City Living

As the dreaded L train shutdown of April 2019 looms ever nearer, the fine folks at Citymapper have created an addition to their interactive mapping app to show you what your commute will look like when the L is not an option. Use the SuperRouter to plan a trip between Brooklyn and Manhattan and see which of your alternative routes works best.
More detai s, this way

The New York Public Library reveals list of the most-checked-out books of 2018

Image via publicdomainpictures.net

December 17, 2018

The New York Public Library reveals list of the most-checked-out books of 2018

The New York Public Library has announced its annual top checkouts list for the year; The most sought-after title in the three public library systems–including books and e-books from the New York Public Library (covering the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island), Brooklyn Public Library, and Queens Library–was Jennifer Egan's "Manhattan Beach." Egan won a Pulitzer Prize for "A Visit From the Goon Squad" in 2011; her newest novel is, as the New York Times puts it in a review, "principally a novel of New York" that "pays tribute to the city’s iconography."
More of the top checkouts, this way

City Living

MTA confirms that ‘disabled train’ announcement was really for a bathroom break

Photo via Flickr cc

December 12, 2018

MTA confirms that ‘disabled train’ announcement was really for a bathroom break

In the summer of 2017, the MTA implemented a new policy to get rid of stock recordings ("we are delayed because of train traffic ahead of us” or “we are being held momentarily by the train’s dispatcher") and "give more detailed announcements" when trains are delayed. And it looks like they have now taken their honesty campaign to Twitter, correcting a rider that his train was not delayed by another disabled train but rather because "one train crew member had to make an emergency pitstop to the restroom."
It happens to the best of us

December 5, 2018

The official SantaCon 2018 map is here. Consider yourself warned.

Like most things requiring crowd control, SantaCon began life with the best of intentions; long ago (in the early '90s) in San Francisco, a group of merry pranksters called the Cacophony Society thought it might be a hoot to poke fun at both the proliferation of people in Santa suits and the proliferation of “cons," while participating in a (alcohol-free, by the way) performance-art-inspired flash mob. As such things do in modern cities, the once-subversive event snowballed, and to paraphrase the Eagles, call someplace paradise–and wake to find four frat dudes barfing outside your window. The drunken ho-ho-hordes are now too legit to quit, and you might as well know where they’ll be on Saturday, December 8, 2018, which is the official date of this year’s SantaCon. Whether your intent is to join in the fun, or to avoid being totally broadsided by a thousand drunk adults in Santa suits, use this map from the event's organizers.
Map, venue list, rules and caveats, this way

A monument honoring Shirley Chisholm will be built near Prospect Park

Chisholm announcing her candidacy in 1972; photo via the Library of Congress

November 30, 2018

A monument honoring Shirley Chisholm will be built near Prospect Park

Chipping away at the lack of women represented among New York City statues, the city announced on Friday it is commissioning a permanent statue of Shirley Chisholm to be built in Brooklyn. Chisholm, who lived in Bed-Stuy, became in 1968 the first black woman to serve in the House of Representatives. The statue, expected to be completed in 2020, will be placed outside of the Parkside entrance to Prospect Park.
More on the new statue here

Ikea reveals ‘preliminary’ plans to open Manhattan store

An Ikea store on Tottenham Court Road in central London, via Ikea

November 27, 2018

Ikea reveals ‘preliminary’ plans to open Manhattan store

Amazon, Target, and Trader Joe's have all cemented their Manhattan presence in recent years, and it looks like Ikea does not want to be left out of the action. In a Wall Street Journal story today that discusses the Swedish furniture company's larger restructuring plans (which includes slashing 7,500 jobs in an attempt to focus on delivery and digital efforts), it was revealed that Ikea will open 30 new stores in city centers over the next two years. There is currently a store in central London, and the next foray into major urban hubs will be its largest yet, a 5,000-square-foot space in Paris. After that, they'll open a city-center store in NYC, which we assume will be somewhere between FiDi and the 80s.
More details

