Betcha a buck that Bill Cunningham was no where near when this sad photo was snapped.
Only if I am looking at water or nature.
What is that garment the pedestrian in green is wearing? I can't even figure out how that capelike appendage is attached.
I see what you mean, but I think the wind is blowing her skirt tightly against her legs, and the skirt is billowing around behind her. I don't think it is a cape.
Sitting outside at the Cornelia Street Cafe one afternoon there was a small tree a few feet from our table. Along came a tall, blonde and obviously self absorbed young woman who proceeded to take her dog over to the tree where it happily lifted a leg and "watered" the tree and sidewalk as we ate. Probably never even occurred to her that it might spoil the alfresco ambiance.
3
OH NO... What should the dog have done.....? Ask to use the toilette? Come´on! From to Rome, dogs pee on trees.... shall the cars stopped fuming because you are eating outside....?!! ha hahaaaa.... you people sometimes are too spoiled!!! A dog peed on the tree so my ny lunch was ruined!!! haaaaa haaa!
2
The people we see in the photograph accompanying this article are certainly not the boulevardiers of either the olde New York or the Paris street scene. When foreign nationals describe the "ugly American," we don't have to look too far down the street in our mind's eye. Those across the Atlantic pond, even on a "casual Friday" are usually better trimmed out than Americans.
Somewhere along the way, culture went right off the rails in America. The current "uniforms of the day" in this entire country define, expose and exhibit one of the unhealthiest countries on the planet -- both in body and mind.
Somewhere along the way, culture went right off the rails in America. The current "uniforms of the day" in this entire country define, expose and exhibit one of the unhealthiest countries on the planet -- both in body and mind.
2
My wife and I always try to dash to an isolated spot, which is tough to find. We're both the same when it comes to eating outside. We don't want to be bothered by anyone or anything. If we're lucky we find a secluded bench that's clean and dry, and of course empty.
We're usually on vacation when the opportunity to dine outside presents itself, which makes it a bit tougher cause you gotta deal with the other vacationers. We expect this, so it doesn't really upset us. Just gotta realize it isn't a perfect world!! Dang it!!
We're usually on vacation when the opportunity to dine outside presents itself, which makes it a bit tougher cause you gotta deal with the other vacationers. We expect this, so it doesn't really upset us. Just gotta realize it isn't a perfect world!! Dang it!!
I have never, EVER, understood the interest in dining outdoors except for places where the dining areas are excluded from vehicle traffic. In the U.S., that is rare. 99% of outdoor dining is next to a parking lot or a thoroughfare. Not charming or enticing. The only place we've ever had a times dining outdoors was at Pepe's on the River between Edinburg and Mission, TX. Not the food & music so much, but the little boats racing up and down the Rio Grande and the vans at the boat launch racing away from the ICE. Also the nice cattle grazing across the river and the beautiful sunsets. Memorable.
1
Also Pusadees Garden in Pittsburgh. An urban oasis for excellent Thai food
You could re-title this article, "Why buildings exist, and other reasons smashed avocado is amaze-balls".
Bus and truck fumes are the worst.
1
Depends where it is. At the restaurant pictured, Five Leaves, the seating wraps around the outside of the restaurant, and is very pleasant on the side facing the side street.
I remember when it was more fun to eat a outside tables, but I always went where there was an overhead of the eating area. I remember when the Women's House of Detention was standing on Greenwich Avenue, towering over the now defunct Le Crepe restaurant. A friend once told me he wouldn't go there a he was afraid the Prisoners would spit out the window on his food. He was probably right.
2
A copy of this morning's New York Times,
A sunny day without humidity crimes,
Two cups of coffee steaming over toast--
Alfresco meals, well-worth the streetscape grimes.
A sunny day without humidity crimes,
Two cups of coffee steaming over toast--
Alfresco meals, well-worth the streetscape grimes.
