The In Between Cities Project

"If we were to divide all the existing descriptions of cities into two groups according to the birthplace of the authors, we would certainly find that those written by natives of the cities concerned are greatly in the minority. The superficial pretext-the exotic and the picturesque – appeals only to the outsider. To depict a city as a native would calls for other, deeper motives — the motives of the person who journeys into the past, rather than to foreign parts".

- Walter Benjamin

The Return of the Flâneur | a blind flaneur [Walter Benjamin. Selected Writings II 1927-1934. Trans. Rodney Livingstone et al. Eds. Michael W. Jennings, Howard Eiland, and Gary Smith. Cambridge, MA: Harvard, 1999.]

Our resident glorious statesider takes us into the nether regions of JC Penney. This is the project's first reader submission, and it is a very good thing. The world is now a better place because of Mark Ryan. :D

Places [Baltimore] – “Leon”, or Ghosts Behind the Loading Dock of JC Penney By Mark Ryan. Despite all of the high-risk machinery, the loading dock of JC Penney is a haven. Especially during the holidays, when places like JC Penney are filled with … Continue reading ...

Vignette [Singapore] – Operas and Dumpsters There is something about Geylang in Singapore. While others think of Geylang for the cheap food and brothels, it’s just home to me. Nothing fantastic. Slipping through the backroads to &helli...

Vroooooooooom

Places [London] – New Malden’s Café Green, or A Sketch on Cafes. Cafes Cafes are everywhere, and you see them down almost every high street and small road in London. They are often defined in neighbourhoods by their branded uniformities: Costa, Nero, … Co...

We are getting into first gear, people.

Vignette [London] – Dustbin in Hammersmith. Many things are disposable in this city.

coming soon london – barcelona – singapore – etc The In Between Cities project is still under construction. This is the first post just so something appears to be happening.