City Living

November 26, 2018

The best offbeat holiday events, exhibits, and outings in NYC this year

The winter holiday season is as much about tradition as it is about twinkling lights and shopping, from the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and the Rockettes to The Nutcracker and as many versions of Handel's Messiah as there are ways to count 'em–plus a full menu of classics on TV and at the movies. If you're craving a break from the old chestnuts, these less-traditional alternatives to the holiday hit parade might be just the kind of merry you're looking to make.
No SantaCon, we promise

November 21, 2018

Local brewery honors Grand Central’s constellation ceiling with new beer

Of all Grand Central's amazing architectural feats and quirky secrets, nothing is more iconic than its famously backward celestial ceiling. So when Sunset Park-based Five Boroughs Brewing Co. started thinking about their next brew, they decided to pay homage to this work of art. "We may be biased, but to us, New York City is the Center of the Universe," Five Boroughs told 6sqft. "This beer pays homage to the beautiful ceiling at Grand Central Terminal and this amazing city we are lucky to call home."
Find out more

City Living

November 19, 2018

New Williamsburg rooftop hotel bar looks like a water tower you can party inside

Any new Williamsburg rooftop hotel bar has some tough acts to follow given the reputation and views at veteran hotspots like The Ides at the Wythe hotel and the doesn't-even-need-a-name rooftop bar at the McCarren Hotel and Pool. The Williamsburg Hotel at 96 Wythe Avenue, however, has decided they're not taking any chances and created an attention-grabbing rooftop party spot that resembles a classic New York City water tank, wrapped in glass. Dubbed The Water Tower bar, of course, the chic new nightclub and lounge officially opened on November 16.
Check it out

City Living

Are NYC women paying a ‘pink tax’ to avoid sexual harassment on public transit?

According to a new report, New York City women are spending an extra $26 to $50 a month on transportation because of safety concerns. An online survey conducted by the Rudin Center for Transportation at NYU asked New Yorkers about harassment on public transportation, if safety concerns impact their transit choices and about their travel habits in general (h/t AMNY). According to the results, 75 percent of females who responded had experienced harassment or theft while using public transportation compared to 47 percent of male respondents; over half of female respondents were concerned about being harassed on public transit; 29 percent of the women (versus 8 percent of men) said they don’t take public transportation late at night because of “a perceived safety threat.”
Find out more

In honor of the World War I armistice centennial, the city’s memorials get refurbished

The Washington Heights-Inwood War Memorial via Wiki Commons

November 12, 2018

In honor of the World War I armistice centennial, the city’s memorials get refurbished

Did you know NYC has one of the largest collections of memorials erected in the aftermath of World War I? 103 to be exact. And to mark the centennial of the WWI armistice, the Parks Department has announced that they've completed refurbishments of several of these sites, including Father Duffy in Times Square, the Pleasant Plains Memorial on Staten Island, the Abingdon Square Doughboy in Greenwich Village, and the Carroll Park monument in Brooklyn.
READ MORE

City Living

Pajamas, turkeys, and MetroCards: 7 ways to donate this holiday season

Image via New York Cares

November 12, 2018

Pajamas, turkeys, and MetroCards: 7 ways to donate this holiday season

While giving thanks and exchanging gifts this holiday season, share the wealth and give a little extra to fellow New Yorkers in need. From coats and turkeys to MetroCards and toys, the list below is a good place to start. Yes, financial donations are always welcome–but there are plenty of much-needed, much-appreciated items you can give that don't require spending an extra penny.
Sometimes it really is better to give

New book compiles all ‘Notable New Yorkers’ honored on the city’s cultural medallions

Gershwin medallion on Riverside Drive, photos courtesy of Melissa Stutts for the Historic Landmarks Preservation Center

November 9, 2018

New book compiles all ‘Notable New Yorkers’ honored on the city’s cultural medallions

