Image by Aimee Custis used with permission.

Walking tours are one of the best ways to get the inside-scoop on a neighborhood. This fall, join the Coalition for Smarter Growth for their Walking Tours & Forums Series to get a behind-the-scenes take on the good and bad of neighborhood development and change from CSG staff, elected officials, community members and advocates, developers, and subject-matter experts.

Walking tours kick off this Wednesday, September 13, at 6:00 pm with a tour of the former Hine school in Eastern Market. This Saturday, September 16, join CSG in Hyattsville, and on Saturday, September 30, the tour is in Del Ray. Both Saturday tours are from 10 am to 12 pm. Stay tuned for a final date for a tour of the soon-to-open Wharf! Learn more and RSVP here.

And, make sure to check out these other great events happening this week!

Tuesday, September 12: There are many different factors that play into our health, but an often overlooked one is urban planning. How does access to healthy food and parks affect obesity? Does the built environment change behavior enough to influence health? Explore these questions and more at this month's Tuesdays at APA at 5:30 pm at 1030 15th Street NW, Suite 750.

Tuesday, September 12: Curious about how the Maryland delegates feel about Metro reform? Hear about it directly from Maryland delegates Jheanelle Wilkins and Marc Korman at this month's Action Committee for Transit meeting at 7:30 pm at Silver Spring Civic Building, One Veterans Place.

Wednesday, September 13: Recently, there was a proposal put out to make 18th Street in Adams Morgan pedestrian-only for certain hours during the week. ANC 1c will discuss the proposal at their meeting on Wednesday. Come out and weigh in! The meeting is at 1875 Columbia Road NW at 7 pm.

Friday, September 15: Friday, September 15 is PARK(ing) Day! From 9 am to 4 pm, check out parking spaces across the city converted to mini-parks, or parklets. Don't miss it!

Friday, September 15: WIDEA (Women Inspiring Design, Equity in Architecture), is hosting a talk with Dina Griffin, AIA, as part of a campaign to raise public awareness of architects and how the profession’s specialized training and experience in technology and aesthetics contribute to society. The talk is at 6:30 pm at the Grand Hyatt Hotel (1000 H Street NW). Admission is $10.

Saturday, September 16: Take a stroll through Old Anacostia on Saturday at 9:30 am with Atlas Obscura Society DC and GGWash contributor John Muller to examine the neighborhood through the eyes of residents past and present. Stories of presidents, famed one-time resident Frederick Douglass, 19th-century architecture, and neighborhood folklore will be woven throughout. Cost is $25.

Saturday, September 16: The District Department of Transportation is working to improve Southeast Boulevard with sidewalks, bike links to the waterfront, street trees, green infrastructure, and more. Learn more at the next public meeting on Saturday at 10 am at Chamberlain Elementary School (1345 Potomac Avenue SE).

Next Monday, September 18: Creating cities that work for everyone means seeing them from different perspectives — literally, says Charles R. Wolfe's latest book, Seeing the Better City. Hear more at a book talk hosted by ULI Washington, CNU DC, NCAC-APA, and Island Press, at 6 pm at 1301 K Street. This is a paid event.

Tuesday, September 26: Join us and Young Professionals in Transportation for our next happy hour in Park View, Tuesday, September 26 from 6 pm to 8 pm at The Midlands (3333 Georgia Avenue NW). You can RSVP here.