Warm weather food cart.

On its website The Standard East, the hotel formerly known as the Cooper Square, says that it’s quietly transitioning into the spirit of its new name.

That, of course, is The Standard, the hip hotel straddling the High Line on the opposite side of town.The transition apparently starts on the sidewalk. Parked in front of the hotel this summer is the Standard Ice Cream Cart, a jaunty refrigerated wheelie shaded by a big red umbrella.

Last summer the cart was a fixture at the Standard, where Kaws’ gigantic cartoon sculpture Companion (Passing Through) stood in front of the hotel. This year, no sculpture. And no cart.  An outdoor café – bursting with guests, if this weekend was an indication — eats up the plaza. (more…)