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Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday plans to introduce legislation permanently allowing the sale of to-go alcoholic beverages. First permitted at the start of the coronavirus pandemic to support the restaurant industry during the lockdown, the state ended takeout cocktails last June, coinciding with the lift of Covid-related restrictions. Legalizing the sale of to-go drinks will help local restaurants and bars recover from the pandemic, according to Hochul's proposal. "Cheers, New York," Hochul said Wednesday during her State of the State address.
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New bill seeks to bring back propane heaters for outdoor dining in NYC

Image courtesy of Bubby’s

November 30, 2021

New bill seeks to bring back propane heaters for outdoor dining in NYC

New York City Council Member Keith Powers last week introduced legislation that would allow the ongoing use of propane heaters for outdoor restaurant dining. The heaters, given the green light last year but banned again in October, helped restaurants stay afloat last winter by keeping diners cozy at Covid-safe outdoor tables.
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Photo: FAD Holiday Market

November 18, 2021

The 15 best NYC holiday markets of 2021

Even a pandemic can't keep a New York City shopper down. The city's retail landscape may look different now, but that hasn't dimmed the sparkle of beautiful baubles, clever crafts, and the company of fellow shoppers. While most of the city's holiday markets went virtual last year, many of our favorites have returned in their fabulous original form. The big Manhattan markets at Union Square, Bryant Park, and Columbus Circle are still impressive, but smaller, more intimate neighborhood gems shine brightly on their own. They're all great places to find seasonal delights like ice skating, live music, drinks, food, and family fun designed to keep shoppers' spirits bright.
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Events & Things To Do

Gowanus rezoning deal reached, with affordable housing and sewer upgrades on board

Photo by Danny Navarro / Flickr cc

November 11, 2021

Gowanus rezoning deal reached, with affordable housing and sewer upgrades on board

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s ambitious plan for the rezoning of Brooklyn's formerly industrial Gowanus neighborhood was finally approved by the city's Land Use Committee on Wednesday, after a decade of debate and drama. As Gothamist reports, the rezoning plan, the current administration's largest, was given the green light after Council Members Brad Lander and Stephen Levin, the borough's Community Board 6, and members of the Gowanus Neighborhood Coalition for Justice reached a deal with City Hall that includes more investment in public housing and sewer infrastructure.
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Bryant Park’s Winter Village is now open for the season

Photo: Angelito Jusay

October 29, 2021

Bryant Park’s Winter Village is now open for the season

Bryant Park has once again transformed into a winter wonderland. The Bank of America Winter Village opened for the season on Friday, offering New Yorkers the only free admission ice skating rink in the city, an open-air holiday market, and cocktails rinkside. The village, now in its 20th year, will be open daily from October 29 through March 6, 2022.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC Street Vendor Project launches a citywide scavenger hunt to help local vendors rebound

Photo by Anton on Unsplash

October 22, 2021

NYC Street Vendor Project launches a citywide scavenger hunt to help local vendors rebound

Beginning November 14, street food lovers are invited to join their favorite food carts and treats trucks for the first-ever NYC Street Vendor Scavenger Hunt. Participants will get to compete in fun challenges, meet the vendors and, of course, sample the food, to win prizes and help support the Street Vendor Project of the Urban Justice Center–the city's only street vendor organization.
Gather your squad and start sleuthing

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

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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Everything you need to know about NYC’s ticker-tape parade to honor Covid heroes

Photo by Spurekar via Flickr cc

July 6, 2021

Everything you need to know about NYC’s ticker-tape parade to honor Covid heroes

Update 7.7.21: Due to the extreme heat, the post-parade ceremony at City Hall Plaza has been cancelled. In April 2020, when New York City was truly the world epicenter for the coronavirus, Mayor de Blasio said that the city would hold a ticker-tape parade down the Canyon of Heroes for health care workers, first responders, and essential workers as soon as things reopened. Fast forward 15 months, and the Hometown Heroes Parade will take place this Wednesday, July 7. Queens nurse Sandra Lindsay, who in December received the first vaccine dose in NYC, will serve as the parade's Grand Marshal, while Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts will host the ceremony.
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See NYC’s Flower District transformed with public courtyards, outdoor markets, and more

All renderings courtesy of SeeThree and ODA

June 21, 2021

See NYC’s Flower District transformed with public courtyards, outdoor markets, and more

When the coronavirus pandemic hit New York City last spring, the city launched a successful effort to give pedestrians safe outdoor space through its"Open Streets" program, which closed some streets to cars. Extremely popular with New Yorkers, the initiative, along with its Open Restaurants and Open Culture counterparts, was expanded and made permanent this year. A local architecture firm is looking to capitalize on this reclamation of public city space with a new proposal aimed at reviving the once blossoming Flower District.
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All the food and flea markets reopening this year

