All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

Lincoln Center debuts first-ever night market

Image courtesy of Sachyn Mital

June 19, 2024

Lincoln Center debuts first-ever night market

Lincoln Center is hosting its first-ever night market during the annual Summer for the City festival. Open from Wednesdays to Sundays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. through August 10, the Lincoln Center Night Market offers visitors an exciting variety of cuisine from curated vendors, from Mexican desserts and soul food from Harlem to Lebanese street food and plant-based options. The market will also feature a tent with rotating food offerings to complement each week of the Summer for the City programming.
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MTA stops work on Second Avenue Subway extension after congestion pricing delay

125th Street entrance. Rendering courtesy of the MTA

June 19, 2024

MTA stops work on Second Avenue Subway extension after congestion pricing delay

By Aaron Ginsburg

Work to extend the Second Avenue subway has stopped following Gov. Kathy Hochul's delay of New York City's congestion pricing program. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Tuesday announced that work on the transformative transit project, which would extend the Q line from its current endpoint at 96th Street to East Harlem at 125th Street, is now paused. The extension was one of the projects that would have been funded in part from congestion pricing revenue.
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NYC opens 500 cooling centers during heat wave

NYC children in hot weather, playing under spray of fire hydrant (1910). Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress’s Print and Photographs Division.

June 18, 2024

NYC opens 500 cooling centers during heat wave

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's first heat wave of the season is here. The city's Emergency Management Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on Monday issued an official heat warning, with temperatures expected to exceed 90 degrees and peak later this week. To give New Yorkers a place to cool off and rest amidst the scorching weather, the city has made it easy to locate hundreds of cooling centers across the five boroughs with an interactive map.
find out where to keep cool

Policy

Pre-Civil War Village row house with NYC theater and Black history ties may be landmarked

The 13th Street Repertory Company. Photo (left): Courtesy of Village Preservation. Current view of the building (right): Courtesy of the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

June 18, 2024

Pre-Civil War Village row house with NYC theater and Black history ties may be landmarked

By Aaron Ginsburg

A nearly 180-year-old rowhouse in Greenwich Village that has been home to one of the city's first "Off-Off-Broadway" theaters and has significant ties to Black history may be saved from demolition. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to calendar the Jacob Day Residence at 50 West 13th Street, an 1845 rowhouse once home to one of NYC's most successful African American businessmen, a famous suffragist and Civil Rights leader, and most recently, to the 13th Street Repertory Company. Although preservationists were first told by the LPC the structure was not distinguished enough to warrant designation, further research proved the building's immense cultural and historical significance and now the rowhouse is one step closer to becoming a landmark.
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Policy

Free live music coming to 11 plazas and open streets across NYC

Bindlestiff Family Cirkus performing at Make Music NY Day. Image courtesy of NYC DOT

June 17, 2024

Free live music coming to 11 plazas and open streets across NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

Free live music is coming to public squares in all five boroughs starting this weekend. The city's Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Friday announced the return of Make Music New York Day on June 21, featuring performances at 11 different plazas and Open Streets locations across the city. Additionally, DOT is partnering with Mov!ng Culture Projects to host performances in Brooklyn and Manhattan and is activating public spaces for Juneteenth and Caribbean American Heritage Month throughout the month.
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Events & Things To Do

Mosaics reflecting intimacy of NYC public life installed at Williamsburg subway station

Personal Choice #5 (2023) © Chloë Bass, NYCT Lorimer St Station. Commissioned by MTA Arts & Design. Photo: Nicholas Knight.

June 17, 2024

Mosaics reflecting intimacy of NYC public life installed at Williamsburg subway station

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority unveiled two new mosaics in a Williamsburg subway station that reflect on the human connections of language and touch experienced throughout New York City's diverse communities. Fabricated by Miotto Mosaic Art Studios, Jackie Chang's "Signs of Life" and Chloë Bass' "Personal Choice #5" were installed throughout the Metropolitan Avenue/ Lorimer Street station in conjunction with new accessibility upgrades, including new stairs and elevators.
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Hochul weighing mask ban on the NYC subway system

