Outdoor Cafes

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Comment by Tom Poupard on November 22, 2009 at 4:52pm

This group is really helpful for me. I am a planning director in suburban Chicago and am always trying to explain how we can do outdoor eating areas so much better - they tend to be after thoughts.

The photos I have added were simply items I ran across while on Flickr that I keep in my resource file.

Comment by Carey Algaze on November 22, 2009 at 11:29am

love the variety of seating in the Copenhagen picture. It really makes for a visually dynamic space. I was in Florence, Italy in January and I was also fascinated by the amount of outdoor cafes. They ranged from large seating areas to small ones of just 2 to 4 chairs. So the lesson is that it really doesn't take much to create a social space. Additionally, I was there in winter and it was freezing and people were still using them! But I was most interested in their locations. Some took up parking spaces, some half on the sidewalk and half on the street, and I even found one under scaffolding! It made me wonder (since I work in the planning department) if outdoor seating/cafes are getting the proper permits, if it's even regulated or if sometimes it's better just to do it until they tell you "no".

Comment by Fred Kent on November 22, 2009 at 8:03am

In Copenhagen tis past summer, we saw how dramatically outdoor cafes are becoming more and more comfortable

Comment by Fred Kent on November 22, 2009 at 7:54am

We just got back from Florence Italy and we were amazed by the number of outdoor cafes. Some were so small and narrow, but they still added activity to even the smallest streets.

Comment by Carey Algaze on November 22, 2009 at 12:41am

Those pictures are great! Thanks for posting. Where are they from?

Comment by Tom Poupard on November 22, 2009 at 12:33am

Comment by K. M. Williamson, Ph.D. on November 9, 2009 at 6:17pm

Glad to see a group focused on THE preeminent public space catalyst for the 21st century suburban public realm! Howard Schultz was brilliant.
~KMW