New York Today: Pop-Up Parks

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Friday, August 25, 2017

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Pop-Up Parks

By JONATHAN WOLFE

What it's like to eat in the street, on 13th Street at Fifth Avenue, that is. Parsons School of Design at The New School

Good morning.

Would you eat your lunch in a parking spot?

That's what Alexandra Franklin, 18, a student at the New School, and her friends were doing yesterday.

"It's so inviting," she said, as she snacked on pita chips and hummus near a van that advertised heating and plumbing services. "You have to race here to get a spot; it's always so crowded."

Ms. Franklin was referring to one of the Street Seats, a pop-up seating area converted from parking spaces that provide a bit of greenery and relief in our crowded city. The park was installed in April by the Parsons School of Design on 13th Street near Fifth Avenue. This curbside micro park is stocked with red Fermob tables and chairs, and is separated from the street by a bamboo lattice fence.

This summer, you can dine or decompress in 18 of these "parklets." We spent an afternoon in this one to experience what a parking-space-turned-mini-park was like.

In Greenwich Village, the 312-square-foot space — big enough for about two and a half cars or around 20 people to sit comfortably — was at or near capacity during most of the afternoon lunch rush.

The space felt intimate and, dare we say, calm, even as cars whizzed by a few feet away. The Ipe (Brazilian walnut) wood flooring, arranged like a boardwalk deck, is surrounded by bright yellow scotch broom shrubs, purple Russian sage plants and coral bells that hang in brown fabric pouches on a fence made of bamboo. Solar panels collect energy to power the park's L.E.D.s at night.

About 250 people a day visit this tiny park.

Shannon O'Hare, 27, who works in digital advertising, is a semi-regular Street Seat diner.

"It's so relaxing here," she said, as she settled into a seat made of bamboo. "Everyone is so friendly."

There are drawbacks, she said, including the odor of car fumes, construction noise, dust and bees.

But she wouldn't trade the park for a few extra parking spots.

"There's so little space to have lunch outside in the area," she said. "I just love it."

What do you think about giving up parking spaces for pop-up parks? Let us know in the comments.

Here's what else is happening:

In the News

• When a gunman attacked the Bronx-Lebanon hospital in June, the New York Police Department tested new tactics for battling terrorists. [New York Times]

• The new Tappan Zee bridge, completed at a cost of $4 billion, is scheduled to see its first drivers early Saturday. [New York Times]

• A museum dedicated to poster art will open up in the former Tekserve building. [DNAinfo]

• In "About New York," the columnist Jim Dwyer tells us about a city councilman who wants to take the algorithms behind city decisions like garbage collection public.

• For a global look at what's happening, see Your Morning Briefing.

• Check out the five-day weather forecast.

Coming Up Today

• An al fresco production of Shakespeare's "The Tempest" in Bryant Park. 7 p.m. [Free]

• Visit the graves of notable New Yorkers on a twilight tour of Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. 7 p.m. [$25]

• A Prince-themed roller disco party at the LeFrak Center at Lakeside in Prospect Park. 7:30 p.m. [$20, includes skate rentals]

• A screening of the opera "The Magic Flute" kicks off the Metropolitan Opera's Summer HD Festival at Lincoln Center on the Upper West Side. 8 p.m. [Free]

• Yankees host Mariners, 7:05 p.m. (WPIX). Mets at Nationals, 7:05 p.m. (SNY). New York Red Bulls host New York City F.C., 7 p.m. (ESPN).

• Alternate-side parking remains in effect until Sept. 1.

• Weekend travel hassles: Check subway disruptions and a list of street closings.

The Weekend

Saturday

• Start your weekend with yoga on the beach at Beach 108th Street in Rockaway, Queens. 8 a.m. [Free]

• Music, games and tennis activities, part of Arthur Ashe Kids' Day, at U.S.T.A. Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens. 9 a.m. [Free admission]

• Learn how to better communicate with your canine at "DogSpeak" at the Canine Court at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. 10 a.m. [Free]

• The Cuban orchestra band Los Van Van performs at Lehman Center for the Arts in the Bronx. 8 p.m. [Tickets start at $45]

• Yankees host Mariners, 1:05 p.m. (YES). Mets at Nationals, 4:05 p.m. (SNY).

