Results tagged “umbrella”

Good news, New Yorkers. There's a new umbrella in town that is sure to help sidewalk rage during these rainy days we've been having. Aptly called "the Polite Umbrella," you can shrink it on either side as other pedestrians walk by. In the designer's own words, it's "a shrinkable umbrella that enables users to morph its shape in order to reduce occupied space and to increase user maneuverability. Users can easily adjust their umbrellas anytime by pulling a handle so that they can protect themselves from harsh winds or bumping into others." There's a demonstration in a video on the site, but no info on where to buy it! So, keep stabbing each other with your non-polite umbrellas we suppose. NewYorkology has more New York-centric umbrella options, but none quite as polite. [via Kellas]

A judge yesterday threw out the million dollar lawsuit over a broken umbrella filed by Nelio Balan, the owner of Madison Avenue hotspot Nello's. The judge then issued Balan's lawyer a $500 fine for wasting the court's time. Balan sued lingerie model Le Call over a $5000 umbrella he had loaned her and then never got back for a year, only to receive it back torn and tattered. He claimed he suffered "emotional distress" over the loss. With the lawsuit behind him, Balan's only hopes are for compensation of the cathartic sort. "An apology is in order. It's what is civilized...She never returned it. Is that normal, is that polite?" Balan said.

While you may not need an umbrella on a day like today, if rainy days often leave you fumbling as you multitask -- there may be a solution: this new umbrella from the future! It will keep you dry while you check emails on your iPhone, smoke a cigarette, and search your bag for coffee money (the website even shows a cyclist using one).

Starting next Tuesday, Park Slope shoppers will be entitled to one of 400 free umbrellas made available at a number of neighborhood stores. Yes, you heard right. FREE. UMBRELLAS. And they’re just the most adorable shade of yellow! But what’s the catch, you say? Well, each one is emblazoned with this message: "Please enjoy this community umbrella and return it to a participating local merchant." The Park Slope Civic Council pooled $2,000 and bought the...