All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

Take a cherry blossom tour in NYC

Green-Wood Cemetery. Photo Credit: Amy Nieporent

March 21, 2024

Take a cherry blossom tour in NYC

By Aaron Ginsburg

Thousands of cherry blossom trees across the five boroughs have begun to sprout their vibrant petals, marking the arrival of spring in NYC. One of the best ways to experience the breathtaking flora is by embarking on a tour through one of the city's cherry blossom hot spots. Luckily, plenty of locations across the city offer tours of cherry blossoms and spring flowers, including Central Park, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Green-Wood Cemetery, and more.
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NYC launches first-ever tenant protection cabinet

Photo by Anthony Fomin on Unsplash

March 19, 2024

NYC launches first-ever tenant protection cabinet

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City now has a government agency dedicated to protecting tenants. Mayor Eric Adams last week launched the city’s first-ever Tenant Protection Cabinet (TPC), a new multi-agency team that will create policies and long-term strategies to ensure safer, more equitable housing conditions for all New Yorkers. Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer and NYC Executive Director of Housing Leila Bozorg will co-chair the cabinet.
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Policy

Port Authority seeks local, minority vendors for JFK Airport’s new $9.5B terminal

Renderings courtesy of the Port Authority of NY and NJ

March 19, 2024

Port Authority seeks local, minority vendors for JFK Airport’s new $9.5B terminal

By Aaron Ginsburg

John F. Kennedy International Airport is searching for vendors to fulfill its vision for its new international terminal. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), The New Terminal One (NTO), and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) Airports on Monday announced the launch of the commercial program for JFK Airport’s $9.5 billion all-international terminal opening in 2026. The retail spaces at the terminal will offer "beloved NYC favorites, global powerhouse brands, engaging guest experiences, and thoughtful amenities under one spectacular roof," according to a press release.
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Lottery opens for 155 affordable apartments in Far Rockaway, from $410/month

Rockaway Village. Photo ©️David Sundberg ESTO

March 19, 2024

Lottery opens for 155 affordable apartments in Far Rockaway, from $410/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A housing lottery opened this week for 155 apartments at a new 100 percent affordable development in Far Rockaway. The building at 1605 Village Lane is the fourth phase of Rockaway Village Apartments, a sprawling housing project with 1,700 apartments connected by several public plazas. New Yorkers earning 30, 50, 60, and 80 percent of the area median income, or between $17,006 for a single person and $140,080 for a household of seven, can apply for the units, priced from $410/month studios to $2,035/month three bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

William Kentridge’s video animation of historical figures on view at Moynihan Train Hall

Images courtesy of Amtrak

March 18, 2024

William Kentridge’s video animation of historical figures on view at Moynihan Train Hall

By Aaron Ginsburg

A cast of historical figures is watching travelers as they bustle through the waiting area of Moynihan Train Hall. Created by South African artist William Kentridge, "We Will Make Shoes from the Sky" is a multi-panel video animation featuring characters based on famous people from history, including several Black leaders like James Baldwin, Josephine Baker, and Aimé and Suzanne Césaire. The installation is currently on view on the digital screens in the main waiting area of Moynihan Train Hall.
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NYC Chinese food festival returns next month with expanded lineup

Photos courtesy of Dragon Fest

March 18, 2024

NYC Chinese food festival returns next month with expanded lineup

By Aaron Ginsburg

Dragon Fest, New York City’s first-ever outdoor Chinese food and culture festival, is returning next month after a successful debut last year. This year’s festival includes an expanded lineup, featuring 16 unique events hosted in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens from April 6 through October 6. Attendees can enjoy Chinese art, cultural traditions, and more than 100 varieties of Chinese food from esteemed local vendors such as Nan Xiang and MìLa.
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Taconic unveils plans to build 28-story office tower in Hudson Square

Renderings courtesy of Taconic Partners

March 15, 2024

Taconic unveils plans to build 28-story office tower in Hudson Square

By Aaron Ginsburg

Taconic Partners and Nuveen Real Estate on Wednesday unveiled new renderings of One Grand, a new 28-story office tower in Hudson Square designed by renowned architecture firm SHoP Architects. Located on the corner of Grand and Varick Streets where the neighborhoods of Soho, Hudson Square, and Tribeca intersect, the building will serve as a state-of-the-art headquarters, offering 430,763 square feet of rentable space, 20,040 square feet of outdoor space, and a public school on the ground floor, according to The Real Deal.
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Coney Island opening for 2024 season

Images courtesy of Luna Park

March 14, 2024

Coney Island opening for 2024 season

By Aaron Ginsburg

Coney Island’s beachfront amusement district, Luna Park, is set to reopen for the 2024 season next weekend. The historic amusement park will reopen on Saturday, March 23, kicking off a weekend of fun featuring its annual opening ceremonies, including the first ride and egg cream christening of its famous rollercoaster, the Coney Island Cyclone. Keeping in line with tradition, to celebrate the 97th birthday of the Cyclone, the first 97 visitors will ride the rollercoaster for free and get a free egg cream.
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Events & Things To Do

