By Alexandra Alexa, Fri, January 24, 2020 NYCT President Andy Byford spent New Year’s Eve 2019 going around the system thanking Transit employees and our partners in the NYPD. Photo: Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit via Flickr
Two years into his tenure as New York City Transit chief, Andy Byford resigned on Thursday, Politico first reported. The British native came to NYC in January 2018—in the aftermath of the transit system’s so-called “Summer of Hell”—after running the Toronto Transit Commission for five years. Byford inherited a state of emergency but hit the ground running as soon as he arrived. He’s been credited with boosting the subway’s on-time rate from only 58 percent to 80 percent, securing funding to upgrade signal systems, and putting an emphasis on accessibility. Praised by riders and transit advocates, Byford earned the nickname “Train Daddy” which exploded on Twitter following the news of his resignation. Ahead, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite social media reactions to the news.
Hear what New Yorkers have to say
By Alexandra Alexa, Thu, January 23, 2020 The original Fairway at West 74th and Broadway; image via Wikimedia Commons
Earlier this week, the New York Post reported that beloved grocery chain Fairway would be filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy and closing all of its stores, but on Wednesday, Fairway took to Twitter to deny the claims. “Despite reports, Fairway Market has no intention to file for Chapter 7 or liquidate all of its stores,” the grocer tweeted. It’s unclear why the grocer made these statements since it’s now confirmed that they have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, under which they will engage in a supervised sale of their remaining stores, reports the Times.
More details
By Rebecca Fishbein, Thu, January 16, 2020 Photo by Caleb Minear on Unsplash
One of the best things about freelancing in New York City is not having to fight with the subway to get to my desk on time, something I did almost daily when I had an office job. One of the worst things, though, is feeling permanently stuck in my cramped apartment. Luckily, this city has lots of great, airy spaces that lend themselves well to remote work, whether you do it full time or are just looking to spend the day free of fluorescent lighting and Gary from HR. Ahead, discover 10 of our favorites.
See the full list
By Michelle Cohen, Wed, January 15, 2020 The Opening Ceremony Soho store at 35 Howard Street; Map data © 2020 Google
The close of the last decade also saw the demise of a few retail icons that have made New York City dear to every fashionista’s heart. If Barneys was the cutting-edge couture go-to for a well-heeled international set, Soho’s Opening Ceremony was the chic street-style crossover hit of the early 21st century. The brand, whose stores include the Howard Street flagship and an Ace Hotel outpost as well as stores in Los Angeles, London and Tokyo–announced Tuesday that it would be shutting down its retail stores this year after being acquired by the New Guards Group, a streetwear conglomerate in turn owned by online fashion platform Farfetch, The Cut reports.
Find out more
By Michelle Cohen, Mon, January 13, 2020 Photo by who?du!nelson on Unsplash
If you’re looking for a way to become more involved in your neighborhood and the decisions that shape New York City, the city’s community boards are a good place to start. New York City is comprised of 59 community districts across the five boroughs: 12 in Manhattan, 12 in the Bronx, 18 in Brooklyn, 14 in Queens, and 3 in Staten Island. Formed in 1977, community boards are the city’s most local form of representative government. Though they’re strictly advisory–they don’t have official authority to make or enforce laws–community boards weigh in on vital issues from zoning and landmarks to transportation and parks to education and neighborhood services. Below, we outline what these city government organizations actually do–and how you can join yours.
Read more
By Devin Gannon, Mon, January 13, 2020 Photo credit: Jonathan Blanc/NYPL
Brooklyn-born author Ezra Jack Keats’ beloved children’s story The Snowy Day is the most checked out book of all time at the New York Public Library. In celebration of its 125th anniversary, the library on Monday released a list of the 10 most borrowed books at its 92 branches since its founding in 1895. A team of experts at NYPL put together the list by looking at checkout and circulation data, overall trends, current events, popularity, and length of time in print, and presence in the catalog.
Which books made the list
By Michelle Cohen, Fri, January 3, 2020 Via Wiki Commons
It’s been over two-and-a-half years since Trader Joe’s announced its plans to open a new store in a 23,000-square-foot space at 432 East 14th Street across from Stuyvesant Town, just three avenues east of their original 14th Street store. The beloved grocery store is the retail anchor tenant in the newly-constructed residential building called EVE that replaced the former Stuyvesant Post Office at that address. With leasing at the building a year in and an affordable housing lottery open, Trader Joe’s now confirms on its website that the store will open on Monday, January 6th at 8am (h/t EV Grieve).
14th Street, street of groceries
By Michelle Cohen, Fri, December 27, 2019 Photo credit: Dipankan001 for Wikimedia cc.
You may or may not be on board with the idea of starting the new year with a set of fresh and fabulous resolutions. But everyone has goals, and if yours are among those mentioned here–from getting more sleep to seeing more art–read on for helpful hacks, simple solutions, and total game-changers.
Major improvement, this way
By Cait Etherington, Tue, December 24, 2019 Photo: NYC Parks / D. Avila
Not quite sure how to get rid of that Christmas Tree? From December 26 to January 11, NYC will be hosting its annual Mulchfest so that you can recycle your tree at a local park. With 67 total drop-off sites throughout the five boroughs—32 of which are chipping sites—it’s easier than ever to get your tree turned into mulch that will be used to help nourish trees and plants across the city.
How to participate this year
By Devin Gannon, Wed, December 18, 2019 Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash
Library patrons in New York City checked out former first lady Michelle Obama’s autobiography Becoming the most out of any book this year. The New York Public Library shared on Wednesday its annual top checkouts list from its branches in the Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island, as well as its e-book catalog. Becoming, ranked as one of the best-selling memoirs of all time, follows the story of Obama’s life, from growing up on the South Side of Chicago to becoming the first African American to serve as First Lady of the United States.
See the full list
