City Living

Lunar New Year brings celebrations and joy to NYC’s Chinatown

All photos courtesy of Welcome to Chinatown unless otherwise noted

January 18, 2023

Lunar New Year brings celebrations and joy to NYC’s Chinatown

In early 2020, Vic Lee, who grew up in Manhattan's Chinatown, noticed that there was less foot traffic in her neighborhood. "It was obvious something was going on that Lunar New Year,” Lee said. “We talked to business owners, and it was because of xenophobia and racist rhetoric." During the height of the coronavirus pandemic in March of that year, she co-founded Welcome to Chinatown as a way to amplify small businesses and entrepreneurs in Chinatown via their Longevity Fund. The organization also has a meal donation program for underserved residents and does research and data collection. And this month, for the third year, Welcome to Chinatown will be hosting Lunar New Year celebrations to usher in the Year of the Rabbit, which begins January 22. We spoke to Lee about what to expect and what Lunar New Year means to her, as well as the Chinatown community.
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Saks Fifth Avenue proposes casino atop flagship store in Midtown

Image courtesy of Warren LeMay on Flickr

January 17, 2023

Saks Fifth Avenue proposes casino atop flagship store in Midtown

By Aaron Ginsburg

The owner of one of the world's most iconic department stores wants to open a casino at its iconic New York City flagship. Hudson's Bay Company, the owner of the Saks Fifth Avenue, announced last week it would pursue a gaming license to convert the top three floors of its store at 611 Fifth Avenue into a casino, as first reported by the New York Times.
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City Living

Hochul’s 14-mile ‘Interborough Express’ connecting Brooklyn and Queens will use light rail

View of the Bay Ridge Branch from below 5th Ave, which would be incorporated in the proposed Interborough Express. Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann/MTA on Flickr

January 11, 2023

Hochul’s 14-mile ‘Interborough Express’ connecting Brooklyn and Queens will use light rail

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Interborough Express, a highly-anticipated train line that will connect Brooklyn and Queens, will use light rail, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced in her State of the State address on Tuesday. While the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is still conducting its environmental review of the project, Hochul stated that selecting light rail would "provide the best service for customers at the lowest cost per rider," according to a press release.
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Rooftop bar made of ice opens on the Brooklyn waterfront

All photos courtesy of 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge

January 9, 2023

Rooftop bar made of ice opens on the Brooklyn waterfront

By Aaron Ginsburg

New Yorkers will soon be able to relax in an ice lounge with cool views of the Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge. Located atop the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge in Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Polar Lounge at Harriet's Rooftop offers patrons a glacial experience with seating, sculptures, and drinks made from ice. The lounge opens to the public on Thursday, January 12, and will stay open until February 26.
How to book

First Wegmans store in Manhattan will have a seafood restaurant and sushi bar

Wegmans’ opening day in Brooklyn Credit: Steiner NYC

January 5, 2023

First Wegmans store in Manhattan will have a seafood restaurant and sushi bar

By Aaron Ginsburg

Manhattan's first-ever Wegmans grocery store is opening this year. Located at Vornado Realty Trust's 770 Broadway in the East Village, the grocery store chain, beloved for its prepared food options and affordable prices, will replace the Kmart on Astor Place, which closed in 2021. In addition to its usual offerings, the store will feature a 94-seat seafood restaurant with an oyster counter and a 10-seat sushi bar, as first reported by Eater New York. The store is expected to open during the second half of 2023.
Details here

City Living

NYC’s highest ice skating rink to open at Hudson Yards’ observation deck Edge

Images courtesy of Edge

January 5, 2023

NYC’s highest ice skating rink to open at Hudson Yards’ observation deck Edge

By Aaron Ginsburg

A sky-high ice skating rink is opening at 30 Hudson Yards this month. Located within the indoor section of the skyscraper's observation deck Edge, "Sky Skate" is a 1,024-square-foot rink made of synthetic ice and surrounded by breathtaking views of the city skyline. At 1,131 feet in the air, the Sky Skate will be the highest ice skating rink in New York City.
Take skating to new heights