Ride a vintage NYC subway car to the home opener at Yankee Stadium

Photo by Marc A. Hermann/ MTA on Flickr

March 14, 2024

Ride a vintage NYC subway car to the home opener at Yankee Stadium

By Aaron Ginsburg

Baseball lovers can travel to Yankee Stadium in retro style aboard vintage NYC subway trains. The New York Transit Museum is running its beloved 1917 IRT Lo-V train and Train of Many Colors on Friday, April 5, offering baseball fans a special way to arrive at the Yankees home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays. The event is free with subway fare and departs from Grand Central Terminal at 11 a.m., giving Yankee fans more than enough time to catch the first pitch at 1:05 p.m.
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Popular Articles

Most NYC libraries would only open five days a week under mayor’s budget cuts, officials say

A rally of library supporters at City Hall on March 12. Photo courtesy of NYPL

March 13, 2024

Most NYC libraries would only open five days a week under mayor’s budget cuts, officials say

By Aaron Ginsburg

Most New York City public libraries would only be able to open five days a week if the latest budget proposed by Mayor Eric Adams is approved, library officials warned this week. The presidents of the city’s three public library systems testified at a City Council budget hearing on Tuesday on the detrimental effects the proposed $58.3 million in budget cuts could have on library service. If the mayor's budget for the next fiscal year is approved, most city libraries will cut hours to just five days a week, marking the first time in nearly a decade that libraries will not be open six days at every branch.
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Policy

A mini forest is coming to Roosevelt Island

Images courtesy of SUGi

March 13, 2024

A mini forest is coming to Roosevelt Island

By Aaron Ginsburg

A mini forest that can prevent flooding during storms and build biodiversity is coming to Roosevelt Island. Conceived by global platform SUGi, the Manhattan Healing Forest will consist of 1,000 native trees, shrubs, and plants and measure just 2,700 square feet in Roosevelt Island’s Southpoint Park. The so-called "pocket forest" will be “strategically positioned to stabilize the land,” capture water, provide a habitat for wildlife, and serve as a “living barrier” against flooding and erosion.
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Architecture And Design

NYC secures arrest warrant for city’s ‘worst landlord’

Streetview of 709 170th Street © 2024 Google Map

March 12, 2024

NYC secures arrest warrant for city’s ‘worst landlord’

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City’s most negligent landlord may soon find himself behind bars. The city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) on Monday secured a warrant of arrest and commitment to civil jail for Daniel Ohebshalom, a notorious landlord whose track record of 3,293 open violations earned him the number one spot on the 2023 “Worst Landlord List.” The warrant orders Ohebshalom to be detained in civil jail for up to 60 days unless he complies with a court order to fix nearly 700 violations at his properties at 705 and 709 170th Street in Washington Heights.
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Policy

Delmonico’s sister restaurant opening in Noho

Images courtesy of Tucci’s

March 12, 2024

Delmonico’s sister restaurant opening in Noho

By Aaron Ginsburg

The team behind New York City icon Delmonico's is opening a new restaurant in Noho. Fine-dining Italian restaurant Tucci, named after one of the original owners of Delmonico's, will offer contemporary Italian cuisine inspired by dishes found in northern and southern Italy from Chef Edward Hong. Located at 643 Broadway, Tucci officially opens on Friday, March 15.
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Food & Dining

Ethan Hawke’s former Chelsea townhouse lists for $5.98M

Photos courtesy of Richard Caplan for Brown Harris Stevens

March 12, 2024

Ethan Hawke’s former Chelsea townhouse lists for $5.98M

By Aaron Ginsburg

A four-story Chelsea townhouse once owned by actor Ethan Hawke has hit the market for $5,980,000. Located at 353 West 21st Street in the Chelsea Historic District, the six-bedroom, four-and-a-half bathroom residence measures 21 feet wide and features a spacious full-floor primary suite on the top level, an outdoor terrace, and a backyard and garden with a self-irrigation system. Hawke purchased the home in 2005 for $3,000,000 and lived there until 2013 when he sold it for $5,867,000.
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NYC officials seek $2 billion for permanent affordable housing

Image courtesy of Nelson Ndongala on Unsplash

March 11, 2024

NYC officials seek $2 billion for permanent affordable housing

By Aaron Ginsburg

A group of progressive New York City officials on Monday launched a campaign advocating for permanent affordable housing. Members of the City Council's Progressive Caucus announced the "Homes Now, Homes for Generations" campaign, calling for $2 billion in capital funding over four years to support two Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) programs that expand multi-family homeownership and preserve rent-stabilized apartments, as first reported by Politico.
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Midtown South rezoning plan could create 4,000 new homes

Photo © 6sqft

March 8, 2024

Midtown South rezoning plan could create 4,000 new homes

By Aaron Ginsburg

The city released new details for its plan to create thousands of new homes in a predominantly commercial area of Midtown. The Department of City Planning on Friday released the Midtown South draft zoning plan, which details a 42-block rezoning to allow for high-density, mixed-use districts with 4,000 new homes, up to 1,110 of which would be income-restricted. The zoning changes would permit new housing in areas previously designated solely for commercial and manufacturing uses.
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Harlem’s historic Victoria Theater reopens following decade-long restoration

