All articles by Aaron Ginsburg

NYC Winter Outing returns with discounts at restaurants, Broadway shows, museums, and more

The New-York Historical Society. Photo courtesy of Jon Wallen

January 12, 2023

NYC Winter Outing returns with discounts at restaurants, Broadway shows, museums, and more

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Reservations are now open to book some of New York City's most in-demand attractions, NYC & Company, the city's tourism agency, announced on Tuesday. "NYC Winter Outing," which runs from January 17 through February 12, offers discounts and special deals at restaurants, Broadway shows, museums, hotels, and more.
See more here
This New York City artist is painting portraits of 200 South Brooklyn residents for free

All photos courtesy of The Free Portrait Project

January 11, 2023

This New York City artist is painting portraits of 200 South Brooklyn residents for free

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A new artist residency will tell the story of South Brooklyn through paintings of its residents. The Free Portrait Project is inviting 200 Brooklynites to be the subject of oil portraits and share their oral histories with the project's founder, artist Rusty Zimmerman. The project, part of a yearlong residency at Sunset Park's Industry City, aims to "promote unity across boundaries" within the community.
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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

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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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Tenants in 1,000+ NYC buildings experienced chronic heat problems between 2017 and 2021

Image courtesy of 6sqft

January 10, 2023

Tenants in 1,000+ NYC buildings experienced chronic heat problems between 2017 and 2021

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Between 2017 and 2021, New Yorkers called 311 nearly one million times to report a lack of heat in their homes. During that same time, the city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development issued only 21,610 heat violations to landlords, according to a new report from NYC Comptroller Brad Lander's office. The report found interventions by the city, including violations and emergency repairs, are effective in addressing heat complaints, but "too often fails to apply them."
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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

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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
MTA reopens public bathrooms at 9 subway stations

Image via WikiCommons

January 9, 2023

MTA reopens public bathrooms at 9 subway stations

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At last, straphangers can experience some relief. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority reopened 18 bathrooms in nine New York City subway stations to the public on Monday. The bathrooms are open at select stations from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, with a one-hour closure from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. for cleaning. The NYC subway system's 133 public restrooms have been closed since March 2020 due to the pandemic.
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Stuy Town tenants win lawsuit to keep apartments rent stabilized

Image via WikiCommons

January 9, 2023

Stuy Town tenants win lawsuit to keep apartments rent stabilized

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More than 6,000 apartments at Manhattan's largest apartment complex will remain rent-regulated after a judge last week ruled in favor of Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village tenants. State Supreme Court Justice Robert Reed determined Stuy Town landlord Blackstone Group's attempt to deregulate the apartments was unlawful, becoming the first major tenant-led effort against developers that tested the integrity of the state's 2019 Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act.
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Apply for 15 mixed-income units in Clinton Hill, from $1,036/month

Rendering courtesy of Aufgang Architects

January 6, 2023

Apply for 15 mixed-income units in Clinton Hill, from $1,036/month

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Applications are now being accepted for 15 mixed-income units at a new residential development in Brooklyn. Located at 108 Downing Street in Clinton Hill, the 8-story building offers residents spacious units and a prime location in the heart of Brooklyn. New Yorkers earning 70, 80, and 120 percent of the area median income, or between $38,160 for a single person and $172,920 for a household of five people, can apply for the units, which range from $1,036/month studios to $2,883/month two bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
New compost program in Queens collected over 12.7 million pounds of waste in just three months

Image courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

January 6, 2023

New compost program in Queens collected over 12.7 million pounds of waste in just three months

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In just three months, the new Queens compost program collected more than 12.7 million pounds of organic waste, according to data recently released by the city's sanitation department. The program, which launched last October, enrolled every residential building in the borough in a weekly curbside composting collection. According to the department, Queens districts significantly outperformed other communities that also participate in compost collection. The data shows that New Yorkers are eager to dispose of their food and yard waste in a sustainable manner.
Learn more here
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

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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
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

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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
See the marine science-themed playground coming to Hudson River Park’s Pier 26

All renderings courtesy of OLIN

January 5, 2023

See the marine science-themed playground coming to Hudson River Park’s Pier 26

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Manhattan is getting a new, marine science-inspired play area to teach kids about wildlife. The Hudson River Park Trust last month broke ground on the 4,000-square-foot play area at Pier 26 in Tribeca. Designed by OLIN, the Pier 26 Science Play Area will feature interactive sculptural elements where children can play while learning about marine life and the surrounding Hudson River habitat. The specialized park will also serve as an outdoor programming space for the future Hudson River Estuarium and complements the recently opened ecologically-themed Pier 26. Located at North Moore Street in Hudson River Park, the play area is expected to open to the public this year.
See it here
7 train will not run between Queens and Manhattan for six weekends

Photo by David Wilson on Flickr

January 4, 2023

7 train will not run between Queens and Manhattan for six weekends

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The 7 train will not run between Queens and Manhattan on six weekends starting next month as work begins to make Queensboro Plaza station fully accessible, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced Tuesday. The $74 million project includes the addition of two elevators, an expanded mezzanine, new lighting and boarding areas, and upgrades to the existing street and station stairs to meet current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. To carry out these upgrades, the MTA will be suspending 7-line service between 34th Street-Hudson Yards and Queensboro Plaza on certain weekends in February through April, and suspending the N line in May.
Details here
Brooklyn icon Sahadi’s recognized by the state as a historic business

Image via WikiCommons

January 3, 2023

Brooklyn icon Sahadi’s recognized by the state as a historic business

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Sahadi's, a New York City staple for more than 120 years, has been added to the state's Historic Business Preservation Registry, as first reported by the Brooklyn Paper. The Middle Eastern grocery store and cafe first opened in Lower Manhattan in 1895 before moving to Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue in 1948 where it has been located ever since. The registry, overseen by the Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation, recognizes businesses that have operated for at least 50 years and have "contributed to their communities' history."
Get the details
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

