The vividness of fresh spring greens is intoxicating. And don't you just love a mossy log?!

Proud and profoundly grateful to announce my 10-city book tour. My community made this happen. From friends to followers to audience members who’ve attended a keynote over the past decade — you all made this possible. And it’s truly just the beginning; you should see how summer is shaping up :)

American Kestrel deep dive. Toronto, Canada, April 17th 2026.
Photo by Jose Raposo

Redwoods National Park USA
www.facebook.com/100064824393...

Sarah Vaughan photographed by Herman Leonard, 1949

Sarah Vaughan photographed by Herman Leonard, 1949

European Robin (Erithacus rubecula): The "Robin Redbreast" was given its nickname long before a distinction was made in the English language between "Red" & "Orange". Thank you again Matthew Cassar for sharing your lovely photo of this singing Robin taken in the UK 🎶🎵 #robin #nature #bird #wildlife

Visited the charity shop and found the exact book I wanted. Now having a coffee next door in a small cafe and a little read. Waiter sees me and brings me a 'gift'; a pretty bookmark to keep.
Simple kindnesses, simple joys.

Black Public Joy book launch and public space ritual. I come as one, supported by many. You really had to be there but if you weren’t… Full house, hearts & minds.

😂😂😂

Saw @jaypitter.bsky.social speak on Black Public Joy last night @ TPL and it was amazing. She's electrifying.

Her discussion on Black public space is def something to include in civics learning (she mentioned bringing back civics classes - yes!).

Give this woman a key to the city.

#topoli

My Detroit-based friends and colleagues are celebrating that their city’s first woman mayor has announced that, starting tomorrow, students under 19 with valid school ID can ride Detroit city buses free, seven days a week, year-round. A big step forward for the Motor City.

I ❤️ Detroit.

I’m seeing the language of public joy travel and be amplified, which is good—but it also requires clarity and rigour. This series, my framework, and the projects I will be prioritizing going forward are my contribution toward building just that.

When we place the word public before joy, we are talking about our very democracy—how we gather, express, participate, and coexist in shared space. This is far more than a fleeting feeling or a municipal festival. Here are my 10 principles, clarifying what I am not talking about, and what I am.

This work positions public joy as civic, cultural, and spatial infrastructure, taking into account the complex histories, policies, and power relations that shape our public spaces—and our experiences within them.

Series Introduction: Jay Pitter on Public Joy as Urban Infrastructure The award-winning public space practitioner and researcher introduces a methodology that positions public joy — in all of its varied dimensions — as an essential right that should be built into the fa...

After a series of academic, civic, and corporate engagements, tomorrow marks the first public reading of Black Public Joy. Today, this piece with Azure dropped—the introduction to a series where I begin defining my broader public joy framework.

www.azuremagazine.com/article/jay-...

Forget EVs. Cycling is revolutionising transport Pedal power is booming, spinning up a new culture war

“In London cyclists now outnumber cars in the City by 2 to 1. Paris, where they now outnumber motorists across the whole city, is catching up with Europe’s traditional bike capitals, Amsterdam & Copenhagen…In Copenhagen, bikes account for almost half of commuter trips to work/school.” @economist.com

"I grew up across the street from a public library, and it was the only place my mom would let me go on my own. It was my second home, and I read everything that I could get."
~ Tracy Chapman
Chapman by Nicholas Albrecht
#Booksky

An oak tree turning yellow for autumn.

#DailyTree

The remarkable Artemis II mission isn’t making me more passionate about Mars. It’s making me more passionate about Earth.

Today, I'm sitting down with Leila Bozorg and Cea Weaver from my housing team for a live AMA on r/nyc. Bring your questions on affordable housing, tenant protections, and the fight to keep NYC a home for working people. We'll be live at 1:45pm for an hour.

A juvenile cormorant resting in their usual place after a bout of fishing. This cormorant is sat on a protruding tree stump in water. Head turned to the right after I stood on a twig and was spotted.

Sometimes the Cormorant is black in colour. At other times, brown or with a hint of indigo. If lucky, you will see all of these colours at the same time. Then, there is the structure of the feathers. A cormorant. #UKWildlife #BirdOfTheDay #Feathers #Birds #Photography #ECK #WildlifePhotography

😂😂😂

Tracy Chapman released her self-titled album on this day in 1988. #MusicSky

A junco nest with a single egg seen in a hanging pot. The bird buddy is visible in the background.

Our juncos have a nest in our hanging pot on our front porch. This egg was just laid today, it wasn’t there last night. They nest here every year, it’s fun seeing the babies when they hatch! 🐣

Post keynote thought: Protest is often seen as proof of a functioning democracy—and rightly so. But when people are forced to protest more than they experience public joy in shared spaces, that is not indicative of a healthy democracy—it exemplifies a failure of governance and leadership.

Starting the long weekend participating in the Harvard Mise en Place Salon Series—my second Harvard book talk since my book release. My book is also being sold at the campus bookstore. Really pleased with the way my words & ideas are moving through institutions and communities.

Hey—if you’re in Toronto, run and grab your tickets for my Bluma Appel Salon book talk. 350 seats have already been taken, so we’re almost at capacity. Also, CBC’s IDEAS April lineup was announced, and I’m honoured to be featured this month. Spring book tour poster coming soon!

Grateful for the depth of engagement and openness in the room. From TD Bank to 880 Cities & Park People to Metrolinx—public joy as infrastructure is being translated into practice.

When presenting design options, how do we clearly and consistently connect proposed options back to what we’ve learned about the community’s character, history, and expressions of public joy?

A few questions I shared:

What would it look like to design and develop this project not only for movement, but for belonging and collective flourishing?

How can the engagement process move beyond consultation to create moments of shared experience, trust-building, and co-stewardship?