Mulchfest is back: Here’s how to recycle your Christmas tree in NYC

Photo credit: NYC Parks / Daniel Avila

January 3, 2023

Mulchfest is back: Here’s how to recycle your Christmas tree in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

With the holidays behind us, there's no better way to officially wrap up the season than sustainably disposing of your Christmas tree. The Parks Department's annual Mulchfest started on December 26 and will run through January 8, with 73 drop-off sites across the five boroughs for New Yorkers to bid "fir-well" to the holidays. On January 7 and 8 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., residents can bring their trees to one of the city's 35 chipping sites, watch them be chipped, and take a bag of mulch home.
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Here are the library books New Yorkers borrowed the most in 2022

Photo credit: Jonathan Blanc / NYPL

December 19, 2022

Here are the library books New Yorkers borrowed the most in 2022

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's three public library systems released their annual lists for their most checked-out titles of 2022. At the New York Public Library, the most borrowed book of the year was Matt Haig's The Midnight Library: A Novel. In Brooklyn, the top checkout was Laura Dave's The Last Thing He Told Me: A Novel, and in Queens, The Paris Apartment: A Novel by Lucy Foley.
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City Living

Interact with nearly 1M NYC trees through a new digital map

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

December 12, 2022

Interact with nearly 1M NYC trees through a new digital map

By Aaron Ginsburg

New Yorkers will now be able to interact with nearly one million of New York City's trees through a new first-of-its-kind digital map. The NYC Parks Department last week released the NYC Tree Map, an interactive map that allows New Yorkers to see the unique IDs, species information, and maintenance status of more than 800,000 of the city's street and park trees.
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City Living

Inside the NYBG’s Holiday Train Show, a whimsical tribute to NYC

Replicas of the Hell Gate Bridge and George Washington Bridge soar overhead in the Holiday Train Show; Photos courtesy of NYBG unless otherwise noted

December 6, 2022

Inside the NYBG’s Holiday Train Show, a whimsical tribute to NYC

Since 1992, the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx has held its Holiday Train Show. The magical exhibit recreates 190 of New York City’s landmark buildings in miniature using plant materials like bark, leaves, and seeds. Twenty-five model trains zoom in and out of the cityscape over bridges and under tunnels, just like in the real-life city. The pieces of art are created by the team from Applied Imagination, which was founded by Paul Busse in 1991. The following year, he brought his creations to the NYBG. To learn more about this iconic holiday event, we spoke to Joanna Groarke, vice president for exhibitions and programming at NYBG.
Everything you need to know

City Living

Popular Articles

Jay-Z joins effort to open a casino in Times Square

Rendering of proposed Caesars Place Times Square courtesy of SL Green Realty Corp

December 6, 2022

Jay-Z joins effort to open a casino in Times Square

By Devin Gannon

A bid to open a casino in Times Square just gained some star power. Rapper and entertainment mogul Jay-Z and his agency Roc Nation will join SL Green and Caesars Entertainment in their efforts to open a casino at 1515 Broadway, the team announced on Monday. The full-service talent agency, which represents major clients across music, entertainment, and sports, will partner with neighborhood organizations to "reimagine programming" in Times Square.
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City Living

NYC is hiring a rat czar with a ‘virulent vehemence for vermin’

Photo by Ludovic Bertron on Flickr

December 1, 2022

NYC is hiring a rat czar with a ‘virulent vehemence for vermin’