Photo courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

March 8, 2024

Harlem’s historic Victoria Theater reopens following decade-long restoration

By Aaron Ginsburg

Harlem’s historic Victoria Theater has reopened following a decade-long restoration project, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday. The renovation added two flexible performance spaces, offices, and gallery spaces to the Victoria, which opened in 1917 as a vaudeville theater. The 27,000-square-foot facility will be operated by the iconic Apollo Theater, marking the first expansion of the cultural institution in its 90-year history. The Apollo Stages at The Victoria is part of a broader redevelopment project that includes a 28-story hotel, restaurant, and a residential building with nearly 200 apartments.
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New exhibit of vintage travel posters shows how NYC was sold to the world

March 7, 2024

New exhibit of vintage travel posters shows how NYC was sold to the world

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new exhibition at Poster House illustrates how the term “Wonder City” became synonymous with New York City. Curated by Nicholas D. Lowry, “Wonder City of the World: New York City Travel Posters” features 80 posters promoting the five boroughs to tourists, immigrants, and travelers during the 20th century through enticing design and portrayal of iconic landmarks. The exhibition will be on view at Poster House at 119 West 23rd Street from March 14 through September 8.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC opens applications for new outdoor dining program, unveils modular sheds

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

March 7, 2024

NYC opens applications for new outdoor dining program, unveils modular sheds

By Aaron Ginsburg

Say hello to the future of outdoor dining in New York City. Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday launched the application process for restaurants to take part in Dining Out NYC, the city’s permanent outdoor dining program, and unveiled prototypes of the allowable roadway dining sheds. Designed by WXY architecture + urban design and fabricated by SITU, the customizable prototypes are made of materials from a standard kit, which makes it easier for restaurants to abide by the program’s new guidelines.
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Hochul deploys National Guard and state police to check bags, patrol NYC subway

Image courtesy of Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

March 6, 2024

Hochul deploys National Guard and state police to check bags, patrol NYC subway

By Aaron Ginsburg

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday said she would deploy roughly 1,000 National Guard and New York State Police members to patrol the New York City subway system and help officers check bags for weapons. The additional personnel, which includes 750 National Guard members and 250 members of the state police and MTA police department, are meant to make riders feel safe following several recent high-profile assaults in the transit system.
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NYC proposes revamped Second Avenue with ‘offset’ bus lane and wider bike lane

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

March 6, 2024

NYC proposes revamped Second Avenue with ‘offset’ bus lane and wider bike lane

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City wants to redesign a three-mile portion of Second Avenue to improve bus service and make it safer for cyclists. During a presentation to Manhattan Community Board 6 on Monday, the city’s Department of Transportation revealed a proposal to revamp the avenue from East 59th Street to Houston Street with a new "offset" bus lane in the center of the street, to allow for buses to maneuver around commercial curbside loading and unloading. The plan also includes widening bike lanes from six to eight feet, and even 10 feet at some sections.
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120-year-old Carnegie library in the Bronx is now a city landmark

NYPL’s Tremont Branch. Photo courtesy of NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission

March 5, 2024

120-year-old Carnegie library in the Bronx is now a city landmark

By Aaron Ginsburg

A Bronx public library that has served as a vital community space for more than a century is New York City's newest landmark. The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) on Tuesday voted to designate the New York Public Library's Tremont Branch as an individual landmark. Constructed in 1905, the library at 1866 Washington Avenue was financed by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and designed by acclaimed firm Carrère and Hastings, the architects behind the library's iconic main branch at 42nd Street and 5th Avenue. The library is regarded for its significance as a critical space for the neighborhood, in addition to its architectural importance, according to the LPC.
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Whole Foods to open small-format shop on the Upper East Side this year

Rendering courtesy of Whole Foods

March 5, 2024

Whole Foods to open small-format shop on the Upper East Side this year

By Aaron Ginsburg

Whole Foods is piloting a new, small-format convenience store on the Upper East Side this year. The supermarket chain on Monday announced plans to open a “Whole Foods Market Daily Shop” at 1175 Third Avenue as part of an ongoing effort to provide a quick and convenient shopping experience for customers in urban areas. The Upper East Side location, which will replace The Food Emporium that closed last April, marks the first step in a broader expansion project, with the grocer expecting to open multiple New York City locations and in other cities across the United States in the future.
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Food & Dining

20+ free tree giveaways to take place across NYC this spring

Images courtesy of New York Restoration Project

March 4, 2024

20+ free tree giveaways to take place across NYC this spring

By Aaron Ginsburg

It's free tree season. The New York Restoration Project (NYRP) on Monday announced plans to dole out 3,500 trees across the city during its annual tree giveaway. Registration is now open to receive a free tree during 20+ events starting April 13 through May 12.
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Events & Things To Do

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