The Brooklyn Flea in Dumbo, photo by Noemie Trusty

May 25, 2021

All the food and flea markets reopening this year

The city is slowly but surely coming to life again, and one of the ways New Yorkers can safely get out and about this summer is at one of the many food or flea markets that are reopening. From old standbys like the Grand Bazaar on the Upper West Side and Brooklyn Flea to newcomers like Fordham Flea and Smorgasburg Jersey City, there's a little something for everyone, whether you're looking for international cuisine, vintage clothing, or handmade housewares. Ahead, we've rounded up 13 markets you can visit, with more expected to announce opening dates soon.
The full list here

Events & Things To Do

NYC’s plan to rezone Soho and Noho moves forward

A rendering of West Broadway in Soho, looking downtown; courtesy of City Planning Commission

May 18, 2021

NYC’s plan to rezone Soho and Noho moves forward

A proposal to bring more affordable housing in two of the city's wealthiest neighborhoods is moving forward. The City Planning Commission on Monday certified the application to rezone Soho and Noho, kicking off the public review process. The plan replaces existing 1970s-era zoning rules with medium- to high-density mixed-use districts that could create as many as 3,500 new homes, with 900 units of permanently affordable housing.
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Policy

Brooklyn Public Library reveals Central Library redesign by Toshiko Mori

All photos by Gregg Richards

May 7, 2021

Brooklyn Public Library reveals Central Library redesign by Toshiko Mori

This week, the Brooklyn Public Library revealed the first phase of a major remodel of its Central Library on Grand Army Plaza. Designed by renowned architect Toshiko Mori, the undertaking was the single largest renovation and restoration in the Central Library’s 80-year history. The modern, light-filled rooms now provide more accessible space for the public, which includes civic commons for community engagement (providing city and passport services), a "new and noteworthy" book gallery, and an enlarged and modernized business and career center.
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Architecture And Design

A new digital cookbook is supporting Chinatown businesses impacted by Covid-19

886’s Taiwanese Fried Rice (left); Wing Hin’s Shrimp Fried Rice (right). Courtesy of Send Chinatown Love + Umamicart.

May 3, 2021

A new digital cookbook is supporting Chinatown businesses impacted by Covid-19

Wing Hing Seafood Restaurant, 46 Mott St., Grand Tea & Imports, 886--these are just a few of the restaurants featured in the new digital cookbook Around the Roundtable: Recipes for Chinatown Favorites that was created to support Chinatown businesses. The free, downloadable cookbook comes from Send Chinatown Love, an entirely volunteer-run organization whose goal is to provide relief to small, immigrant-owned Chinatown businesses impacted by the effects of Covid-19.
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New York City will fully reopen on July 1 says Mayor de Blasio

Photo by Emiliano Bar on Unsplash

April 29, 2021

New York City will fully reopen on July 1 says Mayor de Blasio

In an appearance on Morning Joe this morning, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that he plans to lift all Covid-related restrictions in New York City by July 1st, arguably the biggest step towards a return to normalcy. According to his timeline, this summer, restaurants, stadiums, and museums will all start operating at 100 percent capacity, schools will fully reopen in the fall, and Broadway will return in September. "We are ready for stores to open, for businesses to open, offices, theaters, full strength," said the mayor.
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New York’s dining curfew ends, bar seating returns next month

Photo of The Spaniard in the West Village by Luca Bravo on Unsplash

April 28, 2021

New York’s dining curfew ends, bar seating returns next month

Starting next month, the 12 a.m. curfew at New York restaurants and bars will end and bar seating will be allowed again, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday. Indoor bar seating, off-limits to customers in New York City since last March, will reopen on May 3. The midnight curfew will be lifted for outdoor dining on May 17 and for indoor dining on May 31.
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Food & Dining

Dining, shopping, and 25 live performances are coming to Bryant Park

Photo by Krisztina Papp on Unsplash

April 16, 2021

Dining, shopping, and 25 live performances are coming to Bryant Park

Kicking off yesterday and running through June 20th, "Spring Up" is a new immersive dining and shopping experience in Bryant Park. Managed by food hall operator Urbanspace, the market will feature original art, antique collectibles, jewelry and cuisines from more than 40 local small businesses. And from June 9th through September 20th, the Bryant Park Corporation will present 25 free performances from local institutions including the New York Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Joe’s Pub, the Classical Theater of Harlem, and Paul Taylor Dance Company.
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Events & Things To Do

