Search Results for: brooklyn history

The city is filled with picnic possibilities in the form of parks and gardens. New York City is also known for its accessible secrets, and our shortlist of urban escapes–whether hidden in plain sight or tucked away–are great to visit any time, but as off-the-beaten-path picnic spots, they shine.
Discover a new favorite picnic place

July 24, 2023

The best free museum days in New York City

By 6sqft

When living in one of the most expensive cities in the country, it’s helpful to know the places in New York City that offer discounts and freebies. Thankfully, many of the Big Apple’s world-class museums and galleries offer free admission on certain days, from the tiny Mmuseumm in Chinatown to the iconic Guggenheim Museum. Ahead, we've rounded up some of the best free museum days in NYC to let you pinch pennies and get your culture fix at the same time.
See the full list

Events & Things To Do

July 12, 2023

New migrant shelter in Clinton Hill could serve at least 2,000 people

New York City is opening two more emergency shelters to accommodate the thousands of migrants that continue to arrive in the five boroughs, one of which is set to become the largest dormitory-style shelter in the city's history. Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced the opening of two more humanitarian relief shelters, one at an existing respite center at 47 Hall Street in Brooklyn, which adds additional space to serve roughly 1,400 more migrant adults, and another at the Crowne Plaza JFK Airport New York hotel in Queens, which will serve more than 330 families with children seeking asylum.
Find out more

Policy

From firehouse to Spike Lee’s movie HQ, this $4.35M Fort Greene home has a century of stories to tell

Photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group

June 22, 2023

From firehouse to Spike Lee’s movie HQ, this $4.35M Fort Greene home has a century of stories to tell

This decommissioned firehouse at 124 Dekalb Avenue–currently asking $4,350,000–has a fascinating history that began in 1895, when it was built as a water tower. Converted into a neighborhood firehouse in 1903, the building's cellar was fortified as a bomb shelter at some point in the 20th century. After the firehouse was disbanded in 1974, the building became a live/work space for celebrated filmmaker Spike Lee, who headquartered his 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks studio here. In the mid-1980s, the building was converted into two duplex loft apartments–and a multi-car garage.
The full eyeful, this way

New York City’s best spots for bird watching

Birdwatching in Prospect Park, courtesy of the Prospect Park Alliance on Flickr

June 15, 2023

New York City’s best spots for bird watching

With hundreds of parks and over 500 miles of waterfront, New York City is an excellent place for bird watching. The five boroughs serve as a temporary and permanent home to over 400 species of bird, thanks to both habitat diversity and location on the Atlantic Flyway, the route birds follow during migrations. From Pelham Bay Park in the northeast Bronx down to Great Kills Park on the South Shore of Staten Island, there is no shortage of birding activities in New York. We've rounded up the best places to find feathered friends throughout the city, most of which are accessible via public transportation. For guided bird-watching tours and walks, check out events from NYC Parks, NYC Audubon, and the Linnaean Society of New York.
Full list ahead

June 13, 2023

23 ways to celebrate Juneteenth in NYC

For over 150 years, Black Americans have celebrated Juneteenth, the day President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation order reached the people of Galveston, Texas, ending slavery. While Juneteenth became an official federal and state holiday only in recent years, Black Americans in New York City and nationwide have long been commemorating the holiday. New Yorkers have many opportunities to celebrate Juneteenth this year, from musical performances and panel discussions to comedy shows and food festivals.
Juneteenth celebrations and events, this way

Events & Things To Do

Historic FDNY buildings in the Bronx designated as NYC landmarks

Fire Alarm Telegraph Bureau, Bronx Central Office; Photo courtesy of Landmarks Preservation Commission

June 13, 2023

Historic FDNY buildings in the Bronx designated as NYC landmarks

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday designated two Bronx buildings associated with New York City's fire department as individual landmarks. Not only are the Engine Company 88/ Ladder Company 38 firehouse in Belmont and the Fire Alarm Telegraph Bureau, Bronx Central Office in West Farms architecturally significant, but they represent a period of evolution and growth for the city's fire department. The new landmarks also recognize a piece of Bronx history that has largely gone underappreciated.
Details here

30+ ways to celebrate Pride Month in NYC

Photo by Anthony Quintano on Flickr CC

June 7, 2023

30+ ways to celebrate Pride Month in NYC

The New York City Pride March is back at full tilt for 2023, and the month of June promises to be a wall-to-wall celebration around what has grown to be the world’s largest Pride march since it was first held in 1970, bringing in an average of two million visitors annually. Here in the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement at the Stonewall uprising of 1969, the list of Pride events is seemingly endless. Heritage of Pride, the nonprofit organization behind New York City’s official LGBTQIA+ Pride celebration, offers a calendar to help navigate the month of June. Below, you'll find dozens of ways to participate.
Pride, parades and parties, this way

