"Pop-Up Cafes" Hit New York

New York City has led the way in tactical urbanism for some time, like the pedestrian plaza in Times Square. Now they're encouraging "pop-up cafes", or cafe table seating that takes over excess roadway.

1 minute read

August 7, 2011, 7:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur


Mike Lydon reports from the tactical urbanism game of one-upsmanship between New York and San Francisco. Lydon explains how NYC's pop-up cafes work:

"While the seats are open to restaurant patrons and non-patrons alike, intelligent business owners surely see the benefit to making space for people to linger in front of their establishments. Since last fall, several pop-up cafes have been built in Manhattan, adding much needed places to sit and enjoy the City's wonderful street life."

Pictures over at Pattern Cities.

Sunday, July 17, 2011 in Pattern Cities

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