All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

Wegmans announces October opening for first Manhattan store

All images courtesy of Wegmans

July 27, 2023

Wegmans announces October opening for first Manhattan store

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Mark your calendars. Manhattan's first Wegmans grocery store will officially open on October 18, the company announced Thursday. The 87,500-square-foot store will open at 770 Broadway in the East Village, replacing the Kmart on Astor Place, which closed in 2021. Not only will the store offer the grocer's signature affordable prices and prepared food options, but Wegmans Astor Place will also have a 94-seat restaurant with a sushi bar and Champagne-oyster bar.
Get ready
8 ways to stay cool (and safe) during NYC’s heat wave

Photo by Barney Bishop on Flickr

July 26, 2023

8 ways to stay cool (and safe) during NYC’s heat wave

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Another heat wave is here. The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for New York City starting this week, with high heat and humidity leading to real-feel temperatures near or exceeding 100 degrees Monday through Wednesday. Staying cool on a hot day is no joke, as heat contributes to the deaths of roughly 350 New Yorkers each year. Ahead, find some ways to beat the heat, from swimming in one of the city's free outdoor pools to running through spray showers and sprinklers at your local park.
Beat the heat
6 injured after crane collapses in Hudson Yards

Photo © Ondel Hylton

July 26, 2023

6 injured after crane collapses in Hudson Yards

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Four civilians and two firefighters sustained minor injuries on Wednesday morning when a construction crane on the border of Hudson Yards and Hell's Kitchen caught fire and partially collapsed onto Tenth Avenue. The fire occurred 45 stories above the construction site at 550 Tenth Avenue at roughly 7:25 a.m. when the engine compartment of the crane caught fire. The fire gradually weakened the crane's cable and sent 16 tons of concrete and the crane's boom plummeting to the ground, causing damage to 555 Tenth Avenue on its descent, according to the fire department.
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Upper East Side rental to be razed and replaced with high-end condo from Eliot Spitzer

Rendering courtesy of the Landmarks Preservation Commission

July 25, 2023

Upper East Side rental to be razed and replaced with high-end condo from Eliot Spitzer

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An Upper East Side rental will be demolished and replaced with a new luxury condominium developed by former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer's firm. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday approved plans from Spitzer Enterprises to raze the 25-story, 46-unit building at 985 Fifth Avenue and build a completely new tower with just 26 apartments. The commission concluded the existing building does not contribute to the cohesion of the Metropolitan Museum Historic District, allowing demolition to proceed. Designed by Studio Sofield and SLCE, the new condo building would rise 19 stories and feature a limestone facade with setbacks, according to The Real Deal.
Details here
Brower Park Library reopens within the Brooklyn Children’s Museum

Photos courtesy of Gregg Richards

July 24, 2023

Brower Park Library reopens within the Brooklyn Children’s Museum

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The Brooklyn Public Library's Brower Park branch has joined forces with another Crown Heights institution: the Brooklyn Children's Museum. After facing a hefty price tag of $5.6 million to make necessary improvements at its existing building, the library instead moved to the ground floor of the museum, according to Patch, with the branch officially open as of last week. Located at 155 Brooklyn Avenue, the library includes a main reading room, a community room, a colorful children's space for both reading and play, as well as an outdoor reading terrace.
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Adams latest mayor to tackle NYC’s 400 miles of scaffolding with ‘get sheds down’ plan

Photo by  on Flickr

July 24, 2023

Adams latest mayor to tackle NYC’s 400 miles of scaffolding with ‘get sheds down’ plan

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New York City officials have a plan to remove sidewalks sheds and scaffolding from city streets. Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Buildings Commissioner Jimmy Oddo on Monday revealed "Get Sheds Down," a comprehensive overhaul of the city's scaffolding policies that aim to hastily remove longstanding sidewalk sheds and redesign them to be less intrusive using alternatives like safety netting. Under the new policy, property owners will face bigger fines if their sidewalk sheds occupy space for too long.
Details here
The Dead Rabbit to open contemporary Irish pub in Moynihan Train Hall

