City Living

Jerry Seinfeld, Fran Lebowitz among celebs making new COVID PSAs on the subway

Photo by Jenna Day on Unsplash

February 12, 2021

Jerry Seinfeld, Fran Lebowitz among celebs making new COVID PSAs on the subway

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Jerry Seinfeld, Edie Falco, Cam’ron, Debbie Mazar, Whoopie Goldberg, Fran Lebowitz--these are just a few of the 25 New York celebrities whose voices were recorded by the MTA for a new set of subway PSAs. The announcements, which begin today, are meant to bring humor and some good old-fashioned NYC swagger to the subway as the city begins its recovery. The project was done in collaboration with Nicolas Heller, a talent scout who has gained notoriety for his popular Instagram account New York Nico. "This was such a dream project and I wanna give a huge thanks to my team who helped make this whole thing happen in less than 6 weeks with $0," he wrote in a post today.
Hear some of the announcements
You can stay overnight at Bryant Park’s Winter Village this Valentine’s Day

All images courtesy of Booking.com

February 9, 2021

You can stay overnight at Bryant Park’s Winter Village this Valentine’s Day

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Travel company Booking.com is transforming Midtown's Bryant Park into a unique overnight experience this Valentine's Day. As part of its "Love Letters to America" campaign, the company is celebrating cities across the U.S. that have been hit hard by the coronavirus and inviting others to share adventures they are looking forward to once it's safe to travel again. As a tribute to the Big Apple, Booking.com has converted the Polar Lounge at the Bank of America Winter Village into an après ski-inspired chalet, available to book for two nights only on February 13 and February 14.
Details this way
Track the progress of NYC snow plows with this interactive map

Screenshot of PlowNYC

February 1, 2021

Track the progress of NYC snow plows with this interactive map

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Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared on Monday a state of emergency for New York City and much of the state as Winter Storm Orlena continues to hit the area with heavy snowfall, over 50 mph winds, and white-out conditions. While many New Yorkers are already working from home, essential workers still have to get to work. With the city expected to get 16-22 inches of snow, the Department of Sanitation has updated its interactive PlowNYC map to see if and when your street has been plowed and salted.
See when your street was plowed last
MTA unveils digital memorial honoring over 100 transit workers lost to COVID-19

Photos courtesy of Marc A. Hermann/ MTA unless otherwise noted

January 25, 2021

MTA unveils digital memorial honoring over 100 transit workers lost to COVID-19

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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Monday unveiled a memorial dedicated to the 136 employees who have died from the coronavirus since March. The tribute, named "Travels Far: A Memorial Honoring Our Colleagues Lost to COVID-19" after a poem by Tracy K. Smith commissioned for the project, includes an eight-minute video featuring photographs of the frontline MTA workers who lost their lives to the virus. The video will run on 138 three-panel digital screens at 107 subway stations across the city starting Monday.
Find out more
Vending machines selling at-home COVID tests are headed for NYC

Image courtesy of Wellness 4 Humanity

January 25, 2021

Vending machines selling at-home COVID tests are headed for NYC

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When the pandemic hit, health startup Wellness 4 Humanity pivoted its mission to aid in providing COVID-19 tests to the public. Unlike many other tests, theirs were all created to be taken at home, including the more standard saliva test, as well as a rapid test that gets results in 15 minutes. The Houston-based company has now broadened its reach with its vending machines, which will be selling at-home tests starting at $119 across cities nationwide. Here in New York City, the first machine is expected to pop up at the office building 225 West 34th Street, but W4H co-founder Pavel Stuchlik told 6sqft that we can expect more machines in easily accessible spots throughout the city.
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46th Street subway station turned into Joe Biden tribute

Photo by Adrian Wilson / @plannedalism

January 21, 2021

46th Street subway station turned into Joe Biden tribute

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Street artist Adrian Wilson decided to mark the momentousness of yesterday with a special NYC-themed tribute to our new President. At the 46th Street subway station in Astoria, he used stickers to change the "46th St" mosaic to read "46th Joe" with a change to the directional below to read "45th Out." In his Instagram post, Wilson wrote, "Total cost including 4 train rides, $12. Anyone could have done it. But I had to do it. For Joe."
Get the scoop
New York City’s tributes to Martin Luther King Jr.