By Lucie Levine

What do Jimmy Cagney, the actor Alfred M. Butts, the man who invented Scrabble, and feminist champion Bella Abzug all have in common? They, along with over 100 other hometown greats, are all Notable New Yorkers. Since 1995, the Historic Landmarks Preservation Center has been installing cultural medallions throughout the five boroughs to celebrate New Yorkers whose contributions to our collective cultural life have enriched the city, the nation, and the world. Now, in addition to their interactive map HLPC has launched a new book, Notable New Yorkers: The HLPC Cultural Medallion Program, that collects all those plaques in one place.
READ MORE

City Living

November 8, 2018

Meet Candice and Malessa, real estate’s ‘new generation’ of brokers working to empower women

"Integrity, vigorous work ethic, and a strategic business approach," form the platform that Candice Milano and Malessa Rambarran bring as brokers to the NYC real estate world. But there's no "broker babble" here. The duo--who recently joined Halstead as the Milano-Rambarran Team--consider themselves the "next generation of real estate," forming important relationships with their new development clients and growing their luxury resale business. But what sets them apart the most is their mission to bring this knowledge of how to use real estate as a wealth building tool to the public, specifically women. They've even created their own platform, Women in Residential Real Estate (WIRRE) to foster this community and connect people through their series of curated events. Ahead, 6sqft chats with Candice and Malessa about how their approach, how they got into real estate, and why it's so important to support fellow females.
Read the interview

SummerStage in Central Park will get a revamp and new stage for the 2019 season

Rendering of the new, improved Central Park SummerStage; image courtesy of City Parks Foundation.

November 7, 2018

SummerStage in Central Park will get a revamp and new stage for the 2019 season

CityParks SummerStage is New York City’s largest free outdoor performing arts festival, with 100 performances happening annually in neighborhood parks around the city as well as in Central Park from May-October–the majority of which are free of charge. In 2019, City Parks Foundation's flagship SummerStage venue in Central Park will be getting a new stage, new sound system, more lighting, upgraded backstage areas, raised seating and an overall improved concert-going experience.
See more of what's to come next summer

City Living

Citi Bike, Uber, Lyft offering New Yorkers free and discounted rides to vote

Photo via Citi Bike

November 5, 2018

Citi Bike, Uber, Lyft offering New Yorkers free and discounted rides to vote

Just over 61 percent of Americans voted in the 2016 presidential election, and according to a Harvard poll, 14 percent of those who didn't turn out cited a lack of transportation as the reason. In response, public transportation agencies, car services, and bike/scooter shares in cities throughout the nation will offer free and discounted rides tomorrow for the midtern elections to those traveling to vote. Here in NYC, Citi Bike is offering free rides (as well as in Jersey City), Uber is giving $10 off in addition to adding a poll locater button in its app, and Lyft is giving half off rides, as well as code for free rides to underserved communities.
Get all the details

12-ton Norway spruce is headed for Rockefeller Center’s 2018 holiday HQ

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree-to-be in its birthplace in Walkill, New York.

October 30, 2018

12-ton Norway spruce is headed for Rockefeller Center’s 2018 holiday HQ

That's right, it's not even Halloween yet, but the 2018 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has been selected and is now being groomed for duty as the centerpiece of New York City's treasured holiday tableau. The tree, a 72-foot Norway spruce, born and raised in Walkill, New York, is 45 feet in diameter and weighs about 12 tons. The tree will be lifted by crane onto Rockefeller Plaza on Saturday, November 10. After being wrapped with five miles of LED lights, the enormous evergreen will be crowned with a new Swarovski star designed by architect Daniel Libeskind for the free, public tree-lighting extravaganza happening this year on November 28.
Find out more

NYPL releases limited-edition ‘Knowledge is Power’ library cards

Via Flickr cc

October 29, 2018

NYPL releases limited-edition ‘Knowledge is Power’ library cards

The New York Public Library launched on Monday a limited-edition library card highlighting the message behind all public libraries: knowledge is power. The special black and silver card serves as a reminder to New Yorkers to fight misinformation, stay informed, and, of course, visit your local library. The card is available at NYPL's 92 locations across the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island for a limited time.
More here