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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.
Find out more
City Winery’s Gilded Age-inspired restaurant Cornelius opens in Grand Central

All photos of Cornelius courtesy of City Winery

December 29, 2022

City Winery’s Gilded Age-inspired restaurant Cornelius opens in Grand Central

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Cornelius, a new high-end restaurant by City Winery, opened in Grand Central Terminal last week. The 75-seat restaurant offers patrons farm-to-table fare inspired by Gilded Age menus and created by Chef Zach Bondy. The restaurant joins two other concepts from City Winery, including a signature experience with tasting bars and City Jams, which has a first-of-its-kind wine-to-go program and an all-day menu. 
Find out more
Everything you need to know about the Times Square ball drop this New Year’s Eve

Image by Anthony Quintano via Flickr 

December 29, 2022

Everything you need to know about the Times Square ball drop this New Year’s Eve

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On December 31, tens of thousands of revelers will converge on Times Square to welcome in 2023. Spectators will vie for the best spot to gaze up at the 11,875-pound crystal ball as it makes its way down the pole on One Times Square and rings in the new year at midnight. The annual event is back at full capacity this year after two years of scaled-back celebrations due to the pandemic. Ahead, find everything you need to know about the 2022 Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Drop. (And for those avoiding the Times Square crowds this year, find a list of fun NYE events, dance parties, and champagne toasts happening across the city here.)
Get the details
Snøhetta-designed Bronx library features a green glass facade inspired by trees

The Library’s fritted glass facade is wrapped in a graphic print inspired by the verdant tree canopies of The Bronx. Credit: © Snøhetta & LMNB

December 29, 2022

Snøhetta-designed Bronx library features a green glass facade inspired by trees

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World-renowned architecture firm Snøhetta last week unveiled its design for a new library in the Bronx. The 12,000-square-foot Westchester Square Library, which will sit next to the historic Huntington Free Library on Glebe Avenue, will feature a striking green glass facade with abstract views of the neighborhood's trees, a way to pay homage to the Bronx's status as the city's "greenest borough," according to the firm. The library is being developed with the city's Department of Design and Construction and the New York Public Library.
See the design
NYC lost over 100,000 rent-stabilized units since 2019, according to report

Photo by Avi Werde on Unsplash

December 27, 2022

NYC lost over 100,000 rent-stabilized units since 2019, according to report

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Despite a 2019 state law that largely prohibits landlords from deregulating rent-regulated apartments, the number of rent-stabilized units in New York City has dropped significantly, as first reported by The City. These findings indicate that there are potentially thousands of tenants who are currently paying rent that is more than the previously regulated amounts. These tenants also lack the rights given to New Yorkers living in rent-regulated units, like guaranteed lease renewals and restricted rent hikes.
See more here
Lottery opens for 45 mixed-income rentals a block from Green-Wood Cemetery, from $1,473/month

Image courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

December 23, 2022

Lottery opens for 45 mixed-income rentals a block from Green-Wood Cemetery, from $1,473/month

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A housing lottery opened this week for 45 mixed-income units at a new residential development in Brooklyn. Located at 875 4th Avenue in Greenwood, the luxury rental rises eight stories and has 150 apartments. New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income, or between $53,863 for a single person and $187,330 for a household of five people, can apply for the apartments, priced from $1,473/month studios to $2,975/month two bedrooms.
See more here
20 ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2022 in NYC

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels

December 22, 2022

20 ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2022 in NYC

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For New Yorkers who want to avoid Times Square during the New Year's Eve ball drop, there are still plenty of other options to celebrate the New Year. Ahead, find a few ways to say goodbye to 2022 and hello to 2023 in New York City, from feasting on Singaporean cuisine at the new food hall Urban Hawker and gazing up at the glowing sky during a firework display at Prospect Park to dance parties and champagne toasts at festive venues across the city.
Our NYE in NYC picks here
‘2023’ numerals arrive in Times Square

All images courtesy of Times Square Alliance

December 21, 2022

‘2023’ numerals arrive in Times Square

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It's almost the New Year in New York. The signature seven-foot-tall shining numerals that sit underneath the New Year's Eve crystal ball arrived in Times Square this week. The numbers are available for viewing at Times Square Plaza between 46th and 47th Street until noon on December 23 when they take their place on top of One Times Square.
Find out more
Will New York City see a White Christmas this year?

Snow in Central Park; Photo courtesy of the Central Park Conservancy

December 21, 2022

Will New York City see a White Christmas this year?

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New Yorkers who fantasize about opening their blinds on Christmas morning to a sprawling landscape of snow will likely be disappointed this year. According to the "White Christmas Calculator," a tool created by the Omni Calculator Project that gives the likelihood of snowfall in major cities, the probability that New York City sees at least one inch of snow on December 25 is approximately 13.2 percent. However, there are a few other cities located nearby with a near or over 50 percent chance of seeing flurries.
Dreaming of a White Christmas?
Central Park’s first named gate since 1862 honors the exonerated ‘Central Park Five’

All photos courtesy of the Central Park Conservancy

December 20, 2022

Central Park’s first named gate since 1862 honors the exonerated ‘Central Park Five’

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A new gate in Central Park will permanently honor the "Central Park Five," the five Black and Latino teens who in 1989 were convicted of a crime they didn't commit. "The Gate of the Exonerated" commemorates the exoneration of all five men, each of whom unjustly served between six and 12 years in prison before being cleared in 2002. Located on 110th Street between Malcolm X Boulevard and Fifth Avenue, the new entrance was unveiled on Monday, exactly 20 years after their convictions were overturned, marking the first named gate in Central Park since 1862.
See more here
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