All articles by Devin Gannon

What New Yorkers need to know about the Covid-19 booster shot

Courtesy of Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Flickr

August 18, 2021

What New Yorkers need to know about the Covid-19 booster shot

By Devin Gannon

President Joe Biden's administration on Wednesday said most Americans who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus should get a third shot of the vaccine. Citing concerns over the highly contagious Delta variant and the reduction in the protection of the vaccine over time, officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said booster shots will be available to all residents as early as September 20 and administered to individuals eight months after receiving the second dose. In response, Mayor Bill de Blasio this week said New York City is more than prepared to deliver and administer the vaccine quickly to New Yorkers.
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Policy

Jeff Bezos buys fifth apartment at Flatiron building for $23M

Rendering of 212 Fifth Avenue by Visualhouse; Photo of Jeff Bezos via Wiki Commons

August 18, 2021

Jeff Bezos buys fifth apartment at Flatiron building for $23M

By Devin Gannon

Shortly after returning to Earth following a quick journey into space last month, billionaire Jeff Bezos bought another apartment at a Flatiron building for an otherworldly $23 million. As first reported by the New York Post, Bezos has picked up a four-bedroom unit at 212 Fifth Avenue, where he already owns a three-story penthouse and three residences below it. With this latest addition to his real estate portfolio, the Amazon founder now owns $119 million worth of apartments in this condo building.
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New NYC Ferry route connecting Staten Island and Midtown West launches this month

Photo: NYC Ferry

August 17, 2021

New NYC Ferry route connecting Staten Island and Midtown West launches this month

By Devin Gannon

Starting next week, commuters from Staten Island will have another way to get to Manhattan. Launching Monday, August 23, the newest NYC Ferry route takes riders up the Hudson River for the first time and stops in Midtown West, with a total travel time of about 35 minutes from St. George. With this latest route, NYC Ferry now officially serves all five boroughs.
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Transit

1,300-foot-high duplex at Central Park Tower asks $150M

Courtesy of Extell Development

August 17, 2021

1,300-foot-high duplex at Central Park Tower asks $150M

By Devin Gannon

For $150,000,000, a luxury apartment situated 1,300 feet above ground can be yours. As first reported by Bloomberg, the available duplex is located on the 127th and 128th floors of Central Park Tower, the tallest residential building in the world. According to the listing, the eight-bedroom "trophy home" is the highest duplex in the skyscraper, which stands more than 1,500 feet tall over Central Park. If it fetches the asking price, it would become the third most expensive sale in New York City ever.
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Distinctive Homes

Museum of Broadway to open in Times Square next summer

Rendering by Paul Bennett Architects PC

August 16, 2021

Museum of Broadway to open in Times Square next summer

By Devin Gannon

The first permanent museum dedicated to Broadway will open in Times Square next year. Originally scheduled to debut in 2020 but delayed because of the pandemic, the Museum of Broadway will open at 145 West 45th Street in the summer of 2022, officials announced on Monday. The interactive experience will explore and celebrate the history and legacy of Broadway musicals, plays, and theatres.
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Events & Things To Do

All the places in NYC requiring proof of vaccination

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

August 16, 2021

All the places in NYC requiring proof of vaccination

By Devin Gannon

Starting Tuesday, New Yorkers aged 12 and older must be vaccinated against the coronavirus to partake in indoor dining, fitness, and entertainment. The Key to NYC initiative, which applies to bars, fitness centers, movie theaters, museums, and other indoor venues, requires visitors to show proof of at least one dose of the vaccine. The policy will go into effect on August 17 with enforcement beginning the week of September 13.
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600 affordable homes and new Afro-Latin Music and Arts Center coming to East Harlem

Rendering of Timbale Terrace courtesy of Lantern Organization, Mega Development, Urban Architectural Initiatives, HPD

August 16, 2021

600 affordable homes and new Afro-Latin Music and Arts Center coming to East Harlem