Photo courtesy of Crown Creative/The Dead Rabbit

July 21, 2023

The Dead Rabbit to open contemporary Irish pub in Moynihan Train Hall

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The Dead Rabbit, one of New York City's most famous bars, is opening a new outpost in Moynihan Train Hall this September. Jack McGarry, who founded the decade-old pub in the Financial District with business partner Sean Muldoon in 2013, will open the Irish Exit, a 216-seat bar serving Irish spirits, boilermakers, Guinness on draft, and the Dead Rabbit's signature Irish coffees, according to Eater New York. The bar will be open seven days a week from 10 a.m. until midnight.
Find out more
Ridgewood’s tallest tower opens lottery for 40 luxury apartments, from $2,750/month

Renderings courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

July 21, 2023

Ridgewood’s tallest tower opens lottery for 40 luxury apartments, from $2,750/month

By
A housing lottery opened this week for 40 middle-income units at a new luxury residential development in Ridgewood. At 17 stories, the Ridgewood Apartments at 1607 Woodbine Street is one of the tallest residential properties in the neighborhood. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income, or between $94,286 for a single person annually and $198,250 for a household of five, are eligible to apply for the units, which include $2,750/month one-bedrooms and $3,599/month two-bedrooms.
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NYC announces major public space and transit improvements for Downtown Brooklyn

Image courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

July 20, 2023

NYC announces major public space and transit improvements for Downtown Brooklyn

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New York City is investing over $40 million in street safety improvements and new public spaces in Downtown Brooklyn. On Thursday Mayor Eric Adams said the investment will be put towards transformative improvements along Fulton Street and Flatbush Avenue, with plans for improved pedestrian space, bus service, new public art, and safety upgrades to the streetscape.
More here
A pop-up ‘beach’ returns to the Seaport this month

All photos courtesy of Mike Szpot, The Howard Hughes Corporation

July 20, 2023

A pop-up ‘beach’ returns to the Seaport this month

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New Yorkers don't have to travel far this summer to bury their feet in the sand and bask in the sun. The Seaport Beach Fest is back for 2023, with oversized sandboxes for lounging, food trucks, live performances, and DJ sets. The event takes place at Seaport Square, located at 89 South Street between Piers 16 & 17, from Friday, July 28 through Sunday, July 30.
Get the details
NYC launches first-ever subway performer contest

Afro Dominicano. Credit: Michael Ferguson

July 20, 2023

NYC launches first-ever subway performer contest

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New Yorkers now have the opportunity to vote for their favorite New York City subway performer. Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday helped launch the first-ever "Riders' Choice Award," a competition among artists who are in the MTA's Music Under New York program to win a free recording session with Atlantic Records. New Yorkers can cast their votes for their favorite performer here through July 26 with a winner announced on July 27.
Cast your vote
Alamo Cube returns to Astor Place in full spinning glory

Image courtesy of New York City Council on Flickr

July 19, 2023

Alamo Cube returns to Astor Place in full spinning glory

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Astor Place's beloved Alamo Cube has returned to its rightful place and is ready to be spun once again. After removing the sculpture to repair its spinning mechanisms in May, the city reinstalled the public art sculpture in the East Village this week. Officially called "Alamo," the 1,800-pound cube was sculpted by artist Tony Rosenthal and first installed at Astor Plaza Place in 1967. Rosenthal's estate paid for the sculpture's repair bill, estimated to be $100,000, according to EV Grieve.
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40 blocks of Manhattan’s Third Avenue to be transformed with bike and bus lanes

Photo by Marek Rygielski on Flickr

July 19, 2023

40 blocks of Manhattan’s Third Avenue to be transformed with bike and bus lanes

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New York City is moving forward with its redesign of a 1.9-mile stretch of Manhattan's Third Avenue. Construction will begin next week on the "complete street," which will span from East 59th Street to 96th Street and include a new dedicated lane for buses and a parking-protected bike lane, the Department of Transportation announced. The redesign aims to make Third Avenue safer for pedestrians and cyclists; according to DOT, six pedestrians and one cyclist have been killed between 59th and 96th Street since 2016.
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Russ & Daughters opens new location in Hudson Yards

