The Central Park Reservoir, being a reservoir, is divided into two sections; when the water is high, the central divider is below the surface, but when it is lower, the divider emerges as a walkway connecting the two pumping stations.

Anyway, this inspires my idea for a waterside restaurant, situated in the middle of a lake or reservoir. It is accessed by a walkway that is just under the water surface (say 1/2"), so that patrons appear to be walking on water as they approach. (A weir keeps the water level just so.)

At night, a row of lights illuminate the sides of the walkway, so that patrons can find their way in the dark, and the whole restaurant is lit up like a fairy castle to reflect nicely in the gently rippling waters of the lake.

As with a regular restaurant, the wait staff pay close attention to customers too inebriated to drive or stick to the pathway, and a gondola is on hand to whisk them back to shore, where a taxi will be waiting.
-- DrCurry, Aug 18 2003

The novel part of this invention is baked. http://news.bbc.co....dle_east/270074.stm
Though DrC's vision is, to my taste, far less kitschy. [beauxeault, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004]

Water Cafe? http://pic6.picture...456726/45102960.jpg
Not exactly walking... [csea, Oct 05 2004, last modified Oct 17 2004]

Very Chauncy Gardener, I like it.
-- waugsqueke, Aug 18 2003


what waugs said.
-- po, Aug 18 2003


A lovely image, DrC.

po: Who, me?
-- st3f, Aug 18 2003


kiss everyone goodnight?

steffy - naughty !
-- po, Aug 18 2003


Lovely. *waves two fingers* "Ah, Jesus, could I get the check over here and a croissant for the road?"
-- Eugene, Aug 18 2003


Saw that in Iceland. The restaurant didn't have a walkway but a series of flat rock in easy stepping distance. I don't think it was intended. A river had shifted in a spring flood and the area around the restaurant was under water. They put out the stones to stay in business. Then heavy rain had flooded the stones a little.
-- kbecker, Aug 18 2003


Nice one DrCurry.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Aug 19 2003


Excellent. Take this bread...

The walkway could be transparent acrylic, just below the surface of the water for a little extra bit of challenge?
-- half, Aug 19 2003


Just remember to keep the fountain off during business hours.
-- Shz, Aug 19 2003


<DrCurry> Sheesh, what's wrong with a concrete sidewalk? </DrCurry> +
-- FarmerJohn, Aug 19 2003


// They would have been being there, [waugs]? //

Yes, UB. Just like television, only you can see much further.
-- waugsqueke, Aug 19 2003


(link)
-- beauxeault, Aug 19 2003


Nope, they'll have to sign waivers before making the crossing. We have that boat, manned by hunky gondoliers, ready for those who won't sign.
-- DrCurry, Aug 19 2003


In much the same way as serving alcohol in a pub disattracts the abstemious.
-- egbert, Aug 19 2003


eh?

whats disattracts mean?
-- po, Aug 19 2003


You could make it safer by having the walkway cross a big swimming pool. Hotel guests would frolic in the water on either side. If they fell in, well - an unintended swim. It is only 4 feet deep. Plus you could cut channels underwater so kids could swim underneath.

It occurs to me that the clear lexan walkway could have a light flush up against it, and the light would be emitted anywhere the surface was not polished.
-- bungston, Aug 28 2003


Could the walkway be the top of a large rectangular tube of transparent acrylic/lexan/aluminum/whatever inhabited by sharks?
-- half, Aug 28 2003


Create the walkway with sections that can be raised and lowered, so the management can continually re-configure the path. So many benefits:
~Those with reservations and private parties are given directions, to keep out the crowds on busy nights.
~Bad tippers can be tipped into the drink on their way out with the touch of a button.
~Slow nights, the whole lake can be made walkable.
~The intoxicated can be "steered" back to land.
-- oxen crossing, Feb 08 2004


Anyone seen "Porky's"?
-- spiritualized, Feb 09 2004


//~Bad tippers can be tipped into the drink on their way out with the touch of a button.//

Of course if it's an Evil Walk on Water Cafe run by a megalomaniac scientist bent on world domination, then the lake would be stocked with sharks. Or sea bass. With lasers.
-- hazel, Feb 09 2004


glass, or any similar smooth surface is like ice when wet...therefore textured cement (while unpleasant to fall on) may be the best option... alternatively, one could have a 'dry' walkway with overspilling fog that carries on the water to complete an illusion of walking on water while not actually doing so? Otherwise, not a bad idea...
-- ruxpin76, Feb 11 2004


What about when mossy stuff starts to grow on it, making it very slippery?

What about people who don't want to get their feet wet?

What about midgets? WHAT ABOUT MIDGETS?!?!

[rux] How will the midgets see over the fog?!
-- longdecember79, Feb 11 2004


The water's only a couple inches deep! That's what about midgets.
-- oxen crossing, Feb 11 2004


>>Or sea bass. With lasers.<<

Are they ill-tempered sea bass?
-- fullybaked, Feb 11 2004


No point having any other kind.
-- hazel, Feb 12 2004


How will midgets escape the wrath of ill-tempered sea bass?!?
-- longdecember79, Feb 12 2004


could actually be a good idea, except for the fact that anyone who slips and falls into the water can sue the restaurant. And I hope you don't plan to have a happy hour, one staff can handle only so many drunken idiots.
-- jjbabygurl, Jan 14 2006


White sea bass. Or giant black sea bass.
-- normzone, Jan 15 2006



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