By Devin Gannon

Nearly 600 affordable homes and a new performing arts center are planned for two sites in East Harlem, the New York City Department of Housing and Preservation announced Friday. The projects include a 330-unit residential building with a new arts center for the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance and a 250-unit development that will have an expanded East Harlem Multi-Service Center. The projects are among the first major developments under the East Harlem rezoning, which was approved in 2017.
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Green-Wood Cemetery honors Battle of Brooklyn’s 245th anniversary with revolutionary event

Battle of Brooklyn reenactment in Green-Wood Cemetery; Photo by Allison Meier on Flickr

August 13, 2021

Green-Wood Cemetery honors Battle of Brooklyn’s 245th anniversary with revolutionary event

By Devin Gannon

The first major battle to take place during the Revolutionary War after the United States declared independence took place in Brooklyn on August 27, 1776. During the Battle of Brooklyn, fighting took place across the borough, including throughout present-day Prospect Park, Fulton Ferry Landing, and Green-Wood Cemetery. To commemorate the 245th anniversary of the historic struggle, Green-Wood Cemetery is hosting a family-friendly event this month with Revolutionary War reenactors, music, demonstrations, and other activities.
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Supreme Court blocks part of New York’s eviction moratorium

Photo by Rachel Martin on Unsplash

August 13, 2021

Supreme Court blocks part of New York’s eviction moratorium

By Devin Gannon

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday partially blocked New York's eviction moratorium, striking down the part of the law which protects tenants who have filed a declaration of hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic. Since December of last year, the state's COVID Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act suspended eviction proceedings if renters declared a loss of income or health risk to protect themselves against eviction. The court said the moratorium, which was set to expire on August 31, was likely unconstitutional as landlords had no way to challenge a tenant's hardship claim.
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Policy

50,000 New Yorkers have received the $100 Covid vaccine incentive so far

Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

August 13, 2021

50,000 New Yorkers have received the $100 Covid vaccine incentive so far

By Devin Gannon

In just two weeks, 50,000 New Yorkers have pocketed $100 after receiving the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Thursday. The incentive program, which launched on July 30, gives New York City residents who get the shot at a city-run vaccination site a $100 pre-paid debit card. The incentive is part of the mayor's effort to boost the city's vaccination rate as a way to fight the highly contagious Delta variant of the virus, which has led to an increase in Covid-19 cases across New York and the country.
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Policy

Popular Articles

New Roosevelt Island cocktail bar has panoramic views of NYC and the Queensboro Bridge

Photo credit: Noah Fecks

August 12, 2021

New Roosevelt Island cocktail bar has panoramic views of NYC and the Queensboro Bridge

By Devin Gannon

New York City is full of rooftop bars, most offering a sky-high snapshot of the Big Apple's expansive skyline. But a new cocktail lounge on Roosevelt Island is providing an even bigger picture, with 360-degree views of three boroughs and a unique perspective of the Queensboro Bridge. Opening this Friday, the aptly named Panorama Room sits on the 18th-floor of the Graduate Roosevelt Island, the first hotel to open on the island.
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Former WeWork CEO Adam Neumann sells Greenwich Village townhouse for $13.65M

Streetview of 41 West 11th Street; Map data © 2021 Google

August 12, 2021

Former WeWork CEO Adam Neumann sells Greenwich Village townhouse for $13.65M

By Devin Gannon

WeWork founder and former chief executive Adam Neumann has sold another property in his portfolio. The Greek Revival-style townhouse at 41 West 11th Street in Greenwich Village has sold for $13,650,000, according to property records. Neumann, who was ousted as the company's CEO in 2019, and his wife, Rebekah Paltrow Neumann, paid $10.5 million for the home in 2013. The sale was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
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KAWS unveils new 18-foot sculpture at Rockefeller Center

Courtesy of Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer

August 12, 2021

KAWS unveils new 18-foot sculpture at Rockefeller Center

By Devin Gannon

The distinct art of KAWS is now on display at Rockefeller Center. The 18-foot tall bronze sculpture, dubbed SHARE, features two of the artist's signature cartoon-like figures, Companion and BFF. The installation, which coincides with the current sweeping exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, "KAWS: WHAT PARTY," will be on view at the Center Plaza until October 29.
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Events & Things To Do