Stanziola, P. (1964) Mayor Wagner greets Dr. & Mrs. Martin Luther King, Jr. at City Hall / World-Telegram & Sun photo by Phil Stanziola. 1964. [Photograph]; Courtesy of the Library of Congress

January 15, 2021

New York City’s tributes to Martin Luther King Jr.

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While some of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s most memorable moments of his career happened further South, like the Montgomery bus boycott and his "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington, support for his goals hailed first from advocacy organizations based in New York City, like the National Urban League. King held sermons at Riverside Church in Morningside Heights, led a march from Central Park to the United Nations in protest of the Vietnam War, and received a Medallion of Honor from Mayor Robert Wagner. As a way to honor King and his immense impact on the advancement of civil rights, the city has named streets, parks, playgrounds, and more after the icon. On MLK Day this Monday, celebrate by learning about memorials dedicated to him citywide.
Learn more about NYC's MLK memorials here
You can buy Gem Spa’s iconic storefront sign, egg cream machines

All photos courtesy of Gem Spa

January 4, 2021

You can buy Gem Spa’s iconic storefront sign, egg cream machines

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While you can no longer order an egg cream at Gem Spa in the East Village, which closed its doors for good in May, you can own a piece of the legendary institution. The landmark newsstand, which has been located on the corner of St. Marks Place and Second Avenue for a century, is auctioning off iconic memorabilia and signage from the store, including its bright yellow storefront sign, egg cream equipment, and gates with designs by the artist Paul Kostabi. The auction has been extended to January 7 at 10 p.m.
Details this way
NYC extends Open Storefronts program through next fall

Photo by ozgecan on Flickr

December 29, 2020

NYC extends Open Storefronts program through next fall

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New York City's Open Storefronts program, which allows small businesses to use outdoor space in front of their stores to sell goods, has been extended through the fall of next year. Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday signed an executive order extending the program, which was originally expected to end December 31, through September 30, 2021. The program will also expand the number of restaurants and retail stores that can use sidewalks to sell take-out. "We think that's going to help them as they fight to survive in this environment," de Blasio said Tuesday.
Details here
The Village Voice is coming back next month

Photo (cropped) of the Village Voice’s Cooper Square offices by Ajay Suresh via Wikimedia Commons

December 23, 2020

The Village Voice is coming back next month

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In August of 2018, after 63 years as a NYC icon, The Village Voice folded. But in some good news for local journalism, the New York Times reports today that the Voice will "[rise] from the dead." Brian Calle, chief executive of Street Media which owns LA Weekly, has acquired the publication from its current owner Peter Barbey. Calle said he will start publishing online content next month, with a quarterly print edition set to launch in March. He also said he hopes to re-hire former Voice staffers.
More details here
Over 1,000 NYC chain stores have closed this past year, the biggest drop in a decade

Photo by Peter Burka on Flickr

December 23, 2020

Over 1,000 NYC chain stores have closed this past year, the biggest drop in a decade

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More than 1,000 chain stores in New York City have closed over the past year, the largest year-over-year decline in over a decade. According to the Center for an Urban Future's annual "State of the Chains" report, nearly one out of every seven chain retailers open at this time last year is now closed, due to the coronavirus pandemic coupled with the continued growth of e-commerce. Even Dunkin', the city's largest retailer, closed 18 locations in 2020, the first time the coffee chain experienced a decline since CUF began tracking chains 13 years ago.
Get the details
Funding for MTA and Broadway included in latest federal COVID relief bill

Photo by (vincent desjardins) on Flickr

December 21, 2020

Funding for MTA and Broadway included in latest federal COVID relief bill

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Congress on Sunday reached an agreement on a $900 billion emergency coronavirus relief package, roughly nine months after the first stimulus was signed into law. The package is expected to provide one-time direct payments of $600 to most taxpayers and provide an additional $300 per week to those unemployed. In some positive news for New York, the stimulus deal also includes $4 billion to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Save Our Stages bill, which provides funding for live performance venues, comedy clubs, and Broadway. Congress could vote on the package as early as Monday.
Learn more here
Finnerty’s, popular Bay Area sports bar in the East Village, has permanently closed

The bar on opening day, courtesy of Finnerty’s

December 21, 2020

Finnerty’s, popular Bay Area sports bar in the East Village, has permanently closed