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit on Flickr

June 14, 2024

Hochul weighing mask ban on the NYC subway system

By Aaron Ginsburg

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday said she is considering banning face masks on the city's subway system after a rise in anti-Semitic acts. Recently a video circulated on social media showing protestors on a crowded subway car asking any Zionists aboard "to raise their hands," followed by "this is your chance to get out." Specific policy details are still unclear, but any mask ban would include exemptions for health, cultural, or religious reasons. The governor said she is currently in talks with lawmakers on the matter.
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Policy

Bankside Park opens, giving Mott Haven residents waterfront access for the first time in a century

Photos courtesy of Jakob Dahlin

June 14, 2024

Bankside Park opens, giving Mott Haven residents waterfront access for the first time in a century

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new public waterfront park officially opened at the sprawling Bankside development in the South Bronx. Brookfield Properties on Thursday cut the ribbon on Bankside Park, a green space and esplanade designed by landscape architects MPFP that stretches over an acre along the Harlem River. Located on a former brownfield site, the new park provides Mott Haven residents direct access to the waterfront for the first time in over a century. Bankside Park is a key component of the 4.3-acre Bankside, a $950 million seven-tower, mixed-use development.
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Museum Mile Festival is back, offering free admission at NYC’s best museums

Photo by Shinya Suzuki on Flickr

June 14, 2024

Museum Mile Festival is back, offering free admission at NYC’s best museums

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Museum Mile Festival, aka "New York City's biggest block party," returns to Fifth Avenue for its 46th year. As part of the festival, guests can walk along Fifth Avenue between 82nd Street and 110th Street and visit eight world-class museums for free. Participating institutions include the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Neue Galerie New York, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, the Jewish Museum, Museum of the City of New York, El Museo del Barrio, and the Africa Center. The festival takes place on Tuesday, June 18 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with the street closed off to vehicles to allow for live performances, art-making activities, and more.
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Events & Things To Do

Jersey City reveals 4th of July fireworks celebration with concert headlined by Wyclef Jean

Photo by Jennifer Brown/City of Jersey City

June 13, 2024

Jersey City reveals 4th of July fireworks celebration with concert headlined by Wyclef Jean

By Aaron Ginsburg

New Jersey's spectacular 4th of July celebration is returning to the Jersey City waterfront. Mayor Steven Fulop on Wednesday announced this year's Freedom and Fireworks, an all-day celebration on Independence Day featuring a free concert headlined by Garden State-raised Wyclef Jean with openers Fat Joe and Funk Flex, food vendors, family activities, and more. The event concludes with a breathtaking fireworks show by Grucci that will light up the sky above the Hudson River.
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Events & Things To Do

The High Line celebrates 15 years as a public park

By Aaron Ginsburg

Fifteen years have passed since the High Line opened to the public, transforming a crumbling rail line into an urban oasis. Since opening in June 2009, more than 75 million people have visited the elevated public park. Its construction has generated over $2 billion in private investment and economic activity, creating a booming neighborhood with new residential and cultural developments centered around the park. To celebrate its 15th anniversary, the High Line will host new public art installations, 15 free special events through the summer and fall, and temporarily reopen the interim walkway at the Western Rail Yards for the first time since 2022. The Western Rail Yards segment, the last of the original High Line structure to be rehabilitated, offers stunning 360-degree views of the Hudson River and cityscape.
happy birthday high line

Events & Things To Do

Pickleball is coming next to the Brooklyn Bridge in Dumbo

Rendering courtesy of NYC Parks

June 12, 2024

Pickleball is coming next to the Brooklyn Bridge in Dumbo

By Aaron Ginsburg

Closed to the public for 15 years, two parking lots underneath the Brooklyn Bridge in Dumbo will transform into a pickleball hub. NYC Parks on Wednesday selected CityPickle to revitalize Anchorage Plaza, a space located on Old Fulton and Washington Streets and connected by a ramp known as "Ash Alley." CityPickle, which currently has courts in Central Park, Long Island City, and Industry City, is expected to operate at the plaza seasonally from March through November next year. Amenities like a dog run, food trucks, public art, and seating would be available year-round, under the proposal.
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Coney Island’s Mermaid Parade returns this month