2
No blanket rules - it is entirely situational as to whether I choose to dine outside. Factors include: how hot is it and is there shade? Is it on a very busy street with heavy traffic? (that usually means "no"); How wide is the sidewalk? How many rows deep are the tables? (never if there's only 1 row and you're sitting exposed to all passers-by); Is there some sort of railing to separate diners from pedestrians?; Is the sidewalk steeply sloped? Basically, one needs to assess what the overall experience will be like and if eating outside will be pleasurable. When it's good, there's nothing more glorious than enjoying a leisurely meal while watching the endlessly fascinating parade of New York pass by. When it's bad, it's horrid. I have some favorites sidewalk restaurants mostly on low-traffic streets in the East or West Village, as well as some favorite rear gardens again mostly in the East Village. And then there are the restaurants that couldn't pay me to sit outside. . . .
1
I don't like to eat on the tables outside of a restaurant because I think of the dust on the air and getting on the tables, chairs, napkins, cups and utensiles when the cars pass by. And not all the restaurants have them set on the table but that's what I think off. I respect other's opinion and that's my opinion.
1
Absolutely not. Smells, noise, uneven pavement making my chair wiggle, sloped pavement slopping the soup to the side of the bowl, rain showers, a/c drips, random passersby interactions, etc.
Not on a street like what we have here in NYC. In a plaza with no traffic? Sure. In a park? Yup.
Otherwise, part of my expectation of going to a restaurant is going into their ambiance and enjoying it.
Not on a street like what we have here in NYC. In a plaza with no traffic? Sure. In a park? Yup.
Otherwise, part of my expectation of going to a restaurant is going into their ambiance and enjoying it.
2
Took my lunch to Central Park yesterday and was lucky to find a spot on a bench in the shade of a lovely oak facing the duck pond. Settled in to grab 30 stress-free minutes in our city's best bucolic asset. No sooner had I taken my first bite than the caterwauling of a nearby sax player shattered any hope of a peaceful mid-day respite. Played the same three songs over and over, badly and loudly. Isn't there a law or something about disturbing the peace?
9
Harpo Marx wrote in Harpo Speaks, his 60's auto Biography that all he and chico knew how to play was the 2nd million selling song from 1906 "Waltz Me Around Again Willy". They would play it fast, then slow, then as a waltz and then as a ballad and so on. It got them to Hollywood, though.
As a server in many restaurants in the city over the years I've found serving and eating outside way overrated. Two of the places I worked both faced Holland (and Lincoln Tunnel) access roads were traffic crawls every summer weekend.
Eating and drinking while dozens of vehicles including smoky buses and trucks idle mere feet away surely negates any "farm to table" or other types of benefits of a decent NYC restaurant meal. Plus, the furniture sucks and is uncomfortable.
Eating and drinking while dozens of vehicles including smoky buses and trucks idle mere feet away surely negates any "farm to table" or other types of benefits of a decent NYC restaurant meal. Plus, the furniture sucks and is uncomfortable.
2
Rooftops and gardens (there are a few in the Bronx Little Italy worth considering) in NYC yes. Sidewalks only in historic European cities or seaside towns, thank you.
6
Sadly, I've expreinced homeless people walk by and ask for food. I am always willing to give water food/snacks I have on me when walking through the city to anyone who asks if I have it, but when I'm sitting to eat and kick back, it's a bit much.
5
Alfresco dining in FiDi is the way to go! Visit Stone Street - a quaint, historical street with no vehicular traffic and lots of restaurant choices. Head over to Pier A at Battery Park or Gigino's in Wagner Park to enjoy a meal and great views sitting by the harbor at sunset.
2
Another downside to eating outdoors. My date went to the restroom and someone walked by and took her sandwich.
5
The author's account of the inconveniences of alfresco eating is truly a matter for concern.
We must immediately get rid of compulsory outdoor dining.
We must immediately get rid of compulsory outdoor dining.
