Kaid Benfield/NRDC SwitchBoard)

• Mapping the Cityscape: In celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Manhattan Grid, the Mapping the Cityscape exhibit focuses on the ways in which mapping influences our perception of the environment. (Metropolis Mag)

• Cities rethink urban spaces with ‘pop-up’ projects: ‘Pop-up’ urban planning gives cities the freedom to experiment with projects on a temporary basis, allowing creative ideas a trial run without expensive commitment of taxpayer money. Cities around the world are embracing the idea, leading in many cases to permanent changes in the urban landscape. (Globe and Mail)

• Using Web Apps to Create a Culture of Civic Engagement:  Organisations and governments are creating innovative web apps to encourage broader public participation on important urban issues, introducing a new audience to the public process of democracy. (This Big City)

Did I mis your favorite post from the past week? Please let me know in the comments.