Photo by Anthony Quintano on Wikimedia
A New York City landmark is looking to lift the spirits of New Yorkers and keep the light in the city bright during this challenging time. The Empire State Realty Trust on Friday launched a music-to-light show from the skyscraper’s famous tower, in partnership with iHeartMedia. A new show, designed by lighting artist Marc Brickman, will premiere every Friday night and play nightly for one week.
Photo © Daxiao Productions – Fotolio
While most of life seems to be put on hold at the moment, there are a few tasks that can’t be avoided. This includes moving apartments, typically a dreadful experience for New Yorkers with or without an ongoing pandemic. But moving companies are considered an essential service, according to New York City and State officials. Ahead, find out what you need to know about moving in NYC during the coronavirus outbreak, from the extra protocols movers are taking to your rights as a tenant.
Photo by Luis Melendez on Unsplash
While most New Yorkers are working from home or finding ways to entertain themselves while indoors, our health care community is on the front lines of the coronavirus crisis, with many pulling double shifts and working seven days a week. More telling of this community’s dedication to helping others is the fact that as of yesterday, 40,000 retired or non-working health care professionals had volunteered their services if the need should arise, including physicians, nurses, and other specially trained individuals. Today, that number has grown to 52,000. To show gratitude for this heroic community, many companies are stepping up to the plate, offering free meals, lodging, transportation, and even footwear. Ahead, 6sqft has begun compiling a list of the resources available to NYC’s front-line responders.
Photo courtesy of NYC DOT/Flickr
After receiving pressure from both Governor Cuomo and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson to close some streets to vehicular traffic in an effort to give New Yorkers more outdoor space to exercise, Mayor de Blasio has finally released his plan. For now, it’s just a pilot from Friday, March 27, to Monday, March 30 and includes a roughly six-block stretch in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, totaling 1.6 miles of the city’s 6,000 miles of roads, according to the Post. In Manhattan, Park Avenue will be closed from 28th to 34th Streets.
Comedian Bridget Everett is participating in The Trickle Up; Photo by John Morton on Flickr
With theaters and performance venues closed as a result of the ongoing pandemic, the livelihoods of many artists in New York City continue to hang in the balance. A new subscription-based streaming service launched this week to support local artists affected by these coronavirus-related shutdowns. “The Trickle Up” charges subscribers $10 per month to access original performances from 50 different artists, with proceeds going to artists struggling financially.
Photo by Daniel Schludi on Unsplash
With four sites already identified as temporary hospitals–and construction underway on the largest, the Javits Center–the city is now looking for additional spaces that can be used to support NYC Emergency Management. The call is for community spaces with a large interior room such as community centers, places of worship, or campus facilities that can be utilized for outreach, training, or gathering during an emergency or as a disaster recovery center. Though it’s not explicitly stated, NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson noted on Twitter that some of these spaces could be “suitable for converting to temporary hospital rooms.”
Photos courtesy of Invisible Hands
If you needed more evidence that New Yorkers come together in a time of crisis, look no further than Invisible Hands. The premise of the volunteer group is that low-risk people can help to bring groceries and supplies to those in demographics at high risk for COVID-19. Simone, Liam, and Healy — “healthy 20-somethings in NYC” — started the group just nine days ago, and today have amassed 7,000 volunteers across New York City and parts of Jersey City. Yesterday, we spoke with Liam Elkind about what it’s been like starting this incredible group, how New Yorkers have been able to “pull together when it feels like the world is trying to pull us apart,” and what Invisible Hands hopes for the future.
Photo by Clément Falize on Unsplash
Deemed as essential by the state, bodegas in New York City are open during the coronavirus outbreak. For those craving a bacon, egg, and cheese from your local deli, but can’t leave your apartment, a new app is here to help. As first reported by Eater, My Bodega Online is looking to give New Yorkers another option when it comes to ordering take-out and groceries for delivery, while simultaneously supporting local businesses.
Photo by amsw photography from Pexels
With school closed and playdates off-limits, New York City kids are staying connected with their friends in a creative and colorful way. Children in Brooklyn are drawing and painting pictures of rainbows and displaying them outside of their homes, creating a scavenger hunt perfect for one of the only quarantine-approved activities: a walk around the neighborhood.
Photo of Central Park North on Saturday, March 21, 2020. Photo © Dana Schulz for 6sqft
Within 24 hours from Sunday morning, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson must come up with a plan to address continued density issues in the city, especially in parks. “It has to be done quickly, and it’s going to have to be dramatic action,” said the Governor in a press conference, following a personal visit to the city on Saturday during which he observed a major lack of social distancing in places like Central Park and the Grand Army Plaza Farmer’s Market.
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