If you've ever lived in a large city, such as New York or Los Angeles, you know that space is at a premium, especially outdoor space. Yards are virtually unheard of, so what's a gal to do when she wants to dine al fresco? Why, take it outside — out to the sidewalk, that is. In a recent New York Times article, "The Dining Room Takes to the Streets," writer Penelope Green looks at a group of rather atypical rebels who assert their elbow room by dining on the sidewalks outside their homes or even in nooks atop the Brooklyn Bridge.

It turns out that hauling your dining table and chairs onto a sidewalk is actually perfectly legal. Janette Sadik-Khan, commissioner of the Department of Transportation, says, “Public space is the glue that holds our city together and makes it worth living in . . . I always say the streets are the living rooms, so I guess that makes the sidewalks the front porches. We’re trying to remove the barriers to enjoying that space. The D.O.T.’s priority is safety. If someone wants to use the sidewalk for a casual dinner, they just have to be considerate of the neighbors.”

Andrew Henderson for the New York Times

Using reclaimed light bulbs to build the Oyule Lamp Set ($650), Sergio Silva transformed "a modern object into the very thing it was meant to replace." Beyond its symbolic shrewdness, it's just plain beautiful. Thanks to the strong spherical magnet Silva put inside the bulb, which attracts to a steel component in Oyule's acrylic base, the bulbs balance uncannily at an angle. The limited-edition (only 66 sets) design is available exclusively through 66degrees, and is made handmade by Silva in his Brooklyn studio. Can't pony up for your own? Consider making recycled light-bulb vases.

Sometimes I think there's not enough "dropping a line" in the world. Good old-fashioned notes, updating your friends on what's new in your life, and asking about theirs. Yeah, there's prolific Facebook wall and Myspace commenting, but a part of me feels that that's all for show. How about a bit of private conversation every once in a while . . . the kind you can't delete from your inbox? I hope the Invita Paper Studio Hello Everyday Stationery ($10 for 6) will inspire a little more of that. How can you argue with a hand-written "Hello" and a trendy pale yellow and gray palette?

Garden stools have been trendy for a couple years now, but I never understood why they were priced so high for what is basically a ceramic drum — see here and here. They're cute though, and versatile, as they can serve as seating or a small side table. If you feel the same, and haven't yet made the splurge, maybe the Ballard Designs Titanium Garden Seat ($89, reduced from $149) will appeal to you. I like its bead detailing
and Chinoiserie-style cutouts. Its price tag also won't break the bank, and its polished titanium finish doesn't have the tiresome cutesy kitsch of some of its brightly colored counterparts. Yay for sale items!

I love damask patterns, whether they're woven into a beautiful throw or papered onto a wall. They're often feature flowers, fruit, or animal life, but have you ever heard of a damask pattern that's composed of flowers? Well, that's exactly, what Manchester, England, artist Jo Vickers did when she created a flower installation in a damask pattern. Displayed in Manchester's Albert Square as part of the Manchester in Bloom festival, over 60,000 flowers were used to create the pattern. Breathtaking!

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