2
"Compulsory" outdoor dining? Where is one forced to dine outside?
You may have missed the spirit of this piece.
In a restaurant, the other diners are, one hopes, focused on their own food and each other's conversation. It is certainly a measure of a boring evening if I find myself looking at people at other tables. There is a kind of collusion in a restaurant that each couple or group will tacitly ignore everyone else. But people walking along the street have nothing to focus on in particular and so can let their eyes wander to me trying to manipulate an overly ambitious forkful of pasta into my mouth. Have you ever watched yourself eating in a mirror? Why would I want to expose myself to strangers while doing one of the three most intimate of activities?
1
Eating is not an intimate activity. Humans are social animals who seek to break bread in groups.
One of the advantages of outside is no loud music on speakers thereby making conversation impossible. Also screaming babies are more likely housed inside by their adoring parents (yes that was snark). Some of my best NYC memories are eating/drinking wine relaxedly outside the restaurant with friends. Dont knock it. The key of course is to observe the scene before you and decide at that point if the outside tables are OK or not. If you are going for a full entree feed-athon with lots of plates before you, then you probably are not a real new yorker (snark again) and you should walk inside and look for a big table.
5
Sidewalk cafe by night, canine urinals by day. No thanks.
15
The major problem with eating curbside in NYC is the fact that by deign there is no adequate space to do so. Unlike European cities, in NYC, in most cases, there are only a couple, or at best very few, tables haphazardly arranged next to the shop's windows or door, there are no dedicated waiters for the area and no space left between customers and passers-by. Simply put the culture of enjoying food while watching the world go by is not part of the city fabric.
1
Blue Jays Nauru Yankees
1
I enjoyed outdoor eating until the morning I sat at a sidewalk table drinking my coffee. I was fortunate to catch a splash in my coffee out of the corner of my eye. Looked up to notice a pigeon above my table. Stirred my coffee to find it had pooped in my coffee. Fortunately, I did not take a sip.
I will, henceforth, dine inside.
I will, henceforth, dine inside.
17
What does not kill you will make you stronger!
2
Why can't the noises of sirens volume be regulated? They are often deafening, and probably cause more widespread disease generally than the specific possible injury they are pursuing.
3
The decibel level of emergency sirens was actually raised a couple of years ago, a friend learned by asking an ambulance driver recently. I know, tinnitus and hearing loss, here we come.
3
They raised the volume because drivers are not paying attention to their surroundings - the idea is that the sirens need to be even louder to grab drivers' attention. Why can't they start aggressively fining drivers for distracted driving instead? Ugh.
7
I love dining outside in NYC-- people-watching, enjoying the air, the hubub and passing conversation. My husband, however, hates it and has coined a wonderful term: "dining Al Dusto".
13
Sidewalk dining's inducement of "fresh air" and daylight is more than offset by noise, traffic, and the overall feeling of lack of privacy. Many of us are also drawn to it because eating inside a restaurant is no less noisy and close. Food facilities in parks are much more delightful than sitting on sidewalk, say, in the East Village, or on 6th avenue.
10
Eating on the Avenues is unpleasant, but there is a wonderful alternative. Al fresco dining in your local park. Delicious! My favorite time is around sunset, but it's wonderful anytime.
6
Good to see that the Mayor has had a minor victory against the Moskowitz- Cuomo-Bloomberg-Murdoch-Other Secret Oligarchs scheme to steal tax payer money and put it in their pockets.
6
Ugh, the amount of dirt that can/will get in your food when the plate sits outside? Definitely unappetizing!
4
That orange bag on the chair back in photo? An open invitation...
I would NEVER eat outside in NY if given the choice!
I would NEVER eat outside in NY if given the choice!
11
not only chairs with purses left hanging, but also those in supermarket shopping carts while the shopper momentarily turns to reach for the yogurt or pasta or whatever. additionally, some women carry cross-body bags on their back sides. while there are few guarantees in life, all of the foregoing are open invitations to theft.