By Michelle Cohen

Though there may be bigger battles, New York City's war against rats is an arduous and ongoing affair. Mayor Eric Adams has positioned himself as a sworn enemy of the scurrying horde: During his time as Brooklyn Borough President, Adams expressed his distaste for the resilient rodents. Now, as mayor, Adams is seeking a fearless lieutenant to lead the extermination effort, Gothamist reports. According to a new job listing published by the city for Director of Rodent Mitigation, the individual sought for this position–"rat czar," says a City Hall spokesperson–will have a "Swashbuckling attitude, crafty humor, and general aura of badassery” and a “virulent vehemence for vermin.” In return, they can expect a salary of up to $170,000.
Rat eradication strategy ahead

Go behind the scenes at the Brooklyn Museum with this free virtual guide

Photo courtesy of Alison Day for New York Hotels Magazine on Flickr

November 30, 2022

Go behind the scenes at the Brooklyn Museum with this free virtual guide

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Brooklyn Museum this week launched a new digital guide on the Bloomberg Connects app that allows art lovers to learn more about the museum's expansive collection that spans 5,500 years of human creativity. Aimed at enhancing in-person and virtual visits, the museum's guide includes audio tours led by curators and creators that focus on artwork found across its five floors.
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These are the best books of 2022, according to the NYPL

Photo © 6sqft

November 28, 2022

These are the best books of 2022, according to the NYPL

By Aaron Ginsburg

The New York Public Library last week released its annual list of the best books of the year. The recommendations were selected by expert librarians and staff who reviewed nearly 3,000 books and ultimately selected 260 of the best titles for kids, teens, and adults in 2022. Whether you want to buy a book as a gift for the holidays or are just interested in reading one yourself, NYPL's Best Books of 2022 list has something for every type of reader.
See the list

City Living

10 offbeat holiday events and exhibits to check out in NYC

FAO Schwarz at Rockefeller Center; Photo: Charles Sykes/AP Images for FAO Schwarz

November 22, 2022

10 offbeat holiday events and exhibits to check out in NYC

The thing about tradition is, it never gets old. And in New York City during the holidays, there are some annual traditions that just make the city magical — the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, lights on 5th Avenue, the Bryant Park holiday market, and Santa at Macy’s to name a few. And while these tried and true mainstays will never go out of style, it is nice to switch it up once in a while. We’ve rounded up some lesser-known holiday events and activities to mix things up this holiday season in NYC.
Check them out

NYC is putting gifts given to past mayors up for auction

Photos courtesy of the City of New York

November 21, 2022

NYC is putting gifts given to past mayors up for auction

By Devin Gannon

The city is selling gifts given to past mayors, from a basketball signed by the New York Knicks and given to Mayor Rudolph Giuliani to a paperweight gifted to Mayor David Dinkins by Diana Ross. This week, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services launched "Gifts to the City," a series of online auctions of items and keepsakes given to Mayors Koch, Dinkins, Giuliani, and Bloomberg. The auctions kick off Monday with over 50 items and will continue on a rolling basis.
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City Living

NYC taxi fares to increase by 23% by end of the year

Photo by Taton Moïse on Unsplash

November 17, 2022

NYC taxi fares to increase by 23% by end of the year

By Devin Gannon

The cost of an average metered New York City taxi ride will increase by nearly 23 percent by the end of the year. The city's Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) voted this week to approve fare hikes for yellow cabs, the first increase in roughly a decade. The average passenger metered fare will increase from $15.97 to $19.62 per ride, which will lead to drivers seeing a 33 percent jump in gross revenue, according to the TLC.
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The 2022 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has arrived in NYC

All photos courtesy of Diane Bondareff/AP Images for Tishman Speyer

November 14, 2022

The 2022 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has arrived in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree has arrived in Midtown, marking the start of the holiday season in New York City. Donated by a family in Glens Falls, New York, the 82-foot-tall Norway Spruce tree is 50 feet wide and weighs around 14 tons. After its arrival at Rockefeller Center this weekend, the hefty tree was hoisted into position by a crane and set in place, where it will stand throughout the holiday season. The annual tree lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, November 30.
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Citymeals’ festive holiday cards help deliver meals to elderly New Yorkers