‘Piazza di Belmont’ returns to the Bronx’s Little Italy with outdoor dining on Arthur Avenue

Photo courtesy of the Belmont Business Improvement District

April 13, 2021

‘Piazza di Belmont’ returns to the Bronx’s Little Italy with outdoor dining on Arthur Avenue

One of New York City's most famous foodie destinations will once again transform into an outdoor dining hot spot this spring. Starting April 30, "Piazza di Belmont" returns to the Bronx's Little Italy neighborhood, with several restaurants setting up al fresco seating along historic Arthur Avenue. Developed by the Belmont Business Improvement District, the European-style experience first debuted last summer as part of the city's "Open Restaurants" program.
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City Living

Vaccinations should come with meal, museum, and MetroCard vouchers, mayoral candidate proposes

Photo by Eden, Janine, and Jim on Flickr

April 6, 2021

Vaccinations should come with meal, museum, and MetroCard vouchers, mayoral candidate proposes

New York City Comptroller and mayoral candidate Scott Stringer on Monday proposed a new way to give a "booster shot" to the city's economy. The program would give New Yorkers receiving a coronavirus vaccine shot "VaxPacks," a swag bag of vouchers for local businesses, cultural venues, and a two-trip MetroCard. Stringer said the initiative encourages vaccinations and supports small businesses, while also increasing subway and bus ridership, which has not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels.
Details here

City Living

100 new federal COVID-19 vaccine hubs to open in New York

Photo of NYCHA vaccination site at Nostrand Houses in Brooklyn by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

March 11, 2021

100 new federal COVID-19 vaccine hubs to open in New York

More than 100 new coronavirus vaccine hubs funded by the federal government will soon open in New York, Sen. Chuck Schumer announced on Thursday. During Mayor Bill de Blasio's daily press briefing, the Senate Majority Leader said additional vaccines will be sent directly to sites at existing community health centers (CHC) to "supercharge" the vaccination effort.
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Policy

We Remember: New Yorkers share stories of loss, light, and love during the COVID pandemic

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

March 11, 2021

We Remember: New Yorkers share stories of loss, light, and love during the COVID pandemic

There's no way to describe this past year in words. We can list all the adjectives--painful, scary, hopeful, etc.--but no combination can truly articulate what it meant to be a New Yorker during the COVID-19 pandemic. This Sunday, the city will mark March 14--one year since NYC lost its first resident to the virus--with an official day of remembrance for the nearly 30,000 city residents who passed away. For our part, we decided to speak with our fellow New Yorkers and ask who or what they would like to remember on this somber anniversary. It might be someone they've lost, someone who did something heroic, or a larger group or event that played a role. And with these raw stories, we think we can describe this year, through all the feelings that can never be put into words.
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Here’s where to donate to support Asian communities in NYC

Photo by Mobilus in Mobili on Flickr

February 26, 2021

Here’s where to donate to support Asian communities in NYC

Before the coronavirus even hit New York City last year, anti-Asian racism and xenophobia struck the city's Chinatown neighborhoods, affecting the residents and many small businesses. Throughout the pandemic, there has been a significant increase in harassment and violence against Chinese and other Asian New Yorkers, particularly stemming from racist misinformation about COVID-19. As The City reported, the Commission on Human Rights, recorded 205 cases in 2020 involving anti-Asian incidents, a nearly "sevenfold rise" compared to 2019. Hate crimes and attacks directed at Asian Americans have continued into 2021, in New York and across the country. Ahead, we've put together a list of local organizations to donate, for those looking to support Asian communities across the five boroughs. While incomplete, the list can serve as a starting point and will be updated.
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Events & Things To Do

Giving citizens a (virtual) voice: How NYC can strengthen public input post-pandemic

Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash

February 26, 2021

Giving citizens a (virtual) voice: How NYC can strengthen public input post-pandemic

By Karen Zabarsky

Nearly a year into the pandemic, decision-making in our cities has taken center stage. Locally grown proposals by council people, small business owners, and neighbors have proven the ability to cut through red tape and innovate quickly to solve problems. Outdoor dining structures and pedestrian-only streets were implemented at a rate thought impossible before. At the same time, top-down mandates about public safety and use of funds have been at best called into question, and at worst, completely fumbled. Slow action and political quibbles have left many critical decisions out of public hands. In the face of many more important decisions to come about our city, it is high time to address a challenge that has plagued us long before the pandemic — the lack of substantial public input into big decisions.
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Lunar New Year 2021: Celebrate with virtual events, food, gifts, and more

Photo by Rhododendrites via Wikimedia

February 2, 2021

Lunar New Year 2021: Celebrate with virtual events, food, gifts, and more