MEATSPACE
Williamsburg is an artsy part of Brooklyn known for its warehouses, relatively cheap rent, and even cheaper pierogi. "There's a lovely buzz in the neighborhood, but a lack of good restaurants," says developer Rick Duffy. His solution? The Pod NY - possibly one of the most outrageous rehabs around. Duffy and partner Karl Wall spent $1 million transforming a 5,000-square-foot warehouse into a surreal suburban retreat that serves up American, Asian, and Latin American dishes.
Designed by architect Thomas Leeser, whose firm recently developed a workspace for the Zurich Virtual Campus, the Pod resembles a split-level house overlooking a yard. The decor envelops diners in soothing sameness, save for a projection on the ceiling, which changes from blue skies when it's raining to clouds on sunny days. The illusion continues below, where the tiled basement has been turned into a second bar with curved wall that call to mind a backyard pool party.
"We like to play with the language of Americana," says Leeser, who planned everything down to the Plexiglas tables. "It's a hyper-reality fantasy." Perfect for New York.
The Pod NY: 141 North Seventh Street, Brooklyn, New York, +1 (718) 302 3754.
MUST READ
Come In, Sit Down, You're Fired
P2P Talk: Thanks for Not Sharing
The MS Federation: Join or Be Assimilated
Spawn of Slashdot
Gorilla Positioning System
DVD Hacking for Dummies
People
Jargon Watch
Hiding in Plain Sight
Fiesta Americana
Raw Data