Events & Things To Do

Apply for 316 mixed-income apartments within Greenpoint Landing, from $410/month

Rendering courtesy of Handel Architects

June 1, 2023

Apply for 316 mixed-income apartments within Greenpoint Landing, from $410/month

A housing lottery opened this week for 316 mixed-income units at a new residential development on Brooklyn's waterfront. Located at 35 Commercial Street, the building is part of the 22-acre Greenpoint Landing development. New Yorkers earning 30, 50, 80, and 110 percent of the area median income, or between $17,006 annually for a single person and $158,510 for a household of five, are eligible to apply for the apartments, which range from $410/month studios to $2,572/month two bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

It’s rose season in NYC: Where to see the summer’s prettiest blossoms

Photo by Malcolm Manners on Flickr

June 1, 2023

It’s rose season in NYC: Where to see the summer’s prettiest blossoms

It's rose season. Not only is June the perfect time to drink rosé wine, but it is also when roses are in full bloom in New York City. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the New York Botanical Garden boast impressive collections, with both institutions offering guided tours and other events to celebrate the rose and its hundreds of varieties.
Stop and smell the roses

Events & Things To Do

Green-Wood Cemetery’s $34M welcome center that wraps around historic greenhouse breaks ground

All renderings courtesy of Architecture Research Office (ARO)

May 24, 2023

Green-Wood Cemetery’s $34M welcome center that wraps around historic greenhouse breaks ground

Construction has begun on a new welcome center that will teach visitors about Green-Wood Cemetery's rich history. Located across from the cemetery's main entrance on 25th Street and Fifth Avenue in Brooklyn, the new $34 million Education and Welcome Center will feature two exhibition galleries for Green-Wood's art and archival collections, host educational events and programs, and serve as a hub for scholarly research, staff offices, and meeting and event spaces. The new building, which will be built around the historic Weir Greenhouse, will be completed by June 2025.
Find out more

Architecture And Design

The 13 best things to do in Coney Island

Photo of the Mermaid Parade by Richie S. on Flickr

May 23, 2023

The 13 best things to do in Coney Island

Nicknamed the People's Playground, Coney Island has been the summer getaway of choice for generations of New Yorkers. Located on the southern shores of Brooklyn, the seaside destination is best known for its world-famous amusement district, which contains iconic attractions like the Brooklyn Cyclone roller coaster, Deno's Wonder Wheel, and the Coney Island Circus Sideshow. The neighborhood offers visitors unforgettable experiences on exhilarating amusement park rides, classic carnival-style treats, and a chance to soak up some sun on the beach. From strolling down the boardwalk and riding the 100-year-old Cyclone to seeing sharks up close at the New York Aquarium, here are some things to do when visiting Coney Island this summer.
Plan your trip

Events & Things To Do

Your guide to Morningside Heights: A college town in a city neighborhood

Tom’s Restaurant is a landmark in Morningside Heights thanks to Seinfeld. Photo by Scarlet Sappho on Flickr

May 17, 2023

Your guide to Morningside Heights: A college town in a city neighborhood

Bookended by Morningside and Riverside Parks on a high plateau in Upper Manhattan, Morningside Heights is tucked between the neighborhoods of Manhattanville to the north and Manhattan Valley to the south. The neighborhood's street boundaries are Morningside Drive to the east, 125th Street to the north, 110th Street to the south, and Riverside Drive to the west, with Broadway as its main commercial thoroughfare. Morningside Heights is also considered to be part of Harlem–with the Upper West Side just below. To use a bookend analogy is fitting: Morningside Heights is the largest student neighborhood in New York City; it is this distinction that provides the city neighborhood with its college town vibe.
What to do and see, and where to live in Morningside Heights

Where to work remotely outside in New York City

The plaza at BPL’s Central Library branch; Photo courtesy of Gregg Richards

May 11, 2023

Where to work remotely outside in New York City

By Lidia Ryan

As the weather warms up, WFH can become WFO — work from outside! Bad puns aside, the internet has become ubiquitous, with public internet hotspots popping up everywhere in recent years. Today, many public areas and parks — including National Parks — around the world offer free Wi-Fi. And in New York City, access is expanding.
See the spots

City Living

May 9, 2023

19 best spots in NYC for outdoor music this summer

The summer is one of the most lively times of the year in New York City, with fun events everywhere you look. The season is especially exciting for music lovers who can enjoy an extensive selection of both free and ticketed shows at outdoor venues across the five boroughs. We've rounded up the best open-air spots hosting concerts in the coming months, from a jam-packed season at Forest Hills Stadium in celebration of its 100th anniversary to Lincoln Center's botanically-transformed campus for its three-month-long arts festival.
Get ready to groove

