By Dana Schulz, Tue, August 11, 2020 Photo by Ajay Suresh on Flickr
Along with most other large events for the rest of the year, MTA has decided to cancel the annual Video Music Awards ceremony that would have been held at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on August 30th. Instead, “The 2020 VMAs will be held on Sunday, August 30th and pay homage to the incredible resiliency of New York with several outdoor performances around the City with limited or no audience, adhering to all state and city guidelines,” according to a joint statement from MTV and the Barclays Center.
More details here
By Devin Gannon, Tue, August 11, 2020 A playful art installation has returned to Manhattan Park, a waterfront rental on Roosevelt Island. Every summer since 2015, an artist is selected to transform the building’s pool deck with a dazzling 8,500-square-foot mural. This year, as part of a partnership with Corcoran New Developments, Pliskin Architecture, K&Co, and Manhattan Park, artist Alex Proba from Studio Proba designed the sixth annual pop-up mural, with a mix of colorful shapes and forms spread out across the outdoor space.
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By Dana Schulz, Tue, August 4, 2020 Photo by Kevin Poh via Flickr cc
In a not-surprising announcement, Radio City Music Hall says they will not put on their famous Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes this year, the first time since 1933. The decision comes after Broadway said it will stay dark for the rest of the year and other venues like the Met Opera, Lincoln Center, NYC Ballet, and Carnegie Hall cancelled the rest of their 2020 seasons. As NBC New York noted, the Rockettes typically rehearse for more than 200 hours leading up to the show’s November debut.
More details here
By Dana Schulz, Tue, August 4, 2020 Photo of The Greens courtesy of The Howard Hughes Corporation
Social distancing guidelines have definitely gotten restaurants to be extra creative, like The Rooftop at Pier 17 which has just opened a new dining experience where guests can book one of 28 “mini-lawns.” Called The Greens, the experience has transformed the South Street Seaport rooftop venue into private cabana-style plots, each of which can accommodate eight guests.
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By Dana Schulz, Fri, July 24, 2020 Photo of Jolie Bistro in Gowanus by CityRealty
Now more than ever it’s important to support our local restaurants, bars, and bakeries and a fun event happening on Saturday, August 1 makes it super easy to do just that. Tastes of Brooklyn returns for its annual food festival with 25 participating establishments in Gowanus, Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, and Cobble Hill. Tickets get you a select number of small dishes at drinks at your choice of restaurants, and proceeds will benefit Seeds in the Middle, a nonprofit creating sustainable farm stands and school-run healthy programs in Brooklyn’s food deserts.
See who’s participating
By Dana Schulz, Wed, July 22, 2020 Photo courtesy of Gowanus Dredgers
How’s that for social distancing? Untapped New York has just announced the relaunch of its in-person tour series, and they’ve got some seriously cool new offerings, including a Victorian Flatbush walking tour and a tour of the Gowanus Canal that takes place via canoe. The team has implemented significant health and safety measures, from reduced capacity to a state-of-the-art radio system that allows for social distancing. In addition to these new tours, Untapped is bringing back many favorites, including “Hidden Gems of Governors Island,” “Remnants of Dutch New Amsterdam,” and “Public Art Tour of Lower Manhattan.”
More info here
By Dana Schulz, Fri, July 17, 2020 When it comes to reopenings, we’re starting to see some plans surfacing. In some cases, it’s positive news–the Met will reopen on August 29th, the Yankees and the Mets have started training at their home fields. In other cases, reopening is further off–Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and the Met Opera have all cancelled their fall seasons. We’re also seeing events, like the U.S. Open, taking on a new life, while others, like the NYC Marathon, will have to wait until next year. But whatever the case, 6sqft has put together a list of reopenings, postponements, and cancellations for New York City’s many museums, performance venues, outdoor spaces, and events.
The full list here
By Devin Gannon, Tue, July 14, 2020 Image by Vicky Barranguet
As New York City slowly reopens with some semblance of normalcy, art galleries are also returning. Earlier this month, the High Line Nine introduced a new initiative that transforms five of its galleries into “living storefronts.” The High Line Nine Artist Residency, titled “Dare to Reimagine,” allows visitors to walk through the corridor in Chelsea and view artists at work through glass-walled studios. And all works on display will be available for purchase through scannable QR-codes on-site.
More here
By Devin Gannon, Fri, July 10, 2020 Photo by James and Karla Murray exclusively for 6sqft
All major events that require a city permit have been canceled through September 30, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Thursday. The city said it will not issue a permit for any event that would be located within a designated Open Streets or Open Restaurants area, an attempt to “prioritize open spaces for public use.” This means annual street fairs and parades, like favorites the Feast of San Gennaro and the West Indian-American Day Carnival, will not take place this year.
More here
By Devin Gannon, Thu, July 9, 2020 Photo via d26b73 on Flickr
Despite all of the life changes New Yorkers are currently grappling with, some things remain the same. The annual magic of Manhattanhenge has officially returned, bringing a much-needed moment of zen to the city. Twice a year the sunset aligns perfectly with Manhattan’s street grid, providing a picture-perfect glow radiating between two skyscrapers. As first reported by Gothamist, the phenomenon took place on May 30, with the second event happening on July 12.
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