Russ & Daughters on the Lower East Side; Photo by  on Flickr

July 18, 2023

Russ & Daughters opens new location in Hudson Yards

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The 110-year-old Lower East Side icon Russ & Daughters officially opened a new location in Hudson Yards this week. Located on the ground floor of the skyscraper 50 Hudson Yards at 34th Street and 10th Avenue, the 4,500-square-foot shop sells its signature Jewish specialties like smoked fish, bagels, bialys, and babka and offers seat-yourself dining and soon-to-open caviar and champagne bar.
More here
NYC approves design for Shirley Chisholm monument in Prospect Park

Renderings courtesy of Amanda Williams and Olalekan B. Jeyifous/ NYC Public Design Commission

July 18, 2023

NYC approves design for Shirley Chisholm monument in Prospect Park

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New York City this week approved the design for a monument to Shirley Chisholm, a Brooklyn native who became the first Black woman to serve in the United States Congress. The city's Public Design Commission on Monday unanimously approved plans for the monument: a 32-foot-tall sculpture depicting the congresswoman designed by artists Amanda Williams and Olalekan B. Jeyifous installed at the southeast entrance of Prospect Park. The artists were selected for the monument's design in 2019, but the process was delayed because of the pandemic.
Take a look
MTA announces 5 fare-free bus routes

Image courtesy of Patrick J. Cashin / Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Flickr

July 18, 2023

MTA announces 5 fare-free bus routes

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New York City is testing out free fares on bus routes in every borough this fall. As part of a pilot program launching in late September, five bus lines will be free to riders for between six and 12 months, Gov. Kathy Hochul and the MTA announced Monday. The routes, which serve roughly 43,900 daily riders on an average weekday, were selected based on ridership, fare evasion, service quality, equity for low-income communities, and access to employment and commercial areas, according to the MTA.
Details here
NYC looks to open two new tent shelters for migrants in Queens

The Randall’s Island tent shelter last October. Image courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

July 17, 2023

NYC looks to open two new tent shelters for migrants in Queens

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New York City is looking to open two new tent shelters for migrants in Queens. According to The City, facilities will be constructed at the state-owned Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens Village and at the Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park. Both sites, which have not officially been announced yet, are projected to house roughly 1,000 adults and could open within the next two to three weeks.
Details here
NYC Restaurant Week returns this summer with nearly 500 restaurants

The restaurant Kru in Williamsburg, Brooklyn is participating in Restaurant Week. Image courtesy of NYC Tourism + Conventions

July 17, 2023

NYC Restaurant Week returns this summer with nearly 500 restaurants

By
Hungry New Yorkers will be thrilled to hear New York City's Restaurant Week is back this summer. NYC Tourism + Conventions, the city's tourism agency, announced that the program, which allows patrons to eat at hundreds of the city's best restaurants with discounted, prix-fixe menus, would return to the five boroughs this summer with nearly 500 participating establishments. The four-week program will run from Monday, July 24 through Sunday, August 20.
Plan your Restaurant Week rendezvous
Brooklyn Public Library opens surprise installation honoring Jay-Z

Photo © 6sqft

July 14, 2023

Brooklyn Public Library opens surprise installation honoring Jay-Z

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The Brooklyn Public Library on Friday opened a new installation celebrating the life and legacy of Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, from his beginnings in Bed-Stuy's Marcy Projects to worldwide fame. Located at the library's Central Branch next to Prospect Park, the exhibition, titled "The Book of HOV," features art, images, ephemera, and memorabilia from the rapper's archives that pay tribute to his incredible life and career and highlight the ways he helped redefine hip-hop, music, and culture on a global scale. The experience is free and open to the public for a limited time starting July 14.
See more here
Rise Up NYC returns to the five boroughs with 8 free concerts