Central Park’s famous carousel will reopen with Coney Island’s Luna Park as operator

Photo by ajay_suresh on Flickr

August 11, 2021

Central Park’s famous carousel will reopen with Coney Island’s Luna Park as operator

By Devin Gannon

One of the country's most popular carousels will soon spin again. Central Park's Friedsam Memorial Carousel will reopen to riders this fall after being closed since March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. As first reported by amNY, the operators of Coney Island's Luna Park, Central Amusement International, will operate the merry-go-round, replacing the Trump Organization, which had its contracts with the city canceled earlier this year after the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
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City Living

Free at-home Covid-19 testing now available for seniors and immunocompromised New Yorkers

Mayor Bill de Blasio is tested for COVID-19.June 16, 2020. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

August 11, 2021

Free at-home Covid-19 testing now available for seniors and immunocompromised New Yorkers

By Devin Gannon

New York City is expanding its at-home coronavirus testing program. The city's Health Department on Tuesday announced the free service will now be available to all immunocompromised New Yorkers and those aged 65 and older. In March, the at-home appointments first became available for those who had close contact with someone diagnosed with the virus. The expansion comes as the city sees an increase in new Covid-19 cases, and with it, the demand for testing.
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Policy

1 million daffodils will be planted around NYC to honor victims of 9/11

Photos courtesy of New Yorkers for Parks

August 11, 2021

1 million daffodils will be planted around NYC to honor victims of 9/11

By Devin Gannon

Daffodil bulbs will once again be planted across New York City this fall as part of a living memorial to the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Led by open space advocacy group New Yorkers for Parks, the Daffodil Project launched in the spring after 9/11 and has continued every year since, with more than 8 million daffodil bulbs distributed for free and planted by volunteers. As the 20th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, the organization will hand out more than one million daffodil bulbs, double the amount from the year prior. The project's expansion this year will also honor lives lost to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Events & Things To Do

Brooklyn Nets are giving away home game tickets this week at pop-up Covid vaccination site

Photo courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

August 10, 2021

Brooklyn Nets are giving away home game tickets this week at pop-up Covid vaccination site

By Devin Gannon

Take a shot and receive a free ticket to a Brooklyn Nets home game. The basketball team is partnering with Maimonides Medical Center and Industry Center to open a coronavirus vaccination site in Brooklyn this week. On Thursday, August 12, individuals aged 12 and older who receive their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at the Sunset Park pop-up will go home with a complimentary ticket to a game next season and some Nets swag.
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City Living

Queens’ Cambria Heights could gain two Tudor-filled historic districts

Street view of proposed Cambria Heights 222nd Street Historic District; Map data © 2021 Google

August 10, 2021

Queens’ Cambria Heights could gain two Tudor-filled historic districts

By Devin Gannon

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to calendar two historic districts in the Queens neighborhood of Cambria Heights. The proposed 222nd Street Historic District and the 227th Street Historic District contain a total of 96 intact Tudor Revival rowhouses that incorporate the whimsical Storybook style. One of several prosperous Black communities in southeastern Queens, Cambria Heights is home to many single-family homes, but the two blocks considered for landmark status stand out for their architectural integrity and cohesiveness, according to the commission.
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Policy

Here are the ‘Alfresco Award’ winners for NYC’s best open streets and outdoor dining spots

Maiden Korea, 316 5th Avenue; Courtesy of Alfresco NYC

August 9, 2021

Here are the ‘Alfresco Award’ winners for NYC’s best open streets and outdoor dining spots

By Devin Gannon

Over 11,500 restaurants across New York City currently participate in the city's outdoor dining program, which launched last summer to help businesses stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic. On Monday, seven of them were recognized for being the best examples of outdoor dining setups across the boroughs as part of the first-ever Alfresco Awards. The program, created by a group of local nonprofits, also acknowledged the city's best Open Streets, an initiative that closes streets to cars for pedestrian use.
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First-ever Oreo cookie cafe opens at NJ’s American Dream mall