Sunday

• Paddle into the Spuyten Duyvil Creek at a rowing class at Inwood Hill Park in Manhattan. Classes begin at 9 a.m. [Free]

• Cooking classes and food demonstrations, part of the Kid's Food Festival, at the Oculus at Westfield World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. [Free admission, $25 cooking classes]

• An evening of Gospel music, at the Harlem Meer in Central Park. 2 p.m. [Free]

• A screening of the film "Love Express," which is set on the No. 7 train between Manhattan and Queens, at the Queens Historical Society in Flushing. 2:30 p.m. [$5]

• Yankees host Mariners, 1:05 p.m. (YES). Mets at Nationals, 1:35 p.m. (SNY). Liberty host Chicago Sky, 3 p.m. (MSG).

• For more events, see The New York Times's Arts & Entertainment guide.

And Finally ...

How about this for your office? Emil Cohen for The New York Times

For any night owls, insomniacs, or party animals out there — the city might soon have a job for you: ambassador of New York City night life.

Yesterday, the City Council voted to establish an Office of Nightlife, which will act as an intermediary between City Hall and the night life industry.

The idea of a "night mayor" or "night czar," a person responsible for the after-hours economy, caught on in Europe after Amsterdam created the position of nachtburgemeester in 2014.

Some of the responsibilities of the office in New York, it seems, will require a bouncer's touch. The person holding the position will be responsible for resolving disputes and act as a liaison between nightlife establishments and residents.

The legislation also established a 12-member board that is charged with offering guidance to City Hall on night life trends as well as evaluating the city's laws, and making recommendations on how to update them, if necessary.

(They may want to start with the 1926 cabaret law, which forbids dancing by three or more people in places that don't have a license.)

Think you got what it takes? Councilman Rafael Espinal, who sponsored the bill, told the Brooklyn Paper that interested applicants can send résumés to City Hall or his office.

Metropolitan Diary

Lunch Alone at the Bar

By SURAFEL TSEGA

Dear Diary:

"Only in New York could you eat lunch at a place like this. Don't you agree?"

The older woman beside me, wearing a business jacket and displaying a sunny disposition that matched her blond hair, was certainly not from New York.

"Mm-hmm," I said, scrolling through Twitter.

"Couldn't you imagine eating here all the time?" she said. "Those clean lines. And, oh, those light fixtures!"

It was clear I wouldn't be enjoying lunch in silence, so I put my phone away. Besides, she was right: The restaurant was chic.

Avocado lettuce cups, toasted cumin, serrano and lime, pepitas. Carrot, lemon, orange and ginger juice.

"Where do you see yourself in 10 years?" she asked.

We had apparently reached that point in our relationship. From there, it was on to "vegetable-forward" dining and Ojai, Calif. We were both from the Los Angeles area: Compton (me); Malibu (her).

"And you made it out of there and now you're a doctor?" she said. "Congratulations."

I let the microaggression pass.

Fried wild rice, spring vegetables, fermented carrot and turmeric, cilantro.

We talked about the health care system and how someone in her family had struggled with cancer. We gushed over 'Hamilton,' and she ordered dessert.

"I know this is a bit forward," I said, leaning in, "but I feel like I could ask you this: Can I try some of your dessert?"

Chocolate mousse, mint chocolate crumble, gluten free vanilla wafer. Cortado with almond milk.

We debated the merits of homemade cashew milk. We lamented that we couldn't cook more healthy food at home. I'm lazy and she's too busy and relies on her housekeeper.

We were having a delightful time, but I had errands to run. We prepared to leave. The bartender wanted to confirm that we should get separate checks. The question didn't seem weird at all.

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