Hydrantables & Lunch Ledges Are Amazing New Achievements in Street Food Eating Technology
Those of us who love eating street food, but hate taking lunch back to our desks, have a common problem. Where should we eat? There are a number of indoor pavilions and outdoor seating areas scattered across Midtown, but sometimes I just wish there was a place right next to the carts to just saddle up and tuck in. Well thanks to Pratt Grad Student Ali Pulver, now there is. For her thesis she is developing a couple of tools to make it easier for us to eat on the street. And after testing out the “Lunch Ledge” and the “Hydrantable” last week, I’ve got to say these could represent the greatest advancements in street food technology since the invention of chicken and lamb over rice!
It’s not hard to just stand on the sidewalk and eat lunch if you just have one tray of food and a fork. But what about a drink? Or soup, which usually comes with bread. Add a drink to that and you’ve got big time issues. That’s where the lunch shelf comes in. The back is a heavy duty magnet, so you can attach it to any sign post and voila!
Instant place to put your drink. Or soup. Or whatever.
Problem solved.
But that’s not all. What do you see here? A standard fire hydrant? Well, I see a perfect spot for two people to eat lunch… with a little help from the Hydrantable!
Amazing.
The lunch shelf and “hydrantable” aren’t available for purchase just yet, but Ali has set up a website where you can track her progress called Pop Up Lunch: NYC. And she’s hoping to get her ideas produced as soon as she is out of school in December.
If there is a pre-order list, sign me up!
Posted: 11:45 am, November 6th, 2009 under Street Vendor Issues.
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27 Comments
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Haha Good one Rudy, but I still think it’s awesome. Bring it on!
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the thing is, no one really wants to make their own stuff, so if she starts mass producing these who knows… there might be a good market for these things and maybe street vendors will buy them and set them up around their carts to encourage people to eat there… basically to advertise what they have by having people happily eat it near by
oh wait, is that legal to do? dont want to get any vendors in trouble with that idea
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I could use one of those after I visit the Biryani Cart.
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Does it also come with a pop up toilet that is often necessary mere minutes after finishing your street meat?
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It’s just a prototype. It’s bulky. No doubt you could make it thinner by using plastic material, and more compact by making it fold up and use hinges.
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This is an inspired idea, and I love the execution. Great job, Ali Pulver.
But the fire hydrant table is definitely illegal and affixing magnets to stop signs may be as well. God bless. -
hm, on top of a fire hydrant…i feel like that isnt going to work.
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Eh. The worst that happens is a police officer tells you to move the tray.
The magnetic tray is awesome, though.
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I once lived in a town where a guy with a fire hydrant in his front yard decorated it for christmas. He simply wrapped a garland around it. Cost him a $500 fine!
But then the people in Texas are not nearly as liberal as the police in NYC.
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I desperately need one! What a great idea for a thesis!
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What about the dog crap near the poles and fire hydrants?
I like the first pic, four women around a pole.
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Do you know what dogs like to do on fire hydrants?
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haha… when was the last you saw a dog in Midtown?
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The dogs are everywhere. They plan to take over the world.
Interesting concept, but I think it is too weird.
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And the dogs that are in Midtown are usually so tiny I’m surprised they can make it up a curb.
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very interesting idea… my only thing is, when would you bring that with you to lunch? every day? so in case the place you want to sit isn’t nice, your table is handy?
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agreed, i dont want to eat anywhere near where dogs and hobo’s urinate….no thank you.
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and i see dogs in midtown all the time. Mainly seeing eye dogs, but they’re dogs…no discrimation here.
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i would rather it come with some kind of screen between the pole and my food… just in case… i wouldnt want my food touching anything that these shelves would use for stands
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Yep, I agree, about some protection between the pole and the food. I mean birds shit on those poles, people spit on those poles, and we don’t have a CLUE what happens to those poles at night.
Maybe a better solution would be to buy a folding chair and a TV tray (do you folks remember TV trays? – LOL); carry them to work with you every day; buy your street food; open up your chair and tray on the sidewalk there, – - – and PIG OUT!
Sounds like a plan to me.
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Now. She just needs to invent the portable, street toilet for after you finish the street meat and can’t make it back to the office.
Maybe something that fits over a drainage grate…
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We have enough tourists blocking the sidewalks.
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Yeah, maybe, ‘viktor’, but I suspect that the “TOURISTS” as you call them, are not the ones eating street food on fire hydrants in New Yawk City.
I think that the folks blocking your sidewalks may be the only people that are presently keeping the ‘Bad Apple’ alive during its financially troubled times.
DocChuck,
A ‘Tourist’, I guess.
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guys. all you need is some duct tape and one of those airplane trays hanging around your neck. Then when you need to eat you just unlock the tray and it pops out in front of you. doubles as a bib too.
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Her parents must be so proud, and equally thrilled about the tuition investment.
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When is Blondie going to give Bossman some much needed attention?
…it’s piece of plywood…with a hole in it….make ya own..
fuck’sake.