‘Tis the Season by Katie Woodward, Image courtesy of Citymeals on Wheels

November 11, 2022

Citymeals’ festive holiday cards help deliver meals to elderly New Yorkers

By Aaron Ginsburg

Citymeals on Wheels' annual holiday card program is returning for the 30th year this holiday season to raise funds for the preparation and delivery of meals to elderly, homebound New Yorkers. The cards feature designs from previous seasons and new original designs of iconic New York City holiday scenes, from a snow day on the Bow Bridge in Central Park to a newly chopped-down Christmas tree atop a taxi.
How you can help

Brooklyn Council Member hopes to plant 3,400 trees in his district, and wants neighbors to chip in

Image via WikiCommons

November 2, 2022

Brooklyn Council Member hopes to plant 3,400 trees in his district, and wants neighbors to chip in

By Aaron Ginsburg

Brooklyn residents should expect to see a lot more greenery over the next couple of years. Council Member Lincoln Restler on Wednesday announced a plan to plant 3,400 trees in vacant street tree pits across District 33 in an effort to max out the district's street tree capacity. The city's Parks Department has committed to planting 2,200 trees over the next four years, with Restler's office calling upon the community to help fund the planting of an additional 1,200 trees.
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City Living

Get a first look at this year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

Photo courtesy of Tishman Speyer

November 1, 2022

Get a first look at this year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

By Devin Gannon

The 2022 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has officially been announced, marking the start of New York City's holiday season. The 82-foot-tall Norway Spruce hails from Queensbury, an upstate New York town near Lake George. The Rockefeller Christmas Tree will arrive in Manhattan on Saturday, November 12, and then will be decorated with thousands of lights. The annual tree lighting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, November 30.
It's that time of year again

This map of Central Park tracks fall foliage in real time

The Reservoir; Photo courtesy of the Central Park Conservancy

October 21, 2022

This map of Central Park tracks fall foliage in real time

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Central Park Conservancy has launched a new, interactive Peak Fall Foliage map to let parkgoers know the best times and locations to take in autumn's most vibrant colors. In the coming weeks, approximately 18,000 trees across Central Park's 843 acres will reach their peak color. The map's real-time information is provided by Central Park's arborists who take care of more than 170 species of trees on a daily basis.
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City Living

Caesars Palace casino proposed for Times Square office tower

Photo by Andrae Ricketts on Unsplash

October 20, 2022

Caesars Palace casino proposed for Times Square office tower

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's bustling entertainment hub may soon welcome a casino. Developer SL Green and Caesars Entertainment on Thursday announced plans to pursue a gaming license for a potential Caesars Palace casino in the heart of Times Square at 1515 Broadway, a 54-story office building. The bid comes after the state legislature in April approved up to three casinos to open in the New York City area.
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NYC to fight ‘plague of rats’ by pushing back trash pick-up to 8 p.m.

Photo by Ryan Vaarsi on Flickr

October 18, 2022

NYC to fight ‘plague of rats’ by pushing back trash pick-up to 8 p.m.

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City wants to adjust the time of day trash can be put out as a way to curb rat infestations and improve overall cleanliness. Mayor Eric Adams on Monday announced a proposal to push back the window New Yorkers can put out their trash for collection from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The city says this policy change will make the streets cleaner, ease traffic and pedestrian flow, and reduce the number of rats drawn to trash. The proposed rules are open to a public comment period through November 10, with final rules set to take effect on April 1, 2023.
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Statue of Liberty’s crown reopens for the first time in over two years

Image via WikiCommons

October 11, 2022

Statue of Liberty’s crown reopens for the first time in over two years

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Statue of Liberty's crown on Tuesday reopened to the public for the first time since the start of the pandemic. The crown closed in March 2020 when Covid-19 first hit New York City due to concerns about spreading the virus in the statue's enclosed spaces. Visitors should be prepared to climb the 162 steps to the top as there is no elevator service.
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