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Considered New York City's unofficial San Francisco sports bar, Finnerty's announced this morning that it's permanently closing its East Village location. For the past 11 years, the Irish pub on Second Avenue has been a go-to spot for Giants and 49ers fans, even hosting the Giant's World Series trophy three times. "The pandemic, along with being unable to reach an agreement with our landlord, forced our hand. There just wasn’t any way forward for us," said Finnerty's owners Dieter Seelig and Brian Stapleton.
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These are the books New Yorkers borrowed the most from the library in 2020

Photo credit: Jonathan Blanc / NYPL

December 21, 2020

These are the books New Yorkers borrowed the most from the library in 2020

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During an unusually tough year full of challenges, including the coronavirus pandemic, an election, and racial justice issues, New Yorkers relied on books to not only stay informed but to find comfort. The city's three public library systems on Monday released their top checkouts of 2020 lists. At the New York Public Library, which includes branches in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island, the most borrowed book of the year was Brit Bennett's The Vanishing Half. In Brooklyn, the top checkout was How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi and in Queens, The Guardians by John Grisham.
See the lists
How does the MTA deal with snowstorms? Jet engine powered snow blowers

A jet snow thrower in action via MTA’s Flickr

December 16, 2020

How does the MTA deal with snowstorms? Jet engine powered snow blowers

By
With a forecast of up to 18 inches of snow, Winter Storm Gail is expected to bring more snow to New York City this week than the five boroughs saw all of last year. In response to the nor'easter, expected to hit Wednesday afternoon, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has activated its 24/7 command center to monitor the storm. The agency is prepared to clear subways, buses, and commuter railways of snow thanks to its fleet of super-powered snow throwers, jet-powered snow blowers, and specially designed de-icing cars to tackle the icy mess.
More this way
‘Open Culture’ program will bring outdoor art and live performances to NYC this spring

The Museum of the City of New York opened an outdoor photo installation this summer titled “New York Responds,” Photo courtesy of MCNY

December 11, 2020

‘Open Culture’ program will bring outdoor art and live performances to NYC this spring

By
The New York City Council on Thursday passed legislation permitting cultural institutions to use public outdoor space for events and performances. Sponsored by Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, the bill requires the city to create the "Open Culture" program, modeled after the city's successful outdoor dining initiative, which lets restaurants set up seating on sidewalks and some streets closed to cars. The program is set to be established by March 1, 2021.
Get the details
To help fund MTA, proposed bill calls for $3 fee on packages delivered in NYC

Photo by Raidarmax on Wikimedia

December 9, 2020

To help fund MTA, proposed bill calls for $3 fee on packages delivered in NYC

By
A state lawmaker is calling for a new surcharge on packages delivered in New York City as a way to raise money for the cash-strapped Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Assembly Member Robert Carroll revived a bill he first introduced last February that would impose a $3 fee on all online delivery transactions, except for essential medical supplies and food. Facing its worst financial crisis in history because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the MTA has said without the $12 billion in aid from Congress it has requested, subway and bus service could be cut by 40 percent.
Learn more
Pearl River Mart to close Tribeca flagship next year

Pearl River Mart Foods in Chelsea Market; Courtesy of Chelsea Market

December 7, 2020

Pearl River Mart to close Tribeca flagship next year

By
Pearl River Mart will shutter its Tribeca flagship early next year, store owners announced last week, becoming the latest New York City institution to shutter because of the coronavirus pandemic. In a blog post, company president Joanne Kwong said negotiations with the landlord "have stalled" and that he "has made clear his desire to use the courts to recoup every dollar he can, not just from our business, but from our personal assets." Despite the closure, Pearl River Mart, which has sold one-of-a-kind Asian-inspired decor and cookware in Manhattan since 1971, will keep its stores and new food concept in Chelsea Market open and the company said it has already secured a new location in the neighborhood.
More here
NYPL celebrates the five boroughs with list of 125 books about NYC

Photo courtesy of NYPL

December 3, 2020

NYPL celebrates the five boroughs with list of 125 books about NYC

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As it wraps up its 125th anniversary year, the New York Public Library is paying tribute to the city it has called home for over a century. On Thursday, the library released "125 NYC Books We Love," a list of titles recommended for adults, kids, and teens that celebrate the five boroughs. The book list is part of the library's "Roar for NYC" campaign, which aims to lift up New Yorkers during a challenging time and remind us of the city's resiliency.
Learn more
Fauci says Broadway could return next fall if ‘large proportion’ of nation receives COVID-19 vaccine