All photos courtesy of Norman Blake

June 12, 2024

Coney Island’s Mermaid Parade returns this month

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's colorful Mermaid Parade returns to the Coney Island boardwalk this month. Hosted by Coney Island USA, the spectacle is considered the nation's largest "art parade," attracting 3,000 participants wearing handmade sea-themed costumes and marching next to mythical floats. The 42nd annual Mermaid Parade takes place on Saturday, June 22, at 1 p.m., rain or shine.
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Events & Things To Do

Photo by Curt Saunders, @curthoranesaunders. Courtesy of Weeksville Heritage Center / Black Owned Brooklyn

June 11, 2024

15 ways to celebrate Juneteenth in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

Juneteenth commemorates the day President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation reached Galveston, Texas, effectively ending slavery in the United States. Although it only became a nationally recognized holiday in 2021, Black Americans in New York City and across the country have long celebrated the holiday, an opportunity to uplift communities and share Black culture. Ahead, find Juneteenth events happening in NYC this year, from live gospel performances and celebrations of Black music to food festivals and 5K runs.
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Events & Things To Do

Windsor Terrace rental overlooking Prospect Park launches leasing, from $3,637/month

Renderings courtesy of Williams New York

June 11, 2024

Windsor Terrace rental overlooking Prospect Park launches leasing, from $3,637/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new luxury rental tower overlooking Prospect Park launched leasing this week. Located at 11 Ocean Parkway in Windsor Terrace, the 13-story One Park Point offers tenants spacious layouts, a large amenities suite, and a prime spot steps from Brooklyn's backyard. Available one-bedrooms start at $3,637/month and two-bedrooms at $4,754/month.
take a look

All photos courtesy of Veselka

June 10, 2024

Veselka opens first Brooklyn location

By Aaron Ginsburg

Brooklyn residents no longer need to trek to the East Village for their pierogi fix. Veselka, the beloved Ukrainian diner serving New Yorkers for seven decades, opened its highly-anticipated Williamsburg location last week. Veselka's first location in the borough, the 4,000-square-foot restaurant is located at 646 Lorimer Street. In addition to its famous Ukrainian soul food, the business will sell Veselka-branded merchandise.
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Food & Dining

Christopher Street subway station renamed in honor of Stonewall

Photo courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

June 6, 2024

Christopher Street subway station renamed in honor of Stonewall

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Christopher Street-Sheridan Square subway station in Greenwich Village was renamed in honor of the Stonewall National Monument. A bill sponsored by Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Assembly Member Deborah Glick passed the New York State Senate earlier this month, directing the MTA to rename the station to "Christopher Street-Stonewall National Monument Station" to memorialize the site's crucial role in launching the modern LGBTQIA+ rights movement. The unveiling on Friday marks the 55th anniversary of the historic uprising.
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125 affordable apartments available at massive Morris Heights complex, from $616/month

Rendering courtesy of Marvel Architects

June 6, 2024

125 affordable apartments available at massive Morris Heights complex, from $616/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A housing lottery launched this week for 125 affordable apartments at a huge residential complex in the Bronx. Located at 1600 Grand Avenue in Morris Heights, the 14-story building is phase one of the Starhill development, an affordable housing complex with a total of 570 affordable apartments. New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 percent of the area median income, or between $24,446 for a single person and $134,160 for a household of five, can apply for the apartments, which range from $616/month for one-bedrooms to $2,066/month two-bedrooms.
see if you qualify

Affordable Housing

First major exhibit dedicated to Shirley Chisholm opening at Museum of the City of New York

Chisholm on the Congressional Rules Committee, A. Dev O’Neill and K. Jewell, 1970s, Reproduction, Special Collections and University Archives, Rutgers University Libraries

June 5, 2024

First major exhibit dedicated to Shirley Chisholm opening at Museum of the City of New York

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York honors the life and legacy of pioneering politician and Brooklyn native Shirley Chisholm. Opening on June 14, "Changing the Face of Democracy: Shirley Chisholm at 100" is the first-ever major museum presentation dedicated to Chisholm; it coincides with the 100th anniversary of her birth. Located on the museum's second-floor North Gallery, the exhibition explores the life of the late trailblazer, the first Black woman elected to Congress, through historical artifacts, photographs, art, and archival footage.
details here

