Image courtesy of I LOVE NY
Have you been dreaming of pumpkin spice and chunky sweaters all summer long? Well, autumnal bliss is upon us, with the first signs of colorful fall foliage already appearing in upstate New York. To help you keep tabs on peak foliage in your area, the state has released its annual Fall Foliage Report, an interactive map that is updated weekly using on-the-ground observations and reports from a state-wide network of volunteers.
Photo by Alexandra Gorn on Unsplash
New Yorkers are no strangers to moving, whether it’s because they found a new roommate, a better rent deal, or a more convenient neighborhood. Not only is furnishing your apartment expensive, but it’s also not guaranteed that the new sofa you bought will fit in your next place. As a result, many nomadic city dwellers are turning to furniture rentals to outfit their temporary abodes. Furniture rental companies offer a cheaper, more flexible, and more sustainable alternative to buying new. Plus, most companies deliver, assemble, and then remove the furniture when your rental term is up, alleviating some of that moving-related stress. Ahead, we take a look at six of the best furniture rental companies that serve New York City and break down each by the products offered, lease terms, and rent-to-buy options.
Photo courtesy of HPD
This week, Hurricane Ida brought record rainfall and historic flash flooding to New York City, which ultimately led to the deaths of at least 13 New Yorkers. A majority of the people killed lived in basement apartments, where water was able to get in and block the only way out. These “hidden” units have always been prevalent in New York City, which is home to roughly 50,000 basement apartments, although that number is likely much higher as many of them are considered illegal.
The tragic events of this last week have renewed calls from advocacy groups and elected officials to legalize basement apartments to make them safe for the more than 100,000 New Yorkers who live in them. Ahead, learn about the difference between a legal and illegal basement apartment, what can be done to protect tenants, and what the future holds for these homes, seen as a critical component of the city’s insufficient affordable housing stock.
Credit: ESI Design
A new installation dedicated to the life of legendary New York City fashion photographer Bill Cunningham will open this month. The immersive exhibit, called “Experience The Times of Bill Cunningham,” will feature large-scale reproductions of the photographer’s famous photos, audio and video segments, and artifacts, like his trademark Biria bicycle and his blue worker’s jacket. Coinciding with the start of New York Fashion Week, the exhibit opens at the South Street Seaport on September 12 and runs through October 30.
New York’s famous 369th (Old 15th) Infantry Regiment arrives home from France. From the National Archives via Wikimedia Commons
One of the most decorated all-Black American regiments is finally getting nationally recognized more than a century after World War I. President Joe Biden last week signed into law the Harlem Hellfighters Congressional Gold Medal Act, which posthumously honors the 369th Infantry Regiment. Made up mostly of New Yorkers, the Harlem Hellfighters spent 191 days on the front-line trenches, longer than any other American unit. Despite their courage and sacrifice, the soldiers returned home to face racism and discrimination.
Shake Shack
Two New York City companies have announced a sweet new collaboration. Shake Shack and Milk Bar have teamed up on two limited-edition milkshakes: the chocolate birthday cake shake and the cornflake chocolate drizzle shake. The delicious treats combine Shake Shack’s famous frozen custard with Milk Bar’s unique desserts.
Photo credit: Jonathan Blanc / NYPL
The New York Public Library’s much-anticipated permanent exhibition of rotating rare objects and artifacts finally opens to the public next month. First announced in 2018, the Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library’s Treasures features 250 unique, historic items from the library’s incredible holdings, which includes more than 45 million objects in its research collections. Highlights include Thomas Jefferson’s handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence, Charles Dickens’ writing desk, a letter written by James Baldwin to Angela Davis, the 1811 Comissioners’ Map and Survey of Manhattan Island, and much more.
Photo by Mark Wilkie via Flickr cc
On Saturday, between 10pm and 11pm, Central Park saw 1.94 inches of rainfall, the most ever recorded in a single hour in New York City, according to the National Weather Service, which has been keeping weather records since 1870. Just hours earlier, the park was evacuated during the city’s massive Homecoming Concert for fears over impending weather brought on by Tropical Storm Henri. August 21st was also the wettest day since 2014.
Artist rendering by Anthony George
A new attraction coming to Times Square next week hopes to wheel in tourists. A 110-foot high outdoor Ferris wheel will open next Tuesday on the plaza between West 47th and West 48th Streets, as the New York Post first reported. Dubbed the Times Square Wheel, the limited experience runs from August 24 through September 12. The pop-up attraction is part of a larger effort by the Times Square Alliance to promote the neighborhood as the city continues to recover from the pandemic.
Mermaid Parade 2018; Photo Credit: © Norman Blake
Two of New York City’s most vibrant parades won’t take place in person this summer for the second year in a row. Due to the spike in coronavirus cases, organizers of both the Mermaid Parade in Coney Island and the West Indian American Day Carnival along Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway have postponed their in-person parades until next year.
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