Beauty in the Poor District

1. Twisting grand staircase to nothing. Granite. Choked with vines. Shaft of sunlight at the summit. Carved with symbols around the balustrade > eyes, snakes, blanks (key to another area). 
2. A small but well-kept playground, initials carved into fence, gleeful squeals and quiet parents. Stone-carved stumps provide seating.
3. A fertile vegetable garden tucked into a nook that the sun unaccountably reaches, tended alternately by the young and elderly. Healing herbs sprout in the far corner. Wrought iron benches give relaxing view.
4. An ancient, dry fountain of a human in patchwork armor resting on a spear with tip to heaven > scales detectable on skin > along the tail, faded draconic runes are lore-key. Older siblings or parents have carried water in leaking buckets to fill the basin. Children splash in water and break to snack on hard bread. 
5. Half crazy bums playing wargames. They are very skilled and will remain calm so long as the rules are respected. There's plenty of rubble around to have a seat. 
6. Members of a good cult have a booth set up to distribute free coffee and proselytize in a friendly way. They are thoughtful, and chatting with them will leave you feeling better off. 
7. An incredibly complex mural symbolically illustrates an entire period of history. Study it and maybe you'll learn something. 
8. A landlord hands out bread for pulling weeds around the building; he gives to each the same ration regardless of effort. 
9. Pre-adults are playing a standing team game of chance. There's lots of hostile trash talk, but no one ever gets hurt. You can join in, and they don't mind if you're terrible as long as you're amusing. 
10. An old woman continues her sculpture of twisted metal. It will have great meaning, and she doesn't mind if you watch as long you keep quiet and bring her tea.
11. A group of children regularly reenact a famous war; each session covers a historical battle; results from one carry over to the next. They have a system of memorized adjudication principles; the referee is highly regarded and carries a wooden stick 'mace' inscribed with traditional runes containing deep meaning.
12. Intergenerational party of birdwatchers. The birds all look like flying rats to you, but the watchers see nuance at great distance. Over time you will see it too and find the process of identification soothing.