4
I dined at Rainforest Cafe in Chicago (inside mind you) and a staff member continually patrolled the room strongly urging women to move their purses away from the aisle. I an only imagine what it would be like in NYC with your purse hanging like the one in the photo.
The main drawback: no air conditioning when needed. Trying to eat a meal when the heat and humidity resemble that of a schvitz just doesn't work...at least for me.
16
I don't have a dog, but if you want to keep your pooch with you, it seems outdoor dining is the way to go.
6
Obvious alternatives would be a take away lunch at a park or at one of the many outdoor privately owned public spaces (POPS) that dot the city. Enjoy!
6
“Apparently, there are drawbacks. Chief among them: bad smells.”
Tune of HOW WILL I KNOW
This café we know, it’s the one near Union Square
Six o’clock we show, had a reservation there (oh, yeah!!)
As we walk inside, seems there is no place to sit
They put us outside, where we smell the city grit
(CHORUS)
Ewwww, how will my nose (- adjust while eating)
How will my nose -
How will my nose (- It bears repeating)
How will my nose -
How will my nose adjust to the city
I had reserved and thought I’d be inside
So much to smell and it isn’t pretty
I'm asking you ‘cause you write about these things
How will my nose know what I’ll be breathing
Is that a sewer, or exhaust fumes (can’t eat!)
This ambience just isn’t complete
They got three stars, but it smells like feet
Oh, help me, I'm choking,
Am I being picky now? (Uh, uh)
But they must be joking
It’s all really icky now
Ewwww, how will my nose –
(repeat from Chorus)
Tune of HOW WILL I KNOW
This café we know, it’s the one near Union Square
Six o’clock we show, had a reservation there (oh, yeah!!)
As we walk inside, seems there is no place to sit
They put us outside, where we smell the city grit
(CHORUS)
Ewwww, how will my nose (- adjust while eating)
How will my nose -
How will my nose (- It bears repeating)
How will my nose -
How will my nose adjust to the city
I had reserved and thought I’d be inside
So much to smell and it isn’t pretty
I'm asking you ‘cause you write about these things
How will my nose know what I’ll be breathing
Is that a sewer, or exhaust fumes (can’t eat!)
This ambience just isn’t complete
They got three stars, but it smells like feet
Oh, help me, I'm choking,
Am I being picky now? (Uh, uh)
But they must be joking
It’s all really icky now
Ewwww, how will my nose –
(repeat from Chorus)
22
“What’s the good, the bad and the unappetizing of dining outdoors in the city?”, you ask. i haven’t gone back to my local coffee shop, where i like to sit outside and ogle the passing throng, since spotting a woman sitting in a chair outside and her dog SITTING ON THE TABLE. i told the staff, i called 311, but i saw nobody wipe the table down. Dogs in restaurants? It was only a matter of time.
19
And pharmacies and supermarkets and now on the subway, not in carriers, just "cavalierly" tagging along. The dog culture has turned into mob rule.
2
Recently saw a person with 2 dogs inside a new bakery- and staff too intimidated not to say anything. Clearly not "emotional support" if you have 2 dogs. Unbelievable.
6
Clearly, one dog was the other dog's support.
1
Replace the cars with bikes and I guarantee the experience of dining outside will be vastly better. Cars are the problem.
10
Garden dining? No, the very purpose of dining street side is to be immersed in the sounds, sights, smells and unpredictability of the street. There are limits, true, but for me, the smells (diesel) and sounds (more diesel) of a passing bus, the clacking of a poorly-maintained air conditioner and the rainbow-colored sheen of a puddle of petroleum-laced rainwater have become comforting and unmistakable signs of summer. We are adaptable and will tolerate a lot in order to do what we like most, and that's to be around lots of other people.
5
I found eating at outdoor cafes in Europe a wonderful experience. Perhaps cities like NY are not zoned properly for outdoor dining.
22