Photo by Andrae Ricketts on Unsplash

December 2, 2020

Fauci says Broadway could return next fall if ‘large proportion’ of nation receives COVID-19 vaccine

By
Broadway theaters could reopen as soon as late summer or early fall next year, Dr. Anthony Fauci said during an interview on Tuesday. When asked by WNBC anchor David Ushery about the possibility of The Great White Way shining bright again, the nation's top infectious disease expert said it depends "on the uptake of vaccines by the people of the country and specifically the people of New York." All 41 Broadway theaters closed on March 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic and ticket sales have been suspended until at least next May.
More here
The Salvation Army unveils giant red kettle in NYC as need for support services remains high

Photo courtesy of The Salvation Army Greater New York Division

December 1, 2020

The Salvation Army unveils giant red kettle in NYC as need for support services remains high

By
With the need for support services at an all-time high coupled with a lack of foot traffic at retail stores due to the coronavirus pandemic, The Salvation Army has had to think outside the kettle this holiday season. While typically the charity group relies on its bell-ringers stationed outside of stores with red kettles to raise money for those in need, this year the Salvation Army is calling for digital donations. To bring attention to its online fundraising campaign, the group unveiled on Tuesday a giant 32-foot red kettle in Times Square.
Find out more
New Yorkers pay tribute to Mayor David Dinkins

Photo of Mayor David Dinkins by Rubenstein, photographer Martyna Borkowski on Flickr

November 24, 2020

New Yorkers pay tribute to Mayor David Dinkins

By
David N. Dinkins, New York City's first and only Black mayor, died at his Manhattan home on Monday at the age of 93. Dinkins, who entered office in January 1990, famously referred to the city's diversity as a "gorgeous mosaic" and advocated economic and education equality for all New Yorkers. Despite serving just one term, Dinkins is credited with expanding affordable housing, lowering crime rates, revitalizing Times Square, and signing a deal that guaranteed the U.S. Open would be held in the city for decades. After news of his death broke, several New York leaders and luminaries paid tribute to the trailblazing icon.
More here
Astor Place Hairstylists has been saved from closing

Mayor Bill de Blasio celebrated the Phase 2 reopening with a visit to Astor Place Hairstylists on June 23, 2020. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

November 23, 2020

Astor Place Hairstylists has been saved from closing

By
Just two days before it was set to close for good, Astor Place Hairstylists was saved by a group of New York investors. As the New York Post first reported, enough money has been raised to keep the East Village basement barbershop "open for at least another 75 years," businessman Jonathan Trichter told the newspaper on Monday. Astor Place Hairstylists announced last month plans to permanently close just before Thanksgiving due to a lack of business because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Find out more
As New Yorkers face increasingly long lines for COVID-19 tests, CityMD cuts hours

Photo by Billie Grace Ward via Wikimedia Commons

November 13, 2020

As New Yorkers face increasingly long lines for COVID-19 tests, CityMD cuts hours

By
In an email to its customers today, CityMD acknowledged that "long lines are a daily fact at nearly every CityMD as we see a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases across the region." They go on to say that their staff and doctors have been seeing patients well after closing time for months now, reaching "the point where they are sacrificing their own safety and health." Therefore, all locations will begin closing 90 minutes earlier. These long lines have become a grim reminder for New Yorkers that a second wave seems imminent.
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Can NYC stave off a second COVID wave? Positivity rate nears 3%

Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.

November 10, 2020

Can NYC stave off a second COVID wave? Positivity rate nears 3%

By
Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office. For the sixth straight day, New York City's COVID positivity rate has been above 2 percent, today hitting 2.88 percent. Though this is lower than surrounding states (New Jersey has recently hit 8 percent), Mayor de Blasio's education plan has set a threshold of 3 percent for keeping schools open. And according to the city's data, the number of new daily infections has nearly doubled since August from roughly 300 to a whopping 976 last Wednesday. Yesterday, Mayor de Blasio said the city was "getting dangerously close" to a second wave, setting off an alarm among New Yorkers, and today he said, "this is our last chance to stop [it]."
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