Events & Things To Do

Hochul pauses congestion pricing plan ‘indefinitely’

Photo by Pranay Pareek on Unsplash

June 5, 2024

Hochul pauses congestion pricing plan ‘indefinitely’

By Aaron Ginsburg

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday officially paused New York City's congestion pricing program, just weeks before it was set to begin. According to Politico, the governor voiced concerns about how the program, which would have charged drivers $15 for entering Manhattan south of 60th Street starting June 30, might hurt Democrats in upcoming House races later this year. In a pre-taped video, Hochul said "circumstances have changed" since the program was approved in 2019 and cited the effects of the pandemic and high inflation on New Yorkers as reasoning behind halting congestion pricing "indefinitely."
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How to apply for NYC’s Section 8 voucher waitlist

Image courtesy of edwardhblake on Flickr

June 4, 2024

How to apply for NYC’s Section 8 voucher waitlist

By Aaron Ginsburg

The New York City Housing Authority's Section 8 housing voucher waitlist reopened on Monday for the first time in 15 years, allowing low-income families to apply for rental subsidies. The waitlist's reopening comes as New Yorkers struggle to afford the cost of living amid skyrocketing rent prices due to the city's housing crisis. Once the application period closes on June 9, NYCHA will randomly place 200,000 applications on the waitlist. As of Tuesday morning, nearly 313,000 applications were already submitted. Ahead, find out what you should know about applying for the Section 8 housing voucher waitlist, including eligibility requirements, deadlines, and waitlist preferences.
how to apply

NYC will sell commemorative street signs every month

Photo (cropped) by DVSROSS on Flickr.

June 4, 2024

NYC will sell commemorative street signs every month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Here's a chance to hang an authentic piece of New York City on your wall. On Monday, the city's Department of Transportation launched the first monthly "sign drops," selling limited-edition, hand-made street signs from iconic corridors across the five boroughs. To celebrate the start of Pride Month, the first batch of signs featured Christopher Street/Stonewall Place and hit the NYC CityStore for $75 each. The signs sold out in under three hours, according to Gothamist.
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Transit

NYC creates map of public restrooms, announces plan to build more bathrooms

Image courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

June 4, 2024

NYC creates map of public restrooms, announces plan to build more bathrooms

By Aaron Ginsburg

New Yorkers know the struggle of finding a public bathroom, with just around 1,100 public toilets for over 8.6 million residents. To address this ongoing issue, Mayor Eric Adams on Monday launched "Ur in Luck," a new effort to expand public restroom accessibility across the five boroughs by building 46 new public restrooms and renovating 36 existing ones over the next five years. The city is also making it easier to find public restrooms by adding a new layer to Google Maps that New Yorkers can use to locate publicly accessible restrooms.
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Policy

June 3, 2024

Studio Gang’s agricultural education hub at Gravesend NYCHA complex breaks ground

By Aaron Ginsburg

Work has begun on a Studio Gang-designed urban agricultural education center that will teach young Brooklyn residents about nutrition and provide healthy food. City officials on Saturday broke ground on the 9,900-square-foot Marlboro Agricultural Education Center (MAEC) at the New York City Housing Authority's Marlboro Houses in Gravesend. The $18.2 million facility, located on West 11th Street between Avenues W and X, includes a rooftop greenhouse to raise fish and plants, a teaching kitchen, a pantry where greens will be grown on-site and then delivered to residents, and multi-purpose room for programs and workshops.
green in gravesend

Architecture And Design

Art from the Whitney Museum on view in NYC subway stations this summer

Image courtesy of Trent Reeves / MTA on Flickr

June 3, 2024

Art from the Whitney Museum on view in NYC subway stations this summer

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Whitney Museum of American Art is bringing its landmark Biennial exhibition into the New York City subway system. The museum and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Friday revealed "Making It Here: New York and the Whitney Biennial," a showcase of work by artists who have been, or are currently featured, in the Whitney Biennial, which has been hosted regularly since 1932. The art, displayed on vacant newsstands and former retail spaces, can be found at three subway stations: West 4th Street in Manhattan, Jay Street-MetroTech in Brooklyn, and Fordham Road in the Bronx.
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All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

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