City Living

Lin-Manuel Miranda joins effort to encourage travel between NYC and Puerto Rico

La Perla in San Juan; photo courtesy of Discover Puerto Rico

October 24, 2018

Lin-Manuel Miranda joins effort to encourage travel between NYC and Puerto Rico

The tourism agencies of New York City and Puerto Rico are teaming up to boost travel between the two places. At an event on Tuesday hosted by Lin-Manuel Miranda, NYC & Company and Discover Puerto Rico signed a one-year alliance to encourage "reciprocal travel," with a new advertising campaign and swapping of marketing tips. Miranda is also bringing his award-winning show "Hamilton" to the island from January 8 to January 27 at the Univesity of Puerto Rico's San Juan campus. All proceeds from the engagement will go toward an art fund on the island founded by Miranda.
More here

Image: Clover Grocery via Facebook.

October 23, 2018

Can bougie bodegas make it in NYC?

There was a time not too long ago when New Yorkers began to resent the apparent gentrification of local bodegas, which had begun carrying high-priced, healthy food items sought by new neighborhood residents. Chain convenience stores like 7-11 were yet another blow to the concept of the quirky corner deli. And then, of course, there was the Whole Foods effect. The latest development in the ascent of the local grocery store is even more difficult to grok: The "wellness bodega" has arrived. As Eater reports, mini-markets–like Clover Grocery in Manhattan’s West Village–in metro areas like NYC and LA are stocking items like $18 "vegan friendly" condoms and marine collagen supplements–and confusing the daylights out of ordinary city folk.
And a WeWork market, of course

City Living

Salted fish, puppet shows, and spitting: Strange ways to break the law in NYC

Via WNYC/Flickr

October 22, 2018

Salted fish, puppet shows, and spitting: Strange ways to break the law in NYC

By Cait Etherington

New York may be known around the world as a city where anything goes, but in fact, the NYC is home to a long list of unusual, and in some cases, archaic laws that suggest the opposite may hold true. Most of these laws—with the exception of those concerning postering—are not readily enforced, but they are technically still on the books. As for the consequences of breaking some of the city’s more peculiar laws, they run the gamut from small fines of $25 to jail time up to thirty days.
Get the scoop

Newark and NYC appear to be favored for Amazon’s HQ2 site

Photo via Robert Scoble on Flickr

October 22, 2018

Newark and NYC appear to be favored for Amazon’s HQ2 site

The hunt for Amazon's second headquarters is still on, more than a year after the company first announced its plan for HQ2. The tech-giant has narrowed its list of potential cities from over 200 to 20, with Newark and New York City both making the cut. Amazon executives recently revisited both of the cities, as well as others like Chicago and Miami, making it seem like the company favors an urban area, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Find out more

McNally Jackson bookstore announces move after 136% rent hike

McNally Jackson bookstore on Spring Street. Image by Carl Mikoy via Flickr.

October 22, 2018

McNally Jackson bookstore announces move after 136% rent hike

As one of New York City's finest all-around independent bookstores, McNally Jackson booksellers on Prince Street is a literary standby for the latest bestsellers as well as thought-provoking political non-fiction, art books, cards, magazines, readings and more. Though the shop occupies a spot on one of the city's most highly-trafficked "High Streets," it has endured for 15 years, long enough to be taken for granted. But that would, of course, be a mistake in the city's current environment of empty storefronts in high rent neighborhoods because only Amazon can afford the rent. And right about the time Amazon has opened a storefront in Soho, the beloved bookseller is moving out after the rent was raised to $850,000--a 136% increase. Fear not, the owner is opening again in a new location, but unlike other, less gutsy mom-and-pop proprietors, she has no fear of being very vocal about the issue, Fox5 NY reports.
Find out more

The East Coast’s largest Trader Joe’s opens at Essex Crossing

Image courtesy of Trader Joe’s.

October 18, 2018

The East Coast’s largest Trader Joe’s opens at Essex Crossing