Image courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

July 14, 2023

Rise Up NYC returns to the five boroughs with 8 free concerts

By
"Rise up NYC," a series of free concert events, is returning to New York City after debuting last summer. Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday announced the second year of the event series, which will bring eight easily-accessible live performances to all of the five boroughs. This year's Rise Up NYC will kick off on Wednesday, July 19, and run through Sunday, August 20, featuring critically acclaimed artists like K. Michelle, Stokley, Farmer Nappy, and Hot 97 Disc Jockey Funk Flex, with more performers to be announced.
Find out more
Fort Greene’s historic Paramount Theatre to reopen as live music venue next year

Image used by Permission of Long Island University

July 13, 2023

Fort Greene’s historic Paramount Theatre to reopen as live music venue next year

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The gilded Brooklyn Paramount Theatre is being restored to its original glory and will reopen as a world-class entertainment venue next year. Entertainment giant Live Nation, which will revive and operate the nearly 100-year-old theater, revealed plans and new renderings during a community board meeting last month. According to the company, the LIU Brooklyn Paramount Theatre will be able to accommodate 2,600 people. Located at 385 Flatbush Avenue Extension, the theater is scheduled to open in the first or second quarter of 2024, as first reported by Brownstoner.
See more here
NYCHA says it needs nearly $80 billion for repairs

Image via WikiCommons

July 13, 2023

NYCHA says it needs nearly $80 billion for repairs

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New York City's public housing agency needs more than $78 billion to make much-needed repairs to its dilapidated housing stock, according to a new 20-year assessment released Wednesday. The estimation for the apartment repairs is a whopping 73 percent higher than NYCHA's last assessment of $45.2 billion calculated in 2017. According to the agency, nearly 40 percent of NYCHA apartments require more than $500,000 in work per unit.
Details here
New migrant shelter in Clinton Hill could serve at least 2,000 people

Streetview of 47 Hall Street. © 2023 Google

July 12, 2023

New migrant shelter in Clinton Hill could serve at least 2,000 people

By
New York City is opening two more emergency shelters to accommodate the thousands of migrants that continue to arrive in the five boroughs, one of which is set to become the largest dormitory-style shelter in the city's history. Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced the opening of two more humanitarian relief shelters, one at an existing respite center at 47 Hall Street in Brooklyn, which adds additional space to serve roughly 1,400 more migrant adults, and another at the Crowne Plaza JFK Airport New York hotel in Queens, which will serve more than 330 families with children seeking asylum.
Find out more
Global Citizen reveals lineup for its 2023 festival in Central Park

Photo of Global Citizen Festival in Central by Anthony Quintano on Flickr

July 11, 2023

Global Citizen reveals lineup for its 2023 festival in Central Park

By
The lineup for the 11th annual Global Citizen Festival in New York City has been revealed. Taking place on Central Park's Great Lawn on Saturday, September 23, this year's event includes headliners the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Ms. Lauryn Hill, with Megan Thee Stallion, Conan Gray, and the Stray Kids also set to perform. The free ticketed event connects music and activism, with a focus on tackling issues related to extreme poverty around the world, including empowering women and girls, fighting climate action, and alleviating the hunger crisis.
See the lineup
Angelina Jolie renting Jean-Michel Basquiat’s former Noho studio

Photo by Beyond My Ken on Wikimedia Commons

July 11, 2023

Angelina Jolie renting Jean-Michel Basquiat’s former Noho studio

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Angelina Jolie is opening a new collaborative space for artisans and fashion designers at Jean-Michel Basquiat's former Noho studio. Opening this fall at 57 Great Jones Street, Atelier Jolie will serve as "a creative collection for self-expression," giving underrepresented tailors and designers the ability to showcase their work, as first reported by EV Grieve. The two-floor building was once owned by Andy Warhol, who rented it out to Basquiat until the artist's untimely death in 1988 at the age of 27.
See more here
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