Events & Things To Do

MTV cancels VMAs at Barclays Center, announces outdoor performances throughout NYC

Photo by Ajay Suresh on Flickr

August 11, 2020

MTV cancels VMAs at Barclays Center, announces outdoor performances throughout NYC

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

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Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim via Flickr cc

August 11, 2020

150 NYC restaurants with outdoor dining

By 6sqft

With outdoor dining in New York City extended through October, there are countless spots to dine al fresco, with restaurants able to set up seating on sidewalks, adjacent parking spots, rooftops, and gardens. To help you decide where to eat first, we've begun compiling a list of some of the best restaurants offering outdoor dining, neighborhood by neighborhood. This is by no means an exhaustive list, so we hope that you, our readers, will share more restaurants with us that we can add to this list.
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August 11, 2020

Roosevelt Island’s colorful Manhattan Park Pool Club is back and open to the public

By Devin Gannon

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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Radio City cancels the Rockettes this Christmas

Photo by Kevin Poh via Flickr cc

August 4, 2020

Radio City cancels the Rockettes this Christmas

By Dana Schulz

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

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Photo of The Greens courtesy of The Howard Hughes Corporation

August 4, 2020

You can lounge and dine at a rooftop ‘lawn’ at the South Street Seaport

By Dana Schulz

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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See the 193 new Rockefeller Center flags designed by the public

Courtesy of Tishman Speyer

August 3, 2020

See the 193 new Rockefeller Center flags designed by the public

By Devin Gannon

The iconic flags that surround the Rink at Rockefeller Center got a makeover over the weekend. Public art initiative "The Flag Project" opened on Saturday with 193 new flags designed by the public, as well as a number of well-known artists and designers. Led by Tishman Speyer, the installation aims to celebrate New York City as the city continues its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Find out more

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Queens County Farm Museum reopens this weekend with first-ever site-specific art installation

Photo credit: Aaron Asis

July 31, 2020

Queens County Farm Museum reopens this weekend with first-ever site-specific art installation

By Devin Gannon

The Queens County Farm Museum is set to reopen its 47 acres to the public on Sunday after temporarily closing in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. Along with the reopening, Queens Farm will also unveil its first-ever site-specific art installation: Cover Crop by the artist Aaron Asis. The half-acre artwork includes a "planted composition" with crisscrossing paths, letting visitors discover the farm's cover crops, including sweet peas, buckwheat, and rye.
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Photograph by Ximena Exhague, @ximena_exhague

July 30, 2020

Powerful photos show the COVID-19 crisis through the eyes of New Yorkers

By Devin Gannon

The Museum of the City of New York will reopen on Saturday with a stunning new outdoor installation. The first phase of the museum's New York Responds project includes a photo exhibit depicting life in New York City in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests that kicked off in May and continue today. On view starting August 1, the powerful photographs have been installed at the Upper East Side museum's terrace and balustrade.
See it here

Events & Things To Do

Tastes of Brooklyn food festival will return on August 1 with 25 restaurants and bars

Photo of Jolie Bistro in Gowanus by CityRealty

July 24, 2020

Tastes of Brooklyn food festival will return on August 1 with 25 restaurants and bars

By Dana Schulz

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

Image via Nick Sherman SHLEPPERS via photopin (license)

July 23, 2020

12 tips for hiring movers and making sure things run smoothly

By Dana Schulz

From big corporations to small family-run operations, movers in NYC run the gamut in terms of services, pricing, and proximity, but regardless of which route you take, there are several things to consider before deciding. Ahead, 6sqft has rounded up 12 tips for hiring movers, including performing background checks, making sure you've accurately counted your boxes (no one wants to be that person), and negotiating the estimate.
All the tips ahead

You can take a tour of the Gowanus Canal in a canoe

By Dana Schulz

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

Events & Things To Do

Field of sunflowers exhibit takes over Four Freedoms Park to honor 100 years of women’s suffrage

Courtesy of FDR Four Freedoms Park Conservancy

July 21, 2020

Field of sunflowers exhibit takes over Four Freedoms Park to honor 100 years of women’s suffrage

By Devin Gannon

A massive field of sunflowers has been installed at the monumental staircase at FDR Four Freedoms Park on Roosevelt Island. The park's new exhibit, which was created together with the New-York Historical Society and the League of Women Voters, comes ahead of the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment's ratification and aims to symbolize the continued push for full equality today. The installation measures 12 feet by 100 feet and features text from the amendment, which was ratified on August 18, 1920: "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."
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July 20, 2020

7 best hikes near New York City

By Rebecca Fishbein

Getting out of the city during the hot summer months has never felt so necessary, with the usual ways of staying cool by exploring an air-conditioned museum or taking a dip at a city pool. For those looking to reconnect with nature (while maintaining social distance), there are a number of escapes just outside of the city offering hikes and treks ranging in levels of difficulty. Some of these are easily accessible by Metro-North; some might require a car, and some happen to be in the city itself, provided you consider Staten Island within its borders. All of them feature great views, exercise, fresh air, and the occasional tree, how novel! Ahead, discover our favorites.
See our favorites here

The Metropolitan Museum of Art will reopen August 29

Photo by Alex Proimos on Wikimedia

July 16, 2020

The Metropolitan Museum of Art will reopen August 29

By Devin Gannon

The Metropolitan Museum of Art will reopen to the public on August 29, as part of the city's phase four of reopening. The museum closed all three of its locations in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Met's Fifth Avenue building will open its doors five days a week, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. While The Cloisters is expected to open in September, museum officials last month announced that the Met Breuer will not reopen at all, with the building instead serving as the temporary home of the Frick Collection.
Find out more

Image by Vicky Barranguet

July 14, 2020

High Line Nine galleries transform into socially-distanced ‘living storefronts’