Photo courtesy of OREO

August 9, 2021

First-ever Oreo cookie cafe opens at NJ’s American Dream mall

By Devin Gannon

A sweets shop at New Jersey's American Dream mall just got even sweeter. The first-ever Oreo cafe opened last week on the top floor of the candy department store IT'SUGAR, a candy and gift shop that measures 22,000 square feet across three levels. The store features a menu of Oreo-inspired desserts, including do-it-your-self customizable treats, and limited-edition cookie merchandise.
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Food & Dining

283 mixed-income units up for grabs in the South Bronx, from $375/month

Rendering of 1115 Commonwealth Avenue courtesy of NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development

August 6, 2021

283 mixed-income units up for grabs in the South Bronx, from $375/month

By Devin Gannon

Applications are now being accepted for 283 mixed-income apartments at a mixed-use development in the South Bronx. The available units are found across three buildings, located at 1775 Watson Avenue, 1111 Commonwealth Avenue, and 1115 Commonwealth Avenue in Soundview. New Yorkers with households earning 30, 40, 50, 60, or 100 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from $375/month studios to $2,143/month three-bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

Architect Michael Haverland lists his modern glass house in East Hampton for $5M

Photos courtesy of Compass

August 5, 2021

Architect Michael Haverland lists his modern glass house in East Hampton for $5M

By Devin Gannon

Architect Michael Haverland is selling his modern East Hampton abode for $4,995,000. Designed in collaboration with his partner, New York Times columnist Philip Galanes, the "glass, steel, and stucco showpiece" at 73 Cove Hollow Road has been featured in over a dozen publications and even included in the Museum of Modern Art's tour of iconic East Hampton homes, according to the listing. Due to careful architectural planning, the one-acre property manages to fit a three-bedroom residence, pool house, patio, and work shed with plenty of space left for a large, lush front yard.
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Distinctive Homes

Here’s how you can show proof of vaccination in New York City

Photo courtesy of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office on Flickr

August 5, 2021

Here’s how you can show proof of vaccination in New York City

By Devin Gannon

Starting August 17, people who want to dine inside at a restaurant, exercise at the gym, or attend an indoor performance in New York City must present proof of Covid-19 vaccination. Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday announced the "Key to NYC Pass" initiative, part of his administration's plan to increase the vaccination rate in the city and fight the very transmissible Delta variant. Plus, there are new vaccine mandates in place for city and state employees, including patient-facing public healthcare workers. There are three ways to prove you received the vaccine, including the state's Excelsior Pass, an app released by the city called NYC Covid Safe, or the paper record issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Policy

Portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama are coming to the Brooklyn Museum this month

(L) “Barack Obama” by Kehinde Wiley, oil on canvas, 2019. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; (R) “Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama” by Amy Sherald, oil on linen, 2018. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution.

August 5, 2021

Portraits of Barack and Michelle Obama are coming to the Brooklyn Museum this month

By Devin Gannon

The famous portraits of President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama are coming to the Brooklyn Museum in Prospect Heights this month. At the beginning of 2020, the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery announced a five-city tour for the two popular paintings, which kicked off in June in the Obamas' hometown of Chicago. Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald are the first African American artists selected by the Portrait Gallery for the museum's official portraits of a president or first lady.
Details here

Events & Things To Do

Photo by Daniel Lee on Unsplash

August 4, 2021

New federal eviction ban covers renters in areas with high Covid rates, including New York

By Devin Gannon

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday issued a new temporary moratorium on evictions that covers renters in areas with high levels of coronavirus transmission. The new order, which replaces the previous federal ban that lapsed on Saturday, expires on October 3 and applies to renters in counties that are experiencing "substantial" or "high" levels of Covid-19 spread, which includes all of New York City. While New York's most recent state order halted evictions through the end of August, the new CDC moratorium provides renters an extra month of protection from eviction.
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Policy

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