NYC designates Bushwick’s first historic district

All photos courtesy of the Landmarks Preservation Commission

May 9, 2023

NYC designates Bushwick’s first historic district

A block in Bushwick with a collection of intact rowhouses has been designated as the neighborhood's first historic district. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to landmark a stretch of Linden Street between Broadway and Bushwick Avenues that represent several architectural styles of the late 19th century, including Queen Anne, Renaissance Revival, and neo-Grec. According to the commission, the Linden Street Historic District represents the neighborhood's transition from farmland to residential and boasts a "unified streetscape with a strong sense of place."
Details here

Policy

25 ways to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in NYC

Photo courtesy of 7beachbum on Flickr

May 1, 2023

25 ways to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in NYC

During May, the country marks Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to honor and recognize the achievements and culture of Asian Americans. Throughout the month, many of New York City's community organizations and cultural institutions will host activities and events celebrating the city's diverse Asian communities, from learning about Chinatown's historic monuments and making K-Pop-themed crafts to catching a set from an AAPI comedian and taking a virtual Vietnamese cooking class.
Our picks here

Events & Things To Do

April 20, 2023

7 ways to celebrate Earth Day in NYC

New Yorkers have been celebrating Earth Day ever since the holiday was created over 50 years ago. During the first observation on April 22, 1970, the city closed Fifth Avenue to traffic from Union Square to Central Park as part of an "ecological carnival." For the last several decades, New York City has marked Earth Day with environment-focused events, volunteer opportunities, and educational workshops. This year, honor Mother Nature by attending the city's largest-ever car-free celebration, taking in artwork that explores our relationship with Earth, learning about NYC's edible plants, shopping sustainably, volunteering at a park clean-up, and more.
Our picks here

Events & Things To Do

Art installation offers rare look inside Bushwick’s historic William Ulmer Brewery

Image courtesy of Aaron Asis

April 13, 2023

Art installation offers rare look inside Bushwick’s historic William Ulmer Brewery

A new immersive art installation in Brooklyn lets visitors inside New York City's first landmarked brewery building before it undergoes a major restoration. Located in the abandoned William Ulmer Brewery in Bushwick, the experience by artist Aaron Asis, dubbed Ulmer: Conveyance, invites guests to tour the "raw and dormant state" of the brewery through several installations and performances both on the upper levels and the rarely accessed basement levels. The event, which is free and open to the public, takes place on April 15, 16, and 22 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

April 5, 2023

10 underrated NYC parks to visit this spring

By Lidia Ryan

Everyone knows how gorgeous Central Park and Prospect Park are but the concrete jungle is actually much greener than just those big, famous parks. Throughout New York City, peaceful parks and gardens, both big and small, beautify neighborhoods and provide a taste of nature in the big city. Ahead, find 10 of them to check out on one of those perfect New York spring afternoons.
Discover your new favorite park

Events & Things To Do

April 3, 2023

5 restaurants with stunning views of NYC bridges

By Lidia Ryan

How ironic is it that one of the most-connected cities in the world is made up of islands? New York City is a land of bridges connecting the four outer boroughs to Manhattan. And the bridges themselves are marvels of engineering from the world-famous Brooklyn Bridge, erected in 1883, to the Manhattan and Queensboro bridges constructed in the early 1900s. These iconic landmarks are an integral part of the NYC skyline, and while there are plenty of restaurants with a view of the city, few offer truly spectacular views of the bridges. Here are five to check out.
Dinner with a bridge view

Food & Dining

East Village icon Veselka opening a second location in Williamsburg

Photo courtesy of Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

March 16, 2023

East Village icon Veselka opening a second location in Williamsburg

Veselka, a staple of the East Village for nearly seven decades, is headed to Brooklyn. As first reported by the New York Post, the 69-year-old Ukrainian diner known for authentic dishes like pierogi and borscht will open a new 5,000-square-foot location in Williamsburg. While the lease isn't finalized yet, Jason Birchard, co-owner of Veselka, expects to announce the location of the new eatery soon. Once the new restaurant opens, owners will temporarily close the Second Avenue location for renovations.
Find out more

Food & Dining

March 14, 2023

The 11 best Irish bars in New York City

By Rebecca Fishbein

Irish Americans have been a part of the New York ecosystem since the colonial era, but they cemented their stamp on this city during a period of mass migration in the 19th century. We owe a lot to the Irish—some of the city’s most beautiful buildings and cathedrals were designed and built by Irish immigrants, for instance. One of the tastier hand-me-downs was the Irish bar, replete with cheap pints, hearty grub, dark lighting, and a slate of bartenders who’ll inspire you to earn their respect. Ahead we've rounded up 11 of the best pubs, from old standbys like McSorley's and Peter McManus Cafe to some lesser-known gems like Sunset Park's Irish Haven (the bar in The Departed) and Hartley's in Clinton Hill.
Sláinte!

A Central Park Tower penthouse asks $175M to live in the world’s tallest residential tower

Photo courtesy of Extell

March 10, 2023

A Central Park Tower penthouse asks $175M to live in the world’s tallest residential tower