A nice lunchtime read...

...if you haven't left your computer:
Sidewalks, and an Identity, Sprout in Jordan's Capital

Thanks sis.

The fun stops here...

At School Fund-Raisers: Brownies No, but Doritos Yes.

Seriously?

A Lunch Ledge Of A Different Kind

Thought I'd pop in and drop a quick idea...

I went to the MET this weekend to soak in a little culture. I was en route to the American Wing when I saw all these people sitting on these neat bars that ran along the length of each wall in the Egyptian section. I thought it was a very simple, space-saving seating arrangement and so useful as the MET is exhausting (my husband and I spent roughly 25 minutes looking at art and 45 minutes recovering on the benches in the front atrium...the chamber music was lovely.)

1,000s of cafe chairs have been steadily descending upon the pedestrian plazas throughout our great city, but maybe there is room for some diversity. I can totally see a ledge-like seat like this being easily implemented. Throw on some hooks so that we can hang our bags along the bottom and there you have it, an urban street seat. Here is a quick mock up...

















I like it because it speaks of a quicker, more impromptu experience vs. a traditional bench. One isn't better than the other but this one feels a little "righter" for the streets. Plus they can serve as food cart parking spots throughout the city. Fun!

V Day Lunch, Wild Hive Cafe, Clinton Corners NY

Wild Hive farm

Lost Hat

Henry Street, near State, Brooklyn NY

For the Birds

Since graduating in December, I have been taking time to step back and consider what's next for Pop Up Lunch. In the meantime, you may have noticed that I have been broadening out blog coverage to include related design bits and random acts of awesomeness that people are doing on their own to make the city better.

In honor of the premier of Lost's final season last night, today we go into the wild and look at a great story about a few people who are rolling up their sleeves and getting it done.

This is a very cool project going on at the Gowanus Canal, where a group of scrappy architects and designers who call North Carolina home are building and installing bird houses by hand. The Canal Nest Colony started out as an entry in a 48-hour design competition, sponsored by Urban Omnibus, and has taken on wings from there.

Not only do the houses look great, but each one has been tailor-made with the nesting needs and wants of specific types of birds in mind. According to a friend involved with the project, next steps include a potential partnership with the Audubon Society of NY and additional design development in partnership with the Gowanus Conservancy.

A special call out to the graphic designer, Andrew Nicholas, behind This City i$ Mine. I am really taken by his pictures and oh look, he now has a book out.