By Devin Gannon

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

The 15 best air-purifying plants for your home

Photo by Huy Phan from Pexels

July 14, 2020

The 15 best air-purifying plants for your home

By Diane Pham

Toxins from carpet, paint, upholstery, and cleaning products are just a handful of modern-day, airborne pollutants that can degrade indoor air quality, and studies have shown too much exposure to these manmade elements can cause lung and respiratory issues over the long run. Luckily, there are a number of houseplants that moonlight as efficient purifiers. Ahead you'll find 15 of the best air-purifying plants suited for apartment living, according to Dr. B.C. Wolverton, a scientist who worked with NASA to develop a breathable environment for long-term lunar habitation.
15 plants to help keep indoor air its purest

See the ‘Black Lives Matter’ murals popping up on streets across New York City

Photo courtesy of Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer’s office

July 10, 2020

See the ‘Black Lives Matter’ murals popping up on streets across New York City

By Devin Gannon

First announced by Mayor Bill de Blasio as a celebration of Juneteenth last month, giant murals spelling out Black Lives Matter have been popping up across New York City, with the streets also officially co-named after the movement. There are eight large-scale murals total: Centre Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard in Manhattan, Richmond Terrace on Staten Island, 153rd Street in Queens, Joralemon and Fulton Streets in Brooklyn, Morris Avenue in the Bronx, and on Fifth Avenue in front of Trump Tower.
See more here

Events & Things To Do

NYC cancels all large events through September

Photo by James and Karla Murray exclusively for 6sqft

July 10, 2020

NYC cancels all large events through September

By Devin Gannon

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

Events & Things To Do

Manhattanhenge returns to New York City’s grid this weekend

Photo via d26b73 on Flickr

July 9, 2020

Manhattanhenge returns to New York City’s grid this weekend

By Devin Gannon

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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Across NYC, 50 new public artworks respond to COVID and systemic racism crises

L to R: Rafael Domenech, Peripheral poem 68 (countermonument pavilion); Andre D. Wagner, Old School, Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn NY 2020; Sharon Madanes, Pulse. All photos courtesy of the artists.

July 2, 2020

Across NYC, 50 new public artworks respond to COVID and systemic racism crises

By Dana Schulz

When coronavirus began to bear down on the city, the Public Art Fund conceived a way to bring an artful approach to the crisis. They teamed up with 50 New York-based, emerging artists for a multi-platform exhibition Art on the Grid. As the exhibit developed, though, "the parallel epidemic of systemic racism came into sharp and painful focus," they tell us, which led to both crises setting the backdrop for this powerful public art series. Now on display on 500 bus shelters and more than 1,700 LinkNYC kiosks across the five boroughs, the exhibit showcases themes such as healing and loss; community and isolation; intimacy and solitude; and inclusivity and excitability.
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New York libraries team up with local museums for a virtual ‘Culture Pass’

Photo of the Museum of Natural History by Aditya Vyas on Unsplash

June 30, 2020

New York libraries team up with local museums for a virtual ‘Culture Pass’

By Dana Schulz

Two summers ago, Brooklyn Public Library, the New York Public Library, and Queens Public Library launched Culture Pass, a program that provided free access to more than 30 museums and cultural institutions for library card holders. With all of these locations closed or operating at limited capacity during the pandemic, the three libraries have teamed up to take Culture Pass digital this summer, launching a new series of more than 70 original online programs, which will be free for children and adults through August 20.
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Events & Things To Do

Photo by John Saeyong Ra via Flickr cc

June 23, 2020

Macy’s July 4th fireworks will last for three days across NYC

By Dana Schulz

After Macy's announced yesterday that their annual July 4th Fireworks display in NYC would go on despite the pandemic, headlined by John Legend, Mayor de Blasio said in his press conference today that the show will take on a new life this year. There will be five-minute "brief but mighty" bursts of fireworks throughout the five boroughs from June 29th through July 1st, culminating in a finale on Saturday, July 4th, which will be televised from the top of the Empire State Building. On their website, Macy's says they "expect to announce details of the reimagined event soon."
Get the scoop

Theodore Roosevelt statue will be removed from NYC’s Museum of Natural History

Photo by Mike Steele on Flickr

June 22, 2020

Theodore Roosevelt statue will be removed from NYC’s Museum of Natural History

By Devin Gannon

A statue of Theodore Roosevelt that depicts the former president on horseback flanked by a Native American man and an African man will be removed from the steps of the American Museum of Natural History, officials announced on Sunday. The decision to take down the statue, which local activists have requested for years, comes as a renewed discourse about racism and racist symbols continues to grow across the country following the death of George Floyd last month.
Find out more

Photo by Erick Zajac on Unsplash

June 19, 2020

11 ways to celebrate Juneteenth in NYC

By Devin Gannon

Juneteenth has been observed by African Americans nationwide for more than 150 years as a celebration of the day enslaved Black people were liberated in the United States. This year, as Black Lives Matter demonstrations continue across New York City, the holiday takes on special significance as a day of action, reflection, and education. New York officials are recognizing the weight of the anniversary by making Juneteenth an official state holiday and a city holiday, set to be observed by public schools next year. Although the festivals and cookouts of the past are on hold this year in light of the coronavirus, there are many virtual and socially distanced events happening across the city, from a digital day of dance to a cyclist-led Freedom Ride.
See the list

Events & Things To Do

Juneteenth to become New York State holiday

Photo of New York State Capitol by wadester16 on Flickr

June 17, 2020

Juneteenth to become New York State holiday

By Devin Gannon

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday signed an executive order recognizing Juneteenth as a holiday for state employees and said he will introduce legislation to make it an official New York State holiday next year. Juneteenth marks the end of slavery in the United States in 1865 and is celebrated annually on June 19.
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