Ryan Lair on WNYC, well, spring is in the air.

Tomorrow, if you haven't heard yet, it's supposed to be near 80 degrees around here.

And next Tuesday, April 1st, is when outdoor dining expands again

under the rules the city put in place last year. Our local news website, Gothamist, has a great thing.

It's a published map of outdoor dining locations that have been approved by the city, citing

examples such as Sailor in Fort Green, B&H Dairy on 2nd Avenue,

and arts and crafts, the popular Columbia University hang out in Morningside Heights.

But the accompanying article also notes that only 47 places were fully approved as of earlier this

week and quotes, Comptroller Brad Lander as slamming the

transportation department for the slow rollout. Our arts and culture reporter Ryan Kaloff

calls it a far cry from the wild west days of outdoor dining structures at the height of the

pandemic and joins us now to discuss what's allowed, what's coming where, and to take your

calls with what you're looking forward to or dreading with a partial return of more outdoor

dining next week. Restaurant owners, call in. Neighbors, call in, customers. We invite your

stories, feelings, opinions, and questions. 212-433, WNYC, 212-433-9692.

Hey, Ryan, welcome back to the show.

Hey, Brian.

I look forward to hearing from the parking lobby on this one.

Right.

How much easier has it been to park, folks, since those sheds came down in your neighborhood

and who cares and who doesn't about that? So first of all, I see many places that have had

outdoor dining all winter for those hardy enough. Many that had some kind of outdoor dining

...